HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-08-TMG-minMinutes for Traffic Mitigation Group Meeting
August 8, 2006
Members Present: Richard Canale, David Cannon, Laura Cecere, Jeanne Krieger, Sudhir
Murthy, Scott Schilt, Judith Uhrig, Gail Wagner.
The Traffic Mitigation Group (TMG) met on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 9:00 AM in Room 111
of the Town Office Building. The following summarizes the discussion.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
➢ Richard Canale provided copies of a letter to the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization
about road improvement projects in Lexington listed on the draft MassHighway TIP for 2007.
It was decided that the letter would be submitted under Jeanne Krieger's signature.
➢ It was noted that more support from the Town should be shown for the proposed intersection
improvements at Waltham Street!Marrett Road, and the award from the EPA for the Safe
Routes to School project at Bridge School should be mentioned in the letter.
➢ The project identified for Hartwell Avenue should be investigated, and the Town should be
actively involved. Support from the businesses on Hartwell should also be solicited. It was
noted that there is a new commander at Hanscom AFB, Jeanne Krieger will contact him to
determine willingness to help push the project forward. The project should coincide with
planning to increase the allowed floor area for properties on Hartwell, which the Board of
Selectmen and the Planning Board for the 2008 Town Meeting. It was suggested that the
striping and signage proposed by the Bicycle Advisory Committee should be explored as an
interim measure until further planning and construction could take place. Other members
noted that striping and signage may promote a false sense of security, and further
improvements are needed to ensure safety for all users. The Town has conducted studies for
improvements on Hartwell in the past, and the plans should be revisited.
➢ The improvements at the Marrett Road /Spring Street/Bridge Street intersection should be
added to the TIP. Howard Stein Hudson Associates has told the Town that it will cost
approximately $40,000 to do a Project Information Form to place the project on the TIP.
Funding mechanisms should be explored to move the project forward.
• It was noted that the Town does not currently have a TIP Coordinator. In the past, the TIP
Coordinator was a staff person in the Engineering Division. The Board of Selectmen will
need to appoint someone.
Planning Board Review of Article XII (Traffic) of the Zoning By -Law
➢ It was noted that the requirements of Article XII are outdated, and that increasing road
capacity is not always what should be done to mitigate development impacts. Alternative
modes of transportation need to be a key consideration when considering improvements, and
most town boards don't have clear guidance for what to require. The TMG needs to be a
leader in revising the by -law and informing other boards and committees.
➢ The new MassHighway Design Guidelines promote context sensitivity for improvements, and
base new designs on "measures of effectiveness" rather than improving levels of service. This
should be modeled in the town's by -laws, along with mechanisms to ensure mitigation is
implemented.
➢ The requirements in the by -law should be based upon what the town is trying to control,
which needs to be defined. The by -law should be simple in order to work most effectively;
better triggers are needed to determine when mitigation is necessary. Past negotiations for
mitigations have been haphazard, and more equity in the process is needed. Consistent
formulas will make it easier for decision makers.
➢ Arlington was noted as a good model in terms of having a clear vision and principles
pertaining to limits on the number of new vehicles on town roads and commitments to
supporting public transportation. South Boston was also noted as a good example of
determining infrastructure needs prior to buildout, with all new development contributing
toward meeting the long -term needs of the community.
➢ Development along Route 128 does not give the town predictability to understand impacts.
Lexington's population during the daytime hours is greater than the nighttime residential
population. This creates the need to balance urban impacts in a suburban residential town. A
town wide vision is needed to weigh what is in the interest of the town against the interests
and values of individuals.
➢ It was suggested that the by -law should have clear roadway functional classifications that
determine standards and needs. The Town's requirements should match those of the state.
The by -law should have three to five measures of effectiveness, similar to the state's
guidelines, and the requirements should be clearly defined in order to streamline project
development and approvals.
Next Meeting
➢ Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 9:00 AM in Room 111 of the Town Office Building.
Minutes submitted by Scott Schilt, Senior Planner on August 28, 2006.