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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-26-TMG-minMinutes for Traffic Mitigation Group Meeting September 26, 2006 Members Present: Richard Canale, David Cannon, Laura Cecere, Elaine Dratch, Jeanne Krieger, Scott Schilt, Jerry Van Hook, Gail Wagner. The Traffic Mitigation Group (TMG) met on. Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 9:00 AM in Room 111 of the Town Office Building. The following sunmmarizes the discussion. Hartwell Avenue Update ➢ There meeting scheduled with MassHighway District 4 staff to discuss the project proposed on the TIP for intersection improvements along Hartwell Avenue was postponed by MassHighway until September 27. Bicycle Advisory Committee Presentation ➢ Jeny VanHook gave a presentation about the current activities of the Bicycle Committee. The Friends of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway are organized to promote outreach about bicycle initiatives, promote regional coordination, and stewardship of bicycle facilities. The Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee deals with the more nuts and bolts policy issues, and serves in an advisory capacity to Town officials and the DPW. ➢ The committee oversees stewardship of the Bikeway, and coordinates bi- seasonal clean -ups. ➢ It was noted that the reason the Bikeway is called the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway was due to the use of state and federal funds for construction. It was intended to serve as an alternative to use of single - occupant vehicles for commuting. ➢ The committee contacts with neighboring communities to build networks of bike paths and bike roadway routes. ➢ They have representation on the MassBike organization and Rails to Trails. ➢ They prepared a bicycle route and sidewalk inventory throughout the town in collaboration with the Sidewalk Committee and the Vision 2020 committee. ➢ They are advocates for promoting safe commuting by bicycle to commercial areas in Lexington, including Hartwell Avenue, Hayden Avenue, Cranberry Hill, Worthen Road and Bedford Street. ➢ A question was raised about whether all of the trails on conservation land would be converted to bike paths. Jerry noted that not all of the trails are appropriate for biking. Most of the initiatives thus far have been to provide safe routes to schools. Revisions to Article XII of the Zoning By -Law ➢ There was discussion about what role the TMG should have in assisting the Planning Board in revising the traffic by -law. It was suggested that if the Board wants input from various committees, the Board should go to the committees directly. It was explained that the purpose of the TMG is to have liaisons from different committees, which often have competing interests in mitigating development, to ensure that there is equity and communication among the various interests to coordinate recommendations. Most agreed that the TMG is the appropriate forum to make a consolidated recommendation to the Planning Board on what should be included in the by -law. ➢ It was noted that the by -law should give consideration to the transportation needs of different types of land uses (i.e. recreation, commercial /commuting, housing), and how different needs can co -exist in different contexts. D It was suggested that the TMG policy should be guiding principle of the by -law, not a needs list. Elements such as minimizing use of single- occupant vehicles, enhanced bicycle /pedestrian safety, and promoting use of LexPress should guide the process. D It was mentioned that there is a need to define the basic principle. The MassHighway premise that road design should balance the needs for all users may not always be feasible or realistic in some contexts. D It was suggested that extractions from development proposals should be based on priorities and techniques to reduce dependence on commuting in single - occupant vehicles. It was noted that different types of uses generate different numbers of vehicle trips, which should be a consideration when evaluating development impacts. D. It was suggested that TMG members work with their respective committees to come up with a list of criteria to address in the by -law. It was agreed that the second TMG meeting in October [10/24/06] would be the time to have this discussion in order to give the committees time to meet and develop their recommendations. Transportation Options Day D. Gail Wagner described a program she has done in the past to promote use of alternative foims of transportation. She queried the TMG about whether it would be an event the TMG should sponsor. It was decided that the event should be held in the spring. Scott Schilt asked Gail if she would like to give a more detailed overview of the event at the next TMG meeting. Mitigation Funding from AvalonBay D. David Cannon stated that the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee had recently approved construction of a crosswalk across Pleasant Street at Worthen Road to allow for safe crossing for students at Bowman School and the Montessori School. Construction would include installing pedestrian ramps, sidewalk extensions, curb work, and installing signs. He asked if funding for the work would be appropriate to come from the traffic mitigation funds received from AvalonBay for development at Met. State. D On a motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted by the TMG members present at the meeting to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that up to $10,000 be allocated from the AvalonBay mitigation funds for the crosswalk construction. Scott Schilt stated that he would write a letter to the Selectmen about the TMG recommendation. Next Meeting D Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 9:00 AM. Primary agenda item will be a presentation by the Sidewalk Committee. Minutes submitted by Scott Schilt, Senior Planner on September 28, 2006.