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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-09-LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING NOTES Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: July 9, 2015, Cary Library, 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), Marita Hartshorn, Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Laurel Carpenter, Bob Dangel, Sandra Shaw (Recreation Liaison), Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison) Members Absent: Mike Tabaczynski, John Frey, George Gagliardi, Carolyn Levi Others Present: Jennifer Melot, Sergeant Paul Callahan, Beverly Seavey, Howard Cloth The May Meeting Minutes were approved as submitted. Tri-Town Committee Meeting (June 6): Bedford reported that bike lanes will be marked on Route 62 and CPA funds were approved for the bicycle long term plans for the town. There will be a repair stand at the Depot and a cycle track on Railroad Avenue leading to the Reformatory Branch/Bikeway extension. Arlington requested that we resume bike counts. The next Tri-Town meeting will be in January and will be hosted by Bedford. Summer Signage on the Bikeway : Peggy displayed sets of new Burma Shave themed signs for the Bikeway. Jennifer and Peggy will install them. Bob Dangel proposed graphic design signs with messages for next year’s signs. Peggy will email prototypes of these for our review. Bikeway Paving, Closures, and Detours: The newly paved section of Bedford Street will be repaved where it is failing, and bike lanes will be repainted. Bikeway paving between Bedford Street and the Bedford town line as well as near Camillia Way will also involve detours. Peggy has been in touch with Dave Cannon to request that sharrows on Hill Street be painted, since sharrows were recommended as part of the roadway recommendations (per the Bob Dangel spreadsheet) for bike accommodation improvements. Jennifer mentioned that the bike lanes on Hartwell Avenue are disappearing due to wear; the lane needs to be swept and cleaned. The sharrows have disappeared from Spring Street, and were never painted on Lincoln, Adams, or Waltham streets. The committee talked about the problem with the slow response to many bicycle-related requests as well as some problems with communications between departments. One example that was discussed are the bike racks that have been missing in the Town Center for several years – some because they were borrowed for other purposes, others because they were removed for snow clearing and never replaced -- and the shortage of good bike parking generally. Center Streetscape and Bike Committee position on Woburn Street : The town held a forum on the intersection of Woburn Street and Mass Ave. Bob Dangel said he was disappointed in the presentation by the consultant because it lacked accident data and the consultant presented only one alternative. Richard Canale said he felt that the most important position for the Bicycle Advisory Committee to take in on the importance of bicycle accommodations and the need for safe transport by cyclists. The next Woburn Street/Mass. Ave hearing will be in September. Last year, he stated, Lexington ranked 15th out of 350 cities and towns for the most bicycle accidents. This year we improved to 19th out of 350. Bike Registry proposal : Peggy reported receiving an inquiry on the Bike Committee email about a new online bike registration program. After discussion, the committee decided not to endorse this program. Sgt. Callahan said the Lexington Police will register bikes for a $2 fee, although the registry is not computerized. Liaison Reports: Sandra Shaw visited the new Community Center today and reported it up and running; there is a bike rack out front. Richard Canale reported that Bay State Roads Group is offering a seminar on analyzing vehicle crash data; the Lexington Police Department have been invited. The seminar will help capture data on bike accidents and can pin point location and the type of accident. Information will be easier to record and retrieve. He said that the Waltham planning department worked with their police department to improve data collection and reporting. Richard also displayed the new Battle Road Byway logo and plans to use the logo on signs, including along the Bikeway that parallels the Battle Road. The Planning Board is looking into acquiring an easement in front of the card shop on Camillia Way, abutting the Bikeway. Sgt. Callahan said that two new bikes are being purchased for the bike patrol, bringing the total to six. Officers will be on bikes for a minimum of four hours on Saturday and four on Sunday, either in the center and/or on the bike path. Two officers have enrolled in COBWEB, and possibly four more will do so, bringing the total to 17 officers with COBWEB training. Other business : Laurel reported that she made a presentation at the Transportation Forum as a follow-up to the Town Meeting discussion about bicycle and pedestrian safety. She talked about practices in Waltham, including bicycle accident data collection and yearly goal setting for bicycle accommodations (done by the planning department). She said that such plans and proposals need to be made more public – online instead of in the hands of one person -- to ensure that many have access to the information. Cambridge is a good example of this approach. She said that Lexington has many volunteer committees with excellent long-range proposals and goals but these sometimes get lost or buried. Peggy said that there was not a bikeway count in May because it was a busy month. The committee is helping with to do bicycle/pedestrian/motor vehicle counts in front of Muzzey for David Kucharsky. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm. Record of the Discussion of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways Treasurer's Report : Bob Hausslein reported that minor expenses expected for coupons at the Farmer’s Market and that he expects that CHNA grant funds will pay for the Bikeway signs. Farmers’ Market Bike Corrals: Peggy is coordinating the corral in July and Howard Cloth the corral in August. Bob talked about the idea of creating access to the bike path at the Monroe Cemetery with timber steps and a boardwalk across the culvert. The committee endorsed his proposal. Upcoming Dates LBAC/FoLB meeting Sept. 10, 7 pm, Learning Center, Cary Library Farmers’ Market Bike Corral: Tuesday, July 14, 2 – 6:30 PM ( also August 11, September 8, October 13) 2015 Moving Together Conference: Wednesday, November 4. “Healthy ” Transportation, Healthy Communities Marita Hartshorn, Recorder Peggy Enders, Editor