HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-16-WALKS-min
Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, March 16, 2015, 9:10 AM
Selectmen's Meeting Room
Present: Jeanne Canale, Judy Crocker, Francine Stieglitz, Craig Weeks Absent: Mary Hosmer
Fanucci, Sean Osborne - Liaisons present: Elaine Celi, Tim Dunn Liaisons absent: Mark Valenti,
Michelle Ciccolo Visitors: None
Craig Weeks called the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) to order at 9:10 AM.
The Agenda items, recommendations to board of selectmen re: Article 13 Prospect hill, Article 35
complete streets, and Article 45 priority on safety were extensively reviewed, edited to address the
needs of the constituents of the Sidewalk Committee, approved unanimously by the four members
present as recommendations to be sent to the Board of Selectmen. An additional resolution was
drafted and approved that requests the Board of Selectmen to provide adequate annual funding to
maintain the sidewalk infrastructure without increasing the backlog of needed repairs, while
optimally reducing the backlog.
The approved recommendations are
:
Article 13 Prospect Hill Sidewalk-Recommendation to the Board of Selectmen
:
The Sidewalk Committee supports Article 13 of the Town Warrant and recommends that the BOS
fund the project for the following reasons:
•provide safe pedestrian access to the Bridge and Clarke Middle Schools
•continue support of the Safe Routes to Schools Program
•enhance connectivity to the Lincoln Fields and the commercial areas at the intersections of
Marrett, Spring and Waltham Streets
Furthermore, as part of the project scope include, addressing concerns of abutters:
•a review of appropriate traffic calming measures
•review of measures to address landscaping and tree issues within the existing right of way.
Article 35 Complete Streets-Recommendation to the Board of Selectmen
The Sidewalk Committee perspective on this article was requested by the Board of Selectmen.
The Sidewalk Committee supports the article and strongly agrees that a “Complete Streets” program
will increase pedestrian safety and accessibility encouraging more walking trips.
Article 45 Priority on Safety-Recommendation to the Board of Selectmen
The Sidewalk Committee perspective on this article was requested by the Bike Committee.
The Sidewalk Committee strongly supports the philosophy behind Article 45. The Board of
Selectmen should review the structuring of the multitude of committees that touch upon these issues
under unified leadership as recommended to the Board of Selectmen by the Sidewalk Committee in
June 2014.
It should be noted by the Board of Selectmen that many decisions related to sidewalks and
pedestrian safety are currently being made while excluding, and without notification to the
Sidewalk Committee and its Safe Routes to Schools subcommittee. The Selectmen should task the
TSG to evaluate current ped/cyclist safety conditions in Lexington in light of MassDOT’s low
ranking of Lexington’s ped/cyclist crash performance and set more appropriate metrics or steps to
capture Lexington’s safety record.
ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD OF SELECMEN FROM THE
SIDEWALK COMMITTEE:
We encourage the Board of Selectmen to increase the budget line item for sidewalk maintenance
and repair to at least $850,000, with appropriate escalation annually thereafter indexed to cost
increases and increases in sidewalk area as a function of new construction, in order to adequately
meet the requirements proposed by the 2014 Pedestrian Accessibility Study prepared by Fay,
Spofford and Thorndike and presented by the Traffic Safety Group. Note that the report shows that
even at a funding level of $750,000 the backlog of required maintenance will increase.
Furthermore we request that money budgeted for repair not be diverted towards new construction as
is being proposed under 2015 Town Meeting Article 11e, Sidewalk Improvements, Additions,
Designs and Easements. Diverting money budgeted for repair will result in about a 20% decrease in
the repair line item. Construction monies should be allocated yearly in addition to maintenance.
The final agenda item of preparing and filing minutes of the March 2 community meeting on
Prospect Hill Sidewalk was discussed with a proposed structure similar to the Winthrop Road
hearing. It was pointed out that a written record is required is addition to the Lex-Media
audio/video recording.
The next meeting will be held on April 6 at 9 AM in the
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 AM.
Selectmen’s Meeting Room of Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted by,
jcw