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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-21-WALKS-min 1.PubliccommentwasinvitedregardingtheproposedHillStreetsidewalk.ClaireandJohn Bertucciof50HilStreetarenotinfavorofasidewalk.Theythinkthebiggerissueisthe speedoftrafficontheroad.Itisaheavilytraffickedroadduetothegolfcourse,school buses,etc.Theythinkthatthetopographyoftheroadmakesasidewalkadifficult proposition.Theyalsowantedtoknowwhowouldmaintainthesidewalksinthewinter. CraigWeekspointedoutthatdifficulttopographyisconsistentwithothersidewalk locations.Theengineeringdepartmentwouldbeabletofigureouttheproperlocationfor asidewalk.BettinaMcGimseyindicatedthatthereareresidentsat48HillStreetwho sharethesameconcerns.However,shealsonotedthattherearemany,manypeople involvedwithSafeRoutestoSchoolwhowouldbethrilledwithasidewalkonHillStreet. Ms.McGimsey,11HamblenStreet,saidthatshecannotallowherkidstowalkhome fromschoolbecausetheywouldhavetowalkupHillStreet,whichistoodangerous.If theywentasaferroute,itwouldadd1miletotheirroute,andtheydoathletics afterschool. The"¤±³´¢¢¨Ȍ²saidthatseveralyearsagotheTrafficSafetyCommitteeaddressedHill Streetbyaddingafewsignssuchashiddendrivewaysandcurves.Theysaidithasnot beenenough.Theywonderedifperhapsapolicepresenceontheroadwouldhelpwith speeding. MichelleCiccolosaidthereisrenewedinterestincalmingmeasures.Shementionedspeed bumpsonShadeStreetaspossiblybeinghelpfulwithreducingspeedonthatroad.The outcomeisnotyetknown.Shesuggestedthatthe"¤±³´¢¢¨Ȍ²takealookatwhathasbeen doneonShadeStreet.Thereisaprebuiltstonewallthatwasinstalledtohelpwith pedestriantraffic. ThequestionofwherebicycleswouldrideonHillStreetwasraised.Wouldtheybeonthe sidewalk?MichelleCiccoloindicatedthatitissometimesappropriate,dependingon densityoftraffic,frequencyofcycliststravelingtheroad,etc.Therecouldpossiblybea bikeshoulderforthem. However,theissuesdiscussedareprematuresincetheroadisnotyetindesignfora sidewalk.Atimeestimatefortheproposedprojectisunknown.Publicmeetingsregarding thesubjecthavebeenpredominantlypositive. ThemotionwasmadefortheSidewalkCommitteetosupportasidewalkonHillStreet. Themotionwasunanimouslyapproved. ThenextstepsarefortheSidewalkCommitteeRecommendationtobemadetotheBoard ofSelectmen.Engineeringwillthenconductastudytoevaluatecosts,etc.Thenthe projectwouldgotoTownMeeting. MichelleCiccolosaidthatitislateinthefiscalyearsoanydecisiononthisprojectwould notoccuruntilnextyearifthetowndecidestomoveforward.Thetimelineforthisproject mightbesomethinglikethis.July1designcouldbegin.Surveyswouldbedone.The neighborhoodwouldbeincludedtohearconcernsandideas.Attheearliest,ifapproved, thisprojectwouldbeintheappropriationforthe2018budget.And,itwoulddependon whatelseisinqueueasthereisalonglistofcapitalneedsinLexington. 2.SidewalkCommitteeCharter.MichelleCiccolodiscussedthefutureoftheSidewalk Committee.WhatexactlyistheSWCchargeatthistime?Howdoes/shoulditworkwith theTransportationSafetyCommittee?ShouldtheSWCbedissolved?TheSelectmenwill bediscussingitatthis¶¤¤ªȌ²3¤«¤¢³¬¤­Ȍ²meeting. JudyCrockeraddedthatSafeRoutestoSchoolneedstobeincludedinanyconversation aboutsafetyandsidewalks.ShealsomentionedthattheSchoolCommitteehasno relationshipwithSRTS.SometownshaveapaidpositionforSRTS. 3.CraigWeekssaidthateverychargetheSWChas,iscomplete,withtheexceptionofSafe RoutestoSchool,whichisanongoingprogram.Requestsfornewsidewalksare sometimeschanneledthroughthecommittee,butnotalways.Itisfrustrating.Bettina McGimseycommentedthatonethingtheSWCoffersisthepetitionprocess.Sheis concernedthatwithouttheSWC,thisoptionforcitizensmightnotbeavailable. JudyCrockermentionedthedifferingprioritiesoftheDPWandtheSRTSregardingsnow removal,buthowthe2groupsareabletoworkeffectivelytogether. spokeabouttheCompleteStreetsprogramandhowconsiderationis MichelleCiccolo giventopedestrians,cyclistsandvehicles.Allofthemmustbeabletousethestreets safely.Itisacapitalfundingprogramandneedsstrongcoordinationtogetthefunding fromtheState. forumtodiscusstheSWCandSRTS.Shisapresenterat JudywillbeattendingaMassDOT oneworkshop. 4.TimDunnehasnoupdatesfromthePlanningBoard.Theyhaveameetingcomingupon Thursdayat7:30pmattheDPW.Theywillbelookingatpoliciesregardingdensityand otherzoningissues. 5.DPWUpdate:Nothingatthistime. 6.PlanningBoardUpdate:Ms.CiccolodiscussedthestatewideprogramcalledComplete Streets.Communitiesthatjointheprogramearlyaremorelikelytogetmoremoney.The programisflexibleforallkindsofcommunitiesfromruraltourban.Fundscouldbeused formaintainingbicyclelanesorimprovingmarkings,forexample.Thefundingiscapital money.TownmaintenancemoneyisnotapartofCompleteStreets. 7.LPSTransportationUpdate:Thereare3400studentsridingthebuses.78areonthe waitinglist.Fiskebusesarefull.Bowmanrecentlyaddedanotherbus.Onebusisonorder. Anotheroneismostlikelyneededaswell.CraignotedthatthetransportationandSRTS arecloselyintegrated. 8.SafeRoutestoSchoolUpdate:Noupdatesatthistime. 9.CorrespondenceLog.Nothingnewatthistime.Wereceive23emailspermonth. 10.ReviewoftheJanuary2015minutes.Theywereapprovedasamended.Reviewofthe March16,2015minutes:Theywereapprovedasamended. 11.Themeetingwasadjournedat10:55AM. Respectfullysubmittedby, MaryHosmerFanucci