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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-10-LBAC-min I Own Of 11 ekliigtaili Bicycle Advisory Committee 06/1 0 10 Juin e 2021 / 7:00 11::1M / oin Zoom ATTENDEES Members: Kevin Falcone, Omar Khudari , Peggy Enders, Mike Tabaczynski , Bob Hausslein, George Gagliardi Members Absent: Betty Gau, Matthias Beebe, Jim Cadenhead Also Attending: Richard Canale, Susan Barrett (Human Services) , Ram Reddy Ross Morrow (DPW) , NOTES Called to order 7:05 PM Rapid Recovery Program grant meeting happened on Tuesday, June 8. There is gov't funding available for beautification, branding, and better amenities along the bike path. For the purpose of helping retail businesses recover from the pandemic. They have a plan to make a plan. Not clear if funding is already allocated, or whether they have to apply. Many attendees advocated for better signage. One idea was improving rear-facing facades of buildings. Not clear if the project can do things like that on private property. Peggy: remember there is funding already approved by town meeting for kiosks on the bike path. That project is stalled. Richard: this is 100,06 economic development initiative. They don't care about recreation or anything else. You should decide if that is good for the bikeway/bicycling® It seems they are going to replicate the Toole Design work. The scenic byway is now an All-America road. There is federal money, maybe up to $1 million for the byway. We might be able to get that money to help make it more accessible to bicycles and pedestrians. Peggy: how about a grant to widen the bike path? Comprehensive Plan Public Input Forum is Tuesday, June 15. Everyone should attend, and advocate for bike-friendliness. Richard: in 2018 the planners did lots of public outreach. Bike advocates spoke up and were heard. At this stage, they don't seem eager for lots of public input. Peggy: we have to keep reminding the Select Board and town staff of the need for bike facilities over the next 5 years® That is more important than what words are written in the Comprehensive Plan. Susan: MAPC could help us write a bike & ped plan as soon as April 2022® They would charge $25 - 30K, which is less than a private consultant would cost. Richard: MAPC helped Arlington to plan how to revitalize Arlington Heights. Maybe Lexington should do something similar for all of East Lexington, not just the rear-facing facades. The state did a round of funding for infrastructure improvements. We might get another flashing beacon pedestrian crossing on Marrett Road. The plan for a bike node in Lexington center is being revised. We have many bike racks in town that don't meet current standards (Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals} ® Susan: working on adding bicycle education to schools. Mark: is there a mandate for including bike accommodations for state roads? What legislator would be the right one to discuss that? Peggy: Senator William Brownsberger® You should also talk to Galen Mook, Ex. Dir. of MassBike® ACTION ITEMS 1. NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA Not sure if meeting will be in person on July 8® FRIENDS OF LEXINGTON BIKEWAYS We are donating over $5,000 for water fountain in the center, plus $400 for memorial® Plenty of cash in the bank. Peggy: we should revisit the mission and revitalize the committee.