HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-18-LBAC-min-copyTown of Lexington
Bicycle Advisory Committee-07/18/2024
July 18 2024 / 7:30 PM / Remote Meeting
ATTENDEES (present in bold)
Committee Members: Betty Gau, Ram Reddy, Jim Cadenhead, Suzan Chen, Dave Armstrong, Tom
Shiple
Other Attendees: Jonathan Schwartz, Jonathan Bernays, Mark Sandeen, Tom Lin
The meeting opened and Betty started the discussion on the email received from
Ross Morrow to the Committee to alert us of the Minuteman Bikeway closure for paving. Bikeway
Closure per Ross – starting Monday July 22 – until August 13th
• Woburn St to 100 feet past Hancock Street
• Detour should be provided through Lexington Center using the streets.
• The Bikeway will only be closed during the week 7 am – 5 pm; open nights and
weekends but gravel surface.
• Betty has a meeting with Ross on Monday and will ask more about the bikeway closure
We discussed that biking through the Center is going to be tough for most riders
Suzan mentioned that she is worried that from Center by the Cary Library the road doesn’t have specific
lines for the bike. If there could be better signage for cars to be cautious about bikes being in the streets
during the bikeway closure that would provide more safety measures.
By Woburn St to the Post Office there is a separate bike lane but after that there is no lane and it’s
confusing for a biker to understand where to ride on the street. There is no shoulder and the bikers are
force to ride along the parked cars/door line which is very dangerous from car doors being opened.
The Committee will request DPW for additional signage for cars to be made aware of the additional bikes
riding through the Center during the detour. Bikers will be sharing the lanes with cars and signage would
be helpful to remind motorists that Bicyclists will be taking the full lane during the detour.
The Committee developed a list of questions and suggestions for the DPW regarding the bike detour
during the bikeway closure and Betty took the action to email the list to Ross.
1. Approve June 13, 2024 Meeting Minutes
The Committee approved the minutes by show of hands.
2. Review Planning Board Upcoming Projects
89 Bedford Street
- We asked to move the 28 bike parking spaces in the shed and swap out to the garage
- We need to convince the Planning Board staff to be an advocate
- There’s a 3rd public hearing on 89 Bedford St – write a letter to Planning Board to request
moving
- Bike Parking into underground Garage. Aug 14 hearing.
- Write letter recommending move bike parking and providing charging for ebikes
- Regulations now require bike parking be protected from the elements.
- We discussed writing a letter about the ebike charging.
- Points for having the bike parking in the garage –
- It’s closer to the car for putting on bike rack; bike parking right by car
- Easier for bringing in groceries
- Jim moved to create the letter for bike accommodations under the complex and ebike
accommodations.
- Motion was seconded. The Committee voted and the Motion was passed.
331 Concord Avenue (already discussed Piper Rd last time)
Current Project’s page
Application materials may be viewed: https://lexingtonma.portal.opengov.com/records/91785
- Abigail McCabe Lex Planning Director requested our input by end of July
- 200 rental units
- Tom asked developer to add ADA door with automatic opening to make it easier to bring
in bike.
- Bike Rack choices were discussed - Allow more bikes (Downtown Rack suggested)
- 2 feet rack or 4 feet rack
- Cargo Bikes need more space
- Jonathan Schwarz - Parks his cargo bike next to bike racks
- Move Parking # 3 away from Entrance of garage to provide safer sight-lines for cars to
see bikes entering and exiting.
- Bike File - Lots of Deficiencies (so no waiver to be granted)
- 52 bike parking spaces – racks 4 ft spaced out
- Regulation 12.4.3 – safe interior circulation: 12.4.3.3:
- The site shall be designed to assure safe interior circulation. Pedestrian ways,
bikeways, and vehicular traffic shall be separated physically and visually with
paint or the use of different materials.
- The Committee reviewed all of the bike rack designs suggested by the developer. We
reviewed the Dero website and chose the bike rack that we will suggest to the developer.
- We do not like the request to waive the regulation for having biking off the ground.
The Committee discussed the bike parking options and suggestions and Tom took the action to
write the letters to the Planning Board as discussed.
Jonathan Bernays took the action to talk to Temple Emunah (about connecting Piper and
Concord complexes)
3. Discussion on the Minuteman Bikeway Maintenance
In Betty’s letter to Ross she will also include the Committee’s suggestion for signage during the
detour.
MassDOT/MWRA will begin paving Lowell Street between Maple Street and Summer Street
including Summer Street to the Arlington line beginning on July 22nd. The road will have
partial/one lane closures in place directing traffic along detour routes set up in the field. Please
exercise caution when driving through the area and seek alternate routes.
Betty will also ask Ross about the status of the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB)
that were approved to be constructed at several Bikeway intersections.
4. Liaison Reports
• Select Board – Mark Sandeen
There are two new developments being proposed:
1. 474 Bedford 150 units
2. 17 Hartwell 311 units
Select Board received notice today about the paving of bikeway
Paving Lowell St between Maple and Summer streets
Lowell St paving up to East St – one lane traffic for 2 months
What are the dates of the paving on Lowell? Suzan asked so bikers can be notified in
advance. Betty took the action to include this question in her letter to Ross.
5. Other Business
Jim talked about the upcoming Bikeway Block Party scheduled for September 15th.
There are many groups registered to perform and provide classes along the bikeway. -
Lots of Exciting stuff. Betty will double check that Ross and the DPW are aware of this
event.
· Next LBAC Meeting: August 15th