HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-09-LBAC-minBicycle Advisory Committee Meeting 1
Town of Lexington
Bicycle Advisory Committee -01/09/2025
January 9, 2025 / 7: 00 PM / In Person Meet i ng / Parker Meet i ng Room
ATTENDEES
Committee Members: Betty Gau, Jim Cadenhead, Suzan Chen, Sarah Hews, Dave
Armstrong, Jonathan Schwarz, Tom Shiple, Ben Alperovich (Student Liaison)
Also Attending: Mike Tabaczynski, Jason Dearling, Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development,
Town of Lexington), Jeff Dowson (Graphic Designer)
1. Approve the November 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Committee voted to approved meeting minutes.
2. Wayfinding Signs from Economic Development – Sandhya Iyer presenting
Presenter: Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development, Town of Lexington)
Designer: Jeff Dowson (Graphic Designer)
Overview:
Sandhya Iyer presented plans for wayfinding signage to enhance navigation in Lexington, with
kiosks and directional signs extending from East Lexington to Hartwell Avenue.
• Funding: $30,000 allocated by DPW for the design and fabrication of two kiosks; Grain
Mill Alley and DPW, along with some ARPA funding.
• Proposed Locations (12):
o Westview Street
o Hartwell Avenue
o Bedford Street
o Parker Meadow
o Camellia Place
o Hancock Street
o Meriam Street
o Depot Square
o Edison Way
o Fletcher Street
o Hayes Lane
Feedback on Specific Locations:
1. Hancock Street:
o Recommended clear signage to improve visibility and trail identification.
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2. Meriam Street & Depot Square:
o Concerns about parked trucks potentially blocking signs.
o Suggestion: Eliminate one parking spot near Meriam Street to improve visibility.
3. Edison Way:
o Feedback from Betty: Potential overlap with an electric sign planned for the
center area.
o Sandhya: Suggest kiosk placement to help navigate to parking lots. Proposal
includes additional bike racks behind the dumpster.
o Sarah: Recommended adding "Walk Your Wheels" signs.
o Betty: Concern that kiosks could disrupt bikers and create stopping points.
4. Fletcher Street:
o Tom: High-traffic intersection may complicate signage placement.
o Jeff: Suggested referencing successful signage in Arlington to guide design.
5. Grain Mill Alley:
o Popular bike parking location but limited space for a kiosk.
6. Town Center:
o General consensus to reduce the number of signs to avoid clutter.
o Proposed signs should be visually distinct and integrate commercial information.
Key Discussion Points:
• Sign Functionality:
o Trail entrance identification (e.g., ID1, ID2 signs).
o Integration of commercial information (coffee shops, restaurants, etc.).
o Use of e-ink displays powered by solar panels for flexibility and reduced
environmental impact.
• Safety Concerns:
o Signs should not obstruct pathways or create bottlenecks.
o Ensure signs are visible without requiring bikers to stop abruptly.
• Design Considerations:
o Standard dimensions: 27 x 36 inches.
o Initial focus on the center area for Lex250
o Plans to expand signage in phases, prioritizing key locations.
• Funding & Implementation:
o Additional funding may be required beyond DPW allocations.
o Coordination with the town and testing the signage app will ensure functionality.
Next Steps:
1. Narrow down specific sign locations based on feedback.
2. Finalize designs with input from professionals and the committee.
3. Committee to provide a letter of approval to the center committee for implementation.
4. Target installation of center area signs by April 2025.
Conclusion:
Sandhya and Jeff will refine designs and return to the committee with updates. Stakeholders
emphasized balancing functionality, safety, and visual clarity to meet the needs of both bikers
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3. Review Planning Board Upcoming Projects
Tom presented the proposal for 7 Hartwell Ave
Proposal Feedback Hearing: Scheduled for January 13, 2025.
Bike Parking Protocol Overview:
• Units & Parking:
o 130 residential units, 69% of which are one-bedroom, averaging 400 sq. ft.
o Underground parking provided.
o 195 bike parking spaces proposed, including a first-floor bike room.
• Accessibility:
o The bike room is accessible via the lobby or an exterior door.
o Concerns raised about safely reaching the bike room from Hartwell Avenue (via
sidewalk) or from the bikeway at Westview.
o Suggested solution: A dedicated path from Bedford Street to Westview.
• Bike Rack Specifications:
o 12 bike decks accommodating 48 bikes.
o 4 additional decks for 16 bikes.
o Space for 20 e-bikes (preferred parking for e-bikes should not require double-
level racks).
• Cargo Bike Space:
o No cargo bike parking included in the initial design.
o Recommendation: Reallocate five spaces for cargo bike parking.
• Proposed Changes & Motion: Tom motioned to the bike com to send the letter to PB
on 7 Hartwell with the recommendations discussed:
• Update the proposal language before February 13, 2025, to include:
o Revised parking guidelines for 5 cargo bike spaces.
o Enhanced pathways for safer transit from exterior locations to the bike room.
o Reconfigure the indoor bike parking space
• The Committee Voted and the Motion Passed:
o Approve the bike parking guidelines as presented.
o Authorize the Bike Parking Working Group to finalize and submit the proposal
language to the Town Meeting before the next LBAC meeting.
• Additional Recommendations:
• Add bike parking guidelines for future residential and commercial developments to
ensure adequate and safe accommodations for bikes and e-bikes.
• TM Article about Bike Parking
o Bike parking working group came up with a draft and the Planning Board will review it
Feb 12th.
o Motion was made and seconded to authorize the bike parking working group to
approve the motion of the article that is being proposed by Planning Board on Feb
12th. The motion passed.
4. Worthen Road Side Paths for New LHS
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Discussion Points:
• Pedestrian and Bike Lane Separation:
o Proposal to have separate lanes for pedestrians and bikers to enhance
safety.
o Options include two sidewalks with one bike path or elevated, separated
lanes.
o Might have significant opposition to cutting down trees for path expansion.
• Safety and Accessibility:
o Ensuring bike lanes are clearly marked and adjacent sidewalks.
o Addressing the shortest paths for students to access contraflow lanes
safely.
o Proposing the removal of parallel parking to get additional bike lane
o Current availability of 170 parking spots in Lincoln field, mostly unused
during the day.
• Parking Solutions:
o Overflow parking to be redirected to Lincoln field.
Recommendations Discussed:
• Eliminate parallel parking to get the bike lane.
• Implement contraflow bike lanes with clear separation from pedestrian paths.
• Utilize Lincoln field for overflow parking to accommodate high demand.
Next Steps:
• Planning and Coordination:
o Create a Working Group to review Worthen Road safety and bike lanes
o Jim, Dave, Betty, Ben and Sarah to assist with the development and
coordination of the proposed paths and parking solutions.
5. Upcoming Events:
o Next BAC Meeting: February 6, 2025, in person
o Bike Way Block Party 2: Pizza party for working groups on January 13,
2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Munroe Center. Everyone is welcome and
anyone who wants to get involved is welcome to join the working group.
o 250th Patriots Day Bike Rack Installation: Bike racks donated by PMC
to be installed on April 19, 2025. Patriots’ day. Volunteers needed.
o Tri-Town Bike Mtg with Bedford & Arlington Wed Feb 19th on Zoom
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