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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-06-LBAC-minTown of Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee-02/06/2025 February 6, 2025 / 7:00 PM / Meeting conducted via Zoom ATTENDEES Committee Members: Betty Gau, Jim Cadenhead, Dave Armstrong, Jonathan Schwarz, Jonathan Bernays, Ben Alperovich (Student Liaison) Also Attending: Mike Tabaczynski, Tim Wilson, Susan Barrett (Town Transportation), Ross Morrow (DPW) 1. Approve the January 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes The Committee unanimously approved the minutes. 2. Review Planning Board Upcoming Projects There were no projects to review this month. 3. Worthen Road Working Group Update The Select Board meeting discussed our letter at their February 3, 2025 meeting • The Town Manager presented that he had assigned Megan McNamara, Assistant Planning Director to be the point person on this effort and that she would coordinate with TSG as well as the Bicycle Advisory Committee. • Worthen Road was discussed as a high priority. Joe Pato mentioned that the School Building Committee is planning to consider this issue as well. • The Board was highly supportive of the Town Manager's proposal. • The TSC meets monthly at 10 am in the morning and meetings are virtual – hybrid if people can’t make it in person. • Jim described the Working Group’s proposal; introduction of multi-use paths on both sides of the road with a striped like bikeway • Another option that was reviewed was to reduce parking on both sides and gave 2 bike lanes – one in each direction on each side. • Goal is to accommodate all users on that road to get the protection of off street biking and on street bikers; especially accommodate student bikers and walkers. • The road is not wide enough to accommodate both parallel parking and bike lanes. • Betty read the email from Committee member Tom Shiple regarding the Working Group’s proposal for a shared bikeway off the road. Tom explained he would like to see the following idea remain on the table for further consideration: add a protected bike lane in each direction to the current road, and maintain the existing sidewalks for pedestrians. If there is not enough space to add protected bike lanes, then remove parking on the east side of Worthen Road. I think this approach has the following benefits: 1. Provides pedestrians with their own space so they don’t have to worry about bicycles passing them in close proximity. 2. Avoids the need for cyclists to cross over the road to get to a shared bicycle/pedestrian path. 3. Cyclists in protected bike lanes are more visible than they would be on a shared path when crossing school driveways. 4. Provides better site lines along the curve in Worthen Road if parking is removed from the east side. 5. The lost parking can be accommodated at Lincoln Park, making shared use of a parking lot that sits largely empty during the school day. 6. To the extent that parking at Lincoln Park for students isn't as convenient as Worthen Road, perhaps this will encourage some students to find alternate means to get to school. • Jim responded: Who are we designing and building it for? For confident bikers Tom’s plan is good with good points. But if we are designing and building this for students and vulnerable bikers and walkers then we need an off street path. Kids will feel safer on a bikepath on the sidewalk off the street, than riding alongside parked cars. The shared bikepath would get used more often. • There was much agreement with moving forward with the shared bikepath; 10 foot bikeway on both sides, by expanding the exising sidewalks. • Jonathan Bernays – how do bikers get to the bike lanes on Worthen Rd> – they have to bike on the street to get there from the MMCBikeway, down Worthen across Mass Ave. • Dave, agreed and made the same point – bikers won’t be discouraged in the difference between these two proposals • Jim – If we are keeping the bikers/students on the road then we are not protecting • Ben – it is less safe being on the street; he is not a fam of eliminating parking on Worthen Rd.; there’s already not enough parking for LHS students. • The group discussed parking at Lincoln Street parking lot; Ben commented that is it pretty far to walk, especially at 8 am in the morning when students are rushing to get to class. • Dave – asked if walkways going through the Lincoln park are shoveled and plowed? Ross was not sure but it was discussed that it would be feasible to have the paths plowed for the high school students but it would have to get it across to the decision makers. • Susan noted that Worthen Rd east to Waltham Street has plenty of street parking and it’s a very wide street. It would required students to cross Waltham Street to get to LHS. If plans require removal of parking on Worthen Rd then consider that location. • Susan brought up the point in the BAC letter to the Select Board about creating a School Zone by LHS and reducing the speed limit. TSG would have to give approval for the School Zone. Historically LHS was not a school zone but now MassDOT recommends high schools have School Zones. • Susan also noted that Ben and students could advocate the proposed Worthen Road bikeway design – to have protected bike lanes. This is a time for Ben to give his feedback. Bike racks are not even planned for the new high school. This is a good time to advocate for transportation at new LHS. • Susan said shuttle buses and other options to get to school are being discussed. The Town had a study with a recommendation to better utilize resources spending on transportation – such as school buses. The buses are leaving schools empty and are not that full going to school. Recommendation was to repurpose for more public transportation. • Jonathan – while we think about solutions don’t just think about the recent accident on Worthen Rd. Being doored by a parked car is a serious consideration and speed will not change that. It would be wise to keep all of the hazards on the table. • Ross as we move forward – who will make the decisions such as parking? The Committee needs to figure out who will make these decisions and have the money to allocate. Money is the other issue – facilities were willing to put some construction cost into the new high school - maybe $1-3M for moving curbs required to expand the existing sidewalks to create a shared bikepath. • Jim noted that we got opposition from the former LHS principle but there is a new principal at LHS now. Also, we now have the town approved Bike/Ped Plan, with the first priority on Worthen Road. Also, having the Town Manager assigning a point person from the Planning Dept are all 3 big benefits to getting this done. • Jim also mentioned that having Ben involved as our student liaison is key. Before we go full speed ahead we need to figure out who will make decision. • Mike T – research/studies on bike lanes next to the curb are considered safer; there is less change of getting doored on the passenger side. If done correctly it is less likely to get doored. That is the preferred design in Somerville. If there is not enough room for bikelanes and sidepaths – Mike would choose a sidepath. He thinks they are safer for sure – but riding on the road is always more dangerous. • Ross – yes we have the space on Worthen Road for a 10 ft bikepath for both sides – with pavement in between sidewalk and curb 2 ft grass pavements; it would cost maybe $1.5 million to include both. • Raised cross walks will not pass emergency services – it slows them down. Betty mentioned that many other towns and cities in the area have raised crosswalk. • Jonathan B – the primary folks we are tying to help are students – they are not the majority asking to put up with impediments to be able to make biking safer – there’s a cultural impediment – the logical things would be to take out 30 spaces so we should not hijack the project over 30 parking spaces • Ben – agrees with JB’s statement but wants to keep the parking • Jim – it’s a quandary – is our goal to change behavior and make a cultural shift or address the issues that are there now? • Betty – one goal is to implement this before the start of LHS construction • Dave – apart from speed humps at cross walks – we liked narrowing travel lanes- can’t we narrow the traffic lanes anyway – what other traffic calming measures can we apply? • Ross – yes, when we restripe we could bring the lane width down. We can paint on the street School Zone or zip zag lines when approaching a crosswalk • TSG should take School Zone to Select Board about it; Safety Zone versus School Zone – permanent speed zone all the time versus school zone only during school hours • Tim - If the people getting doored and those opening the doors and not slowing for crosswalks are part of the same population -- LHS students -- perhaps some education at the high school on the Dutch reach and sharing the road might help address the issue. It certainly can be done sooner and cheaper while whatever infrastructure changes are in the works. 4. Bike Safety Working Group Proposal – Jonathan Bernays • Transportation Safety Group is an appointed working group by town manager • Jonathan – Lexington doesn’t live up to being a Bike Friendly town in many ways; the infrastructure does not support safe biking. It’s worth considering continuing our relationship with Police; addressing safety issues on Bikeway and Roads in town. • Things Jonthan B has noticed: o Places changes have been made for peds and now more dangerous for bike o Sides of roads not maintained for bikes o Continue relationship with Facilities – good relationship • Jonathan B: I volunteer to draft a charter for a Bike safety committee for consideration by the LBAC at our next meeting. It will be added to the agenda for March’s meeting. • Jim – we need data about safety in town. An easy thing would be to set up a collection center to collect data; FOLB is proposing surveys of riders coming to coffees – to get direct feedback • Jonathan volunteered to be the LBAC TSG liaison. • TAC – Susan – their purvey is to reduce single occupancy car use and Jim suggested to have a liaison to TAC 5. Liaison Reports Ross Morrow – • Hartwell/Bedford st approved by Select Board to start long process with MassDOT • Tom brought it up on road bike lanes during the Select Board meeting but the design presented has sidepaths. • The new LHS - there is a traffic study being done and will go to TSG next month • Ross will bring it up about a School Zone to the TSG – it’s not a heavy lift • Lowell St s– traffic light being installed. • RRFB – no update they are gathering equipment and get installed in the spring • Maybe before the 250th • Marrett Rd being built by state – next summer Susan Barrett – programs and education • Student Ambassador program – working with elementary students and lots of other projects, Rodeo • Walk and bike to school day yesterday – only Harrington & Estabrook • LPS agreed to do in-school pedestrian and bike safety classes • Breakfast on the Bikeway 6. Other Business • Friends of Lexington Bikeways (FOLB) Report • Jim – FOLB wil be part of the Patriots Day parade • Revere Ride – start at Columbus Park and following lead with the lantern lighting Friday April 18th starting in the evening around 7 pm • Patriots Day Parade – • Tim Wilson – it’s a challenge due to space and speed • Include the bikes without riding them – create a space for kids riding smaller bikes • Use our adult bikes as rolling sandwich boards – with info on signs on the bikeway, 4ft passing law, block party – • Will have music with a bike themed playlist • Reaching out to have kids ride with us – • Concord Museum is doing a Revere Ride in May – reenactments of Dawes and Revere • May 17th - Ride – inviting cyclists from all surrounding towns who sent Militia • Bikeway Block Party – Jim o Put on the agenda the official support of LBAC to the block party for insurance purposes • Next LBAC Meeting: March 13th - 7:00 – 9:00 pm • Tri-Town Bicycle Advisory Meeting: February 19th 7:30 pm