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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-17-MCBIC-rpt.pdf :; , MEMORANDUM c air March 17, 988 To: Board of Selectmen and Bikeway Committee • From: jack Eddison Subj: Bikeway Progress Report The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway Advisory Committee to the state DPW has met four times over the past six weeks. Two of these meetings have been to review.and comment on the progress of the design work on the project. The other two meetings have been for the purpose of identifying artists who can help to incorporate art and artistic design into such com- ponents of the bikeway as: signs, milestones, gates, bollards, fences, bike racks, benches, etc. At one of the meetings with Vollmer Associates, the design consul- tants, we were given the enclosed materials on: 1 ) "Criteria for Screening /Fencing" and 2) the projected Construction Cost Breakdown. The scree- ning criteria were derived in part from those which have been used by the META. They seem to me to be quite sensible and reasonable. The cost breakdown total is well above the initial $1.5 million initially earmarked for the Minuteman Bikeway project. We understand. however, that an additional $3.5 million has been set aside for bikeways in the current transportation bonding legislation. The final design plans will be prepared separately for each town by Vollmer Associates. Those for Lexington are expected to be ready for submission to the town on April E. The target date for submission of the complete plans, specifications and engineering estimates of the entire Bikeway for review by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is April 27. The Advisory Committee was introduced to the art dimension of the project by being asked, through Urban Arts Inc.. to review representative examples. on color slides, of the work of some 50 area artists who have expressed an interest in producing "public art". From this array we chose four finalists whom we interviewed at a subsequent meeting. We were very favorably impressed with the work of all four of these talented professionals and found it. difficult to choose a single winner. We agreed that each of the three that we had ranked the highest could bring to the project, a particularly desirable talent or point of view. Since the $5000 which had been included in the budget for art was clearly not enough to compensate more than one artist. we recommended to the consultants that they seek additional funding for this purpose. This was done, and an additional $5000 was obtained from the DEM. With the expanded sum, it was agreed on Marchll that the project could call on the services of three artists, Virginia Gunter and Carlos Dorrien of Somerville and Marty Cain of Cambridge. They were prepared to begin work immediately. The Advisory Committee was pleased with this outcome and is confident. that the Bikeway will benefit substantially from this infusion of artistic imagination and talent. MINUTEMAN BIKEWAY - CRITERIA FOR SCREENING/FENCING It is not the intention of the Minuteman Bikeway project to separate the bikeway frau the adjacent properties or to generally fence or screen the bikeway frau adjacent properties. Fencing and screening are being considered in certain areas for two principal landscape reasons: 1. To screen unsafe conditions and undesirable views from bikeway users to maximize safety and enjoyment of the bikeway. 2. To provide security and/or privacy for certain properties whose proximity or exposure to the bikeway creates an identifiable need for such measures. The following criteria are designed to assist abutters in determining whether their property might be eligible for fencing or landscape screening under the second category listed above. 1. The Cwner must show evidence that an issue of safety, security or privacy is clearly identifiable. 2. Physical interruptions such as existing topography, streams, and vegetation which separate the bikeway frau the adjacent property will reduce the likelihood of the property being considered eligible under this program. 3. Proximity: Small back yards will be given priority over extensive yards which tend to buffer residences by virtue of distance alone. 4. Upon request, substantiated by evidence of need for assistance, a preliminary review of individual abutter's circumstances will be made by Town representatives. Upon passing this preliminary screening, a review of the site will be conducted by the Architect/Engineer review team for final approval. 5. Fencing or landscape screening, if approved, will require a 50 percent Owner participation in the cost of fence and/or landscape materials and installation. 6. Only the fence, or screen, which separates the R.O.W. from the Owner 's property shall be considered participatory under this program. If security is the identified reason for fencing, the sides of the property must be fenced as well at Owner 's expense. 7. Gates: Providing access frau abutting private property to the bikeway is considered contrary to the purpose of "safety and security." This will not be considered eligible under the fencing/screening assistance program. Gates may be installed, but the Owner must bear all costs of the gate. ,11152 do. csU e. a� ]] a��� 111111 4 • • L! VOLLMER ASSOCIATES BOSTON MA 8. Screening for privacy reasons shall be achieved through vegetation unless the space necessary to produce the desired effect is not available. If a vegetative buffer is not possible, a solid fence shall be considered. 9. All fencing considered and approved under this program shall be subject to availability of funds and shall be prioritized according to need. 10. No retroactive reimbursement for fences previously built or contracted for is possible. Lj MINUTEMAN COMMUTER BIKEWAY CONSTRUCTION COST BREAKDOWN CLEARING AND GRUBBING $ 150, 000 REMOVE TRACKS AND TIES 170, 000 EARTH EXCAVATION 80 , 500 ORDINARY BORROW 115 ,500 GRAVEL BORROW 164 , 000 BOULDERS 50, 000 RUMBLE STRIP 39 , 900 FINE GRADE AND COMPACT. SUBGRADE 116 , 400 EXTEND DRAINAGE STRUCTURES 60, 000 CLASS I BIT. CONC . PAVEMENT TYPE I-1 402 , 000 WOODEN GUARD RAIL 410 , 000 FENCING 106 , 000 GATES 87 ,500 LANDSCAPE SCREENING 741, 720 PLANTABLE SOIL BORROW ON BIKEWAY 134, 000 SEED 36 , 180 ROADWAY SIGNAGE 5 , 060 4" REFL. WHITE LINE (PAINTED) 24 , 500 12" RELF. WHITE LINE (PAINTED) 3 , 750 BRIDGE REHABILITATION 500 , 000 BIKEWAY SIGNAGE 22, 000 BIKEWAY ACCESS ELEMENTS 173 ,500 INTERSECTION LANDSCAPING 121, 520 SPECIALTIES (AMENITIES) 8, 000 SUB TOTAL $3, 722, 030 TRAFFIC SIGNALS $ 77 , 970 TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $3, 800, 000