HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-09-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
February 9, 2006; 7:00 pm; Rm 111, Town
Office Building
Members Present:
Stew Kennedy (chair), Harvey Bingham (scribe), John Frey, Marita
Hartshorn, Mike Tabaczynski, Jerry VanHook
Others Present:
Rich Spencer (FOB), Charlie Hornig (Planning Board BAC liaison)
Members Absent:
Erna Greene, Abe Shenker, Jim Wichmann
Record of Votes taken and issues discussed.
Minutes
from the December 8, 2005 and January 12, 2006 meetings were reviewed,
corrected and accepted as corrected.
Abutters Survey:
A recent request from advocates for a rail/trail project in Danvers for
explanation of the abutter survey this committee conducted in 1997 led to our discussion
of the survey and the question of whether we should design and do a new one. Although
the results of the earlier survey were generally quite favorable, the data were
unfortunately misconstrued and misrepresented in the record by opponents of a proposed
project in Weston. It was agreed that this was unfortunate, as is the case that the
misinformation is still sometimes resurfacing, as was the case by an opponent of the
Danvers project. Still, care – and survey design skill - would be needed to avoid
perpetuating the same kind of problem were we to redo a survey. Given the complexity of
doing this, we decided to proceed carefully if at all. Jerry offered to dig out and describe
next time what he has from the earlier survey.
Bike Racks:
Stew reported on conversations with Hank Manz and later with Carl
Valente and Linda Crew Vine about the need for more bike racks and specifically about
our draft letter to Walgreen’s manager regarding returning the rack to the Walgreen’s lot.
Traffic Mitigation Group:
Jerry gave a report on the first meeting of this new group to
which he is BAC liaison. He detailed who are the regular and auxiliary members. Regular
members include Gail Wagner, coordinator; Jeanne Krieger, Board of Selectmen; Laura
Cecere, Sidewalk Committee; Wendy Manz, Planning Board; Judy Uhrig, Board of
Appeals; Scott Schilt, Planning Department; and Dave Cannon, Engineering. Auxiliary
members include Diane Pursley and Elaine Dratch, Transportation Advisory Committee;
Sudhir Murthy, TSAC; and Jerry VanHook, BAC.
Jerry summarized his report to that group of our committee’s recommendations for safety
improvements and traffic mitigation by painting bicycle / pedestrian lanes on Hartwell
Avenue. Jerry then summarized the special meeting to discuss fixing the Marrett Road /
Spring Street intersection and the three options being considered: small roundabout,
signalization, and geometric redesign.
Bikeway Signage:
Following up the last meeting’s decision to address deteriorating
signage along the Bikeway, we divided the Bikeway into segments. The special stewards
– we agreed we remember who we are and which sections are ours - will survey the
conditions of the signs in their section and report results to Abe. (In Abe’s absence we
proposed him to pull the results together.) For reference, Stew agreed to find and email to
all the previous sign survey we did in 2003 or thereabouts.
Record of Friends of the Bikeway votes and discussions.
Spring cleanup
of the Bikeway was discussed and a tentative date of Saturday, May 6
was agreed upon. Efforts will be made to get various level scouts involved as well as high
school students. Marita volunteered to be the contact with the Girl Scouts. We will ask
Hank to switch hats and advise on how to enlist Boy Scout help.
Newsletter
: Discussion of a new newsletter was deferred until more members are
present.
Earth Day festival
: We agreed to have the Friends participate in an Earth Day festival
being planned for April 29 by the Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition. It will be
held on the lawn in front of the Visitors’ Center. One of the principal themes will be
changing habits to save energy, like using alternate modes of transportation, so our
message would be very fitting. Participation would be at no charge, and we probably
could share a table with another group.
Misc
: The letter thanking State Rep. Anne Paulsen for her service to bicyclists and
pedestrians was okayed by all and signed by Marita in Abe’s absence. (It was sent by
BAC and FOB jointly, so it was co-signed by Stew.)
Information Distributed:
S. Kennedy draft ltr of February 9, 2006 to Walgreen’s manager
S. Kennedy and A. Shenker ltr of February 9, 2006 to State Rep. Anne Paulsen
Recorder Name:
Harvey Bingham, scribe; Stew Kennedy, editor