HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-11-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
May 11, 2006; 7:00 pm; Rm 111, Town Office Building
Members Present:
Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Harvey Bingham (scribe), John Frey, Erna Greene,
Marita Hartshorn, Abe Shenker (FOB Chair), Mike Tabaczynski
Others Present:
Rich Spencer (FOB), Hank Manz (BoS BAC liaison), Sandra Shaw (Rec Comm
Liaison)
Members Absent:
Jerry VanHook, Jim Wichmann
Record of Votes taken and issues discussed.
Minutes
from the April 13 meeting were reviewed and accepted as corrected.
Center Connectivity Plan:
John showed drawings of the Center Committee’s plans for connectivity
improvements in the center lot (behind CVS) and reported on conversations with that committee.
Although funding is uncertain, and landscaping will be deferred in any event, it appears the project
may happen this year. No votes were taken, but we agreed the design will be an improvement. It will
approve the general appearance of the area. It will focus the crossing points between the upper and
lower lots which will improve safety and reduce erosion of the bank. Care should be taken to place the
bench and bikerack far enough from the Bikeway pavement to avoid interference. More bike parking
space should be considered: for instance, near the bank building where the current drive will be
converted to a walkway. Where the pedestrian crossing of the Bikeway between the lots is being
added, the pavement should be painted with zebra stripes, and appropriate signage – for parking lot
pedestrians and Bikeway traffic - should be provided. John agreed to be the BAC’s contact as these
plans progress, and to bring our recommendations on signage and benches to the Center Committee.
BMPO Funding for Bike Racks
: Marita reported that Dick Canale found we have more time than we
had thought to request BMPO funding for bike racks, and that the state will pay for the racks they
approve. The town would have to pay for installation. More details on the application process are
expected soon. Meanwhile, we proposed several promising candidate locations for racks: in the lot
behind Michaelson’s, Tower Park, Season’s Four crossing of the Bikeway, the Old Res, Garfield
playground, Hastings Park, Marrett Square (off Waltham St.), the Lowell St. / Woburn St. intersection,
and at some of the conservation areas’ entrances. We agreed each of the schools should have racks.
DPW and Mowing:
Rich and Stew reported on meeting with Dave Pinsonneault (DPW) about
Bikeway mowing. We commended Dave on last year’s mowing being restricted to four-foot swatches
on each side as we had requested. He agreed to do so again this year. Except in the center, where
mowing will be as often as every week, the mowing may only be done a few times, because of the
manpower shortage.
Miscellaneous
:
1. Mike summarized plans for the Dunback Meadow boardwalk project scheduled for May
27. He will post the notice for LHS environmental stewardship volunteers.
2. Abe reported seeing an old lean-to in the trees between Fottler and Bow Streets that
looked as if someone might have been living in it. Stew agreed to investigate, and report
it to police if appropriate.
3. Abe recalled getting an action at the April meeting but couldn’t recall the content. We
agreed to search our own notes and add the action to this meeting’s minutes. Marita
later found the following in her notes: we established a subcommittee to recommend
policies regarding bike routes, racks and parking. Abe, Jerry and Dick (Canale) agreed
to serve on this subcommittee.
4. Abe raised the concern that pavement patches made after the Keyspan trenching work
last year (and this) have left hazardous spots for bicyclists in many places in town. Stew
reported that Town Meeting was told by Bill Hadley that this summer’s repaving will
correct all the spots so affected by the gas line trenching.
5. Consider at our next meeting making Jere Frick a life member of the BAC.
Record of Friends of the Bikeway votes and discussions.
Treasurer’s Report
: Balance is $2149.10. Rich will consider taking over as Treasurer and will decide
by the June meeting.
Earth Day festival report
: It worked well as a way to inform visitors about bicycling in Lexington.
Many people stopped at our table, but we signed up only one new member. There was quite a bit of
interest in Safe Routes to Schools. We decided not to have a table at Discovery Day this year.
Spring Cleanup report:
It was deemed a success. The Bikeway looks good, all the litter and trash and
lots of garlic mustard were bagged and later picked up by DPW. Abe wrote a letter to the editor of The
Lexington Minuteman thanking the many volunteers.
Miscellaneous:
1. Abe will look into getting an electronic version of the Sidewalk Committee’s new map that
shows all the sidewalks in town, and see if it can be overlaid with the recommended safe
bicycle routes (as shown on our 1999 Lexbike map.)
2. Harvey will contact David Williams about getting commemorative bricks for Bikeway pioneers
paid for by one of the town trusts.
Information Distributed:
Draft minutes from the April 13, 2006 meeting
Recorder Name:
Harvey Bingham, scribe; Stew Kennedy, editor