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Home My WebLink About2006-08-10-LBAC-min MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: August 10, 2006; 7:00 pm; Rm 111, Town Office Building Members Present: Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Harvey Bingham (scribe), John Frey, George Gagliardi, Abe Shenker, Mike Tabaczynski,Jerry Van Hook, Jim Wichmann Others Present: Rich Spencer (FOB), Erna Greene (FOB), Hank Manz (BoS BAC liaison), Dick Canale (Planning Board liaison), Dave Pinsonneault (DPW), Jeff Roth (MIT Lincoln Labs) Members Absent: Marita Hartshorn Record of Votes taken and issues discussed. Minutes from the June 8 meeting were reviewed and accepted as corrected. Hartwell Avenue Safety: We spent a while discussing and reviewing our concerns for the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians on Hartwell Ave, and our unsuccessful attempts to get the TSAC and TMG to act or to recommend short-term improvements. Dick told us of long-term plans to improve safety at the Maguire Rd and at the Bedford St intersections. But he explained that the poor design of the Avenue itself (too straight and too wide - encouraging speed) needs to be modernized. Meanwhile, we continue to ask for restriping and addition of signage (Bike Route or Share the Road). Jerry showed his analysis of how Hartwell satisfies the state’s criteria for a Bike Route. We decided it’s high time that we bring our concerns directly to the Board of Selectmen by writing them a letter. We unanimously voted to have a letter sent. Abe and Stew will draft it. Hank suggested bringing it up in person at the next BoS meeting, on Sept 28. Jeff Roth, here representing bicycling commuters at Lincoln Labs, told of a survey regarding use of Hartwell Ave he is conducting, and he welcomed all to respond. The url is http://users.rcn.com/jrothim/www/ha_survey.html BAC Reappointments: Jerry, Harvey and John are due for reappointment in September. All three agreed to continue to serve on the committee. Stew will so notify the Selectmen. MAPC Bike rack program: Dick gave an update on the MAPC and MPO grant program: municipalities can buy bike racks and then be compensated for the cost. Towns and cities must fund and do the installation. Money is available, part of the 2 ½ year, $1.4M grant-funded Bicycle Accommodation Program. The three chosen vendors are Cycle-Safe, Dero, and Madrax. Jerry will look into availability or similarity to our HDC-approved Cora racks and also suitability of design of the available racks. Meanwhile we need to get ready our list of preferred spots needing racks. We should check with the school principals for their needs. Hank will bring this up at the next BoS meeting. Status of pedestrian walkways at Center parking lot: John reported on progress: granite curbing was installed along the edge at the bottom of the slope, and mulch was spread on the exposed ground of the slope to stabilize it and discourage walking between paths down. The middle walkway down from the Bikeway to the lower lot is almost complete. The other walkway (which will align with Prince Estabrook Way beside the bank – part of which is on private property) is on hold awaiting resolution of issues. A bike rack and a bench near the Bikeway is still planned for that walkway. We pointed out the snow pile that gets put there every winter, that blocks the Bikeway. Damaged fence behind Liberty’s parking lot: Stew reported this problem had gotten fixed just a few days before. Hank agreed to look into the previously reported broken fence behind the house near the Fottler Ave crossing. Charge of new subcommittee: Discussion was deferred because the meeting had run late. Record of Friends of the Bikeway votes and discussions. Treasurer’s Report : Erna handed over all her Treasurer’s records to Rich, who has assumed the role for the next year. No report was made. Bollard caps and STOP painting: Dave Pinsonneaultshowed an example of the hard plastic caps he and Marita agreed should be bought to replace missing bollard caps. They come in white, but he also showed one that his shop had painted yellow to match the color of the bollards. He will try a bit more to find yellow ones. We prefer yellow: painted by hand if necessary. Dave also agreed to look for yellow reflective tape instead of the red and white striped tape we’ve been using (which doesn’t match the bollards.) FOB voted to authorize payment from our funds for the purchase of new bollard caps, a stencil for painting STOP on pavement at the crossings, and the paint for that purpose. Dave agreed that DPW will install the bollard caps (painting them yellow if necessary) and will do the STOP painting. Next year’s trail grants: Mike reported the RTP grant application is due on October 3, so he asked that ideas for new / improved trails be sent to him by early September. No firm ideas are established at this point. Woburn Street crossing accidents: Two eroded spots at the edge of the pavement beside the gates at this crossing had been identified by Rich and Stew as needing immediate correction since Rich had come upon two different accidents there. DPW put in a temporary fix which help up on one side but washed out on the other side. DPW has scheduled repaving the newly eroded spot. Stew will place a warning cone in the rut in the meantime. Newsletter: The following articles were agreed upon for the next (upcoming soon) FOB newsletter: Sidewalk Committee’s recent accomplishments (Jerry); Bikes not Bombs’ program (Marita); Fixing up bollards (Marita); “Why I joined the committee (George); Tree Planting and walkways by parking lot and Depot status (John); wildflowers along the Bikeway (Rich); Repaving and MWRA Sewer relining project (Stew); Update on trail projects (Mike). Harvey will receive articles and do the publishing. Dunback Meadow trail project report: Mike summarized project status and plans for completion of the trail work and new boardwalks and bridges being done in Dunback Meadow. Miscellaneous Announcements: 1. Dave P. mentioned the repaving of at least the most damaged sections of the Bikeway is still expected, probably next year. He said DPW has agreed to our suggestion that biobarriers (to prevent further root damage) will be installed where most needed. 2. Mike mentioned that a Stewards subcommittee is investigating and doing preliminary planning to connect the Minuteman and MMNHP Battle Road paths by an off-road trail (through Tophet Swamp.). Harvey agreed to forward him the old proposal made by the Bike Committee some years ago. 3. Dick described MAGIC’s recent recommendations regarding bicycle / pedestrian issues: focus is on connectivity between rail trails, and from trails to commercial centers and denser residential neighborhoods. He also announced the next MAGIC meeting, on Sept 14, will be preceded by a tour of the Hudson portion of the Assabet River Trail. 4. The MWRA’s sewer relining project along the Bikeway near Parker Meadow remains on hold. Information Distributed: Draft minutes from the June 8, 2006 meeting Ltr from Richard Canale to Boston MPO on MAGIC TIP Priorities, dated May 22, 2006 Ltr from Richard Canale to Boston MPO on MAGIC planning study suggestions, dated May 15, 2006 Info on MAPC’s Regional Bike Rack Purchasing Program Trans Report, Boston Region MPO newsletter for July 2006 Recorder Name: Harvey Bingham, scribe; Stew Kennedy, editor