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Home My WebLink About2010-09-13-WALKS-min Sidewalk Committee Monday September 13, 2010 Present: Jerry Van Hook (Chair), Francine Stieglitz, Jeanne Krieger, Lucy Fletcher-Jones, Judy Crocker, Meg Lotz ; Liaisons: Wayne Brooks, Mark Valenti, Elaine Celi; Guest: Marianne Lazarus The meeting was called to order at 11:04 The minutes of the July12, 2010 meeting were accepted as corrected. Requests for new sidewalks The Chair sought updates on four projects that have come before the Committee. Winthrop Street from Mass Ave to Highland Ave and a short (100 ft) segment) of new sidewalk along the east side of Waltham Street, bringing it to the Winthrop St. Action: Francine will contact the proponent Jill Hai to recommend that a petition, indicating neighborhood support is necessary to proceed with requesting funding for conceptual design work. Hill St.-request for sidewalk Action: Meg will contact the proponents and recommend they proceed with gathering signatures to show support for proceeding with conceptual design funding. Follen Hill- The Town has completed preliminary work to attain rights-of-way. The project is currently being bid. Construction is expected spring 2011. The project is federally funded, though a grant implanted by the state. Pleasant St.-Completion of the sidewalk from Worthen Rd. East to Watertown Street to connect Bowman School neighborhood with Peacock Farms neighborhood is highly desirable to improve safety and accessibility. However there has not as yet been an advocate to champion what is likely to be an expensive project. Wayne Brooks will draft and circulate to the Committee the process to initiate and seek funding and approval for citizen initiated new sidewalk construction projects. Other Sidewalk projects Clarke Middle School—Pat Goddard, Director of Facilities Maintenance, will be invited to our next meeting to provide an update Concord Ave.-New sidewalk request for west of Waltham to Spring St. Funding for the conceptual study was approved at the Annual Town Meeting. The process of bidding the study has started. New sidewalks constructed in conjunction with road repair and resurfacing: School St Sidewalks completed. Concern has been voiced about a crosswalk that extend into driveways Burlington Street sidewalk installation is ongoing Wood Street sidewalk on east side, entire length, will be considered as part of Transportation Management Overlay District (TMOD) project. Other issues: Woburn St.-some residents do not maintain the grass strip in front of their homes .DPW Operations are checking to see if there is a letter to send to residents asking them if they would keep the town owned grass strip mowed that is in front of their property. Judy Crocker will draft an article for the Minuteman, featuring maintenance and safety issues. Adams St-erosion of grass strip near Coolidge Ave. –DPW has repairs scheduled Mass Ave at Estabrook Rd.—Sidewalk, washed out from water main break, will be repaired. DPW Master List of sidewalk Repairs and Construction There are at least three Town departments involved in sidewalk work. 1.DPW Operations (Wayne Brooks and Mark Valenti) with responsibility for completing and maintaining the sidewalk master list as well as prioritizing and conducting repairs, minor construction and rebuild projects. DPW Operations prioritizes their limited budget for sidewalk maintenance by consideration of frequency of use , condition and complaints received 2.Town Engineer (John Livsey) whose responsibilities include design and construction of new sidewalks, both citizen and Town initiated as well as coordination of State and federal funded programs and rebuilding of existing sidewalks. 3.Facilities Maintenance ( Pat Goddard, Director) coordination and design of projects at school sites. Wayne distributed the revised Master List and requested members assist in project prioritization. Within each elementary school district members were asked to recommend 3 or 4 construction projects and 3 or 4 repair projects. Mark Valenti reported on sidewalk repair work being undertaken by the DPW Mass Ave at Bow St. –completed Laconia and Lowell-handicap ramp installed Baskin Rd and Loring –rebuild Bedford St near Public Services Building-handicap ramp installed Mass Ave near Police Station –repairs resulting from destruction caused by water service break In front of Town Hall near the postal boxes- replace concrete panels Worthen Rd. Near Militia Drive-repairs required to correct tree root upheaval Handicap ramps installed as part of Engineering project Mass Ave to Judge’s way-on list of Worthen Rd. is not on Engineering Department rebuild list Sidewalk Committee Membership Both Francine Stieglitz and Lucy Fletcher –Jones will re-up. Judy Crocker will seek new membership from Safe Routes to School (SR2S) coordinators. Hartwell Ave. TMOD The committee voted to express its concern that conditions and access for pedestrians will not improve as long as conceptual design work is based upon current usage statistics. If there is not pedestrian travel because there are neither sidewalks nor safe street crossing, the statistics will show a bias against pedestrian interests. The Sidewalk Committee emphasized its commitment to improved pedestrian accessibility. New Business Marianne Lazarus commented on the path from Woodland Ave. to Fiske School. This route is neither safe nor accessible to bicycle riders and pedestrians with strollers because of the stairs. Marianne would like to see the situation corrected as well as better maintenance of the path. She was advised that if the School administration is made aware of a maintenance problem they will respond quickly. Marianne offered to write a letter to the Minuteman urging pedestrians to walk on the left side of roads without sidewalks. Old Business Judy Crocker reported on the2010-2011 SR2S program. The schedule of walking days has been printed on bookmarks and distributed to students. Both Middle Schools are participating in the program Elaine Celi reported School bus ridership has increased relative to last year. The meeting adjourned at 12:40 pm The next meeting will be Monday, October 4 at 11 am. Respectfully submitted, Jeanne Krieger