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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-13-LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: October 13, 2011, 7 pm, Rm 111 Town Office Building Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), John Frey, Marita Hartshorn, Jerry Van Hook, Laurel Carpenter, Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Richard Canale, (Planning Board Liaison), Sandra Shaw (Recreation Committee Liaison), George Gagliardi. Others Present: Margaret Stebbins, Richard Spencer Members Absent: John Frey, Stew Kennedy, Mike Tabaczynski, Peter Kelley (Selectmen’s Liaison) Minutes : The September 2011 minutes were accepted. Bikeway Plowing for 2011-12 : Peggy met with Peter Kelley to discuss some changes to the current agreement with the Town. We propose to hire Jimmy McLaughlin at $70/hour pending approval by the Selectmen. We will request that all the gates be left open on one side and that barrels be put in place, as was done at limited intersections last year. Road Inventory of Streets and Roads : Bob Dangel, Stew, Richard Canale, and Peggy met again with John Livsey on the inventory of Lexington streets as they related to bicycle friendliness. The objective is that the town engineers will consult the advice on this document when streets are slated for some sort of work, so that improvements for cyclists can be addressed. For example: on Worthen Road and Spring Street, sharrows will be painted on the road to indicate that both bikes and cars have a place on the road (the Share the Road signs on Spring Street have been removed). Although the recommendation was made, John Livsey indicated that a bike box at Worthen and Bedford is not feasible because of the current traffic signaling system. The next step in this project is to set priorities based on safety, use, connectivity and condition. Jerry Van Hook has volunteered to help with this. Granite curbing was discussed. The issue of cycling on sidewalks outside of the center and safe cycling to school should be discussed at a later meeting. (Currently, individual schools principals set cycling to school policy.) Information about sharrows and the laws supporting the rights of cyclists to take the full lane should be conveyed to drivers, perhaps through a notice in the tax bill. Laurel will bring a sample. DCR Grant for Minuteman Bikeway User Information (Update): Peggy is seeking others to help write an RFP for the architectural design work. During the period of the grant, volunteer efforts will be part of the matching funds and will reduce the cost of the project. Plans for Bikeway Drainage and Root Control: Bids are going out for root control. If the roots cannot be eliminated this fall, the committee unanimously approved a motion to request that these be shaved down as a safety measure. Bikeway Intersection Safety Upgrades : No progress to report. Bike Racks: Marita and Peggy met with Chris Filadoro to explain to him the process and locations of the nine “U” shaped racks. These will be installed this fall. David Pinsonneault will advise Chris on the installation of the 6-foot bike racks. The Lexington Historical Society agreed to have a rack at the Monroe Tavern. Because this location, (private property) does not conform to the MAPC guidelines, the Friends of Lexington Bikeways will buy one rack for them. Marita will meet with Susan Bennett. Bikeway Counts : Margaret Stebbins reported 4.110 users on Saturday, September 10 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Tuesday, September 10 there were 1,144 users between 7-9:30, noon-1, and 4 to 7. Center Streetscape: Jerry distributed a letter in support of having a medium strip between Grant and Woburn. He felt at the present time there is some pushback on this plan in this section. Richard Canale supports one lane in each direction throughout the center. Sandra Shaw supports the streetscape plan as presented last month. Bob Hausslein commented on how well one lane works in Central Square. Arlington is proceeding with one lane is East Arlington so that will give Lexington some indication of the success on traffic flow with one lane and turning lanes. Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways Treasurer’s report: Bob reported a balance of $10,476.06. A women’s jogging group has contributed $1,124, to be used for plowing. Bikeway Plowing: George will order additional snow plowing donation signs from Vista Print. Moving Planet Event (September 24): Stew led a group of cyclists into Boston, Jerry was among the many participants. Farmers’ Market Bike Corrals: At these corrals we collect e-mail addresses. These can be put to good use. Bob Hausslein and George will work on organizing them. Wayside Trail Laurel Carpenter worked on the new in Waltham. Moving Together Conference (October 12): Keith Ohmart, Stew, Dave Pinsonneault, and John Livsey attended. Peggy will forward Stew’s report to members. Recorder: Marita Hartshorn Editor: Peggy Enders Upcoming Dates  LBAC/FoLB meeting Thursday, November 10, at 7 PM, Room 111, Town Office Building  Lexington Center Streetscape Plan workshop, Thursday, October 20, 7-9 pm in Cary Hall. “An opportunity to look at various benches, trees, plantings, planters, bicycle racks, trash containers, sidewalk treatments and other elements of the streetscape.” Items Distributed: • September Meeting Minutes • Jerry Van Hook letter to Selectmen regarding Center Streetscape proposal