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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-09-WALKS-min1/2 Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, January 9 th 2012 at 9 am Present: Jerry Van Hook (Chair), Judy Crocker, John Davies, Lucy Fletcher- Jones, Francine Stieglitz, Bettina McGimsey Liaisons: Elaine Celi (Transportation), Marc Valenti (DPW), Hank Manz (Selectmen), Wendy Manz (Planning Board) Guests: Jill Hai, John Livsey (Engineering), The meeting was called to order at 9:05am. 1. The December 2011 minutes were approved with a small amendment. 2. Safe Routes to School Judy Crocker reported that later in January a PR campaign to promote riding the bus to school will begin with such slogans as "What's the fuss, just take the bus!" The group watched a webinar produced by the State MassRides group on creative walkability ideas. In tandem with the School Transportation and Safety Study Committee (STS), SR2S will promote bus ridership by participating in a bi- weekly Minuteman column. 3. Estabrook Task Force: Judy Crocker reported that this group have decided on the school access plan during the construction phase and will next be working on transportation post construction. 4. School Transportation and Safely Study Committee (STS): will be regularly meeting at gam on the first Thursday of every month. It may also meet more frequently early in its tenure in order to construct its strategic plan and begin its implementation, due to its tight timeline (school bus registration begins in late April). It will meet this coming Thursday (January 12 STS did make a motion to the School Committee recommending free bussing for Estabrook students during the Estabrook construction phase. The Estabrook Taskforce survey found 78% parents would let their students take the bus if it were free. Adding to this the 12% who walk, 90% of the students would either bus or walk to school, which would cost $225,000 each year for 2 years making a total of $450,000 for the duration of the project. Precedent was set with Fiske receiving free bussing during its use of swing space about 6 years ago. On behalf of safety concerns and Safe Routes To School, Judy asked the Committee if it would support this cause. The motion "The Sidewalk Committee makes the motion to the School Committee to endorse subsidized bussing for Estabrook students during the new school construction phase" was passed unanimously by the Committee. 5. Update on proposed Winthrop Road Sidewalk Jill Hai asked the Committee to keep this new construction project high on its list of priorities, because it would be a comparatively small piece of sidewalk that would have a large impact because of its 2/2 central location, connecting two major thoroughfares, Waltham Street and Mass Ave, proximity to three public schools, Lexington town centre and the fitness path. John Livesy stated that preliminary investigations give an approximate cost of $100,000 for this sidewalk, that from an engineering viewpoint, it would be easy to construct because of few obstacles such as trees and poles. There was discussion on whether this sidewalk would be funded from the Sidewalk Committee budget or would be requested at Town Meeting from the Capital projects budget. It was thought that funding could come from a combination of FY13 /FY14 funds. The Sidewalk Committee voted to make the Winthrop Road sidewalk the top priority for new projects. John Livesy and Marc Valenti advised Jill to ensure a smooth process by discussing the proposal with as many abutters as possible. 6. Center Streetscape Project The latest plans were viewed and discussed. A fewer number of safer crosswalks, with Abbey Road stripes, have been proposed, possibly a brick sidewalk on either side. The advantages and disadvantages of bicycle lanes versus sharrows and having one or two lanes of traffic in either direction were also discussed. John Davies thought it a pretty good plan but would like to see more trees and higher quality of material used for the sidewalks. Generally, the Committee liked the plan and advised that the sidewalk and crosswalk materials be as safe as possible. 7. Citizen Correspondence Francine Stieglitz reported that little correspondence during the previous month except from Jill Hai. 8. Concord Avenue Project: Jerry had viewed the plans again and particularly likes plan B with a sidewalk on the south side. 9. Other business: Marc Valenti reported that a complaint had been received about the new pedestrian flasher units on the crosswalk at E. Worthen Road /Pleasant Street. This was part of the Bowman sidewalk project completed in October. Neither of the lights are now working; they had been when first installed. He will contact MassDOT as they are probably still under warranty and are their responsibility. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45am. The next meeting will be on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at gam in the Selectmen's Meeting Room. Respectfully submitted, Lucy Fletcher -Jones