HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-06-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name:
Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time, and Location:
February 6, 2012 at 7 pm in Room G-15 Town Office
Building
Members Present:
Peggy Enders (Chair), Stew Kennedy, John Frey, Bob Hausslein
(FoLB Chair), Mike Tabaczynski, George Gagliardi, and Jerry Van Hook
Members Absent: Laurel Carpenter, Marita Hartshorn
Others Present:
Hank Manz (Selectman), Sandra Shaw (Liaison, Recreation
Committee), Paul Callahan (Liaison, Police Department), Richard Canale (Liaison,
Planning Board), Patria Lanfranchi (Ride.Studio.Cafe), Bob Dangel, Joel Adler
Minutes:
The January minutes were accepted as written.
Discussion on the Center Streetscape proposal:
Peggy began the discussion by
reminding the group of the LBAC vote to recommend that the Town back a professional
traffic study of the Center to model and evaluate traffic flow as part of a larger effort to
improve safety, convenience, and enjoyment for all who travel in the town center –
pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motorists. The committee felt that the Streetscape
plan had not met these goals. The whole object of the center project, the committee
agreed, should be to make the interactions of all participants safer and more pleasant,
and that the aesthetics be addressed. Committee members related to Selectman Manz
a variety of concerns, including the “chaos of downtown” and that not enough modeling
had been done to understand what cyclists and pedestrians need to feel safer on Mass
Ave.
Selectman Manz responded by saying that a wider scale traffic study, extending
beyond the Center, was being contemplated and that this might answer some of the
questions being raised by the committee. Selectman Kelley at a recent meeting had
spoken favorably of such a study. Hank said he would get back to the committee about
this alternate study. He suggested that the committee provide the Board of Selectmen
with a hint of the vision: “What do you want to see as a safe street?”
Rich Canale supported the discussion, saying that a more inviting and vibrant
town center would result from giving all form of transport equal footing by changing from
the current, vehicle-centered, multi-lane pattern for Mass Ave. Stew Kennedy
mentioned the Hartwell Avenue study as a good example – a proper traffic study of
Mass Ave would include analyses of throughput a different times of the day, traffic
simulations, etc. Sgt. Callahan said the town center had several high accident locations
that he hoped and expected a traffic analysis might note and offer fixes. He felt that
maintaining traffic signs and roadway striping should have high priority. Patria
Lanfranchi cited the heavy Mass Ave traffic and the need for bicycle parking on Mass
Ave near the Ride Studio Café, since the sidewalk is narrow. George Gagliardi said
better and more frequent access between Mass Ave and the Bikeway would make it
easier for inexperienced cyclists to avoid dangerous traffic points on the avenue. Bob
Dangel said this would also help experienced cyclists choose alternate routes through
the center, depending on traffic either on the Bikeway or the avenue.
There was extended discussion of cyclist safety relative to vehicle parking where
the parallel parking dangers (dooring) was compared with angled parking, either head in
or out on Mass Ave. Jerry Van Hook questioned whether dedicated bike lanes were
better than the alternative of sharrow markings on wider travel lanes. Stew said that
one of these was essential in the center given the vulnerability of bikers, squeezed over
in heavy traffic. John Frey emphasized that bikes do belong on roads and that must be
reflected in any plan.
Action items;
1) Stew will work with Patria, contacting town officials
about the occasional use of a parking space near the Ride Cafe for bicycles, making
use of temporarily arranged bicycle racks within the space. 2) Hank will look into the
scope of the new traffic study he mentioned, seeing if it addresses some of the LBAC
concerns. 3) Peggy, Stew and Richard will look at the experience of Mass Ave
Arlington, the Somerville experience and that in Central Square, Cambridge, as these
relate to travel lane reductions in town centers and its impact on flow.
DCR Grant for Bikeway User Information:
Peggy mentioned that the RFP for a
designer to be hired under the three-town DCR Grant (“User Information for the
Minuteman Bikeway”) was issued by John Livsey; bids are due by February 12. This
grant was awarded to the three Bikeway towns based on a proposal written by the
chairs of the Arlington, Lexington and Bedford bike committees. She reminded
members that the grant also includes funding for a new Bikeway map; progress on that
effort is proceeding, albeit slowly.
Plans for Drainage Repairs on the Minuteman Bikeway:
Lexington town
engineering is scheduling Bikeway work under approved CPA funding, which will
require the closure of certain sections for a time uncertain. Alternate pathways will be
designated during the work. Root mitigation barrier installations will be scheduled
separately. This work must precede Bikeway resurfacing in Lexington.
Bikeway Snow Plowing update:
Some minor plowing has been done this season.
Stew said that the removal of gates and substitution of removable barrels has greatly
simplified snow removal at these barricade points.
Other Business:
Peggy mentioned that Terry Gleason is promoting a multi-town Bike
Safety Week for the end of April and has asked the participating towns to promote bike
safety with messages on electronic signboards as well as to promote safety through
other activities. A bicycle/motorist safety flyer describing signs and road markings has
been designed with the help of the Planning Department and will be included in a tax
mailing this spring. Peggy asked members to evaluate the draft version of the brochure
and offer any suggestions by contacting her via email. Finally, the committee has been
asked by the new Transportation Services Coordinator to add its voice to advise against
the proposed MBTA cuts (i.e., that the current services are essential, that current
options are not acceptable, that a larger solution to the funding problem is needed).
Stew agreed to draft a letter for Peggy to send on behalf of the committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Record of Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways:
Bob Hausslein opened the meeting at 8:15, following the LBAC meeting and gave the
report on the treasury. Financial support for this 501(C)3 organization continues to
come in steadily for which our organization is grateful. Funds will be used for future
Bikeway plowing and for other good works that may be justified by the FoLB.
Bob then led a discussion on ways to encourage increased membership by
finding new ways to promote bicycling. The consensus was that some social event
would be helpful, not necessarily to recruit members or assign tasks, but to engage in a
common cause such as bicycle rides to places of local interest or an evening event built
around some interesting topic. Someone mentioned the upcoming tri-town bicycle
meeting as a possible forum. Mike Tabaczynski made the point that it should be a fun
event with no ulterior motives, as this turns people off.
The idea of improving online Lexington Bikes presence was discussed. Peggy
said that a Bike_Lexington yahoo group was started and is a good forum for Bikeway
users to talk about trail conditions, and there is a FoLB website and Facebook page.
But there needs to be more content and talent involved in developing a dynamic blog.
Patria was asked how the Ride Cafe had built their site. She explained that all the
employees were expected to contribute efforts to keep the Facebook site lively. Lacking
this sort of arrangement, some members suggested hiring a consultant to help with this.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm. The next joint meeting will be on March
8 at 7 pm in Room 111 in the Town Office Building
Recorder: Jerry Van Hook
Editor: Peggy Enders