HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-16-TMG-minMinutes for Traffic Mitigation Group Meeting
April 16, 2008
Present: Richard Canale, David Cannon, Jeanne Krieger, Jerry Van Hook, Christine McVay, Gail Wagner,
Susan Yanofsky. Guests: Captain Charles Sargent and Loren Woods
Review of CTPS Proposed Traffic Improvements Mass Ave at Maple Street
➢ CTPS study area was limited to Mass Ave at Maple St intersection.
➢ Lexington is currently developing a RFP to include inventory of compliances and traffic signals for the
Pleasant St to Marrett Rd corridor which includes the intersection at Maple. Design Review Committee
has developed a draft of this corridor. FY09 includes funding for a design study.
➢ East Lexington Fire Station and Waldorf School are in this corridor and require consideration.
➢ CTPS data is most likely out of date and should include bus stops, pedestrian crossings, bicycle traffic
and feeder roads. Mass Hwy stresses multimodal designs.
➢ Police accident data should be part of any updated review.
➢ CTPS is organizing bicycle counts for the Minuteman Bikeway in May. Lexington Bike Committee will
assist in taking Lexington counts.
➢ Roundabouts were emphasized in the CTPS report. A roundabout with a diameter of 120 feet would be
needed at Maple St involving land taking which is likely to put the gas station out of business.
➢ Signalization and pavement improvements were also noted.
➢ Funding for road improvements would be almost exclusively shouldered by Lexington, as they are town
roads. However, the approach on Marrett Road into Mass Ave is part of the state system.
➢ Citizen input must be a part of plan review. Public participation for Spring St and Marrett Rd cost
between $35,000 and $40,000.
Letter of Response to CTPS
➢ A draft letter composed by Planning staff with input from Dave Cannon was shared for comments.
➢ Response should not offer a solution, but rather raise concerns that need to be considered in improving
the multimodal traffic safety along Mass Ave from Pleasant to Marrett.
➢ Lexington's upcoming funded study should be noted and the desire of the Town to share data.
➢ A collaborative spirit should be emphasized.
➢ Planning Board may consider sending a letter in addition to TMG's response.
Traffic Calming Policy
➢ Chris developed a handout of her preliminary research.
➢ Traffic calming should include education, enforcement and engineering - the three E's.
➢ Chris and Dave conducted site visits and shared photos of local traffic calming examples.
➢ As with crosswalks, objective conditions must be met. The process will not advance without meeting
established criteria. Equity is a guiding principle.
➢ Trigger points, such as repaving schedule, volume and exceeding speed limit by over 85 %, were noted.
➢ Cost, maintenance, storm water must be considered.
➢ Lower cost interventions such as striping and signing may be used as an interim approach.
➢ A systematic process must be followed that includes public input after criteria eligibility is met.
➢ Lexington's sole speed hump is located on Middleby Road. It was installed in 2001 as a prototype.
Engineering documents related to this project will be sought. By current standards, the location and
choice of intervention were questioned.
➢ Draft of policy is anticipated for next TMG meeting.
Hartwell Avenue Private Shuttle
➢ Businesses located on Hartwell are to meet in May to discuss a shuttle for their employees.
April 22 meeting is cancelled
Next meeting, May 27, Room 111
Minutes submitted by Gail Wagner, Transportation Services, April 23, 2008