Bicycling & Shared Path Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes Salem Bicycling Advisory Committee Monday, November 20, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Dan Shuman (Chair), Joseph O’Neil, Raymond Swartz, Eric Papetti, Jayne O’Leary, Michael Jaros, Michael Williamson Members Absent: Richard Frank, Kylie Sullivan Also Present: Tom Devine, Senior Planner; Matt Smith, Director of Traffic & Parking Michael Williamson calls the meeting to order. Williamson presides throughout the meeting as Chair Shuman arrives later. Review of Collins and Webb Street Intersection Improvements Assistant City Engineer Chuck Dam updates the Committee on the project. The work includes realigning the bike path to be more perpendicular to the street and to better align with the crosswalk, replacing the handicap ramps on both sides of the street, formalizing three parking spaces in front of the pizza shop, adding a walk in front of the pizza shop, extending the walk on Webb St., eliminating the right turn slip lane, and realigning the centerline and stop bar. Construction started for a delivery zone, but it is in contention now and may not be completed. Currently people park illegally on the path next to the shop. Members discuss the path width, which will match existing. The committee discusses the accessibility of the route between the parking and the pizza shop. The island will remain unfinished, but may be landscaped in the future by the Beautification Committee. Update on City Initiatives Bridge Street MassWorks Project Dam states that that the City is awaiting a final determination from DEP about the area’s flood zone, which could result in design changes. Stantec has put their design on work on hold while waiting for this to resolve. Smith remarks that he and Dam are working to have Stantec address the committee’s comments on the project. Dam says the City will request an extension to the grant timeline as needed. Salem Bike Share Devine reports increasing ridership each month, peaking with nearly 750 in October, and totaling about 2,400 for the whole season. The bikes will remain out through the end of the Salem State semester just before Christmas and relaunch in spring. The bikes will be stored in Zagster’s own space. Smith says that MAPC’s North Shore mobility study identified regional bike share as one of its two main priorities. 1 Boston Street Redesign Smith reports that there was a kickoff stakeholders meeting for this project. Swartz volunteers to represent the Committee for future meetings. Bicycle Master Plan Devine announces that they held a Steering Committee kickoff meeting and they are looking for help with outreach, including interview, tabling, and community rides. A spreadsheet has been circulated through which people can sign up for these tasks. The consultant is preparing outreach materials and a wikimap outreach tool, and waiting for the city to provide a map of existing conditions. Updates on Relevant Development Projects Ferris Junkyard Redevelopment (16, 18, 20R Franklin St.) Devine states that the project is probably going to be substantially redesigned but he expects that the area of interest to the Committee where the path is proposed is unlikely to be majorly changed, since it was already designed to comply with Chapter 91. Members discuss a potential path connection with Furlong Park. Papetti says he wants to submit comments, particularly that there should be separate bike and pedestrian paths and that Chapter 91 requirements are a floor, not a ceiling. Brewer Hawthorne Cove Marina (10 White St.) Devine states that this is going to the Planning Board for a Flood Hazard Overlay District Special Permit, which is a limited review without site plan review. He has corresponded with the Chapter 91 office that explained that because this is a water-dependent use, the requirement is limited to providing a path to or along the water only as feasible. He plans to continue looking at this and seeing if there is an opportunity for a path better than the very limited one currently proposed. Miscellaneous Updates Potential Pump Track project Devine remarks that Jeff Elie had obtained a determination from the Community Preservation Committee that it was eligible for their funding, but no funding application had been submitted. Shuman states that he remembers Elie talking with Park & Recreation staff about possible locations. The Committee discusses possible locations. Devine states that a project like this would require collaboration with the Park & Recreation Commission, help from the Department of Planning & Community Development, and support from City Council. He suggests that the Committee continue thinking about this. Jefferson Ave. 2 Smith describes the paving program for Jefferson Ave. and upcoming sidewalk work. Bike lanes and sharrows will be painted throughout depending on road width. Canal Street Bike Path The Committee discusses the project’s construction progress. Smith states that a series of properties along Canal Street have been purchased and will likely be redeveloped. This creates an opportunity for additional entrances to the bike path where they are lacking. Review of 2018 Meeting Schedule Devine presents the draft schedule with some dates moved to accommodate holidays. The group determines it would prefer to begin meeting at 6:30 p.m. Shuman motions and Swartz seconds to approve the meeting schedule with the meeting time changed to 6:30 p.m. and all vote in favor. Meeting Minutes—October 24, 2016 & September 18, 2017 Shuman motions to approve the October 24, 2016 minutes, Jaros seconds, and 6 vote in favor and one abstains (O’Leary, who was appointed subsequent to that meeting). Members suggest edits to the 9/18/2017 minutes. Shuman motions and Jaros seconds to approve the September 18, 2017 minutes with edits, and all vote in favor. Adjournment Shuman votes to adjourn, Papetti seconds, and all vote in favor. Respectfully submitted, Tom Devine, Senior Planner Approved by the Bicycling Advisory Committee on December 18, 2017. 3