Bicycling & Shared Path Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes Salem Bicycling Advisory Committee Wednesday, August 5, 2020 6:30 p.m. Remote Meeting Members Present: Eric Papetti (Chair), Jayne O’Leary, Alexandra Maranto, John Wathne, Colleen Downie, Michael Williamson, Josh Gillis, Matt Caruso, Michael Jaros Members Absent: Kylie Sullivan, Joe O’Neil Also Present: Tom Devine, Senior Planner Call Meeting to Order Papetti calls the meeting to order. Devine describes the remote meeting format and procedure for providing public comment. Public Comment Papetti opens to the meeting to public comment. There are none and this time. Staff Update Devine provides the following updates: • The Bridge Street MassWorks project (Boston Street to Flint Street), after the Committee had reviewed a reduction in scope due to bids coming in over budget, is reverting to its original scope. This is are result of the City Council’s approval of additional capital funding for the project and the City seeing that paying an engineering firm to revise the project to reduce the scope would itself be very expensive. Construction is expected to start in September with an 18-month construction period. • For Bridge Street between Flint and Washington Streets, the City Engineer provided the Bike Committee’s comments and Toole’s Washington Street vision to MassDOT. The project is a high priority for the City in light of Toole’s vision, the Bike Master Plan, and the upcoming redevelopment of the Superior Court and County Commissioner’s building as well as the City’s crescent lot. The City is looking at taking the lead on the Washington and Bridge Streets intersection and leaving the rest for MassDOT to continue to lead. We could do this through a MassWorks grant that would use state funding but allow the City to lead the design and construction process. This could accelerate this portion of the project to complete it in just a couple years, rather than 3 to 5 years. Papetti suggests the area under the overpass and HMA path should be looked at as potential park space that could receive funding such as CPA. Wathne hopes to see 1  improvements made to connect the intersection to the end of the bike path to Beverly. • The Traffic & Parking Director had emailed interested parties about the details of the implementation of the final elements for the Fort Ave. bike lane. The barrier will be a mix of flex posts, a rumble strip, and what we are calling “zebra armadillos”. There are also tweaks coming to the crosswalk and intersection at Winter Island Road. Since the email went out, the posts are ordered, rumble strip and striping are scheduled, and staff are working with the Purchasing Agent on procuring the armadillos, which come from Spain. Gillis raises concerns about the striping at the Winter Island Road intersection leading turning cars to enter the wrong lane in the wrong direction. The group discusses options for barriers during snow plowing. • The Harbor Connector Path is complete except for flashing pedestrian crossing beacons. Papetti asks why the Derby Street roadway crossing has only a pedestrian ramp, which is much narrower than the path. • Phase 2 of the Canal Street path’s construction is now fully underway. The City is hoping for a completion in fall of 2021, but the contract allows for completion as late as summer 2022. • The Salem Public Library is coordinating a Story Walk that consists of posting enlarged pages of children’s books along a pathway in Salem. Catherine Seiferth of 18 Buffum Street comments on her efforts to navigate mapping programs and her work with City staff on this. Caruso is impressed with the fast turnaround Discussion of Bicycling and COVID-19 Response Devine reports that the City was awarded a MassDOT Shared Streets grant to construct a sidewalk expansion platform on Essex Street between Hawthorne Boulevard and New Liberty Street. The City is looking at additional potential projects for this program. Discussion of Bicycling Initiatives and Programs Bike and Scooter Share Devine states that the City is likely to regroup with MAPC and North Shore communities this fall to determine a path forward. The City has removed the bulk of Zagster bikes off the streets. Salem Cycle is trying to purchase the bikes from the leasing company. Caruso asks if there is any information available about Superpedestrian, the company that purchased Zagster. Devine says his understanding is that that company is only operating scooter programs without bikes. Papetti notes that the City had purchased some standard racks that have been used for the Zagster program, such as the one at the entrance to Greenlawn Cemetery. He wonders if those will be redistributed for use at other locations. He suggests that the City take care of this before summer is soon 2 over. The Committee discusses whether the specialized Zagster racks have any use for private bikes. Discussion of Bicycling Infrastructure Projects Update on North Street Outreach Devine states that he thought the July 21 remote public meeting was successful and the City has continued to take feedback through an online portal. Toole will compile all the feedback to inform design concepts to be shared at some other upcoming public forums. Downie found the meeting to be well facilitated and swift. She found that her breakout group happened to be very aligned in their views. She appreciated how it was an opportunity to not address just bike concerns, but to look holistically at the corridor. Papetti agrees that the meeting was well run and many aspects of the meeting could be carried over into in-person meetings. He appreciated how the format was very respectful of people’s time. It was productive, provided background, and gave people a chance to talk to each other. People stepped outside their own experience and thought about how the street works for all users. There may still be difficult tradeoffs when selecting improvements. Miscellaneous O’Leary updates the Committee on her efforts for organizing maintenance of trails and crossings in Salem Woods. She recently met with a former Park & Recreation Commission member and other members of the Friends of Salem Woods and toured the Salem Woods trails and bridges. The geogrid plastic installed underground about 10 years ago has deteriorated. She also met with the North Shore Chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association and they are interested in helping. There are three bridges in the first section of Highland Park and some have fallen into disrepair. There is a lack material available to build these structures during COVID. She wonders what this Committee can do to help the process get going. Williamson and O’Leary plan to meet to explore the trails. Devine will send details to the Committee. Papetti sees a lot of potential if the trail system is improved and connections are enhanced. Devine announces that the Cites of Salem & Beverly are seeking a Bike Committee representative for the Climate Action & Resilience Plan working group. Wathne volunteers. Other Business Meeting Minutes 3 Wathne motions and Caruso seconds to approve the June 3, 2020 meeting minutes and all vote in favor. Adjourn Caruso motions and Williamson seconds to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. and all vote in favor. *** Approved by the Bicycling Advisory Committee on October 14, 2020. 4