Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
170216 WBHC Minutes
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Minutes for Canton MA Walk, Bike, and Hike Committee Thursday, February 16, 2017: 7:30 pm meeting Attending: Debby Stein Sharpe (chair), David Biggers, & Tim Calabrese Attachment: Town Planner Laura Smead’s Memorandum to Walk, Bike, and Hike Committee: “Update on Projects” dated February 16, 2017 Approval Minutes of January 19, 2017 meeting deferred given lack of quorum Discussion of 2017 objectives: Create a comprehensive trail map for Canton as part of the CPC project described below. Ensure that Heritage Park provide pedestrian/cyclist access directly connecting downtown to the Canton Junction station. The project manager, Bernie Plante (Canton Holdings) has assured Laura that a multi-use path will be completed prior to the sale of any units. Increase cycling lanes, signage, and painting for downtown areas. Note, the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, if approved, will address cycling and pedestrian safety and structural improvements. CPA Grant Application Update & Discussion On December 20, 2016, the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) approved of three applications consolidated into one with combined allocation of $150,000 pending Annual Town Meeting approval in May. The three applications were as follows: Comprehensive plan for town walking trails ($75,000) Updating the town’s 20-year-old Open Space and Recreation Plan ($22,000); and, Earl Newhouse Waterfront at Reservation Pond design & implementation plan ($73,000). In her February update, Laura mentioned that Canton has negotiated with the State for a $25,000 grant to update Canton’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. Of the $175,000 in projected available funding, $102,000 would be available for the combined work on the trails & open space/recreation plans (given that $73,000 would be set aside for the Earl Newhouse Waterfront project.) Debby suggests that by late March the Conservation Commission and WBH convene a dual plan working subcommittee to draft a Request for Proposals (RFP)
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to be issued on May 9th, after Town Meeting. Debby will contact Cynthia O’Connell (Conservation Agent) to request ConCom’s agreement and to assign several of its members. WBH will also look for a couple of representatives to participate. Complete Street Update The Board of Selectmen has requested that Laura prepare a draft Complete Streets policy to present to the BOS at its upcoming March meeting. Many towns/cities in Massachusetts have already adopted said policies. If anyone on WB&H has examples of policies or features they particularly like, please provide that information to Laura by the late February If the Board of Selectmen adopts a Complete Streets policy, Canton would then qualify for up to $50,000 of technical assistance for developing a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan to be submitted by Sept 1st, 2017. She would then go for project approval & notice to proceed (Tier 3) by October 1st, 2017 for the town to receive up to $400,000 for construction of prioritized projects. Examples include: sidewalks along Washington Street from Hagen Court to Cobb Corner a pedestrian/hiker crossing of Route 138 at the Skyline Trail (as a state route, this may need to be MA-DOT, not Town of Canton) traffic calming at dangerous intersections (eg. Chapman St & Washington St) improvement of the viaduct underpass / Neponset St. pedestrian access improvement of the Bolivar St. underpass / pedestrian access sharrows along busy town roads. Other Topics Betsy Sugameli will serve as the Conservation Committee’s representative on the WB&H committee, replacing Joshua Cohen. According to MassDOT, construction of the second phase of the Route 128/Route 95 interchange appears to be indefinitely delayed due to low priority and lack of state funding. If constructed, it will take away commuter access from the northwest side of Canton to the Route 128 station via Greenlodge Street, aggravate rush hour congestion on Canton roads, and eliminate a source of parking revenue for the town.