Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Meeting Notes
Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC)
st
60 Congress Street, 1 Floor, Springfield, MA
Welcome, Introductions & Safety Message: Eileen Gunn called the meeting to order at 1:05 PM.
Members present: Tom DiPaolo, Kurt Gaertner, Eileen Gunn, Wendy Landman, Josh Lehman, Jeff
McCollough, John McQueen, Steve Miller, Joe Repole, Jim Tozza Members absent: Rosalie Anders,
Cameron Bain, Glen Berkowitz, Dan Driscoll, Steve Heinrichs, Janie Katz-Christy, Linda Lally, Rob Miceli,
Lea Susan Ojamaa Guests present: Daryl Amaral (MassDOT), Nicole Bourdon (Springfield Health
Department), Mark Cressotti (City of Westfield), Dan Daniska (Central MA Regional Planning Commission),
Andrea Freeman (MA Public Health Assoc.), Elaine Formica (MassBike), Beth Giannini (Franklin Region
Council of Governments), Laura Hanson (MassDOT), Paul Jahnige (Department of Conservation &
Recreation), Josiah Neiderbach (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission), Bob Pac (Friends of Columbia
Greenway), Don Podolski) Friends of Columbia Greenway, Karen Pohlman (Bay State Health), Erin Reed
(MA Safe Routes to School), Pete Sutton (MassDOT), Kathy Wicks (Partners for a Healthier Community)
Approval of 9/17/14 Minutes: John McQueen moved to approve the minutes as written, seconded by
Eileen Gunn, approved unanimously.
Regional Presentations
Pioneer Valley Bicycling and Walking Initiatives: Jeff McCollough, PVPC: Jeff McCollough spoke
about the growth of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) bicycling and walking program. PVPC
has effectively led by example with bicycling, walking and sustainability initiatives. Greater emphasis was
now being placed on the MassDOT GreenDOT Policy, encouraging greater walking, bicycle and transit
travel. PVPC’s efforts are closely aligned with initiatives such as Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Mass
in Motion (MiM). Two speakers who jointly head the SRTS program provided an overview; they are Karen
Pohlman, Manager of Community Programs, Brightwood Health Center/Baystate, and Nicole Bourdon, MiM
Program Director, Springfield Health and Human Services. Both observed how the walking school bus
program, for example, has attracted more students and increased school attendance. Several suggestions
were also offered by attendees on potential funding sources for SRTS infrastructure improvements.
MassDOT Highway Division District Two (D2) Initiatives: Daryl Amaryl, D2: Daryl Amaral addressed
many of D2’s bicycling and walking initiatives. These have included a wide array of on- and off-road
improvements. ADA/AAB retrofit improvements have been made along a number of roadways. Buffered
bicycle lanes (cycle tracks) have also been constructed on regional roadways. Intersection geometrics are
also being revised to reduce motor vehicular speed. D2 has also participated in a number of shared use
path projects, such as the reconstruction of the Norwottuck Rail Trail, and the construction of the
Easthampton and Southwick rail trails, and the Columbia Greenway in Westfield.
Gathering Stakeholder Input to the CS Funding Program: Eileen Gunn, MassDOT: Eileen Gunn
reported that CS funding has been made available in the 2014 Transportation Bond Bill. Five requirements
were stipulated for communities to access this funding. The funding program was being developed, with the
assistance of an advisory group consisting of Healthy Transportation Committee members, Board
members, and four others, with the assistance of a consultant. The funding process is envisioned as twostep, with communities first establishing their eligibility, then applying for funding. MassDOT has reached
out to other sources in order to consolidate several comparable programs. A model community CS policy is
being developed, as is a program time line. The CS training program is also being updated and designed to
complement the funding program. She cautioned that the funding authorized in the Bond Bill was not
necessarily appropriated, and that MassDOT was still examining which portions of the Bond Bill language
were legally binding. In the ensuing discussion, the importance of timing for warrants at Town Meetings was
raised, as was the recognition that different communities had different access to resources, such as GIS.
The importance of documenting changes in bicycle, walking and transit use over time was also
emphasized.
Reviewing the Draft Scopes for the Updated State Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Plans:
Josh Lehman, MassDOT: Josh Lehman stated that both of these draft scopes had been addressed at
separate sessions held at the Moving Together 2014 (MT14) conference on October 30. Input derived at
those scoping sessions was still being compiled, and will be distributed to Board members and guests.
Additional attention will be paid to the pedestrian scope at the January 21, 2015, Board meeting.
Moving Together 2014 (MT14) Review: Pete Sutton, MassDOT: Pete Sutton provided an overview on the
conference success. More individuals and exhibitors participated than ever before. The workshops and site
visits were extremely well coordinated and attended. Workshop material is being posted on the conference
website. Keynote speakers were especially well received. He asked that any attendees who had not yet
provided their conference evaluation form to please do so.
2015 Schedule; Next Meeting: The draft 2015 meeting schedule will be re-sent to Board members and
guests. The next Board meeting is scheduled Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at the Transportation Library,
nd
2 Floor, State Transportation Building (STB), 10 Park Plaza, Boston.
Adjournment: Eileen Gunn adjourned the meeting at 3:10 PM.