Massachusetts Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, January 23, 2014, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Planning Conference Room, State Transportation Building (STB)
10 Park Plaza, Boston
Welcome, Introductions & Safety Message: Steve Woelfel called the meeting to order at 1:05
PM.
Members present:
Rosalie Anders, Cameron Bain, Tom DiPaolo, Wendy Landman, Joe Repole, Jim Tozza, David
Watson, Jeff McCollough, Pete Sutton, Steve Woelfel, Eileen Gunn, Kurt Gaertner, Jim Tozza,
Glen Berkowitz. Guests present: Bonnie Polin, Jennifer Slesinger, (MassDOT), Nathanial Fink
(MassBike), Beth Isler, Sean Pfalzer (CTPS), David Loutzenheiser (MAPC), Arnold Sapenter (MA
DEP), Stella Lensing (DCR), Kristin Slaton (MassRides)
Approval of 11/21/13 Minutes: Steve Woelfel moved and the members present seconded to
approve the minutes as written; unanimously accepted.
Strategic Highway Safety Plan Presentation - Bonnie Polin, MassDOT
** Comments on Plan needed in two weeks – February 6, 2014
Ms. Polin presented on the work to improve bike and pedestrian safety. MassDOT will be
developing an educational campaign and focusing on top-ranked communities. The current
methodology for determining the top ranked communities has been to examine crash test data
(which is incomplete) and utilize EMS ambulance data statewide (see 5 categories on handout)
along with an overlay of Mass in Motion communities to select three highest rankings. MassDOT
wants to fund and train police to collect information on infractions to determine areas in need of
attention. If training feedback and results are positive, the program would move to other
communities. MassDOT would also like to measure policy objectives, such as measuring mode
shift changes from increased safety efforts.
Safe Routes to Schools and Mass In Motion are good models for success and have the current
infrastructure to help roll this out. For more info, click the link below:
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/downloads/trafficSHSP/shspSeptember2013.pdf
Discussion: A major issue is that all communities don’t report crash data so the prioritization
areas may not be reflective of the worst crash areas. For instance, Boston does not appear to
currently report fully all crashes.
Wendy Landman remarked that speed and speed limits are an important aspect and there is an
opportunity for MassDOT to advance a policy on this. The Towns don’t have the ability to set their
own speed limits, 30 mph is the base and too fast in certain areas. There needs to be a statewide
solution.
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Other points:
Filter list with Environmental Justice communities
See where bike crash clusters are
Educate Department of Public Works and tie in importance of maintenance in reducing
accidents
Registry of Motor Vehicles could play videos recently created by MassBike
California model – more aggressive bike safety training
Integrate with Complete Streets training (being updated)
Problem that there is no relicensing opportunity to teach/remind drivers bike safety
information.
Helpful bike safety tips could be sent out with excise tax information, RMV reminders,
MBTA monthly passes, through Aeronautics division.
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Initial budget for this project is $1.5M + additional LTAP funds
MassDOT to schedule upcoming bike/ped subcommittee related to this project
Legislation could come out of these future recommendations
Healthy Transportation Compact Update – Jennifer Slesinger, MassDOT
December 5th was the HTC Committee Meeting. More info can be found at this link:
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/GreenDOT/HealthyTransportationCompact.aspx
Grounding McGrath was a pilot project for determining how to incorporate Health Impact
Assessments (HIA) into transportation planning. MassDOT Office of Transportation’s conclusion
is to integrate HIA elements into the planning process, and not separately.
Need to develop an Advisory Board by March –soliciting names.
Steve Woelfel explained that Secretary Davey spoke at the Transportation Research Board’s
annual conference about transportation and health and that MassDOT will be utilizing a new multimodal capital investment tool that analyzes benefits and how investments options relate to goals,
i.e. mode shift advancement.
Discussion: How do you make a case for bike spaces that would encourage buy-in from
businesses? Research group can look at. NYC report on bike improvements tracking
metrics/impacts on business and real estate prices.
Bike Network Evaluation Presentation - Beth Isler, CTPS
Ms. Isler went over the Objectives, Base Map, Gaps and evaluation criteria and sought input and
direction. The gap analysis is between off-road paths and regional transit in the Boston MPO
region only.
Discussion: Evaluation criteria look great. What is the focus? Why emphasis on off road?
Community mobility relates to ability to bike to work places, shopping centers, and connections
with cycle tracks, etc. Could these criteria be used as an overlay? Off road focus eliminates most
of Boston and Cambridge where connectivity is needed. Further study must make critical links to
roads and consider access to elementary schools.
What is the physical ability to put connections where these gaps are shown? Feasibility? Are
there proponents, a demand to build these connections? Who will own and maintain? There is a
finite system and resources to build paths.
Easy way to prioritize - There is a report on successful bike share data. Transit ridership data can
be used to determine demand for bike trips.
Next steps- Cycle tracks and on-street bike lanes will be added to the evaluation criteria, followed
by feasibility study after gaps are recognized.
Other Business, Public Comments & Questions
Discussion of Transportation Bond –out of committee. The original funding request was
decreased and participants want to understand the decision-making process. The issue was
raised by David Watson that there was not strong backing from MassDOT to defend the original
funding amount. Request that MassDOT support $50 million for Active Streets.
Need to talk to Capital Planning to see how the decisions were made. Will report at next meeting.
People need to weigh in at upcoming statewide Capital Improvement Program/We Move
Massachusetts meetings.
No money for MBTA buses included. In Environmental Justice communities, lower income
populations rely on transit. The Bond Bill needs to address transit too. Should be at top of the
agenda for upcoming public meetings.
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Question of whether Assembly Square station will have bike racks. MassDOT will report
out on this at next meeting.
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Tom DiPaolo reported out on progress made by the Design Standards Working Group. In
the past few months, the group has focused on creating new Design Criteria for
Highway Division Projects specifically for bikes and pedestrians. This criteria is needed
help MassDOT comply with the new Healthy Transportation Policy Directive. A long
discussion of the bike lane widths and multiple use scenarios, speed considerations, and
urban vs. rural differences ensued. For sidewalks, some members declared that the clear
distance is often not 5 feet and there are instances when greater than 5 feet would be
warranted
Other points made regarding the proposed design criteria included:
• NACTO is not specifically referenced in the Directive.
• MassDOT does not have its own technical guidance for bike facilities, so it relies on
guidance produced by other organizations, such as AASHTO and NACTO.
• Directive will be part of updated Complete Streets Training.
• Pedestrian facilities/sidewalks to get to buses should be a priority.
• If there is a 4ft shoulder, it should be striped as a bike lane.
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MassDOT will have further internal discussions on speed issues.
Next Meeting - Wednesday, March 19, 1-3, LOCATION TBD
Adjournment
Steve Woelfel adjourned the meeting at 3:00 PM.