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Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 1:00 PM
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), 3rd Floor Conference Room
60 Temple Place, Boston
1. Welcome and Introductions: Catherine Cagle chaired the meeting that began at 1:05 PM
with a safety briefing. Eric Bourassa welcomed the Board on behalf of MAPC.
In attendance: Members: Cameron Bain, Glen Berkowitz, Catherine Cagle, Dan Driscoll, Tom
DiPaolo, Steve Heinrichs, Jonathan Hyde (representing MOTT), Janie Katz-Christy, Linda Lally,
Wendy Landman, Josh Lehman, Jeff McCollough, John McQueen, Steve Miller, Lea Susan
Ojamaa, Jim Tozza, David Watson Member attending by conference call: Rosalie Anders
Members Absent: Ken Brissette, SGT Shawn Lydon, Rob Miceli Joe Repole Guests: John
Allen, Laura Biren (BNB), Eric Bourassa, Sarah Kurpiel, Chris Kuschel, David Loutzenheiser,
Jessica Robertson (all MAPC), Mark Gravellese, Steve Olson, Trey Wadsworth, (all MassDOT),
Bill Hanson (FBPAC), Erica Kreuter (EOHED), Alan Moore (Community Path), Kristin Slaton
(MassRIDES)
2. MAPC & District 6 Bicycle & Pedestrian Initiatives:
MAPC staff - Jessica Robertson, David Loutzenheiser, and Sarah Kurpiel - covered some of the
many regional bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, notably the:
• Hubway BikeShare program, well established in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge
• bicycle parking program, on the ground in most of the Boston Metro Region
• comprehensive regional bicycling and walking map, which is due for an update
• bicycle and pedestrian planning network, covering 13 localities in four clusters
Mark Gravellese addressed context-sensitive bicycling and walking upgrades within the D6 area:
• provision of wider sidewalks, improved intersections, and bicycle lanes and tracks on
Charles River crossings
• bicycle and pedestrian improvements resulting from the Casey Arborway project
• infrastructure improvements at participating SRTS partner sites
• other initiatives, such as pedestrian bridge reconstruction, the Quincy Adams Green,
Cambridge Common, and the South Bay Harbor Trail
A number of questions and comments arose, including: roundabout and rotary design, funding
sources available to municipalities for bicycling and walking improvements, the influence of Public
Health interests on healthy transportation modes, and freeway interchange design. Additional
Board discussion on these issues may be useful.
3. New Pedestrian Plan: Scope & Desired Outcomes: Catherine Cagle noted that the
MassDOT Planning Work Program had been approved to update the MA Pedestrian Plan. The
Plan was last published in 1998. She introduced Trey Wadsworth of MassDOT’s Sustainable
Transportation Section. He reminded Board members that their comments on the material he
distributed were due by April 5, 2013, and should be sent directly to him and not other members,
in order to comply with Open Meeting requirements. Points raised during the ensuing discussion
were:
• Have a tighter framework; start with a discreet vision for what the Plan should accomplish
• Avoid the general statement “walking is good”; in order to direct the planning process
• Provide a framework, including: design, construction, operations, maintenance
• Ensure the Plan is designed so its utility is not marginalized
• Include cost estimates for a rough sense of what things would cost
• Provide links to additional information
• Determine the desired product: high-level vision/goal oriented plan, or “how-to”
• Set realistic goals on snow removal in order to preserve mobility and infrastructure
• Guide communities and MPOs on what data they should be capturing, inventorying, and
maintaining
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Cover different community types, to reflect the entire state. (WalkBoston’s rural walking
toolkit will soon be available for use; it covers 15 rural communities.)
Schools are an important focus
Involve the communities significantly if we want them to use the Plan
Link to Mass in Motion communities and other communities with Public Health emphasis
Plan in conjunction with MBTA and other RTA initiatives
4. Bay State Bike Week (BSBW): Kristin Slaton mentioned that the abundance of events
prompted extending Bike Week from May 11 – 19. This effort represents the close cooperation
and coordination between MassDOT and MassBike. The BSBW website is now live:
http:\\baystatebikeweek.org\ She encouraged others to provide outreach and involve new events.
5. New Business, Public Comments & Questions:
• Linda Lally stated that MBTA Bike Charlie Cards would now need to be registered.
• Wendy Landman noted several events: Transportation Day at the State House, 4/2, and
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the 2 Bike/Walk Summit, 4/11, at the State House. She also urged others to contact
legislators regarding funding for transportation.
• Janie Katz-Christy reminded attendees that the Green Streets Corporate Challenge
kickoff is 4/26.
• Dan Driscoll noted the statewide Trail Conference at the Devens Conference Center on
5/4. He also expressed some misgiving about the Iron Horse rail-trail procedures.
• Jim Tozza announced the Bike to the Sea dedication event scheduled 6/2.
• David Watson mentioned that registration for the inaugural Berkshire – Boston Tour,
9/18-22, had begun.
6. Next Meeting: The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 15, at Groundwork
Lawrence. Additional information will be distributed in advance. Note that this meeting is currently
scheduled from Noon to 2 PM to mesh with MBTA commuter rail schedules
7. Adjournment: Catherine Cagle adjourned the meeting at 3:05 PM.