Salem Bicycling Advisory Committee
Draft Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
A meeting of the Salem Bicycling Advisory Committee was held on Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 at 7:00 PM in Meeting Room 312 at Salem City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street.
Members Present: Chairman Jeff Bellin, Bruce Mabbott, Ernie DeMaio, David Bowie, Kristin Anderson, Tracy Ware, Dan Cooper, Brad Sandler
Also Present: Jeff Elie, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Members Absent: Will Peck, David Bowie
Invited Guests: Bill Fries, Director of Mass Bike
Public in Attendance:
Chairman Bellin called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. He acknowledged those members absent and present for the record.
Chairman Bellin asked if there were any comments or edits for the April 8th draft meeting minutes. There being none, motion was made by B. Mabbott motioned, E. DeMaio seconded, all approved.
Chairman Bellin asked if there were any public comments at this time. There was no public comment.
J. Elie checked with Committee for any comment on Project Tracking Form, which is now online. B. Mabbott asked whether there was any news on the Footprint Power pipeline excavation and installation project. J. Elie informed the Committee that there had been no new news but he would ask Footprint at the One-Stop meeting with Footprint later in the month. The idea would be to connect the Collins Cove off-road path through this parcel of land, through Beattie Park, which already has a path, and onto Derby St. Footprint will already be doing mitigation on that overgrown parcel that the pipeline goes through so this would be an opportunity to connect two areas off-road making a safe path for Salem residents and visitors.
- Mass Bike Coalition Discussion with Director Richard Fries
Mass Bike formed in 1977 and Massachusetts is now the 4th most bike friendly state in the US
R. Fries of the Mass Bike Coalition spoke to the Committee about bicycle advocacy and increasing Mass Bike membership in Massachusetts, which would increase ridership in the state. Additionally, Salem is a target area for Mass Bike because of the way it interconnects several communities and already has some alternative infrastructure including a major MBTA stop and existing bicycling infrastructure. It also connects to Peabody, Beverly, and Lynn – a major access point that can get people down to Boston (107).
Fries suggested that a North Shore chapter of the Mass Bike Coalition was an objective and is looking for support from the SBAC. North Shore chapter members of Mass Bike will revenue share for regional bike/ped infrastructure so money can be used to support actual improvements in existing conditions.
Mass Bike has a Vision Zero initiative, which is to move people safer, with zero traffic fatalities – make alternative transportation safer in the Commonwealth.
Vote: B. Sandler motioned to support MassBike North Shore chapter
B. Mabbott seconded. All approved.
- Bike Circulation Master Plan –Fay Spofford & Thorndike has provided the Task Order and Scope of Work for the Master Plan update. The kick-off meeting has been delayed due to funding issues and allocating funding from the Bike Path Maintenance account to pay for the engineering work with the study.
- The goal is to start the work late Spring/early Summer so work can be done to do a cycle-track pilot project. A roadway will need to be selected to implement this pilot project. The Committee will be working along with MAPC as well who will assist in text updates of the plan as well as pilot project implementation funding.
- Canal St. Path Riley Plaza Connection – Discuss the potential design to connect the new Canal St off-road path through Riley Plaza and to the Washington St. corridor. J. Elie informed the Committee that the first phase of the project, which will be funded by MassDOT, is to have the bike path constructed while the City develops a plan of how the entrance to the path in the Downtown behind Domino’s Pizza will integrate into the traffic situation at that intersection near Riley Plaza. The most practical design is to have bicyclists cross the road via a crosswalk at Mill St., go through the Riley Plaza adjacent to the retaining wall and exit bicyclists at the new mid-block pedestrian cross at Washington-Dodge St., and up at New Derby St in front of the Post Office. There would need to be additional bicycle signage, painted bike
boxes, and improved signaling at lights to make this safer than the current configuration in the downtown.
Nina Cohen inquired about lighting along the path and pedestrian accommodations such as benches. The current design does not have lighting but J. Elie will inquire with the Engineer and Electric Department to find out a solution for users who want to safely travel the path in the dark.
Summary of Action Items
J. Elie – Work with FST on updating the Master Plan update scope of work and get the funding approved by reallocating Bike Path maintenance account money
J. Elie - Reach out to D. Bowie about Collins Cove to Derby St. letter
Chairman Bellin asked if there were any further items to discuss tonight. There being none, K. Anderson asked for a motion to adjourn. B. Mabbott seconded the motion. All approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Jeffrey Elie,
Energy and Sustainability Manager
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