HomeMy Public PortalAboutBikeways Committee -- 2018-05-03 Minutes BREUIS T ER TQ►..11i PIERK
Joint meeting of the Brewster Bikeways Committee and the Brewster Coastal Committee
Minutes - May 3, 2018
Attending: Bikeways : Susan Riseman, Hal Minis , Gregory Wright, Rick Scannevin and Joe Sullivan
Coastal: Abigail Archer, Pat Hughes, Mary O'Neil and Rachel Hutchinson
Staff Chris Miller
Abigail began the meeting at 5 pm noting this is an opportunity for two committees to work on access to
Brewster's coastal properties .
• Outlined the process of developing the Brewster Coastal Adaptation Strategy, noting continued work
on developing a Management Plan.
Susan gave overview of what the Bikeways Committee has been doing regarding safe biking in town and
noted that Committee has not been focused specifically on biking to beaches . The Committee worked on
getting signal lights at the road crossings . Hal gave an overview of the Bikeways Strategy, noting key goal of
access to key destinations, which includes beaches . Also want to improve bike racks at the landings
Susan noted that in January 2017 the Bikeways Committee recommended to the Select Board that pedestrian
access be added to its charge.
The Committees discussed the DCR proposal to extend the bike trail into Nickerson north and specifically
the proposed crossing of 6A.
Chris has been the Town liaison to DCR. DCR does not have the funds to install a tunnel under 6A, and
DCR has said insistence on a tunnel will kill the whole project. The tunnel may cost $ 1 million + .
• DCR will likely have another meeting in a month to review their final plans for the trail
• Weigh getting safe crossing of 6A against killing the entire project
The Committees discussed safe crossings .
• Rachel looked at Mass DOT's criteria for crossing different types of roads
• Rick noted need for structures that got riders off their bikes before crossing 6A; sees lots of conflict
during the summer
• Chris suggested pursuing tunnel funding from Mass DOT, noting road safety issues
• Hal sees increased bike access to the beaches since the bike trails are a safe way to get there with this
crossing
Abigail asked what the Bikeways Committee thinks of going to the Select Board about this issue
• Hal suggested we go with lots of questions about possibilities; promoting the destination rather than
use of the bike trail
• Chris said this proposed crossing design is the same as other crossings
• Rachel noted that best comparison would be access at Skaket- how many beachgoers use the
biketrail; what are the concerns; what kinds of traffic/bike interactions occur here
• Mary said she doesn't see a lot of bike traffic on Linnell Road
• Rick said we need timed lights at proposed 6A crossing
Abigail asked for an informal poll on support for joint comments to SB on DCR bike trail and 6A crossing
from Nickerson
• Support project but need more research on alternative crossings
• Possibility of increase in biking, and planning for this increase
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• Explore alternative crossings and management at crossings
D Bridge assessment
Town crossing guards during the summer
Installations that get riders off their bikes
➢ Work with legislative delegation to get more $ (tunnel)
Hal moved that Bikeways Committee communicates to the Select Board about its concerns over the Rt. 6A
crossing, based on results of next DCR presentation on plans Vote: 5-0
Rachel moved that the Coastal Committee collaborate with the Bikeways Committee to develop comments to
SB Vote: 4-0
Abigail noted the Coastal Committee's August 16th public discussion on Community Infrastructure and asked
the Bikeways Committee to participate in this meeting and contribute to the White Paper that will be
prepared for this meeting. (put goals of Bikeways Strategy in White Paper)
Mary suggested looking at other options for bike access to the landings .
Next year for National Bike month, the Bikeways Committee plans to promote biking during the
Massachusetts bike week.
Meeting adjourned at bpm.
Attachment: : Brewster Bikeways comment to DCR on the extension of the bike trail into Nickerson north:
October 2017
On behalf of the of the Brewster Bikeways Committee, I would like to support the proposed extension of the
Cape Cod Rail Trail from Nickerson State Park, south of RT 6A, to access the beaches on Cape Cod Bay.
Biking Brewster, the Town's strategy to enhance biking which was adopted by the Board of Selectmen in 2016,
established five goals . The second goal, "Increase biking access to key destinations Brewster" underlines the
importance of biking as an alternative to cars for getting to popular destinations in Town, including the many
public beaches . As one of the long-term actions, the strategy specifically refers to encouraging discussions
with the Division of Conservation and Recreation and MassDOT to build a crossing on Rt. 6A to improve
access to Crosby and Linnell landings . The creation of a dedicated multi-use path across DCR land to
accomplish this is a safe and efficient way to improve access to the landings and the long beach in between
them.
We note that the initial concept calls for a level crossing with flashing lights to channel biker riders and
pedestrians across RT 6A to the multi-use path. While this would be safer than the configuration at many
other road crossings, we strongly recommend that the project team explore the construction of a tunnel,
similar to the current tunnel under RT 6A at Nickerson State Park, as a safer and more efficient means of
crossing. The number of users of a crossing at this location will, in all likelihood, create considerable
congestion during the summer months, given the heavy car traffic on Rt 6A. The existing tunnel provides a
smooth flow of both vehicular traffic on RT 6A and bike traffic through the tunnel. In addition, we feel that a
large flashing light system in a wooded section of the road and in a Town that has no stop lights and only one
flashing light intersection would be contrary to the Town's character.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this exciting project.
Susan Riseman, Chair