New street markings and signs, safety improvements for bicyclists and even underground pedestrian tunnels were some of the ideas discussed at a public forum earlier this month.
The forum summarized input from an earlier forum in October, an online survey, and comments about roadways and traffic at the State of the Town meeting last month. Town officials are gathering this information in preparation for applying for a grant of up to $400,000 under the state’s Complete Streets program, which targets local improvements to benefit drivers, bicyclists, public transit users and and pedestrians. These grants can help fund eligible projects after a municipality has developed a Complete Streets policy and a prioritization plan of desired improvements. Lincoln already received an initial $50,000 grant earlier this year to pay for the consulting work presented on December 7.
The town could apply for specific project funding after the new year, but the deadline for actually completing any 2017 projects is the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2017. Thus, any initial projects must already be “shovel-ready” and must not require any town funding above the $400,000 maximum grant, because the capital planning process is too far along. However, in future years, the town may seek grants for projects that would require funds (including design work) in excess of $400,000, with the balance paid by the town.
“In that first round, we’re not going to get to the issues that people are frankly excited about,” said Town Administrator Tim Higgins.
“Low-hanging fruit” that might be targeted for early 2017 includes roadside path improvements and links, signs, street markings and resurfacing, and crosswalks, said Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney.
The town could supplement future grants with capital planning or Community Preservation Act funds, other state funding programs or bonding. However, Higgins tempered expectations by noting that “historically, roadways and path improvements have not been high on the community’s priority list for funding” and that the town is already facing major expenditures for a school project and possible a community center.
Specific suggestions
Based on public input thus far, residents want to see improvements at various problematic intersections:
- Lincoln Road and Codman Road
- Route 2 and Bedford Road
- Old Winter and Winter Streets
- Lincoln Road and Route 117
- Routes 126 and 117
- Five Corners
Possible safety measures include better signal timing/phasing, flashing lights, stop signs, enhanced pavement markings, new guardrails, improved sight lines, relocated utility poles and/or speed humps.
Crosswalks were also suggested for Lexington and Trapelo Roads, Page and Trapelo Roads, Baker Bridge and Concord Roads, and Codman and Lincoln Roads. Other ideas that surfaced included a safer Bedford Road crossing at Route 2 involving a bridge or tunnel, and seeing if the public could use an existing tunnel under Route 117 owned by Mass Audubon.
Other types of projects suggested for Lincoln that are eligible for Complete Streets grants include:
- Lincoln Station improvements such as signage, seating and/or a shelter for the commuter train stop, and paving the residents’ commuter parking lot.
- Connecting some conservation trails, improving signage and allowing more types of usage
- Improvements for bicyclists such as bike lanes and shared-use paths, shoulder maintenance (fixing debris and cracks), widening shoulders to a consistent 18 inches, and widening roads back to the original pavement where dirt and weeds have crept in
Burney and other officials will present a list of recommended projects and a draft Complete Streets policy to the Board of Selectmen in January.
More information:
- Compilation of online survey responses
- A draft of Lincoln’s Complete Streets policy
- The PowerPoint presentation from the December 7 forum