9-16-20-Bicycle-Pedestrian-agenda-minutes
Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee meeting
7:30 AM to 8:55 AM, Wednesday September 16, 2020
This meeting was held remotely because of Covid-19
https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92598049503 or 648-876-9923 (Meeting #925 9804 9503)
MEMBERS
Debin Bruce Maggie Chan (DPW) Michael DiPasquale
Wayne Feiden (Plan) Eric Boudreau James Lowenthal
Nick Horton Brett Constantine
1. Public Comment- There was no public comment
2. June 29, 2020 minutes- Upon motion by Eric Boudreau and second by Nick Horton the
minutes were approved by unanimous roll call vote
3. Discussion of Main Street shared streets: Feiden introduced the experience of the Main Street
shared streets projects. All restaurant expansions onto streets, parks, and parking lots were
successful. Other Main Street shared efforts were strongly opposed by the vast majority of
the businesses that showed up at the Town Hall Forum, the Downtown Northampton
Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. There was very strong community support,
with dueling petitions to keep and remove. Because the installation was designed to help
businesses, and not primarily as a test for a permanent Main Street complete streets project,
the Mayor decided to remove much of the installation in light of business opposition. Several
elements remain: extensions for individual restaurants, the wider painted center island near
Center Street, the two “smart” garage signs stating how many available parking spaces there
are, and the art installation making parking spots more interesting.
Subcommittee members discussed the next steps in moving forward and advancing the
community conversation. The focus was on how to find designs that gets business support,
turn the negative energy into positive energy, and narrow the gap between the business
community and those who walk and bicycle downtown. There was a conversation on how to
get businesses better engaged, perhaps with a business representative on the bicycle and
pedestrian subcommittee. The subcommittee discussed whether the next Main Street public
forum should wait, for wounds to heal, or should move forward this fall. Everyone speaking
wanted to move forward this fall, but also to engage businesses outside of the public forum
(e.g., at a DNA meeting, and direct business engagement). Subcommittee members
volunteered to help with the stories, the messaging and engagement.
4. Updates: The Edwards Square bike path ramp is underway, the wheelchair curb cut ramp is
99% complete. Exit 19 roundabout is under construction, Damon Road, King Street from
North to the bike path, and the North King Street roundabout should all be built in 2021-
2022.
5. Next meeting: 7:30 AM on Wednesday 10/21/2020.
6. Adjourn: 8:45 AM