Working Group Minutes
Updates |
Reminder / clarification about our meetings:
We have decided to do an e-update again instead of meeting in person. People seem maxed out in terms of weeknight meetings. We are thinking about moving to this schedule:
If you are part of a working group, please send Syrah your updates! She will get in touch with you personally if she doesn't hear from you by Tuesday afternoon. ************************************************************************************ Walk Medford e-update 11-8-2016 Working Group Updates Complete Streets (Jeff): Complete Streets Prioritization Plan Projects Summary: Six or seven prioritization plan projects made possible by a $400,000 Complete Streets grant from MassDOT are moving forward for implementation this coming spring, and other elements of the Complete Streets policy are progressing. Details below: The City released the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan in late September, which documents the process used to recommend six projects that received $400,000 in funding from MassDOT, plus a seventh that the City says it intends to fund with Chapter 90 funds. The projects are:
The Prioritization Plan document is here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3WLiCQjgEI1Ykc0a2RLUlBpbHM The seven project concept sheets selected are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3WLiCQjgEI1YjloTV91SEZVMUE The City is in the process of hiring a design engineer to turn the concept sheets into a buildable design plan. We expect that there will be an opportunity to comment on the plans, but do not yet know the process or the schedule. If you would like to comment on the concepts, please let me know and we can develop a consolidated set of comments from WalkMedford. You should also feel free to provide comments yourself when we find out the process. Complete Streets Policy Implementation The city's Complete Streets policy calls for a lot of positive changes in the way Medford addresses mobility. These changes will take a lot of work to implement. That work has begun with the first meeting of a Complete Streets Stakeholder Committee last month, which I attended. The first meeting served as an introduction to the work to be done. The next meeting is November 10. In response to extensive requests (demands?) from parents at the Brooks School, parents of middle school students needing to access buses across High Street, and WalkMedford, the City put in place a quick-response, low-cost temporary improvement of the crosswalk at High Street and Allston Street in front of the Brooks School. The improvements include:
Tactical Urbanism Projects I don't know if WalkMedford can take credit for them, but we can certainly celebrate the proliferation of "Drive Like Your Kids Live Here" signs in several neighborhoods. We are familiar with them in the Brooks Street/Woburn Street area, as well as on Capen Street. Is there any feedback as to whether these have been effective at all? It would be great to advance other more extensive tactical urbanism projects in neighborhoods willing to do so. Jeff will be suggesting these in the Complete Streets stakeholder committee. If others are interested in advancing this, please let him know. Clippership Connector (Amber, Ann, Alicia, many others): Clippership Connector (Amber, Ann, Alicia, many others): Background: The Clippership Connector is a proposed waterfront path that will connect Medford Square with Riverbend Park and the Andrews and McGlynn schools. This half-mile link will complete nearly 10 miles of contiguous greenways along the Mystic River and serve as a local walking, running and biking path for Medford residents. WalkMedford is partnering with the City, Medford Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Mystic River Watershed Association and Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Foundation to move this project from conceptual design to implementation over the coming year. Neighborhood Meeting The City and MyRWA will be hosting a meeting on November 10 for Ship Ave residents. The meeting will take place at the Yacht Club (another important stakeholder). Given space constraints and the fact that we want to have a conservation with direct abutters, just Bishal from Walk Medford will attend, he plans to bring a few of his neighbors. Jim Comeau from DCR will also attend the meeting to answer questions. He is working on the acquisition/easement efforts for the two private parcels on the Medford Sq end of the path. DCR DCR is still delayed with the partnership grant process (in case you haven't been following, there continue to be budget cuts/staffing changes which doesn't help to move this along). The good news is that we are close touch with DCR and we continue to hear that this is a priority for the commissioner. Alicia has had discussions with him. Fundraising Related to the partnership grant, MyRWA continues to look for funds that could meet the match, Alicia and Ann are in the loop on this as well. Outreach Events List of fall outreach events where the project was mentioned: Harvest Your Energy Festival Oct. 1- WalkMedford shared info sheets and hosted a walk along the path - anyone who led this can chime in with notable outcomes. One Medford Day Oct. 23- this event was postponed until the spring, MyRWA will have a table and info about Clippership Connector. Sidenote from Amber- “I spoke on a panel at a local American Planning Association conference, someone from Medford approached me as they had heard about this project through WalkMedford. Great to continue getting the word out!” Social Media (Jen V.): www.walkmedford.org There is a projects page that gets continuously updated. The page called “Working Group Minutes” includes e-updates like this one. Like us on facebook! www.facebook.com/WalkMedford Google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/walkmedford Wayfinding (Ken M., Syrah, Jen): In information collection stage – we have been in touch with the Mass in Motion coordinator in Malden. No further updates at this time. Walk Medford Promotional items (Syrah, Jeff, Jen) We are using products such as baseball caps, water cups, bumper stickers, pins and backpacks to help raise awareness and spread the word about Walk Medford! Museum in the Streets (Hallie): Medford residents Steve and Diane Galebach (and others) are interested in bringing Museum in the Streets to Medford. Starting with the South Street area – some ideas are nature highlights of the Mystic River - perhaps with pictures of wildlife that can be seen; Middlesex Canal - with pictures and text similar to what can be seen at the Middlesex Canal Museum at Billerica and, to a lesser extent, on the museum's website. The Galebachs presented the idea to the Medford Historical Society & Museum Board meeting on June 20, and the Board was supportive of the Museum in the Streets Project. The Galebachs will be presenting the idea to the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission at their monthly meeting in September. No further updates at this time. Decorated Crosswalks: (Syrah, Jeff, Laurel): No updates at this time Safe Routes to School: see above in Complete Streets Group walks: (Outreach/Community Events: Syrah, Emily, Jen) July 13 -Walk Medford walk as part of Medford Health Matters event September 24 – Walk Medford walk as part of the Mystic River Fest October 1 - Walk Medford walk as part of the Harvest Your Energy Fest October 12 – Walk Medford guided meditation walk as part of Medford Health Matters event. No upcoming events – any ideas? Conferences etc.: Moving Together Conference: Syrah, Emily, Jeff and Cassandra Koutalidas (City Engineer) represented Medford at the annual Moving Together Conference on September 29 devoted to non-motorized transportation put on by MassDOT. Some highlights:
Next Meeting Next e-update will be in late December. ************************************************************************** Walk Medford e-update In lieu of meeting scheduled for 7-19-2016 Work group Updates Complete Streets (Jeff):
Clippership Connector (Amber, Ann, Alicia, many others): The Clippership Connector is a proposed waterfront path that will connect Medford Square with Riverbend Park and the Andrews and McGlynn schools. This half-mile link will complete nearly 10 miles of contiguous greenways along the Mystic River and serve as a local walking, running and biking path for Medford residents. WalkMedford is partnering with the City, Medford Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Mystic River Watershed Association and Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Foundation to move this project from conceptual design to implementation over the coming year. The group is reaching out to local residents and stakeholders to build support and working with the state to get this project on their priority list. Let us know if you would like to get involved! Social Media (Jen V.): www.walkmedford.org There is a projects page that gets continuously updated . Like us on facebook! www.facebook.com/WalkMedford Google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/walkmedford Group Walks: The group walk at the Medford Health Matters event went well (see below). August 11th – organized walk starting & ending at Medford Farmers Market. Time TBD. Please contact Syrah if you want to get involved in planning this walk or others in the future. Wayfinding (Ken M., Syrah, Jen): In information collection stage – we have been in touch with the Mass in Motion coordinator in Malden. Walk Medford Promotional items Working group consists of Jen V., Jeff B., Syrah. Putting together plan for how to best use these items to raise awareness of Walk Medford in the community! Please contact Syrah if you want to join this working group. Museum in the Streets (Hallie): Medford residents Steve and Diane Galebach (and others) are interested in bringing Museum in the Streets to Medford. Starting with the South Street area – some ideas are nature highlights of the Mystic River - perhaps with pictures of wildlife that can be seen; Middlesex Canal - with pictures and text similar to what can be seen at the Middlesex Canal Museum at Billerica and, to a lesser extent, on the museum's website. The Galebachs presented the idea to the Medford Historical Society & Museum Board meeting on June 20, and the Board was supportive of the Museum in the Streets Project. Decorated Crosswalks (Syrah, Jeff, Laurel): With a grant from the Medford Arts Council, we are working with Dr. Perella at Medford High School and artist Liz Lamanche (see her website for her experience with public art) to artistically paint two crosswalks on the MHS campus and an accompanying mural on the sidewalk leading up to the MHS steps. The designs highlight walking and will include the Walk Medford logo. Artwork is slated to be completed in mid- August. Outreach/Community Events (Jen V., Emily, Syrah): Walk Medford participated in the Medford Health Matters event on 7/13/2016. We led 2 walks prior to the panel discussion. It was considered a success and it was really great to be a part of it! About forty people showed up on a fairly oppressive day of heat. Emily & Ken were absolute troopers and led 15-20 walkers (Ken had a much smaller crowd bc of the heat) and he mentioned there were several areas that were problematic re: walking that challenged the groups - talk about on topic, yikes! Folks enjoyed the hats, stickers etc and it got people talking about WM & a few signed up after the event (even among typical exiting crowd chaos ;) One man Jim, I believe (top line of your sheet) was super enthusiastic and wants to join a walking group and be involved any way asap. I felt like everyone left feeling like it was worthwhile... Safe Routes to School: no updates at this time Upcoming Events August 11th – organized walk starting & ending at Medford Farmers Market. Time TBD August 18th – Circle the Square. We have not committed to tabling there yet, is anyone available to help out? We need to rsvp to reserve a table a few weeks in advance (ASAP!) Week of August 22nd – Walk Medford table at McGlynn School – in evening, day & time TBD. great opportunity to get word out about Clippership Connector! Syrah not available – can anyone be in charge of this? October 18th - Walk Medford table at McGlynn School – in evening, time TBD. great opportunity to get word out about Clippership Connector! Syrah can do it, any other help appreciated. Tufts FOCUS project We will be working with a group of incoming freshman who do mini community service projects. Tuesday August 30th for 4-6 hours, time TBD. In preparation, we are currently reviewing a comprehensive walk audit that was conducted in summer 2012 and these students will be conducting walk audits to augment/ update what was previously reported or to check safety of new walking routes. We will meet with them in the morning to introduce them to Walk Medford and pedestrian advocacy; train them to do a walk audit; send them out in groups to conduct the walk audits and have them input their findings. We can use assistance with any part of the day or preparation, or snacks/drinks for the students. The committee currently consists of Syrah, Jeff B. and Jen V. Contact Syrah if you would like to help out! Moving Together Conference We can send a handful of Medford residents to the Moving Together Conference again this year. 9/29/2016, Boston Park Plaza Hotel . Please let Syrah know by September 6th if you want to attend and I will get you registered. Next Meeting Tuesday August 30th, 7 PM - City Hall room 201 or E-Update if people are not available to attend. Please let Syrah know as soon as you know your attendance plans. Thank you. Add working group Interactive Mapping |
A peek into our creative nest located in Medford |
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