Town Of Arlington Kicks Off Minuteman Bikeway Planning Project

Press release from Town of Arlington:

October 14, 2021

As a result of funding by the Community Preservation Act Committee, the Department of Planning and Community Development is pleased to announce the kick-off of the Minuteman Bikeway Planning Project, which will review and make recommendations to improve the Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington. The project’s goal is to create a plan for the Bikeway that will address safety and access on and to the Bikeway, identify community goals and priorities, and develop an implementation plan for improvements.

To kick off the project, the Town is releasing a public survey to gather information on how people use the Bikeway, their user experience, and what issues need the most improvement. The Town is also hosting a public forum on Wednesday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. to share the scope of the project and the existing conditions analysis, and to gather more specific information about users’ experiences, usage habits, and priorities for the Bikeway.

The Town released a request for proposals (RFP) in May to identify a transportation consulting firm to assist in this work. The Town awarded a contract to Kittelson & Associates after reviewing six proposals received in response to the RFP. The Town and Kittelson & Associates will work with members of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee (ABAC) to provide guidance on the project and has committed to hold three public meetings over the course of the plan’s development. The project, funded through the Community Preservation Act Committee, has a budget of $80,000 and is expected to be completed by May 2022.

This project aligns with the Connect Arlington Sustainable Transportation Plan, endorsed by the Select Board in July 2021. It is specifically called for in the section, “Mobility Options for All Ages, Capabilities, and Incomes”, where Strategy B.3 states: “Complete the Minuteman Bikeway Project and implement recommendations that increase access to and capacity and safety on the pathway.” Other elements of this strategy that will be informed by the Minuteman Bikeway Planning Project include increasing separation of cyclists and pedestrians to expand capacity and enhance comfort and safety on the Bikeway; development of wayfinding and user safety programs for the Bikeway; analyzing the potential to install lighting to increase visibility and safety along the pathway at night; and improvement of neighborhood connections to the Bikeway.

Information about the project, including copies of the RFP and Kittelson & Associates’ proposal, can be found on the ABAC web page at: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/ABAC. To learn more about the Minuteman Bikeway Planning Project, contact Daniel Amstutz, Senior Transportation Planner in Arlington’s Department of Planning & Community Development at 781-316-3093 or damstutz@town.arlington.ma.us.

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.