001comprehensive plan called Envision Ashland. Uh there is a slight there was a slight mixup and it's all on me. We had publicized that tonight was going to be a discussion of theme three and in actuality it's going to be a discussion of theme one and five. So, um, if you weren't here originally for theme 1 and five, please consider staying and, uh, offering your questions and suggestions. Um, I'm going to take you through some overall information about the whole plan and then we're going to go specifically into the two different themes. Uh, again, um, I'm going to be showing you a lot of information. The group that has been working on this is very excited about the plan. Um, so, as we said, this is Envision Ashland and I'm Yolanda Greavves. I'm a member of
002the Ashlin Select Board and one of the two select board members as part of the 29 member comprehensive plan committee. And we have a few other members here online as well as here in the room with me. So, let's get through this. Just give me a second. It's been a little bit since I've had to do PowerPoint on Zoom. And go. There we go. Um, so a comprehensive plan is basically a roadmap for a a community. This is a 10-year plan. There's been a lot of input from a lot of people. Um, all of this information is online at the town website. So, I'm not going to go through all the information on these pages that you're seeing, but just sort of taking you over some of the general overview. So, the three big things
003here, um, at the core, a comprehensive plan seeks to answer three key questions. What forces have shaped our community over time? what makes our town unique and then how should our town move forward in the next 10 years and we've had input from a lot of people moving into these forum into this uh to this comprehensive plan. So this is now bringing it back to the public to say did we get it right are and also trying to find out what are some of the priorities that you would like to see visions priorities and pathways. So what happens with a plan like this um is we talked about what our vision for the community is, what our priorities and our pathways of getting there. Also there is some very specific things that are needed through
004the uh state law for a mass comprehensive plan, Mass General law chapter 41. Um and it outlines the seven elements that are essential to a comprehensive plan. Hey Rob, few more people are joining us here in the room. I thought I was going to be talking to myself, so thank you for being here. Um, so we have five core themes that have been identified for our comprehensive plan. Um, again, for those of you that are coming in, this was supposed to be theme three and I made a mixup and I created everything for themes one and five. So, um, still stuff that's important and we want your input. So theme one was building and enhancing community. Theme two is promoting long-term sustainability. Theme three is guiding development that honors open space and conservation. Theme four
005is enhancing town services and economic development. And theme five is creating a connected and accessible community. So we're going to be talking about theme one building and enhancing community and theme five creating a connected and accessible community. Uh in tonight's session we have about 90 minutes planned. The goal is to take you through some things then have some discussion um and then wrap it up in a timely manner because we want to respect your time. Okay. So what we're aiming to achieve is we have 23 goals that match the different themes that we are going to uh review in four different sessions. So we're here tonight August 25th. We have another session planned for September 2nd, September 4th, and then the last one September 8th. And the goal is that we have feedback back to
006our consultants well before they need it for our next comprehensive plan, which is September 18th. So, we have 81 strategies. We're looking at a very flexible roadmap. What can we do right away? Things might have to wait that we're going to take you through. We have four strategy types. capacity building, design, physical and a and acquisition, regulatory and policy, and programmatic. So, different things that can affect the community in different ways. >> Sure. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So, tonight was supposed to be theme three and we're doing one and five and then it'll be revised on the website. It This is one of those things where we're we tried to pull this together sort of quickly. or as quickly as we could. Um, knowing it's tough at the end of summer, people are going into
007school, things like that. So, um, and just as volunteers trying to do it while we work and do other things. Um, community engagement by the numbers on this picture on this uh on this slide. um we had reached about 100% of our goal for participation and on this slide it talks about the number of participation points and how people got involved giving us their thoughts giving us their information and giving input on what we think is is is important to the town of Ashland. This is our community vision statement. There was a lot of time spent on this. Um I will read this uh every every session so that people under um uh hear it. Ashland so by 2035. So a community vision statement. This is for where we want to be in 10 years.
008Ashland is a diverse inclusive community that honors and preserves its small town charm, its rich history and open space. The town features vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods with exceptional schools and aesthetically pleasing public and private space for living, learning, working, aging, shopping, and playing. Ashlin's reimagining of land use prioritizes the creation of safe, walkable, bikable, and multimodal transportation options to address the needs of its growing population, enhances community connectivity, and provides well-maintained, accessible recreation amenities. So that's our vision. Um, as I said, we have five core themes. Building enhancing community, promoting long-term sustainability, guiding development that open honors open space and conservation, enhancing town services and economic development, and creating a connected and accessible community. And there was again a mixup. So tonight's session, we're going to be talking about building and enhancing community and creating
009connected and accessible community. Um, the way these were split up was basically we I looked at the number of strategies that each of them had and because we only had four nights, we split it up as evenly as possible. So, um, and I don't know that we're going to touch on every single strategy tonight, but we'll we'll take you through the highlights. And again, this is available up on the website. We want you to take a look at it. We want you to give us your feedback. I don't think we'll be making any major changes. The goal is, did we get this right? as a community, do you feel that that comprehensive plan took in your information, worked with the consultant and then presented this and has created a path that we can move forward
010with? And I use my hands a lot when I speak. So here we go. So theme one is building and enhancing community. And there are, if you look at the plan online, there are some maps that talk about some of these things. As I was putting this together, the maps did not read well on a screen like this. And there's a lot of detail that I think again, if you're interested in looking at the maps, you can go ahead and take a look at them. A big discussion that we had was how are we going to measure if we've if we've reached our goal. So as you can see here, we have five possible ways of measuring when we get to be this type of community or when we continue to improve to this type
011of community because a lot of this is already happening. A lot of the feel this is what else can we add to our community moving forward. Okay, so this is sort of small but if you're online hopefully you're looking at it on um in the web on the web as well. Um so there there are um three hold on let me double check there are three sets of goals uh three there are three goals with multiple strategies let me say it that way. So our first goal is to strengthen social ties and civic engagement through community events programs and intergenerational activities. That's the main goal or that's one of the three goals for this strategy, for this theme. I'll get all the words right at some point. Um, we're already a pretty diverse and inclusive
012community. So, how can we honor that and keep it going forward and still keep small town? Because every conversation, people want to have the small town charm, but yet embrace the changes that are happening in our community. So, I think what we'll do is um I'm going to read through these and if you have questions, go ahead and raise your hand. Um so, our five strategies for goal 1A and again it's strengthen social ties and civic engagement through community events, programs, and intergenerational activities. Expand programming at community spaces. I'm and I'm sort of touching at the top level. Uh strategy 1A is increase inter intergenerational program. Number 1 A3 is improve online access to programs and activities. Strategy A4 is continue to promote programming designed to support Ashlin's older residents and explore new ways to
013help keep them in our community. And then 1 A5 is support efforts to grow Ashlin's volunteer network to offer more educational skill building and recreational recreational program for residents. We do a lot of things with volunteers here. Meaning most people that are sitting in this room with me as I am are volunteers to the community. Um any does that hit the spot? Does that make sense? Hold on one second. >> Oh yeah, thanks Yolanda. Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to comment strategy uh A2 increase >> intergenerational program. That's >> that's great. I was I was just discussing actually with Marsha the other day and she she brought that up about >> increasing the use of the community center >> uh for more youth oriented activities within the center. And this would this is intergeneration just
014seems like a a great idea. >> Okay, great. Thank you for that feedback. >> Joel right there. >> Uh two things. One, off topic at the moment. I'm begging you to postpone the discussion of the upper Charles Trail and the related other items on that item. We didn't have we didn't know about this meeting. I would like my >> So what we're gonna what we're going to do is out of every forum if there's another theme that you want to talk about, we're going to save time at the end of that to allow people to give their feedback. And and and and I guess the thing that I'd like to say is the upper Charles Trail is in this plan. It is a a goal. It is a priority. Every meeting that we were at,
015every people, you know, so if your concern is that it's not in the plan, it is definitely in the plan. the some of the steps on how to get there are not here. This is just making sure that completing the upper Charles Trail is in the plan. >> I appreciate that. My concern >> which I have asked for a meeting with you as you know >> and I hope to attend a board meeting soon >> is and I want to say that I'm speaking for myself and not on behalf of the committee here. >> I'm we've been doing this for over 10 years. We've had virtually zero support from the board, from the town staff, and we're tired and we're old, and it's time for a change. So, my point is that my focus is
016going to be not whether it's in the plan, but whether there is a credible, realistic plan to implement it, not that it's a popularity. >> I'll let you know that that's the next step. >> Okay? >> Right? This this plan is what do we want to do in the next 10 years? Nowhere in this plan is it telling us how it's going to be implemented. An implementation of all of these strategies. Right now, we're looking we are looking at creating an implementation committee that will say, okay, these are the strategies. These are our goals. This is how we want what we what we want to achieve. The implementation committee will work with other groups to say how are we going to complete them. I'd like to comment on this section also. Sure. You have a
017lot of good things listed here. Y very supportive of all of them. >> Okay. >> But what I kind of don't see itemized or made as explicit as I would like to see it made is the idea of uh private groups doing community activities. So what could that mean? A dog walking club, uh Italian night dinner club, the Ashlin Bike Club. I just want to complete this. The Ashlin Bike Club, maybe it's here, that would be great. The Ashlin Bike Club has over 650 people on our mailing list now. We we do over some 40,000 miles of rides per year. And I would hope that that those type of activities would be enumerated and encouraged and supported by the town. >> So, yeah, 1 A1 actually says it too, right? expand programming at community spaces
018such as the farmers market, the corner spot, Ashen Public Library to include more workshops, performances, and seasoned vendors that support local businesses. So 1A1 has it and then um 1 A5 also support efforts to grow Ashlin's volunteer network to more to offer more educational skill building and recreational program for residents. >> Okay, >> so I think it's there discussion then will have to be an implementation as to how we make that happen. I'd love to see adding to this something like uh the uh both public and private partnerships to expand the offerings to the community. >> Okay, we can look at that. Okay, great. Um yeah, I think the this is Anna Tesmitzky, one of the comprehensive plan members. I'm just commenting that I think strategy 1A5 somewhat covers what you're saying. I think we
019were very cautious as a comprehensive plan committee to be like hyper specific as to what volunteer network could mean and obviously any volunteer network would have to work really closely with town staff with our business community etc. And so implied in that is the kind of partnership you're talking about but we could we could think about more language to cover that. >> Okay great I have um two people online raising their hand. Mark Don, go ahead and unmute yourself. And again, try to keep it to this goal and these strategies. >> Mark, go ahead. Unmute. There you go. >> Yes, Mark. Mark 719. Thank you for letting me speak. It is on one of the strategies and I'm looking at it at strategy 1 A4 to continue the promote program and design the support and
020older resistance and explore new ways to help older adults save active and engage in living in the community. In what ways is the support and in what ages is the older residents going to get some support and be engaged? What what are the exact points of of these things? >> Again, Mark, I'm going to go back to what I said to Joel. This is a strategy that we don't have the specifics as to what engagement is going to happen. We don't have the specifics as to what age that is. I mean, older residents here in Ashlin, we have a very large population over 75. Our population over 60 is also growing. So, I think we can look at what that may mean. But that'll be something that as we look to implement this strategy, we
021will use the resources that we already have, whether it be our senior center or our community center or some of our wreck programs to determine what that's going to look like. Okay. Does that answer your question? >> And when it does get answered, yes. When it does get >> I don't have publicly known. >> Go ahead. I just want just I just want to just make sure. Yes. >> Okay. >> I just want to make sure once it does get answered that the public and like to myself all I've been volunteering all that for for the time but just want to make sure that's going to be something that's going to be said >> once we have how we're going to do these strategies. We are definitely going to get it out to the community.
022>> Yeah. definitely part of it. Okay. Uh Raja Shri, you can go ahead and unmute, please. >> Hi. Uh can you hear me? >> Yep. >> Okay. I just wanted to echo Yolanda your thoughts on this and also add that we haven't quite discussed whether we will have an implementation committee or a working group but we certainly will have a body that will work with the public and the town staff sure that what whatever goals and implementation uh practices we might adopt um that they get done and that they get get done in ways um that have been framed in this plan and and the specifics of those will unravel as we go along. Um this plan mind you is a highlevel document and so the specifics are not going to be possible to be
023added here but some of the ideas are more than welcome. We will take that feedback um back to our consultants. Thank you. >> Great. Okay. Rob, did you have something on this one? No, this Rob >> I'm happy to see seniors mentioned u so many times. I happen to be one of them unfortunately. Um what I don't see here though is something addressing the working class, the the adults and specific programs um on on maybe weekends or something like that that that could help folks that are working all week long. And I I they it seems to be an omission. >> Okay, we'll look into that. Yeah, good idea. Okay. Um I'd like to move us along because we still have a lot more to get through. Um and if you have other ideas or
024suggestions, we'll I'll make myself available afterwards and then um and or you can submit stuff to us online. We're going to go to the next page. This is goal 1B and 1 C. and uh it's easier for me to read them this way. So, goal 1B is celebrate and preserves Ashlin cultural and historic identity. Strategy 1B is expand local funding and community partnerships to uh facilitate long-term and sustainable rehab rehabilitation and reuse of public and privately owned historic buildings and structures. Strategy 1B2, incorporate interpretive signage at historic locations to support self-guided tours. Strategy 1B3. Continue to develop a community supported vision for the historic Valentine property. Considering potential uses for recreation, meeting spaces, social functions, and other publicly accessible uses. Assess financial viability, needed improvements, and funding sources for implementation. Strategy 1B4. Create a historic
025preservation plan to develop an updated inventory of historic properties and places. Identify locations in public support for local historic districts and consider making financial assistance available for historic preservation projects at key publicly and privately owned properties and places. Um so again the reason this one is the blue is highlighted is the committee itself did a survey of the different strategies and we were asked to prioritize of the different parts of the plan um all 20 pe all 29 people this is a very small sampling it was 20 people who responded so it's not a big sampling so as you're reading these and listening to these if you have something that you think should be a higher priority or more of a priority priority as we move forward. We want to know that as well. But
026this was identified by a portion of the committee that responded and this this the the idea of finding a use for the Valentine property was very highly rated. A lot of people are like we need to do something with that. Okay. Uh goal 1C and then we'll talk about both of them together. Develop inclusive and vibrant public spaces in central locations that serve as community gathering spots to foster a sense of community. We're doing this a lot, but we have some other strategies that we want to bring forward. Strategy 1C1 develop a unified system for accessing public build public buildings and fields uh the libraries, the schools, recreation centers by coordinating shared usage schedule and flexible hours and ensuring that staff responsibility for overseeing the system is clear to make sure that spaces can seamlessly
027transition between various community functions and are accessible to all residents. Strategy 1C2, revitalize the facilities and landscaping at Stone Park for safety and improve public use. And strategy 1C3, leverage planning, leverage planned long-term streetscapes improvement projects to incorporate planning for enhanced public gathering spaces in the early stages of projects. Um, so any thoughts on any of these strategies, positive, negative tweaks? Um, again, what I see on some of these strategies, we're already taking minor steps to do them, and now we're just saying in our plan that we want to make sure this is documented, that we continue doing this work. So, um, Katherine Jersey, 11 Rodman Road on, um, strategy 1C to revitalize the facilities and landscaping at Stone Park for safety and improved public use. So I I heard a lot of people talk
028about let's say quote activate zone park and and I think um people appreciate that what potentially like there were things splash pad and I feel like the revitalize doesn't really necessarily what I feel like that means is make what's there better not um potential to improve it. So I feel like if that was slightly altered it would cover both scenarios better. Okay, I'm hoping one of you is taking notes on this. >> Good. I can't do everything. Okay, great. Thank you for that feedback, Joel. I can't speak to the I can't speak to the current policy, but my understanding is or in the past has been that for non-town groups >> with a legitimate purpose, let's say you wanted to talk about uh a potential override, pro or con, or you wanted to meet and
029talk about bicycling in Ashland or what or or education, whatever your topic might be, >> that there has been a fee for use of the community center. >> Yes. And I would really, you know, I I wonder to what degree that discourages people from taking steps to do things that might be beneficial to the town because of the cost. And I just hope that can be looked into a little bit and see what the >> I mean, again, we're not talking about specifics here, but I would say this, the rem to remind people of the reason there is a cost is because if it's not someone from town staff or official town government, then they have to have someone there in the building and most of the time we have to pay those people. So
030if that's why, but we can but we can look at that. But I think the idea of developing a system to access things we can look at at that point. >> Well, I think where you've emphasized uh and I appreciate that you have libraries, schools, fields, y uh recreation fields, what whatever it is >> that there is an instance where that and I I'm not aware that there are other instances of that where there's a fee attached and I understand there's a there may well be a reason for it, >> right? But what are the trade-offs between having that fee there or having more resident uh participation? >> Okay, we can look at that >> and again that might be as we move into implementation to discuss the idea of scheduling and how we can
031get give people more access. Um but that would be something we can look at. Okay. >> Under 1 C2, um make uh Warren Woods more walkable. Um, it's I know it's under the care of the conservation commission, but there are times of the year that it is a giant mud puddle. Um, and it needs some bog bridges and and it needs some enhancing. >> So, okay. >> I think it fits right in making Stone Park more safe and usable. >> Okay. We'll have to check. We'll see if we we if >> Yeah. So, not only So, you want Warren Woods to be more accessible and Okay. >> Okay. Okay. I think that's that's a good I Yeah. Okay. Great. Okay. Uh online, anything else for these sessions, for these strategies? No. Okay. We're going to
032move along. Sure. So what like when we did 126 when we were doing that planning some work was talked about creating you know a a a streetscape so that we looked at trees and things like that um also looking at if there's a way to create a gathering place on some of these major construction things that we do right so like on when we looked at 126 now granted it wasn't our project it was a state project but as we're doing some improvements on 135 could we look at could we have looked at or if we make some changes to 135, could we look at creating more public gathering spaces? I mean, I think as a town we have a lot of gathering spaces, but I know there's been there's been questions about trying to
033um add more green space closer and that's in another I don't know if it's in if it's in if it's in goal five, but the idea that we have some kind of green space outside space park within a half a mile of everyone's home in Ashland. I don't know if we'll get there, but that's part of the discussion and that's where that gets us to. >> Well, that sounds good. I don't know where it fits because I had no time to read this. >> That's fine. >> But, uh, I would love to talk about our lack of having a bicycle committee >> and I would like to talk relative to that, which is where I'd put it, but maybe there's a better place >> to have the lack of bike lanes in Ashlin. We have
034one of the most dangerous towns to ride a bicycle in. And I know because I ride in all the other towns. >> Yeah. I don't think it's I forget which STR I think it's I think it's under five in the connecting the committee. >> I'll come back to the connecting the community. Yeah. >> Thanks Anna. >> Okay. Um seeing nothing else uh we're going to move on to theme five and it's yeah it's part of this Joel creating a connected and accessible community. And a lot of thought was a lot of people want this. So um how could we measure success for doing this? Uh miles of sidewalks, trails, bike paths built or upgraded. Number of complete streets projects completed. Number of new ADA compliant curb ramps installed. Commuter rail ridership boarding and sightings in
035Ashland. Uh MWRTA ridership boarding and sightings in Ashland. population within halfmile street or trail distance of the commuter rail station or MWRTA stops. Um and as you can see there's one high priority strategy and that is strategy 5A1 complete the Ashland upper Charles Trail and Bay Circuit Trail projects but let's go into some detail. Okay. So these uh we have uh I think five goals here. So goal 5 A, 5B, 5C, oh just the three just three goals, but they have a number of strategies. So we're going to take these goals one at a time as we look at this. Um so for goal 5A, increase connectivity within Ashland and to neighboring communities by expanding a safe, accessible, and multimodal network of tra uh trails, streets, and transit connections that link neighborhoods, open spaces, and
036key destinations. Strategy 5A1, complete the Ashland Upper Charles Trail and Bay Circuit Trail projects. Strategy 5A2, launch an upper Charles Trail expansion project to prioritize new trail connections. This should evaluate increasing tributary access to adjacent neighborhoods, new connections, and traffic calming in adjacent neighborhoods. 53 enhance options for cross town multimodal connections both on street and off streetet. Consider an Elliot Street, Fruit Street, Prospect Street, Main Street, multimmoal corridor connections from downtown, Ashlin and Route 135 to Pond Street. easements for a multi-use path along the power line cordery corridor corridor and easements are incentives to make connecting paths between existing subdivisions. So 5A3 supports 5A1 because a lot of that are places that we're looking at putting the upper triles trail. 5A4 create multi-use paths between neighborhoods through updates to the zoning bylaw to require accessible
037trails to connect subdivisions, large developments, and public facilities, including properties such as the MBTA station, commuters, community center, schools, downtown, and Route 126 corridor. Again, a lot of this is part is I mean, all of these strategies work with strategy 1A. And I think one of the reasons we heard a lot of these various strategies is because not enough people, believe it or not, are aware of where the upper triles trail is scheduled to go. So they all work together. Any questions or comments just on goal 5A? Joel, >> um I I just want to highlight something. I have one I founded and run a bike club with 650 people on our mailing list. We do two rides a week with 25. Now we're averaging over 30 people per ride. Great. We go 25 miles.
038We have residents mostly in their 60s,7s. One guy is 89. It's unbelievable. >> And I spend most of my free time studying bicycle safety. This is what I do. >> Yep. >> And I'm not the only knowledgeable person. There's plenty of good people around, but they're not here in Ashland getting recognized. They're not given responsibility in Ashland. All of this is great and I appreciate that it's implementation. What's missing here and it really should be more explicit in my view is the is the importance of government oversight to ensure safety. Framingham has a bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee. They don't make laws. The select their mayor, you know, they go through channels. That's great. I want to highlight that almost two years ago now when Ashland implemented its first little bit of bicycling infrastructure, very
039minor, right in the downtown as part of the redoing of downtown. >> Yep. >> They made a lot of what I consider life-threatening mistakes. Sorry to be so harsh. >> And I brought that to the attention, as I should have, >> to the town's uh traffic safety committee. Yep. And I was told that the stuff that I wrote about and documented was so important. This was two years ago now. It was so important that the committee chair wanted to set up a meeting with the police chief, the chair of the select board, the town manager, the fire chief, the DPW director, and other key players. And I have repeatedly asked for that meeting or some form of I don't have to be right about what I wrote, but to not even sit down and look
040at it and discuss it when when it's a matter of safety. All of this would sound great. We're going to have safe streets and lots of nice infrastructure. Great. I'm all for it. But, you know, if you don't follow up or put in place the oversight, which we just don't seem to ever get, we're just not going to be able to do any of this. It's all pie in the, you know, it's it's all nice sounding, but it doesn't really happen. So, I'm I'm deeply concerned about that. And I want to just emphasize that I think the town needs to try to call together people with safety knowledge and bicycle skills and pedestrian skills as well to study what's going on in Ashland and make recommendations. And that's just not happening so far. >> So,
041what I would recommend, Joel, is keep going to the keep, you know, bugging. I mean, keep going to the traffic safety committee because they're the ones who are drive the driving force for some of these things and or come to a citizens participation. >> It's been a dead end, >> right? But I think so. Go ahead, Anna. >> So, as Yolanda explained, the whole concept of this is that this is the committee that set the goals and then and strategies, but then there'll be an implementation committee. And so what I would strongly urge you to do is notify your network that hey these are the goals and if those individuals want to participate in the implementation committee and focus on this particular goal that would be tremendously helpful. >> Yep. and and and and they
042might not even have to say that they'll be on the whether it's a committee or a working group, but when we go to talk about these strategies and when they are things that the town is has said, "Okay, we're now going to be working on these." When we call for volunteers to say, "Give us your insight. Give us your input." Please plan on coming to those sessions and meetings if you can. I would really like to see the implementation committee be restricted to town residents only and not to town staff. >> I think it it's going to be a discussion and it's probably I I think um you know we're still we're still deciding that as our um as our uh comprehensive plan committee. Um, and I think I mean I would push back a
043little and say that it has to be a mix because a lot of a majority of the work that is going to need to be done staff is going to have to help us do it. So it can it should be a mix of staff and residents. But that's just my opinion as one person as a plan as a comprehensive plan committee. We have not made a final decision. We're discussing that at our next meeting. >> The mix that we've had of town staff with our volunteer committee, there's nine of us. We've put in over 10 years, each one of us. That's 90 years of volunteer time just for that one project. >> Yep. >> And we've gotten nothing done. >> So when you start mixing in the staff, >> don't try to defend it.
044I >> I push back that we've got nothing done. I think we've gotten a few things done. I think um you know, and Joel, you know my line about about our about our section of the trail, right? You've heard me say this. Hollist. It took them 20 years to create their trail and they had an empty rail bed. >> I just received an email 10 years. >> I just received an email from the town manager's office that I >> you know what let's >> let's have a cut. I think you know I think we could go down a rabbit hole about the trail and about some of those specifics and I want to respect everyone who's here. So I received your email and we will have a conversation. Okay. Um Mark, you can unmute if
045it's to talk about um strategy about goal 5A and the strategies there. >> Okay, thank you. >> You don't have to keep introducing yourself, Mark. You're good. >> You said go f Okay, thank you. Um you're saying go 5a. Well, is this this 5B right next to it? >> Right. We haven't gotten to that one yet. >> Is that going to be a chance that >> Yeah, we're we're going to talk about that. If you have no input on 5A, then we can jump to 5B >> and let me read that and then we can get your input. >> Sound like a plan. >> Wait. >> Okay, great. Uh, goal 5B, improve street safety and accessibility throughout Ashlin's neighborhoods for community members of all ages and abilities to minimize automobile dependency and congestion while promoting
046sustainable mobility and options for residents. So, strategy 5B1, update the complete streets prioritization plan to maintain eligibility for grant funding on priority projects. and strategy 2B2 five oh that should be 5B2 develop a neighborhood shared streets program including relevant signage pavement markings and infrastructure improvements to slow automobiles movement to safe speeds and encourage more comfortable walking biking and rolling on neighborhood streets and then there are a number of streets that have been identified for multimmoal street safety improvements I'm not going to read them all there but they are there so if if you look at that um I mean I look at that and Route 126 is on it and we know that 126 is getting improved. Um but if you have other streets that you think um I I do look at that. I
047say I look at Newcastle Road. Newcastle Road is a very small street. So that's actually interesting that that's on there. Anyway, um but it's based on public input. So someone who probably lives on Newcastle looked at that and said, "I'd love to have sidewalks." Um okay. Uh, okay. Yeah, I'm going to let Mark I'm going to let Mark go first and then if you have other streets that you think should be added or so Mark go ahead. Now we're talking about goal 5B. Improving our streets. >> Okay. Five the improvements safety assist that whole first paragraph and I'm looking at the strategy five. It's supposed to be 5B2 and I'm looking at the street chair. Is there is there be individual things happening? Cuz I live right off of Cherokee and u and I and
048I know that I tried walking it a couple times and it's not exactly great walking for full room. is what is anything going to happen or Ken said would be happen on Cherry Street itself. >> So again these are streets the list of streets have been identified as potential streets to be upgraded with these two goals in mind specifically goal 5B to make it safer. Um it's going to be have to be part of a pavement plan, an implementation design um in regards to what will be a priority. Um if there are streets on here that you think should be a priority, let us know that and that can be something that we point to when we start looking at what what the improvements are going to be and when they are going to happen.
049>> Hey Raja Shri. >> Yes. >> And then that'd be my priority share. >> Okay. Great. Thank you Mark. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, so just to add to what you said, Yolanda, um, so some of these streets were added. I know that Newcastle Road was one of my meeting in a boxes, which is the focus group discussions that I had done there with nine residents of that road. Um, in addition to people on Cedar Street and Olive Street and uh, Oregon Road. So that's why you know if it gets represented in those MIABS it gets counted as public engagement >> right >> and that gets reflected in in boxes like this. >> Okay. >> Great. Thank you for that explanation. Uh Joel and then Rob. >> Thanks. Uh just a list of streets.
050Uh I may be missing it up here. I don't see it. Uh Thomas Street, House Street, Winter Street, and one I just forgot. that'll come back to me. The other thing that I I don't know it it there should be uh this is all great to have, you know, street improvements and make it safer and and study it, figure out what to do. When I am riding my bicycle around town and I hit a pothole that's dangerous and I get hurt or worse, I've I've had some beauties. Um I don't know what the process is. I don't know. It would be great if the town, some towns have this. There's an app that they can get where I could just plug it in. This is where my accident happened. >> So, we've had it. I
051have to double check. I believe it's still I believe it's still active. So, double check. Right. >> I'll you know what? I'll figure that out and I'll let you know. I believe there is a way. But again, if it's something we're already doing, it's not going to be in this strategic plan. >> It's great because >> I just would like to have like an emergency situation. You know, you we can plan to re repave these streets and however long it takes, whatever the budget is. which ones are more important, that's all good. But if there's a dangerous situation existing right now, that should probably get a higher priority. >> I think that's a call to DPW or a way to, you know, say that based on what I'm doing, this is what I'm seeing. I
052that's an ongoing thing. That is not something that would be put into a this is a long-term strategic plan on what we want to see improved. Um, we've seen a lot of a lot of road work done this spring and summer. So, a lot of roads are being paved, are being updated, are being made smoother. 135 is going to be great to finally ride on. Um, the hill going up Main Street got improved in the spring. Um, so we're doing things. So, I would say if you have a road that you ride on that you find something, shoot it to public works and say, "I've seen this issue." >> The la the last street was South Street that I hadn't mentioned before. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Um, I have a question. So being in the
053plan, it's locations based on public input. >> Yes. >> But it's simply like public input without really prioritization or anything. >> And I think that's a little odd because like we already have the traffic safety committee and I believe that there was um currently an RFP out to sort of prioritize and I know I mean I know things. So what I would say is when we have our next meeting, I mean based on what Roger Shri said, the reason Newcastle is there is because she had a meeting in the box with people who lived on Newcastle. >> It's a very small street. There might there might be a lot of homes. It's a small street. If you look at all the streets in Ashland, so I think this might be something that as the committee
054we should go back to the consultant and say >> maybe these aren't the right streets to be highlighting like this. >> Well, that I think it's either the wording or whatever about it. I don't think quite adequate the reflex. >> Yep. Okay, Rob, can you pass back to Rob? Thank you. >> Yeah, I do want to just second what Kate was I think getting at about when you're prioritizing work to be done, especially sidewalk work. You really should have some sort of process, some sort rather than, oh, somebody was in a meeting last year and said something. I mean, we need to have, you know, some kind of parameters or process >> and and I, you know, the other thing to think about is our DPW is doing some of this work already, right? This
055is just sort of putting it in a plan that says we want to prioritize and we want to have a better plan that the public is aware of, >> right? And I think Yeah. So, and it it shouldn't because I think the DPW process, whatever it may be, is not is not necessarily going to be transparent. you don't know how they're making those decisions. >> Uh I've noticed actually that the sidewalks of course are in generally in much worse shape than the streets. So they're definitely a lesser priority. So you know that's not mentioned here. Like are you going to emphasize maintenance? So you know you can be on a street that's relatively normal and as a bicycle rider for example, you're on the shoulder. It's in very bad shape and the sidewalk could be
056even worse. Could be undercutting and collapsing. But they're uh you know I would say sorry to Doug but I think it's a less less of a priority you know sidewalks and >> I say here in town more people complain about the streets than the sidewalks except when they're asking for more sidewalks but again all of this is input that we will take and as we finalize and bring this forward >> I and I just had a kind of a procedural question you know again going to the >> the complete streets >> uh it's it's put here which is of course very important but it's put here is primarily a safety measure, but I would argue that it's really part of goal 5A very importantly because you can't have connections on street without having complete streets.
057So, it's really >> complete streets list is a major planning tool really that's that's decides what's going to be what's going to have connections. So I would just make that point that we somehow integrate the complete streets with goal 5A because that really is if you want to connect something is it a priority over certain other streets or not you know and that's what complete streets does. So that would be my point great >> for that. So thank you >> and Rajri has her hand up again. Roger. >> Yes. Um so I just wanted to the I wanted to respond to the comments made by Rob and Kate. Um so there was there were a lot of boots on the ground talking to people in the community and which is how we exceeded our goals
058with respect to public engagement and so we were all as a committee very proud of our achievements. So every word that comes out of the mouth of a resident goes into our plan. Um so please understand that you know when when some streets are highlighted doesn't mean that the other streets have gone to the wayside. It's important to understand that even if one street which is a inch longer whatever you feel it is um because of the resounding ways in which participants added their views and opinions in developing this argument um they are all highlighted in ways that are respect are they're highlighted in ways that are respectful of their opinions. So, um to say that just because somebody said and you added it, I don't think that's the approach we um we took. Every
059opinion is important. We're happy to add on any other streets that you might have ideas on. Thank you. >> Okay, great. Thanks. Any other input for 5A or 5B? Okay, seeing none, we're going to go on to 5C. So 5C, support regional mobility through transit services and corridor revitalization. Strategy 5C1, collaborate with MWRTA to increase frequency on the on the five and six bus routes in Ashland and explore service expansions along with increased local contributions to MWRTA. Create a new Clocker Express local bus route to connect more locations in Ashland, such as the Pawn Street corridor, Ashlin schools, community center to downtown and dedicated transit stops. Strategy 5C2, develop a comprehensive improvement plan for the Route 135 corridor that builds on past and ongoing efforts and incorporates community input. Consider projects that enhance the corridor's
060identity, such as branding, public art, and green infrastructure to create a more vibrant and cohesive streetscape. Strategy 5 street 5C3. Install bike racks and bike repair stations in public spaces along key corridors, including streets that connect Pond Street to the rest of Ashland to promote bicycle, scooters, and other microobility options as accessible and supported transportation options. And then the other um the subcommittee created what they call the lot clocker express a conceptual local bus route conceptual bus route map which is in the plan that you can go look at was developed by the subcommittee um and it connects downtown with points along Route 135, Route 126, the community center and apartments near the MBTA commuter rail station. Um so yeah, and that's strategy 5C. Any thoughts or comments on that? Rob, go ahead. >> Um,
061yes. So, both this and the previous goal I thought were generally very well put together. I I do I do want to say that I'm um and I like this clock or express idea and all the items in here and the fact that um we did call out um I see number four commuter rail ridership boardings and a lightings in Ashland as measure success. The only thing I would point out that and there's There isn't a lot of discussion about the MBTA commuter rail station here. It is referenced in some places but I think should look at kind of maybe making more definitive statements about it. That would be my >> in what way? What kind of own right and as we've seen over the last few years, we don't have a lot of control
062over what happens there. So what would your recommendation? >> Yeah, that's what I'm just kind of wrestling with that a little bit myself. I think it I think just be a little more specific in some places about that there will be you're going to encourage like the MWRTA make sure it stops at the MBTA station the clocker express be definitive that it stops there. Um and I don't know I'll think about >> and I'll send you send it in so we can look at that. >> That's that's that's great. Thank you. What I was going to say is the the committee worked on this one with with we had a subcommittee that came up with this idea. the the Clocker Express and the stop at the MBTA was absolutely intended. And I think it's vaguely
063mentioned, but to your point, I could see kind of with the state's focus on MBTA zoning, it might be helpful to kind of say in light of the importance of our community being an MBTA community, let's make sure this particular goal, we more blatantly tie it to the MBTA and just kind of highlight it. I mean, if you look at the map, it's right there. It's right there. It goes up Memorial Drive and back. So, >> I guess what I'm saying is it could be as simple as a sentence that just sort of says Ashland is an MBTA community >> and this goal is consistent with state policy and focus on us being an MBTA community. >> And again, this is one of those ones that >> we we can't implement this right as a
064town. This is I mean we the goal would be and this strategy would have to be worked with the MWRTA, >> right? We're going to have to find that partnership. We're going to have to >> and and let them show and let them see that it's viable, >> right? One thing that just occurred to me was are there traffic improvements we should be lobbying the tea to make around the entrances to the stations? You know, there are Pleasant Street issues if when and if we ever go back to So that's just something that just occurred to me. It's kind of >> so as you're as toward the end of the day as people are leaving Pleasant the the the Pleasant Street side of the station it can get a little crazy. >> That's right. So
065for example, if you are trying to turn left, which is a problem, you're going to block everybody who's turning right, for example. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Anything else on any of these strategies? Okay. >> I guess I'll just add one comment which is the Clocker Express >> the language in here is vague for a reason. Like it could it could be part of the MWRTA or not. It's really up to the implementation committee to figure that out. Like in theory it could be its own separate item. Okay. So, if there is nothing else or if you have just general um comments, that's it for the presentation for one through five. Um let me do this. Um, I'm going to go back couple of slides and again I don't have all the
066goals but um, so these are the five core themes and again um, next week Tuesday, next week Thursday and then the following week on Monday is when we'll finish discussing these. But if you come back and or other people want to come back and give feedback on one and five, they can do that. Core two is talking about promoting long-term sustainability. Um, as a community, sustainability has always been something that we've really pushed for. Um, we have goals to meet it. Um, hold on. I just want to pull something up, notes. wrong thing. So, there's a lot of strategies. So, if you're interested in talking about two, three, and four, and I apologize for the mixup for tonight. Um, I know people came planning to talk about three. Um, but what what I'd recommend is
067if you are planning to come to any of those, whether it's in person or via Zoom, go to the website, find the find the strategies, and and go through them. um because um theme three has four goals and 12 strategies related to it. Theme two is um promoting the one we're talking about promoting long-term sustainability. There are four goals and 27 strategies that have been identified just for core for theme two which is sustainability. Um, so if that is something you are very interested about and you know really want to have some input and make sure that we've hit the right target that the that the things that were identified are really what we should be doing, please take the time to look at those and give us your feedback. And if you can't make
068it to a session, um, these are being recorded, but if you can't if you've watched it and you want to give feedback, you can reach out to the committee um, and we'll pass them on to the consultant. So uh theme two has 27 strategies, theme three has 12 strategies and theme four which is enhance town services and economic development also has 21 strategies. So a lot of a lot of information a lot of things have been identified as to how we're going to move things forward based on this um comprehensive plan. So take a look. Um the packet you have is just for themes one and five tonight. Go ahead, Kate. >> Um, thank you. I I on the uh the first goal, um, I know you wanted to work on timing to make sure,
069but how we measure success. Um, >> so goal measuring success for that first goal, percentage of seniors aging in place using town and community services versus leaving town. I I have no idea how that would be measured and I don't think it's a good idea to have something we can't. So maybe >> okay >> maybe I'm missing something, but I mean uh if someone's selling their house, do you know it's because their grandkids are like going to be closer to them and built an ADU or it's because of that? So it seems a I'm heavily supportive of having measurable goals. >> Okay. >> Um and ways and I think that's great. Um, that one just keeps not making sense to me. >> Is it Is it that I mean because I look at that and
070I go, "Okay, we could do I mean we know when homes are being sold. We could do some kind of reachout. A lot of times our senior center knows if people are moving out of town." Um, but that would be a lot of work. So you're so you're recommending either take that as a measurable um take it away as some as a way to measure our success. seems I imagine some version of what you're doing with some amazing amount of effort and what are we getting out of it like let's focus on doing stuff not >> okay >> I feel like that's good track >> any any other input on well while we have because we still have some time we still have a half hour um on the prioritization of any of these goals
071so let's go back let's since we're here with theme one let's go back to theme on goal 1A. Of these goals to strengthen social ties and civic engagement through the community events, programs and intergenerational activities. As you read these, is there one or two that you think should be a priority and and or something that you're like, you know what, that's not as important and that can go to the bottom of the list. Any thoughts? because we have 10 years. We're not going to do with all of these in year one. We have to spread it out and determine what what does the community think is the most important to try to get done right away and what are some things that we're going to say, you know what, this is important, but we're going
072to push it out to the later years. Kate, >> so we never did reach out to the larger priorities, right? Nope. And it and do we have a way to do that? Because I think it's great. I I can't imagine out of um Too many people would disagree with Valentine, right? We put we put a lot of um community money. It comes out keep paying for that and I think people are excited about that. So, um so I I'm not saying what we have is wrong, but I think it's um maybe should figure out a way >> and maybe and again this is this is a conversation, right? Because all of these things were identified as important to our community because of the different engagements that we have. And as I said in the beginning,
073some of the priorities were selected based on what the committee recommended, but again, the committee represents a lot of different organizations and a lot of different committees in town, right? So it's not, you know, we have someone from the Council on Aging. Yes, they might be leading with their thoughts, but hopefully they're bringing back stuff from their committee, right? That's the goal of why we had different committees and different precincts. So even though the majority of the prioritization has been done by the committee, I would say it's not done by the committee in a vacuum, right? They've received input from the community at large as they've been having conversations about the plan over these last two years. >> I I mean I don't disagree. I think if I guess if you're going to be highlighting
074that, we have to figure out a way to get that into >> well and and and again I I understand that you know and we have some time right again with the implementation we can we can rep prioritize those and the potential implementation is every year you're going to look at what you've done, what you've accomplished, what the community needs and you might rep prioritize on a yearly basis depending on what's going on, what finances are available and things like that. So right now it's just of the people sitting here and those of you that are online of these is there anything that you're like that jumps out to me as something we should try to do right away and while you guys are thinking Mark go ahead and unmute. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm
075looking at the strategy um and just thinking um in the within the the 10y year period that we have going on. How well would that be in strategy for for the future and the opportunities that there is programs other than at the national library and senior center? How else can you find like wellness and senior senior citizens um programming for the town itself in the 10 years? How much is that going to be looked at for that? >> Well, I think this is a strategy that we are looking at to again and it's increased that intergenerational programming. Part of it's going to be what the library can manage, what the the community center can can manage. You know, there's been conversation that we create a park and wreck program, right? And if there if that
076happens and at some point, could that park and wreck program take on some of these things? These are ideas and and strategies and then we have to figure out how we want to do them and and when we want to do them. So it's not the this is this is our road map. But as we all know when you take a trip you can go straight down your road map or you can go in and out of your road map taking different paths different ways to get to the end result. And the discussion right now is are these good strategies? Are these good goals for our community? what really is a priority and then let's you know move this project forward. Does that make sense Mark? >> And for the priority it does make sense.
077The priority part is like a seessaw trying to balance the youth and Asian. Um there's got won't there be a >> purpose for either either one? What is the purpose for either one? >> Well, I think I think one of the things we've heard is that >> how can you balance >> I think everything we do here in town is a balancing act, right? I mean, we look at our budget. We look at when we're trying to figure out, okay, the schools need more resources. This department needs more resources. That department needs more resources. And we have to balance that with the income that we get in. We have to balance that with the available staff, with the available interest of people, and what people think is a priority. So, it's all a balancing act.
078And right now, these are some potential strategies of ways to increase the connection between older residents and younger residents because it has been proven that if you can make that connection between younger people and older people, it's a positive thing for your community. And we have a lot of I mean I mean I don't know how many people know this but we have more residents 65 and older than we do students in our schools right but there's certain requirements for this for our education that have to be done we don't have specific requirements for our for our elderly >> okay Joel Rob and then Rob >> and that's the reason why >> thank you Mark I'm gonna let other people talk okay >> that is that that that is the Okay. Thank you, Joel. >>
079Um, I just want to highlight something. When we talk about priorities, >> I like all of these things. They're all great ideas. We should really do this when we when we have the resources. >> Okay. >> I want to emphasize that what we shouldn't do when we talk priorities is say, "Okay, this is the most important one. Let's do that. This is the second most important. Then we'll do that." And so on. >> Right? >> Many of these things, take a couple of examples here. Okay? One of them is something blah blah blah. the Council on Aging. They may be wearing a go. >> They don't care that you're making it a lower priority. They can do this right now. And so it doesn't have to be put on the back burner for five years
080or 20 uh to to implement it. And the same with many of these other things. If we can muster the resources and the energy and the community involvement in these things, they maybe all could happen simultaneously. Some may have limiting factors on budget or staff availability, right? Whatever. But we should make every effort to not have the phrase setting priorities eliminate things from the front of the queue. >> I think that's a great way to look at it. That's great. That's great. >> Um, yeah, I do want to second what Joel just said. I think that's a useful way to looking at it. Like when you look at and this is and Yolanda you're raising a key point for all these like what is the priority in some cases uh the priorities don't conflict and
081actually should all be done some of these are new which I would think like the intergenerational thing somebody has to actually do that whereas a lot of these others there's people >> and organizations doing almost all these others right now and doing them very well I would say um so I do want to second that we should try to do everything but I I think it goes back to what's the next step to implement this? How do you how do you do priority prioritize when you've got things that may conflict or need resources and how do you make that? That's where the implementation team I think >> is going to be a key part of any project like this. What is the compliance afterwards? We're not going to have a compliance officer because we can't
082afford it. But right, >> who's overseeing this and getting this done? So, I think that's those are key questions. Well, I'm going to answer part of that question is we are going to look for residents who and we you know we this hasn't been completely defined. Um but you know it might be some people who helped create this comprehensive plan but it might be new people. And the other thing that I think will probably happen is at some point, right, we'll look at these and we'll say, uh, which is the one with council on aging, right, increase intergenerational program, a council on aging. To your point, that could be the council on aging that goes, you know what, we're going to we're going to take that strategy on and we're going to work with this
083the the the community center and the library or whoever or the schools, but someone may decide that that's something that they can take on. and then as the whatever the implementation working group whatever is called they can say okay they're going to take that on and they'll we'll just check in with them right so to your point that's a strategy that could happen pretty quickly or not if they say you know what we're not that interested in that and we have to look at another way to do it and that's what this whole thing it's with many plans like this it's somewhat of a moving target right you have the you have the ideas you have the strategies you get people excited and that's the other thing that we're trying to do with these forums
084is to get people excited because none of this will move forward unless this whole plan one it has to go before the planning board and the select board and that'll be happening in October and then it has to go to town meeting and the town as a whole has to say we think this is a good idea for the town of Ashland and we want to support this and we want to have this move forward and it's it's Wait, that too. >> Give her the microphone. Yeah, >> we want to work in partnership with the select board. But as long as you just like the comprehensive plan committee was chosen by select board and planning board, the concept is you repeat that for the implementation committee and that's your compliance. That's your kind of check-in
085for the next 10-15 years where presumably the select board and the planning board is going to pay attention to this and make sure it's actually happening. >> Okay, Rob, go ahead. >> I was looking at the that nice little quote from I believe the vision statement and I I just have to say again that that goal 1A strategies is a little bit inconsistent with that. I think if you took strategy 183 and and and and said improve online access programs, activities, services for all age groups. Now you've built in the inclusiveness of the various and you've got more diversity and that complements 185 because by including people in more programs uh people will start to feel closer to the community and they will want to participate in the governance and services that the community renders.
086>> It's a good point and and I have to say and and other members can jump in if they want. This was a big discussion during many of our comprehensive plan discussions about strategies and goals and there was a focus on trying to keep seniors in this in in the community. Um, so I think that's where some of these came from, but you know, we want to keep residents. We want to keep people here. But I like your idea of specifically for that one, right? We want online access programs, you know, and I and I think sometimes because we also had the discussion about education and what's happening in our schools except in one of our other themes and it's not in either of these. We're not specifically talking about what the education needs are
087in our community because the schools are handling that. The schools have their own strategic plan. They have their own goals and strategies as to what they're doing to make sure our schools are top-notch and we have top-notch schools. So, I think with these discussions, it was the other people who are currently not being serviced or not as much. Um, and that's why seniors were emphasized because we people wanted to keep seniors in the community. >> And as a senior, I I my compliments on that that emphasis. Um, again, um, >> good. >> You know, I'm just trying to be a little bit holistic. Yeah, >> we're trying to think kind of the policy we uh follow in the town forest. We try to uh offer programs u some that are specific to certain generations and
088some that are intergenerational. >> Great. We should talk to the town forest. >> Okay, I'm going to go forward a little bit. Um so that was goal 1A. We're looking at goal 1B um and 1 C. Again, Valentine was one of those priorities that we just heard from a lot of people that they want it to be they want it to be that space that's available to the community. Um, and it's it's one of those ones that we still have to decide. So, it's the elephant in the town. It the barn looks great though. Um, any thoughts on any of these um goals or strategies and thoughts Seeing none, we'll move on. Creating a connecting and accessible. Um so let's look at these um measures of success. Right. So we talked about with theme one
089that we felt that one of the measures of success was not really doable and Rob you had mentioned about um boardings and and a lightings um as one of these. Any thoughts on these measures of success? Do they make sense? Are they things that we can that we can actually measure? I think a lot of them are thoughts though. >> Yes. Um, right in the uh description to the left, I'll just read the first five or six words. It says Ashlin will improve community connective connectedness. >> That's fantastic. That's exactly what sidewalks and bike lanes and bike trails should be doing. That's perfect. >> But then I look on the right side >> and I look for the word connectiveness. Connectedness, I can't say. And I look for uh uh pedestrian and bicycling networks. >>
090Okay. >> And I'm looking and looking and looking and I don't see miles of sidewalks, trails, bike paths, those are upgraded. the the emphasis has to be and this is a mistake that's very commonly made. If you put in a sidewalk because this neighborhood wanted one or they have a dangerous street that's good and it doesn't tie into anything. You're a bike rider. You get to and you land on Route 135 with a hundred cars zooming by you. This is not a you can't go anywhere. So, I really would love to see that exactly what you wrote. You have a great description on the left. I'd like to see it incorporated on the right. Do >> you have a suggestion specific suggestion? Right. Because I look at >> I would say miles of connected sidewalks
091and trails and bike path. >> So basically change number one. >> Yeah. >> To make it miles of connected. >> It would be great. >> Okay. You're getting that right, Robera. Thank you. >> I think that's great. Any other thoughts on these measurements? I I like that. Okay, go ahead. >> It has pained me. I I'm doing a lot of complaining tonight. I'm not happy with the failures that this town has had, and I will speak to that in a in a different form. >> But one of the things, and correct me if I'm wrong, you've got more data about this than I do. >> We have, and I supported complete streets. I went to hearings. I sat in with DOT people. It was great. We love Complete Streets. It sounds like it's complete. This
092is good stuff. Almost everything we've done with the budgets from complete streets has gone to sidewalks. What I don't see anything going to is bike lanes. Where do we have bike lanes other than what just got installed on 126 that the state did? Where do we have bike lanes? We have a joke of a bike lane. Sorry to be critical. On Summer Street that connects what? You can go from CVS >> to downtown >> to to to the to the post office and that's it. It's dangerous. It's poorly designed. There's parking on there that shouldn't be there. There's all kinds of problems. And I would like to see some mechanism here. You know, we we have these metrics that you've put in. Number of projects completed. Well, that's great. Let's complete lots more. This is
093a good thing. So here, >> but I'd like to see a balance of some kind or a process. If people don't want bike lanes, fine, you know, but there should be a process to level the funding. >> So here's the thing to remember about complete streets. Okay, when you talk about complete streets, a complete street can look different for a street in a small neighborhood versus a Route 126, right? If you look at the complete streets guidelines, right? Um, here's an example. So, um, the the lanterns off of Chestnut Street, okay, they don't have sidewalks, right? But it's considered a complete street because for that neighborhood, they don't need sidewalks. They don't need bike lanes, right? So, it you a complete street, you look at what the needs are. And you're right, we could improve
094our bike lanes. We could look at that. And that's something that I think the other part is if we complete the upper Charles Trail, the goal is that people won't need to ride on the streets. But to your point, we want people to ride on the streets. We, you know, we want people to use less cars and potentially use more bikes. So, it's something that is part of the strategies and as we make plans, we will look at that. I just want to highlight for anybody listening to this y that we on the upper Charles Trail Committee did everything we could possibly do to be as inclusive for as many residents as we could be. We tried to link together all the schools, the train station, downtown. This was the whole vision that we had.
095>> But it's really really important and I I would caution comments like uh once we have that we won't have as many people riding on the streets. That might be true. More likely, more likely we're going to have more people riding on the streets because >> there's no way that the trail can go on every single street in town. We did the best we could to make it equitable across the entire town. >> So, uh, you know, I I think the reality is that we're going to have if if we build this, we will have more biking and and little feeder roads coming from side streets and neighborhoods to reach the trail. >> Yep. Okay. Great. Any other thoughts on these possible ways to measure success? And then we have about seven minutes left. I'm
096going to go to goal 5A and goal 5B. Um I really, you know, realize that 5A, 2, 3, and four tie into the completion of the upper triles trail. Um any other thoughts on that or on 5B? Um, what I would say is if you have streets that you think we should add to the multimmoal street safety improvements, go ahead. Like for me, I see Route 126 on here. I personally, again, this is just me. I haven't brought it up to anybody else. I think Route 126 can come off of this because it's going to be done right in regards to making it safer. But I don't know. Again, it's a discussion. So, if you have other school streets that you think should be on here, let us know. If you don't want to think
097about it right now, if you're watching this at a later date, please send them in. We are asking that if you're watching this at a later date that you get any input or changes to us no later than Monday, September 12th, because they have to get to our consultant and they're going to put them in. And then our final review of the draft plan is going to be on Thursday, September 18th. Uh, and then from that meeting, it'll get scheduled to be presented at the planning board and the select board for review. And then the goal is then to bring it to the town meeting, which is in November, and I can't think of the date right now, but it's I think the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Joel. >> Yep. So, it can So, if you
098go to the website, there's an email for the comprehensive plan. on the town website there's a a there's a a type in Ashlin comprehensive plan it will take you to the complete plan not just what we looked at tonight and you should also then find an email address there that goes to comp plan and I think our co-chairs see that and then it will all get passed on to um our main contact at the consultant um Rob Rob and then Kate >> Roberta is nice enough to take notes for me so that I don't have to try and do [Laughter] Yeah. So there there many years ago, I'm sure you remember this, there was a complete streets committee. Um, and then some of that rolled into traffic safety committee. I believe traffic safety is now
099looking at complete streets and working with DPW. Uh, I don't know for sure though, but I can try to find out. Okay, we can look at that. Okay, great. Thanks for that note. and Katie >> Rob but that if we made comments this evening we can assume they're submitted essentially or do we have to separately also submit them? No, I think if Roberta, like I said, has been kind enough to take notes and I will, you know, we'll Robera and I can chat and then um yeah, if if it if it was said here tonight, you can you can basically think that it will be included and sent to the consultant to be included or at least reviewed by the committee and then just, you know, because it'll be one of those things where a
100suggestion will be made and then at the committee level we'll have to say, okay, this suggestion was made to add um the one that that uh Joel made about the connected right for that measurement. So we'll you know it'll probably be run by okay this was a change that was made kind of thing and then it'll just have to be reviewed by the committee. Great. Okay. Well, if there's nothing else um from anyone online or here in person, I'm going to give you a few minutes not very many minutes back from your night. Thank you for coming. I apologize again for the misunderstanding between which theme we were doing. Um again, if you have people who want to give us more feedback about the trail or the importance or or what they're reading here, just
101let us know. Um and then uh just like we did tonight, we talked about some of the potential of some other themes. Um we can do that as well with the other nights that we do this. So September 2nd, I don't remember what's what. September 2nd. So, next Tuesday, September 4th, which is next Thursday, and then the last one is Monday, September 8th. And again, I don't have the what's when in front of me, but whatever. I think I think next Monday, the Monday the 8th was supposed to be 1 and five. So, Monday, September 8th, will now become theme three. Yeah. Okay. Great. Thank you all for coming. Again, if you're watching this online after it's been rebroadcast, please go to the town website, look at this in more detail, and uh feel free
102to give us input, but no later than September 12th. Thank you. >> And that's it. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome.