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Planning staff: active-transportation RFP drew nine bids; committee flags state micromobility guidance and sidewalk clearing
Summary
Planning staff told the committee nine firms responded to the active-transportation RFP and an AARP grant was submitted; committee members raised concerns that proposed state micromobility rules and how plans label paths could restrict e-bike/micromobility use and agreed to draft a sidewalk‑clearing letter.
Planning staff told the Active Transportation and Safety Committee that the active transportation plan RFP closed with nine proposals and that the town applied for an AARP Community Challenge grant to fund regional walk-audit training.
Kristen, the planning liaison, said the AARP awards are announced in May and that projects funded under the challenge must be completed between July and December; she also reported that procurement is now reviewing nine active-transportation plan proposals and that a town process will follow for consultant selection.
The committee discussed an earmark secured to fund a feasibility study for the Fiser/Milk/Church intersection, and Kristen said the earmark will pay for the study’s scope. She also briefed members on public outreach plans, including a planning booth at the town Environmental Action Fair.
Members raised technical and policy concerns about state micromobility guidance that could limit the use of electric micromobility devices on sidewalks. Don urged members to review the state micromobility commission report and noted that how a facility is labeled on engineering plans ("sidewalk" versus "shared-use path") and width thresholds (the committee discussed a notional 8‑foot cutoff) could determine whether micromobility devices are permitted. Planning staff said these are evolving issues that will likely be resolved in coordination with engineering consultants and, where appropriate, DOT waivers.
Julie, citing recent storms, asked the committee to finalize and send a letter of concern about inconsistent sidewalk clearing downtown; members agreed Julie would prepare a draft with photos for committee review. The committee set its next meeting for April 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Taken together, planning updates and the micromobility conversation point to two near-term items for the ATSC: (1) follow procurement steps for the active transportation plan and (2) coordinate with planning/engineering about design labeling and state micromobility guidance so planned shared-use facilities remain usable for intended micromobility and bike traffic.
