City of Lawrence
Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee
January 15, 2013 Minutes
|
MEMBERS PRESENT:
|
Jay Bialek, Chris Burger, Justin Eddings, Chad Foster, Lisa Hallberg, David Hamby, Rhonda Houser, Chris Rogge |
|
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Josh Ediger |
|
STAFF PRESENT: |
Jessica Mortinger, Todd Girdler, David Cronin, Nick Voss |
|
PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Clifton Pye, Germaine Halegoua, John Paden, Chris Tilden |
3. Action Item: Elect a Chair and Vice Chair for 2013: A motion was made to reappoint the 2012 Chair and Vice Chair, Lisa Hallberg and Chris Burger for 2013 by Mr. Foster. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bialek and passed unanimously with the candidates abstaining.
4. Discussion/Action Item: Transportation Enhancement (TE) Support Letters: Ms. Mortinger handed out the project proposal summaries for TE applications in Lawrence and Eudora in the Bicycle & Pedestrian Category. She also provided members with a drafted letter of support for the applications. The intent to apply for these projects were approved by the local governments, so BAC members will discuss the projects and decide if they want to write support letters for the projects presented. Mr. Girdler mentioned this round of TE applications being solicited by KDOT has an available pot of money that is larger than a regular year’s program, however it is a way for the state to clear our money allocated under the old federal transportation legislation SAFETEA-LU.
The City of Lawrence project application proposes to build an extension of the paved Burroughs Creek Trail (BCT) between 23rd and 29th Street. The paved BCT currently ends at 23rd Street and connects to a non paved portion. This project proposes paving the section to match the 10-feet wide paved existing trail. Members asked what the proposed portion would connect to on the south end. Mr. Cronin indicated that after it was built it would end at 29th, but after the South Lawrence Trafficway and 31st Street projects were completed in 2015-2016 the connection between the BCT and the SLT trail would be engineered and built as funding allows. Future planning and design work will have to be done to build the connection between the south end of this BCT extension project and the South Lawrence Trafficway Shared Use Path. Members agreed a connection should be planned for these facilities and built as soon as feasible. Ms. Mortinger indicated this could be a planned facility that can be added to the Bicycle System Map update planned for this year. The BAC members discussed ways this link could be planned and asked staff to arrange a visit from KDOT to inform the BAC about the improvements related to the SLT project and how KDOT and City staffs are envisioning this connection to be made. Staff indicated they would ask KDOT to come to the BAC in February or March. A motion was made by Mr. Rogge to approve the draft letter of support with the added sentence: “The BAC hopes that this project will be a fundamental first step of the local commitment to connecting the existing Burroughs Creek Trail, the planned South Lawrence Trafficway Shared Use Path and Prairie Park.” The motion was seconded by Ms. Hallberg and passed unanimously.
The City of Eudora Project application proposes to build a K-10 Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge crossing Kansas Highway 10 (K-10). This project will provide access to the Eudora High School and Middle School. The proposed bridge would be build west of the existing vehicular bridge. It would have square sloping ramps for access that are ADA accessible. This project is particularly important because bicyclists and pedestrians who currently want to travel across K-10 are required to use the travel lane on the existing K-10 Bridge. This impedes many trips by foot and bicycle in Eudora, particularly for the vast majority of residents who reside to the north side of K-10 and attend the City’s Middle or High Schools which are located on the south side of K-10. The City of Eudora had explored other options to add the infrastructure on the existing bridge; however the ramp crossings, grade issues and cost were prohibitive. It was mentioned that this bridge’s design is modeled off a bridge recently built in Hutchinson, Kansas. A motion was made by Mr. Eddings to approve the draft letter of support as written. The motion was seconded by Mr. Burger. Mr. Hamby indicated that his firm is working on this project application for the City of Eudora, and to avoid conflict of interest he would abstain from the vote. The motion was approved 7-0-1.
5. Discussion/Action Item: Rock Chalk Park Public Infrastructure Plans
Mr. Cronin presented the BAC with the preliminary plan review for the public infrastructure plans for infrastructure surrounding the proposed Rock Chalk Park. The bicycle network proposed includes Shared Use Path (SUP) to connect the Existing SUP on George Williams Way (GWW). Other development plans that include the roadway connection from the existing Wakarusa to GWW call for an extension of the existing SUP. The site specific preliminary plats for the development off of the future Wakarusa and GWW call for an interior development of paths to connect facilities and a newly planned path along the Baldwin Creek. Mr. Cronin indicated that this differentiates from what is shown on the Bicycle System Map because when the first section of GWW north of 6th Street was built, it was constructed with a SUP instead of bike lanes, therefore the current public plans; continue that facility onto the site instead of changing facilities for bicyclists. BAC members agreed that since the discussions are heating up for the development of this area, it would be good to lay out some desired facilities and improvements. The BAC members were divided on the desire to plan this area with on road bike lanes or Shared Use Paths, because different types of cyclists ride on different infrastructure differently. Members present unanimously agreed on the following desirable items: bicycle infrastructure built to AASHTO standards, infrastructure to connect the SUP on GWW to the existing SLT SUP, clear internal on site facilities that connect the existing facilities to the onsite bicycle parking, infrastructure to connect the aquatic center and RCP, covered and long term bicycle parking (lockers) on the RCP site. A motion was made to draft a letter, signed by the Chair with these requests to provide to the City Engineer and the City Commission by Ms. Hallberg, seconded by Mr. Burger and approved unanimously.
6. Discussion Item: Multimodal Studies Update: Mr. Girdler updated the BAC on the Multimodal Studies Projects. The MPO staff recently completed contract negotiations with a firm and the contract is pending signatures. This project will be a major MPO focus in 2013. The three studies include a Commuter Park & Ride Study, Fixed Route Transit and Pedestrian Accessibility Study, and a Countywide Bikeway System Plan. Ms. Mortinger indicated that staff is compiling 7 member committees to oversee each of the three studies and would like to have 2 BAC representatives. The staff envisioned one position being filled by the Chair and/or Vice Chair and the other being filled by either Baldwin or Eudora. BAC members agreed Ms. Hallberg and Mr. Berger could jointly fill the first spot and Mr. Eddings agreed to fill the other. Ms. Mortinger indicated that all members would be invited to participate in the public participation program for the studies and that the BAC would also be kept up to date on the progress made by the consultant and study committees.
7. Discussion/Action Item: 2013 Work Plan: Members discussed the plan presented; agreeing that April would be a good month to meet in Eudora and June or July would be a good month to meet in Baldwin. Mr. Burger asked staff where the current bicycle draft chapter for Transportation 2040 (T2040) was and if the committee could review it again. Ms. Mortinger indicated that the review of T2040 chapters would be appropriate for February and added the item to the work plan. Ms. Mortinger also indicated that the KDOT SLT information session would be set up for February or March. A motion to approve the work plan with these amended changes was made by Ms. Hallberg, seconded by Mr. Foster and passed unanimously.
8. Other Business/ Updates:
Ms. Germaine Halegoua introduced herself to the members as a faculty member of KU film and media studies and presented a bicycle safety mapping tool she is working on developing. The goal and end result is an interactive collaborative tool that should improve access of bicycle safety information to the general public and provide an opportunity for the public to add comments and videos. Ms. Halegoua indicated she would like to include the BAC as a collaborator on her project as she works to gain additional funding and support to make her project successful and as such she will keep the BAC in the loop with the ongoing progress.
Ms. Mortinger asked BAC members to take note of the free Navigating MAP-21 Workshop opportunity on April 4, 2013 in Wichita, KS Hosted by The Bike/Walk Alliance-Wichita, Wichita Area Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization and Kansas Department of Transportation. The workshop is designed for bicycle and pedestrian advocates, government agency staff and elected officials. A few goals of the workshop include: Learning how to utilize all MAP-21 funding programs for bike/ped at the state and local level, and Understanding the important role of advocates, agency staff, and elected officials in securing this funding. To register for the workshop visit:
http://www.advocacyadvance.org/trainings/registration/wichita-ks
Mr. Cronin updated the BAC on the 2013 Street Maintenance Plan, indicating that the improvements the BAC requested to accompany 2nd Street and Michigan Street won’t occur as part of the 2013 maintenance plan because the work scheduled on these roadways has been pushed to 2014 and beyond.
9. Public Comments:
Mr. John Paden, a Lawrence resident whom recently moved back to Lawrence from Boulder Colorado and has experienced Copenhagen wanted to thank the members for letting him come and share his enthusiasm for bicycling and improving bicycling infrastructure. He is particularly interested in and impressed with the SUP networks that are independent of the road, including over and underpasses. He also is interested in opportunities where we can investigate new designs like raised and separated bike lanes.
Mr. Chris Tilden introduced himself as the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department Director of Community Health and shared with the BAC the planning work currently being done by the health department working on the Community Health Plan. One of the subcommittees that evolved out of the plan is a physical activity sub group. Any BAC members who are interested in participating in that groups’ work should notify Chris.
10. Adjournment of Meeting: The meeting ended at 6:50 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for February 19th, 2013.