HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee - 10/11/20231
South Burlington Bike & Pedestrian Committee
APPROVED Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.
Room 301, City Hall AND Virtual
Committee Attendees: Bob Britt(Vice-Chair), Havaleh Gagne (Chair), Nic Anderson (Clerk), Donna Leban, Doug
Goodman, Ken Burkman, Mark Pasanen, Amanda Holland (late), Dana Farr
Committee Absent:
Committee Attendees – Remote: Havaleh Gagne
Other Attendees: Erica Quallen (City Staff Liaison), Nick Atherton (City Planner)
Public: Ryan Doyle, Loretta Marriott (virtual)
1. Welcome, Emergency Exit and Virtual Meeting Instructions, Gratitude –Havaleh
a. $200K of ARPA funds dedicated to Hinesburg Rd shared path
b. Gratitude for folks who can read plans and maps
c. Gratitude for those folks who helped at the Energy Fair. Mark noted good engagement and very
positive. Thanks for maps and big draw at fair.
d. Nick Atherton – New City Planner. Working with Erica on Active Transportation Plan and other
transportation planning. Works under Paul Connor in City Planning.
2. Changes or additions to the agenda – Havaleh
a. Bob asked about School District representative to serve on this Committee. Erica will discuss during her
update, but has more to do with Safe Routes to School and the Bike/Ped masterplan.
b. Pedestrian death on Shelburne Road. No information available yet. No indication that infrastructure was
a contributing factor. Erica will inform us when she knows more.
3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda – Havaleh
a. None
4. Consideration of minutes from September 13, 2023 – Havaleh
a. Bob emailed edits.
b. Ken noted paving of path to East Ave should be East Terrace
c. Motion to approve with edits from Ken and Bob by Mark
d. Seconded by Donna
e. Dana abstained.
f. All in favor. Approved.
5. South Burlington Energy Festival Recap
a. Havaleh - Things we should do going forward or comments that were recurring themes?
b. Mark. Well attended. Lots of action at big map with suggestions for improvements; had a lot of
suggestions. Potential to lose those in conversation. Need to figure out how to prioritize and theme into
buckets. Have photos of it. Erica plans to translate post-its onto a digital map and share. Themes were
around timelines for work, certain crossings and areas of dirt paths where people walk. People
appreciated things that had been done with the Penny for Paths map.
c. Donna noted one woman wanted to keep talking about not using asphalt. Need to keep reminding
people that paths are used for transportation, not just recreation. Paths that hold up to all weather and
conditions etc. She stopped after that explanation.
d. Ken noted comments were about maintaining paths that we have, not just building new.
e. Donna noted people returned a few different times after considering things. Open to learning. Everyone
did great job of instructing and sharing knowledge.
2
f. Havaleh noted Janet from Land Trust that overall, we agree more than we disagree. Wanted to
coordinate on active transportation plan. Partnership could help people get to conservation areas.
Banner came out really well. Thanks to Erica.
6. City Updates – Erica (6:10 PM)
a. Updates in packet
b. Crosswalks on Williston Rd done yesterday. Tracking down Penny for Paths stencils to put on landing
ramps. Substantial completion. Punchlist to do.
c. ROW offers out to owners. Should be done by November and then move into final design.
d. Bob asked about Dorset Street signal work. Will see a lot more physical things in the next couple of
weeks. Mostly underground work. Sunday 15th will start night work. Poles will go up on Kennedy and
Williston. Mast arms will come after that. Nic asked about Williston Rd Lanes. Erica noted Williston Road
lane shift will happen after that. Curb will be moved after that.
e. Donna asked if they are smart. Erica noted yes. All crosswalks will have signals and there will be new
ones at Williston Rd in front of CVS and across Garden St.
f. Erica gave update on Dorset Street path.
g. FY25 CIP packet handed out in person. Hinesburg Rd being bumped up to sooner due to funding. Spear
Meadows bumped up to line up with that development timeline. Crosswalks also quicker.
h. Active Transportation Plan (the new name for the Walk Bike Master Plan). City staff met today. Will have
updated scope next week. Can send to whole committee. Will look to get that signed and notice to
proceed as soon as possible. At November committee meeting there will be an ask for a few folks to be
more involved in the advisory group. Nic asked about alignment of scope with Climate Action Plan and
also making sure to include Safe Routes to Schools. Erica noted School groups discussing transportation.
Wanting to include representatives from school. Nic noted that Amanda and him met with Local Motion
and School Board Chair Kate Bailey and others who are interested in safe routes to schools
i. Bob asked about Patchen Road crosswalk at Jaycee Park. Erica noted that it is going in today.
j. A lot of roads have been restriped. Some are incorrect and will be redone. Will be milled and redone at
10ft vehicle lanes. Lots of striping happening this week and next. Bob asked about Spear Meadows.
Mark suggested that Spear St needs striping north of Swift. Erica noted that and mentioned there is a
new sinkhole on Spear. Will be repaired soon.
k. Nic curious about Kennedy Drive lighting project update next month. Curious about City Center TIF
projects:
A. Williston Rd in ROW review
B. Garden St connection to Midas in ROW review
C. Garden St – Road has to be open for the building being built right now.
D. Boardwalk in prelim design. Likely starting in early spring?
E. Final design for Healthy Living path on Garden St
7. Transportation Climate Action Implementation Plan Discussion – Erica
a. Erica detailed future meetings. Lots of information in the packet for bike ped. Highlighted difference
between things the city can require versus what the city would do to change themselves.
b. Donna noted narrow roadways component should show which have already been done. Erica noted a
lot of overlap with Active Transportation Plan implementation. Donna noted some roads don’t have
regular widths and consistent surfaces (potholes) such as on Swift heading downhill.
c. Bob noted half the cars on Spear St drive over the line. May need more engineering such as bump-outs
at crosswalks, speed bumps etc. Donna mentioned needing vertical elements such as bollards.
d. Doug noted loud cars and motorcycles going really fast on Dorset St
3
e. Susan noted on vertical elements on white lines. Spear Steet pilot in Shelburne had those. Had speed
measurements. Speed dropped 4 and 10 miles per hour for vehicles approaching closely spaced posts.
Presenting at Shelburne on Monday. Lots of responses.
f. Havaleh noted goals and maybe missing is the culture shift and behavior shift of how we do public
education, functions, contents etc. to help shift behaviors. Erica noted yes and no. Things that the City
would work with developers etc. to implement, there are components of education and making sure
outreach etc. is inclusive or easy. High level ideas of how employers could do to help incentivize. There
is an introduction chapter and conclusion which we just got a draft on. Good point. Ken noted detail on
Page 42 on education and signs. Erica – City could be intermediary. Noted Seniors want paper maps of
bus route which is all digital. Can help facilitate that education.
g. Nic asked about making sure that if roads can now be considered bike lanes in width, that there is an
easy mechanism to add bike lanes and signs. Erica noted it is easier for this. Wouldn’t have to do
ordinance change if there is already parking restriction etc.
8. Public Traffic Evaluation Request Process and Initial List – Erica
a. Presented a couple of months ago on how we are receiving and assessing requests. Submit on DPW
website on left side bar. There is also a guidance document. Detailed spreadsheet that was in packet.
Ryan asked about computation of initial vs preliminary vs final. The higher the number, in green, means
the more viable is to be a project. If there are existing facilities the numbers drop because there is less
risk. A lot of these boil down to speed and bike and pedestrian infrastructure. May have Highway CIP
that is the budget line item for these projects. Not P4P unless there was a great argument for it.
Proposing it be general fund sources. Some may need grant or CIP project.
b. Donna noticed that some of these items are a big priority for the neighborhood but may not be a big
priority for the City. Speeding still a problem on Swift St Extension.
c. Nic asked if it will be on the website. Erica said it would be next week.
d. Erica suggested we could invite one or two to future committee meetings to discuss the merits. When
would the committee like to start that and how would we select them.
e. Doug shocked by Patchen Road crash data. Seems like one per month. How do we coordinate with
Police to address this.
f. Amanda asked how we know how to prioritize and is this just the squeaky wheel people.
g. Erica – The plan is to use this to stop the squeaky wheel of people who call frequently or attend
meetings. Equitably able to review and use data. Form is really plain language but could still not be done
by some.
h. Amanda – Should make sure its out there such as in City newsletter so people know.
i. Mark noted that there could be risk of richer neighborhoods being the ones asking more.
j. Doug noted link to Local Motion conversation with Peter Firth (Level of Traffic Stress). Stunning video.
Detailed situation of Queen City Park Road advisory bike lanes.
k. Safety committee to review and pick two to bring to December. Can reach out to folks to see if they
want to attend and present.
l. Ken noted that its important to have them bring their solutions to the conversation too.
m. Doug noted it should be more of a listening session. Could come up with 5 questions.
n. Nic wants to make sure the disclaimer is strong that just by asking there isn’t an expectation that it will
be done. Erica confirmed that.
9. Review projects to be listed on FY25 CIP – Bob
a. Bob detailed CIP process.
4
b. Missing possible path from Swift Street Extension (Veterans Memorial) across to Hinesburg
Rd/Landon/Fox Run
c. Wayfinding signage on CIP but maybe we need more safety signage on roads. Do we need 20K CIP for
safety signage?
d. Bob noted Wright Court crosswalk and sidewalk sections on Williston Road
e. Erica noted that three sidewalk sections on Williston Rd were accidentally omitted but will be added.
f. Bob noted Red Rocks Park sidewalk improvements. Could be on Open Space or Parks. Doug noted that
could do sidewalk on same side as parking and do at same time. Erica – Was relayed to consultant when
they did the water plan update meeting. Doug noted it would be a real shame if it wasn’t done as it
would allow for a parking protected sidewalk.
g. . Repeat
h. Havaleh asked about infrastructure on Hinesburg Rd from Dubois Drive to Kennedy or Tilley. On City
Map but haven’t had any further discussions. Could leverage it in Active Transportation Plan.
i. Amanda agreed that before we add to CIP then it could be assessed as Bike Walk Master Plan. This
process will help us to identify and assess projects. Could at least do scoping study for Swift St Extension
path
j. Erica noted things can be on UPWP for a scoping study without being on CIP. Can have time to digest.
k. Bob asked if we need to get Tyler Barnes as our liaison involved first. Erica noted not necessarily.
l. Doug asked how we could support speed changes on Hinesburg Rd that could change the Dubois Drive
crosswalk in 5 years. Erica hoping to be able to restart conversation when the repaving comes up with
VTRANS and have not discussed since fatality report came out. Doug asked if we can lobby more? Erica –
Committee could do formal statement or could have individual comments to the state. Doug asked what
our power is to have in an official capacity or on city letterhead. Erica noted that the committee to
approach Council to ask for official support. Paving in calendar year 25.
m. Ken asked about costs being phased over time. Asked if it’s trying to be consistent year over year. Noted
FY27 is a big dip in spending compared to other years. Erica noted Dorset St path project is changing
numbers and there are also other considerations within other CIPs and also Penny for Paths funds being
spent consistently.
n. Nic asked about small path sections such as Schools Greenway. Erica noted they are easy to do together
if they are aggregate.
o. Erica talked about width of path at East Terrace and plan for replacement using part of $40K Bike/Ped
Maintenance Budget.
10. Work with Parks & Recreation Committee on Park near Allenwood project – Bob (7:15 PM)
a. Bob and Amanda met with Recreation and Affordable Housing committee chairs. Joined by Eric Farrell
(owner). Thinking of having a bike path along the west side of the tracks. Lots of talk about park space
and where people will recreate. Detailed road details with the existing neighbors not be a public road
and deeded rights. Could lead to reduced development size and possible amenity changes. Only one
beach which will be on the owner’s remaining 7-acre parcel and the rest is cliffs so no potential for
public beach. Asked about walking trails. Some old roads are like paved paths now. Is there potential for
those paths in the conserved land be available for the public. But not well received by owner. Really
great conversation. OK with the bike route being on Inn Road.
b. Doug noted it’s a win to have a bike path along the west of the tracks, even if no public beach. Would be
under VELCO lines, not in Railroad ROW.
c. Bob said group talked about potential for public park at back of M&T Bank to get a park close to people.
Need space.
5
d. Amanda would like to discuss with Planning on destinations and open space. Would like to look back to
see what the regulations are for open space as some of the open space is stormwater ponds, not places
for people to use. Does this add value to our community. Doesn’t think it should be on the City to buy
land and make open space when developers are the ones adding the density and not providing outdoor
amenity space. Not sure what is in our regulations. Will look.
e. Mark noted Larkin one is on DRB next meeting on 17th. Farrell was last DRB meeting.
f. Donna noted Planning Commission also discusses the need for play spaces. Needs to be more urgently
discussed.
g. Bob – What came out of it is that if we work with other committees, people all sense this issue of
needing recreation space for these big complexes. If we can all go together to City Council or DRB then it
may happen.
h. Donna – In Planned Unit Developments, there are requirements. Not sure if they apply for these types
of developments.
i. Discussion of the ground conditions at the waterfront and wetlands at the Farrell property.
11. Updates Ongoing Committee/Liaison Work
a. Chair Updates – Havaleh - Met with Chair of Bike Ped in Shelburne. Will send email FYI
b. DRB – Mark - Tuesday Larkin project. Will attend.
c. DPW/Safety – Bob, Dana, Amanda, Doug - Have a few assignments. Bob will need to move over some
photos to the google docs to make sure they are accessible for the links in the Maintenance workbook.
Will try to meet this month. Will want Erica to participate. A lot of the safety recommendations may
have been implemented already.
d. Bike Friendly Community Planning/Safe Routes to Schools – Nic, Ken and Amanda
A. Safe Routes to Schools Committee update from Nic
B. Doug knows of a group of 12-year-old kids biking from Queen City Park neighborhood. Excited to
see them. Could do a “Clean and Green” article in the Other Paper from them.
C. Neighborhood to Schools Greenway – Nic planning to reinvigorate this project and keep it
moving forward
e. Communications/Outreach – Donna
A. Safe Routes to Schools would be a great actionable item. Tell donna and she can pull together
something. Once its solidified a bit more. Getting good at writing them. Gets inspired at times.
B. Did planning for SB Bikes Out that never eventuated. Some talk in August about working with
rec department in their planning phase in Jan/Feb. Next thing on horizon.
f. Mapping – Amanda, Nic - Nic asked about updates to GIS Portal. Erica – Updating bike lanes soon after
striping. Can send her a list or PDF map showing things that need update. They are easy to do.
g. Signs and Wayfinding – Nic, Donna, Dana - Map in packet.
12. Confirm November 8, 2023 Meeting
a. Erica - Should have quorum. Spear Street path consultant wanted to present as public meeting in first
half. Hoping to have that.
13. Adjourned 8:07PM.