HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee - 12/09/2015
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE
MINUTES 12-9-2015
APPROVED with Amendment in RED (1-13-16)
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 9,
2015 at 5:30 pm in the small conference room at the city office building.
Members Present: Dana Farr, Chair; Cathy Frank, Vice-Chair; Donna Leban; Bob Britt, Amanda Holland,
Roy Neuer.
Members Absent: Jamieson Goodwin
City Representative: Maggie Leugers, Director of Recreation & Parks
Also Present: Tom Chittenden, Lou Bresee
Meeting began at 5:37 pm.
1. Agenda: Changes or Additions
2. Approved Minutes – Frank/ Britt
3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda –
Tom Chittenden: John Dinklage, speaking for himself and the residents of Mayfair Park, raised
concern about the safety of pedestrian crossing on Williston Rd near Pillsbury Manor. They
would like to see flashing solar pedestrian lights. Currently older people have to walk
significantly out of their way to get to a safe place to cross the street and then walk back to the
bus stop on the other side of the road. Pillsbury Manor is planning a major expansion which will
increase the volume of pedestrian traffic at this location.. This part of Williston Rd. is part of the
City Center planned improvements. Maggie suggested Ilona Blanhard and/or Paul Conner
attend our March meeting. Is there a temporary fix for this crossing? The feeling amongst
committee members is that the solar pedestrian lights would not be effective on Williston Rd.
where everyone is in a hurry and it would be necessary for all 4 lanes of cars to stop at the same
time. We will ask John to come to the next meeting.
Donna raised the question of how much in sync the SBRP Map and the official city map are.
Maggie will request Paul Connor come to next meeting to compare our SB Rec Path Map and
official city map as well as make sure we have copies of the map.
4. Request from Tom Chittenden – To consider moving up the Bike Path completion on Allen Rd to
coincide with the completion of a public soccer field at South Village. Currently the CIP calls
completing the path on Allen Rd. from Spear St. to Bay Crest Dr. in 2019, and the sidewalk from
Bay Crest to Shelburne Rd. in 2020. Cathy mentioned that potential soccer field users would also
need a safe way from north along Spear Street, specifically the Deerfield, Harbor View and
Nowland Farm areas. There is a need to clear up terminology on Capital Improvement Plan, i.e.
the relationship, if any, between a shared use plan and a sidewalk. The Committee was
sympathetic to the need for the Allen Rd. project to be fast racked. However the committee is
currently looking at each quadrant in the city, getting input from residents concerning the
problems and needs for pedestrian/bike infrastructure in neighborhoods. By March the
committee will be reviewing all projects and be in a better position to prioritize projects. Being
assured by Tom that March was early enough, further action on a recommendation for Allen Rd
was put off to March. Amanda pointed out that most projects need a Pre-scope first – what
does the project involve (regional planning commission) this is why projects are planned so
many years out. Lou asked why Regional Planning and feds have to be involved. Cathy said the
basic problem is funding and we need to think about strategies for a more permanent source of
funding, city bond, Rooms & Meals Tax increase, other.
5. Discussion: NW Quadrant – The was no one present from the NW Quadrant. Amanda’s then
explained her spreadsheet, asking what other information was needed. Suggestions included a
safety column, number of people effected, and connection. The following projects are currently
listed on the spreadsheet.
a. Spear by UVM to Jug handle,
b. Quarry Hill and branch to bridge across I-89 to U-Mall
c. Patten Rd.
d. Road and path behind Holiday Inn and parallel to Williston Rd ending on Patten Rd.
e. From Grove St along Patten to Williston Rd.
f. Hinesburg Rd – from Kennedy to Williston – shared use plan
6. General Matters
a. Bay Crest Park – there was controversy within neighborhood as to whether any
improvements should be made, After 8 public meetings, Maggie shared with us the
plans for improvements that will be presented and hopefully approved by City Council
next week. They include a gravel trail to a natural playground in back of the park, and a
connection to the next neighborhood south. Moved: to support playground plan and
field as it encompasses safety concerns, is natural, low key and provided connection to
the next neighborhood south. Frank/Britt
b. Bike Path – Airport bike path is OK if it runs along the road. It cannot however be built
along the fence because of security concerns.
c. Traffic lights on Shelburne Rd. need to be longer at Macdonalds to Panaras – Fayette Dr,
Laural Hill Dr., and Baldwin Rd. Roy and Dana volunteered to test and time the lights.
d. Williston Rd Route 2 paving – Lou Bresee: The project has been moved to 2017, will
have 4 ft wide bike lanes on each side most places but there will be some narrower
areas. Millen Dr. to Tafts Corners will not be paved. Several intersections will be marked
with bike lanes, painted green, going straight through.
e. Follow up about Queen City Park and no lights – Donna mentioned that many residents
of Queen City Park did not want lighting when the city first proposed placing lights in the
area. The residents who came to the SW Quadrant meeting clearly wanted better
lighting.
7. Meeting with Emily Boedecker - Amanda, Cathy, and Dana will try to set up a meeting with Emily
Boedecker, ED of Local Motion, to talk about what LM has done in the past year and what ideas
she could offer to our committee. Cathy will contact her.
8. Confirmation of next meeting: Wednesday, January 13, 5:30pm
1. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn – Bob Britt, /Amanda Holland
Vote: Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Frank, Temporary Clerk