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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee - 01/08/2020 Bike & Pedestrian Committee Meeting Agenda Wednesday, January 8, 2020 @ 5:30 p.m. South Burlington City Hall, Champlain Room 575 Dorset Street 1. Welcome and directions on emergency evacuation procedures (5:30 p.m.) 2. Changes or additions to the agenda (5:35 p.m.) 3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda (5:40 p.m.) 4. Consideration of minutes from the previous meeting(s) (5:45 p.m.) 5. Updates from the City - Ashley (5:50 p.m. - 15min) 6. Major - White Street Bike Lane Proposal Discussion - Group (6:05 p.m. - 20min) a. Objective: Review & discuss feedback from public b. Objective: Determine next steps 7. Major - Review status of 2019 Annual Goals - Shawn / Project Leads (6:40 p.m. - 20min) a. Objective: Check-in on progress at midway point in the fiscal year 8. Updates: Ongoing Committee Work (7:00 p.m. - 30min) a. General updates from committee members (~3-5min per person) 9. Confirmation: Next meeting Wednesday, February 12, 2020 @ 5:30pm 10. Adjourn (by 8:00 p.m.) Bike & Pedestrian Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 11, 2019 @ 5:30 p.m. South Burlington City Hall, Green Mountain Room 575 Dorset Street 1. Welcome and directions on emergency evacuation procedures (5:30 p.m.) a. Attendees: Ashley, Shawn, Cathy, Nic, Bill, Dana, Bob, Donna, Havaleh b. Public: Michael Kutin, Carmine Sargent, Rick Hubbard, Steve Marriott, Loretta Marriott. 2. Changes or additions to the agenda (5:35 p.m.) a. No changes 3. Major - White Street Bike Lane Presentation - Nic (5:40 p.m. - 15min) a. Objective: Present the proposal to the Committee and Public i. Nic leads presentation 1. Public forum is not the only way we are collecting feedback: survey, flyers, facebook, email, etc. 4. Major - Input from the public on White Street Bike Lane Proposal (5:55 p.m. - 30min) a. Objective: Gather public input for inclusion in the formal proposal to the City Council i. Tim Barrett - “Don’t have to move yellow lines, only white lines?” 1. Nic - correct. May need to overtime, but not for this. Have Justin review. ii. Tim - “No parking on South side?” 1. Nic - correct. iii. Tim - “Do we need more ‘No Parking’ signs? 1. Nic - Airport parkway was just restriped and no additional signs were ordered. iv. Tim - “If someone does park on north side now, does someone have to cross yellow line to pass parked car?” 1. Nic - yes v. Tim - “Doesn’t appear to be much parking activity on street currently” vi. Loretta - sent email to committee in support of bike lanes. Has lived in neigborhood for 40 years, never sees car parked there. Owns an electric bike. 1. “Supports bike lanes. She rides bike on White street a lot - to shop, chat with NATA, yard sales, exercise.” - Read her email. vii. Steve Marriott - works at UVM. Bikes to work in nicer weather. “Riding on a street with lines is easier and feels safer. Seems like a cheap solution.” viii. Carmine Sargent - was on airport planning committee. “My concern is not to let improved lighting go by. It’s a difficult street to walk on, and that there is only a sidewalk on one side. Crosswalk markings are not good. Impressed someone is carrying through with these requests from the committee.” ix. Michael Kutin - 40 year resident of White street. “Who established priorities for improvements - Planning committee with CCPC. 1. “Have they done any traffic studies on what bike traffic there is now on White street? Should that be done first before spending money? Also do a study of peak vehicle hour times. Would help for vision of future use. Verify we are solving a problem with data” a. Nic asked “how many people have you seen parking on white street?” i. Michael “Closer to patchen road, sees parking on a regular basis. Have to cross over yellow line to pass.” “Quite often car parks on suburban square versus white street” 2. Carmine - what happens if people bike on sidewalk? a. Bob - no ordinance for it i. Carmine “ Believes lanes would increase biking” x. Carmine - “How wide will the bike lanes be?” 1. Nic - 5’, standard 2. Shawn - 5’ seems like a lot, it doesn’t feel like much when avoiding storm drains and 40mph traffic. xi. Michael - “What about delivery vehicles? USP, FEDEX, postal? They run out and affect lanes all the time.” 1. Nic - May not affect their habits already. xii. Michael - “make sure to accommodate needs of White Street residences.” xiii. Bob - “When passing out flyers, speaking to residents, most said they don’t see any car parks, except further down near Patchen Rd. People tend to park on side streets.” 1. Michael - “Removing parking will Impact side street neighbors and their streets”. xiv. Loretta - “How many flyers did we pass out?” 1. Nic - around 100. Also gave some to Chamberlain school. xv. Rick Hubbard - “it’s pretty clear, present configuration, if you are a bicyclist, you are riding with traffic, no separation. Studies show this slows down traffic, upsets drivers. When you put separate bike lanes, traffic speeds up, traffic flows more smoothly and safer, less car weaving. If we can find a way to safely separate the bikers from the traffic it will minimize accidents. Also supported moving in this direction. SB is 2-3x bigger than Shelburne neighbors, but they are beating us in safety.” xvi. Tim - “Proposed changes are pretty benign compared to other changes in Burlington. Thinks this is pretty easy thing to do and inexpensive. How much would signs cost to put in?”. xvii. Rick - “Biked around Europe and other areas, experienced. If you build it, they will come. I won’t bike in traffic, too dangerous. Will have bikers who won’t bike in circumstances now, that will bike when infrastructure is created. Still too many chunks of areas that don’t have bike lanes.” xviii. Michael - “Not against biking, just has to be thought out and the implications.” 1. Nic - “were surveys and data collected to create recommendations?” a. Carmine “Initial report was the result of surveys done at Chamberlain school and community discussions. All was from community input.” xix. Shawn - will inform when we talk to city council, public is encouraged to join then. xx. Carmine - “When will they complete airport parkway all the way to Lime Kiln?” 1. Bob - done this year, unfortunately painted at 3’ bike lane width. a. Nic - plan to be fixed in spring with added shared path. 5. Comments from the public not related to the agenda (6:25 p.m.) a. None. 6. Consideration of minutes from the previous meetings (6:30 p.m) a. October, 2019 Draft Minutes i. Kathy moved to accept minutes, Nic second. 1. Bob send revisions 12/10. a. Shawn motioned to accept ammended minutes based on Bob’s comments. Bob second. b. November, 2019 Draft Minutes i. Nic moves to accept and move. Cathy seconds. 1. No changes request. 2. All in favor, no oppose. 7. Updates from the City - Ashley (6:40 p.m. - 10min) a. Close to getting contract for Underwood parcel. i. Nic - Do we need public meetings? 1. Ashley - don’t need it but not a bad idea. Can do at SBBPC meeting. Can be a combination of several committees to present to public. 2. Nic - would like to be involved in pump track part. He is on BBPC and they are working on one. 8. Major - Formalization of the Committee’s role in the City’s bike/ped scoping process - Shawn/Ashley (6:50 p.m. - 20 min) a. Objective: Communicate a summary of the 12/2/19 meeting with Paul Connor b. Objective: Committee input in advance of a formal review & recommendations c. Objective: Define the Committee primary and backup representatives i. Ashley - Amanda asked status of scoping projects. They don’t know when they are done. Paul suggests how to formalize process, to know scoping phase is done and move to next phase. SBBPC could be a lead for review and approval for process. ii. Bob - “can you go through flow chart?” 1. Ashley - nothing to do with CIP. 2. Bring in members of committees where appropriate. 3. Hoping communication will be better between staff and committee members. 4. After several scoping reviews, go to committee for support, to present to city council. a. Looking for formal presentation that isn’t just from the staff and includes community feedback. iii. Bob - “should we have public forum? Before going to city council?” 1. Ashley/Shawn - depends on project. 2. Ashley “Older it gets, the more you want to get public engaged and feedback.” iv. Shawn - “Public input already going on, but official process and documentation needed.” v. Ashley - “It’s up to committee when to get public input on projects.” 1. Nic - “Can we have Paul provide ‘pitch’ with public input? Then we can hear at the same time and SBBPC can make a decision at that time.” vi. Donna - “Are scoping studies sometimes presented to city council before we see them?.” 1. Ashley - Still an opportunity for public to comment. vii. Ashley “when it is presented to SBBPC, best time to get public input.” viii. Shawn - “Fits exactly what SBBPC desires to formalize roll in planning process and key stake holders for recommendations to city. Fits with where we want to go with the committee. Need to refine and align goals. Will also have opportunity to participate in what project priority.” 1. Ashley - This is still a draft that can/expected to be tweaked. Would like to try out for final approval of outstanding projects. 2. Shawn - “anyone have concerns on direction?” - no issues. ix. Nic - Should be on website when projects were reviewed and approved. Would like to see review “did we get it right?”. After scoping study, review what we can do to do it quicker? Clearer outline after it has been approved. “Rev two of process plan.” 1. Ashley - does relate to CIP, after approved. 2. Shawn - would like to see whole process and steps of a project. What are all the connecting dots? a. Ashley - priority of committee highly affects flow and next phases. b. Bob - “is there a process to review if city resources are full, can we outsource this?” i. Ashley - not sure. x. Shawn - “Amanda has been serving in this roll, Bob was/is backup. Happy to continue as primary. On board with summary.” 1. Would like it when meetings are setup, that both primary and backup are both attending. 2. Dana motion to assign Amanda as primary and Bob as backup. Cathy second. All in favor. 9. Updates: Ongoing Committee Work (7:10 p.m. - 30min) a. General updates from committee members (~3-5min per person) i. Havaleh - nothing ot report ii. Donna – with Nic met with Susie Merrick, works for SB school district - health and wellness officer. Talked about making connections with the schools, had suggestions: meet with PTO, but only works at elementary level ( 3 PTO’s in SB). Wasn’t sure how to address high schools. Pointed out that if we want to do anything with schools, need to apply and have background check. Donna will take names of those who want this. 1. Havaleh - signed up to be slow riders lead. City can do quick background checks. 2. What are requirements for background check? Need to fill out a form. 3. Shawn - does it expire? Donna - one time thing. 4. PTO - Need to figure out what we would be presenting. a. Nic - talk with localmotion, get their input. Would like to “Bike month” (May) - “Bike to School Day.” b. Need strategy. 5. For high school - give and take. Can suggest ideas, but also get their ideas as well. 6. Nic - SB does not have any bike plans for schools. 7. Shawn - if our long term goal is to expand biking, will see more benefit at high school/ college level. People who are about to start driving. 8. Donna - walking more common at elementary level. 9. Havaleh - focus less on health/fitness, more on climate change. Look for groups that do climate change to work with. a. Shawn - speak with energy committee. Maybe they take lead if climate change is best path forward. Havaleh - Will be longer term projects. 10. Donna - by spring time, have programs identified. iii. Bob - No updates iv. Dana - no updates v. Bill - no updates vi. Nic 1. Bicycle friendly community - application a. Application deadline is in February, not April. b. Wants to get together with city. c. Donna - do you have a proposal when meetings will be? d. GMBC Suggested Dorothy Pumo may want to be involved. i. Nic - wants to get with city staff first, maybe one meeting in January. 1. Ashley - “anything I should share with then? Helpful to give them list of things you think you have and what you need.” vii. Cathy - Looked up signs on internet for bike path for cross walks. 1. Ashley - will send VTRANS info. “Share the road” pamphlets. 2. Donna - is this part of safety or way-finding? Noticed new signs on hiking trails. People get on rec paths and can’t figure out where to go or where they are, or how far to something. a. Cathy - Shelburne farms has great direction signs and location. i. Nic - can we have this discussion on Parks & Rec department? Ashley - They are more focused on parks, not paths. 1. Ashley - Best path forward is create map and recommendations for city. 2. Nic - add to January agenda a. One for path signage b. One for way-finding viii. Shawn - January agenda 1. Ashley will be away, Shawn will send out reminders for meeting. Request for agenda items will come out before the holidays, most likely the Monday before Christmas (23rd). 2. Bob - do we move back meeting a week due to holidays? a. Ashley - will be staffing NRC on 15th. “We have plenty of stuff to talk about for a meeting on the 8th” i. Shawn - use as a time for all committees to meeting and discuss. 3. SBBPC social gatherings. a. Create new poll for after the new year. i. Bill to create new poll. 10. Confirmation: Next meeting Wednesday, January 8, 2020 @ 5:30pm 11. Adjourn (by 8:00 p.m.) a. Adjourn at 7:15pm. Bike/Ped Staff Update – 1/8/2020 • Scoping Studies: Paul is aiming to get the “Scoping Study Team” together to review the last two scoping studies and provide a recommendation to the Committee in February. • Line Striping: Justin indicated to me that as spring gets closer (next month or two), it will be worth taking a look at the line striping needs for the coming season. Penny for Paths Projects Updates – 1/8/2020 • Jug Handle Sidewalk: Given the weather, it is more likely that this project will be constructed in the spring/early summer. • Allen Road Rec Path: We are still working through the ROW process for the spring easement. Once the ROW issue is completed, we can begin discussing construction. • Airport Parkway Sidewalk & On-Road Bike Lanes: The engineers are still working on the conceptuals for this project. I will provide project plans once I have them. • South Dorset Street Shared Use Path: I have been working on finalizing the RFQ for the design and engineering of this project. It has been reviewed by our VTrans project manager, Justin, and the City Attorney. I am planning on releasing it the week of January 6th, with consultant selection taking place in February. • Underwood Parcel Shared Use Path: Staff is working to select a design/engineer consultant to begin the design of Phase 1 park facilities, including the design of a shared use path, trail network, gravel parking area, picnic area, and pump track. Staff is hoping to select a consultant in the next month. White Street Bike Lanes Public Engagement ●Hand delivery of flyers to every house on White Street (and some beyond) on Friday and Saturday November 22nd and 23rd ●The Other Paper announcement - December 5, Vol. 43, No. 49, page 2 ●Consensus app question “Do you support adding bike lanes to White Street by removing parking on the north side of the street?” ○Yes = 49 ○No = 26 ○See specific comments on separate document. ●Front Porch Forum x2 ○Chamberlin ■Dec 2 - Issue #2487 ■Dec 9 - Issue #2494 ○Mayfair ■Dec 2 - Issue #1902 ■Dec 7 - Issue #1907 ●Facebook Event ●Facebook Event promotion on SBVT Community Watch page ●City Web page news story - ​http://www.sburl.com/news_detail_T7_R169.php ●Public forum - December 11, 2019 ○6 public present (all spoke) ■5 in support ■1 in opposition Date Who Positive, Negative, Mixed?Comments Source - email, verbal, other Other Info 11.20.19 Anonymous via Consensus Mixed Please consider upgrades between Williston Road and Hinesburg Rd. The walk is very narrow and worn and not far from the edge of the rd.Consensus 11.20.19 Anonymous via Consensus Negative White Street is too narrow. It will be like Patchen Road. People will ride on the sidewalk!Consensus 11.26.19 Joe Nystrom Positive Hi, I live on Maryland street, and I think painting bike lanes on White street would be a great idea. Regards, Joe Email 11.29.19 Michael Z Rork Positive Hello, I'm writing you to voice my opinion as a resident of White St, a parent of a child at Chamberlin, and as a frequent commuter on this street as an Uber driver, to state that I strongly support the addition of bike lanes on White St. I know that this particular committee isn't discussing adding the sidewalk on the north side of the street just yet, but I also strongly support this suggested addition as well. I also support removing parking on the north side of the street, regardless of if bike lanes are added. Email 12.10.19 Loretta Marriott Positive I support bike lanes on White Street. Here are a few of the reasons I personally would like to see this happen. I ride my bike on White Street a lot: * To vote at Chamberlin School, * To go to the SB post office, * To shop, * To go to the SB library, * To chat with Maida at Trader Dukes on Saturday mornings, * To check out yard sales, * Just for fun and exercise as I wind in and out of near-by neighborhoods. I support pedestrian / bike friendly initiatives for South Burlington for many reasons. I read and hear of difficulties other cities including Burlington have with traffic and parking and I realize that we need to act while we can as the window of opportunity may close. Not to be dramatic, but change is constant and I see our transportation systems likely to change either to favor more dominance by automotive vehicles or to favor accommodations to pedestrian, bike and public transportation. I hope you will support bike lanes on White Street. Email Lived in neighborhood for 40 years 12.2.19 Anonymous via Consensus Mixed I love having bike lanes but get concerned about losing parking spaces for those who cant bike/walk/run Consensus 12.4.19 Anonymous via Consensus Negative Leave White Street alone. It is good as is.Consensus 12/12/19 Libby Harden Negative To whom it may concern: I have lived on White Street between Patchen Road and Charles Street since 1985. As you know there is no parking on Patchen and only on one side of White Street as it is. If anyone on our end of the street has company that won’t fit in the driveways, or a party, the cars have to be parked on a side street like Charles Street which is narrow and doesn't have a real curb. I notice that if people park on that street they tend to pull on the grass because the street feels quite narrow and bleeds into peoples’ lawns. I am sure this is very annoying to those residents —some of them post no parking signs because of this. It seems to me that with nowhere to park on White Street the impact on those little side streets will be much worse that it is now. Those residents will have good reason to complain! I love the goal to encourage biking but this, at least for our end of the street, does not feel like a good idea. Please reconsider this option. Email Item Number Needed Cost Each*Total Cost* Poles 10 $40.65 $406.50 No Parking Signs 13 $18.45 $239.85 Bike Lane Signs 11 $64.95 $714.45 TOTAL $1,360.80 Line Striping 4400ft x2 = 8800ft (1.66miles)$0.10 (per foot)$880.00 TOTAL TOTAL $2,240.80 * Based on prices at myparkingsign.com NOTE: Costs are for materials only. DPW Estimates the total cost to install a sign pole (including labor) to be approx $250 per pole. Other pertinent facts:1850 ft of new no-parking restiction 25 impacted houses on north side 7 bus stops would need dashes 9 cross streets DRAFT To the South Burlington City Council, We, the South Burlington Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee request that a resolution be passed regarding White Street’s configuration. Details: ●The Chamberlin Neighborhood Land Use and Transportation Plan Final Report was issued on June 30, 2016. Within this project were recommendations for bike lanes on Patchen Road, White Street and Airport Parkway as a short term (3 year) priority. ●The hurdle to simply painting bike lanes is that parking is permitted on some portions of the north side of White Street. ●The centerline of White street is around 15ft from the curb, this would mean that if a car was parked, a traveling vehicle would have to cross the centerline just to drive past it. ●There are 9 side streets coming off White St that allow intermittent parking. ●Bike lanes on White Street would aid in “Safe Routes to School” initiatives with White Street being the main route to Chamberlin Elementary School. ●Patchen Road and Airport Parkway bike lanes were painted in 2016 and 2019. There is a “no parking” restriction already in place on both sides of those roads. ●Per the parking regulations approved by City Council on August 19, 2019, it is a decision of the City Council to prohibit parking. The Parking Ordinance currently states: 3. Parking Prohibitions Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a law enforcement officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall stop or park a motor vehicle: …. (O) On any public road or highway, or portion thereof, the City Council designates by resolution as a place where parking is prohibited and indicated as such by “No Parking” signs; Therefore, the South Burlington Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee hereby requests the City Council pass a resolution that: A.Prohibits parking on the north side of White Street, and B.Directs the South Burlington Department of Public Works (as soon as practicable but no later than July 31, 2020) to: a.Install poles and “No Parking Any Time” signs on the north side of White Street, and b.Paint bike lanes on both sides of White Street c.Install Bike Lane signs on both sides of White Street. This letter of recommendation was approved by a motion of the South Burlington Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee at their regular public meeting on xx DRAFT South Burlington Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee 2019 Annual Goals Committee Members: Dana Farr (Chair), Cathy Frank (Backup Chair), Shawn Goddard (Co-Clerk), Bill Wooden (Co-Clerk), Bob Britt, Donna Leban, Amada Holland City Representative: Ashley Parker ● Top priority bicycle and pedestrian projects ○ With the newly acquired Penny for Paths (P4P) funding source, the committee is focused on ensuring we put those funds to work in 2019 to accomplish specific and tangible improvements with those funds in this calendar year. ○ Establish prioritization and monitoring of key bike/ped infrastructure projects. ○ Work with the City to align priorities with the CIP ○ Based on priorities, the CIP, and available resources, define which projects will move forward and which will be closed in 2019. ○ Create a living document with links to recent, current and future scoping studies and track progress regularly. ○ Define next steps for longer-term projects planned for 2020 and beyond as necessary to ensure those projects can move forward as scheduled. ● Strategic funding plan ○ Develop a plan for funding of each Proposed Recreation Path and Crosswalk defined as a priority. ○ Work with the City to align on and close the funding plan for all projects planned for 2019 and 2020. ○ Longer term projects should have conceptual funding plans that the Committee and City can generally agree on, though firm and specific plans won’t be defined for these projects in 2019. ● Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Maintenance ○ Meet regularly with Justin Rabidoux to align on maintenance priorities and needs for the city’s bike/ped infrastructure. ○ Update Striping priorities and coordinate with Justine Rabidoux to enable striping to begin in Spring, 2019 and ensure our defined priorities for this year are closed out before winter of 2019. ○ Create a standard for bike/ped maintenance for DPW to use along with a list of priorities for 2019 required work. ● Bike/Ped Infrastructure signage ○ Develop new signage for our network ○ Work with the city to define funding plan for this work ○ Develop the list of priorities for this work ○ Coordinate activity with the Parks and Rec Department ○ Update or develop rules for the South Burlington path system ● Mapping ○ Continue work with CCRPC on current and future infrastructure mapping. ● Public outreach ○ Work to increase our committees outreach through improvements to the city website, regular engagement in TOP as well as other forums such as Facebook, Local Motion site, etc. ○ Develop branding for Penny for Paths (P4P) projects ○ Compile a list of 2019 events and plan for direct committee engagement at these community events. ○ Investigate options for developing stronger 2-way communication with South Burlington residents on bike/ped infrastructure needs and priorities.