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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/23/2023 - Agenda Packet - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board College Station, TX Meeting Agenda Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board 1101 Texas Ave, College Station, TX 77840 Internet: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83443972344 Phone: 888 475 4499 and Webinar ID: 834 4397 2344 The City Council may or may not attend this meeting. January 23, 2023 3:30 PM Bush 4141 Community Room College Station, TX Page 1 Notice is hereby given that a quorum of the meeting body will be present in the physical location stated above where citizens may also attend in order to view a member(s) participating by videoconference call as allowed by 551.127, Texas Government Code. The City uses a third party vendor to host the virtual portion of the meeting; if virtual access is unavailable, meeting access and participation will be in-person only. 1. Call meeting to order and consider absence requests. 2. Hear Visitors. At this time, the Chairperson will open the floor to citizens wishing to address issues not already scheduled on today's agenda. Each citizen’s presentation will be limited to three minutes in order to allow adequate time for the completion of the agenda items. Comments will be received and city staff may be asked to look into the matter, or the matter may be placed on a future agenda for discussion. A recording may be made of the meeting; please give your name and address for the record. 3. Agenda Items 3.1. Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Attachments: 1. December 19, 2022 Minutes 3.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle Friendly Communities program and College Station’s designation as a Bronze level community. Attachments: 1. College Station Fall 2020 Report Card 3.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an update of grant applications for bicycle and pedestrian planning and facilities. 3.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the development of activities for National Bike Month in May 2023 including a Cycle with Council event. 3.5. Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways: a. City’s Comprehensive Plan b. Future City Council Meetings c. Capital and Private Project Updates 3.6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. Page 1 of 7 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Page 2 January 23, 2023 a. February 20, 2023 ~ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board Meeting at 3:30 p.m. 4. Discussion and possible action on future agenda items. A member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. 5. Adjourn. Adjournment into Executive Session may occur in order to consider any item listed on the agenda if a matter is raised that is appropriate for Executive Session discussion. I certify that the above Notice of Meeting was posted on the website and at College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas, on January 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. City Secretary This building is wheelchair accessible. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services such as interpreters, readers, or large print are asked to contact the City Secretary’s Office at (979) 764-3541, TDD at 1-800-735-2989, or email adaassistance@cstx.gov at least two business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If the City does not receive notification at least two business days prior to the meeting, the City will make a reasonable attempt to provide the necessary accommodations. Penal Code § 30.07. Trespass by License Holder with an Openly Carried Handgun. "Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (Trespass by License Holder with an Openly Carried Handgun) A Person Licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (Handgun Licensing Law), may not enter this Property with a Handgun that is Carried Openly." Codigo Penal § 30.07. Traspasar Portando Armas de Mano al Aire Libre con Licencia. “Conforme a la Seccion 30.07 del codigo penal (traspasar portando armas de mano al aire libre con licencia), personas con licencia bajo del Sub-Capitulo H, Capitulo 411, Codigo de Gobierno (Ley de licencias de arma de mano), no deben entrar a esta propiedad portando arma de mano al aire libre.” Page 2 of 7 MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING Monday, December 19, 2022, 3:30 PM MEMBERS PRESENT:Chairperson Elizabeth Cunha, Kathy Langlotz, Joy Chmelar, Dennis Jansen, Brad Brimley, and Jake Madewell MEMBERS ABSENT:None STAFF PRESENT:Director of Planning and Development Services Michael Ostrowski, City Engineer Carol Cotter, Transportation Planning Coordinator Jason Schubert, Transportation & Mobility Graduate Engineer II Katherine Beaman-Jamael, Transportation & Mobility Staff Planner Carl Ahrens, and Staff Assistant II Grecia Fuentes AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order and consider absence requests. Chairperson Cunha called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. There were no absence requests for consideration. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors. There were no visitors who requested to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Agenda Items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.1: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Board Member Langlotz requested an amendment be made to the November minutes on Item 3.4. - “Board Member Langlotz stated that she thought both were good routes, but she also thought about having a route that would start and end in the same place.” Board Member Jansen motioned to approve the amended minutes from November 14, 2022, seconded by Board Member Langlotz. The minutes were approved (6-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.2: Presentation and discussion regarding an update on a development project proposed along Double Mountain Road. Chairperson Cunha stated that she had asked Mr. Schubert to tell the Board about this development. She said this was the first time she heard a developer not wanting to put in a road and only putting in a shared-use path. She informed the Board that there would not be an official opinion or representative. Page 3 of 7 She stated that this will be presented at the Planning and Zoning meeting on January 5, 2023, and anyone can speak. Coordinator Schubert gave the presentation on this item. Board Member Brimley stated he is involved in this project with his firm. He mentioned how he can see how the applicant is trying to obey the spirit of the law in what they have asked in the waivers for the block length. He asked if the block length is mainly there for the pedestrian mobility accessibility. Coordinator Schubert answered not necessarily and that there are four different elements. Board Member Brimley asked about the purpose of the block length. Graduate Engineer Beaman-Jamael said the block length will help when developing more roads and have more opportunities for connections. Chairperson Cunha informed the Board that if they were interested and wished to speak at the Planning and Zoning meeting they would need to register ahead of time. A Zoom option will be available too. Board Member Brimley stated to the Board that it would be helpful to voice their opinion to staff, if they have one, stating what they like or don’t like about it. He stated that it could make a difference in future projects and that they can take those opinions into consideration. Board Member Jansen stated that they are running a shared-use path through a high-density housing, which means it is running through parking lots. He said he was not saying to put a road there instead, but if they ran a road there it would have a sidewalk. He asked what the advantage was to a pedestrian of having a shared use path versus the sidewalk. He added that a shared-use path sounds great especially if it is through the woods, but through a high-density development he does not see that it is a big issue one way or the other unless it was gated. Board Member Langlotz stated that she could see the value of a shared-use path for people in that community by using it to get to the hospital to work and saving time in the commute. Board Member Madewell stated that he thinks a shared-use path sounds nice but having it through a parking lot is less nice. He added that he did not know if he would choose that or a road. He stated he would favor making it a private shared-use path, but few people would benefit from that. Board Member Brimley stated that as a pedestrian it would feel weird to suddenly be cutting through a development, but on terms of safety he thinks it would be just as safe going on a cross walk. He added it might be nicer to have a 10-foot shared-use path than a sidewalk. Board Member Madewell stated that it could be done. He referenced the shared-use paths along Welsh Avenue, Southwest Parkway, and Harvey Mitchell Parkway as examples. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the development of activities for the National Bike Month in May 2023 including a Cycle with Council event. Page 4 of 7 a.Chairperson Cunha attended the TxDOT Meeting regarding sidewalks and bicycle lanes. She stated that there will be a survey going out and that they are looking for feedback on where we want bicycle connectivity on TxDOT roads. b.Chairperson Cunha also stated that she met with an eighth-grade class that wrote an essay on bicycle safety. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.4: Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways: a. City’s Comprehensive Plan – Board Member Jansen read over the City’s Comprehensive Plan’s section on Complete Streets in Chapter 6 Integrated Mobility. b. Future City Council Meetings – Chairperson Cunha attended the Krenek Tap rehab public meeting. She received an email about unsafe parking going on during the Christmas at the Park event regarding people parking in bike lanes and no parking areas. c. Capital and Private Project Updates – Chairperson Cunha spoke to Capitol Projects Project Manager II Casey Rhodes and mentioned she did not like the idea of putting the pink rubberized surface on the sidewalk. Board Member Brimley inquired about the difference between an 8-foot shared use path and a 10-foot shared use path. Graduate Engineer II Beaman-Jamael stated that an 8-foot shared use path is the minimum width that can be used in constrained areas for short distances. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a.January 23, 2023 ~ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board Meeting at 3:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Discussion and possible action on future agenda items. A Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. There were no proposals for future agenda items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 4:36 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Elizabeth Cunha, Chairperson Grecia Fuentes, Board Secretary Page 5 of 7 14%35% »Your application indicated that the vast majority of roads in College Station have a posted speed limit above 25 mph. Consider lowering posted speed limits, particularly on neighborhood greenways and residential streets, to under 25 MPH. Introduce road diets, traffic calming measures, and bicycle boulevards to encourage slower driving speeds and create a more safe and inviting environment for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. »Continue to increase the amount of high quality bicycle parking throughout the community. Ensure that APBP-compliant bicycle parking is available in areas near popular destinations and urban activity centers. Without secure and convenient bike parking it is difficult for a person to choose to ride their bicycle for transportation or utilitarian trips. »Continue to increase the amount of high quality bicycle parking at transit stops throughout the entire community. Continue making investments to improve bicycle access to transit hubs and to support more multi-modal travel, such as adding bike racks to buses. »Expand bicycle safety education to be a routine part of education for students of all ages, and ensure that schools and the surrounding neighborhoods are particularly safe and convenient for biking and walking. Work with local bicycle groups and interested parents to create Safe Routes to School programming for all K-12 schools, including on- bike education. »Host a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) seminar to increase the number of local LCIs in your community. Having several active instructors in the area will enable you to expand cycling education for youth and adults, recruit more knowledgeable cycling ambassadors, deliver Bicycle Friendly Driver education to motorists, and have experts available to assist in encouragement programs. Visit bikeleague.org/ ridesmart for more information. COLLEGE STATION, TX 19% ACCEPTABLE UNKNOWN NEEDS IMPROVEMENT NO MEETS AT LEAST MONTHLY AVERAGE YES 1 PER 38.7K 10 BUILDING BLOCKS OF A BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY College StationAverage Silver High Speed Roads with Bike Facilities Bicycle Education in Schools Share of Transportation Budget Spent on Bicycling Bike Month and Bike to Work Events Active Bicycle Advocacy Group Active Bicycle Advisory Committee Bicycle–Friendly Laws & Ordinances Bike Plan is Current and is Being Implemented Bike Program Staff to Population 48% GOOD 11% GOOD YES MEETS EVERY TWO MONTHS GOOD YES 1 PER 78K LEARN MORE » WWW.BIKELEAGUE.ORG/COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY KEY OUTCOMES RIDERSHIP Percentage of Commuters who bike SAFETY MEASURESCRASHES Crashes per 10k bicycle commuters SAFETY MEASURESFATALITIES Fatalities per 10k bicycle commuters KEY STEPS TO SILVER POPULATION DENSITY 2266116,218 TOTAL POPULATION TOTAL AREA (sq. miles) 51.28 # OF LOCAL BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES 0 # OF LOCAL BICYCLE FRIENDLY UNIVERSITIES 1 College Station 2.68% 271.23 1.43 Average Silver 2.7% 537 6.3 Fall 2020 AND LEAGUE MEMBERS Total on- and off-road Bicycle Network Mileage to Total Road Network Mileage KEY STEPS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2... CATEGORY SCORES ENGINEERING Bicycle network and connectivity EDUCATION Motorist awareness and bicycling skills ENCOURAGEMENT Mainstreaming bicycling culture EVALUATION & PLANNING Setting targets and having a plan 3.95/10 3.52/10 0.90/10 4.07/10 Page 6 of 7 »Develop education and encouragement outreach methods and programs that specifically target families, women, seniors, low-income, and non-English speaking communities, in addition to general non-targeted outreach and media campaigns that discuss current and new bicycle facilities, safe driver and bicyclist behavior, and events related to walking and biking. »Improve Bike Month activities by creating a Bike to Work Day event, Bike to School Day event, and/or a Mayor's Ride. Bike to Work Day events can include competitions for participation between businesses and "energizer" stations where people can get coffee on the way to work. Bike to School Day events can include competitions related to bicycle use, outreach to parents, and coordination between the schools and the city to create safer routes to schools. »Develop a community-wide trip reduction ordinance/program, commuter incentive program, and a Guaranteed Ride Home program to encourage and support bike commuters in College Station. »Create an incentive program for businesses to provide standard bike parking, and to develop workplace bicycling programs for their employees. Use the framework of the Bicycle Friendly Business program to engage with more local businesses, agencies, and organizations to promote cycling to their employees and customers. »Create a bicycle count program that utilizes several methods of data collection to create an understanding of current bicyclists and the effects of new facilities on bicycling in College Station. Automated bicycle counters provide long-term data on bicycle use at fixed points in a community and mobile counters can provide periodic or before/after data related to a change in your community's road or bicycle network. Observational counts and surveys can supplement automated data in order to collect demographic information and examine social equity goals. Consider partnering with Texas A&M to collect and analyze bike count data in the community. COLLEGE STATION, TX LEARN MORE » WWW.BIKELEAGUE.ORG/COMMUNITIES PAGE 2 OF 2 SUPPORTED BY AND LEAGUE MEMBERS MORE RESOURCES FOR IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNITY: »League of American Bicyclists: https://www.bikeleague.org »Guide to the BFC Report Card: https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/Guide_to_the_Bicycle_Friendly_Community_Report_Card.pdf »Resources for Building a Bicycle Friendly Community: https://bikeleague.org/BFC_Resources »Building Blocks of a Bicycle Friendly Community: https://bikeleague.org/content/building-blocks-bicycle-friendly-communities »The Five E's: https://bikeleague.org/5-es »Smart Cycling Program: https://bikeleague.org/ridesmart »Advocacy Reports and Resources: https://bikeleague.org/reports »Bicycle Friendly Business Program: https://bikeleague.org/business »National Bike Month: https://bikeleague.org/bikemonth KEY STEPS TO SILVER CONTINUED Fall 2020 Page 7 of 7