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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/21/2025 - Regular Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING July 21, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Scott Shafer, Board Members Kathy Langlotz, Neo Jang, Joy Chmelar, Thomas Woodfin and Carla Robinson MEMBERS ABSENT: Matthew Jackson STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning & Development Services Anthony Armstrong, Assistant Director Molly Hitchcock, Transportation Planning Administrator Jason Schubert, Senior Planner Jesse DiMeolo, Staff Planner Carl Ahrens, Staff Planner Joe Allen, GIS Analyst Julie Svetlik, GIS Analyst Chris Griffin and Staff Assistant II Grecia Fuentes AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order, introductions and consider absence requests. Chairperson Shafer called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors. Robert Rose, former bike shop owner, shared his concern about shaded bike paths and the importance of them. He asked the Board and staff to keep these in mind when choosing what projects to fund next. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Agenda Items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.1: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Board Member Robinson motioned to approve the meeting minutes from June as revised, Board Member Langlotz seconded the motion, minutes were approved 6-0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.2: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recap of the public meeting s and surveys for the Active Transportation Master Plan Corridor Feasibility Study. Senior Planner DiMeolo presented this item. Chairperson Shafer asked if on-street parking would be removed on Fairview Ave. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated on-street parking was planned to stay on both sides of Fairview Ave and sidewalks would be installed so that they would avoid existing large trees. Chairperson Shafer expressed concern about property owners’ perception that the area outside of the street curb was their property and would not likely want their yard area impacted. Board Member Jang recommended chicanes be installed as part of the design of Fairview Ave. Board Member Woodfin asked if there was a connection between Fairview Ave and Welsh Ave. He stated on-street parking on Welsh Ave north of Holleman Dr makes a mess for biking. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated a shared use path was proposed between the two streets along Holleman Dr. Board Member Jang inquired what the cost estimates were for the conceptual designs. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated cost estimates had not yet been developed but were part of the project. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3: Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding considerations of micromobility devices within an active transportation network. Planner Joe Allen presented this item. Chairperson Shafer said there is an issue with Class 2 devices being too fast to operate on sidewalks. Board Member Robinson asked if there could be an attempt to keep track of how many crashes were happening to keep for public safety information. She said it would be good to keep this data of incidents happening between pedestrians, bicyclists, and other electronic vehicles. GIS Analyst Julie Svetlik said that the TxDOT crash database did include a way to filter their searches in that data. Administrator Schubert stated that the crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians can be under reported if there are not severe injuries or damage to a vehicle which could affect how many crashes are identified and tracked but staff could look at the available data. Chairperson Shafer stated bicycle and pedestrian interactions are an issue on the Texas A&M University campus. Board Member Woodfin inquired if micromobility devices could be restricted based on class. Chairperson Shafer asked if speed limits could be imposed on trails. Board Member Robinson asked if there was a way to enforce trail speed limits. Board Member Langloz asked about the placement of speed feedback signs that have been placed along some streets. Chairperson Shafer asked if a speed feeback sign could be placed on a trail. He also asked if a yielding system could be developed for trails. Director Armstong stated that some amendments would require City Council action to enact but staff could further evaluate what was possible and feasible as part of the new Master Plan. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.4: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress assessment of roadway segments and crossings as part of the Active Transportation Master Plan. Senior Planner DiMeolo presented this item. Chairperson Shafer asked what the two green lines were on Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated that there are shared use paths are both sides of the street. Board Member Woodfin inquired about Graham Road being listed as a LTS 3 but has bike lanes. Administrator Schubert stated the criteria has 40 MPH with bike lanes as a LTS 3 while 35 MPH with bike lanes would be a LTS 2. Board Member Jang asked if there was a connection between TxDOT roadways and higher LTS scores. Administrator Schubert stated there is higher LTS for higher traffic volume and higher speed roadways and most TxDOT roadways are wider, faster roads. Director Armstrong mentioned that the LTS criteria that is utilized could be adjusted if we determined we wanted to do so. Chairperson Shafer noticed there is a gap along the Lick Creek trail between SH 6 and Eagle Ave. It was recounted that this section was constructed with bike lanes on the street instead of a potential path along the SpringBrook HOA area along the creek. Board Member Woodfin suggested to install signage along the Lick Creek trail across from the east side to the west side of SH 6. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways. a) Public Meetings of Interest – On the City Council agenda for July 25, 2025 is awarding the design contract for the City-wide Sidewalks and Shared Use Paths contract. A MPO Policy Board Meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2025 at 9:30am at the Brazos County Commissioner’s Court and includes an agenda item to approve Category 9 funding for bicycle and pedestrian grant projects. b)Capital and Private Project Updates – Comments are due on July 25, 2025 related tothe proposed TxDOT State Active Transportation Plan and can be filed electronically. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.6: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a)August 11, 2025 ~ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board Meeting 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. Chairperson Shafer asked if we could look at alternate shade structures for shared-use paths. Board Member Woodfin asked about proposing bike lanes on Creek Meadow Boulevard. Administrator Schubert stated future bike lanes on Creek Meadow Blvd are currently on the adopted Master Plan AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Scott Shafer, Chairperson Grecia Fuentes, Board Secretary