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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/2025 - Regular Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory BoardMINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING November 10, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Scott Shafer, Board Members Kathy Langlotz, Neo Jang, Joy Chmelar, Thomas Woodfin, Carla Robinson. MEMBERS ABSENT: Matthew Jackson STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning and Development Anthony Armstrong, Assistant Director Molly Hitchcock, Transportation Planning Administrator Jason Schubert, Senior Planner Jesse DiMeolo, Staff Planner Joe Allen 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. James Hanagan, resident on First Street, brought a video to the Board’s attention demonstrating Anderson Street on Sunday during the Grace Bible Church’s morning service hours. The video showed the passage between George Bush Drive and Holleman Drive with cars parked on the bike lanes packed all the way down the street. He wanted to show the Board that there was a huge demand for parking along that street and how it impacts bicyclists when the church has events going on. Robert Rose, former bike shop owner, spoke about his concern on the danger of gap protectors on railroad tracks causing accidents for cyclists. He showed the Board pictures demonstrating gap protectors that were missing on the tracks located at Wellborn Road and George Bush Drive. He stated that his goal was to bring this to the city’s attention, raise awareness and determine how to get this issue resolved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Agenda Items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.1: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Board Member Langlotz motioned to approve the meeting minutes from September, Board Member Woodfin seconded the motion, minutes were approved 6-0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.2: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a overview of a safe passing ordinance. Senior Planner DiMeolo presented this item. Board Member Langlotz asked if anyone had reached out to other communities that had this ordinance in place to see how they were enforcing it and if they have had any other unexpected benefits. Senior Planner DiMeolo said that some of the other cities like the City of Austin did not have any direct correspondence from them. He added that through the gathered information and review process there were other local laws and ordinances that were in the realm of public safety and safe passing there may be confusion in adopting a new ordinance or law with the same objective. The penalties that were found intact in other communities were very minor. Board Member Langlotz expressed her disappointment in not pursuing this and stated that the primary benefit would be the educational component in changing behaviors. She said that this was a missed opportunity to make people feel safer on our streets. Chairperson Shafer asked if staff recommended not pursuing this if that meant that the Board could not do it. Administrator Schubert said that the Board could very well support it and that it was up to the Chairperson and his peers at City Council level to decide if the Board felt strongly about it. The staff’s perception of this was from feedback received over the years and being able to enforce this for what it is. Board Member Robinson said that she thought it was a really important issue, but she said that over time when enacting an ordinance that cannot be enforced people learn to ignore it. She said that maybe the same result could be achieved with being an educational item. Board Member Langlotz replied and said that there are some cases where it would not be hard to enforce like her friend who got hit by a car. The car driver did not get cited or get his license taken away and it would be nice to have something in place for this. This is why some cyclists now have cameras on their bikes. Cities like Austin, Denton, San Antonio, and others have this type of ordinance. Chairperson Shafer said that cyclists are often responsible for proving something because it is a car culture. He said he did not want to abandon consideration of this item but would really like to hear from other communities and other people to see how they are trying to enforce this. Board Member Woodfin suggested to defer any further discussion until the Active Transportation Master Plan was done. He volunteered to reach out and call one of the surrounding cities that have had this put in place to help get information. Board Member Langlotz stated she could contact the City of Denton. Director Armstrong commented and said that staff were just as disappointed if not more about this outcome. He said that this was a collective effort of multiple departments and it was a gathering of factors how they got to this recommendation. To the point this was just a recommendation, but the Board could pursue it if they pleased. He added that the city was just very conservative and there were some things with the recent legislation that made it difficult where we stand from legal standpoints. There are opportunities where instead of putting funds in a safe passing ordinance, the City could double up on the Share The Road Campaign. We could allocate more funding to get the education out, which we all agree is the primary mode we are trying to achieve versus trying to come out with this enforcement measure and opening ourselves up to liability. This was a collective discussion which staff had to speak on behalf of the whole city not just on their views. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3: Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the College Station Jingle Bell bicycle ride. Staff Planner Allen presented this item. Chairperson Shafer asked if there would be any lights available since it would be dark at the time of the event. Administrator Schubert said that staff did have lights that they wanted to hand out at the event and were also thinking of purchasing some bike bells to go along with the Jingle Bells theme. Staff Planner Allen passed out flyers to each Board Member for them to spread the word with friends and family. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.4: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an overview of bicycle and pedestrian improvements planned by TxDOT. Administrator Schubert presented this item. Board Member Woodfin raised concern about the safely crossing on the roundabout on Associates Avenue to get across SH 30 (Harvey Road). Chairperson Shafer mentioned that this would be the perfect time to emphasize the desire for a bike/ped grade separation on Harvey Road at Carters Creek. Administrator Schubert stated that with new shared use paths being constructed along SH 6, there were several bicycle/pedestrian connections to SH 6 that are being considered to be added as part of the updates with the new Active Transportation Master Plan. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an update on the development of the Active Transportation Master Plan. Senior Planner DiMeolo presented this item. Chairperson Shafer asked for clarification on the proposed concept for Anderson Street. Senior Planner DiMeolo said it would be a cycle track on the west side of Anderson Street Chairperson Shafer asked when the Board would get a chance to look at the plans for these projects. Senior Planner DiMeolo said if they get funded staff would be moving forward with them. Chairperson Shafer asked what would happen at the crossing on George Bush Drive and Anderson Street. Senior Planner DiMeolo said that the cycle track would have a crosswalk across George Bush Drive. Board Member Jang initiated discussion on the Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP), presenting the "Children as Indicator Species" philosophy to establish a children-centric framework for evaluating the City's mobility network. He argued that formalizing Youth Mobility as a key policy metric will ensure the ATMP delivers the highest standards of safety, connectivity, and equity for all residents. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.6: Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways. a) Public Meetings of Interest – No related updates at this time. b) Capital and Private Project Updates – No related updates at this time. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.7: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a) December 8, 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. Board Member Woodfin made a comment about cleaning the bike lane on William D Fitch Pkwy between Pebble Creek and Rock Prairie Road. He said it is currently really dirty from all the construction work. There are chunks of wood and big rocks all along the way. Chairperson Shafer said he had been in communication with the head of Texas A & M Transportation services, Debbie Lollar, who said she would be happy to send one of her deputies to do a presentation at one of our future meetings. Administrator Schubert agreed to reach out to them to coordinate a future meeting. Chairperson Shafer followed up on getting an answer for visitor Robert Rose’ safety concern on the maintenance of the railroad flange gaps. Administrator Schubert answered and said that he had discussed this concern with Graduate Traffic Engineer Deana Ordoñez at the end of last month’s meeting. It was understood to be an item with Union Pacific Railroad and that they do not want the city to do any work on the railroad, but staff would reach out to them with the concerns. Board Member Chmelar wanted an update on the Anderson Street parking issues. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated that staff could provide updates of the feasibility studies at an upcoming meeting. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Scott Shafer, Chairperson Grecia Fuentes, Board Secretary