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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/30/2026 - Regular Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING March 30, 2026 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Scott Shafer, Board Members Kathy Langlotz, Joy Chmelar, Carla Robinson, Thomas Woodfin, Neo Jang, Matthew Jackson STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning and Development Anthony Armstrong, Public Works Graduate Engineer Deanna Ordoñez, Transportation Planning Administrator Jason Schubert, Senior Planner Jesse DiMeolo, Staff Planner Joe Allen, Staff Planner Carl Ahrens, Staff Assistant II Jocelyne Mora 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 3:31 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors. Robert Rose, former bike shop owner, shared an insight on Vision Zero. The City of Austin adopted Vision Zero a few years ago as a strategy measure for transportation planning to reduce fatality and serious injury crashes. 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 February 9th, Board Member Chmelar seconded the motion, minutes were approved 7-0. 3.2: Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan by amending the Thoroughfare Plan and Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan to remove the future extension of Pebble Creek Parkway, a Minor Arterial, between St. Andrews Drive and the future Minor Arterial to the south including associated future bike lanes and sidewalks. Administrator Schubert presented this item and recommended denial based on the long-term negative impact of transportation network, connectivity and emergency response time. Chairperson Shafer clarified that the question to the Board was whether they agreed or disagreed to remove this off the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master plan. Board Member Robinson asked for clarification on the shared-use path changes. Administrator Schubert said that there would be a shared-use path along the utility corridor that would ultimately connect from St. Andrews Drive to the future development to the south. Chairperson Shafer pointed out that there was already a shared-use path on the last piece of that. Administrator Schubert stated that the last part of Pebble Creek Parkway was a half boulevard section and included a shared-use path on the west side that connected to a path to Lick Creek Park. He added that on the adopted plan for the rest of Pebble Creek Parkway between the Lick Creek trail and towards the park there is a sidewalk that would be upgraded to a shared-use path. Chairperson Shafer asked for a timeline of the thoroughfare being built. Administrator Schubert said that thoroughfare extensions like these where there are no existing roads and undeveloped property, it really depended on the timing of development. It really comes down to how they phase their development. Board Member Jang asked what the difference was in including this in the plan versus not. Administrator Schubert said that being included in the Thoroughfare Plan meant that it would be a required connection by the city when they develop that part of the property. Chairperson Shafer asked if a line could be added back later if it happened to be taken off. Administrator Schubert responded that they could add and remove lines through the same process the Board was doing now. Director Armstrong added that while it could be added back later, if the property came in to be developed and started a preliminary plan then it could not be required and the City would need to do it. Chairperson Shafer opened the public hearing. Kerry Roper, resident of Pebble Creek, stated he was in favor of the amendment and against the extension of Pebble Creek Parkway to the south. He mentioned he had a petition with over 1,500 signatures and 1,000 attendees at the three public meetings in order to try to stop this thoroughfare. Mr. Roper said that they had 40 speakers who voiced their concerns about neighborhood integrity, safety, and property values. His concerns included the safety of the bikers, joggers, cyclists and golfers using the crossing during peak hours into Pebble Creek Parkway because of the city’s estimated traffic increase which showed around 11,000 vehicles per day. He mentioned that the plan talked about connectivity, but he pointed out that it also mentioned neighborhood integrity and that was what this was all about integrity and safety. Robert Rose, former bike shop owner, talked about his emergency medicine training at Texas A&M and a saying they used when someone was having a stroke or a heart attack. The saying was, “time is tissue”, which meant time is of the essence. Mr. Rose said if there was a way to allow this thoroughfare to be multifunctional to allow emergency vehicles it would help a lot of people out and help keep the average response time of 6 and a half minutes. Chairperson Shafer closed the public hearing. Board Member Jang stated that not having the street would be an opportunity to create a great LTS 1 facility that we want that would also include emergency access but no cars. Board Member Woodfin stated that while he liked the shared-use path that would remain that the city has not built trails since the Lick Creek trail several years ago and that it is more likely to be built if part of a street project. Board Member Langlotz said that she preferred to ride a bike in a bike lane than on a shared-use path and have to ride around pedestrians and leashed pets that were also on the path. Board Member Jang made a moved to approve the removal of the future extension of Pebble Creek Parkway, a Minor Arterial, between St. Andrews Drive and the future Minor Arterial to the south including associated future bike lanes and sidewalks. Motion failed for lack of a second motion. Board Member Woodfin moved to keep the existing Thoroughfare Plan and Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan to remain in place. Board Member Robinson seconded the motion. Motion was approved 6-1. (Voting no: Board Member Jang) AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recap of the Spring Bike Ride and upcoming Cycle with Council. Planner Ahrens presented this item. Chairperson Shafer asked about including the Wolf Pen trails in the route. Board Member Jang mentioned using the crossing at Harvey Road. Planner Ahrens said there was a midblock crossing there, but it was uncontrolled and that would make it difficult in a large group, unless an officer was placed there to help cross. Board Member Jang asked if there was a consideration of including Thomas Park. Planner Ahrens said that the pavement in that area was a little rough to go through. Board Member Woodfin said he had already committed to volunteer with the Native Plant Society at Lick Creek for the Monarch March. He said that perhaps if the events did not get overlapped people could have an opportunity to attend these events. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.4: Presentation, discussion, and possible action on the draft Active Transportation Master Plan. Planner DiMeolo presented this item. Board Member Langlotz said she was really impressed with how well this was put together. She enjoyed reading through it and came up with a few ideas that might be future agenda items. Administrator Schubert stated that this document was currently being refined by the city’s Public Communications Department to create the plan formatting. Board Member Jang made a suggestion of language for page 25 in the 2nd paragraph to read: “To set a definitive baseline for this evaluation, the City adopts the policy that all new or retrofitted active transportation infrastructure located within the 2-mile walk zone of K-12 campuses shall be designed to achieve an LTS1 (Low Stress) rating, ensuring these corridors are safely navigable for an unaccompanied school-aged child.” Chairperson Shafer said the language could be considered and could be discussed more at the next meeting. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways. a)Public Meetings of Interest – Capital Projects City Wide Sidewalks and Trails Projectson April 6, 2026 at 5:30pm in the Bush 4141 Community Room.b)Capital and Private Project Updates – No updates AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a)April 13, 2026 ~ 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 asked if there was going to be a discussion regarding micromobility. Director Armstrong stated that there would be a discussion. Administrator Schubert stated City Council had asked for a future agenda item and that multiple departments were working on it and the discussion was scheduled for June. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Scott Shafer, Chairperson Grecia Fuentes, Board Secretary