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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/2016 - Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory BoardCITY OF COL 1 i ;P. 5'I XVION !lour ufTrxx Ad-A1 Unirrrsity` MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD Monday, April 4, 2016 3:00 PM College Station City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas, 77840 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Blanche Brick, Brandon Boatcallie, Jon Denton, Tina Evans, Molly Fierro, Phillip Lasley, Andrew Middleton STAFF PRESENT: Greenways Program Manager Venessa Garza, Assistant Director of Planning and Development Molly Hitchcock, Board Secretary Amber Johnson AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order. Chairman Brick called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors There were no visitors present to address the Board. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting Minutes. Board Member Denton motioned to approve the meeting minutes from March 7, 2016. The motion was seconded by Board Member Fierro and was approved (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Presentation and discussion regarding Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes. Greenways Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Data was compiled from the past 13 years. This discussion provided an update on bicycle and pedestrian crash trends, identification of high crash locations, and insight into areas that may benefit from engineering improvements. Board Member Boatcallie joined the meeting at 3:03 p.m. Assistant Director Hitchcock noted that an increase in crashes may be related to population increases. Board Member Boatcallie asked how crashes are defined. Ms. Garza stated that the crash data comes from crashes that are report to the Police Department. Board Member Lasley joined the meeting at 3:10 p.m. Ms. Garza noted that bike crashes were highest in October. Board Member Fierro noted the time change in October and suggested that may be a factor in the higher number of crashes. Board Member Evans asked how the time of day of crashes correlates with the number of cars on the road. Ms. Garza stated that she has not looked at that correlation but that it is probable that there is a connection between the number of cars on the road and the time of day crashes occur. Board Member Boatcallie stated that there will likely be lots of variation in congestion across the different areas of the city. For example near the Texas A&M campus will likely have more congestion during the day and thus different crash data than areas further south. Board Member Lasley asked if the corridors with high crash areas such as University and Texas were evaluated to determine if Tess crashes had occurred since improvements had been made. Ms. Garza stated that she has not yet looked at that data correlation. She noted that with the information she had seen in the crash data she did not believe improvements would make a lot of difference in those high traffic corridors as we do not have a bike facility. Board Member Fierro asked if signage could be an option. Ms. Garza stated that there are some areas, such as Texas and Manuel, which could potentially benefit from signage. She advised that it would involve working with Public Works to determine if and what signs would be helpful in particular locations. Board Member Evans noted that on a recent trip to Austin, TX she had noticed they had painted the roadways with large green arrows in the bicycle lane to help direct bicyclists. Chairman Brick asked if recommendations were going to be made or if the board could have input regarding engineering to improve the roadways. Ms. Garza stated that she will be making recommendations but that she will need to first speak to the Public Works Department to see what is possible. Board Member Lasley stated that a sign such as "Watch out for bicyclists" should be placed at the high crash locations. Chairman Brick stated it had been discussed before but the crash data provided could be used to create public safety videos for Channel 19. Board Member Boatcallie asked when the pedestrian improvements on University Drive were completed. Ms. Garza stated that the improvements on University were completed in 2011 or 2012 so a lot of the crashes that are in the data are previous to those improvements. Ms. Garza also noticed that a lot of the pedestrian crashes are occurring in private parking lots where the City is not able to make improvements. Board Member Lasley asked if it could be suggested that improvements be made to the UDO regarding parking lot regulation and design. Ms. Garza responded that a UDO modification could be suggested. She advised that Walmart for example was a high crash location. Assistant Director Hitchcock stated that recently Walmart did a redesign where they made some parking lot improvements to include things such as speed bumps and medians. Board Member Fierro asked if there was a way to partner with local businesses to be able to provide them with suggestions or recommendations on how to help with these crashes. Ms. Garza stated that most of the crashes are occurring in the right-of-way so it would be the City's responsibility to determine how to minimize the crashes. With private parking lots the input opportunity is during the design phase or as Mr. Lasley stated revision to the UDO standards. Board Member Boatcallie stated that a lot of the crashes are most likely related to driver behavior which is difficult to control. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Presentation and discussion regarding the Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference. Board Member Lasley attended the 2016 Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference and shared with the board information that was shared at this year's conference. The main areas of focus at the Conference were safety, funding of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and attracting pro -active citizen interest. The conference also discussed the importance of partnering with your local Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Ms. Garza stated that the local Bryan and College Station MPO has an Active Transportation Advisory Panel that was recently formed. An upcoming agenda item will be added to see if any board members would like to serve on the panel. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Presentation and discussion regarding education and encouragement opportunities such as Brazos Valley Earth Day and May is National Bike Month. Greenways Manager Garza presented this item to the board. Brazos Valley Earth Day will be held on April 23, 2016 at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater and Festival Grounds from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The volunteer slots have been filled and an email will be sent to the board with more information regarding the day of the event. May is National Bike Month and will include a proclamation at the City Council Meeting on May 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. that all board members are encouraged to attend. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Presentation and discussion regarding BPG Subcommittee Updates. Greenways Manager Garza presented this item to the board. Ms. Garza stated that the Performance Measures Subcommittee will need to meet at least once more to complete their audit. The Bike Audits Subcommittee has other audits that need to be completed. Board Member Denton volunteered to complete more of the bike audits. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Presentation and discussion regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. • April 7, 2016 - Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting « City Hall, Council Chambers - 6:00 p.m. • April 21, 2016 - Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting N City Hall, Council Chambers N 6:00 p.m. • April 23, 2016 N Earth Day- Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater and Festival Grounds N 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. • May 2, 2016 N Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board - City Hall, Council Chambers N 3:00 p.m. • May 16, 2016 N National Bike Month Proclamation « City Council Meeting ^' City Hall, Council Chambers - 7:00 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Possible action and discussion 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. Chairman Brick asked if the Parks and Recreation Director David Schmitz could bring the discussion regarding the greenways area located adjacent from the future police department to the board. Ms. Garza stated that other future agenda items will include David Schmitz returning to speak with the board regarding Parkland Dedication and Trails and Public Works will be giving an update on bike lanes and street sweeping. Chairman Brick asked if a discussion regarding public safety and advertising could be a future agenda item. AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m. PROVED: i.A . EST: Blanche Brick, Chairman Amber Johnson oard Secretary