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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/2016 - Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory BoardCrTY OF COLLEGE STATION Hams of 7ixm' A M Univrni y* MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD Monday, October 3, 2016 3:00 PM College Station City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas, 77840 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Blanche Brick, Brandon Boatcallie, Tina Evans, Molly Fierro, Andrew Middleton STAFF PRESENT: Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Senior Program Manager Venessa Garza, Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services Molly Hitchcock, Board Secretary Amber Johnson AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order. Chairman Brick called the meeting to order at 3:06 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 absences: Board Member Middleton motioned to approve the meeting minutes from September 6, 2016. The motion was seconded by Board Member Fierro and was approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting Minutes. Board Member Middleton motioned to approve the meeting minutes from July 5, 2016. The motion was seconded by Board Member Evans and was approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Presentation and discussion regarding an update on the following item: Recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission on proposed changes to the City's Comprehensive Plan — Thoroughfare Plan and the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Mater Plan in the vicinity of Royder Road, Greens Prairie Road and South Dowling Road. Senior Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. The item will be discussed at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on October 20th. A board member representative will need to attend the meeting. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding a recommendation on the Capital Improvements Program — Sidewalk Projects and Priorities. Senior Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. This item is for the review and potential update to the sidewalk project priorities for Fiscal Year 2018. Sidewalk projects are currently prioritized based on methodology used during the creation of the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan (BPGMP) using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model and the factors used were updated by the Board in July 2013. Since the adoption of the Master Plan, additional components have been introduced to how new sidewalk projects are prioritized. They include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) project requests and projects identified in Council adopted Neighborhood Plans. Sidewalk projects and priorities are reviewed every year for submission in the annual Capital Improvement Program process as unfunded projects for consideration. Staff is requesting a review to update the prioritized list based on projects that have been funded and citizen requests pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Staff recommends the following consolidated list for the board's consideration in order to align more closely with available funding. 1. Tarrow Street - University Drive to Bryan City Limits (ADA request) 2. Southwest Parkway South side gaps (ADA request) 3. Munson Avenue gaps - Dominik Drive to Harvey Road (ADA request) 4. George Bush Drive East - Dominik Drive to University Oaks Blvd 5. Dexter Drive - Winding Road to Gabbard Park (Southside Neighborhood Plan) 6. Dexter Drive - Gabbard Park to Llano Place (South Knoll Neighborhood Plan) 7. Harvey Road - gaps on south site from Texas Avenue to SH 6 And for the Eastgate Neighborhood Plan, there are two segments available for discussion to determine which is preferred for the final list. 8. Nunn Street - Lincoln Avenue to Walton Drive, Walton Drive - Nunn Street to Puryear Drive and Puryear Drive - Walton Drive to Thomas Park 9. Foster - Lincoln Avenue to Francis Drive Manager Garza stated that the Southwest Parkway gaps could now be removed from the list due to the CDBG funding that has been approved on the North Side. After speaking with the ADA Coordinator it was concluded that since the North side was funded, the South side would no longer need to be identified as an ADA request based on conversations with the person who made the request. Board Member Evans asked how the city works with affected homeowners in regards to the potential project on Dexter Drive. Ms. Garza stated that the project manager works with the property owners when the project is funded. Ms. Garza stated in regards to proposed item #7 for gaps on Harvey Road communication was received by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) who advised that they will be resurfacing Harvey Road and will be working on filling the gaps on the south side. More clarification is still needed to determine the limits of the work that will be done by TxDOT. The board had general discussion regarding the use of Harvey Road by pedestrians. Board Member Fierro asked why the proposed route on Foster did not go from Lincoln Avenue to George Bush Drive. Ms. Garza stated that a shorter portion of the route is proposed due to budget constraints as well as the potential redevelopment of City owned land located next to Foster. Ms. Evans asked what side of Foster Avenue would be selected for the proposed route. Ms. Garza stated that there are a few factors that are considered when choosing the side of the road a sidewalk will be developed on. They include such things as the number of houses affected as well as the number of trees that would be impacted. On Foster specifically it could be developed on the side with the park as it would have fewer constraints. Another item to consider would be the recent development at the corner of Foster Avenue and Francis Drive that has already constructed sidewalks on the West side of the roadway. Board Member Middleton stated that between the two proposed Eastgate Neighborhood items he would prefer the second proposed sidewalk development on Foster. Mr. Middleton stated the proposed sidewalk development on Foster would be very beneficial due to the high volume of traffic in the area. He added that the proposed Nunn Street development appeared to have more residential traffic. Ms. Evans stated that both proposed Eastgate items would be valuable. Ms. Fierro stated that it would be ideal to have the connectivity on Foster Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to George Bush Drive East and then from George Bush Drive East to University Oaks Boulevard that would provide a continuous walking path. Ms. Garza stated that it is valuable to consider connectivity to existing sidewalks. The majority of the board agreed that the proposed sidewalk on Foster is the preferred choice from the Eastgate Neighborhood Plan. The board also determined that the Harvey Road gaps did not seem to be a priority since TxDOT would be addressing most of the connectivity needs and could be removed from the top priorities. The board held a general discussion regarding past sidewalk priorities, projects that have been funded, and associated construction costs. Board Member Fierro motioned to recommend the following list of sidewalk project priorities: 1. Tarrow Street - University Drive to Bryan City Limits (ADA request) 2. Munson Avenue gaps - Dominik Drive to Harvey Road (ADA request) 3. George Bush Drive East - Dominik Drive to University Oaks Boulevard 4. Dexter Drive - Winding Road to Gabbard Park (Southside Neighborhood Plan) 5. Dexter Drive - Gabbard Park to Llano Place (South Knoll Neighborhood Plan) 6. Foster - Lincoln Avenue to Francis Drive (Eastgate Neighborhood Plan) The motion was seconded by Board Member Middleton and was approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan Priorities Methodology. Senior Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. This item is for the review and potential update to the methodology used for sidewalk, bike lane, bike route, and multi -use path projects in preparation for the update to the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to construct a model per facility type to objectively develop a list of priorities based on various factors. Each model included a matrix of scores that designated suitability and then a weight based on level of importance. Staff is recommending the use of projected population density as well as removing the location criteria for bike lane, bike route, and multi -use path parameters. Board Member Fierro asked why location would not be seen as an important criteria for bike lanes, bike routes, and multi -use paths. Ms. Garza stated that it was determined by the board that location was not a key factor and was removed for sidewalks that it should similarly be removed from the other priority types. Ms. Garza added that population density may have been the reasoning behind the removal as population density generally indicates where development exists. Board Member Boatcallie joined the meeting at 4:00 pm. The board held a general discussion regarding the different factor types and the weight of factors. Mr. Boatcallie asked if the crash data was separated into major or minor crashes. Ms. Garza stated that the data is currently not differentiated between major and minor crashes but that could be something that is done. Ms. Garza stated that if the board is in agreement the factors assigned to Sidewalk Parameters could be used in bike lanes, bike routes, and multi -use path parameters. With the distinction that the safety factor for Bike Lanes and Bike Routes would consider Automobile & Bicycle crashes and Multi -Use paths would consider Automobile & Bicycle and Automobile & Pedestrian crashes. The board generally agreed to potentially split population density data between existing and projected population, further discuss on the potential division of crash data into major and minor crashes, and utilize the recently modified sidewalk parameters for bike lanes/bike routes and multi -use paths. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Presentation and discussion regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. • October 6, 2016 — Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting — City Hall, Council Chambers — 6:00 p.m. • October 20, 2016 — Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting — City Hall, Council Chambers — 6:00 p.m. • November 7, 2016 N Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board N City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room 1 N 3:00 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. Board Member Middleton proposed an update regarding the new Lick Creek Greenway Trail. AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. PPROVED: Blanche Brick, Chairman AT EST: tuber Johnson, rd Secretary