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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/2017 - Minutes - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory BoardCITY OF Coll.EGE SrATI<>N Nomt ofTtx11s A&M U11 ivmity" MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD Monday, October 2, 2017 3:00 PM College Station City Hall 2"d Floor Conference Room 1 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas, 77840 Chairman Blanche Brick, Jon Denton, T i na Evans, Andrew Middleton, Neal Johnson, Jonathan Coopersmith Molly Fierro Bicycle, Pedestrian , and Greenways Senior Program Manager Venessa Garza, Transpo r tation Planning Coord i nator Jason Schubert, Board Secretary Amber Johnson AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order. Chairman Br ick called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors. There were no v i s itors present who wished to address the board . AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Consideration, possible action, and discussion to approve meeting minutes. Board Member Evans motioned to approve the meeting minutes from September 5, 2017. The motion was seconded by Board Member Denton and was approved (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Presentation and discussion regarding an updated on the following item: Bicycle Parking Standards. Th i s agenda item was d i scussed after Agenda Item No . 5 . Sen ior Program Manager Garza presented an update to the board on this item . Ms . Garza stated that the item previously discussed by the board was brought before the Planning and Zoning Commiss i on (P&Z). Some of the changes proposed by staff were not supported by P&Z so this item will be going back to P&Z so staff can narrow the scope for discuss ion and next steps. Board Member Coopersmith attended the Planning and Zoning Commission meeti ng and provided t h e board with details regarding their concerns. The board held a genera l discussion regarding bicycle parking standards. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding upcoming changes to the City's Comprehensive Plan -Thoroughfare Plan and the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenway's Master Plan based on the Bryan/College Station MPO 2050 Thoroughfare Concept. Transportation Planning Coordinator Jason Schubert presented this item to the board. Mr. Schubert explained that following several months of public meetings and revisions resulting from public comments, the Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopted a 2050 Thoroughfare Concept plan in June 2017. The Thoroughfare Concept includes major roadways classified as arterials and highways intended as a guide to help develop a County-wide roadway network to support the long-term growth anticipated in Brazos County over the coming decades. Staff is in the process of identifying the amendments needed to align the City's Thoroughfare Plan with the MPO's 2050 Thoroughfare Concept and corresponding revisions to bicycle and pedestrian facilities along these roadways which will also amend the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan. Amendments to Master Plan will be proposed today and at the November meeting for the Board's consideration and recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Board Member Coopersmith arrived at the meeting at 3:06 p.m. The board held a general discussion regarding proposed changes to the thoroughfare plan. Chairman Brick left the meeting at 3:51 p.m. The board returned to Agenda Item No. 4 after this item. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding appointing a member of the BPG Board to the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Alternative Transportation Advisory Panel. Senior Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. Ms. Garza explained that the advisory panel meets monthly to discuss items related to bicycling and walking at a reg ional level. The board is made up of representatives from local government entities and citizens and is seeking to fill a citizen spot as well as a citizen alternate spot. Board Member Evans motioned to appo int Board Member Coopersmith as the Alternative Transportation Advisory Panel representative from the BPG board with the alternate being Board Member Johnson. Board Member Denton seconded the motion and was approved (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan Update and Project Priorities Methodology. Senior Program Manager Garza presented this item to the board. The first area evaluated by the board is located along the Gulf States Trail. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to extend the proposed Gulf States Trail down to Peach Creek Road. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The second area evaluated by the board is located on Southwest Parkway. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to add a multi-use path on one side of Southwest Parkway from Welsh Avenue to Anderson Street. She added that staff is also proposing removing the bike route on Southwest Parkway from State Highway 6 South to Wellborn Road. The board held a general discussion regarding the ability to construct in the area. Discussion included if there was adequate room to construct a larger facility and the hazardous nature of the existing sidewalk conditions. There was no opposition from the board regarding the proposed changes but expressed the challenges that exist in terms of construction feasibility . The third area evaluated by the board is located on Rock Prairie Road. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to add a multi-use path on Rock Prairie Road from Wellborn Road to College Station Middle School. Board Membe r Johnson asked if there was a way to connect into the bike lanes that exist on Welsh Avenue and Victoria Avenue. Ms. Garza stated that she will need to look at it closer to determine exactly how those connections are going to be made. There was no oppos ition from the board regarding this item. The fourth area evaluated by the board is located along State Highway 6 Frontage Road. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing adding a trail along State Highway 6 Frontage Road from Harvey Road to Holleman Drive East. There was no opposition from the board regard i ng this item. The fifth area evaluated by the board is located in the area of Tarrow Park. Ms. Garza stated that based on discussions staff is proposing adding a bike route on Eleanor Street from Holleman Drive to Montclair Avenue and on Montclair Avenue from Eleanor Street to Luther Street as previously discussed and not widening the trail that exists within the park. The board held a general discussion regarding the area. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The sixth area evaluated by the board is located in the area of Alexandria Avenue. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing adding a trail along the perimeter of the park on Alexandria Avenue from Southern Plantation Drive to the southeastern corner of Southern Oaks Park. There was no oppos ition from the board regarding this item . The seventh area evaluated by the board is located on Texas Avenue. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing adding a trail on both sides along Texas Avenue from FM 2818 to State Highway 6 South. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item . The eighth area evaluated by the board is located on Wellborn Road. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing adding a trail on Wellborn Road from State Highway 40 to Barron Cut-Off Road. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The ninth and tenth area evaluated by the board is located in the Southern part of town. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing adding trails to both Hopes Creek and Peach Creek that following along the creek corridors in anticipation of potential residential growth in the areas with the goal to connect to future schools in these areas. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The eleventh area evaluated by the board is located along Harvey Road. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to remove the ex i sting proposed bike route along Harvey Road from Scarlett Ohara to Veteran's Park as a multi-use path is now being proposed along the corridor. The twelfth area evaluated by the board is located along Tonkaway Lake Road. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to add a bike route along Tonkaway Lake Road from William D Fitch Parkway to Bird Pond Road based on existing use by bicyclists. There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The thirteenth area evaluated by the board is located at William D Fitch Parkway and State Highway 6 S. Ms. Garza stated that staff is proposing to add a bike fac i lity along William D. Fitch Parkway at State Highway 6 South . There was no opposition from the board regarding this item. The board then began discussion regarding Project Priorities Methodology. Ms. Garza explained that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is used to construct a model per facility type to objectively develop a list of priorities based on various criteria. Each model includes a criteria that help identify the need is and then a weight based on the level of importance. Ms. Garza stated that the board had previous discussions about wanting to use projected population. She stated that they need how populat ion is going to be weighted between projected versus existing population. The board held a general discussion and agreed on doing running the model with two scenarios : one for equal weights for projecting and existing population of 9 and 9 and another run with a weight of 12 for existing and 6 for proposed. Ms. Garza added that she can start the model with just sidewalks and see what the outcome is. Ms. Garza stated that the other discussion item is in regards to crash data and if they should be broken into major and minor and how they should be appropriately weighted. The group agreed that major crashes should most likely have a higher weight of 12 and minor crashes a weight of 6. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Presentation and discussion regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. • October 5, 2017 rv Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting rv City Hall, Counci l Chambers rv 6:00 p.m. • October 19, 2017 rv Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting rv City Hall, Council Chambers rv 6:00 p.m. • November 6, 2017 rv Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board rv City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room 1 rv 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. There were no future agenda items requested. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. It~ ATTEST: Blanche Brick, Chairman Amber Johnson, Board Secretary