Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/10/2015MINUTES APPROVED MPO REGIONAL TRAILS AND BICYCLING COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 – 1:00PM CORALVILLE CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Terry Dahms, Louise From, Steve Berner (for Michon Jackson, Sherrie Proud, Michelle Ribble, Zac Hall (for Mike Moran) MEMBERS ABSENT: Shelly Simpson, Brian Loring, Janelle Rettig, Anne Duggan OTHERS PRESENT: Brock Grenis, Aaron Timmermeyer, Aaron Granquist, Wade Schultz, Ed Kringle, Sarah (a UI student) STAFF PRESENT: Sarah Walz, Brad Neumann 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES Walz called the meeting to order at 1:00pm. Walz introduced herself to the committee as new pedestrian and bicycle planner. Neumann summarized other changes to MPO staff. Steve Berner, mayor of Tiffin, announced that Michon Jackson has moved out of state; her replacement should be hired by May. Walz asked the Committee to approve the Minutes from the October 28, 2014 meeting. Dahms made a motion to approve the minutes; From seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION None 3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPO TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE APPORTIONMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FUNDS. Walz provided a correction to the memo previously sent to the board, noting that staff had just received news that the funds available were actually slightly higher $1,064,717. Also some late changes to the applications resulted in a reduction in the funds requested in the applications $1,296,887. The corrected scores for the three projects: Coralville 16, Iowa City 20, and Tiffin 19. The Tiffin fund request was reduced $102,000. The difference between what is being requested and funds available is -$232,160. She summarized the three proposed projects and their relation to larger trail system and noted the change to the Tiffin request—previously the cost included a trailhead/parking lot, which is not an eligible cost. Dahms noted that this was the first time they were close to being able to fully fund grant requests. Proud noted Coralville’s lower score and their commitment to completing the Clear Creek Trail first. She asked whether an item, such as the bridge, could be removed allowing the rest of the project to be funded. Neumann noted that the funding was flexible, but that this may create an issue with the scope. In the end, the TIP needs to match what the project is. Dahms asked Proud about the status of Coralville’s trail connection under the interstate to Tiffin. Proud anticipated construction to begin in Spring 2016 and completion by the following spring. From commented on Tiffin’s generous match of 52%. Ribble suggested fully funding Tiffin and then splitting the remainder between Iowa City and Coralville. From and Dahms both noted that when a project is not fully funded it creates complications such that the project does not go forward. Dahms said that creates a complicated situation for the community and delays completion. He said the committee should make the hard decision and commit the funds so projects can get complete. Proud agreed with Dahms. She noted that the committee has been good about moving the money around. She could use partial funding as leverage for other grants. Friedhof asked how easily she could get funding if the bridge was separated out from the project. Proud responded that she thought it would be better to keep it in and be able to show that she was close but short, rather than seeking additional funds for the bridge only with nothing to show in the way of a match. Hall said that Iowa City did not have other funds set aside that could make up the shortage. Granquist asked how wide the shoulder is on Highway 1 and if there were other facilities that substitute for the trail section. Hall noted a small gravel shoulder and no sidewalk. Some cyclists may cut through the neighborhoods before coming down to Highway 1. Proud asked if the Highway 1 trail is in the right-of-way or if property owners have to grant easements. Hall responded that the trail is in the right-of-way. Dahms said the Tiffin trail is essential for getting to Kent Park. The Highway 1 is also a missing link and there is no other option there. Coralville has an option—not an ideal one—but it one can take the wide sidewalk to First Avenue where the intersection has been improved. Dahms moved to fully fund the Iowa City and Tiffin projects with the balance going to Coralville. From seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. UPDATE ON MPO FY16 TRANSPORTATION WORK PROGRAM SCHEDULE. Neumann asked for suggestions for projects. Those projects could go through the municipality or through Terry Dahms with the TTAC. Staff will go over the draft of the work program at the March 24 TTAC meeting. Dahms mentioned trail counts. Proud asked how the MPO is getting data on how many people are using alternative forms of transportation. Hall noted there is a new format. He suggested contacting Darian Nagle-Gamm with the MPO. Neumann said he would relay the request to Darian, the MPO Traffic Engineering Planner. 5. UPDATE ON BICYCLE MASTER PLAN AND STRAVA DATA COLLECTION Walz noted that there has not been progress. The University of Iowa and Iowa City are looking at grants to fund the project. There is interest in bringing in an outside consultant to assist, building from the existing Master Plan. There are some great firms in the Midwest. When the new MPO staff person is hired, staff will assess how to move forward with updating the plan. She explained what Strava is a GPS-based mobile app for tracking activity. The Strava heat map shows the routes that people are using; when you get the data you find out what census tract cyclists are coming from. In conjunction with Bike to Work Week, Think Bicycles may promote Strava use to get more people tracking where they ride. She noted that the Trails Foundation had offered to pay for data from Strava. Kris Ackerson had worked through all the legal issues with getting a contract for that. At such time as the MPO is ready to move forward with the update, they will purchase the data. Proud asked if the MPO has studied all the apps to determine this one is the best. Walz noted that Kris Ackerson had looked into this and it is the most useful for planning. Folks who use Garmin can also upload to Strava. Walz said she would find out more and provide information. The idea was to simply get a wider sample to really have a sense of where people are riding and how much. Bike to Work and Bike Month and RAGBRAI would all be opportunities to get people interested in tracking their bike activity to assist with planning. Ribble indicated that the University would be happy to promote such an effort. 6. UPDATE ON APPROVAL OF MPJOC COMPLETE STREETS POLICY Walz noted that the recommended Complete Streets Policy had been adopted at the MPO’s January meeting. Iowa City will consider updating its policy March 23. Other communities may be interested and the MPO policy could be used as a framework for municipal policies. Neumann noted that the new policy is available on the website. 7. UPDATE ON INVENTORY OF ADA ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES IN MPO COMMUNITIES Neumann noted that they had surveyed every intersection in the metropolitan area, except for the University. This includes photographs. The data will soon be available to the communities. It is a very large file so staff is working through the kinks of getting it in downloadable form. Once your community has the info it is yours and is for your community to keep and update as you make progress. The next step is transition plans. The MPO is limited in how it can assist with that effort since progress in making the infrastructure accessible will vary greatly between communities. The data will be sent to the Technical Advisory Committee members. In the future it may be possible for the public to access this information. People with disabilities would like to be able to plan their routes based on this kind of information. 8. UPDATE ON BIKE TO WORK WEEK AND BIKE MONTH Walz stated that Bike to Work Week would be the first week of May with the hope of being able to attract participation and promotion from the University. If communities want to make proclamations for Bike Month, she will have all the paperwork. From stated that University Heights would like to stay with the Wednesday breakfast. From would contact Geoff’s Bike and Ski about this. 9. LOCATION FOR NEXT MEETING From volunteered University Heights to host the next meeting—1004 Melrose. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM.