Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRTBC MINUTES January 12, 2016.pdfMINUTES APPROVED MPO REGIONAL TRAILS AND BICYCLING COMMITTEE TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 – 1:00PM JOHNSON COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BLDG. – 1ST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Shelly Simpson, Geoff Fruin (for Juli Seydell Johnson), Terry Dahms, Becky Soglin (for Janelle Rettig), Wally Heitman, Bob Oppliger (for Anne Duggan); Sherrie Proud MEMBERS ABSENT: Michon Jackson, Michelle Ribble, Brian Loring OTHERS PRESENT: Brock Grenis, Brad Friedhof, Feather Lacy STAFF PRESENT: Sarah Walz, Emily Bothell 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES Walz called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM. Simpson made a motion to approve the September 15, 2015 minutes; Oppliger seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION Feather Lacy raised issues relating to improving facilities and safety for bicyclists in Iowa City. Special attention should be given to snow removal at bike racks, curb cuts used frequently by bicyclists, and bike lanes. Signage should be added to Foster Road to direct bicyclists to the tunnel under I-80 to Water Works Park. City parking ramps should have covered bicycle racks and areas that frequently have full bike racks should be expanded. A new bicycle path should be considered to improved bicycle access from the east side of Iowa City. Walz offered to review some of the specific issues raised, indicating that some issues may be appropriate for the MPO work program, while others may be issues for Iowa City alone to address. 3. UPDATE ON FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL Walz explained the changes to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) with the FAST Act. FAST Act is a long-term bill to fund transportation through 2020. The TAP fund is no longer a standalone fund, but is combined with the Surface Transportation Program and renamed the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. We are waiting for the DOT to interpret the language of the law surrounding the transfer of funds for bike and pedestrian projects. However, the MPOJC UAPB still controls the allocation of the federal transportation funds for urbanized area. Walz stated that she had reviewed interpretation from a number of bike and pedestrian groups that indicated the overall funding approach should be a positive. Walz confirmed that current funding is allocated out to 2019, asked by Simpson. 4. MPOJC LONG RANGE PLAN UPDATE A. DRAFT BICYCLE SURVEY Walz explained that MPOJC will be using a number of online surveys to gather information for the update of the Long Range Transportation Plan. A general survey on transportation is going out in January and a Bicycle Survey will be going out in February. The intent of the Bicycle Survey is to gather information on bicyclist’s awareness and comfort level with the bicycle and road network. Information will be used in the Long Range Transportation Plan and made available to members of the Committee for use in their organizations. MPOJC will also put out a youth survey. Fruin asked about the survey pool, Walz said the survey will be available to the public and the goal is collect as many responses as possible, however it will not be a scientific survey. Soglin asked about offline access to the survey, Walz said it could be promoted at the library and that the transit survey in particular will offer offline access. Soglin suggested making the survey available at places like the free lunch, where there is a population that relies heavily on bikes for transportation. Dahms asked if Cara Hamann had been consulted for the survey; Walz said she has not, but will be reaching out to her. Heitman asked about steps once the survey is ready; Walz said she will contact the Committee once the survey is ready for dissemination. She hopes communities and organizations will help to promote participation. Simpson asked if February was a good time to release the survey; Walz said this will feed into the Long Range Transportation Plan so it needs to fit into a timeline. However, the bike survey can remain open for a longer period. Simpson asked about planning for another dividing line in North Liberty on the survey; Highway 965 was suggested. Walz indicated that they could make that change. Proud asked about the criteria for what trails were called out by name on the survey; Walz said that named trails were included on the survey. Simpson suggested Muddy Creek Trail be added. Walz said she would add Muddy Creek Trail. B. OVERALL GOALS AND SCREENING CRITERIA FOR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS Walz updated the Committee on the Long Range Transportation Plan; communities are being asked for a list of transportation projects to be included in the plan and scoring criteria is being created to prioritize these projects. The Long Range Plan contains the list of prioritized projects extending out into the future. Projects must be on the list in order to apply for funding. The decision when and if to fund is made later. Lacy asked about who is submitting the projects; Walz said each MPOJC entity with a transportation budget will be submitting these projects. The public will have a chance to provide feedback at public meetings to be held later in the spring and again when a project is proposed for funding. Dahms asked about the scoring criteria; Bothell confirmed that a new scoring criteria is being created. 5. UPDATE ON METRO AREA TRAILS MAP Walz explained the changes that are being made to the Metro Area Trails Map—A reduction in size and simplification of the information on the map. Walz asked about removing the ‘proposed’ trails and wide sidewalks on the map. While having this information on the trail raises awareness of where future trails or wide sidewalks may be, in many cases there is no commitment to construct facilities in a given location. This is less helpful to map users. However, it would make sense to show future plans for major trails, such as the Clear Creek and Iowa River Trail and where extension of a trail is actually scheduled. Committee confirmed only ‘proposed’ trails that are scheduled be completed should be included. Oppliger asked the same size map and increasing the size of the map and text; Walz explained that the legibility issues will be addressed in the smaller map format. Soglin asked about identifying fix-it stations on the map. Walz said that the fix-it stations could be included. 6. FY17 TRANSPORTATION WORK PROGRAM Walz invited the Committee to propose projects for the FY17 MPOJC Work Program. Dahms recommended doing something with Safe Routes to Schools. Oppliger suggested investigation of Walking School Buses as a start for that project. Fruin suggested an inventory of the existing projects related to pedestrian and bicyclist safety around schools. Oppliger recommended work towards a way to facilitate input from the public on bicycle facility improvements and a project coordinating with the police to improve bicyclist safety. Simpson recommended research into bicycle speeds on multi-use trails. Oppliger recommended a project coordinating an educational campaign to address bicycle safety issues. Simpson recommended a media project to inform the public of safe behavior on trails and sidewalks. Proud recommended a review of way finding and destination signage. Dahms recommended a review of bicycle safety on Linda Road. Walz invited the Committee to submit additional Work Program items via email. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Walz said Bike to Work Week will by May 15th to 20th. Walz said the City of Iowa City is going to move forward with a Bicycle Master Plan in FY17. Fruin said they are awaiting final budget authorization for the plan, and that the City Council is interested in raising the City’s bicycle friendly status from ‘silver’ to ‘gold’. Lacy asked about the conversion of Market and Jefferson to two-way travel, Fruin said the bike lanes would remain in place if the conversion occurred. Friedhof asked about any updates on bicycle projects throughout the region, especially on a underpass behind West High School at Highway 218 to give access to Hunters Run Park. Fruin mentioned the future consideration of snow clearance on commuting bike routes; currently not much snow clearance takes place on recreational trails. Proud said wide sidewalks and routes around schools are cleared in North Liberty. 8. ADJOURNMENT Simpson moved for adjournment, Fruin seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:54 PM.