HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPAC-2013-07-15City of Ithaca Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2013
Attendees: Daniel Keogh, Dave Nutter, Jan Schwartzberg, David McElrath (DAC), Garin
Danner (6:05pm)
I. Establish BPAC Secretary
Jan voted secretary by acclamation. I am taking notes now.
II. Introductions & Public Comment
Dan Keogh stated that Jonathan Maddison, Ithaca's Way2Go program might attend to
present about the program. He is also a potential member of BPAC.
III. Minutes approval
Review of minutes of June meeting. Minutes approved unanimously.
IV. Agenda review
Dave Nutter: Add item about asking for crosswalks to be painted that haven't been
painted. Add to engineer report.
V. Announcements
Ribbon cuttings.
Andy Goodell had circulated an email about not allowing drivers to turn when
pedestrians have a walk signal. He suggested improvements to walk signaling. Two
people (i.e. one pedestrian and one driving a motor vehicle) can't have the right of way
at the same time.
Dave Nutter.: Got Tim Logue to send a letter to state DOT in response to person killed
at S Meadow and South Street, asking then to change the traffic lights so they are like
Dey Street and Rte. 13. South St crash happened during morning rush. We should
follow up with Tim, to ask him to follow up.
Action item: Dave will draft a letter to city engineer regarding improvements in
walking /turn /traffic lights.
Dan talked to Kent; East MLK Street has been painted up to Quarry, will continue up to
Mitchell after traffic light put in. Kent told him there were three options for painting:
1. Hire a contractor to do high - quality epoxy striping;
2. City sign shop, will need repainting every 2 years; or
3. Current situation, need to do two times a year.
Kent's first choice is the contractor, but that option needs a funding resolution.
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Dave stated that the places where the striping gets worn down are the places where it
curves. Maybe do epoxy in those places only? What about new painting equipment that
will come with Old Elmira Road project? Is the plain to paint the entire lane up to Dryden
Road or just East MILK? Dan will follow up with Kent.
Sign shop plans to start painting bike lanes as of today; they have also started painting
crosswalks. Can BPAC request that they paint ones that haven't been done in a long
time? E.g. Seneca Way by the shop and True Insurance; all around the tuning fork.
Dan: Will try to get a copy of the list that the sign shop is working from.
NEXT MONTH: Item: vehicle encroachment into crosswalks. Dan to Garin: If you
witness a bus encroaching into crosswalk, report bus info, including route and bus
number, as well as time and location, to TCAT.
Jan went to comprehensive plan transportation /streets vision focus group meeting. The
vision is the complete streets model.
Common Council.
Dave: Special meeting Wednesday for common council regarding sidewalk
improvement district. See below.
Common council liaison: Do we want to request a new liaison? Jennifer will come to
meetings on request, but her term is up.
b. Planning
Site plan review: Bicycle parking standards were inadvertently left out of site plan review
guidelines. They have been re- drafted and will be put back in.
c. Board of Public Works
Dan spoke to Rob Morache. Suggest they draft a new liaison, but we might get
someone better suited from engineering. Rob's term expired, and he wants to be
involved but not officially. Dan will contact BPW to see if they can get someone.
d. Engineer
Dan spoke to Kent about bike lanes, crosswalks, etc. (see above). He met with Tim and
Kent, who say we should let city engineers handle site plan review. There is not so
much need for us, as they're looking out for bicycle - pedestrian interests. They think we
could be more effective elsewhere.
Talked to owner of The Shop. They would like a bike corral. Gimme not enthusiastic
about a bike corral at this point.
E. MILK /E. State Street bike lane
FHWA will allow us to experiment us to use the bike traffic light signal at the E.
MILK/Mitchell intersection "boot."
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VII. Discussion and possible actions:
a. Sidewalk Improvement District
The SID is limited as to what it could cover: sidewalks and curb cuts: Dave: what about
walkways or raised crosswalks or affirmatively marked crosswalks. What about benches
for pedestrians climbing? What about signage to go with crosswalks? What about the
path from ACS to the bottom of the hill for bikes and pedestrians? Could money be used
for striping the shoulder going up Hector Street where there is no sidewalk?
Jan to send the following to common council before meeting to discuss SID.
"BPAC supports the SID, and urges common council to find a way to expand the scope
to include elements that promote the pedestrian infrastructure, such as raised or
aggressively painted crosswalks, signage, benches or other amenities for pedestrians,
and multi -use paved paths. Broadening the scope of the SID will mesh with the
complete streets model which will be part of the new comprehensive plan for the city. "
b. Public Service Announcements, campaign for bicycle safety
Dan talked to Chris Church, produces show at Pegasys, Mr. Clean Show. Would like to
produce some segments. Newspapers and radio:
We should look over stuff from Dwight Mengel, -- different campaigns for bike safety.
Maybe we could show some of the videos, or use them as a model or splice in a
statement or something to relate it to Ithaca.
"Every lane is a bike lane" on the back of buses is one idea. Other potential topics:
Producing a video about dooring? Driver: check your mirror before opening door;
cyclist: keep your distance from cars.
Riding on sidewalk is another biggie, even electrical motor - equipped bicycles on
the sidewalk.
• What is a sharrow?
Maybe we can request funding for PSAs from council. Put together a funding request, if
there is a cost for printing signs, for example.
Next step: Dave N. will ask Dwight who to talk to about getting notices on buses.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm
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