HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-11 Board of Public Works Meeting AgendaBOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
A meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at 4:45
p.m. in Common Council Chambers — Third Floor, City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca,
New York.
Agenda
1. Additions or Deletions to Aaenda (Items 1 -5: 15 min.
2. Mayor's Communications
3. Communications and Hearings from Persons Before the Board
4. Response to the Public
5. Reports
Special Committees of the Board
Council Liaison
Board Liaisons
Superintendent and Staff
Other Department Heads
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Administration and Communications
8. VOTING ITEMS
8.1 Buildings, Properties, Refuse and Transit
8.2 Highways, Streets and Sidewalks
A. Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of
Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation — Resolution
8.3 Parking and Traffic
A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of
Worth Street — Resolution
8.4 Creeks, Bridges and Parks
8.5 Water and Sewer
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9.1 NYSEG Construction on Green and Seneca Streets
9.2 Ithaca Motion Picture Project Request for Interpretive Signage
9.3 Bicycle Boulevards /Neighborhood Greenways
9.4 Request for Executive Session
10.
11.
New Business
Adjournment
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully
participate in the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 607- 274 -6570 at least 48 hours before the
meeting.
The Board of Public Works meets on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the months at 4:45 p.m. All meetings are voting
meetings, opening with a public comment period. Meeting agendas are created from prior public input, Department operating, planning
issues, and requests made to the Superintendent. The Board reserves the right to limit verbal comments to three minutes and to request
written comments on lengthy or complex issues. This information may then be used to create committee agendas, with the speaker or
author invited to attend.
Notes for BP Aaenda. Auaust 17. 2011
8.2A Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca
and the New York State Department of Transportation — Resolution
The proposed agreement for changes to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement which will allow
the New York State Dept. of Transportation ( NYSDOT) Region 3 staff to take over the
maintenance of the traffic signals covered by the agreement appears to save the City both time
and money if the City adopts the third option in the agreement. Option Three calls for the state
to receive a credit against its payment to the city approximately equal to the amount the city
was being paid for this work under the agreement, currently estimated at around $5,700 a
year. We estimate that just our overtime for emergency call outs was more than that, freeing
up time and money for the City if we no longer do the work. We recommend Option Three.
8.3A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of Worth Street
— Resolution
The existing Residential Parking Permit System should allow the residents to control the
neighborhood parking resulting from commuters directly, provided the survey of parking
confirms that the parking is as concentrated as they indicate. They can start and if they wish
stop the permit system based on neighborhood experience. If the parking is not heavy enough
to meet the requirements needed to qualify for the system staff would probably not recommend
modification to the existing system. We do know, however, that we need to pass forward
legislation that will bring the city code up to match the current regulation that is in place in that
neighborhood. It will follow.
9.1 NYSEG Construction on Green and Seneca Streets
Wade Wykstra has requested that this item be put on the agenda for further discussion, based
on his attached e-mail. Staff continues to contact NYSDOT for additional attention to the
Maintenance and Protection of Traffic under the State permit for this work. We are having
minor success. This has been and continues to be frustrating for both drivers and staff.
9.2 Ithaca Motion Picture Project Request for Interpretive Sianage
Attached is a request from the Ithaca Motion Picture Project for the Board to consider some
interpretive information panels around the former Wharton Movie Studio building in Stewart
Park. It was probably sometime after the age of thirty that I started reading and appreciating
these types of displays. They can be fun and informative without being intrusive. They can
also become a maintenance item, but the manufactures of panels have worked hard over the
years to improve the product so it holds up to weather, ultraviolet light, and to vandals.
Page 2
9.3 Bicycle Boulevards /Neighborhood Greenways
Attached is Tim Logue's memo on Bicycle Boulevards. We would like to start the discussion,
beginning with a presentation from Tim.
9.4 Request for Executive Session
We would like to request an Executive Session related to the multi -year Water System
Upgrade we are now undertaking and a proposed property acquisition. Material will be
available at the meeting.
\/VU.iavvj. c,rqu, T>.E.
.SuperE tevt,devLt of PubLCa works
AagL,St 12, 2011
Page 3
8.2A Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca
and the New York State Department of Transportation - Resolution
WHEREAS, in letters dated December 6, 2010 and December 29, 2010, the New York State
Department of Transportation ( NYSDOT) wrote to the City of Ithaca stating their intention to
begin performing all required routine and emergency signal maintenance work of the arterial
signals systems owned by NYSDOT within the City limits as of January 1, 2011, and
WHERAS, City of Ithaca staff met with NYSDOT representatives in the spring of 2011 to
discuss the terms of this proposal, and
WHEREAS, in a letter dated July 13, 2011, NYSDOT has offered three payment options
(actually they are deductions from the payments that NYSDOT makes to the City of Ithaca
under the Arterial Maintenance Agreement), and
WHEREAS, staff has recommended payment option Number Three as a fair methodology and
sum, with beneficial impacts to the Department of Public Works workload, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works authorizes the Mayor of the City of Ithaca, with
the advice of the City Attorney and Superintendent of Public Works, to sign the proposed
amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca and the New
York State Department of Transportation under the terms of Payment Option Number Three
using rates based on the state's reimbursement rate, currently set at $0.85 per square yard.
Page 4
8.3A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of Worth Street
— Resolution
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been petitioned by residents around the
intersection of Pearl and Worth Streets who are worried about traffic on Worth Street caused
by commuting traffic from Cornell, and
WHEREAS, upon review of the request and information provided by staff it appears that the
City's Residential Parking Permit System, Chapter 260 of the City Code, adopted by Common
Council in 1998, and designed to address this issue, does not require any new or changed
legislation, and is available to residents in this area of the city, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to provide the signatories of the
petition information that they are eligible to use the permit system and provide the information
prepared by the City Clerk's office to assist them.
Page 5
(8/11/2011) Kathrin Gehring - Re: Notes from 8/10/11 BPW Page 1
l -em
From: Wade Wykstra <wwlao @lightlink.com>
To: Kathrin Gehring <kgehring @cityofithaca.org >, Bill Gray
<bi I Ig @cityofitha.. .
Date: 8/11/2011 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: Notes from 8/10/11 BPW
Hi Kathy,
Nicely captured I'd say but I don't think Joel meant to say 5 :30 in item 1.
Could we put discussion of NYSEG work on the agenda for next week? I
think we ought to have an overview of what's being done and when it will
end and whether their work is being properly monitored. I'm not seeing
DOT inspectors like there should be, for one thing .... and what about
underground?
Wade
On 8/11/2011 10:55 AM, Kathrin Gehring wrote:
> Here are my notes from last night's meeting:
> 1. Joel notified the Board that a special meeting has been scheduled
> for this evening, Thursday August 11th, to discuss the South Hill
> Remediation. It will be begin at 5:30 in Common Council Chambers for
> anyone that can attend.
> 2. The July 20, 2011 minutes were approved.
> 3. Request to Amend Parking Regulation on Worth Street - The Board
> would like to offer the residents of this neighborhood the option of
> entering into the Residential Parking Permit System. Further to the
> discussion, the Board agreed that when there are discrepancies between
> the V &T Schedule and the signs posted on the street, the V &T Schedule
> should be modified to match the signs.
> 4. Fall Creek Stream Corridor Project - Dan Hoffman gave a great
> explanation of the project and indicated that a parcel of land the
> County wants to improve is actually city owned. The Board agreed that
> the parcel of land should remain under city ownership and that a
> license agreement should be offered to the County for phase 1 of the
> project. The board also agreed that the environmental review should
> include all phases of the project, not one phase at a time. Dan
> volunteered to contact Scott Doyle with the Board's decisions and a
> proposed license agreement.
> 5. Modification to the State Arterial Maintenance Agreement - Bill
> Gray explained the change to the agreement and provided a short
> history of why it is being changed. The Board agreed with the
> acceptance of the terms of the new agreement.
> 6. Budget Discussion - Bill explained what the Asst. Supts. had to do
Page 1 of 2
IttM q.,2,
Kathrin Gehring - IMPP Request to be added to Agenda for PW Board Meeting 8 -17 -11
From: "Diana Riesman" <driesman@earthlink.net>
To: <kgehring @cityofithaca.org>
Date: 8/11/20119:29 AM
Subject: IMPP Request to be added to Agenda for PW Board Meeting 8 -17 -11
CC: "joann cornish" <joannc @cityofithaca.org >, <conseylb @mac.com>
Attachments: Sign proposal for Parks Commission 3- 8- 11.docx; sample photo 1.JPG; UB -23
Bracket.pdf; Draft Interpretive_Panel_ sketch 8- 10- 11.jpg
Good Morning, Kathy --
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me last week regarding Ithaca Motion
Picture Project getting on the agenda for next week's Board of Public Works meeting at 4:45pm
on Wednesday, August 17th.
I will be proposing interpretive signage panels for the three main buildings in Stewart Park,
starting with the DPW /former Wharton film studio building.
Representing IMPP, I presented this information to the Parks Commission this past Spring on
March 8th, 2011. Parks Commission gave the concept of the signage their unanimous approval
and suggested IMPP bring the idea to the PW Board. Since that time I have
worked on some text and potential design for the signage panel, and will present that as well.
I am looking forward to this opportunity.
Please find attached below documents and photos related to the interpretive signage panels.
Many thanks and please let me know if there is any other information you need. Please be so
kind as to confirm with me that I
am all set for next Wednesday.
Many thanks for all your help.
Warm wishes,
Diana
diana riesman/founder /ithaca motion picture project
907 hanshaw road, box 211
ithaca, ny 14850
607.266.9470
www.ithacamotionpictureproject.org
file: / /C:\Documents and Settings\kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise \4E43Al0Acoi... 8/11 /2011
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
A meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at 4:45
p.m. in Common Council Chambers — Third Floor, City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca,
New York.
Agenda
1. Additions or Deletions to Agenda (Items 1 -5: 15 min.
2. Mayor's Communications
3. Communications and Hearings from Persons Before the Board
4. Response to the Public
5. Reports
Special Committees of the Board
Council Liaison
Board Liaisons
Superintendent and Staff
Other Department Heads
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Administration and Communications
8. VOTING ITEMS
8.1 Buildings, Properties, Refuse and Transit
8.2 Highways, Streets and Sidewalks
A. Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of
Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation — Resolution
8.3 Parking and Traffic
A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of
Worth Street — Resolution
8.4 Creeks, Bridges and Parks
8.5 Water and Sewer
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9.1 NYSEG Construction on Green and Seneca Streets
9.2 Ithaca Motion Picture Project Request for Interpretive Signage
9.3 Bicycle Boulevards /Neighborhood Greenways
9.4 Request for Executive Session
10. New Business
11. Adjournment
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully
participate in the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 607- 274 -6570 at least 48 hours before the
meeting.
The Board of Public Works meets on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the months at 4:45 p.m. All meetings are voting
meetings, opening with a public comment period. Meeting agendas are created from prior public input, Department operating, planning
issues, and requests made to the Superintendent. The Board reserves the right to limit verbal comments to three minutes and to request
written comments on lengthy or complex issues. This information may then be used to create committee agendas, with the speaker or
author invited to attend.
Notes for BPW Agenda, Au_aust 17, 2011
8.2A Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca
and the New York State Department of Transportation — Resolution
The proposed agreement for changes to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement which will allow
the New York State Dept. of Transportation ( NYSDOT) Region 3 staff to take over the
maintenance of the traffic signals covered by the agreement appears to save the City both time
and money if the City adopts the third option in the agreement. Option Three calls for the state
to receive a credit against its payment to the city approximately equal to the amount the city
was being paid for this work under the agreement, currently estimated at around $5,700 a
year. We estimate that just our overtime for emergency call outs was more than that, freeing
up time and money for the City if we no longer do the work. We recommend Option Three.
8.3A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of Worth Street
— Resolution
The existing Residential Parking Permit System should allow the residents to control the
neighborhood parking resulting from commuters directly, provided the survey of parking
confirms that the parking is as concentrated as they indicate. They can start and if they wish
stop the permit system based on neighborhood experience. If the parking is not heavy enough
to meet the requirements needed to qualify for the system staff would probably not recommend
modification to the existing system. We do know, however, that we need to pass forward
legislation that will bring the city code up to match the current regulation that is in place in that
neighborhood. It will follow.
9.1 NYSEG Construction on Green and Seneca Streets
Wade Wykstra has requested that this item be put on the agenda for further discussion, based
on his attached e-mail. Staff continues to contact NYSDOT for additional attention to the
Maintenance and Protection of Traffic under the State permit for this work. We are having
minor success. This has been and continues to be frustrating for both drivers and staff.
9.2 Ithaca Motion Picture Project Request for Interpretive Signage
Attached is a request from the Ithaca Motion Picture Project for the Board to consider some
interpretive information panels around the former Wharton Movie Studio building in Stewart
Park. It was probably sometime after the age of thirty that I started reading and appreciating
these types of displays. They can be fun and informative without being intrusive. They can
also become a maintenance item, but the manufactures of panels have worked hard over the
years to improve the product so it holds up to weather, ultraviolet light, and to vandals.
Page 2
9.3 Bicycle Boulevards /Neighborhood Greenways
Attached is Tim Logue's memo on Bicycle Boulevards. We would like to start the discussion,
beginning with a presentation from Tim.
9.4 Request for Executive Session
We would like to request an Executive Session related to the multi -year Water System
Upgrade we are now undertaking and a proposed property acquisition. Material will be
available at the meeting.
VVULLavuJ. c,ra�, P.E.
super�v,tevOev t of PubLic Works
f}L,cqust 12, 2021
Page 3
8.2A Amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca
and the New York State Department of Transportation - Resolution
WHEREAS, in letters dated December 6, 2010 and December 29, 2010, the New York State
Department of Transportation ( NYSDOT) wrote to the City of Ithaca stating their intention to
begin performing all required routine and emergency signal maintenance work of the arterial
signals systems owned by NYSDOT within the City limits as of January 1, 2011, and
WHERAS, City of Ithaca staff met with NYSDOT representatives in the spring of 2011 to
discuss the terms of this proposal, and
WHEREAS, in a letter dated July 13, 2011, NYSDOT has offered three payment options
(actually they are deductions from the payments that NYSDOT makes to the City of Ithaca
under the Arterial Maintenance Agreement), and
WHEREAS, staff has recommended payment option Number Three as a fair methodology and
sum, with beneficial impacts to the Department of Public Works workload, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works authorizes the Mayor of the City of Ithaca, with
the advice of the City Attorney and Superintendent of Public Works, to sign the proposed
amendment to the Arterial Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ithaca and the New
York State Department of Transportation under the terms of Payment Option Number Three
using rates based on the state's reimbursement rate, currently set at $0.85 per square yard.
Page 4
8.3A Resident Request to Amend Parking Regulations in the 400 Block of Worth Street
— Resolution
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been petitioned by residents around the
intersection of Pearl and Worth Streets who are worried about traffic on Worth Street caused
by commuting traffic from Cornell, and
WHEREAS, upon review of the request and information provided by staff it appears that the
City's Residential Parking Permit System, Chapter 260 of the City Code, adopted by Common
Council in 1998, and designed to address this issue, does not require any new or changed
legislation, and is available to residents in this area of the city, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to provide the signatories of the
petition information that they are eligible to use the permit system and provide the information
prepared by the City Clerk's office to assist them.
Page 5
(8/11 /2011) Kathrin Gehring - Re: Notes from 8/10/11 BPW Page 1
l -ern Q . I
From: Wade Wykstra <wwlao @lightlink.com>
To: Kathrin Gehring <kgehring @cityofithaca.org >, Bill Gray
<billg @cityofitha...
Date: 8/11/2011 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: Notes from 8/10/11 BPW
Hi Kathy,
Nicely captured I'd say but I don't think Joel meant to say 5:30 in item 1.
Could we put discussion of NYSEG work on the agenda for next week? I
think we ought to have an overview of what's being done and when it will
end and whether their work is being properly monitored. I'm not seeing
DOT inspectors like there should be, for one thing .... and what about
underground?
Wade
On 8/11/2011 10:55 AM, Kathrin Gehring wrote:
> Here are my notes from bast night's meeting:
> 1. Joel notified the Board that a special meeting has been scheduled
> for this evening, Thursday August 11th, to discuss the South Hill
> Remediation. It will be begin at 5:30 in Common Council Chambers for
> anyone that can attend.
> 2. The July 20, 2011 minutes were approved.
> 3. Request to Amend Parking Regulation on Worth Street - The Board
> would like to offer the residents of this neighborhood the option of
> entering into the Residential Parking Permit System. Further to the
> discussion, the Board agreed that when there are discrepancies between
> the V &T Schedule and the signs posted on the street, the V &T Schedule
> should be modified to match the signs.
> 4. Fall Creek Stream Corridor Project - Dan Hoffman gave a great
> explanation of the project and indicated that a parcel of land the
> County wants to improve is actually city owned. The Board agreed that
> the parcel of land should remain under city ownership and that a
> license agreement should be offered to the County for phase 1 of the
> project. The board also agreed that the environmental review should
> include all phases of the project, not one phase at a time. Dan
> volunteered to contact Scott Doyle with the Board's decisions and a
> proposed license agreement.
> 5. Modification to the State Arterial Maintenance Agreement - Bill
> Gray explained the change to the agreement and provided a short
> history of why it is being changed. The Board agreed with the
> acceptance of the terms of the new agreement.
> 6. Budget Discussion - Bill explained what the Asst. Supts. had to do
Page I of 2
Kathrin Gehring - IMPP Request to be added to Agenda for PW Board Meeting 8 -17 -11
From: "Diana Riesman" <driesman@earthlink.net>
To: <kgehring @cityofithaca.org>
Date: 8/11/20119:29 AM
Subject: IMPP Request to be added to Agenda for PW Board Meeting 8 -17 -11
CC: "joann cornish" <joannc @cityofithaca.org >, <conseylb @mac.com>
Attachments: Sign proposal for Parks Commission 3- 8- 11.docx; sample photo 1.JPG; UB -23
Bracket.pdf; Draft Interpretive_Panel_ sketch 8- 10- 11.jpg
Good Morning, Kathy --
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me last week regarding Ithaca Motion
Picture Project getting on the agenda for next week's Board of Public Works meeting at 4:45pm
on Wednesday, August 17th.
I will be proposing interpretive signage panels for the three main buildings in Stewart Park,
starting with the DPW /former Wharton film studio building.
Representing IMPP, I presented this information to the Parks Commission this past Spring on
March 8th, 2011. Parks Commission gave the concept of the signage their unanimous approval
and suggested IMPP bring the idea to the PW Board. Since that time I have
worked on some text and potential design for the signage panel, and will present that as well.
I am looking forward to this opportunity.
Please find attached below documents and photos related to the interpretive signage panels.
Many thanks and please let me know if there is any other information you need. Please be so
kind as to confirm with me that I
am all set for next Wednesday.
Many thanks for all your help.
Warm wishes,
Diana
diana riesman/founder /ithaca motion picture project
907 hanshaw road, box 211
ithaca, ny 14850
607.266.9470
www.ithacamotionpictureproject.org
file: //C: \Documents and Settings\kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise \4E43Al0Acoi... 8/11/2011
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8 March 2011
To: Parks Commission
Re: Interpretive Signs for former Wharton film studio
building /DPW building in Stewart Park
Ithaca Motion Picture Project is proposing interpretive/
informational signage for the exterior of the former Wharton film
studio building in Stewart Park.
The signs will identify the building as the site of the former
Wharton film production studio (and subsequently Grossman
studios) —1913 -1923 -- as well as reference its later subsequent use
as a bathhouse /changing room for those who were swimming in the
lake. It will also reference the building's ownership by the City of
Ithaca and its current use as a DPW facility.
IMPP feels strongly that identifying the building and revealing its
story to visitors to Stewart Park, will go a long way towards
preserving our city's local history, educating the public, and also
generating interest in the future of the park as a whole. The signs
will feature a combination of black and white photographs from the
era combined with text.
The proposed signs — one for the north facade of the former
Wharton film studio building and one for the south facade would be
approximately 3 ft. x 4 ft. in dimension and constructed from a
weather -proof material.
If the signs are successful, the Large Pavilion, as well as the
Cascadilla Boathouse could also have similar interpretive signs on
their exteriors.
IMPP is proposing to lead the effort to create signage for the
former Wharton film studio building, from beginning to end.
If the plan is approved by the City of Ithaca, with input and support
from the Parks Commission and others such as Planning Committee
etc., IMPP will work with its design team, Art and Anthropology
(A&A) who recently created the exhibit materials for the new Finger
Lakes Wine Center on the signage panels. We will be seeking the
input and expertise of others such as Leslie Chatter-ton re the
content for the signage. We have the names of several firms which
produce interpretive panels of this nature, and are currently
researching them.
The signs would be a terrific way for the City to continue to show its
interest in these important and historic buildings in Stewart Park
and truly enhance the experience of visitors to the park — be they
denizens of Ithaca or tourists.
The City of Ithaca, the Department of Public Works and the Parks
Commission would be named and recognized on the signage panels,
along with other contributors to the project.
IMPP sincerely hopes that the Parks Commission will support this
endeavor and help us to move the project forward.
We thank you for your consideration and look forward to your ideas
and insights.
Contact:
Diana Riesman /Founder /Ithaca Motion Picture Project
607.266.9470
driesman@earthlink.net
Sample Interpretive Sign:
Evolution
Building
This building is one of a number of Renwick Phrk buildings
designed by Ithaca architects Vivian & G14) in 1894 and
constructed by Stephen Oltz in 1895. The same team
I.-milt the Gleudilla lk+arhoux in 1893-1894. All buildings
featured shingle exteriors and overhanging exlxxed raves.
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Suggested Sign Location:
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9.3 Bicycle Boulevards /Neighborhood Greenways
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850 -6590
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER
Telephone: 607/274 -6530 Fax: 607/274 -6587
To: Board of Public Works
From: Tim Logue, City Transportation Engineer
Date: July 8, 2011
Re: Bicycle Boulevards/ Neighborhood Greenways
Over the past few decades, various efforts have been made to make Ithaca a more bicycle
friendly city. Though implementation has been controversial and frustrating at times, the City
did create and adopt a Bicycle Master Plan to guide the City's efforts. Over the past 5 years, we
have striped bicycle lanes, we've built portions of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, we've installed
over 100 bicycle racks, we've experimented with "sharrows" on Cayuga Street, and we've
amended our zoning and site plan review ordinances to more clearly require bicycle
accommodations in new development. Perhaps one of the greatest local improvements was
TCAT's installation of bike -on -bus racks for their fleet.
I think that our efforts are paying off. Though we do not have any kind of routine bicycle
counting program, it does seem that more and more people are riding bicycles to get around
and to do the things they want to do. Of course, it is not just infrastructure that guides mode
choice. Four dollars per gallon of gasoline has certainly affected peoples' decision making, too.
I expect this will become much more the norm in the future and not just a blip along the way.
We would like to do more to encourage what we see as the City's most underdeveloped
transportation mode. Though I think there are many small to medium scale things we can do, I
think there are two big ideas that we, as a community, can be doing. One is an infrastructure
concept called bicycle boulevards or neighborhood greenways. The other is an education and
encouragement program that would reach into our schools, hold large events - like New York
City's Summer Streets (www.nc.gov /summerstreets) or Portland's Sunday Parkways:
( www.portlandsundayparkways.org) - and teach more people the skills needed to ride on city
streets. Though I think this second item is critical, it is, unfortunately, beyond the normal
scope of work for our Department of Public Works. It will require leadership and partnerships,
but I think it would have a profound impact. There are groups in Ithaca that could provide the
basis for such an effort; perhaps the DPW (and other City departments, such as IPD) could
contribute in more of a supporting role.
Creating bicycle boulevards is more in line with the work that Public Works does. This concept
was considered in the Ithaca Bicycle Plan and has been implemented in communities such as
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Berkeley, CA; Wilmington, NC; Madison, WI; and Albuquerque, NM. This past fall, Cornell
graduate students, led by Tom Knipe, organized an Active Transportation Symposium that
focused on research and design strategies for Bicycle Boulevards, especially in Portland, OR. A
Sunday morning workshop at the library included a time to consider how these ideas could
apply in Ithaca. It was well attended and produced some interesting feedback.
The presentations also highlighted what I thought was some compelling research on bicycling.
In surveys, they found that there were basically four attitudes towards bicycling for
transportation:
• Less than 1 % of people are "strong & fearless." They will ride when and where they
want, regardless of infrastructure or traffic.
• About 7% of people are "enthused & confident." They feel comfortable riding with
traffic, but prefer to have some infrastructure support, such as bicycle lanes.
• About 33% of people said, "no -way, no- how." They are not interested in bicycling,
regardless of infrastructure or programs.
• About 60% of people are "interested, but concerned." They would ride a bicycle or
would like to, but are worried about safety, particularly traffic volumes and speeds.
So, in Portland, they've worked to designate and to design streets that would be more
conducive to low- stress, family friendly bicycling. They've built traffic calming, added signs
and pavement markings, lowered the speed limit, and made crossings of busy streets more
bicycle friendly. Though cars are still allowed on the bicycle boulevards and people still have
access to their homes by car, they have also installed some diversions for motorists, especially
on busy streets, to discourage drivers from turning onto the bicycle boulevards. In the past
year, they've expanded their concept for bicycle boulevards to make more connections with
city parks and to include storm water management projects and they have renamed them
"Neighborhood Greenways."
I would like to make a presentation at your July 20th meeting to show a short video about this
idea and to discuss the attached planning/ design process that would engage the public and
various City groups to see how this concept might fit in Ithaca. I've also included with this
memo an excerpt from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center's website
(bicyclinginfo.org), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and which
provides some useful information about the bicycle boulevard/ neighborhood greenway
concept.
From the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information
Center's website (bicyclinginfo.org)
"Bicycle boulevards are low- volume streets that have been optimized for bicycle travel
through traffic calming and diversion, signage and pavement markings, and intersection
crossing treatments. Bicycle boulevards are shared roadway facilities that, when correctly
implemented, are comfortable and attractive to cyclists with a wide range of abilities and ages
but are inconvenient as through routes for automobiles.
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Bicycle boulevards should be located on routes that serve major origins, destinations and
travel corridors (often paralleling an arterial), and should be as direct and intuitive as possible.
Residential roadways with already low vehicle volumes are often selected for bicycle
boulevards.
Once a route has been selected, measures should be taken to
• prioritize bicycle through movement by turning stop signs to favor the bicycle
boulevard.
• reduce vehicle speeds through traffic calming measures.
• reduce vehicle volumes through traffic diversion measures.
• provide crossing improvements at intersections with major streets (including median
refuge islands, signalization, and /or curb extensions).
• help cyclists find and use the facility (through pavement markings and signs that
provide directional and destination information).
Depending on the existing conditions of the roadway selected, it may not be necessary to
implement all of these measures.
Bicycle boulevards offer many advantages, such as tangible safety benefits (due to reduced
exposure to vehicles and reduced speed differential); their appeal to inexperienced cyclists,
families and seniors; and a calmer riding environment. Some critics feel that bicycle
boulevards reduce cyclist visibility and /or do not serve major commercial corridors, which are
likely to be destinations.
Most tools used to create bicycle boulevards are inexpensive in terms of capital costs, but can
be politically challenging because of jurisdictional policies or attitudes that do not favor
reducing vehicle connectivity or motorist convenience; in addition, crossing treatments can be
expensive (especially where the cross street is a major arterial and /or state highway)."
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