Capital
District Transportation Committee
Bicycle
and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of
Meeting on February 14, 2006
Attendance: Terry Conway (PTNY), Scott Lewendon (CHA),William
Mackesey (Open Space Clifton Park), Jim Mearkle, (Albany County DPW), Don Odell
(Albany Bicycling Coalition), Joshua Poppel (NYBC), Deb Spicer (NYSDOH), John
Stangle (Town of Colonie), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Michael Alba
(CDTC), Teresa La Salle (CDTC), Jason Purvis (CDTC)
1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW
The minutes from January’s meeting were approved without
changes.
2.0 NEW BUSINESS
2.1 Cohoes Falls- Input on
Outdoor Recreation Interests: I. Vamos provided an overview of proposed
trail systems in the vicinity of Cohoes Falls.
2.2 Survey Status: J. Purvis
noted that CDTC is moving forward and materials will be available for review at
the March task force meeting. The REI is
expected to be advertised on April 3rd. CDTC has $40,000 for
consultant services to help with the survey and will rely on staff and
volunteers as well. The scope identifies
12 locations on three existing trails; The Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, The Uncle Sam Bikeway, and The Zim
Smith Trail. The survey is anticipated
to take place in May-August of 2006. An
Adjoining Residential Land Owner Survey will also be completed for all three
trails.
2.3 Regional Greenway Concept: J. Purvis
reminded task force members of the planned upcoming workshop including a facilitated
discussion by Jeff Olson on the Regional Greenway Concept. The date and time is yet to be
determined. Invitations are expected to
go out after April 1st.
2.4 Updated Regional Bike-Hike Map—Status
Report: T. LaSalle noted that the new map will
feature detailed views of major trails as well as an overview of the four
county planning area. The new design is
moving along and at this time a spring print is still planned. It is expected that a draft will be available
for review at the April task force meeting.
2.5 ADA Curb Cut Initiative: J. Purvis noted
that at the February Planning Committee meeting, a representative of the
handicapped community presented concerns regarding ADA compliance for curb cuts within the Capital
District. He is currently working with
the cities of Albany and Schenectady on securing funding to retrofit existing curb
cuts. M. Alba is researching ADA compliance for CDTC.
2.6 Other New Business
SPOT Improvement Program – J.
Purvis noted that solicitation for projects will occur in May and be due in
late June. Once again 3 years will be
funded at a time; $100,000 a year ($240,000 Federal). The program is reimbursable and
municipalities must front the money.
Funds are to be used for small scale bicycle and pedestrian capital
improvements, not for planning. There
will be minor administrative changes to the process.
Enhancements – J. Purvis reported
that CDTC has received the draft schedule for the next round of
enhancements. The guidebook is currently
being produced by NYSDOT/FHWA and CDTC expects to begin soliciting in April or
May of 2006. In the past the MPO has
sent a priority list to the Statewide Review Committee, which in turn sends a
list to the Governor’s Office for final review.
B. Mackesey noted that the
Clifton Park Trails Committee has been combined with the Town of Clifton Park Open Space Committee. B. Mackesey
also noted that he recently attended the Round Lake Eminent Domain Meeting
regarding the I-87 Exit 11 Bypass which would impact the alignment of the Zim
Smith Trail. Relocation of a trail
segment would possibly include relocation into a wetland area and may make part
of the current handicapped accessible trail inaccessible.
D. Odell reported that the
Albany Bicycling Coalition is focusing on an in-city bicycle network to connect
downtown Albany with other Albany neighborhoods.
T. Conway of Parks and Trails
noted that they will be sponsoring UTAP Training June 16th & 17th
at Gilbert Lakes State
Park. Training will be facilitated by Carol Frasier
of NYSDEC. For more information visit
the Parks and Trails NY website.
J. Stangle reported that the
Town of Colonie has secured funding to pave a portion of the
Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail that is currently gravel,
from the Cohoes City Line to the Route 9 overpass. This project was funded through the Spot
Improvement Program and is listed on the current TIP as project A445. J. Stangle also noted that the Village of Menands has received a grant to look into the extension of the Schuyler Flatts
Trail across Broadway.
J. Poppel noted that NYBC has
posted the schedule of events for Capital Bike Week (May 20th
2006) on their website. J. Poppel also reported that Eric Ophardt of NYSDOT has been named the Interim Coordinator for
the Safe Routes to School Program.
J. Poppel expressed concerns
regarding a proposal by the city of Albany to build a multi-use path less than ¼ of a mile in length win the city’s Lincoln Park. J. Poppel is
concerned about the design and usefulness of the trail.
D. Spicer noted that Public
Health Week 2006 will take place the first week in April. This year’s theme is “Child Health and The
Built Environment”.
J. Mearkle noted that the
cost of sidewalks and shoulders is on the rise due to DEC storm water
restrictions.
3.0 UPCOMING EVENTS
The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian
Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.