Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on January 10, 2006

Attendance: Terry Conway (PTNY), Brian Fisher (SUNY/PRC), Dave Gehrs (CDTA), William Mackesey (Open Space Clifton Park), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Henrietta O’Grady (Halfmoon Trails Committee), Joshua Poppel (NYBC), John Stangle (Town of Colonie), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Teresa La Salle (CDTC), Jason Purvis (CDTC)

1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW

The minutes from December’s meeting were approved without changes.

2.0 NEW BUSINESS

2.1 Review of Priority Network Level of Service and Infrastructure Index: J. Purvis provided a handout of the completed data for Albany and Saratoga Counties. CDTC interns are processing data for Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties.

2.2 Survey Status: J. Purvis announced that $40,000 has been designated for CDTC’s 2006 Fiscal year to create and administer the 2006 Trail Survey. CDTC will hire a consultant 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 or June of 2006. A project scope should be available for review in February.

2.3 2006 Agenda Items and Meeting Dates: J. Purvis led a discussion on upcoming meeting ideas for 2006. A comprehensive list follows:

Completion of CDTC’s Regional Bikemap Update – Spring 06

SPOT Improvement Program - Ongoing

Trail Users Survey – May/June 06

NYSMPO Shared Cost Initiative BLOS

Regional Greenway Concept

Linkage Program Bicycle/Pedestrian Components

Signage Standardization – Revisit and/or update Guidelines produced in 2001, Promote Regional Consistency

Trail Accessibility – Guidelines, Inventory

Education, Community Outreach – Provide communities, schools with education materials and bike/ped safety resources at local events (Town Days, etc.)

PRESENTATION IDEAS

NYBC/GTSC- Safe Routes to School, Capital Bike Month, Share the Road

NYSDOT/CDTC – Reports on Major Projects, such as Exit 3, Exit 6

Canalway – State Trail System Update

Bring in Bicycle/Pedestrian/Trails “experts”

Shared Trails

New Technologies – Crosswalks, etc.

Trail Safety

2006 MEETING SCHEDULE – February-June

February 14^th

March 14^th

April 11^th

May 9^th

June 13th

2.4 NYS MPO Association Shared Cost Initiative: J. Purvis noted that CDTC will be hosting a $50,000 Bike LOS and Access Shared Cost Study. A draft scope was provided to task force members.

2.5 Other New Business

Regional Greenway - J. Purvis reported that CDTC is looking into generating interest in a “What If” scenario regarding the Regional Greenway System Concept. The Regional Greenway Concept will be discussed at an upcoming workshop for CDTC’s Planning Committee members, Quality Region Task Force members, Bicycle Pedestrian Task Force members and other local stakeholders. Future workshops will be developed for other “Big Ticket” initiatives identified by CDTC’s New Visions Working Group C.

Linkage - CDTC’s 2006-2007 Linkage Program applications were due on December 6^th 2005. Fifteen proposals were received and will be reviewed by CDTC, NYSDOT, and CDRPC in January. The following communities submitted proposals: Albany, Malta, Ballston, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Voorheesville, Princetown, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, Troy, Schenectady, Scotia, Rensselaer, Cohoes, and East Greenbush.

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 capital improvements, not for planning.

Enhancements – J. Purvis noted that the next round will likely be announced sometime this year.

NYSDOT’s Master Plan – I. Vamos provided a handout highlighting portions of the plan, as well as a copy of the Canalway Corporation’s restructuring document.

3.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.