Capital
District Transportation Committee
Bicycle
and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of
Meeting on June 22, 2004
Attendance: Mark Cashman (MHCC/LAB), Mark
Castialione (HRVG), Lindsay Childs (Guilderland Pathways), Jessica DesLauriers
(HRVG), Fran Gotcsik (Parks & Trails NY), Andy Labruzzo (Albany County
Planning), Kevin McLoughlin (Parks & Trails NY), Don Odell (Retired), Bob Speece, (NYSDOT
Region 1), Deb Spicer (NYSDOH ), John Stangle (Village of Menands), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart), Ernesto
Acosta (CDTC), Ross Ferrell (CDTC), Teresa La Salle (CDTC), Jason Purvis (CDTC)
1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW
The May 2004 meeting minutes were approved with one change,
Don Odell was omitted from the attendance list.
2.0 PROJECTS/PROGRAMS AND OTHER UPDATES
3.0
ONGOING
TASKS
3.1 Guilderland Pathways
Committee:
L. Childs reported that the group has completed two more documents Walkable Destinations in Guilderland: A Pathways Master Plan and Biking in Guilderland. CDTC and Albany County were provided with
copies of the documents. The documents
were submitted to the town board in May.
L. Childs also reported that they have received a small Greenway Grant
and to add these documents to the Master Plan with the assistance of a
consultant. The Pathways Committee
continues to stay on top of new developments with sidewalk/path
suggestions. The committee is optimistic
of a trail near the Normanskill.
3.2 Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail Map update:
T. La Salle reported that the map is complete and that bids are being solicited
for printing. CDTC has a $5000 budget
for the printing of the map and is requesting 12,000 copies. It is expected that printing will be
completed within a month.
3.3 Greenway Linkage—Rensselaer County: J. Purvis reported that the final report draft document is expected
to be delivered to the study advisory committee soon and that the SAC will be
meeting July 8th. There will be a final
public meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.
3.4 Patroon Greenway
Linkage: T. La Salle reported that the
consultant has completed both task 1 (Inventory of Existing Conditions) and
task 2 (Regional Impact Analysis) on time.
A public meeting was held on June 9th. The consultant is currently working on task 3
(Planning Level Conceptual Designs), with expected completion by October. All of the documents completed to date can be
obtained from the sub-consultant’s website: www.taconicgreen.com. Tasks 1 and 2 documents are available on
CDTC’s website as well.
4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1
Toolbox
Update: J.
Purvis reported that he hopes to have a hard copy to the task force before the
July meeting. Members should come
prepared to discuss at the July meeting.
Comments will be accepted until July 23rd.
4.2
Canalway Events: J. Purvis reminded members that
there will be a public meeting on Wednesday, June 23rd at the Cohoes Visitor Center at 6:30
p.m.
regarding the Canalway/Parks & Trails NY East-West Connection Study.
4.3 Other New Business:
E. Troy reported that the State Pedestrian Conference in Rochester was a success.
The one and ½ day workshop featured two major presenters; Mark Fenton
(Community Advocate) and Fred Hill (Project for Public Spaces). The program included site visits, bike/ped
rodeos, safety training, senior advocates, and transportation advocates.
J. Purvis reported that
applications for the Spot Improvement Program are due July 30th and
that requests are coming in daily.
J. Purvis noted that as part
of the New Visions process, working group C- Big Ticket items may be seeking
input from the task force.
J. Purvis shared a growing
concern for regional cooperation with task force members. Members suggested ways to increase
participation form municipalities outside of Albany County, including the possibility of rotating meeting
locations to draw in new attendees. F.
Gotcsik of Parks and Trails NY inquired whether CDTC has a Regional Bike
Plan. She noted GTC, the Rochester, NY MPO’s plan and the success it has on regional
cooperation. Task force members agreed
that the development of a regional bike plan should be considered.
B. Speece reported that
NYSDOT brought in Dan Burden to do a charette regarding the at-grade crossings
at Morris and Cordell Streets.
A. Labruzzo noted that
negations are ongoing with CP rail regarding the track from Voorheesville to Albany.
J. Stangle noted that Menands
has received a Greenway Grant to do surveying and engineering for an extension
of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail from Schuyler Flatts to Broadway.
J. Stangle also noted that
Verizon contributed to 25% of the cost of new sidewalks on Broadway.
J. Stangle reported that
Broadway will be shut down from 3 to 4 ½ weeks in mid-July.
J. Stangle noted that Elan
will be doing a summary of the Menands/Colonie Walkable Community Workshop.
5.0 UPCOMING EVENTS
-
The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July
13, 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC
Offices.