Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on March 13, 2007

Attendance: Alane Chinian (Saratoga P.L.A.N.), Terry Conway (PTNY), Dave Gehrs (CDTA), Jim Levy (Latham resident), Henrietta O’Grady (Halfmoon Trails), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), John Stangle (Town of Colonie), Jennifer Viggiani (Town of Clifton Park), Jared Wells (Niskayuna Safe Routes), Teresa LaSalle (CDTC), Jason Purvis (CDTC)

1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW

The minutes from January’s meeting were approved without changes. (February’s meeting was cancelled)

2.0 NEW BUSINESS

2.1 Presentation of Saratoga County Green Infrastructure Plan:

Alane Chinian, Saratoga P.L.A.N.

Alane led an informal discussion regarding the plan and provided relevant handouts, including a County Trails System Concept Map.

The plan consists of four sections with one section focusing on trails. Saratoga County has met with the Rails to Trails Conservancy regarding the plan and has been placed on a list of projects with the possibility of being funded. Several local organizations are involved in creating future trails, along with Saratoga P.L.A.N.. Jeff Olson incorporated the plan into CDTC’s Regional Greenway Concept. The next steps include helping the towns identify and implement priority projects as well as encouraging towns to include the principles of the plan in their comprehensive plans. The plan was adopted by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors in December of 2006.

To obtain more information, please visit: www.saratogaplan.org

2.2 Toolbox Document—Information handed out at meeting: J. Purvis reported that in order to meet new federal requirements under SAFETEA-LU, CDTC is in the process of updating several aspects of the New Visions 2030 Plan, including the Bike/Ped Toolbox Document. A handout of the draft Task Force recommendations was provided to attendees for review. Task members who were not present were mailed a notification regarding the opportunity to comment on the recommendations. Comments are due by March 30^th. The full document is available on CDTC’s website (www.cdtcmpo.org), on the Bike/Ped Task Force page. The document is on the agenda for approval at CDTC’s April Planning Committee meeting.

2.3 Trail Survey Document--status: J. Purvis noted that CDTC is expecting to receive a final draft of the report from CDRPC within the next few days. Jason will be presenting the results of the Trail Survey at the Creating Walkable Communities Conference in Corning on April 18^th, 2007. The final document should be available by the end of March. Once finalized, the document will be distributed to CDTC’s Planning and Policy Committees and local municipalities. The final document will also be available on CDTC’s website.

2.4 Other New Business:

J. Purvis reported that CDTC has been asked to comment on the final design report of a NYS Canalway project involving resigning and repaving a 4.2 mile section of the Canalway trail in Schenectady. Contact Jason for more information or to provide comments.

H. O’Grady noted that the Town of Halfmoon has named Mindy Wormuth as the new town supervisor.

J. Viggiani reported that the Town of Clifton Park has recently held several open space meetings and residents are consistently identifying trails as a priority. Residents would like to see more trails in general and specifically more nature trails and trails with useful destinations.

D. Gehrs noted that CDTA’s buses are now equipped with fare boxes that are programmed to count users of the on bus bike racks. Drivers will start counting users in April by route and date.

3.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2007 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.