Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on May 9, 2006

 

 

Attendance: Justin Booth (Be Active NYS), Dom De Cecco (Retired), Jessica DesLauriers (Hudson River Valley Greenway), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Joshua Poppel (NYBC), Kevin Prickett (PTNY), 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 April’s meeting were approved without changes. 

 

2.0 NEW BUSINESS

 

2.1 Transportation Enhancement Program (Program Update):  Solicitation was sent out by NYSDOT and applications will be due on June 30th.  CDTC’s evaluation methodology is available on the web.  Approximately $67.4 million is available statewide

 

2.2 Regional Greenway Concept:  The Regional Greenway Visioning Concept will be held on Tuesday, June 20th at the Crossings of Colonie.  There will be two sessions: 1- 5 pm and 5-7 pm.  There is no fee for the workshop. Each session is limited to 100 participants due to facility size.

Brochures will soon be available on CDTC’s website.

 

2.3 Trail User Survey and Adjoining Residential Property Owner Survey:  J. Purvis noted that only one proposal was submitted in response to the REI and the proposal did not met the REI requirements.  CDTC is going ahead with the survey and contracting with CDRPC – the Capital District Regional Planning Commission – for data analysis.  CDRPC is contracting with the University at Albany to provide students to cover the bulk of the man hours to administer the survey.  Volunteers will still be needed and CDTC will have a better idea of how much time will be needed from volunteers, once the students are scheduled. 

 

CDTC will handle the mailing and return of the Residential Property Survey and CDRPC will complete the data analysis.

 

2.4 Regional Bike-Hike Map:  T. LaSalle noted that CDTC is in the process of acquiring printing quotes and a final product is expected by early June.

 

2.5 Scheduling of Task Force Meetings (July-December):  July 11th, August 15th, September 12th, October 17th, November 14th, December 12th

 

 

2.6 Other New Business

 

J. Purvis provided two handouts: grant opportunities from the NYSDOH Heart-Listserve and 2006 Albany County DPWTSE Summer Bicycle Rodeo Schedule.

 

J. Purvis noted that in following-up on the issue raised at the April meeting regarding DOT’s Design Manual Chapters 17 & 18, Chapter 18 is out and approved, Chapter 17 does not have official status yet.  Since there is still some confusion on the guidelines, a presentation by NYSDOT at a future meeting might be useful. 

 

J. Purvis reported that Judy Breselor from the City of Troy has informed CDTC that the Mayor of Troy has signed off on the completion of a trail from the King Fuels site north to the future site of the new Rivers & Estuaries Center.

 

M. Alba reported that the final document is complete for the Purple Path and SUNY is moving forward with the project.

 

D. Odell noted that he is putting some information on SPOT Improvement together for the ABC.

 

J. Poppel noted that the week of May20th-26th is Capital Bike Week.  There are many events scheduled.  Please contact NYBC for more information. 

 

J. Poppel also noted that on Sunday June 21st, a full day cycling education course developed by the League of American Bicyclists will be held at the University at Albany.  The fee for NYBC members is $40 and non-members $50.  The course will be held from 10-5 and everyone must bring their own bike helmet,

 

J. Stangle reported that there are has many proposed subdivisions within the Town of Colonie and that the town is using their new Comprehensive Plan to promote the inclusion of sidewalks and pedestrian connections. 

 

J. Stangle noted that the current quarter mile on-road portion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail on Dunsbach Ferry Road will become off-road as part of a development.  Also, the section of the off-road trail in the Town of Colonie that is currently gravel will be paved by the end of July.

 

J. Stangle also noted that the Village of Menands has received a grant for surveying and construction to extend the Schuyler Flatts Trail to the south and it is currently out to bid.

 

J. DesLauriers noted that several local communities have become new members of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and that nearly all of the communities in Albany and Rensselaer Counties have joined.  The Greenway area covers Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties.

 

J. DesLauriers also noted that the Greenway has several events scheduled for the summer and fall, including paddling and biking events, as well as the Ramble.

 

The Erie Canal Ride will take place on July 9th – 16th this year.

 

E. Troy provided a summary regarding various status reports for the section of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in western Schenectady County, from Scrafford Lane West towards Montgomery County.  J. Purvis suggested a presentation by the Canalway to the task force to clarify the information.

 

J. Purvis noted that a portion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in Niskayuna is closed due to a retaining wall collapse.

 

J. Purvis also noted that NYSDOT has named a Safe Routes to School Coordinator – Dwight Cunningham.

 

 

 

3.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

 

The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.