Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on May 11, 2010

Attendance: Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Jason Purvis (CDTC), Jen Ceponis (CDTC), Todd Fabozzi (CDRPC), Carrie Ward (CDTA), Mike Lyons (Town of Colonie), Devin DalPos (Saratoga County Trails Committee), Nelson Ronsvalle (Town of Halfmoon), Raj Malhotra (NSYDOT), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart), Chris Marshall (Village of Altamont), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Katie Bronson (City of Albany)

1.0 New Business

1.1 TIP Update Status – The bike-ped project evaluation summary be found at: http://www.cdtcmpo.org/planning/jan10/bikeped.pdf. Programming is taking place in two rounds. The first round of programming includes three categories – Highway Rehabilitation ($66M), Highway and Bridge Maintenance ($4.2M), and Goods Movement ($0.6M). The Spot Improvement Set-Aside was approved and solicitations will go out end of summer 2010 ($100k available). The Policy Committee approved the projects programmed in Round 1. Round 2 of programming was expected to take place April 7 but was postponed. All projects are still on the table – At least $20M but no more than $30M will be programmed in highway and bridge projects and no more than $37M will be programmed for all other categories. All 2010 CMAQ and Spot Improvement solicitations will be delayed.

1.2 Capital Coexist – It’s Here!

1.2.1 Website – FAQ on sharrows has been posted to the website due to requests for information.

1.2.2 News and Events – news stories are being linked to site; Capital Coexist is slated to table 2 Valley Cat games this summer; still looking to distribute posters.

1.3 Bicycle Parking w/CDTA – Applications were due March 12, 2010. The program funded 335 bike racks and created about 900 new bicycle parking spaces. Two-thirds of the racks were distributed on April 19. All applicants who have not yet received their bike racks should plan on picking them up May 13 at the CDTA Watervliet Ave garage. An online map of the bike rack locations is being developed.

1.4 2010 GTSC Walk/Bike Conference – June 5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hauppague, NY http://www.itsmr.org/Walk-Bike%20NY%20Symposium.htm. Capital Coexist is on the agenda.

1.5 NYBC Bicycle Summit – The Bicycle Summit held on April 21 was successful in that a large number of legislators were present and some agreed to co-sponsor legislation that NYBC is promoting – i.e. Complete Streets and Safe Passing law. Neither bill provided funding but can provide heightened awareness of bike-ped infrastructure needs.

1.6 Bike Month

1.6.1 What’s planned? – Bike to Work Day is May 21; CDTA is offering free bus fares to riders with bikes on Bike to Work Day; National Trails Day is June 5; The Ride of Silence is May 19 at 6pm at the Corning Preserve boat launch.

1.7 Local Project Updates

1.7.1 Route 50 Southern Gateway Study – Moving forwardlooking at gateway type treatments; meeting with engineering and design for recommendations; next public meeting is anticipated to be held some time in June.

1.9 “They just don’t get it….” – A local school displayed a sign at their construction site reading: “No smoking, no pets, no bicycles.” According to the school, they do not have a no bike policy but while doing construction would like to prevent trespassing and using the side for cyclecross-/motocross- like events.

1.8 They just don’t get it… - On April 15 the Schenectady Gazette published an article with a picture of a cop riding his bicycle in the crosswalk.

1.9 Other New Business

1.9.1 M Lyons announced that Colonie’s Safe Routes to School project, which includes pedestrian push buttons and striped crosswalks between Colonie High School and Middle School on Sand Creek Road, has been authorized by the Town Board (land acquisition) and is awaiting response from NYSDOT on design.

1.9.2 M. D. Dalpos announced that the Geyser Road Trail project received a member item for final design. Once final design is done they can go forward with right-of-way acquisition. The construction on the rail bridges will begin next November.

1.9.3 E. Troy – An Integrated School Policy Grant will be awarded to schools to have someone to work in school to expand programs on wellness, physical activity and diet. In looking at how schools conduct business around nutrition and physical activity, walking and biking policies will come into play.

1.9.4 I. Vamos announced that NYBC hired a replacement for Jen Clunie. His name is Jason Crane and he is from the Rochester area and will start in June.

1.9.5 D. Odell - May 20.is the Sigma Commuter Contest at 5pm at the N. Pearl St. Starbucks and will end at the Stuyvesant Plaza Starbucks. There is also a FORT trail ride on May 12.

1.9.6 N. Ronsvale – Champlain Canal working group applied for $250,000 Scenic Byway grant to design the remainder of trail.

1.9.7 R. Maholtra – almost all Safe Routes to School projects are moving forward. An online Adirondack Byway Bicycle Mapping project is underway through NYSDOT.

2.0 Upcoming Events – Next Bike-Ped Meeting is scheduled for June 8 at 4:30PM.