Capital District Transportation
Committee
Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of the Meeting on May 14, 2013
Attendance: Linda Von der Heide (Rensselaer
County), Mary Harding (NSYDOT SRTS), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Ivan
Vamos (NYBC), Nelson Ronsvalle (Halfmoon), Melissa MacKinnon (Niskayuna Safe
Routes), Ed Tremblay (Cohoes), Steve Wilson (CHA), Gina Gillooley (NYSDOH),
Joanna King (CDRPC), Carrie Ward (CDTA), Emmett McDevitt (FHWA) Jason Purvis
(CDTC)
1.0 New Business
1.1 Safe Routes to
School
Mary
Harding indicated they she has received an approved procurement record from the
State Comptroller for the SRTS Program.
This will help in the processing of the local agreements. PIN numbers have been established for the
projects.
1.2 Bike to School
Day/Bike Month
There
was discussion about upcoming Bike to School Day events. ABC had an event in Washington Park on Sunday
May 5th and it they estimated 500 people attended. There was an assembly Zoller Elementary School
on May 8th with approximately 350 grades 1-5 students in
attendance. The event at Hammagrael
Elementary School on May 15th was cancelled due to school testing.
The Ride of Silence is was May 15th, and Niskayuna Safe Routes is
hosting Dinner and Bikes at the First Unitarian Society Church – tickets are
available on the eventbrite site, at Plains and Sons and at Broadway
Bikes.
1.3 Capital Coexist
Jason
reported the interest in expanding Capital Coexist to include pedestrians. The timing coincides with a series of
articles from the Times Union about pedestrian safety on Central Avenue. This will be a great opportunities to develop
new and strengthen existing partnerships showing how the E’s are working
together. NYSDOT has convened a regional
committee looking at the safety of pedestrians along Central Avenue. The outcomes of this group will help guide
how pedestrians are incorporated into Capital Coexist.
1.4 Transportation Enhancement Program
Solicitation
NYSDOT announced they are soliciting for the next round
of the Transportation Enhancement Program funds. Information can be found on the DOT website
at https://www.dot.ny.gov/programs/tep Applications are due on August 16th. Sponsors that have did not attend a Federal
Aid 101 workshop in 2012 are required to do so in 2013 to be eligible for TEP
funds. The schedule of workshops can be
found on the DOT site.
1.5 Local Program Updates
· There
was a lot of discussion about the Times
Union article where Jeff Speck was interviewed. Several members suggested letters to the
editor to highlight the progress the City has made and to support the
incremental changes.
· Carrie
mentioned that NYSDOT is working with the City of Troy to make bicycle and
pedestrian improvements along Hoosick Street.
· Ed
reported that the Heritage Trail System and interpretive system is
finishing. The City is working on final
approvals to start the Black Bridge Project.
· Nelson
reported that the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors will take action on an
easement for land in Waterford/Mechanicville as part of the completion of the
Champlain Canalway. Once constructed,
this will fill an important gap in the trail system.
· Linda
indicated that there has been interest from outside groups to build a trail
along the abandoned line along Route 22.
· Steve
Wilson reported that NYSERDA would soon be soliciting for Cleaner Greener
funding that would have bicycle/pedestrian eligible elements.
1.6 Scheduling of meetings
July-December 2013
The meetings for the remainder of 2013 are schedule
for:
July 9th
August 6th (note this is the first Tuesday)
September 10th
October 8th
November 12th
December 10th
Because
of the required TEP workshops on June 11th and 18th, the
Task Force members elected to cancel the June Meeting
· “They Just Don’t Get It”
Nothing
to report
2.0 Upcoming Events
Meetings
Open to the Public:
NEXT
CDTC BIKE & PED TASK FORCE MEETING: July 9, 2013 9:00 AM
NOTE: There will not be a June meeting