Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on October 5, 2004

 

 

Attendance:  Salim Adler (PTNY), Judy Breselor  (Rensselaer County), Mark Cashman (MHCC/LAB), Lindsay Childs (Guilderland Pathways), Andy Labruzzo (Albany County Planning), John Stangle (Village of Menands), Dom DeCecco (retired), Don Odell (Retired), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart), Deb Spicer (NYSDOH), Jaime O’Neill (Saratoga County Planning),  Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Shelley Lang (CDTC),  Teresa La Salle (CDTC),  Jason Purvis (CDTC)

 

1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW

 

The September 2004 meeting minutes were approved.

 

2.0 PROJECTS/PROGRAMS AND OTHER UPDATES

 

2.1 Zim Smith Trail Update- Jaime O’Neill-Saratoga County Planning:  Jaime indicated that the trail extends through 4 towns and 2 villages from Ballston Spa to Halfmoon.  The trail was started in 1974 on top of the sewer ROW.  The new portions of the trail will be stone-dust in the rural areas and paved in the urban/suburban areas.  The County is working on moving an existing bridge from Saratoga to put over the Mourning Kill to mitigate the modest bridge budget.  The County is still negotiating money and encroachment issues with the neighboring land owners.  When complete, the trail will be approximately 9 miles and be for non-motorized traffic.

 

3.0 ONGOING TASKS

 

3.1 Guilderland Pathways Committee: L. Childs reported that the Town has hired an engineer to prepare bid specifications for sidewalks and also hired Wilbur Smith to review the Pathways Masterplan.

 

3.2 Greenway Linkage-Rensselaer County: J. Purvis reported that the final public meeting was held on September 30th in North Greenbush.  There was a very modest turn out for the meeting.  J. Purvis passed around an article from the Troy Record.  The article pointed out several of the barriers faced in the project but did not discuss the ways these barriers were worked around throughout the project.  The final report is expected soon.

 

3.3 Patroon Greenway Linkage: The SAC met and discussed the format of the public meeting.  The public meeting will be held on October 20th at the Livingston Middle School in Albany.  Jason will confirm the starting time with the group.  The final report is expected soon.

 

 

4.0 NEW BUSINESS

 

4.1 Increased Meeting Participation:  J. Purvis noted that he would send a letter out this week to try and get increased attendance at the meetings.  It was suggested that neighborhood associations be invited along with other municipalities to inform us of their needs/wants for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

 

4.2 Spot Improvement – Round 3:  J. Purvis noted CDTC will hold an informational meeting for recipients on October 12th at 10:00 a.m.  DOT will discuss the administrative “burdens” of receiving federal aid

 

4.3 Other New Business: 

 

J. Purvis reported that he attended Better Roads Workshops in both Malta and Clifton Park sponsored by the NYBC.  These workshops were related to recent fatalities in these communities. 

 

On October 9th from 10am-4pm there will be a memorial ride for David Ryan.  The ride will begin at the GE Research Complex.  The price is $10.  Please call 385-0343 for more information.

 

There was a concern from the group about the signage for appropriate sharing of the MHBHT.

 

J. Purvis noted that it will probably be another month before the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Map is delivered from the printer as there have been issues with the files.

 

J. Purvis reported that he will be participating in the trail planning of a NYS Thruway Trail from Rotterdam to Montgomery County.

 

S. Adler noted that a public meeting to discuss the connections between Manor Avenue and the Waterford Visitors’ Center will be held on September 30th in Cohoes.  It was also noted that the Fulton Street bridge will be replacing the sidewalks with 4 foot shoulders.  Salim will be presenting this project at the November Task Force meeting.  Bob Speece and John DiMura will be asked to attend.

 

J. Stangle reported that the paving on Broadway should be completed shortly and that Stewart’s will have a Grand Opening October 15 or 16.

 

Ivan noted that Jesse Day gave a presentation on Pedestrian Safety to the Hudson River Environment Society.  A flyer was left for a Dec. 6th meeting announcement in Kingston related to roadsalt.

 

L. Childs asked if there were any standards for bicycle storage at public places.  If not, should we develop them?  A. Labruzzo noted that the County has made recommendations but usually get ignored.  There needs to be something in the local codes--none exist in NY.  It was suggested that Lindsay look into Palo Alto, CA as a good example.

 

E. Troy reported that Walk Our Children to School Day is next Wednesday.  Elaine mentioned a physical activity challenge in Duanesburg in which mixed messages were sent because the streets had to be blocked and the kids had to be escorted by the police and fire departments.

 

J. Purvis reported that it is expected that Rich Karis of the NYS Canal Corp. will be doing a presentation at the December meeting.

 

 

 

5.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

 

-        The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th, 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.