Capital District Transportation Committee
Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of Meeting on September 14, 2010
Attendance: Don Odell (Albany Bicycling
Coalition),
1.0 New Business
1.1 Presentation
by Rob Leslie, Town of
The development of the rating criteria matrix was an interdepartmental effort with assistance from the Town Pathways Committee and modeled after the CDTC priority network. They did not address local roads because the Town has an adopted Complete Street Policy which they are already working on retrofitting for bicycle and pedestrian travel. The matrix will be used primarily to help the Town prioritize grant applications and guide site plan evaluations and review.
Developing the matrix took 17 months from start to its current draft
state. The draft User Guide can be found
at: http://www.townofbethlehem.org/images/pageImages/Paths4Bethlehem/EvalProcessForNewPathwayInvestmentProcs-UsersGuide.pdf.
Contact Rob Leslie (rleslie@townofbethlehem.org
or 439.4955 x1157) with any questions.
1.2 Capital Coexist
1.2.1 Website – The site has recently encountered some problems but is back up and running. If you have any problems finding information or accessing the site contact Jason (jpurvis@cdtcmpo.org).
1.2.2 Social Media – Weekly bicycling safety tips are being posted to Twitter and Facebook.
1.2.3 Outreach and displays - Stickers are now available. If you are interested in obtaining one email info@capitalcoexist.org. Capital Coexist attended the Shen Trails Expo on August 31 and Bethlehem Bike Expo on September 11. If you would like to obtain educational materials or have Capital Coexist present or table at an event contact Jason (jpurvis@cdtcmpo.org).
1.3 Shen Trails Expo – Capital Coexist attended the Safe Routes to School program
educational event. It included bike helmet fitting and giveaway and was a great success.
1.4 Helmet Fitting Fundraiser – The City of Albany Police Department is raising funds
for a bike helmet program with the help of
McDonalds. Every Tuesday in September at
the McDonalds at
1.5
auctioned bikes, and included a bike rodeo
(based on Cornell Local Roads how-to on bike rodeos) and bicycle skills
course. Both Friends of the Rail Trail
(FORT) and Paths 4 Bethlehem were there.
Over 50 bikes were registered with the Town during the course of the
event.
1.6 Local Project Updates
1.5.1 Route 50 Southern Gateway Study – CDTC, NYSDOT and the consultant are still working on finalizing the draft.
1.5.2
Albany Education District Enhancement Study – The second public meeting is
scheduled for October 6 at
1.6 “They just don’t get it….” – D. Odell got a picture of a bike locked to a
“No Parking” sign instead of the closeby CDTA-funded bike rack.
1.7 Other New Business
1.7.1
Discussion on Schenectady Road Diet –
D.
Odell feels safer as a cyclist because the improvements have calmed
traffic.
1.7.2 Discussion on Exit 6 SPUI – it is officially opened with marked bike lanes and sidewalks under construction.
1.7.3 D. Odell noticed that the CDTA maps show his church’s bike rack 3 properties away from where it is actually located.
1.7.4 C. Ward announced that the bike rack maps are posted at: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112374602016215530710.000485ec428e4c311c0d3&ll=42.728025,-73.701063&spn=0.001821,0.003229&z=18
1.7.5
E. Trembly offered to give CDTA the City of
1.7.6
E. Troy announced that the Capital Region Healthy Communities Coalition meeting
is scheduled for September 30 from
1.7.7
K. Bronson announced that the City of Albany Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
has been created and will focus on bike projects. The Albany 2030 Comprehensive Plan meetings
will be held Sept. 30 at
1.7.8 D. Dalpos announced that SWNA installed their CDTA-funded bike racks.
1.7.9 N. Ronsvalle announced that the Bike the Byway event got good publicity and lots of people out on their bikes. Unfortunately, the Tour de Farm had 200+ registrants but about 75 showed up to ride because of wet weather.
2.0 Upcoming
Events – Next Bike-Ped Meeting is scheduled for