Capital
District Transportation Committee
Bicycle
and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of
Meeting on
Attendance: Salim
Adler (PTNY), Judy Breselor (Rensselaer County), Lindsay Childs (Guilderland
Pathways), David Gehrs (CDTA), Kent Johnson (SUNY iHi), Mary McNeill, (NYSDOT
Region 1), Don Odell (Retired), Henrietta O’Grady (Halfmoon Trails Committee),
Eric Ophardt (NYSDOT Main Office), Ed Peck (Halfmoon Trails Committee), Joshua Poppel (Downtube Bicycle Shop), Elaine
Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Teresa La Salle (CDTC), Jason
Newman (FHWA Trainee),
1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW
The February 2005 meeting minutes were approved.
2.0 PROJECTS/PROGRAMS AND OTHER UPDATES
2.1 Presentation—Institute for
Healthy Infrastructure (iHi)
Kent Johnson of SUNY Albany
gave a presentation on Improving Health through Improving Walkability and
Physical Activity. iHi is currently
working with all counties in 2.2 Presentation—Statewide
Bicycle Level of Service Eric Ophardt of NYSDOT Main
Office gave a PowerPoint presentation
on NYSDOT’s current
efforts to create a statewide Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) Map that engineers
can use as a tool to incorporate bicycle accommodations in roadway design. Currently there is no mechanism within NYSDOT
that considers bikes in designs. The
BLOS will be determined by using existing NYSDOT data on variables such as
shoulder width, traffic volumes, surface conditions, truck percentages,
volume/capacity ratios, and posted speed limits. A formula will be used to produce a score for
each variable and an overall score for Bicycle Level of Service. The result
will be a guideline for design engineers, which will be easy to use and updated
annually. J. Purvis noted that CDTC
has developed their own Bicycle Level of Service at the corridor level. 3.0 ONGOING
TASKS 3.1 Local Trails/Pathways
Committees: 3.1.1 Guilderland Pathways
Committee- L. Childs noted that he is one of several people chosen to comment
on the Pine Bush Preserves’ Master Plan.
According to L. Childs the plan is limited in walking and trail
opportunities. 3.1.1.1 Potential Trail on
Thruway Right of Way- J. Purvis and L. Childs agreed to hold off on this
discussion until the May meeting since it would play a significant role in a
hypothetical regional greenway system. 3.1.2 Halfmoon – No update 3.1.2 3.2 iHi
Symposium—March 2005: ? 3.3 PTNY
Trails Conference: J. Purvis reminded
members that Parks and Trails NY will be holding a Trails conference June 17th
and 18th at SUNY New Paltz. J. Purvis will be moderating a session
during the conference. J. Purvis
announced that CDTC’s Bike/Ped Task Force has been nominated to receive an
award at the conference for Public Leadership, by Rocky Ferraro of CDRPC.
Registration information is available on PTNY’s website. 3.4 TIP
Projects: J. Purvis noted that the
attachment he sent out with the April meeting notice contained the TIP Freight
projects rather than the TIP Bike/Ped Projects.
A handout of the TIP Bike/Ped projects was circulated at the meeting. 3.5 4.0 NEW BUSINESS 4.1 Regional Greenway System: J. Purvis requested that task force members
review the attachment to the meeting notice regarding Regional Greenway Systems
and think about how a regional greenway system might work in the Capital
District, as well as where it would be located.
At the May task force meeting, members will have a “working” session to
discuss and map out a hypothetical system.
To ensure that there is sufficient time to complete this task, the May
meeting will begin at 4.2 Healthy Transportation
Article: J. Purvis acknowledged an attachment to the
meeting notice regarding the link between trail use and health. 4.3 Bicycle Crash Data Analysis: T. La Salle reported that
a summary of ten years of Bike/Ped crash data was completed. The summary was in
response to a request from NYBC for information regarding funding for or actual
Bike/Ped improvements to locations where Bike/Ped crashes have occurred. A table and map packet was produced for the
10 year period from 1991 – 2001, on the state system. Additional analysis can be provided as
requested. 4.4 CDTC website updates: J. Purvis noted that recent presentations to
the task force have been added to CDTC’s website. 4.5 Other New Business: J. Purvis announced that he will be attending
a meeting regarding Building Healthier Communities in J.
Purvis reported that the NYS trail from J.
Poppel noted that NYBC will be celebrating National Bike Month in May with
several events. Handouts were circulated
regarding May events as well as a full calendar of events for the year. T. S.
Adler noted that information regarding National Trails Day Celebrations can be
found on PTNY’s website. I.
Vamos reported that he is working on a trail proposal overlooking 5.0 UPCOMING EVENTS
-
The next
CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for