Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on March 9, 2000

 

 

 

Attendance: Kevin McLaughlin (HRV Greenway), Don Odell (Albany County EDC&P), Don Robertson (NYSDOT - Region 1), Janell Shaw (New York Bicycling Coalition), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Katherine Forster (CDTC)

 

Regrets:  Bert Schou

 

1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW

 

There were no changes to the February Task Force meeting notes.

 

2.0 UPDATE ON ACTION ITEMS

 

(October 26, 1999) P. Russell will bring a map re: proposed bike path from Schuyler Flats to the next meeting. (See Item 3.1)

 

(February 10, 2000) In regards to the Livingston Avenue Bridge, Ivan Vamos, will speak to Ted Thompson (NYSDOT) to see if the pedestrian component can be added to the contract.  I. Vamos spoke to T. Thompson.  Copies of his letters to the New York State senators were circulated.

 

(February 10, 2000) B. Schou requested that the members of the Task Force submit their preferred routes to him in the next week.  (See Item 3.2)

 

3.0 PROJECTS/PROGRAMS AND OTHER UPDATES

 

3.1 Schuyler Flats Bike Trail: Discussion on the proposed bike trail was deferred until the April meeting.  I. Vamos circulated a copy of the "Schuyler Flats Management and Development Plan" for Task Force members to review.  This plan was done last year and proposes site improvements that include: parking, trails, community gardens, historic attributes, picnicking facilities and wildlife/vegetation overlook areas.

 

3.2 Bikes on Buses: B. Schou received the submissions from Task Force members on their preferred routes.  D. Odell will submit his early next week.  B. Schou will then amalgamate the lists into one master list and meet with CDTA and CDTC to discuss the preferred bus routes.

ACTION: B. SCHOU

 

3.3 Spot Improvement Program: CDTC received seventeen applications for this program.  The proposals were for pedestrian crossings, curb cuts, missing sidewalks, multi-use trail extensions, bicycle signage, benches, bike-racks and trail repairs.  CDTC received nine projects from Albany, five from Saratoga, three from Schenectady and none from Rensselaer.  5 projects were over $40,000, 6 were for around $5000.  The selection committee will be reviewing the projects and will meet to prepare a list of recommended projects to fund for the CDTC Planning Committee's meeting of April 5, 2000.  I. Vamos suggested that a screening process be used to rate the projects.  The selection committee will be using certain criteria as noted in the call letter that went out to the municipalities.

 

Bob Viti at Main Office DOT told CDTC staff that the Statewide Advisory Committee for the TEA-21 Enhancement program will meet on February 29 and that they will prepare the recommended list at that meeting. 

 

CDTC staff circulated some information on the TEA-21 Enhancement program found on the internet at www.enhancements.org/funding.html.  It shows how much was pro-grammed, obligated and reimbursed in the program.  As of June 1998, only 19 states met FHWA's 1997 challenge to bring all 50 states' obligation rates over 75%.  New York State is one of them.   New York State is ranked in the top ten states for both programming and obligations.  Thirty-four percent of the projects in this state have been reimbursed.

 

4.0 ONGOING TASKS

 

4.1 Bike Signage Guidelines: The signage guidelines were updated with examples of appropriate signage from the MUTCD and photos from the Capital District and reworked to reflect a more accurate separation of the trailblazing, information and destination signage. This is the final review before the guidelines are circulated to the various municipalities for comment.  The Task Force can review the guidelines and submit comments by March 27.

ACTION: TASK FORCE

 

4.2 Regional Bike/Hike Map: CDTC staff has received digitized data for the state bike routes, the Taconic Trail, and the Long Path.  The Pine Bush Commission is in the process of getting their trail coverage digitized.  Identifying all the marked bike lanes in the region is the next priority.  The Task Force helped list the bike lanes in the region that they were aware of: Western Avenue, the on-road portion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Hike trail in Cohoes, and on SUNY Campus.  These and any other bike lanes will be shown on the map.

 

5.0 NEW ITEMS

 

5.1 Wolf Rd. Open House: Two staff from CDTC went to the Open House.  I. Vamos and members of the MHCC also attended.  The open house included access management information and the design drawings of Wolf Rd. from Central to Albany-Shaker Road  (including sidewalks and intersection changes).  CDTC staff talked to the project manager about the proposed bicycle accommodations and other details about the project.

 

I. Vamos submitted written comments to NYSDOT.  CDTC is hoping to have a meeting with NYSDOT regarding some suggested changes but will also send written comments. 

 

There is an unsignalized mid-block crossing proposed near the new Red Lobster.  This is the type of location that could be used to test the new "Smart" crosswalks.  They use an in-pavement warning system and flashing lights to warn drivers that a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.  Region 8 has implemented one of these mid-block crosswalks near Marist College.  The difficulties they are encountering are lights that are too bright and lights breaking when the snowplows clear the roads.

 

K. McLoughlin mentioned that medians were recommended in Dutchess County for retrofitting.  He will send a letter to John Bassett the project manager of Wolf Rd.

 

6.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

 

-        The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, at the CDTC office, 5 Computer Dr. West, at 4:00 p.m.

-        NYSDOH is sponsoring an event at the Desmond in June.  The editor of Walking magazine will be speaking.