Capital
District Transportation Committee
Bicycle
and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of
Meeting on November 14, 2006
Attendance:
Mark
Cashman (MHCC/LAB), Lindsay Childs (Guilderland Pathways), Dom
De Cecco (Retired), David Gehrs (CDTA), Bill Mackesey (Town of Clifton Park), Fred Mastroianni (Foit-Albert
Assoc), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Henrietta O’Grady (Halfmoon Trails), John Stangle (Town of Colonie), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart),
Ivan Vamos (NYBC) Jason Purvis (CDTC)
1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW
Minutes were not taken of the October meeting due to very
low attendance.
2.0 NEW BUSINESS
2.1 Spot Improvement
Program: J.
Purvis distributed a table showing the projects that were funded in Round 4 at
the November 1, 2006 Planning Committee. All eight proposals were funded.
2.2 Transportation Enhancement
Program: J. Purvis
distributed a table showing the projects that were selected for funding under
the most recent round of the TEP. The Capital District had 4 projects funded
for a total of $4.9M. NYSDOT is expected
to announce another round of Enhancement funding in approximately 2 years.
2.3 Regional Greenway: Jason and Teresa are working with Alta
Planning and Jeff Olson to finalize the plan. Jeff will be making presentations to the Bike/Ped Task Force, Planning Committee and Quality Region
Task Force. The final product will be
available on the CDTC website.
2.4 Paving of MHBHT in Colonie: It was announced that
the section of the MHBHT between Route 9 and the City of Cohoes has been paved. This was funded with Spot Improvement funds.
2.5 Other New Business:
E. Troy noted that PTNY held bicycle roundtables in various locations
throughout the state where discussions were held on how to attract new
users. Signage was also a major
discussion topic.
E. Troy reported that the Institute for Healthy Infrastructure (iHi) has been working on a model policy document for bike/ped zoning alternatives.
This report is on the iHi website (www.albany.edu/~iHi)
E. Troy noted that a Safe Routes to School group and
Healthy Heart have developed a survey for parents with children walking to
school. Results show that most students
are driven to school and the biggest fear for parents is strangers/sex offenders/bullies. The second biggest fear is the speed of
passing cars.
H.
O’Grady expressed her delight at Clifton Park and Halfmoon receiving TEP funds.
I.Vamos shared the response he received from CDTC related to his comments on
air quality at Luther Forest.
I.Vamos shared a copy of a plan completed in New Jersey that provided a
commitment to funding bicycle and pedestrian projects.
I.Vamos reported that the Schuyler Flatts trail
connection to the MHBHT may have some wetland issues that have to be resolved
before construction can be completed.
D.
Gehrs reported that bike racks are now on the entire CDTA fleet except the
Shuttle vehicles. CDTA is looking to
collect data on bike rack usage by incorporating a button onto the fare box. It is anticipated that by spring CDTA
will have the capability of keeping accurate data.
D.
Odell noted that the Albany Bicycling Coalition is asking the Common Council to
include bicycle and pedestrian elements into the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
D.
Odell reported that the new striping of Loudonville Road near Siena College eliminated the
shoulder causing a potential safety issue.
B.
Mackesey noted that he anticipates the construction of
the Sherwood Dawson Trail along Route 146A with kiosks at Dawson Drive.
B.
Mackesey reported that he is working on having the
new development trails that are built in the Town to connect with “trunk”
trails with kiosks.
B.
Mackesey reported that preliminary work has been done
to build a trail along the Dwaaskill and Round Lake reservoir.
3.0 UPCOMING EVENTS
The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian
Task Force meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2006 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.