Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of the Meeting on November 15, 2011

 

Attendance: Susan Olsen (NSYDOT Region 1), Don Odell (Albany Bicycling Coalition), Martin Daley (Parks & Trails NY), Brian Kehoe (NYBC), Nelson Ronsvalle (T/O Halfmoon), Elaine Troy (NYSDOH Healthy Heart), Ivan Vamos (NYBC), Rob Leslie (T/O Bethlehem), Mary Harding (NSYDOT SRTS), John Stangle (Village of Menands), Linda Von der Heide (Rensselaer County), Carrie Ward (CDTA), Ed Tremblay (C/O Cohoes), Gina Gillooley (NSYDOH),  Paul Russell (Colonie Resident), Tom Johnson (Barton & Loguidice) , John Franchini (NYSDOT Region 1), Doug Haller (Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network), Michael Lyons (Town of Colonie) Jason Purvis (CDTC)

 

1.0 New Business

1.1 Livingston Ave Bridge

A public meeting is expected after the statewide high speed rail meetings have occurred.  These broader statewide meetings have not been scheduled yet. 

 

Amtrak has reached agreement to take over the operations, maintenance and capital improvements along the corridor from Poughkeepsie to Schenectady.  CSX will retain ownership of the structures and track, including the bridge.  Questions were raised as to whether this was positive for the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

 

PTNY and NYBC have developed ‘talking points’ on the LAB and have been active in garnering support for the bike/ped accommodations.  A supportive resolution has been given to Barbara Smith, the Albany Common Council representative for the area around the LAB.  It is hopeful that the resolution will be introduced to the entire Common Council for their consideration.


There have been some concerns about the Rensselaer side of the bridge as it is mainly a residential area.  Rensselaer County has trail plans that would greatly benefit from bike/ped accommodations on the bridge.

 

-M.Daley noted that conversations are needed with municipalities on both sides of the bridge to properly connect to the bridge when reconstruction occurs.

 

-CDTC will keep task force updated on any meeting or other announcements about bridge project

 

1.2 Capital Coexist

The current contract with Radio Disney has expired and the level of bicycle safety and education outreach to children was tremendous. 

 

Capital Coexist, under the CDTC umbrella, has contracted with Peter Flucke of WE BIKE to conduct a Continuum of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Law Enforcement.  The continuum is expected to begin in January 2012.  This project will be discussed at the December CDTC Policy Board meeting.  A DRAFT outline of the project can be found here (GP:  Link to Continuum of Training Document)

 

1.3 Priority Network Update

Jason outlined the steps that CDTC is taking to update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Network.  The goal is to have a Priority Network that is defined by objective criteria.  Jason handed out a list of roadways (GP:  Link to Bike Peds Prohibited document).  The list includes those roadways classified as interstates, ramps, urban principal arterials with fill access control, and those roadways signed prohibiting bike/ped use.  If any task force member knows of other roadways that meet these criteria, please email Jason.

 

1.4 NYSMPO Bike Ped Working Group

Jason reported that the next NYSMPO Bike/Ped Working Group meeting is scheduled for December 8th as a conference call.  Including other stakeholders and identifying opportunities for collaboration is a main objective for the near future.

 

1.5 Spring Bike to School Day

M. Harding reported that the National Center for Safe Routes to School is interested in spring bike to school events.  Mary is collecting feedback on how events should coincide with Bike to Work Day, which days would be best, event ideas, etc.  Email thoughts or comments to mharding@dot.state.ny.us

 

D. Haller suggested that the sign up procedures used at the national level be searchable on the local level.  This would help engage individual schools, promote some competition and be a resource for parents.  M. Harding said she would see if that were possible through the national site’s querying capabilities.

 

1.6 Scheduling of January-June 2012 meetings

The following are the meeting dates for the first half of 2012:
Tuesday January 10th at 9:00am

Tuesday February 14th at 9:00am (Gina will bring candies)

Tuesday March 13th at 9:00am

Tuesday April 10th at 9:00am

Tuesday May 8th at 9:00am

Tuesday June 12th at 9:00am

 

1.7 They just don’t get it

Nothing to report

 

1.8 Other New Business

E. Tremblay discussed the positive public meeting held on the Black Bridge in the City of Cohoes.  There is a lot of support for the project and construction is expected by the end of 2012.  There have been discussions about using rain resistant materials if they can fit within the project’s budget. 

 

Jason attended a meeting with DOT, OPRHP, and the City of Saratoga Springs where the feasibility of a pedestrian crossing over Route 50 was discussed.  This would be an implementation element of the Route 50 Southern Gateway study.

 

Jason shared the newly released Capital Region Economic Development Council Strategic Plan.

 

The staff consultant for the NYS Association of MPO’s has developed a technical fact sheet for Pedestrian Signal Timing.  (GP:  Link to Ped Signal Timing pdf).  This can be printed or distributed.  It will be posted on the NYS MPO website soon. 

 

2.0 Upcoming Events

Meetings Open to the Public:

NEXT CDTC BIKE & PED TASK FORCE MEETING: December 13, 2011 9:00 AM