Capital District Transportation Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Record of Meeting on October 26, 4:00pm

 

 

Attendance: Don Odell (Albany County Dept. of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning), Don Robertson (NYSDOT- Region 1), Paul Russell (Town of Colonie), Ivan Vamos, (New York Bicycle Coalition), Monique Wahba (City of Albany Planning Department), Paul Winkeller (New York Bicycle Coalition), Katherine Forster (CDTC)

 

Regrets: Bert Schou (CDTA)

 

1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW

 

There were no changes to the September Task Force meeting notes.  Additions to the Agenda were added under New Items and Other Updates.

 

2.0 UPDATE ON ACTION ITEMS

 

(September 16, 1999) Staff to continue discussions with the print shop regarding the reprint of the Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Map.  (See Item 3.1)

(September 16, 1999) D. Robertson to invite someone from DOT who deals with signage issues to the next Task Force meeting.  D. Robertson will try to invite someone to the November meeting.

(September 16, 1999) Staff to summarize the results of the trail maintenance survey for a future meeting.  (See Item 3.3)

 

3.0 ONGOING TASKS

 

3.1 Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Map: Staff is exploring the idea of rescanning the map with the printer.  The map will be released for the spring of 2000.  Staff will inform the Task Force when the map is ready for circulation.

 

3.2 Draft of Bike Signage Guidelines: Suggestions from this meeting were:

-        Consideration for mileage to be also shown in kilometers for tourists.  This could be done on destination signs but may be confusing on mileage markers.

-        Landmarks and towns should be indicated on signs.

-        At entrances, there should be large destination signs.

-        Uniformity should be stressed for consistency of signs.  Sign standards should be stated for size, shape and colors of signs and letter fonts.

-        Promotional signs should be explored.

D. Robertson will verify the correct wording for the On-Road Signage portion.  The Task Force members would like to explore different types of signs (sizes, colors, and different types of materials) at the next meeting.

ACTION: CDTC STAFF, D. ROBERTSON

 

Aside: D. Robertson is meeting with Brian McMahon of Edwards and Kelcey to discuss signage for the Champlain Canal Trail Scenic Byway next week.

 

3.3 Bike Trail Maintenance Survey: One last survey is still outstanding.  Staff will pursue the completion of this survey.  The Bike Trail Maintenance map, created in-house, was circulated.  An ownership map will be created next.

ACTION: CDTC STAFF

4.0 NEW ITEMS

 

4.1 Spot Improvement Program: $300,000 will be made available for the program, with a call for submissions in early 2000.  This call for submission will be done in conjunction with CDTC's Enhancement program, where $1 million is available to projects that did not make the State DOT's Enhancement list.  CDTC staff and DOT staff will sit down soon to discuss procedures for the programs.  The Task Force will be asked to approve these procedures before they are submitted to the Transportation Committee.

ACTION: CDTC & DOT

 

4.2 NYBC's Governor's Traffic Safety Grant: P. Winkeller discussed the 3-year grant that NYBC received to fund a Bicycle and Pedestrian safety project.  The first part of the project is working with three different counties in New York State (and a borough in New York City) to identify collision hot spots and their engineering remedies.  The second part of their project is creating a Best Practices Guide with examples from around the state to educate others.  They will be looking for a local working group from each selected county to help NYBC with the identification of the "hot spots" and to formulate the education program.  Albany County is one of the counties that is on the short list.  For more information on this project check their web page: www.nybc.net.

 

4.3 Bike Path from Schuyler Flats: P. Russell is interested in seeing a bike path built from Schuyler Flats to the Albany Rural Cemetery using the Albany County sewer line and other rights-of-way.  The bike path would go through Menands and he asked the Task Force for suggestions on who should be involved and what should be his next step.  D. Odell advised that the Sewer Department is a separate entity from Albany County.  It was also suggested that he head up a meeting with all the stakeholders (including Albany County, Menands, CDTC, Town of Colonie, etc.) to discuss the possibilities for this proposed bike path.  P. Russell will bring a map of the area to the next meeting.

ACTION: P. RUSSELL

 

5.0 OTHER UPDATES

 

The TEA-21 Enhancement Program: A list of CDTC recommended projects was given to the Task Force.  The Transportation Committee and the Policy Committee approved this list in October.  It will be sent to NYDOT where the Transportation Enhancement Advisory Committee (TEAC) will make the final selection.  The selected projects should be announced by the end of December.

 

Champlain Canal Trail Scenic Byway: A final public report on the Enhancement Plan will be held at Schuylerville School on November 16 at 7:00pm.  The Enhancement Plan will then be presented to the Department of Transportation for nomination.  If nominated, the Champlain Canal Trail Scenic Byway can then be submitted to the New York State Department of Transportation's Scenic Byway Advisory Board for designation through the legislature.

 

The Albany County Safety Event at Crossgates Mall: CDTC staffed a table at Crossgates Mall on the weekend of September 25 & 26.  They handed out over 500 reflective armbands and almost as many "Walk Left - Ride Right" magnets.

 

Reconstruction of Wolf Road: DOT is still trying to address the need for bike provisions on Wolf Road. Opinions on what to provide are varied.  Tom Werner, the Regional Director of DOT is planning on inviting CDTC, NYBC, the NYDOT Main office and the Mohawk-Hudson Bicycle Club to meet and discuss the options.  The DOT Design's preferred solution is a 14-foot shared lane while a six foot striped shoulder is D. Robertson's suggestion.  The striped shoulder will not work because the Region wants to keep the 16-foot median on Wolf Road.

 

City of Albany's Bike Committee: The City of Albany's Bike Committee has created a draft bicycle network and bicycle policies for the City.  The next step is to invite the public to approve these draft policies and the network.  After the draft network is approved the committee will ride the network either this fall or next spring.

 

Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway: This proposed Scenic Byway follows Route 9 on the south side of the Mohawk from Waterford to Schenectady.  The co-chair of the inventory committee is Paul Russell.  The committee includes Don Robertson and Steve Feeney.

 

6.0 UPCOMING EVENTS

 

-        The final public report on the Enhancement Plan for the Champlain Canal Trail Scenic Byway will be held at Schuylerville School on November 16 at 7:00pm

-        The National Meeting for the National Youth Hostel Association will be held in Albany from November 17-21, 1999.  Ivan Vamos has details.

-        The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, at the CDTC office, 5 Computer Dr. West, at 4:00 p.m.