Binghamtn Metrplitan Transprtatin Study Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisry Cmmittee Meeting Minutes April 14, 2008 Attendance: Sctt Reigle, Tby Wllin, Christine Muss, Kris Gilbert, Warren Wetzelberg, Steven Bard, Dn Rbertsn Cnvene: 1:36 p.m. Tpic Discussin Actin Plan Apprve March 10 th meeting minutes Warren cmmented n the Old Vestal Rad signage discussin Crrectin: change the wrding frm the Pst Office created the prblem t was aware f the prblem and 3 ut f the 4 signs are affected by this prject. Annuncements and Status Reprts Newspaper Articles/Ntices Dn- NY Bicycling Calitin Newsletter highlighting different events. Earth Day Celebratin April 26 th at Rbersn Museum Bike Cruise (similar t Histric Bridge Pedal) There will be 2 lps. Bth will begin and end at Rbersn. The lnger lp will extend t Otsining Park. N details n time right nw. Cunty Office Building Parking Starting in June the main level parking area will nt be available fr Cmmittee members t use. The parking garage will be under cnstructin and thus, Gvernment Plaza will nt be accmmdating public parking. (Cnstructin is expected t take at least 2 years.) Subcmmittee Reprts Bike Rdes Christine reprted n the Bike Rde Cmmittee Meeting in the beginning f April. Very well attended. Next Rdes: Saturday April 26 th at Hrace Mann Elementary frm 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Saturday May 17 th at JC Senir Center frm 4 p.m. 6 p.m. Sctt will make changes in minutes. Remember t bring events fliers fr distributin.
Annuncement- Chris Thater Memrial Bike Rde has been cancelled. Histric Bridge Pedal Sctt reprted that the flier is cmplete and is ready fr distributin. Sctt is wrking n finalizing the bridge pedal brchure. Gal is t be printed by mid-may fr distributin t bike shps. Sctt will update BMTS website t reflect current infrmatin. Next subcmmittee meeting- April 23 rd at 2 p.m. Sctt sent infrmatin int NY Bicycling Calitin and Press Cnnects Summer Events. He will als send infrmatin, Gd Times and general Press Releases. Steve wuld like t send a letter t the mayr s ffice requesting their participatin in this event. BMTS culd lbby fr this. Walk N Rll Binghamtn Mets Game- Educatin and Baseball Day May 15 th, Set-up 8:30 a.m., Gates pen 9:30 a.m., Game starts at 10:30 a.m. Activities will be similar t last year display table with bike/ped. infrmatin, pssibly anther bike raffle thrugh the Steps Prgram and Excellus, DOT s traffic light display, Greg s game and giveaways. Steve may have a 20 inch BMX bike he culd make available fr raffle. Sctt is still attempting t get in tuch with the Giant regarding the status f the grcery bag message that was submitted at the end f February. DOT Training Nthing t reprt. Arrangements fr BMTS Review f NYSDOT Prjects Greenway Cnstructin Phase 1 Shared use path frm Suth Washingtn Street Bridge t MacArthur Park. Includes a tunnel under NYS 434 t access MacArthur Park. Phase 2 Shared use path frm MacArthur Park t Club Huse Rad,
benched int the slpe alng the suth side f NYS 435. Purpse T prvide direct access t MacArthur Park and expand the Greenway System. Als t cnnect t greenway trail that will be built as part f the NYS 201 Bridge Replacement prject. This will cnnect the BU Campus t the BU Dwntwn Center. Scping reprt will lk at these alternatives: Alternative 1 (nt feasible) Putting Greenway alng nrth side f Rte. 434 between rad and river which leaves very little space and wuld have t make a bardwalk structure fr Phase 2. Given the narrwness f the river channel in this area, the pssibility f ice flws, envirnmental cncerns and assumed high cst f maintaining this structure, this alternative was dismissed. Alternative 2 (nt feasible) Reducing Rte. 434 t 3 lanes and using 1 lane fr the Greenway. Pssibility f cnstructing a new east bund travel lane t replace the lane taken fr the Greenway. This alternative was dismissed due t drainage cncerns, median treatments, crss slpes and high cst f such a scenari. Phase 1 Alternative (being pursued) Enhance and update the existing sidewalks frm S. Washingtn St. Bridge and cnstruct the multi-use path west, crssing the levee and prceeding 400 meters where a pedestrian underpass wuld be placed t cnnect t MacArthur Park. Cmmittee had cncern abut flding and the fact it will be unusable during certain mnths. Phase 2A Alternative (being pursued) Wuld begin adjacent t Rte. 434 in the vicinity f the wded parcel, frm this pint the Greenway wuld be benched r raised int the existing slpe t prvide pedestrians grade separatin frm traffic. Wuld prceed west t the vicinity f Lennx Ave. and Vestal, at which pint it wuld crss Vestal Ave., and use an imprved sidewalk system t cnnect with Club Huse Rad. Phase 2B Alternative (being pursued) Wuld begin adjacent t Vestal Ave. and prceed west alng Vestal Ave. as far west as the tpgraphy will allw. Pedestrians wuld be required t crss Vestal Ave. and use an imprved sidewalk system t cntinue west t Club Huse Rd. The use f prpsed funding may be in questin here as the Greenway segment is n lnger n r adjacent t the NHS system.
Cmments by Cmmittee: Greg- Further cnsideratin fr additinal parking and restrms at sftball fields. N ntes abut putting in rest areas alng the path r fishing/viewing areas alng river. The bardwalk idea culd be used t get trail users dwn t water. Sctt- Nted that there are shulders n the rads fr cyclists but des nt meet the safety needs f bicyclists and pedestrians. Des nt want t encurage cyclists t ride n the sidewalk. Kris Cncerned abut wildlife and vegetatin in wded areas. Bike Rute Map Update Sctt asked cmmittee members t review map fr changes and imprvements. He wuld like the new map printed by fall. Add Share the Trail Safely infrmatin similar t Share the Rad Safely infrmatin Add bike lcker lcatin and infrmatin An issue will be what we can fit n the map Wuld like t keep pictures Re-d map t shw 201 rundabut better Neighbrhd in Kirkwd needs t be re-dne Use current bike rute signs that have Brme Cunty n it Pssibly change the shading s the Greenway stands ut Remve Old Vestal Rad frm map Update bike shps Mileage will change slightly with the traffic circle. Discussin/ Actin Items Alternatives t Bridge ver I-81 Erin and Sctt will have the recmmendatins fr this prject by next meeting. Bllard Educatinal Infrmatin The city is lking at rdering stickers. Other Letter regarding imprvements fr Vestal Rad has nt been sent because Steven Gayle wuld like us t take a cmprehensive lk at the bike rutes. This particular issue has been in discussin with the cmmittee fr ver a year. The cmmittee wishes the letter be sent nw. Discussin regarding if smene has a cmplaint r wuld like t reprt a rad hazard can a number be put n the Bike Rute
Maps fr peple t call? Can BMTS be the central pint fr receiving these calls and then passing it alng t the apprpriate municipality fr reslutin? Next Meeting Mnday, May 12, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. Adjurn: 3:15 p.m.