Meeting Minutes, 20 December 2007

Minutes from December 20, 2007 BPAC meeting

In attendance: David G., Trevor, Tim, Dave N., Jennifer, Kent, Nicole, and David K.

Absent: David M.

Topics of discussion:

- New BPAC members permit quorum. Now that David Geraghty and Trevor French have become BPAC members, six of eleven membership positions are filled! BPAC action needed: find five more members.

- Milstein Hall. This proposal for a new Cornell building on (and over) University Avenue near Rand Hall, has been controversial for many reasons. BPAC is interested in ensuring that pedestrian and bicycle access is appropriately included in the early planning stage of this project. BPAC action needed: track project progress to ensure that appropriate bike/ped. facilities are included.

- Black Diamond Trail. A BDT plan was released for comment at a couple of public hearing that occurred a week or so ago. Though it is encouraging that a plan is finally in place, it may still be a number of years before construction begins. Even without an improved trail surface, the BDT is currently hikable along most of its length (but missing bridges limits connectivity of segments). BPAC action needed: BPAC to issue letter of endorsement (in early January?).

- Elmira Rd. sidewalks. We agreed that it is fantastic that the sidewalks are largely complete along Elmira Rd. Pedestrian improvements will be made shortly at the Friendly’s intersection. BPAC action needed: none.

- Sidewalk crew and sidewalk snow clearing. Lynne Yost of the Engineering Office is preparing a media release to publicly disclose the details of how snow-covered sidewalks can cleared by the City. Residents can report snow-covered sidewalk locations to the Building Department (274-6508). BPAC action needed: none.

- Hilton sidewalk. The effort to improve the sub-standard sidewalk along the Hilton property to comply with City guidelines has apparently reached an impenetrable legal/political impasse. BPAC action needed: ?

- Retirement of Thys Van Cort (City Director of Planning). A short-staffed Planning Department in a period of transition may inadvertently neglect to adequately address bike/ped. issues. BPAC action needed: BPAC should take extra care when reviewing Site Plan Review (SPR) documents to ensure that bike/ped. related issues do not “slip through the cracks.”

- Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Tim provided an update on the CWT including info. on the advancement of Phase III which will link the Farmers Market to Stewart Park, and info. about the planned improvements for crossing Rt. 13 at Third and Dey streets. BPAC action needed: nothing at this time.

- Portland video. A brief discussion of this video led to discussing traffic calming issues, and previous traffic calming studies and initiatives in Ithaca. BPAC action needed: We should re-start the traffic calming conversation. Kent will assemble some info. on traffic calming and will likely post it here http://bpac.rockwren.us/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pattern

- E. State Street uphill bike lane. Brief update that the project is still moving forward. BPAC action needed: none.

- BPAC membership. As noted above, five members are still needed. Since BPAC is in need of a BPW (Board of Public Works) liaison, perhaps a BPAC members should attend some BPW meetings

- BPAC blog & wiki. Nicole graciously volunteered to follow-up on this. BPAC action needed: provide content & comments to post to blog & wiki?

- “Podcar” advocated by Connect Ithaca group. BPAC did not discuss this topic during the meeting. BPAC action needed: BPAC could provide useful feedback to the Connect Ithaca group regarding the feasibility and applicability of such a concept … and BPAC could help CI to identify and pursue measures that may be more appropriate.

- Triangle-to-circle-to-triangle at Meadow/Spencer intersection. The Engineering Office was interested in determining if a different intersection design could better meet the needs of residents, and bicyclist and pedestrians than the existing triangular traffic diverter. A circle design was pursued, and was intended to be left in place for a month or so to see how motorists would respond to the change. Unfortunately, a very small timeframe was available to inform residents of the experimental circle design. Some residents complained about the change. This caused the experiment to be cancelled within a few days. The intersection is now back to the original design. BPAC action needed: none.

- Traffic signal removal at Tioga/Lincoln intersection. Tim provided an update. BPAC action needed: none.

- Rt. 96 corridor study. Tim provided information. BPAC action needed: can provide comments if interested.

- Diagonal, traversable, one-lane, semi-traffic-diverting speed humps on Fair St. at Wood and South Street intersections. Residents are going to provide input to the City on whether they would like the above-mentioned infrastructure to remain, to be removed, to be improved, or to be replaced by something else. BPAC action needed: BPAC members can provide recommendations at the January BPAC meeting – these recommendations can then help to inform the Feb. BPW meeting when this issue will be discussed by Board members.

Meeting Minutes, 20 September 2007

BPAC Minutes – 20 September 2007

In attendance: Jan, David K., Nicole, Jennifer, Kent, Tim

Guests: ~16 Ithaca College journalism students

Topics:

- Kent provided overview of BPAC to IC students; member introductions

- Planning Board – property on 100 block of Prospect St. Apparently it is legal to require a staircase to be rebuilt where the previous one was. Kent asked David K. to provide more details at some point.

- Black Diamond Trail Work Day – Saturday, Oct. 13, 9:00-noon. For details, go to: www.blackdiamondtrail.org.

- Discussion of Dave Streader’s bicycle crash on Hudson St.

- Brief discussion of Fay G’s concern regarding the new N. Aurora St. curb alignment. Kent spoke with Fay prior to meeting and explained the situation – this appeared to satisfy her concerns.

- E. State St. uphill bike lane—looking towards construction in Spring 2008.

BPAC issued a simple statement of support for this bike lane in May, repeated tonight. It appears as an appendix to these minutes and also on the City’s BPAC website.

- Buffalo St. – repaving project will likely happen in the next year or so (in “the flats” area)

- Tim provided an update on the project to improve the Rt.13/Dey intersection and the Rt.13/Third intersection.

- Tim provided an update on the project to improve the State/Floral/Elm/Hector intersection.

- Discussion on the planned bike lanes for Thurston Ave. (these lanes have since been installed). This is the first on a City-owned street, not on a bridge.

- Discussion of the City’s investigation to remove the traffic signal at the Lincoln/Tioga intersection.

- Update on College Ave./Dryden Rd. traffic signal

- Discussion of Safe Routes to School funding options

- Discussion of low BPAC membership/attendance. Post advertisement in newspapers? Kent will try to draft something for Oct. meeting.

- Carla Shafer has given notice that she will be leaving Ithaca. Given that she masterminded and maintained our wiki-blog, we need to address its future.

- We lost our liaison to the City Council when Shane resigned.

Minutes prepared by Kent and Jan.

Meeting Minutes, 19 July 2007

BPAC
Minutes, July 19, 2007

Present: Carla Shafer, Jan Zeserson, Kent Johnson, David Kay David acted as chair.

IMPORTANT: Meeting time has been changed to the THIRD Thursday of every month, same hour, same place. Next meeting will be September 20; Kent will act as chair. No August Meeting.

A gentle reminder to BPAC members to give courtesy notice to the acting chair if you cannot attend.

Bicycle Parking Ordinance: Kent will find out what is required to get bike ordinance guidelines into the Bike Plan. He will consult with Shane Seger, BPAC Common Council liaison.

Bicycling on Sidewalks: Safer biking is an issue. We agreed that bicycling on sidewalks should not be made an isolated issue, but rather, a part of a larger educational campaign about pedestrian safety; and that at this point bicycling on sidewalks is not a big enough problem to require immediate attention by City staff.

Shared Lane Marking: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval to use shared lane markings came through recently. Approval process took longer than hoped but the City is well positioned to make this the first pavement marking project in early spring. We talked about how to make the marking a high profile publicity event, possibly a mass bike ride. Kent will bring a proposal to our Sept. BPAC meeting for getting a pre-marking bicyclists count.

E. State St. Update: Restriping the pavement from the Tuning Fork to Mitchell St. and all that entails will happen in early spring, subject to approval by BPW.

City Bicycle Fleet: The City now has an official fleet of bikes, starting out with four bikes, one specifically for the Mayor. The fleet has been accomplished with minimal cost to taxpayers. All are refurbished bikes, at least 90% post-consumer content, some from RIBS.

Our Wiki Site: Carla will resubmit the request to the Mayor for funding our wiki and blog efforts.

BPAC Membership: We will make a determined effort to recruit new members. This matter will be high on the agenda for September.

Permanent Chair: We have been working with a system of rotating chairpeople since last winter. Although we can cite positive aspects of this system, it was agreed that a permanent chair is preferable.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Jan.