BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS COMMISSION Meeting Minutes for January 5, 2016 Commission Present: Renee Losapio, Markus Wegener, Liz Schleeper, Steven Johnson, Andy Hund, Stewart Strothers, Matt Paddock, Marc Hoecker Staff present: Paul Forehand, Paul Filion, John Stevenson, Jeff Raliski, Ben Kane, Christy Fisher, Rachel Bean, NPD Officers: Whitley, Rodriguez, Williams, Copeland I. Agenda Overview, Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting o December minutes approved with one comment II. Granby Bike Lanes / I-64 Underpass Improvements o Engineering firm Michael Baker Corp is currently designing 3 bike/ped improvement options at the I-64/I-564 underpass on Granby St. o The options range from very expensive long term solutions to less expensive short term fixes o Funding could either come from TAP (transportation alternatives) or FHWA (federal highway admin) grants. Best case scenario would be for VDOT to fund it as a pilot project for statewide underpass improvements o Staff has already applied for the next round of TAP grants for bike lane improvements on Granby from Riverview to Ward’s Corner III. MHI / ERT Land Transfer o MHI and the City are exchanging land for re-route of the Elizabeth River Trail at the MHI parking lot o The trail will now go along the border of Raleigh and Claremont instead of through the middle of parking lot o The new cross section will be 8’ landscape buffer, 12’ trail, and another 8’ buffer to the street. o A large green space area will be at corner of Raleigh/ Claremont and have a gateway/public art feature o Landscape plan by Land Studio is currently in design phase IV. FestEvents Bikeability o FestEvents representatives Karen Scherberger, Christin Pond, Ted Baroody, and Jeffery Morrison present o FestEvents putting together plan for ERT detours during events at Town Point Park and Waterside o Need to determine detour routes and signage locations o Paul Filion requests that detour info and bike parking locations be consistent so users learn quickly how to locate them o Purchasing bike racks and a bike repair station for Waterside o Working with DNC and ERT Foundation to have bike friendly events over the summer such as family rides, commuter breakfasts, and a cycle cinema event o Andy Hund has provided bike valet station at past events, will work to expand services V. Rustbucket Races Recap / Bike Norfolk Light Giveaway o The first ever cyclocross race in Norfolk (Rustbucket Races) was held Dec. 17th at the Hanson/Goff Street location o Over 100 competitors raced, many travelled from Richmond, Roanoke, and even Raleigh o Comments from riders were overwhelmingly positive about the course o Looking to continue and improve upon the annual event and possibly add more throughout the year o Bike Norfolk organized a bike light giveaway to riders riding at night without them o Over 70 sets of quality lights were given away in mostly low income areas o Commissioners would like to start a dialogue with NPD to encourage officers to hand out lights instead of tickets when they can o Officer Whitley said it is something they could look into and have done similar helmet giveaways in the past o Funding sources would be an issue, will look into grant options o Paul Forehand states city will be purchasing some lights soon through the funds awarded by a TBA grant VI. General Issues / Public Comments o Jonathan Nye organizing trip to Richmond to lobby in favor of the Vulnerable Road Users law on January 23rd o March 6th-9th is the National Bike Summit in Washington DC o Jonathan is organizing a 24hour Bike-a-thon around the Pilot Loop on April 22nd BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS COMMISSION Meeting Minutes for February 2, 2016 Commission Present: Renee Losapio, Markus Wegener, Liz Schleeper, Steven Johnson, Stewart Strothers, Matt Paddock, Staff present: Paul Forehand, Paul Filion, John Stevenson, Ben Kane, NPD Officer McCarthy, Thelma Drake, Patti Raduenz, Christine Armstrong I. Agenda Overview, Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting o January minutes approved with comments II. Staff Projects update o Legislation Updates VDOT maintenance reimbursement bill has passed in the state House of Delegates, will go to Senate next for vote The bill allows city to retain maintenance funds for travel lanes when they are converted to bike lanes. John Stevenson notes that the funds equal about $17,000 per lane mile o Llewellyn Flex Posts 230 flex posts were eradicated by snow plows along Llewellyn Ave. Will re-use some posts but most unusable City will re-install once threat of more snow is passed using a different application that will not remove asphalt if damaged again Matt Paddock suggests that the wide space is a sufficient buffer and if the bollards are damaged again too consider not replacing them if solution is not found to protect them John Stevenson states the reason for the buffers is to encourage inexperienced riders o Bike Lane Wayfinding Toole Design is assisting with developing a wayfinding plan for the pilot bike loop Signs will give directional and distance info to points of interest and other bike routes such as Elizabeth River Trail and future bike lanes Will work to coordinate with new Downtown wayfinding as well as ERT signage Wayfinding plan will be for pilot loop only, City will continue signage as more bike lanes are built o IKEA Development Update Plans include adding a bus stop, but traffic backup issues on Northampton may have bus stop within parking lot Bike racks will be installed by front entrance o Ghent Taskforce Bike Issues Looking to add bike racks along 21st St and Colley Ave. Could also add a bike repair station Will be yellow powder coated ad similar to Chelsea bike racks Current meter hitch bike racks could be refurbished and painted Riverview neighborhood adding racks and repair station as well Markus suggests that all bike racks should be put in well-lit areas o Capital Trail Connection The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organazition is looking at possible bike routes to connect to the Capital Trail in Jamestown Several options shown on map and HRTPO is looking for input on best option The southern option would link up to the South Hampton Roads Trail in Suffolk o Bike Share Update City had 3 proposals and chose Zagster to implement bike share program Reps from Zagster will solicit sponsorships from local organizations to fund program Initial phase will start with 50 bikes and 10 docking stations. Will looks to expand as usage grows Matt Paddock suggests connecting with ERT foundation to target sponsorships together instead of competing for funding III. Smart Scale Grant Brief o Christine Armstrong presents about the VDOT Smart Scale grant system o Smart Scale is a scoring system to rank projects submitted for State transportation grant funds o The Granby St bike lanes from Riverview to Ward’s Corner was submitted and scored very well with a rank of #4. 24 projects will be selected o The project will total $822,000 and will remove a travel lane in each direction to add bike lanes o City will know in June if selected. Funding and project construction would start in 2021 IV. Safe Routes to School update o Crossing guard appreciation day is on February 8th. Patti encourages everyone to thank crossing guards for their hard work o There is shortage in number of crossing guards. If anyone knows anyone who could help, tell them to contact NPD for info o SRTS planning bike rodeo style event in Lafayette Park with Jon Nye and Andy Hund in April o Reapplying for SRTS grant, this time need a 20% match to secure grant o Matching funds can be “In Kind” donations such as police time during events or bike/equipment donations o Patti is looking for a trailer for carrying bikes V. Bike Month Planning o Due to lack of time, commission recommend everyone have bike month event ideas next meeting o Bike Month planning meeting at Slover Library on Feb. 14th at 3pm VI. General Issues / Public Comments o Citizen Angela Bernard publicly thanked the city for installing the new bike infrastructure. It has been great for her and her children to ride o Greg Reck of DNC requested an update on complete streets initiative BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS COMMISSION Meeting Minutes for March 2, 2016 Commission Present: Markus Wegener, Marc Hoecker, Liz Schleeper, Steven Johnson, Stewart Strothers, Matt Paddock, Hudnall Croasdale Staff present: Paul Forehand, Paul Filion, John Stevenson, Thelma Drake, Lori Crouch, Ben Kane, Jeff Raliski I. Agenda Overview, Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting o February minutes approved with 2 comment updates II. Bike Marketing Campaign o Lori Crouch gave presentation on updated marketing campaign o Communications department decided Bikes Belong message was divisive and decided to move in new direction o New campaign is approved by People for Bikes to use with Norfolk branding o Campaign will incorporate a wide array of local citizens who ride bikes in pictures with message “Travel with Care” o Commission asked for vote to proceed working on “Travel with Care” message. Group voted yes to proceed o Goal is to have campaign ready to promote during bike month III. Bike Month Discussion o Paul Filion went through calendar of planned events. More events to come o Bike Norfolk to help on one event that is sponsored by the city o Liz voices concern about safety/insurance issues for leading rides that are not insured by the city o Volunteers needed on all events o Bike Month planning meeting Mid March o Cut off day to add events is March 31st so print materials can be made with calendar IV.