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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Citizens Bicycle Advisory Committee - Meeting Date: 8/4/2003 CITY OF GLENDALE CITIZEN BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) 1 Monday, August 4, 2003 MUNICIPAL COMPLEX 5850 West Glendale Avenue 6:30 PM, Room B-3 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Jim Hunton at 6:37 p.m. Also in attendance: Betsy Turner, Brian Bates, David Parks, Joe Terranova, Ed Cure, Bill Wilkinson, Michael Wood, Omar Khiel and staff- Steve Hancock. Others in attendance:Susan Bookspan (Phoenix Children's Hospital), Daina Mann (Valley Metro), Kate Russell (Citizen), Bill Lazenby (Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists), Rich Rummer(Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists), Dave Hedlund (URS Consultants), and Michael Munroe (Glendale staff). Members absent: Michael Beaver, Glen Kowacz, and Tom Mowery-Racz. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the July 7, 2003 meeting were approved with a correction by Joe Terranova regarding agenda item VI. What Joe actually said was: "Coalition members met with congressmen J.D. Hayworth (R-5th Dist.) and Rick Renzi (R-lst Dist.) in Washington this past March at the third annual Bike Summit, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and America Moves groups." III. CALL TO THE PUBLIC There were no guests wishing to address the Committee. IV. INTRODUCTIONS Members and guests introduced themselves. V. CONTINUANCE OR WITHDRAWAL OF AGENDA ITEMS No agenda items required continuance or withdrawal Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes August 4,2003 —Page 2— VI. REPORTS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS • Ed Cure asked guest Rich Rummer, President of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, to report on Coalition activities. Rich said that the Coalition has been developing a public service announcement with a "share-the-road" theme. The announcement is designed to be aired on television, most likely on local government channels. • Bill Wilkinson said that the CTOC asked that the CBAC make a recommendation regarding the planned Loop 101 multi-use bridge at 63`d Ave. He said Dave Hedlund of URS Consultants would be updating the Committee on this project at tonight's meeting. • Jim Hunton reported that there were no trail activities planned by the Mountain Bike Association due to the summer heat. • Steve Hancock reported that the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Bicycle Task Force and Pedestrian Working Group jointly met to review Transportation Enhancement funding projects submitted by Valley cities and towns. He said Glendale submitted projects; Old Roma Alley pedestrian improvements, Downtown pedestrian improvements,New River Trail project, and Bethany Home Road pedestrian improvements. VII. BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION - GLENDALE BIKE BOX PROGRAM • Susan Bookspan of Phoenix General Hospital presented information on programs provided by the hospital's Injury Prevention Center. She cited statistics showing that the 10 to 14 age group had the highest rate of injuries among people from 0 to 19 years of age. She said 16%of head injuries in the adolescent age group could have been prevented if bike helmets were worn. Susan said that the Injury Prevention Center attempts to affect public policies that improve safety for children. In this regard the Center tries to evaluate existing injury prevention efforts for effectiveness in preventing childhood injuries. Another program Susan deals with is bicycle helmet education that includes a helmet sales ($10) and distribution program. The Center also has an annual bike helmet design contest that involves every elementary and middle school in the Valley. Susan said the Center promotes a "Helmet your Brain" campaign that includes a box filled with bike helmet related displays and educational tools. Schools can use the materials free but need to return them after use. Susan told the Committee that she worked with Paula Moloff, City of Glendale Grants Administrator, to get a Transportation Enhancement grant under the new Bicycle Pedestrian Safety category. This grant was to develop a program for schools in Glendale focusing on bicycle safety education to be taught by schoolteachers when they have the time and motivation to do so. The "Bike Box" contains a teacher lesson plan, various printed handout materials, a video, a brain Je11-O mold, and other bike safety related items. Susan will be the contact person for implementing the Bike Box program, ensuring each Glendale elementary school gets a box along with an initial in-service training. Susan also mentioned the Center's program for teens on dealing with peer pressure to not wear bike helmets as they enter middle c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\0803m.doc 04/29/11 Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes August 4,2003 —Page 3- school. She added that the Center for Injury Prevention has a Centers for Disease Control grant to promote the Safe Route to School program. Joe Terranova asked if the "Helmet your Brain" bike box had to be returned to the Center after use. Susan replied that it did need to be returned. Ed Cure asked if there was anything members of the CBAC could do to help the Center for Injury Prevention in their bicycle safety efforts. Susan said that she would get information on their volunteer program to Steve Hancock for distribution to the Committee. VIII. THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM AND BICYCLE ACCESS • Daina Mann from Valley Metro addressed the Committee on how bicyclists will be able to access the planned Light Rail System (LRS)to be built in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Daina said that the LRS will run mostly at street level using an overhead power source. She said a 1-3 car train can hold up to 450 people. Referring to a map, Daina pointed out the 20-mile starter system between Bethany Home Rd. in Phoenix to near Alma School Rd. in Mesa. She noted that the northern terminus would be in the "Metro Center Planning Area," not necessarily at Metro Center Mall. She said Glendale had passed a referendum in 2001 for a light rail extension on Bethany Home Rd. She said that CTOC also wanted an extension to the arena/stadium area. Daina showed depictions of the "Cool Screen" stations and the typical layout for stations located in street medians. She also showed depictions of the low floor boarding doors on light rail trains that would ease entry for bicycles as well as wheelchairs. She told members that each train car would hold four bikes and that 12 bikes would be accommodated in a 3-car train. She showed depictions of the racks, describing how the bikes would be hung from wall racks. Daina also said that there would be bike lockers at LRS park-and-ride lots for cyclists who did not need to board bikes. Daina went on to discuss the phasing of construction and the milestones anticipated as the system gets built. Joe Terranova asked about the high cost of light rail relative to bus transit. Daina said that while the initial cost to build the system was high, the greater passenger capacity would make operation costs much less than bus rapid transit or other bus transit. Joe Terranova asked if there are emission problems with light rail. Daina said there would be slight emissions from light rail. Jim Hunton asked what happens if all car racks are taken when boarding with a bike. Daina said that during peak hours the boarding cyclist would have to wait for another train. During off-peak hours the cyclist could board and hold his bike as long as it did not interfere with others boarding or occupying the car. IX. 63rd AVENUE AND LOOP 101 BRIDGE DESIGN UPDATE • Dave Hedlund of URS updated the Committee on design issues related to the tunnels under the frontage roads on Loop 101. Dave said that citizens had brought concerns forth in the Enclave community that had not been voiced at public meetings because meeting notifications had not been delivered to the gated community. These concerns had primarily to do with the potential of the tunnels to invite crime or harbor homeless people. Dave stressed that the tunnels or a bridge were necessary because ADOT would not allow at-grade crossings of the frontage roads. Bridging the freeway and the frontage roads had not been the preferred option at the public meetings (there had been a 2:1 margin of support for the tunnel option). Ed Cure also said that people he spoke to at the public meeting at the Foothills Library did not want the frontage road bridge option because "people c:\documents and settings\bIimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\0803m.doc 04/29/11 Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes August 4,2003 —Page 4- could see into their backyards. Dave noted that one design change that came from the public meetings was moving the tunnel ramps from the west side of the tunnels to the east side. This opened up the view into the tunnels for added security. Dave also displayed a depiction of a tunnel design that widened at the top giving the tunnels a more open aspect- as if the frontage road were a bridge. He said it would be a more costly design due to structural issues. Betsy Turner said the she rides the ACDC path frequently, a path with many tunnels and much longer tunnels, and has never encountered a threatening situation or homeless people congregating in the tunnels. She said the concerns of the people in the Enclave Community are overblown. Ed Cure asked if the people in the Enclave had seen the more open design for the tunnel. Dave said they had not. Joe Terranova said the tunnel being built at 43rd Ave. and Peoria by Phoenix is a good example of tunnels being safe and open, noting that the area between the two streets is an open channel and the tunnel segments are not that long. Ed asked how things were left with the Enclave people. Dave said no commitment had been made to them one way or the other. They had been told that the Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee (CTOC)would make a decision on how to proceed with the project since it was listed in the City's funding plans for half-cent sales tax transportation projects. Dave also noted that a decision on the project was needed soon since it was desirable to do the design work in conjunction with the City's planned noise wall along the Loop 101. Rich Rummer of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists (CAB) said many studies have been done documenting the safety and benefits of tunnels and trails. He cited a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy study on tunnels. Dave said he was familiar with that study from a report Allan Grover did for CTOC. Brian Bates said the CBAC should make a positive recommendation on the Loop 101 bridge reinforcing our support for the tunnel option. Jim Hunton said he, as Chair of the CBAC, would be willing to take a recommendation to the CTOC. Bill Wilkinson said that would not be necessary. Omar Khiel made a motion that the CBAC recommend to the CTOC that the tunnel design as conceptualized originally by URS be the preferred design and, if there was still opposition to that design, then the design that widened at the top would be acceptable. The motion was seconded and passed with eight members voting for the motion and one member against the motion. X. 63rd AVENUE STREET WIDENING FOR BIKE LANES, GRAND AVENUE TO OLIVE • Dave Hedlund reported to the CBAC on the 63rd Avenue street widening project from Olive Avenue to Grand Avenue. He said the street would be widened to accommodate bike lanes. Dave described the existing street as varying in widths and in many places being inadequate for bicycling because of the narrowness of the paved roadway. He said the new dimensions would be 22 feet from centerline where adjacent properties were developed and 18 feet where there was no development. Dave also pointed out that future expansion of the City of Glendale's Field Operations Center south of Grand Ave. would necessitate an alternate route for cyclists to reconnect with 63rd Ave. south of Glendale Ave. A possible alternate route is, said Dave, going east on Morten Ave. to 61st Ave., south to Myrtle and the west on Myrtle to 62nd Ave. and south to reconnect to 63rd. Ave. via Ocotillo. If cyclists turned east onto Myrtle they could access downtown Glendale. Dave said a segment of Morten was too narrow for travel lanes and bike lanes but the City could possibly purchase the needed land to widen the street. Dave then said that the City was planning on purchasing the land on the northwest corner of Myrtle, Grand Ave. and 61st Ave. to preserve a historic adobe building and that a pathway could be c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\0803m.doc 04/29/11 Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes August 4,2003 —Page 5— built across that property from a terminated 61st Ave. to Myrtle. Omar Khiel said a pathway accessing Myrtle so near the intersection with Grand Ave. would be awkward and unsafe. He said it would be better to take Northview Ave. east to 59th Dr. then south to Myrtle. Ed Cure agreed, saying that way cyclists could more easily turn right on Myrtle to reconnect with 63`d. Ave. or east to go downtown. Rich Rummer asked if 61St and Myrtle was signalized and if so it would need a "bike button." Joe Terranova said he supported that idea because it could be easy for a cyclist unfamiliar with the area to get confused using a pathway that ends so near the intersection of 61st, Grand, and Myrtle. Ed Cure said both the path and the Northview/59th Dr. route could be developed. Michael Wood said if there was a path at the intersection there would need to be some kind of turn lane. Dave said he thought the Committee had given him some good suggestions and that the Northview/59th Dr. route might be the better option. XI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • No agenda items were suggested. XII. OTHER BUSINESS • No other business was brought forward. The next regular meeting of the Glendale Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee will be held on Monday, October 6, 2003,6:30 p.m. in room B3 at the Municipal Complex,5850 West Glendale Avenue. XIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and unanimously approved. Jim Hunton adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m. c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\0803m.doc 04/29/11