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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Citizens Bicycle Advisory Committee - Meeting Date: 12/1/2003 CITY OF GLENDALE CITIZEN BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) Monday, December 1, 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 6:30 p.m. Also in attendance: Brian Bates, David Parks, Ed Cure, Bill Wilkinson, Michael Wood, Omar Khiel, Joe Terranova, Betsy Turner and staff- Steve Hancock. Others in attendance: Dave Hedlund (URS Consultants). Members absent: None II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the October 6, 2003 meeting were approved. 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 V. REPORTS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS • Ed Cure said that there was no Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists activities to report. • Bill Wilkinson said that he had nothing to report from the November 6th CTOC meeting. He thanked all members who attended the November 25th City Council meeting to support the new design of the Loop 101 ped/bike bridge. He noted that the Council unanimously approved the new design. • Betsy Turner reported on the first meeting of the 2004 Valley Bike Week Committee sponsored by Valley Metro. She said the Swap Meet would occur on Saturday, April 24th; Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes December 1,2003 —Page 2— Bike-to-BOB on Sunday, April 25th; Glendale Family Bike Ride on Sunday, April 18th; and Bike-to-Work Day on Wednesday, April 21st VII. NEW RIVER TRAIL • Dave Hedlund of URS reported on the initial design parameters of the planned New River Trail in Glendale's segment of the regional New River Trail. Dave said that the project had been on the "back burner" for a while due to higher priority projects. He said the trail would reach from Northern Ave. to the Bethany Home Rd. alignment, all on the east side of New River. Dave said that Peoria was also planning a segment of New River trail that would go from Grand Ave. to Northern Ave. He noted that Peoria's trail would be on the west side of New River. To connect the two cities' trails an underpass below Northern Ave. on the east side would loop up to the north side of Northern Ave. and use an existing sidewalk to cross New River to the west side and connect to Peoria's trail. Dave said that Glendale's Parks Department had requested the trail be on the east side of New River in Glendale to facilitate connection to Glendale streets and parks. Dave pointed out that another Glendale Onboard project is a segment of the Grand Canal Trail from 91st Ave. to New River. This trail would connect to the New River Trail via the Grand Canal Outfall Channel just over 1/2 mile north of the Bethany Home Rd. alignment. It would also connect to the future Maryland Ave. extension. The Bethany Home Rd. alignment channel may be used for another trail connection to New River in the future. Dave said that the northern outfall channel was chosen for development first because it would best meet the needs for right-of-way access and access to the future Maryland Ave. bike route. Dave said the needed right-of-way would soon be owned by the Salt River Project (SRP) that was negotiating for purchase of land for a ground water recharge basin. He further said that SRP was supportive of a trail project. Omar Khiel asked if the SRP purchase was a "done deal." Dave said that it appeared so. Ed Cure asked what Maryland Ave. would look like. Dave said that as the area is developed a roadway with curbs and gutters would be built with sufficient width for bike lanes. Ed asked if Maryland would ever bridge New River. Dave answered that it would most probably not since the Glendale Airport was located on the west bank of the New River in that alignment. Ed said it was unfortunate that there were no half-mile crossings of New River since the City's bikeway system was based on the half-mile collector streets. Ed also asked if Dave anticipated any environmental hurdles in building underpasses at Northern and Glendale Avenues. Dave said he did not. Ed then asked about the 63`d Ave./61st Ave. widening project, wondering if it was on track. Dave said the design concept was being finalized and it should soon be in the construction design phase. Joe Terranova asked about the Grand Ave. bridge project at 61st Ave. and Myrtle. Dave responded that the bridge was not an identified project in the Glendale Onboard Program and that funding would have to be found and the project approved by the CTOC before the project could proceed. VIII. CBAC END OF THE YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD DISCUSSION • Jim Hunton said that this was an opportunity for members to voice any concerns about the performance of the CBAC or how the committee was dealing with bicycling issues. Omar c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\1203m.doc 12/28/03 Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes December 1,2003 —Page 3— Khiel said that he thought the CBAC was on the right track but was not being proactive enough in identifying areas where the City's bicycle system had disconnects. He used the example of places where bike lanes would end as they approached intersections and then start up again on the other side of the intersecting street. Omar said we need to develop a more convenient, safer system that will get more people out riding bikes. Steve Hancock said that Omar's suggestion about being more proactive was very timely since Transportation staff had discussed the need for small, connectivity type projects that could be bundled into a larger package for funding purposes. Steve encouraged the members to identify areas where streets needed widening to connect existing bike routes or short pathway segments would improve access to other bikeways. Dave Hedlund said that the Glendale Onboard Program had a line item for street widening projects that was for arterial streets but could possibly be used for half-mile collector streets. Dave encouraged members to put together a list of gaps in the system, saying he thinks the money could be found to fund improvements. Omar Khiel also raised the issue of young cyclists riding against traffic near Deer Valley High School on 51St Ave. He said the Committee should take some action like asking the police for enforcement of pertinent traffic laws or some kind of education effort. Betsy Turner said the cyclists were probably Jr. High School kids since most high school students wouldn't be riding bikes. Steve Hancock said that it was not a function of the Committee to directly seek enforcement efforts by the Police Department. He reminded members that the CBAC role is to advise the City Council through the CTOC. Steve also said that the CBAC had formed a Subcommittee to explore bicycle safety education, which was an allowable function under the bylaws of the CBAC. Joe Terranova said he thought safety education efforts should be targeted at parents not children. Betsy said that individuals on the Committee should contact the school Principal regarding unsafe student cyclists. Jim Hunton, in reference to the issue of bundling bike projects, said that he would like to do something similar to his experience of going out with Matt Zoll and measuring streets for possible bikeway additions. Joe Terranova suggested that Steve Hancock could provide guidance in measuring streets widths and discussing needed rights-of-way. Steve said he would be willing to do so. Ed Cure suggested that members should "mull over" some ideas for future Committee focus and come back at a future meeting to discuss them. IX. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ed cure asked that improvement of the Glendale bike lanes be on a future agenda. • Ed also wanted the planned Northern Super Street as an agenda item. • Jim Hunton wanted the Glendale Family Bike Ride as a future agenda item. X. OTHER BUSINESS • No members had other business to discuss. c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\1203m.doc 12/28/03 Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes December 1,2003 —Page 4— XI. NEXT MEETING Jim Hunton noted that the next regular meeting of the Glendale Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee would be held on Monday, January 5, 2004, 6:30 p.m., Room B-3, at the Municipal Complex, 5850 West Glendale Avenue. XII. 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 8:09 p.m. c:\documents and settings\blimbach\desktop\minutes\2003\1203m.doc 12/28/03