City of Lawrence

Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee

October 18, 2011 Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chris Burger, Jay Bialek, Lisa Hallberg, Rhonda Houser, Chad Foster

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Gary Calton, Tom Jerome, Gerard Arantowicz, Neil Taylor

STAFF PRESENT:

Todd Girdler, Jessica Mortinger, Shoeb Uddin, David Woosley, David Cronin

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Dickie Heckler, Mike Myers

 

1.   Call Meeting to Order and Assurance of Quorum.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was present.

 

2.   Approval of the August 16, 2011 Meeting Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from the August 16th meeting was moved by Lisa Hallberg seconded by Rhonda Houser and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discussion Item: Riverfront Sidewalk Connector Plan: Mike Myers presented a proposed shared use path along the Kansas riverfront under the river bridges next to City Hall and asked BAC members to discuss the merits of this proposal and consider including it as a desired facility for future development. He handed out a project packet including a site drawing, photos and project points of information. The facility being proposed is a 10” wide shared use path that connects along the river bluff, under the river bridges, and facilitates bike and pedestrian travel east-west along 6th Street.   In addition to improved/widened sidewalks from city hall to the riverfront parking garage entrance. The pathway provides a crossing opportunity that avoids the traffic and intersections for the Kansas River bridges. It also connects Robinson Park and Constant Park and avoids traffic at the major north/south intersections. The project has a proposed overlook area that is at grade with Robinson Park, making that space more useable and easier to access. The project hopes to bring positive activity, access, and lighting to an area that has historically been home to litter, crime and homeless camping. The project will require infill and a retaining wall, which will improve the erosion that is occurring currently under the bridges. This project creates a more family friendly connection between east Lawrence and old west Lawrence. Shoeb Uddin asked if there was a measurement of the total path length and if the project would require flood plain permitting. Mike Meyers said he had not calculated a distance estimate and he believed that the path would be out of the floodplain, located above the train tracks. However, the project would require fill to build back up the soil that has eroded from the bridge abutments. The BAC discussed the project, including the possible connections at each end. Lisa Hallberg said that the path does provide a solution to the Constant Park crosswalk issue that the BAC had previously identified as a difficult intersection since it provides access to the crosswalk in front of city hall, which is more comfortable for bicyclists. Shoeb indicated that this project might be a viable option for Community Development Block Grant funding. Applications for this process are due December 1st. He encouraged the BAC to submit an application for this project. Mike Myers said this project would be a great facility to improve the neighborhood connection and access to downtown. Todd Girdler said the project should deter criminal activity with improved lighting and barriers. Chris Burger asked if there would be funding to help with the bridge structure from KDOT. Shoeb Uddin indicated that while it was a state facility, the city performs maintenance of the bridge. Mike Myers indicated that he could be contacted to answer questions. The BAC reached a consensus to pursue and submit an application for CDBG monies for this proposed project. Lisa Hallberg and Rhonda Houser agreed to serve on a Subcommittee to draft the application. A motion was made by Chris Burger to authorize this subcommittee and for the BAC to complete a CDBG application with help from City staff. That motion was seconded by Lisa Hallberg and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discussion/Action Item: Public Works Design Projects for Input and Feedback: Shoeb Uddin, David Cronin and David Woosley presented four upcoming design projects and solicited input and feedback about project facilities from the BAC.

 

                    a.        KLINK (Kansas Connecting Links) resurfacing program of the Kansas Department of Transportation assists local governments with the maintenance and upkeep of the City Connecting Links of the State Highway System. The 6th Street mill/overlay from Bluffs Drive to Monterey Way is a KLINK project for 2012. This project will continue the work that was done this year from Massachusetts to Bluffs Drive on 6th Street. No geometric improvements or widening will occur in the corridor. During the construction phase of these types of projects, public works attempts to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities that may be present in the corridor. This project will include adding sidewalks on the Southside of 6th Street west Kasold to make a connecting link. Shoeb Uddin also indicated that existing sidewalk in the corridor would be expanded from 4” to 6” where appropriate. This is an example of types of improvements that are attempted in the corridor during KLINK work. Lisa Hallberg indicated the need for consistent sidewalks on at least one side of the street for non-motorized   traffic. The members present agreed, Shoeb Uddin indicated that public works would investigate the improvement potential for sidewalks and return with a proposal to the BAC.

                    b.        Wakarusa reconstruction from Oread to Research Parkway- This full reconstruction has a proposed shared use path improvement, however, the roadway geometry allows for 10’ allocated to bike lanes, which might be a better fit since 6’ sidewalks would be improved on each side of the street. Shoeb Uddin provided a typical sections handout with the proposed options. Lisa Hallberg indicated the bike lanes here would end one each end similarly to the lanes on 19th Street near the roundabout. This leaves cyclists on the roadway with nowhere to go except the travel lane. Chris Burger indicated this road provided an opportunity as a younger road to call attention to the space on the road for bicyclists. Rhonda Houser indicated that she was concerned the roadway’s 45mph speed was dangerous for bicyclists to interact in. Jay Bialek indicated this corridor is heavily used by families and children. Chad Foster said they would be able to use the existing or improved sidewalk legally regardless if a bike lane was present. Chris Burger made a motion to recommend bike lanes and improved 6’ sidewalks on both sides of the street for this reconstruction project. The motion was seconded by Chad Foster and passed unanimously.

                    c.        9th Street turn lane addition between Kentucky and Tennessee, funded with Highway safety funds creates a left and right turn lane onto Kentucky and Tennessee from 9th Street. This project provides the opportunity to add bike lanes within the existing right- of-way if on street parking is removed and lane widths are reduced from 12’ to 10’. This additional one block of bike lanes would extend the existing bike lanes to the west. The eastbound bike lane will have a short gap where bicyclist will have to take the through lane for travel through the intersection at 9th and Tennessee. Jessica Mortinger asked if a sharrow marking was appropriate for this gap section in the right through lane. Shoeb Uddin indicated a sharrow marking would be investigated for appropriateness. Lisa Hallberg made a motion to support the addition of bike lanes on this block, the motion was seconded by Chad Foster and passed unanimously.

                    d.        Iowa Sidewalk construction and connecting gaps- This project is currently in the design phase. It is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant. The project fills sidewalk gaps on the east side of Iowa street from Harvard to new connections being made to 7th Street and the 6th Street sidewalks. Chris Burger indicated the connection to 7th Street provides a great parallel alternative for travel. Chad foster indicated the 6th street connection provides an opportunity to remove trips from the intersection at 6th & Iowa Street. The members discussed the logical terminus on the north end where the shared use path will meet with a sidewalk. There were concerns from some of the members about the safely and logic of this connection. Lisa Hallberg asked if a shared use path over a sidewalk would provide for future potential in this area. Shoeb Uddin indicated that no future facilities had been planned; however the development of a 6’ sidewalk vs. a 10’ shared use path will cost only the supplies in difference. Lisa Hallberg made a motion to support the project as proposed; it was seconded by Chad Foster. Before the vote Chris Burger and Jay Bialek made a point to mention that the 7th Street connection is a fabulous addition to the network and that they believed the shared use path providing access onto 6th Street Sidewalk was a bad connection between facilities. The members present voted 3-2 in favor of the project as proposed, and the motion passed.

 

Shoeb Uddin thanked the BAC for their comments and recommendations and indicated that public works staff would return to follow up on project details.

 

  1. Discussion/Action Item: Support Letter for the TIGER III grant application being submitted by KDOT-Lawrence-Douglas County for the Bob Billings Parkway/K-10 Interchange:  Shoeb Uddin presented the TIGER III grant being submitted by KDOT to fund bikeway facilities on the new interchange being constructed at Bob Billings Parkway and K-10. KDOT engineers visited the BAC to develop bicycle facility recommendations for this project. The City and County were asked to pay for the additional costs of these facilities on this interchange.  The City and County have currently committed $100,000 each to these bike-ped facilities. The application is seeking the additional $800,000 funding, required for these facilities. The members asked to remove a sentence in the letter. A motion was made by Chris Burger to send the letter as amended. The motion was seconded by Jay Bialek and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discussion Item: T-2030 Chapter 8 - Bicycle System Plan Review: Jessica Mortinger handed out current copies of BAC member comments to the draft chapter. She indicated she would send out an electronic copy and asked the BAC members to submit their comments by the deadline. The BAC T-2030 Chapter 8 – Subcommittee (Chris Burger and Lisa Hallberg) will meet before the next BAC meeting and finalize a draft to bring back to the BAC.

 

  1. Discussion/Action Item: BAC Scheduled Meeting Time: BAC members discussed the responses to the best available meeting times. A motion was made by Chris Burger to reschedule the meeting time from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; leaving the pattern and day the same. The motion was seconded by Chad Foster and passed unanimously. The next meeting will be held November 15th, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

 

  1. Other Business: Jessica Mortinger informed the BAC that MPO staff had been awarded $160,000 in additional Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG) funding to fund a set of multimodal planning studies with three components. The largest component of the set is a countywide bikeway plan. The BAC will be asked to participate in the process. Todd Girdler indicated the other two projects were a countywide park and ride study and a transit stop accessibility study. Jessica Mortinger said these studies will begin in 2012 and end in 2013.

 

  1. Public Comments: There were none.

 

  1. Adjournment of Meeting: The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.