Complete Streets & Bikeway Committee

COMPLETE STREETS COMMITTEE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN October 15, 2018 Meeting Minutes In attendance: Beth Emery, Ron Krom, Cindi Perugini, Debby Stanley, Laura Baum, Kat Young, Nur Fitzpatrick (NEAT) Review of minutes of August 2018 meeting: accepted Complete Streets website: CS would like to post on the City of Middletown’s website, however at this time the website is still in the updating stages. Deb Stanley mentioned her office (Parks and Recreation) fields calls from area residents and visitors regarding bike routes in the city. A goal of CS would be to participate and update biking and hiking routes on the website. The information must be user friendly and routes easy to follow. Ron reminded that Pedal Power has bike routes on their website. Middletown’s First official bike route: Appears to be a lot of interest in this issue with city officials. The proposed route will run from downtown, DeKoven area, Stop and Shop, East Main Street to Millbrook Road area. Newfield Street Corridor Path: John Hall met with Chris Holden (Public Works), Tom Nigosanti (City Engineer) and Gene Thazhampallath (Parking Department) regarding the Public Works agenda and CS participation. It is imperative interested parties be encouraged to attend the Public Works meeting on November 14, 2018 Room 208, to discuss this issue. Also letters to PW from the community would be beneficial for this cause. Nur and Kat stated they can attend. Bike/Walk to School: Ron talked about the changes that have taken place in the area of Macdonough School: crosswalks, pedestrian walkways, and road painting. Kat has volunteered to reach out to parents at the schools who will send letters to PW regarding issues they feel are important and assist with promoting CS goals. She will encourage participation in the Bike/Walk to School Programs. Bike to School Day is May 8, 2019 and Walk to School Day is October 17, 2019. Kat will work on coordinating efforts with the schools and city officials to promote these activities. Kat has expressed an interest in bike lanes on Main Street. She volunteered to prepare designs to present to city officials identifying the safety and need for bike lanes on Main Street. Community and City involvement is necessary for success of these projects. Wesleyan University Bike Share Program: This program was discontinued due to the SPIN company cancelling the contract with Wesleyan University to concentrate on scooters instead of bicycles. A coordinated effort with the City of Middletown would lead to a more successful program. Saybrook Road, East Main Street and Tryon Street Project: RFP has been submitted for bids. Mayor’s Youth Council: no update. Sustainable CT: The City received a Bronze standing. According to the report, CS accounted for approximately 1/3 of the points achieved. There is a necessity to review the application to ensure those items listed are accomplished as identified and/or on the list to be completed. This is an opportunity for CS goals to be reviewed and coordinated with this award. Community Calendar: The Bike Walk CT annual fundraising dinner is scheduled for November 2, 2018 at Central Connecticut State University. Nur Fitzpatrick: Nur attended a meeting for the first time in hopes of soliciting CS with getting the North End Gardens on the map. She would like CS to assist in promoting the North End gardens by putting them on the bike routes brochure and city website for residents and visitors to tour, in hopes it would encourage people to come to the North End. She is attempting to make the North End a more friendly area to visit. New business for November: Revisit the CS Action Plan to identify our priorities and determine if CS is on track. Prepared by Cindi Perugini Next meeting scheduled for November 13, 2018.