Complete Streets & Bikeway Committee

City of Middletown Complete Streets Committee Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, February 13, 2023, 7 PM Location: WebEx Attendees: Laura Baum, Beth Emery, Zoemma Warshafsky, Tom Quirk, Howard Weissberg, Ayhan Assadourian, Alyssa Krom, Chris Holden (started meeting on WebEx but was not present for meeting) 1. Current/ongoing projects: ● Air Line Trail – Farmington Canal Trail (ALT-FCT) Connector Study Update ○ Howard in selection process for consultants (have narrowed it down to 3). Scope look at gaps in trail to see how best to address. Length of study is less than 1 year but contract approval will take some time. Hope to start preliminary design in 2024. ● Saybrook Road (East Main to Tryon) ○ Project being split into 2 phases. Waiting on right of entry responses for 39; have most returned with positive responses. Water main replacement part will go first and start this summer as phase 1. Cardinal Engineering working on solutions of other issues with the project. ● Saybrook Road (Randolph to Aircraft) ○ Trying to come up with solution for dealing with concrete base. Will likely seal joints and then overlay with Stress Absorbing Membrane topping slab. The flexibility works well with concrete base. Will put a seal over the top to make it smoother for cyclists. The product is great for joggers. ● Micro-Transit (bikes/scooters) ○ No updates ● Bike Friendly Middletown application ○ No updates ● Washington & DeKoven Dr intersection ○ Upcoming public information session about Route 9 signal removal on Monday, March 6 at 5:30pm in Council Chambers and on Webex. This is a city meeting, not a DOT meeting. Howard will be visiting local stakeholders for feedback to help guide DOT approach. Link to be shared with CS for our review; we can provide comment at the next CS meeting on March 13th. ● Washington & Rte 3/Vine intersection work ○ A pedestrian crossing light was added but there is no crosswalk. Middletown will contact DOT to determine their intent and figure out how to react. ● Complete Streets Leadership Academies ○ Pilot idea at time of this meeting: (1) back in parking on part of Main St. and (2) pedestrian level lighting for crossings at St. Johns Square ○ Beth attended the last (CSLA) meeting; her highlights: The better story you tell the more acceptance you get for an issue ○ Laura will try and get copies of presentation to put on the CS share drive so other CS members can access. 1  ○ Next one is a 2-day event (March 21-22); Beth and Howard planning to attend ● Committee membership ○ Three members got letters from the Mayor. Cat Young may be taking over Beth's spot. We have 1 vacancy that must be filled with someone that isn’t a registered Democrat. 2. Reports from other pertinent regular meetings/events: ● ECOIN ● Sustainable Middletown / CT ○ Submitting this summer ● MxChamber Environment and Infrastructure meeting 3. New Business: ● Earth Week festival ○ Likely it's on Saturday April 22, 2023. CS will likely set up a group bike ride on River Road. ● Bike Night ○ Ayhan is proposing a Bike Night. He has spoken with the mayor who is excited about the idea. Wants to start a committee. Howard recommends it be South of Washington if on Main St. because that would be easier to get approved. Would be good to have it when/if the bike share comes back. Broad Street might be a good street to do it on; from the Library/Pedal Power to Union Green. It would be easier to combine it with the Health and Wellness Festival. CS to send out an email to our mailing list to look for interested parties that would want to join the planning committee. ● Other new business ○ Crosswalk not working at Crescent St. and Main St. ○ Crossing at intersection of West St. and Middlefield St is dangerous for those trying to access ALDI Grocery Story. ○ Quarterly meeting with PW is beneficial and should be maintained if possible; Laura may not be able to attend these going forward. Laura will send out email asking for another representative that can attend. ○ PW and Police Dept coordinating; second meeting coming up. Howard wants to have another meeting or two with them before bringing CS into the discussion. Notes: - Next meeting: Monday, March 13, 2023, 7 PM (WebEx) - Next quarterly Public Works/Planning depts. Meeting: February 24, 2023 2