Pedestrian Safety Board

March 2, 2015 Meeting Minutes Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 The Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board’s mission is to promote a walkable environment throughout the City by developing safe, attractive, and accessible walkways that connect neighborhoods and destinations. 4:30 pm Meeting called to order by Chair Matt Cross I. Introductions: a. Members: Chair Matt Cross, Vice Chair Bill Reger-Nash, Stan Cohen, George Lilley, Jimmie Simmons, Dwight Harshbarger, Bob Anderson, Ella Belling, Mike Fike, Maria Smith, Bob Anderson b. Guests: William Blosser, Frank Gmeindl, Saba Ashfaq, Chuck Coole, Bill Kawecki, Bill Austin II. Approval of February 2, 2015 Minutes, Moved by Jimmie Simmons, second by George Lilley. Passed by unanimous voice vote. III. Reports- Mountain Line Maria Smith - Four issues: 1. Route efficiency and maintenance study being conducted 2. County requested service to the new baseball field, Mountain Line is proposing a route that will run from Evansdale Campus and Med Center PRT, through Star City, through the Gateway shopping plaza, out to Mylan, to UTC including the new Medical Center and the new baseball field and back through Star City and on to Evansdale Campus 3. Mobile App-live bus tracking app, available on Android and iOS. Provides real time bus tracking. 4. Responsive website (viewable on all devices) to launch end of this week. WVU Kim Hartsell. Not present. Bill noticed that WVU Transportation and Parking web pages do not mention walking. These pages should be promoting walking as much as possible as it is the healthy alternative and can reduce congestion. We need to have a marketing approach to walking. Saba Ashfaq willing to work on this issue and will attempt to engage her fellow students. Matt Cross suggested pamphlet given out to incoming students. Rail Trail Ella Belling – Safe Cities initiatives may be able to fund lighting for trails. There is development of Foundry Street link with the trail which will include lighting under the bridge. Grant monies were received for signage for Morgantown to the trail. 1. Spring 2-Mile Walk and Handmade Market to celebrate the National Opening Day for Trails. March 28, Two mile walk begins at 10:30 am, Terra Café, Handmaid market 10 am – 4 pm. 2. April 24-26 Rails to Trails Sojourn, cycling along existing corridor and missing links. Volunteers needed. Local option will be forthcoming.  a. This should be the year for the completion of the WV line through Point Marion PA and up toward the Cheat Lake Damn. 3. Blue Jean Ball to support Greenspace, ½ mile from exit. 130 people have RSVP. Music by Total Melt Down. March 7. Doors open at 6 pm. 4. March 16, Lake Lynn Hydro Recreation Plan Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm. Location: Lakeview ,– Meeting about recreation plan for Cheat Lake, boating, biking, hiking, and swimming. The new energy company (Cube Hydro) will be present for public comments. GreenSpace Rick Landenberger as reported by Ella Belling 1. Greenspace coalition is reviving. Ella working on website. Umbrella organization to bring groups/organizations together. Ped Safety Board Facebook. Matt Cross has resurrected this and will further communicate info about this. City Council Mike Fike City Budget for 2015-16. $100,000 set aside for sidewalk construction. This year only. Sidewalks, ramps, signage, some lighting. B&O influx of monies this year make these monies available. This represents roughly 20% of the road improvement budget, reflecting the 20% who walk for transportation in Morgantown. Thank you, Mike Fike. We need to express appreciation to City Council and Admin as these projects unfold. Stan Cohen pointed out that sidewalk snow removal by businesses and residents has been marginal this winter. This discourages walking. Place in Fall 2015 (October 1, 2015) calendar to remind the city about alerting property owners. Matt Cross raised an issue about paving priorities. There seem to be streets scheduled to be repaved that are in excellent condition. Bill Austin MPO GreenBag Road results reviewed and prioritized two segments: 1. US 119 to Dorsey Avenue is the first priority segment of the corridor 2. Dorsey Avenue to Deckers Creek Boulevard is the second priority segment The top three priority projects in the plan are in this order, the improvement of the Dorsey Avenue/Kingwood Pike Intersection with Greenbag Road, the US 119/Greenbag Road Intersection improvement and multi-modal improvements along Greenbag Road between Mississippi and the entrance to Giant Eagle.  These recommendations will be brought to Citizen Advisory and Technical committees. Projects do not upgrade the entire corridor, although truckers are favorable impressed with the proposed changes. They believe that these changes will attract trucks.  Green Bag Road Route 7 intersection is being studied. Perhaps Summer or Fall there will be a public meeting about proposed improvements. It is possible a roundabout could create  problems with the trail crossing. DOH’s consultant is aware of this concern.  Good turnout at the Open House, which included a lot of bicycle and pedestrian advocates.  The Greenmont Bridge is being funded by a DOH Recreational Trails Grant. Frank Gmeindl noted that the TIF in Greenmont represents one possibility for funding pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the area. There needs to be a more comprehensive approach to funding issues. Frank also noted that DOH is not open to addressing these concerns City Engineering Damien Davis Not present Police Officer McCabe not present. Matt Cross reported about Univ Ave ped / vehicle accident near Grumbein Island. The driver was cited for alcohol. The pedestrian was cited for not crossing in cross walk. Dwight Harshbarger noted that Grumbein Island is not marked with paint or signs. Are the bricks the crosswalk? Damien Davis may have some thoughts. Note: Poorly designed cross walks give people a false sense of security. Matt Cross noted that there is no crossing opportunity at Willowdale and Med Center Drive. IV. Old Business Blue Jean Ball March 7 See above Facebook Page Matt Cross See above Matt challenged board to come up with ideas with a flyer, like the bike info disseminated by the Bike Board. April 18, Chocolate Lovers Day. Matt suggests having a Ped Safety booth. V. New Business MPO Greenbag Road recommendations-public support See above Action Items: 1.Fall 2015 (Oct 1) alert City Streets/engineering about snow removal for winter. 2. Blue Jean Ball March 7. Check it out at http://www.wvlandtrust.org/event-blue_jean_ball.html. 3. March 16, 6:30 pm, Lakeview Resort – Meeting about recreation plan for Cheat Lake, boating, biking, hiking, and swimming. The new energy company will be there for public comments. 4. Saba Ashfaq will work with other Public Health students developing marketing ideas about walking for the Transportation and Parking webpages. 5. All Pedestrian Safety Board members and guests are requested to send one pedestrian safety tid bit of information that might be included in the Pedestrian Safety Flyer or on our Facebook homepage. 5:37 pm Motion to adjourn. Motion by Dwight, Second by Stan Cohen. Passed unanimous voice vote. Next meeting: April 6, 2015, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Minutes submitted by Bill Reger-Nash on March 4 2015.