Pedestrian Safety Board

September Meeting Minutes Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 Monday, September 14, 4:36 – 5:30 PM 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 Call meeting to order I. Introductions: a. Members: Kimberly Hartsell, Jimmie Simmons, Chair Matt Cross, Bill Reger- Nash, Lieutenant McCabe, Ella Belling, Damien Davis, b. Guests: William Blosser, Jay Redmond, II. Approval of August 4, 2015 Minutes. Motion by Kimberly Hartsell, second by Lt. McCabe. Passed by unanimous voice vote. III. Reports  -Mountain Line Maria Smith absent but she sent the following report: o The Blue Line will begin a new time schedule beginning next Monday September 21. These time changes have been made in order to accommodate the new dismissal time at UHS. The new and old schedules are available at busride.org o We are also working on holding a bike rodeo for the students at Skyview in early October. This is in the very early stages of planning but if anyone wants details as we get closer feel free to call or email me.  -WVU Kim Hartsell. o Hopefully traffic lights and parking facilities to be complete by mid-October. o Oakland traffic light working well for peds. o 5-year PRT modernization is resulting in improved PRT service. Recommendation that WVU publicize PRT reliability, which is quite good. o Matt Cross to speak with SGA and Kimberly will provide contact for mapping. o There is a lack of bike racks on campus. Kimberly suggested that WVU is working on developing more bike facilities. o Cathy Patterson is developing signage for walking paths on campus. Ron Bane and Stephanie Bock discussed walkways thru campus. Bill will send a message to Ron and Stephanie about this route. o Jimmy Simmons suggested there is a need for Mountain Lion Bus Shelters. o Bill Reger-Nash suggested there is an excellent Zande Corporation slide presentation on walking for the HSC and Ruby Hospital. These include an inner and outer loop as well as connecting spokes between the loops. Bill to provide the material to Kimberly.  -Rail Trail Ella Belling - o Need to have MainStreet Morgantown representative on the Ped Safety Board. Interim director is Barbara 1  o Walkins Mainstreet Morgantown received funding to map walking and ped routes, which need to be coordinated with the Ped and Bike Boards. o Several grants (Collins Ferry Link, Foundry Street, restrooms in Masontown, repaving portions of Deckers Creek) have been approved, but these need 20% match ($50k). o Counters on currently present on the trails to determine use (researchers may be interested in data). o Harrrison County is the initial Last to First Together community selected for health status improvement (Kickoff was today). This is important because the county is a missing portion of the 180-mile regional trail network. o DOH is coming forward on Sept 30 to a scoping meeting regarding Collins Ferry, Foundry St (direct people under the road), Greenmont Bridge. o The Timberline Apt Complex contacted Ella about rail trail connection along Collins Ferry.  -Greenspace Rick Landenberger  -City Council Jay Redmond from 6th Ward. Interested in learning more about Morgantown pedestrian issues. Feel free to contact him at 304 296 3388 or citycouncilward6@cityofmorgantown.org. .  -MPO Bill Austin absent  -City Engineering Damien Davis o Univ Ave / Beverly project moving along but will be closed until at least October 15. All should be substantively finished by November 15. o Permanent University Ave / Beverly traffic light will not be installed for several more months. o PRT ridership up significantly from 15,000-16,000 riders per day to 21,000 riders per day. o Oakland/Univ traffic light (programmed as a concurrent crossing, with countdown indicator. Possible delayed light for cars) to be in 4-6 weeks from now. o Crosswalk at Pizza House to be removed. o Matt Cross raised an issue about the practice of placing business signs in right of way sidewalks. According to City Code Section 905.02B Displaying merchandise or moveable signs: The signs can be no more than 2 feet from the building and need to provide pedestrians with a 5 foot clear sidewalk.  -Police Officer Lt. McCabe Bike o Regarding bike use on downtown sidewalks in the downtown. Lt McCabe will alert downtown officers about the issue and ask them to enforce regulations.  -Traffic Commission Matt Cross Chris Gluck is the new chair for Traffic Commission Old Business: o Reminder to report: o Sidewalks in need of repair: Go to http://com3.govtsystems.com/MorgantownWV/Request/. These issues are addressed and the person expressing their concern receives a response. o Sidewalk obstructions, such as vehicles illegally parked on the sidewalk. Call Police Chief Ed Preston’s office at (304)284-7496.  Education Campaign – 2  o Flyer with pedestrian safety information will be made available at Mountain Lair. Solomon Clement is willing to assist. o Matt Cross suggests having map of cross walks be available to students.  Campus Connector – o Good discussion at the MPO Open House. This needs to be moved forward. New Business:  -Sidewalk funding mechanisms meeting with city admin to discuss remedy to long term problem.  MPO Committee Members – no discussion.  Division of Highways tentatively scheduled a Wednesday October 7 th, 4-7 pm, public meeting to present alternatives for the reconstruction of the Greenbag Road/WV 7 Intersection at Marilla Park Recreation Center Action Items: I. Bill to Provide Zande Corp Planning study on walking (Linda Cooper commissioned) II. Matt Cross and or Bill Reger-Nash to speak with Barbara Walkins about grant that has been received to map walking and ped routes. Invite Mainstreet Morgantown staff to become member of Ped Safety Board. III. Lt McCabe to alert downtown officers about bike riders on sidewalk. IV. Bill to invite Super DeVono invited to Oct Meet. V. Bill will check with Ron Bane and Stephanie Bock about the on-campus walking routes that Ron Bane developed and presented to Gary Murdock. VI. Everyone: If there are sidewalk obstructions such as vehicles parked illegally, Call Police Chief office (304-284-7496). o Report needed sidewalk repairs: http://com3.govtsystems.com/MorgantownWV/Request/. These issues are addressed and the person expressing their concern receives a response. Next meeting: October 5, 2015, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Minutes submitted by Bill Reger-Nash 3