Pedestrian Safety Board

Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting Agenda Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 4:30 – 5:30 PM December 5, 2016 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 Members: Kim Hartsell, Drew Gatlin, Jenn McDonald, Jimmie Simmons, Jay Redmond, Jessica Bladow, Damien Davis, Dan Shook, Bill Austin, and Lt. Matt McCabe Guest: William Blosser Absent: Maria Smith, Ella Belling, Amy Boggs, Gypsy Denzine, and Bill Reger- Nash II. Approval of November 7, 2016 Minutes. Motion by ____ second by _____, Passed by (unanimous voice vote). November meeting minutes to be approved at next meeting. III. New Business • We need to review the pedestrian safety board member list; wait for Bill Reger- Nash to assist with this process. • Elections will be held next month for officer positions for the Pedestrian Safety Board. • Winter is coming; snow removal will be an issue, especially on sidewalks. o Trash cans on sidewalk are allowable from 6pm day before to 6pm day of garbage pick-up. • Dan Shook: Nominated Morgantown for the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge  he is working with Damien to purchase crosswalk-warning systems. The City was recognized for this challenge in Washington DC and won a $10,000 seed grant. Hoping to get sufficient money to install these crosswalk-warning systems within the next few years. • Drew Gatlin: Discussed the State Route (SR) 705 multi-use path project (with limits starting at the roundabout at US 119 and going to the intersection past Stewartstown Road with Suncrest Towne Center): o This is currently in state jurisdiction, but Morgantown may be looking to annex it. o There is a livestock tunnel that crosses SR 705 and is used by Eastwood Elementary school as well and may help tie this project into the Falling Run Road project. IV. Old Business • Suncrest Elementary School walking program: o Matt spoke with Damien about signing on Collins Ferry Road for the new crosswalk. o Matt also wrote a paragraph to share with Mylan and DOE employees to help bring more awareness to driving along Collins Ferry Road, since the new school is to open in January of 2017. Bill Austin will help Matt connect with leadership at Mylan. o Morgantown is looking to annex the new school and will potentially add a sidewalk to the West side of Collins Ferry (from Aspen to the school). There may be potential to take sidewalks from the school to the trail at a later time. o Damien suggested making walking routes to schools for other district schools as well. • Inventory of malfunctioning signals – not discussed • WVU outreach – not discussed V. Reports -Mountain Line Maria Smith: absent -WVU Kim Hartsell: as part of the Evansdale Campus Master Plan – the goal of which is to be more pedestrian friendly – they have been trying to reduce the vehicular traffic on campus. Jenn mentioned a specific crosswalk between the PRT & the CAC (Creative Arts Center) that could use lighting improvements Kim said that she would pass this issue along. -Rail Trail Ella Belling: absent -MPO Bill Austin: Morgantown Monongalia MPO is developing updates for the Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Plan and is planning to hire interns this summer to revisit the survey of facilities. They are also hoping to turn this into a regional pedestrian plan. -City Engineer Damien Davis: Everything has been submitted to the DOH (Department of Highways) for the for the white park rail trail connector to improve the signal (near the Greenmont pedestrian bridge). The City is waiting for DOH comments back on the Walnut streetscape (limits from Spruce Street to High Street). The City received another streetscape project grant on Pleasant Street (only design funds, not construction yet). There is also a grant for the SR 705 multi-use path. The State is planning to improve eight signals downtown. -City Council Jay Redmond: The City has approval from the DOH on the design for lighting on High Street. The plan is to replace all of the lights on High Street & replace and add lights on Wall Street too. The City is hoping to create a plan to address the Riverfront Park area, which will be presented to the Ruby Foundation. Jay hopes that this Board will continue to formulate priorities for sidewalk repair and construction; keeping this list current is very important. The hope is that the City can find a way to interface sidewalk repair and construction with the new service fee money. There were 53 applicants for the City Manager position, which got whittled  down to 5 for formal interviews in Morgantown on January 7th. There will probably be a public mingling event on the evening of January 7th which we would be welcome to attend and introduce ourselves to the candidates. -Police Lt. McCabe – no news reported -Traffic Commission Matt Cross - no news reported Action Items: • Have members review Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Plan and come to the next meeting with thoughts and ideas about how to prioritize a sidewalk network. • Have members consider running for officer positions. • Bill Austin will help Matt connect with leadership at Mylan. Next meeting: January 9, 2017, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Minutes submitted by Jessica Bladow.