Pedestrian Safety Board

Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting Minutes Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 4:30 – 5:30 PM September 11, 2017 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 (Quorum Present): Matt Cross, Jen MacDonald, Jessica Bladow, Stan Cohen, Dan Shook, Dwight Harshbarger, Jimmie Simmons, and Bill Reger-Nash Ex-officio: Jing Zhang, Kim Hartsell, Bill Kawecki, Captain McCabe, and Ella Belling Guest: Penny Kostka, Cammie Chaumont Menendez, and William Blosser, Absent: Christiaan Abildso, Gypsie Denzine, Jan Derry, George Lilley, Maria Smith, Damien Davis, Amy Boggs, and Drew Gatlin II. Approval of August 14, 2017 Minutes. Motion by Jimmie Simmons second by Jessica Bladow, Passed by (unanimous voice vote). III. Officer’s Reports • Jessica mentioned that the downtown signal upgrade includes the following 8 intersections: 1. High Street & Pleasant Street 2. High Street & Walnut Street 3. High Street & Fayette Street 4. High Street & Willey Street 5. Spruce Street & Pleasant Street 6. Spruce Street & Walnut Street 7. Spruce Street & Fayette Street 8. Spruce Street & Willey Street • Jessica also mentioned that she and Matt met with Bobbi Sykes, the Director of Practice-Based Learning for WVU’s School of Public Health, to discuss opportunities for the Pedestrian Safety Board to host an intern. ▪ Jessica explained that there are two options: 1. Undergrad Intern: the School of Public Health puts the students into teams of 2 to complete the undergraduate internship requirement. We would be required to partner with the Center for Service and Learning to obtain undergraduate students as interns. They are required to perform 60 hours each which would mean 120 hours total for approximately 6 hours/week. 2. Graduate/ Masters Student: they get to choose their intern opportunities and generally perform their internship during the  summer. The current requirement is 180 hours which usually breaks down to 12-15 hours per week. ▪ Bill Kawecki asked what types of projects we would request from the interns, the following options were discussed. 1. Observing and mapping locations where jay walking occurs vs. where crosswalks are used. o Bill Kawecki followed up and asked what the MPO has for this type of data. Jing said that the MPO has some data of this type and mentioned that the MPO is wonderful source of data and WVU might be as well for gathering this type of information. 2. Analyzing Police Crash Data to determine the location of the hot spots for pedestrian incidents. o It was mentioned that Damien is responsible for the police crash data and an intern could search his site for data. 3. Matt mentioned that he is hoping to get a pedestrian count for widening North Street and said that we could get intern involved in this. 4. Matt also mentioned the potential of getting an intern involved with measuring the impact of walk to school days for the ultimate purpose of promoting walking to school. 5. General observation of crosswalks, especially with regards to signaling to map locations where signaling is used and obeyed or disregarded. o Dwight asked if the City has cameras for intersections; Captain McCabe said that we are not allowed to use them due to WV law which states that you can’t use cameras for enforcement. Penny asked if we could use cameras for observation and Captain McCabe said no, unless you go through State law to get special permission. 6. Other ideas: pedestrian counts, intersection observation and mapping, accident statistics, health benefit promotions, etc. ▪ Bill Kawecki suggested making a list of ideas and forming a small committee group. Jessica followed up suggesting that a small committee group would have the greatest impact. Jimmie said that she could help prioritize the goals and Jing volunteered since he has background knowledge of the data presently available. Since Jessica has an engineering background, she will also participate on the committee and Matt further volunteered himself. ▪ Bill Reger-Nash says safe routes to schools could be a great focus for an intern next Fall. • Matt ▪ Ella Belling – just received Land Use permit for the Collins Ferry Road connector.  ▪ Matt reminded everyone that the pedestrian plan update will be coming soon from the MPO and said that he was agreeable to the MPO combining the bike plan update with the pedestrian plan update. ▪ Membership protocol: Matt said that positions on the Board, like the City Engineer–Damien Davis– are ex-officio positions and noted that he has been treating them as not member voters. Matt further noted that online research has indicated that generally ex-officio members have the same rights as regular members unless regulations or bylaws constrain their rights. o William says that if it’s in the bylaws that the committee can make its own rules, then we can make our own rules. o Captain McCabe noted that there is precedent for ex-officio members not to have a vote since that is also how the traffic commission works. o Jessica noted that she has record of there being 12 official members on the Pedestrian Safety Board: (1) Matthew Cross, (2) Bill Reger-Nash, (3) Jessica Bladow, (4) Christiaan Abildso, (5) Gypsie Denzine, (6) Stanley Cohen, (7) Jen MacDonald, (8) Jimmie Simmons, (9) Jan Derry, (10) Dwight Harshbarger, (11) George Lilley, and (12) Daniel Shook o Jessica further noted that there are a handful of unofficial members. o Bill Kawecki asked if we could alter our bylaws to officially not count ex-officio as voting members; Matt said that he will get with the city attorney (Ryan Simonton) to check. ▪ Matt also mentioned that he discussed the plan to widen North Street with Damien who is on board for this project. IV. Action Item Follow-up • Matt: 1. Thank You for Fred Shoukry 2. City website – STILL NEEDS TO BE UPDATED ▪ PSA video linked to website ▪ Update website with meeting minutes & membership information 3.City Council Representative – no one in particular has volunteered permanently, this might be finalized later; the important part is that we maintain a representative 4.Sidewalk Improvement Incentive – STILL NEED AN ANSWER V. New Business • Matt made a motion to add Penny Kostka to the Board’s membership to represent the 4th ward. Jessica seconded this motion which passed with a unanimous voice vote. • Dan Shook mentioned that he is looking for data to determine where the dangerous intersections are for a lighted crosswalk system (he is hoping to locate the top two).  ▪ Captain McCabe said that there were only 3 reported pedestrian- vehicle incidents last year. ▪ There was discussion about how there was a survey done for becoming a safe community. It was mentioned that Christiaan might know where these dangerous intersections are since he presented this data (4-5 years ago) and it had the time of day. It was noted that this data is still missing the close calls which never get reported. o Dan Shook further observed that most of crossings downtown are not obeyed. ▪ Jenn mentioned how it is common to push buttons that do not consistently work and concluded that this is probably reducing proper pedestrian behaviors. She said that the updated system (specifically at the 8 intersections mentioned above) might help improve some of these behaviors. ▪ Jessica then mentioned that when the walking signal and the left or right turning signals are both coinciding, there is a clear conflict for pedestrians and provides one more reason for them to ignore the signals and attempt to safely jay walk. • Stan Cohen reported on a memo from the WV DOH regarding pedestrian improvements along Brockway Ave in lieu of property exchange at Hogback Run. He questioned how we should inform Paul Brake and suggested scheduling a meeting with him. Stan passed out a handout and highlighted the section of a letter where the DOH listed their promised improvements. He mentioned that there are still items on this list that have not been addressed and would improve the walkability along Brockway Avenue. o Bill Kawecki said that he understood Stan’s desire to meet with the City Manager, and urged him to formalize this request with a letter to both the City Manager and the DOH instead. Bill Kawecki clarified that a letter can be more effective in advocating for a specific issue than an in person meeting. He further emphasized the importance of advocating for specific activities (which can be pulled directly from the letter that Stan passed out). ▪ Jessica suggested Stan draft a letter and send it to Board for feedback. ▪ Dwight asked about how the intersection at Greenbag Road & Kingwood Pike is monitored. Jing responded saying that there are cameras to help coordinate signaling. Penny asked why we can’t monitor crossings with cameras if the DOH can monitor traffic with cameras. Bill Reger-Nash backed her up saying that vehicles and pedestrians are both forms of transportation; so, if it’s acceptable to monitor transportation with cameras, then we should be able to use cameras to monitor crosswalks. • William wanted to let the Board know that he spoke with Frank Gmidel about a week ago and explained that Frank got hit while biking about 2 miles south of  Mount Morris on Aug 18th by a truck pulling out. The truck driver was watching for motorcyclists and didn’t see Frank crossing. Not discussed: • Create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time bound) goals for our Board o Lighting o Walking Signals o North Street Sidewalk • Volunteers for calling schools to get pedestrian counts? • Comprehensive planning with the Bike Board/Mainstreet Morgantown/ Green Team VI. Old Business VII. Upcoming Events o Oct. 4th: National Walk to School Day o Oct. 7th County referendum for a vote – the DOH to put a bunch of money in Morgantown – state wide referendum ▪ Jing said that Bill Austin asked to present to the board at a special meeting for this topic; date to be determined; motion by Penny, second by Stan – unanimous vote. ▪ There will be a presentation on Wednesday by Donny Williams; League of Women voters is circulating information on the topic; Bill Kawecki says it will be a good thing if it goes through – both for jobs and benefits in this county. ▪ Bill Kawecki further stated that projects are already in queue from the MPO for projects that will be advanced and completed sooner than originally planned. VIII. Reports • Mountain Line Maria Smith: absent • WVU Kim Hartsell: nothing to report • Rail Trail Ella Belling: o Friday they are interviewing engineers for the Founders street link, for which there will be lighting under the bridge instead of just across the road. Ella said that we should applaud Damien because the City is about to pave and put in trail head parking and clean up the junk car area which should happen in the next month or two. o Ella further mentioned that there will be bathrooms on the trail in Preston County with running water and flush toilets and drinking fountains. o She also mentioned that the next step in the Collins Ferry connection to the trail will be the environmental study. If this study comes back clear, then the go ahead for the engineering design will be given (for which a firm has already been selected).  o WV Bike Summit coming up September 23rd-24th at the Marriot – Ella said that they are looking for people to attend; Ella said she would send out the agenda to the group. She said there would be lots of workshops to attend and that she could help sponsor people if they can’t pay. • MPO Bill Austin: Jing said that the MPO will provide a scope of work for updating the pedestrian safety board plan at the next meeting. He also mentioned that the MPO is working with the Transportation Equity group to reach out to low income groups who aren’t able to attend public meetings and meet them in their neighborhoods. He mentioned that it would be a good idea to have a pedestrian safety board member participate in this group for which Matt volunteered. Jimmie asked Jing to consider adding the Mountain Line to this group as well. • City Engineer Damien Davis: absent • City Council: Bill Kawecki said that there will be a Health & Wellness Commission meeting on the first Friday in October (Oct. 6th) from 6:30-8:30. • Police Captain McCabe: nothing to report • Traffic Commission Matt Cross: reported news above IX. Action Items • Get Dan Shook the data for dangerous intersection information (ask Christiaan for his data and Damien for updated data) • Matt to discuss altering our bylaws to officially list ex-officio members as non- voting members with the city attorney (Ryan Simonton). Next meeting: October 9, 2017, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm.