Pedestrian Safety Board

Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting Minutes Public Safety Building – Conference Room 4:30 – 5:30 PM May 14, 2018 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, i.e., 8 of 11 members): Matt Cross, Bill Reger-Nash, Jan Derry, George Lilley, Stan Cohen, Janet Frazer, Penny Kosta, Jen MacDonald Ex-officio: Bill Austin, Jennie Selin, Captain McCabe, Guest: Tammy Smith, Danielle Walker, Yohanna Berhanu, Seble Hailu, Sam Berhanu, Donald Williams, Demetry Walker, Devin Walker, Mayor Bill Kawecki, Syihan Muhammad, II. Approval of April 9, 2018 Minutes. Motion by George Lilley, second by Penny Kosta. Passed by unanimous voice vote. III. Officer’s Reports · Chair Matt Cross: § Intro of Danielle Walker, candidate for House of Delegates, Interested in learning more about Ped issues. § This is Bike to Work to month, Bike to work Day is Friday, May 18, of this week. Meet at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park. § Sheepskin Trail is being completed from WV line to Point Marion (see attached press release). § Walk lights and cross walks are being changed in the downtown. Pedestrians be alert. § Greenmont Ped Bridge is being installed. Opening ceremony soon. § Attended SGA meet and met incoming president · Hopefully WVU SGA Tyler Greathouse will become a regular attendee at the Ped Safety Board. § Morgantown PSA is available on YouTube https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=morgantown+pedestrian+safety+y outube&view=detail&mid=A41145F63C7AF8E49956A41145F63C7AF8 E49956&FORM=VIRE § Kelli LaNeve Mobility Coordinator 304-296-3680. Possible contact into the schools. She is an excellent resource. § Bike Month includes a May 19 Morgantown Bike Bonanza https://www.morgantownwv.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=118 1  § Attended SGA meet and met incoming president · Hopefully Tyler Grate house will become a regular attendee at the Ped Safety Board. § Officer nominations. All selected by unanimous voice vote. · Matt Cross for chair, Bill made nomination, Second by Stan Cohen. · Vice Chair – Penny Nomination by George, Second by Janet Frazer. · Secretary – Jessica Bladow Nomination by Matt cross, Second by George Lilley. § Jenny Selin recommended that we advocate for completion of sidewalks on Baldwin because there is a school there. Matt Cross to write friendly letter to the city. Janet Frazer will draft the letter. § Ped activated warning lights. $5000 each. Damien Davis has applied for funding. § Penny Kosta pointed out that Ped deaths are up nationwide. We need to explore available funding that the new grant writer Angela Hess be encouraged to examine this. Tammy Smith can also help. Tammy might also be considered to become a regular member of the Pedestrian Safety Board. § Jenny Selin encourages Pedestrian Safety Board to use video surveillance to demonstrate the efficacy of new cross-walk apparatus. § Discussion of cross walks, does one need to be in the crosswalk or standing beside. · Best management practice that can be shared in the region. § September Day long Pedestrian Safety Conference: It is recommended that we bring in Mark Fenton to consult with the City, WVUSGA, Ruby, Mon General, DOH (Planning Division panel, day long workshop, WVU, Div of Hwys, WV DOH. Other Speakers might include DOH staff Chenika, Ron Eck, Mark Fenton and others. A proposed subcommittee might include: Don Williams, Tammy Smith, Jenny Selin, Bill Reger- Nash, Matt Cross, and Janet Frazer. · 5:35 PM. BILL REGER-NASH LEFT THE MEETING AT THIS TIME · There are several good models to use to help develop a conference in September. Jenny Selin pointed out the recent WV Association of MPO meeting, Janet Fraser identified the Spring Technical Conference held by the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Don Williams suggested bringing in the bike/ped expert at the Charleston FHWA division office, Shaneka Owens. The conference should aim to solve problems locally, though bigger ideas or successful ideas could have a statewide reach. · Jenny Selin asked if someone could determine if any changes to the pedestrian signal phasing had occurred with the installation of new street 2  signs and traffic signal poles. Matt Cross did not think any had changed, but Don Williams and Bill Kawecki said they would know by the next meeting as there have been other issues with the roll out of the new equipment they need to address in the coming weeks. · Syihan Muhammed pointed out that exclusive pedestrian signals are not always obvious and that many people don’t realize they can cross diagonally in these circumstances. Matt Cross pointed out that right-turn- on-red movements can present a problem with these phases and crossing in any direction. Ex-Officio Reports: · Officer McCabe talked about a recent meeting with a local neighborhood watch and an upcoming citizen’s [police] academy. Individuals who go through the academy could be used to help out in the office, at parades, among others. It will be the first citizen’s academy ever held by the Morgantown Police Department. · Bill Austin indicated work currently underway to revise the scope for the bike and ped plan in collaboration with the Bike Board. · Don Williams is working with WVU with regards to the teardown of Stansbury and construction of the new complex for the College of Business and Economics. IV. Ex-Officio Reports o WV DOH Don Williams: § Concerns about Ped accommodation such as cross walks, functioning cross walk lights, and utility poles in the middle of the sidewalk. § Donnie Williams recommends pre and post evaluation of measurable behaviors. Following provided by Syihan Muhammad Bucket 1 - Implementation Within 6 Months Category Proposed Safety Improvements, Concepts, Suggestions, Etc. Engineering Concurrent pedestrian phasing with a leading pedestrian interval (i.e. 4 sec. red) Improve visibility for pedestrians and motorists day and night (Inventory on what is working/what's not, City/others can plan to do) 3  Develop avenues for funding sources Figure out what problem we are trying to fix (data analysis on crash data) pedestrian and vehicle behaviors (MPO data/Law enforcement data) - Foundational to Buckets 2 and 3 and put more eyes on data. Build a pattern map for pedestrians. Identify prominent walking areas around campus and then we can identify hot areas to target for improvements Develop of pilot/demo of Patteson/Evansdale corridor on pedestrian safety Enforcement Improve influence of law enforcement (Culture): • Enforce legal speed limits • Make culture of Morgantown similar to Summersville - nobody speeds there • Targeted distracted drivers • Conduct targeted sting operations on running red lights, jaywalking, etc. • Enforcement of blocking the box at crosswalks • Put crossing guards at high use crosswalk areas at beginning of the semester • Crossing guards used yearly at high pedestrian traffic intersections/crosswalks Work with city to revoke requirement to all waivers for sidewalk installation / Clarify process by which sidewalk improvement or replacements are made- City will discuss when updating pedestrian plan Dedicate $1 of City user fee to go toward future pedestrian safety measures Working with Gov. Highway Safety Office for education and enforcement programs. Determine what they have available to bring to table. 4 Education West Virginia University: • Create educational seminars for incoming students; delivering information • Use the info stations across campus for PSAs on pedestrian safety, distracted driving/walking • Encourage use of reflective gear apparel for WVU - wear Mountaineer gold at night • Put a hold on student account pending responding to safety questions before they can register for classes (i.e. students have to meet with advisors before they are allowed to register for classes; similar to Alcohol.edu program) • Look at what other university towns have done using students to illustrate options, messaging, use successes of other universities on communication campaigns • Investigate how to Improve reliability of student transportation, encourage other modes of transportation to reduce number of cars/drivers • Communicate the risks, educate students and drivers and communicate. Team up with vendor like Verizon to do lighting, system to inform drivers when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. · Police Captain McCabe: Citations will be given for pedestrian violations. Law enforcement is an important component of a comprehensive social marketing campaign. · WVU Kim Hartsell and Dan Shook: Not present · Damien Davis: Not present · Rail Trail Ella Belling: Not present · Mountain Line Maria Smith: Not present. I. Action Item Follow-up THESE ITEMS WERE NOT DISCUSSED · Matt: o Discussion with Ryan Simonton § Would annexing schools that have moved outside the City limits help us improve our Safe Routes to Schools Programs? § What liabilities do schools have for kids that walk/bike/skate to school? § What liability (if any) does the DOH/City have (based on road ownership) for not having sidewalks/crosswalks to schools? · Jenny/Alex/Matt – progress on sidewalk program? o Discussed at January council of the whole o Sidewalk fund total ($100,000?; $200,000?) 5  o Funding mechanisms for sidewalk code enforcement? II. Action Items § Friendly letter re completion of the sidewalk at Baldwin Street. Matt will send a letter on behalf of the Board. Janet Frazer will draft letter. § Meeting of Subcommittee to plan September Day long Pedestrian Safety Conference: It is recommended that we bring in Mark Fenton to consult with the City, WVUSGA, Ruby, Mon General, DOH (Planning Division panel, day long workshop, WVU, Div of Hwys, WV DOH. Other Speakers might include DOH staff Chenika, Ron Eck, Mark Fenton and others. A conference planning subcommittee might include: Don Williams, Tammy Smith, Jenny Selin, Bill Reger-Nash, Matt Cross, and Janet Frazer. Next meeting: June 11, 2018, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Minutes taken by Bill Reger-Nash with additions by Janet Frazer and Syihan Muhammad 6