Pedestrian Safety Board

Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting Minutes Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 4:30 – 5:30 PM June 11, 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): Chair Matthew Cross, Daniel Shook, Vice Chair Penny Kostka, Bill Reger-Nash, George Lilley, Jimme Simmons, Jen Macdonald, Stan Cohen Ex-officio: Captain Matt McCabe, Bill Austin, Donald Williams, Jenny Selin Guest: William Blosser, Danielle Walker, Vaike Haas (vaike.haas@mail.wvu.edu), Ian Collins (ilcollins@mix.wvu.edu), Mayor Bill Kawecki, Samuel Berhanu (berhanusamuel@gmail.com) II. Approval of May 14, 2018 Minutes. Motion by George Lilley, second by Penny Kostka. Passed by unanimous voice vote. III. Officer’s Reports · Chair Cross: o Ped fatalities up by 46% nationally. o Cross Light signal at Pleasant / Spruce needed. Perhaps a LPI (Lead Ped Interval) would serve well. o Letter was sent to the owner of property at Baldwin St. Janet Frazer provided draft. Compliance request sent to owner by City Engineering. o Signals being updated throughout the city. Drivers and pedestrians need to be aware of changes. o Jen Macdonald indicated that the intersection of High and Willie is a challenge as sight of peds crossing is limited. o University Ave to be paved and to include a climbing lane up to Riverview. o WVU communications is doing a good job of getting out ped safety information. However, we need more information coordination needed between city and WVU. · Penny Kostka: o Did walk around with Chair Cross near Pizza Al’s. Identified some spots that need attention. o Mr. Williams indicated that top ten Morgantown hazards being identified. IV. Ex-Officio Reports · DOH Donald Williams: o Red light runners continue to be problematic. o The State is introducing a 5-sec delay before green light, which will give peds an opportunity to establish their presence in the intersection/cross walk. o At cross walks, Mr. Williams suggested we have recommendation to “Stop, Look and Wave.” o Recommended having a post change meeting (after all light signals have been changed) with the city administration and law enforcement. Officers are now always appraised of changes that have been made to signals. · Police Captain McCabe: o Different timing systems exist for signals and this info needs to be communicated. o Information signs about different types of cross walk lights can be placed on poles near the intersections. · WVU Dan Shook: o Lighted arm bands have potential for safety but students less than receptive to using them. o Stan Cohen demonstrated the lighted arm bands. Quite visible. The general consensus was that students would not wear them. BUT one safety change will not make a successful change overall safety. This needs to be pilot tested before we dismiss the idea. · Damien Davis – not present · Rail Trail Ella Belling: Not present. · Mountain Line Maria Smith: Not present. · Bill Austin is working with steering committee and WVU on pedestrian planning. o Currently have 15 action items which includes using Patteson corridor as test area. o Will bring in consultant prior to Sept to help review problems and inventory of sidewalks o Meet this wed to include police and citations. · Vaike Haas, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, addressed removing barriers to walking and biking in and around Suncrest Elementary. o Need contact with Timberline Apts. At one time, their manager expressed interest in supporting walkways along their side of the street. o Multi front approach, ie, there is a need for cross walks, sidewalks, and connections to the rail trail. o Collins Ferry is a very narrow road. o New Suncrest Elementary principal appears less than enthusiastic about walking and biking o There is some good news: Ped traffic has increased, ie now 5-6 families are using creative approach to transit to school. o Star City Council is seemingly receptive to developing routes to Suncrest Elementary School.  o Currently, students cannot walk to a field trip without a cross walk and sidewalk and therefore they are confined to the school grounds. o Need to orient new principal and new superintendent. o It was reported that there is now a process of annexing the surrounding land and school into the city limits. Bill Austin mentioned a September Day-Long Ped Safety Conference. The planning sub-committee includes Matthew Cross, Andrew Morgan, Janet Frazer, Tammy Smith, Jenny Selin and Don Williams. Matt Cross will send out email to organize this sub-committee. Action Items: 1. Matt Cross will send out email to organize this sub-committee for the September Day- Long Ped Safety Conference. 2. Matt Cross to invite new School Superintendent to one of our meetings. 3. Suncrest Primary School needs also to be invited. 4. Donald Williams to set up a post cross walk signal change meeting with law enforcement 5. Dan Shook to further determine receptiveness of young people for lighted arm bands and lighted back packs. 6. Mr. Austin and Mr. Williams to communicate the 15 hotspot pedestrian issues. 7. Matt Cross to send out reminder letter to Baldwin Street property owner about sidewalk. Next meeting: July 9, 2018, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Minutes taken by Bill Reger-Nash. Approved by Chair Matt Cross.