Pedestrian Safety Board

Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting Minutes Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 4:30 – 5:30 PM July 9, 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 (No Quorum): Daniel Shook, Jimme Simmons, Stan Cohen, and Jan Derry Ex-officio: Ella Belling, Captain Matt McCabe, Bill Austin, Donald Williams, and Mayor Bill Kawecki Guest: Drew Beckland, Tammy Smith, William Blosser, and The Berhanu family, II. Approval of June 11, 2018 Minutes. Motion by ____ second by _____, Passed by (unanimous voice vote). III. Notes · Chair Matt Cross: § Congratulation to Mayor Kawecki and Morgantown for a great achievement, the Pedestrian Bridge on Deckers Creek. City Council is taking suggestions for name for the bridge. Matt Cross would like them to be called Trail Cons. Ella Belling wants More Connectors, Trail Cons With each connector having an individual name. Don’t want to see the generic name of Deckers Creek Bridge used. The WV DOH was there for the opening of the Bridge. Then they went to Masontown quiet opening for Masontown train head facility, with restrooms and water fountain that will have an opening celebration in about a month. This is the first restroom facilities that we have on Deckers Creek Trail (mile marker 13). § Walking around with some West Virgina HSTA Health Science Technology Academy high school students from around the state. He told them one of the great assets of coming to WVU is going to the trail and enjoying scenery and exercise. § WDTV news reported a bicyclist had passed away after He was hit on Friday evening at 11:15 pm. Captain McCabe nothing else released at this time. Reviewing video footage of the accident. Matt stated the importance of having lights and reflective clothing. Dan Shook is working on encouraging people to be visible at night on the WVU campus by possibly wearing a Lighted vest. § Question: Would WVU students would even wear it. Rebecca think it would be too much of an expense for Students Dan had previously suggested reflectors or lights on back packs Dan has limited funds in his  group. When Dan talked to students, they were not excited about putting on an armband or lights on backpack. However, if we could get someone to wear, it then it might help other students to participate. Dan thinks Student life might be able to subsidize. DOH Official Don Williams says Student life can do Surveys of Students to see what they would wear. Passed around a lighted bicycle pin as an example of something like this shaped more like a pedestrian. · LED lights are great. One does not need to be facing a car and can be seen from about 50 feet away Stan Cohen will man safety booths for the county and state fairs. · Drew Gatlin reported that one can purchase a full set of bicycle lights $40. Can be seen for miles. These could be modified for pedestrians and get double use. It needs to be something all students carry or use on a daily basis, such as a cell phone. Students are not going to wear something that is not cool. Drew thinks we need a spokesperson, ambassadors, such as Athletes. § Next semester WVU will add pedestrian safety to the orientation. · Coliseum: There will be no more parking on the right side of coliseum they are widening of Mon boulevard and there will be a sidewalk on the right. Many people are upset about taking away free parking. But if it is a choice free parking or safety. Safety is most important. Parking is the responsibility of WVU. · Ella would like to revisit sidewalks in the future meetings If sidewalk are present it should increase home value. Work on incentives for home owners to repair. Next meeting: August 13, 2018, Training Room 1, Public Safety Building, 4:30 – 5:30 pm.