Complete Streets Advisory Board

SARATOGA SPRINGS COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2023 5:00 P.M. ATTENDEES: CHAIR KEN GREY, TED OROSZ, SUZANNE JAGODA, MIKE KING STAFF: JEN DUNN ABSENT: JAMES KELLEY, ERIN MACIEL, JEN NATYZAK MEETING MINUTES ARE NOT A WORD-FOR-WORD TRANSCRIPT. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING: Kerry Mayo asked for confirmation that his email to Complete Streets had been received. Members concurred and thanked him for his active involvement and support of the project. APPROVAL OF MARCH MINUTES: Suzanne disputed the minutes from the March 9 meeting and was subsequently directed to email suggested additions and changes to Jen Dunn. Additions are provided at the end of these minutes. Proposed Additions to the March Minutes: Suzanne Jagoda stressed that the Complete Streets Committee needs to be much more transparent with the public moving forward, citing statements pertaining to the University of Michigan and “peak traffic” traffic studies on Union Ave as examples of messaging that she perceives to be misleading and/or incomplete. Additionally, she requested that references to Vision Zero be included in the minutes. UNION AVENUE AND JMT RECOMMENDATIONS: Jen Dunn updated CS that a meeting had been scheduled April 24 with Mayor Kim to discuss next steps with JMT. CS discussed various options for next steps, including striping bike lane from Nelson to Circular immediately upon completion of the DOT project on Union. Suzanne asked about cost. CS will ask JMT to finalize recommendations by June 1. CHAMPLAIN HUDSON POWER EXPRESS (CHPE): Jen Dunn updated CS that a meeting had been scheduled with representatives from CHPE on April 21. 25 MPH SPEED LIMITS: Ken reported on measures taken by Seattle to reduce speeds, describing them as “statistically significant” and in alignment with the data from the insurance world regarding injuries related to speed. CS discussed ways to reduce speed limits in Saratoga’s inner core (as defined by the 1 planning department), to include lobbying to have a resolution passed by City Council. It was proposed that Ken and Jen N draft the resolution. FUNDING UPDATE:  Regional Safe Streets: CS agreed to follow up with Mike Dutre re. the status of this opportunity.  Railroad Run Lighting Pilot: Ken Grey and Jen Dunn reported that Supervisor Matt Veitch had indicated that the proposal was promising. CS agreed that Jen Dunn and Mike Dutre would take a first stab at the application and then bring it to the committee for review.  CDTC funded traffic studies: Mike King shared perspective: saying “Ann Arbor said we do not let events dictate safety.” COMPLETE STREETS 2023 GOALS:  Inventory assessment: Ted will find spreadsheet and share  Henry Street: CS discussed status of Henry Street – to date only a pilot has been done. Other possibilities for getting from Lake Ave (Spring Run) to Railroad Run were also discussed. Mike King asked if a point-to-point analysis has been done, and if CDTC funds could be used to conduct a traffic study along Circular. The possibility of signing the route instead of/in addition to marking it was raised by Mike King. Could the Safe Street for All grant be used for engineering? Participatory budgeting was discussed as a possibility for funding.  RFP for Downtown Extender: CS agreed to pursue an RFP to explore the Downtown Extender.  Paving Schedule: Ted will cross-reference the paving schedule published by DPW with Complete Streets projects. It was proposed that CS formally request a bike lane for streets that are within the Complete Streets plan. ADJOURN NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M. THURSDAY, MAY 11TH Proposed Additions to the April Minutes: Suzanne Jagoda stressed that the Complete Streets Committee needs to be much more transparent with the public moving forward, citing statements pertaining to the University of Michigan and “peak traffic” traffic studies on Union Ave as examples of messaging that she perceives to be misleading and/or incomplete. Additionally, she requested that references to Vision Zero be included in the minutes. 2 To be added to the April Minutes Suzanne Jagoda stressed that the Complete Streets Committee needs to be much more transparent with the public moving forward, citing statements pertaining to the University of Michigan and “peak traffic” traffic studies on Union Ave as examples of messaging that she perceives to be misleading and/or incomplete. Additionally, she requested that references to Vision Zero be included in the minutes. 3