Complete Streets Advisory Board

SARATOGA SPRINGS COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024 - 5:00 P.M. Attendee’s Committee: Chair Ken Grey, Chair Ted Orosz, Suzanne Jagoda, Michael King, Lindley Hickox, Lynn Keating, Jennifer Natyzak City Staff: Susan Barden, Michael Dutre Absent: N/A Public comment a. Erin Maciel, Van Dam resident and former Complete Streets Board member explained that residents on Van Dam are concerned about truck traffic and created the Van Dam/Church St Neighborhood Association. They’ve met with elected officials about safety issues regarding truck traffic through neighborhoods. The group collected data via time lapse camera which displayed trucks every 2 minutes. Their group compared statistics with other communities, including Liverpool NY with much less traffic. Data collected was 24 hours on a Tuesday, averaging 1 truck every 2 minutes during late fall. Research goes back to 1981 & 1993 where somehow the road went under NYS DOT jurisdiction. Apparently a private party requested Van Dam to be designated a federal access highway. Erin Maciel saw no evidence which shows Van Dam as a highway. The Van Dam group requested a 5 ton weight limit and subsequently signs were installed by the City. The NYS trucking association asked that the signs were removed. Signs were subsequently taken down. State DOT will have a meeting with Carrie Woerner’s office on March 8, including City Council. This is a National historic district which should be preserved. DPW has directed funds towards safety improvement. Erin Maciel is looking for immediate safety measures and for CS to get involved. Erin welcomed a CS representative to attend the March 8th meeting at Assembly person Carrie Woerner’s address. Chair Orosz added that a truck study is ongoing through our Metropolitan Planning Organization. This is a high level study not a full origin-destination study, which is more expensive. Erin Maciel continued that Police have been supportive and doing training on how to pull over larger vehicles. There has always been a speeding issue and question regarding enforcement. Administration a. January minutes were approved as read. Updates  a. Treehouse Brewing and Planning Board - Susan Barden, City Planner outlined that a Special permit was approved February 8th for only the outdoor dining portion. Susan Barden illustrates how Treehouse will be for eating, drinking and micro manufacturing. Treehouse will need to come back to the Land Use Boards after special use. Concerns were voiced regarding the quantity of parking in the front and CS advocates would like to see crosswalk added to southern part of Crescent Ave, wider sidewalks as well as covered bike parking. Susan Barden added that the applicant said they will build a multiuse path if their neighbor, Honda also builds. Planning board would like to send letter to the Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit in that area, suggested 40 mph from exit 13 on the Northway north on Rte 9. Mike King discussed written versus non written requirements and that have more structure are needed so that CS can play a larger role to make this process better. Requested Planning Department to send all plans to CS. Susan Barden followed that staff looks at zoning compliance first, then sits down with applications and if it meet requirements, then they move to the next stage. Suzanne Jagoda offered it may be beneficial to make the front of the Treehouse property more attractive by using a berm and reduce the number of parking. b. Safe Streets for All Grant: Michael Dutre updated that the $500,000 grant, requires a match of $100,000 for work in Saratoga Springs. The grant is for traffic calming pilots. Michael Dutre asked that CS form recommendations for potential demonstration projects with the MPO. c. ADA Transition Plan – Michael Dutre noted that ADA is a City Priority and we have to be in compliance. We should spend roughly $300,000 a year and can do section by section annually. Mike King explained that ADA is from the Department of Justice and is a liability to the City if we are not compliant. Mike King urged members to reach out to their appointing authority and remind them of the City’s commitment to ADA. d. 25mph speed limit in inner tax district – Chair Orosz updated that CS needs to meet with the DPS to concur with the speed limit change. Then CS will have to hire an engineer to be paid from the CS budget to confirm if roadways in the inner tax district can be reduced. Chair Grey agreed. e. TAP/CMAQ Grant application – Michael Dutre said the application that Jen Dunn and Chair Orosz submitted for the Congress Gateway (which would connect Congress Park to Railroad Run) takes about four months before getting a response from the grantor. IV. Action Items a. City Council Presentation: Chair Grey is looking for an April meeting timeframe for a CS presentation of our goals. Susan Barden suggested to ask the Mayor for best time. V. 2024 Priorities and managing $250,000 Complete Streets Budget  a. Chair Orosz highlighted that CS received a $250,000 rolling fund for projects. This can be used for matching grant applications. Mike King mentioned that this can be used for a CS on call planning/engineering firm like the on call firms that City Engineering uses. These firms are pre-vetted and going out to RFP for projects under a certain dollar amount is unnecessary. Susan Barden added we have plenty of people on call and if you stay under RFP limit this should be a non-issue. b. Work – CS needs to identify plans with DPW on 2-3 Achievable Projects. c. Bike Lanes: Chair Grey highlighted East to Nelson; Nelson to Congress Park; Weibel to Gilbert to Henry; West Fenlon to State Park Trail. d. Crosswalk – YMCA to Pitney Meadows, Michael Dutre reached out to DPS and the Mayor’s office to proceed. e. Railroad Run Lighting - Suzanne Jagoda requested to Michael Dutre that she be a part of any meetings for the lighting project. VI. Adjourn