Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting March 16th 2022 Meeting 9:00 a.m. Summerville Town Hall Attendees: Members: John Mott, ,John Thurmes, Gene Brislin , Ben Hough Absent: Ned Shows, Sandy O’Keefe, Vincent Thurman Visitors: AJ Anastapoulo Traffic engineer Call to Order: Chairman Gene Brislin Acceptance of Minutes: Minutes from the January March 19th 2022 meeting were emailed out by Sandy O’Keefe. They were approved. Agenda Items: 1. Finance Committee Presentation Gene provided an overview of the presentation to the Finance Committee. Council requested a summary of issues to be discussed. This was developed and provided prior to the presentation. This is attached to the minutes. 2. Public Awareness Possibilities An out reach program through the Summerville Police department was discussed. Gene to contact the Police Chief and discuss possible future program. Speed Week type events were also discussed including a possible Triathlon type event. This would be sponsored by several community organizations (Rotary Club and YMCA). 3. Community Designations Gene discussed both the Bicycle Friendly Community and Runner Friendly Community programs and criteria. Pursuing these designation was discussed. More research to be done and possible applications developed. 4. Review of other Regional Plans Kyle James (Regional Planner) form BCD Council of Governments attended the meeting and discussed grants and provided information on the levels of grants in terms of construction cost. Most noted was that all the grants require the town to provide an initial investment. He offered to provide more information as needed in terms of securing grants. Miscellaneous: John Thurmes provided information on his talks with the property owners of the property at the trial head. Public Comment: None Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM NEXT MEETING – May 18th Respectfully submitted by Gene Brislin  Town of Summerville Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee March 3, 2022 Finance Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to update you concerning the activities of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. My purpose is to outline the committee’s work for the improvement and growth of our sidewalk and trail system for both safety, well being and fitness. In 2010 a Clemson student seeking a masters degree developed an extensive report/plan concerning bicycle and pedestrian traffic in the Town of Summerville. This document is extensive, but it’s contest must be considered. It was written to satisfy a degree requirement and need to reflect the students research and effort. The first few pages of this document was the thesis that seemed more appropriate to a volunteer committee development. Therefore, the committee has developed this shortened document to provide the direction we feel the Town of Summerville should pursue in the improvement and expansion of our current sidewalk and trail system. Besides the orignal plan, the committee had also developed a large list of priorities (29 total) for the town to consider in terms of new elements of the network to be added. The items of this list could be organized into sidewalk projects and trail projects. Although a very complete list, the current committee feels it is fiscally difficult to achieve. Therefore, a smaller, high priority list has been developed that we feel can be achieved in a reasonable time and progress made for the Town. In an effort to assist the Town in documenting the existing elements and to assist with planning the committee intends to develop a GIS database that will be given to the Town to incorporate into the existing GIS system. This is a volunteer effort and will require time. It will be accomplished by volunteers from the local high school, running and bicycling communities. The key element of the effort to repair and expand our system will be funding. The committee has been researching opportunities through the Federal Highway Administration and the “Safe Routes to Schools” program. The hope is that with the passing of the Federal Infrastructure legislation that more funding will become available. But we are also seeking a commitment from the Town. Rather than approaching these improvements as extra items to the Town’s public works projects that reoccurring funding item would be included in the Town’s budget for these projects. The hope is to start with small incremental improvements each year that can be supplemented by additional grant funding and new infrastructure added by new development, redevelopment or new road projects. The committee is asking the Town to consider adding a $300,000 to $500,000 item in the budget for each year. Based on the current project estimates of $150.00 per linear foot of sidewalk this would provide between 2000 and 3333 feet of new or repair of sidewalks per year. As a point of reference a typical block in downtown is approximately 525 feet long. The committee has focused not only of safety but also on promoting the importance of biking and walking. We are exploring possible bicycle and fitness events that would highlight the Town’s commitment to these activities. We are also reviewing the criteria for a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by The League of American Bicyclists and a “Running Friendly Community” by the Road Runners Club of America to see if our community could be considered for this designations. I want to thank you for the opportunity to discuss the work the committee has done. The members have work diligently over the last several months to develop these ideas and the Town should be proud of their efforts. I look forward to your input on our efforts to make Summerville a walking and biking friendly community. Gene Brislin Committee Chairman Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2022 – Vision and Priorities Overview A bicycle plan for the Town of Summerville ws created in August 2010 by Mary Alice Springs in the fulfillment of the requirements for a masters degree. This document is an effort to update the strategic content of that document to provide future direction for the Town concerning resources used for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. The current Town of Summerville Vision Plan centers greatly on creating a walkable (and bikeable) community. Although pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure can be used as an alternate means of transportation, the extend of that activity is not explored. Our focus is to provide, to the greatest extent, a community that allows movement for health and wellness. It is the hope that this will lead to pedestrian and bicycle activates to the greatest extent allowed by weather and other factors and in turn can lead to using these activities as an alternate means of transportation. Vision As walking and bicycling contribute to the individual, community and environmental health and well being, the Town of Summerville will be a community in which members can bicycle and walk safely to all points within the town. Goals Provide a annual budget item for the repair and addition to the sidewalk and trail system. Provide a priority list of projects for repair and addition based on safety, wellness and cost considerations. Work to increase the sidewalk network coverage around the local schools. Work with the school districts to encourage the used of pedestrian and bicycle pathways. Work to provide connectivity of the existing trail system to new and future trails included in land development. Explore methods to connect the Sawmill Branch Trail to the new Maple Street project. Develop GIS data for the existing sidewalk and trial system for the Town of Summerville. Promote the importance of walking and bicycling for health, wellness and as an alternate means of transportation. Promote pedestrian and bicycle safety through coordination with Town public safety departments and civic groups. Measurement Develop metrics to measure the progress towards this goals in each of the areas considered. Priority List The previous generated priority list was extensive and included 29 items. This included items from 2016 to 2020. In an effort to make small continual progress, a reduced list is proposed that fits into a modest fiscal planning budget. These items are; Improvement Location Notes Length Conceptual Cost Sidewalk E. 6th S. Street From US 17A to 550’ $85,000 Magnolia Street, including Crosswalks across US 17A and bicycle/loop markings Sidewalk W. Carolina From Gadsen Street to 250’ $40,000 Avenue Linwood Lane, including Crosswalk and RRFB across W. Carolina Avenue to Sumter Avenue Sidewalk S. Cedar Street Bulb Out, and 50’ $50,000 Extension & W. 2nd S. Crosswalk and RRFB Street across S. Cedar Street Flashing E. Richardson Install RRFB at 0’ $20,000 Beacon Avenue @ crosswalk Sawmill Branch Trail Trail Extension Sawmill Branch Create a branch of the 1600’ $250,000 Trail – near trail through SCDOT Richardson property to Gahagan Park Complex