Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting

Approved October 19, 2021 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) 2 Meeting Minutes via Zoom 3 Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021 4 Time: 7:00 p.m. 5 Place: City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801 6 Members Present: Bill Brown (Chair), Annie Adams, Shannon Beranek, Kara Dudek, Cynthia 7 Hoyle, Audrey Ishii, Susan Jones, Jeff Marino, Sarthak Prasad, Nancy Westcott 8 9 Late Arrival: Annie Adams, Sarthak Prasad 10 11 Staff Present: Carol Mitten, Chief Administrative Officer 12 13 Others Present: Chris Lehman, Charlie Smith, Katherine Trotter, Jeff Yockey 14 15 Members Absent: None 16 17 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM 18 Bill Brown called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Roll call was taken. A quorum was present. 19 20 2. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA 21 There were no additions to the agenda. 22 23 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING (AUGUST) 24 Sarthak Prasad moved to approve the August meeting minutes as amended. Cynthia Hoyle seconded the 25 motion. A roll call vote was taken. 26 27 Brown -- Aye; Adams -- Aye; Beranek -- Aye; Dudek – Aye; Hoyle -- Aye; Ishii – Aye; Jones – Aye; Marino –- 28 Aye; Prasad -- Aye; Westcott -- Aye. 29 30 The motion carried. 31 32 4. PUBLIC INPUT 33 Charlie Smyth discussed the results of the combined Bike to Work and Light the Night events. He said that 34 having both events on the same day was very successful. 35 Chris Lehman discussed concerns about visibility of pedestrians standing on the sidewalk at the southwest 36 corner of the western legs of the Washington Street and Race Street intersection. He felt that the situation was 37 unsafe since more students were walking to school. 38 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 39 a. Equity and Quality of Life Program - Carol Mitten 40 Carol Mitten continued the discussion of the Equity and Quality of Life Project from the initial presentation of 41 the project in July. She discussed the scope of the project and asked for assistance from the BPAC 42 Commissioners to help with developing the evaluation tools to score the submittals for funding. She provided a 43 streamlined form that would allow citizens to propose projects specifically addressing needs in the community. 44 She reviewed a preliminary scoring system for evaluating submissions. She agreed to attend the October 45 meeting to continue fine tuning of the criteria and process for evaluating the submissions. 46 47 Discussion followed. Page 1  1 Nancy Westcott suggested possibly combining submissions to use funds more efficiently. 2 3 6. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 4 Shannon Beranek discussed the progress of the Lincoln Avenue and Springfield Avenue Resurfacing Project. 5 She said that the bicycle lanes had been poured and all concrete work was to be completed by the end of the 6 year. 7 8 Cynthia Hoyle reported on the People for Safe Streets, Safe Routes to School, Vision Zero and walkability 9 checklist. She mentioned that the safety checklist provided to parents as part of the Safe Route to School day 10 was written in English and Spanish. She said that she would share the results of the survey with Carol Mitten. 11 She indicated that it was difficult to record near-misses, but that a WikiMap had been created that allowed 12 respondents to indicate where near misses had occurred. She reported that Mayor Marlin was drafting a letter to 13 send to community members asking them to join a Vision Zero Taskforce. 14 15 Audrey Ishii recommended giving the survey to Champaign County Bikes for distribution to gather more 16 information. 17 18 Bill Brown recommended that someone other than he chair the Vision Zero Subcommittee. 19 20 Audrey Ishii suggested combining efforts with the City of Champaign since she said that the City of Champaign 21 might have resources. 22 23 7. NEW BUSINESS 24 a. Pedestrian Crossings at Race Street and Washington Street – Bill Brown 25 Bill Brown shared a presentation about visibility and changes in the crosswalk design at Washington Street 26 and Race Street that were made seven years ago when Race Street was reconstructed in front of the high 27 school. He showed a video of cars using the intersection from the perspective of a pedestrian waiting to cross 28 about where the new crosswalk begins on the west side and discussed the circumstances reported by the News- 29 Gazette surrounding a crash that killed a pedestrian in the new crosswalk in 2015. He showed an example of a 30 triangular crosswalk referenced in training materials on the IDOT website that could be painted there to allow 31 pedestrians to use the prior path in addition to the new path. 32 33 Discussion ensued. 34 35 Bill Brown offered to submit the idea to the Urbana Traffic Commission. 36 37 b. Additions to the Sidewalk Snow Removal District (Green Street and University Avenue) – Bill Brown 38 Bill Brown presented a proposal to expand the Sidewalk Snow Removal District to include Green Street from 39 Race Street to Lincoln Avenue and University Avenue from Race Street to Wright Street. He mentioned that 40 the two areas were sent back to Committee for further review when presented in 2019. He said he would like 41 the Committee of the Whole to reconsider the two corridors that were removed from a previous request in 42 2019. 43 44 Page 2  1 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS 2 a. Walk and Roll to School Day – October 6, 2021 3 b. Light the Night and Bike to Work Day—September 14, 2021, were considered successful events 4 c. Crystal Lake Park Open Road Day – October 3, 2021; Rain date: October 10, 2021 5 d. Group Bike Ride – October 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Douglas Park to an ice cream shop, La Michoacana 6 Express, on Cunningham Avenue 7 8 9. FUTURE TOPICS 9 a. Equity and Quality of Life Project 10 b. Bike Rack Installation 11 c. Three-Foot Passing Law Sign Installation 12 13 10. ADJOURNMENT 14 The meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m. 15 *** 16 17 Respectfully submitted, 18 Barbara Stiehl, Recording Secretary Page 3 ONE-WAY ROAD ONE-WAY ROAD Crystal Lake Park Open Road Event • Highlights opportunities for the road along the Saline on eastern edge of Crystal Lake Park. • Provides pavement markings to seperate vehicle traffic from bicycles and pedestrians. Crystal Lake Park Open Road Event • Highlights opportunities for the road along the Saline on eastern edge of Crystal Lake Park. • Provides pavement markings to seperate vehicle traffic from bicycles and pedestrians. Visit Crystal Lake Park to view updates to the park, future Visit Crystal Lake Park to view updates to the park, future planned improvements, and provide input. The park road will be planned improvements, and provide input. The park road will be closed, sunrise to sunset, to vehicles on October 3rd – providing closed, sunrise to sunset, to vehicles on October 3rd – providing space for bicycles and pedestrians to use the road for recreation. space for bicycles and pedestrians to use the road for recreation. The event will move to October 10th in the event of inclement The event will move to October 10th in the event of inclement weather. weather. Upcoming improvements include resurfacing of the park road and Upcoming improvements include resurfacing of the park road and a new pavilion and parking lot at the Anita Purves Nature Center. a new pavilion and parking lot at the Anita Purves Nature Center. Future planning zones highlighted on associated map. Future planning zones highlighted on associated map. Park district staff will be present from 12-4pm at the Large Pavilion Park district staff will be present from 12-4pm at the Large Pavilion to answer questions and listen to park users. Urvana Mobile to answer questions and listen to park users. Urvana Mobile Recreation Unit, food, and other activities will be available. Recreation Unit, food, and other activities will be available. Watch urbanaparks.org/ Watch urbanaparks.org/ parks/crystal-lake-park- parks/crystal-lake-park- rehabilitation-project or rehabilitation-project or follow us on social media follow us on social media for more information! for more information! Urbana Park District • www.urbanaparks.org Urbana Park District • www.urbanaparks.org  MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin, Members of City Council and City Staff FROM: Bill Brown, Chair, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission DATE: July 2, 2019 RE: BPAC recommendation to expand sidewalk snow removal districts Background The City of Urbana currently has three snow removal districts where adjacent property owners need to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after the public works director declares an event, triggered by a snowfall of 2 inches or more or dangerous accumulation of ice. Those districts are 1) the downtown district, 2) the University district, and 3) the Philo Road District. Since passage of the snow removal ordinance in 2011, the City has seen extensive development of northern downtown (Gateway Shoppes, Broadway Food Hall, 25 O’clock Brewery, CU Adventures in Time and Space, Culver’s, etc.) as well as several new and planned high density residential developments along University Avenue near campus. We are also seeing multimillion dollar investments in state and local funds to improve pedestrian safety and transit usage along Green Street with the MCORE project and University Avenue improvements. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission has held several discussions on the opportunity to improve pedestrian safety and winter usability of our downtown and other commercial and high density residential areas by expanding the snow removal districts. Please review the attached communication from the Commission, approved at our June meeting. We hope the City Council will consider this recommendation and work toward implementation of expanded districts for the coming winter. Attachments: Map of proposed changes BPAC Resolution  Stebbins Dr N Coler Ave N Orchard St Hill St Hill St Crystal Lake Dr Church St Church St Church St N Goodwin Ave W Park St W Park St W Park St N Romine St N Coler Ave Lake St W UniversityAve E University Ave N Busey Ave Broad Aly Harvey St N Mathews Ave Clark St N Race St Sassafrass Aly N BroadwayAve N Wright St W Main St N LincolnAve N Vine St N Gregory St Stoughton St Goose Aly Springfield Ave S Broadway Ave Western Ave WesternAve E Elm St S Gregory St W Green St E Green St High Aly S Coler Ave S Orchard St W Illinois St S Mathews Ave Birch St S Goodwin Ave Cedar St S Gregory St S McCullough St S Wright St S Broadway Ave S Race St S Walnut St W Oregon St W Nevada St W Nevada St W Washington St E Washington St GarfieldAve W Iowa St W Iowa St Gregory Dr S LincolnAve Douglas Ave Ohio St S Orchard St IndianaAve Dorner Dr S BuseyAve Carle Ave S Race St W MichiganAve E Michigan Ave Peabody Dr Peabody Dr W PennsylvaniaAve E Pennsylvania Ave S Broadway Ave S Vine St W Vermont Ave Delmont Ct Maryland Dr W Delaware Ave W Florida Ave E Florida Ave Florida Dr Florida Ct S Romine St Pleasant St oodwin Ave S Wright St Meadow Dr G S Snow Removal Districts Montclair Rd Existing Proposed BPAC Recommendation June, 2019  A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL DISTRICTS WHEREAS, the City of Urbana Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (the Commission) was established by the Urbana City Council on June 16, 2006 and is authorized under Urbana City Code Chapter 23 Article X1, Sections 23-146 through 23-150; and WHEREAS, duties of the Commission include advising the mayor and City Council on pedestrian issues and recommending actions as it deems appropriate; and WHEREAS, on December 5, 2011, the Urbana City Council passed an ordinance to establish snow removal districts for downtown, campus and Philo Road, and provided for abatement procedures, authorized under Urbana City Code Chapter 11, Article IV, Division 4; and WHEREAS, the Urbana City Council found at that time that it was in the best interests of the City and its citizens to protect pedestrian health, safety, and welfare by requiring property owners to remove snow and ice accumulations from public sidewalks adjacent to their properties; and WHEREAS, the Commission held public discussion on the need and potential for expansion of the snow removal districts on December 18th, 2018, and April 16th, 2019; and WHEREAS, the Commission noted that pedestrian activity in the northern part of downtown has increased with the build-out of Gateway Shoppes, Broadway Food Hall, the Boneyard Creek Park, CU Adventures, Culver’s and other businesses; and WHEREAS, the Urbana Park District already clears routes along Crystal Lake Park and has added a new multiuse path connecting Broadway to Carle Hospital along Park Street, as well as the path along Broadway to the north; and  WHEREAS , Green Street and University Avenue are both under renovation to greatly enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety; and WHEREAS, the Commission now finds that a recommendation for expansion of the sidewalk snow removal districts is appropriate; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF URBANA, ILLINOIS, as follows: Section 1. The City should take up consideration for expansion of snow removal districts to include, at a minimum, the following: a) Change the northern boundary of the Downtown District from Water Street to University Avenue. b) Include a portion of Broadway Avenue north of University to Park Street. c) Change the northern boundary of the Campus District from Springfield to University Avenue. d) Add two corridors consisting of both sides of University Avenue and Green Street, from the Downtown District to the Campus District. PASSED BY THE CITY OF URBANA BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION this _18th_ day of June_, 2019. Bill Brown, Chair Updates for 2021: Council adopted Ordinance #2019-10-060 in November of 2019 to add the northern parts of downtown (Water to University) and campus (Springfield to University) but not the connecting corridors of Green and University. For those, they voted to “send them back to committee.” No action since then. Current recommendation to add the 2 corridors: • University from Race to Lincoln • Green from Race to Lincoln Any additional information needed to send to council?  Pedestrian died after URBANA — A retired University of Illinois professor of mathematics 'low-speed collision' in Urbana died from injuries he received after being hit by a car Tuesday night. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said there will be no autopsy done on Robert Ash, 79, of Urbana. Apr 16, 2015 "It appears he suffered a head injury when he was knocked over," Northrup said. Urbana police Sgt. Dan Morgan said Mr. Ash was apparently walking across Race Street near Washington about 6:25 p.m. Tuesday when he was hit. Morgan said Ratana Darawankul, 38, who listed an address in the 2000 block of South Race Street was ticketed for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. "She made a turn at the stop and failed to see he was in the crosswalk. It was a low-speed collision. He was knocked to the ground. It was believed he had a broken ankle at the scene. He was alert and talking but then he died at 12:36 a.m. (Wednesday)," Morgan said. Morgan said a report said Darawankul had been westbound on Washington Street and was turning south on to Race Street. Mr. Ash was in the southbound lane of the crosswalk on Race when he was struck. Mr. Ash was a professor emeritus of mathematics — he retired in 2000 — and the author of several math textbooks, including many which he  Here's the video of rolling stops from 2010: published online. https://youtu.be/wvI7qO0FkNY — Mary Schenk https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Travel‐ Information/Specialty‐Lists/05DPS‐ IntersectionGeometry%20(Springfield).pdf