Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, August 14, 2017 5:30 – 8:00 P.M. 777 E. Waterman, Building 200 Wichita Transit Van Maintenance Facility Conference Room Wichita, Kansas 67202 Agenda Item Time Description 1. 5:30 pm Call to Order Jack Brown, Chairperson 2. 5:31 pm Approve Previous Meeting Notes Jack Brown, Chairperson, approval of the June 12th meeting notes. 3. 5:35 pm Public Comments 4. 5:45 pm I-235 and Maple Street Paul Gunzelman, Assistant City Engineer, will provide an overview of design options considered for the area and how the project will help with implementation of the bike and ped plans. 5. 6:00 pm Wichita Street Safety Enforcement Gordon Ramsay, Chief of Police, will provide information about the enforcement and education efforts to enhance street safety in Wichita; and training efforts for officers related to new bikeways. 6. 6:20 pm Wichita Bicycling Municipal Code Updates Processes Dr. Fox, WBPAB Member, will present the recommended survey question for the Wichita Municipal Code update process. 7. 6:40 pm Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan – 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan Philip Zevenbergen, Associate Planner will provide a brief update on the 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan for the Pedestrian Plan. 8. 6:50 pm Bicycle Friendly Community Application Philip Zevenbergen, Associate Planner will provide an overview of the proposed Wichita Bicycle Friendly application. The recommended action is for the WBPAB to endorse the application and submission. 9. 7:00 pm Board Officers Vote Jack Brown, Chairperson will facilitate the process to vote for the WBPAB Secretary, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson positions. 10. 7:15 pm Fall Bicycle Tour Jack Brown, Chairperson will facilitate a discussion to identify the key destinations / routes for the tour. 11. 7:30 pm Board Member Project Reports Jack Brown, Chairperson 12. 7:40 pm Announcements Jack Brown, Chairperson 13. 8:00 pm Closing Thoughts Jack Brown, Chairperson Notice – City Council Members may attend this meeting. 1  Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, July 10, 2017 5:30 – 7 p.m. 777 E. Waterman, Building 200 Wichita Transit Van Maintenance Facility Conference Room Meeting Notes Members Present: Jack Brown, Jane Byrnes, Barry Carroll, Russell Fox, Jerry Jones, Tom Lasater, Christopher Parisho, George Theoharis Members Absent: Maxine Bostic, Tyler Stutzman City Staff: Scott Wadle, Senior Planner, Paul Gunzelman, Public Works, Mark Manning, Budget Officer Guests: Chole Parisho, Arleigh McCormick, Hadassah Prosser, Andy Cramb, Joey Dereke, Jason McCoy, Kurt Powell, Christina Calhoun, Geoff Kisch, Jess Bechtelheimer, Jennifer Rygg Item Description 1. Call to Order: Jack Brown, Chairperson, welcomed new board member, Jane Byrnes, guests and called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm 2. Approve Previous Meeting Notes: By consensus, the board approved the June 10, 2017 meeting notes. 3. Public Comments:  Vehicle/Bicycle Crash - 1st & Washington: Christina Calhoun reported that while riding her bicycle she was struck by a vehicle at the captioned intersection. Ms. Calhoun reported that two witnesses observed the crash and that there were conflicting accounts between the driver and her. Ms. Calhoun stated that the officer who arrived at the scene indicated that he was not trained in what the laws are regarding driving and using bike lanes; and that the officer did not issue a citation to anyone. Ms. Calhoun also stated that she would like to advocate for improved infrastructure and increased education for motorists. Arleigh McCormick, bicycle commuter, stated that she has had several ‘close calls’ with vehicles of late. 4. CIP Budget Update: Mark Manning, Budge Officer, stated that the proposed CIP budget is $1.7B. Mark noted that $150,000 has been proposed, again this year, for maintenance to bicycle and walking infrastructure in the general operating budget. Mr. Manning also distributed a handout of page 30 from the proposed Capital Improvement Plan. He provided an overview of the document and referred to the handout, showing the specific bikeway projects to be funded through the year 2025. Mr. Manning indicated that citizens are encouraged to provide feedback to elected officials. The City Council is scheduled to consider the CIP Budget on August 8, 2017. The board thanked Mark for his informative presentation. 5. 1st & Washington Avenue: Paul Gunzelman, Public Works, explained that the captioned intersection will be reconstructed in early 2018. Paul provided a PowerPoint show with the proposed configuration and different options that were 1 2  considered. He indicated that the proposed configuration would improve safety for pedestrians by reducing the crossing distance at Washington and by reducing the lane width to 11’ lanes. According to Paul, staff has to provide a ‘balanced approach’ to the improvements taking into account motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The meeting participants asked questions during the presentation and had a discussion about the various possible configurations. Ultimately, the general consensus was that the proposed configuration with the addition of green skips through the intersection was preferred. Jerry Jones asked if green paint be extended through the intersection during the interim period. The green paint, according to Jerry, would help alert motorists to be more aware of cyclists. Paul stated that he would take this suggestion under advisement. 6. 17th Street – Broadway to I-135: Paul Gunzelman, Public Works, stated that 17th Street from Broadway to I-135 that is proposed for 2019 would have bike lanes. Paul had previously discussed three possible options, with visuals, for members to review. The proposed bike lanes on 17th Street would be connected to McAdams Park, according to Paul. At the last meeting, the board supported the option that would not require accessing additional right-of-way at Broadway and 17th Street. Paul explained that he would be proposing this option at the District VI DAB meeting. In closing, Paul noted that bids would be formally issued for 17th & 18th Streets during the month of July. 7. Pedestrian Safety at Signalized Intersections: Paul Gunzelman reported that there is a study being conducted on how to improve pedestrian safety at signalized intersections. Paul reported that many of the existing signals need to be updated with the latest technology. Andy Cramb, cyclist, reported that he had submitted a proposal to Paul on ways to improve safety at intersections that would provide pedestrians a lead time to begin crossing the intersection, known as a leading pedestrian interval. There was consensus that ‘count down’ signals are preferred by cyclists and pedestrians. Paul stated that he will address the board in a couple of months with the results from the study. 8. WAMPO Planning Walkable Paces Program: Scott Wadle, Senior Planner, provided an update on the status of this program. Scott briefly described WAMPO’s role in awarding approximately $12M in federal funds for bike/ped projects in the region. Scott then explained the proposed WAMPO ‘Planning Walkable Places’ program. According to Scott, grants can be issued for projects that promote walkability and ‘gathering places’ in the region. According to Scott, the Request for Proposals [RFP] will likely be presented in early 2018. According to Scott, the grants will fund 80% of project costs and a 20% cash match is needed in order to be eligible. Scott noted that the City is proposing to apply for funding for the following projects: 1) Parking & Multi-Modal Plan and 2) Downtown Streets Planning & Conceptual Designs; 3) a planning study related to the zoning and development codes; and 4) a study for transit stop accommodations and service to surrounding cities. Scott provided more details about the parking and the downtown streets project, indicating that they would cost $300,000 and $350,000 respectively. During the June 2017 meeting, the board recommended that the City Manager approve the grant 2 3  application. Scott noted that the City Council will consider these recommendations on July 11, 2017. 9. Wichita Bicycling Municipal Code Updates Processes: Scott Wadle provided a brief overview of these processes. According to Scott, there is a need to secure community input on this matter. Scott suggested that information could be received from: a) online surveys; b) Facebook; c) ‘open houses’ at City Hall; d) Wichita Downtown Development Commission staff; and e) citizens-at-large. The timeline for completion of this process is the fall of 2107, according to Scott. A short-term work group was formed, consisting of the following board members and citizens: George Theoharis, Russell Fox, Chris Parisho, Jennifer Rygg , Arleigh McCormick, and Christian Calhoun. This group will develop recommended questions for the online survey. 10. Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan – 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan: Scott provided handouts of a draft work plan and provided a brief overview. There was discussion about the need for additional funding for painting crosswalks and other infrastructure maintenance. Scott indicated that he would review the plan and would report back to the Board about opportunities to include crosswalk maintenance in the work plan. Tom Laster moved [Barry Carroll] to recommend that Scott Wadle incorporate the input received and make edits to Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan – 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan and place the item on the August 14, 2107 board meeting for review. Motion carried 8-0. 11. Announcements:  One Vacant Board Position: Scott noted that the vacancies are being posted according to the City’s guidelines. 12. Closing Thoughts:  WPD Enforcement of Traffic Laws: George Theoharis indicated that increased enforcement would impact both motorists and cyclists who do not obey the rules of the road. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm. The next meeting of the board will be held on Monday, August 14, 2017 @5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted,  Barry Carroll, WBPAB Secretary 3 4  Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board August 14, 2017 TO: Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Members FROM: Parking and Mobility Division SUBJECT: Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan ____________________________________________________________________________________ Recommendation: It is recommended that the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (Board) receive and file this report. Background: On November 4, 2014, the Wichita City Council endorsed the Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan (Pedestrian Plan) as a guide for future planning and decision making regarding public infrastructure, programs and policies that affect walking in Wichita. The plan Strategy 10 recommends that the City create an annual work plan to identify tasks and deliverables, and that the work plan be approved by the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. On July 10, 2017, the Board reviewed a draft Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan 2017 Annual Implementation Work Plan (2017 Work Plan). A Board member asked about whether re-marking of crosswalks could be included in the 2017 Work Plan and City staff committed to review the plan in order to determine if re-marking activities were included as an action or strategy in the plan. Analysis: A review of the plan has shown that Strategy 7 – Make Maintenance of Pedestrian Infrastructure a Priority is the strategy most closely related to the restriping of crosswalks. Action 1 of this strategy recommends that the City “review and update the process for identifying and prioritizing pedestrian maintenance needs”, with the Public Works and Utilities Department as the lead City organization. Staff from the Parking and Mobility Division request some additional time to consult with the Public Works Department to determine if and how activities to help implement this action can be accomplished in 2017. Links:  Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan o http://www.wichita.gov/Planning/Pages/Pedestrian.aspx 5  Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board August 14, 2017 TO: Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Members FROM: Parking and Mobility Division SUBJECT: Wichita Municipal Code Online Survey Questions ____________________________________________________________________________________ Recommendation: It is recommended that the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (Board) endorse the proposed survey questions. Background: On February 5, 2013, the Wichita City Council endorsed the Wichita Bicycle Master Plan (Bike Plan) as an official guide for how the City can help make getting around the City on a bicycle easier, safer, and more convenient. The Bike Plan contains goals for the City to help improve the safety of bicycling, increase the amount of bicycling, and foster a culture where bicycling is a viable and acceptable form of transportation. At the May 8, 2017 Board meeting, City staff indicated that they would prepare a proposed process for reviewing and updating Chapter 11 the City of Wichita Municipal Code related to bicycling. The purpose of the process would be to ensure that Municipal code reflects best practices, can be enforced, and is easily understood. Analysis: The proposed questions would provide helpful information for any updates to the Municipal Code that relate to bicycling. The survey answers would help be an indicator of community support for whether to: remove prohibition of bicycling on the sidewalk, modify it, or define it so that it can be enforced. The survey includes questions related to the safety of people bicycling or walking on sidewalks, specifically whether yielding and audible warnings should continue to be required. It also includes an open-ended question that can be used to identify other potential changes supported by the public. In addition to the survey, Parking and Mobility staff recommend that the City host an open house event in September. The results of the open house and the survey will provide two different sets of data that can be used to help gauge community support. Parking and Mobility staff recommend that the open house event can be conducted in September. Proposed Process Description Timeframe Online survey August/September Open house event September Staff recommendation to WBPAB October Recommendation to City Council November Financial Considerations: There is no cost to conduct the online survey. Legal Considerations: There are no legal considerations at this time. Any proposed changes to the Municipal Code will need to be reviewed by the Law Department. Attachments: Proposed survey questions 6  Page 2 The City of Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board is reviewing existing City laws and regulations related to bicycling. Your input is important to identify what changes, if any, are necessary. This short survey should only take a few minutes to complete and will be available online through September 2017. The information collected will be confidential and used solely for informing the ordinance update process. 1. Under current City code, bicycling on public sidewalks is allowed everywhere except within the Central Business District (downtown). Do you agree with this requirement? (y/n) 2. Should bicycling on public sidewalks be allowed everywhere in Wichita? (y/n) 3. Are there other areas where bicycling on public sidewalks should be prohibited? (y/n) 4. If yes, please describe the other area(s). a. 5. Under current City code, people bicycling on public sidewalks are required to yield to pedestrians. Do you agree with this requirement? (y/n) 6. Under current City code, people bicycling on public sidewalks are required to provide an audible signal before overtaking pedestrians. Do you agree with this requirement? (y/n) 7. What other changes do you think should be made to the City of Wichita bicycling related laws and regulations? 8. Have you bicycled in the City of Wichita in the last two years? (y/n) 9. If yes, how often do you ride a bicycle? a. Daily b. Weekly c. Monthly d. Rarely Commented [WS1]: It was recommended by staff to move this to later in the survey so it doesn’t discourage people who do not bicycle to not participate n the survey. 10. Open house info… this section of the survey will be an opportunity to provide information about the open house event. Optional Questions 11. Age: 12. Gender 13. Zipcode: 14. Please enter your email address if you would like to receive the City’s bicycling and walking newsletter: 7