Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, October 14, 2019 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 777 E. Waterman, Bldg. 200 Wichita Transit Van Maintenance Facility Wichita, KS 67202 Meeting Notes Members present: Elizabeth Ablah, Jack Brown, Maxine Bostic, Jane Byrnes, Barry Carroll, Russell Fox, Marcia Schroeder, Christopher Parisho & George Theoharis Members Absent: Tom Lasater & Tyler Stutzman City Staff: Gary Janzen, City Engineer, Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst Guests: Dave & Sharon Hewitt, Clayton Pearson, Casey Boothinghouse, Gerald Baker, Keren Thomas, Vincent Hancock, Bob Lavelle, Kelly Wentz, Kathryn Boyd & Nathan Richardson Item Description 1. Call to Order: Jack Brown, Chairperson, welcomed board members, City staff, guests and called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 2. Approve Previous Meeting Notes: The September 9th, 2019 meeting notes were amended to correct spelling errors and then approved. 3. Public Comments: • Gerald Baker: Gerald would like for the City to install a crosswalk at 9th & McLean. • Bob Lavelle: Bob reported that the low water crossing at Pawnee Prairie Park is working well but additional drainage would be helpful. In addition, Bob suggested that with the invention of e-bikes, there is great opportunity for increased ridership. 4. Wichita Bicycle & Pedestrian Capital Improvement Program Projects: Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, facilitated a discussion about City bicycle and pedestrian related Capital Improvement Program projects and the board’s priorities for Multi-Modal/Spot Fixes projects. Scott noted that in 2020, there will bthere is e $150,000 programmed in the CIP for a Bike-Ped Multi-Modal Acc. line item. for maintenance activities. According to Scott, there is a City staff Transportation Review Committee that routinely meets and looks for opportunities to possibly enhance bikereviews programmed projects for compliance with the City’s Multi-Modal Policy, including whether improvements related to bicycling and walking should be included with the programmed projects. /ped projects. Following a brief discussion, the board tabled this item until the November 2019 meeting. 5. KDOT Matching Grant Program: Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, facilitated a discussion about CIP projects and priorities for 2019 and 2020. Scott noted that there is a March deadline for submission of projects. The board agreed to consider this item at future meetings. 6. Bicycle Tour Debrief: Jack Brown facilitated a discussion of the tour. According to Jack, the weather was pleasant and approximately 10 people participated. Following the tour, the board identified several items for future consideration. Baseball Park & Bicycle Parking: Alan Kailer reiterated that secured parking is needed for cyclists who attend baseball games. It was noted that bicycle racks are planned for the park but many cyclists will not feel comfortable parking expensive bikes at the bike racks for long periods of time. Alan 1  suggested that bike lockers might be an option. Clayton Pearson posited that bicycle parking is much less expensive than parking for vehicles. Motion: After considerable discussion, Barry Carroll moved [Elizabeth Ablah] to recommend that the City consider installing secured parking for bicycles and directed the board chair to forward a letter to the Mayor and City Council to this effect. Motion carried 10-0. Chris Parisho also expressed concerns that the proposed multi-use path in Delano [north of Douglas] might be devoid of green space if vehicle parking were to be permitted adjacent to the path. 7. Wichita Scooter Pilot Program Update: Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, shared information about the status of the pilot program and public comments received to date. According to Scott, the reported indicated that the WPD issued 10 citations to scooter riders for various infractions. There has been better compliance with shutting down scooters at dusk. VeoRide retrieved 18 scooters from the river. Based upon comments received from the City’s website, there was a balance between positive and negative comments. The board will continue to receive monthly reports. 8. Better Block Douglas Locations: Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, shared information about a possible Better Block project on Douglas Avenue. According to Scott, there are three possible funders for this project. The area in question will be eastward from the railroad tracks to the river. Scott noted that it is likely that the project will take place in the spring of 2020. More details will be forthcoming. 9. Street Trees Planting Locations: Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, facilitated a discussion to identify the Board priorities for street tree locations. According to Scott, he would like to develop a pilot project, use GIS data and a develop quantitative scoring matrix for identifying priority streets for tree plantings. The board was supportive. This item will appear on future board agendas. 10. Project Updates: In the interest of time, Scott Wadle, Senior Management Analyst, reviewed the following initiatives:did not provide a verbal overview but instead referred the Board members to a printed handout with updates. • Neighborhood Bicycling & Walking Route Plans: A plan has been drafted for review; • Bicycle Counting Project: The counters will be installed by City crews; • Crash Review Best Practices: Staff will meet with the Law Department to obtain information for the board about review of bike/ped crash data; • People First Neighborhoods – 1600 N Park Place: A report has been drafted; • Bicycle Wayfinding Improvements: The project is on ‘hold’ for now; • Senior Walking Routes: A report has been drafted; • Pedestrian Wayfinding Improvements: A report has been drafted; • 9th & McLean Crossing Design Cost Estimates: Scott has received two concept bids from Toole Design and Alta consultants. The board will need to decide if funds from the CIP should be used to fund the study; • Law Department-Big Ditch: No report at this time; and • Bike Share: The highest number of riders took place in July! 11. Board Member Projects Reports: Listed below is a status report on the following projects. • Hoover Road Multi-use Pathway: Right-of-way acquisition continues for the pathway. A traffic signal will be installed at Zoo Blvd. and Hoover Road; the signal will aid crossing from the Sedgwick County Park to the Hoover Road Multi-Use Pathway; • Chisholm Trail/Delano Paths: Consultants are working on a design from the Ark River westward to South Seneca; the board will consider the consultants’ design at a future meeting; • Douglas Avenue – Washington to Grove: A more ‘holistic’ approach is being considered for this project. There has been discussion by city staff and the community for a more 2  bike/ped friendly design along Douglas. Planning is being done to obtain more public input into the design development process; • Downtown Signals Upgrade Project: This is a multi-year project that will upgrade 100 signals. City staff continues to work through funding on the KDOT fiber optic project which will support the pedestrian crosswalk push buttons. Once the fiber optics are funded staff will proceed with developing a bid package for installation of the signals. The CIP includes $500k per year with an estimated total cost of $4 million to complete the project in the Central Business District, completion will take some time given these cost estimates; • Redbud Multi-Use Pathway: K-96 Eastward to 159th: Right-of-way acquisition continues and construction will begin in early 2020; the trail will consist of 9 feet of concrete & 5 feet of crushed limestone; • Waco / Douglas to Central: Plans and funding are in hand and ready to bid. Some utility relocation needed; the project will convert four lanes to two lanes, construction should start in 2020; • 17th Street-Canal Route to Broadway: The project will utilize on-street bike lanes; construction to begin in 2020; • West Street: A 10’ path on the west side of West Street between Irving and Kellogg is to be constructed. This will provide the proposed Prairie Sunset Trail a means of safely crossing West St. by utilizing the new signal at Kellogg that has been improved to include a bike/ped crossing on the south leg of the intersection. Right-of-way acquisition and utility work should be completed by the end of July or early August 2019. Construction should start by late fall or early winter. The bridge crossing, I-235 & the Big Ditch is still unknown 12. Announcements: • 13th & Perry Intersection: The City will ban left turning actions for a six-month study • Jane Byrnes reported that volunteers painted crosswalks at eight public schools • George Theoharis reported that Clapp Park is well mowed and open to the public • Bike/Ped Count: A final report should be available in the near future • WAMPO Webinars: Are informative and open to the public • Wednesday Walks: Bike Walk Wichita is hosting walks during ‘Walktober’ 13. Closing Thoughts: • Legislative Agenda: This will be a future agenda item • Board Retreat: Needs to be scheduled • Veterans Day - November 11th: City offices will be closed; consequently, the board will meet on the first Monday [November 4th] There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm. The next meeting of the board will be held on November 4th, 2019 @5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted. 😊😊 Barry Carroll, Board Secretary 3