Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, September 14, 2020 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Online Meeting Meeting Notes Members present: Elizabeth Ablah, Maxine Bostic, Jack Brown, Jane Byrnes, Barry Carroll, Russell Fox, Marcia Schroeder, Tyler Stutzman & George Theoharis Members Absent: John Baker, Erik Maybee City Staff: Michael Tann, Wichita Transportation Department Director, Shawn Mellies & Mike Armour, Public Works Engineering, Zachary Kramka, City Manager’s Office, LaToya Park, Wichita Transportation Department Guests: Clayton Pearson, Alan Kailer, Vincent Hancock & Rick Sroufe Item Description 1. Call to Order: Jack Brown, Chairperson, welcomed board members, City staff, guests and called the virtual meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 2. Approve Previous Meeting Notes: The August 10th, 2020 meeting notes were approved. 3. Public Comments: There were no public comments. 4. 9th & McLean: Shawn Mellies, Public Works Engineering, provided an update on the following: a) the City Council has provided approximately $60K for Public Works staff to look at options for reducing speed on McLean from 13th to Central; b) there are no CIP funds earmarked for a crossing at 9th & McLean at this time; c) staff will look at all possible options available [signage, road diets, medians, traffic signals]; d) staff will develop a tentative plan at make presentations at the Transit Advisory Board, DAB VI and then back to the WBPAB; e) staff will work with consultants; and f) a plan will be developed by early 2021. After some discussion, it was agreed that Jack Brown, Chairperson, will meet with staff and consultants at some point in the future. The board thanked Shawn for his informative presentation. 5. Update on Current Bicycle & Pedestrian Projects: Mike Armour, Public Works Engineering, reported on the following projects: a) staff and consultants are looking at upgrades for signalization along Douglas from McLean to Hydraulic; b) there may be some vehicular detection signals added to Waco from Douglas to Central; c) Chisholm Trail plans will be finalized in the coming weeks; d) the City Council has funding for additional work in the Pawnee Prairie Park [playground, drainage, trails, etc.]; Tyler Stutzman volunteered to track this particular project; e) there will be improvements on Mt. Vernon from Broadway to SE Boulevard by the spring of 2021; f) installation of a traffic signal at Hoover and Zoo Boulevard will be coordinated with the new water treatment facility; g) Redbud Path from K-96 eastward to 159th is 1  slated to be completed by the end of the year; h) Greenwich bike path associated with the improvements to East Kellogg that will have lighting on both sides of the street; i) improvements to 13th Street - westward from 119th to 135th; j) Chisholm & Delano Path – plans are being finalized; and k) 17th improvements from Broadway to the Canal Route – this project will likely be completed by in 2021. Jack Brown noted that Lee Carmichael provides routine updates on projects which is helpful to the board. The board thanked Mike Armour for sharing the project updates. 6. Open Air ICT Permit: Mike Armour, Public Works Engineering, reported on the following: a) the City Council has recently approved this temporary permitting process; b) the permitting process expires on August 2021; c) businesses can apply for a permit that would allow outdoor seating with restrictions; d) there must be at least six foot clearance for pedestrians on sidewalks; e) it is possible that this process could becoming permanent over time; f) there have been 12 inquiries and nine approvals to date and g) the terms of the permitting process are on the City’s webpage. The board was enthusiastic about this Open Air ICT Permitting process. The board thanked Mike providing an update. Staff Support for the Wichita Bicycle & Pedestrian Board: Michael Tann, Transportation Department Director, reported on the following: a) Scott Wadle is now the Planning Director and will no longer provide staff support to the board; b) a new job description is being developed with input from Scott and others; c) Zac Kramka, City Manager Office staff, will be assisting Michael and Scott during this transition period; d) an interview panel will be convened for this new position; and e) this position is being advertised internally and externally at this time. Michael also provided brief updates on the Transportation Center, new electric buses with bike racks that now hold three bikes, a new bike share vendor, the phasing out of diesel buses over time, redesign of bus routes and the need for ongoing coordination with the Transit’s Advisory Board. The board thanked Michael for the update. 8. Board Member Project Reports: • Redbud Path from K-96 Path to 159th: Work is underway. • 17th Street from Broadway to I-135: Work is underway. • Waco from Douglas to Central: Work has been completed! • Tree Planting: Forestry staff have been planting trees along multiuse paths. • Mt. Vernon: Improvements have been made and work continues on intersections. 9. Board Comments & Observations: • Jane Byrnes read from a prepared text: 1) ‘racial & mobility justice’ terminology; 2) WAMPO offers monthly webinars; 3) WAMPO has formed a ‘health & safety’ advisory committee; 4) volunteers are needed for the September 24-26 bike/ped count; 5) there have been at least three bike/vehicle crashes recently; 6) many of the crashes are in low-income areas; 7) due to COVID19 there are many more cyclists and pedestrians out and about; 8) lowering the speed limit on area streets could save lives; and 9) Jane is alarmed by the number of bike/ped crashes. Jack Brown agreed to forward Jane’s comments to the board. • Jack Brown reported that the ‘Aviator Path’ from Derby to Mulvane is completed! 1  • Downtown Street Survey: The City is wants input about street design for an area west of McLean, south to Kellogg, north to Murdoch and east to Washington. The survey is on the City’s website. The board was encouraged to take the survey. 10. Announcements: • Bike Walk Wichita will be hosting an outdoor gathering at Marty Johnson’s half acre on Sunday, September 13th from 6-8 pm; open to the public. • Clapp Park Update will be on the October 2020 agenda. • Transportation Center Update will be on the October 2020 agenda. 11. Closing Thoughts: There were no closing thoughts. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7 pm. The next virtual meeting of the board will be held on October 12th, 2020 @5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted. 😊😊 Barry Carroll, Board Secretary 1