Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board December, 14, 2020 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Online Meeting Meeting Notes Members present: Elizabeth Ablah, Maxine Bostic, Jack Brown, Jane Byrnes, Barry Carroll, Erik Maybee, Marcia Schroeder, Tyler Stutzman & George Theoharis Russell Fox Members Absent: John Baker, Tyler Stutzman, City Staff: Michael Tann, Wichita Transportation Department, Shawn Mellies Public Works Engineering, Zachary Kramka, City Manager’s Office Guests: Clayton Pearson, Alan Kailer, Robert Parnacott, Leanne Beat, and Ellen Abbey [Transit Advisory Board]. Mike Spayd {Garver Consulting}, Troy Tabor, Kim Neufeld, Amanda Aguila Gonzales and unidentified caller number 01 Item Description 1. Call to Order Barry Carroll, Chairperson, welcomed board members, City staff, and guests and called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 2. Approve The corrected October Meeting Notes and the November Meeting Notes were Previous approved by the board. Motion by Ablah and seconded by Fox. Meeting Notes 3. Public Comments • Bob Parnacott - Inquired about the status and updates of the following: 1. Master Bicycle Plan update. 2. A potential open house to seek public input on biking and pedestrian planning 3. the city’s draft Cross Walk Policy, city web page improvements on projects, hiring of the Transit Multi-Modal Manager, Covid-19 impacts on Transit budget, and a request for a copy of the project tracking spreadsheet. • Alan Kailer - indicated he would like a copy of the project tracking spreadsheet and inquired about the use of the function of the app for the new bike rental and if the bike rental was only for one hour. 1 4. Discussion Items • McLean Traffic Study between Central and 13th Shawn Mellies, City of Wichita Public Works and Mike Spayd of Garver reviewed Garver’s draft study plan prepared by Graver consultants. Shawn Mellies headed the presentation and Mike Spayd provided additional clarification on various technical matters. The study, as presented focused on excessive vehicular speed, traffic counts, and crashes. Several; design options were provided by the presenters that involved traffic calming design options, and signalization for bikes and pedestrians to facilitate crossing McLean in the vicinity at 9th Street. Considerable discussion took place regarding the type of signal and; locations that should be used at 9th and McLean. Two options were provided by the presenters: a HAWK signal (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon signals are traffic signals that allow pedestrians to cross the road safely. HAWK signals operate in a YELLOW–RED–FLASHING RED sequence to alert motorists that pedestrians need to cross the road and RRFP’s (Rectangular Rapid Beacons) are user-actuated amber LEDs that supplement warning signs at un-signalized intersections or mid-block crosswalks. They can be activated by pedestrians manually by a push button or passively by a pedestrian detection system. RRFB’s are a cheaper alternative but do stop traffic as effectively as a HAWK signal. At the conclusion of the presentation and board discussion a motion was made by Brown, seconded by Ablah to accept the draft traffic study recommendations’ by Garver and recommend that a HAWK signal be utilized in the vicinity of 9th Street and McLean to provide for traffic control and bike/ped crossing in the vicinity of 9th Street. 5. Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian Count: Amanda Aquila Gonzales, University of Kansas School of Medicine reported on the annual Wichita Metropolitan Area Planning Organization provided the board with an overview of the annual 2020 bike count. The count relies on volunteers and this year marked the first year that all 36 sites were counted. The number of volunteers increased from 36 in 2019 to 60 in 2020. Overall there was in marked increase in count for both bicycle and pedestrians. . 6. • WAMPO Active Transportation Committee: Alan Kailer of Bike Walk Wichita is chairing the newly formed WAMPO Active Transportation Committee which is planning to update the 2011 Regional Pathways Plan, coordinate all biking and walking plans in the region and develop policies applicable to improving bicycle and pedestrian activity within the WAMPO region. • WAMPO Health and Safety Committee: Elizabeth Ablah provided an over view and update on the newly formed WAMPO Health Safety committee which will also update existing WAMPO work on reducing crashes, review existing crash data and develop strategies and education and initiatives to reduce crashes within the region. 7. • Staff Reports – Mike Tann updated the board Bike Share ICT: Tandem Mobility has been chosen by the City Council for the bike share and is up and running with bikes placed at docking stations around the community. Mr. Tann also mentioned that the Multi Modal Center project is still moving forward with design and would have an update for the board in the near future. Lastly, Mr. Tann indicated that the Transit Multimodal Manager position has been reopened to accept more applicants. 1  • Scott Wadle – provided information on the Places for People initiative and indicated the board might want to re-visit Places for People to get an update and, mentioned that the presentation that one of his staff made in a City Council Workshop would create a better understanding of the project. Mr. Wadle also mentioned that along the Redbud trail residents adjacent to the trail now have paved access points to the trail. 7. New Business: • Board member Brown suggested that the board should be preparing for developing recommendations for the 2021 City of Wichita Operating Budget and the Capital Improvement Program in the early months of 2021 8. Board Comments: • Board member Burns indicated that the bridge over the “Big Ditch” should continue to be a priority as it connects the Prairie Sunset Trail to Delano pathway. Board member Burns recommended that she supports and encourages board membership to join the CDC program Active People, Healthy Nation to help increase physical activity, reduce healthcare costs, build walkable neighborhoods, support local economies, and improve health for individuals, families, and your communities. 9. • Adjournment Ablah moved, Fox second, board meeting adjourned The next virtual meeting of the board will be held on January 11th, 2021 @5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted. Jack Brown, WBPAB vice chair/secretary. 1