Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, March 8, 2021 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Online Meeting Meeting Notes Members present Elizabeth Ablah, Russell Fox, Maxine Bostic, Jack Brown, Jane Byrnes, Barry Carroll, Erik Maybee, Marcia Schroeder, Tyler Stutzman & George Theoharis, John Baker Members Absent: none City Staff: Michael Tann, Wichita Transportation Department, Gary Janzen, Mike Armour, Public Works Engineering, Zachary Kramka, City Manager’s Office, Scott Wadle, Metropolitan Area Planning Department Guests: Rick Sroufe, LeAnna Beat [Transit Advisory Board], Kim Neufeld, Alan Kailer, John Rankin, Vincent Hancock, Clayton Pearson, Item Description 1. Call to Order: Barry Carroll, Chairperson, welcomed board members, City staff, and guests and called the virtual meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 2. Previous Meeting Motion to approve the February meeting notes was made by Ablah, Brown Notes second. Motion passed 11-0. 3. Public Comments Lisa Frey Blume commented on the status of several city activities relating to bicycle and pedestrian projects and plans. Ms. Blume commented that the City of Wichita Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines are still in draft form since first developed in 2018. Ms. Blume stated that the draft Pedestrian Guidelines are no longer relevant and not proactive. Ms. Blume suggested that newer more data driven systems approach to pedestrian crossing design should be examined. Additionally, Ms. Blume inquired about the status of the following projects: • Wichita Senior Walking Route project: • Neighborhood Circulation Plans (Hilltop, Uptown): • Wichita Priority Safety Corridor Plans: • Complete Streets/Multi-Modal Policy Implementation Tools project Ms. Blume asked that the WBPAB request an update from city staff and requested that these items be taken to the District Advisory Boards. The board took no action but requested that staff provide updates on these projects at future meetings. 4. City of Wichita Chair Carroll introduced the item for discussion, provided a draft letter to Operating Budget send to the City Council and City Manager and requested that Zach Kramka recommendations of the City Manager’s Office to provide the board with the results from a survey taken by the board to rank and prioritize bike/ped programs and projects for the 2022 general operating budget. The survey ranked 10 items that the board had discussed at the February meeting. Based on the survey and ranking a motion was made by Ablah second (Baker) to approve the draft General Operation Budget recommendation letter. Motion passed 10-1 5. City of Wichita Chair Carroll introduced the item and ask for board comments on a draft Capital letter he had developed for discussion and board input. The first topic Improvement focused on the 6 crossing recommendations in the letter. Chair asked for recommendations comments on K-15 crossing at Wassall and the 9th and McLean crossing. Board member Brown and guest Alan Kailer provided comments about the crossing and staff member Mike Armour updated how a pending sewer project at that location may provide for future crossing improvements. Board member Byrnes indicated that more funding emphasis should be allocated for Safe Routes to School to provide more safety for children. Discussion was also held editing the draft CIP recommendation letter regarding the 9th and McLean study. Staff member Gary Janzen indicated that the study was complete now funding need to be located to cover preliminary design costs. The discussion then moved on to the 11 priority projects in the CIP. With input from board on the Redbud Trail from Woodlawn to Rock Road and the final section of the Redbud from Rock Road to K-96. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was the consensus of the board to move the Rock Road to K-96 up to the number 4 on the priority projects list and change the 9th and McLean traffic study to the Central to 13th Street design study. Board member Ablah made a motion to approve the draft CIP recommendation letter to incorporate changes previously discussed, Brown (second). The motion passed 10-1. 6. Staff Reports and Mike Tann, Transit Director updated the board on the open Transportation Updates Planner position. Mr. Tann indicated that a candidate from the Denver was offered the position but ultimately had to decline. Mr. Tann was asked about the amount of time this position would devote to bike and ped related activities. Mr. Tann indicated that ultimately, he felt the position could devote 50% of its time to bike and ped. Mr. Tann also updated the board on the status of the Transit Center and stated that proposal for the Transit Center had been received and a 13-member board had been created to screen the Transit Center proposals. 7. Old Business Chair Carroll asked that we discuss the status of the intersection at 37th St. North. He asked board member Tyler Stutzman to review neighborhood concerns regarding the need for a pedestrian crossing at 37th St. North to the new school that is currently under construction on the south side of 37th Street North and Watercress. City staff, Mike Armour indicated that discussion had been held with the Maize School District and a signalized crossing is planned for the new school with the location possibly being on the west side of Watercress at 37th Street North. The board agreed to track this project as the crossing plan develops. 8. New Business There was no New Business to come before the board. 9. Board Comments Board member Ablah indicated that further development of the prioritization tool and other metrics (e.g., connectivity, near a school, high proportion of elderly or underserved population) would help the board make decisions and assist the city council members and staff in prioritizing the work of the board. It was suggested that staff revisit the prioritization tool and discuss at a future meeting. Board member Byrnes stated that bike/ped planning is important to all people and that the community needs to do more to retain young talent and provide equity to all citizens. Scott Wadle indicated that he would revisit the project prioritization tool and bring it back to the board at a future meeting. Mr. Wadle also mentioned that an update regarding Places for People would be on a future meeting agenda for discussion. 9. Adjournment There being no further business a motion was made by Ablah to adjourn, second Brown. Motion passed 11-0. Submitted by Jack Brown, Secretary, Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board