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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBIKE PED MINUTES DEC_19_2013BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 19, 2013 PRESENT: Adam Bellcorelli, Brian Kienert, James Michelson and Ben Rennert ABSENT: Kyle Clark and Melanie Hunt STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Michelson called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Bellcorelli moved the accept the minutes of the November 21, 2013 meeting. Mr. Rennert seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). NEW BUSINESS 1. RECOMMENDATION ON DESIGNATED BICYCLE LANES FOR SAWYER STREET. Mr. Strong gave a brief summary on the geometrics/parking characteristics of Sawyer Street. He said there is not a lot that would need to be changed to make this happen. Mr. Michelson asked if any of the current parking restrictions would be affected by these changes. Mr. Strong said the only place affected would be around Roosevelt School, where a loading zone would need to be converted to allow for longer duration parking. Mr. Bellcorelli felt that narrower lanes would help slow traffic down. Mr. Strong said the issue of the loading zone on the east side of Sawyer Street in front of Roosevelt School was discussed with the Roosevelt principal and the Police Department, who both indicated support of relocating the loading zone to a side street. Mr. Michelson felt this would be a much safer option for the children. Mr. Strong noted the school principal would prefer changes to occur in the summer, so parents could be notified in a timely manner. Mr. Strong noted the intersection of Oshkosh Avenue and Sawyer Street is a hard one to work through. We need to gracefully find a way to terminate the bicycle lanes there. Mr. Kienert felt a roundabout would take care of the problem. Mr. Kienert moved to recommend designated bicycle lanes for Sawyer Street. Mr. Rennert seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). BIKE & PEDESTRIAN MINUTES 2 December 19, 2013 STAFF STATEMENTS 2. DISCUSSION ON DRAFT BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AUDITS. Mr. Strong felt the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission did a good job hitting what we thought would be the major issues at these locations. Mr. Michelson agreed with Mr. Strong. In reference to audit #17, Mr. Kienert felt the glaring issue is there are no pedestrian signals at Congress Avenue and High Avenue. He felt a pedestrian overpass installed at Arboretum Drive and Congress Avenue would solve the problem. Mr. Strong agreed that pedestrian signals were installed at Congress Avenue and High Avenue would help with the issue. Mr. Michelson felt this is a dangerous intersection for bicyclists because of the right turn only lane on Congress Avenue (eastbound) at High Avenue. Mr. Bellcorelli felt closing Summit Avenue at Congress Avenue made a lot of sense and suggested changing the right turn only lane to also allow through traffic. Mr. Strong said this corridor had been brought up before the Traffic Review Advisory Board in the past. One idea has been to make Highway 21 work better by having two eastbound lanes at High Avenue and for the left-turn at Algoma Boulevard. The biggest concern was with trucks turning left at Algoma Boulevard. With only one current left turn lane, there are still a number of accidents where trucks hit signal poles. Mr. Michelson said we need to keep focused on this location. He would like to see traffic lights at Congress Avenue and Arboretum Drive. Mr. Bellcorelli suggested rerouting the Wiouwash Trail away from Summit Avenue. In reference to audit #19 (South Park Avenue and Ohio Street), Mr. Kienert felt it was a good place to do a road diet. Mr. Bellcorelli would like to get bikes off of South Park Avenue and make better use of Osborn Avenue. Mr. Kienert disagreed with Mr. Bellcorelli. He noted there are only five ways to get over Highway 41 and South Park Avenue is one of them. Mr. Bellcorelli said we need to make bike routes more of a transportation issue than a recreational one. In reference to audit #18 (Witzel Avenue at Koeller Street and Washburn Street), Mr. Kienert was concerned about the gaps in sidewalks on Koeller Street. Mr. Strong noted that over time sidewalks will be extended. Mr. Bellcorelli suggested looking at making lighting more pedestrian-friendly. Mr. Strong it would likely not happen at this location because such lighting is normally focused on areas of greater pedestrian concentration like Main Street. In reference to audit #20 (County Highway A and County Highway Y), Mr. Bellcorelli asked if this was in the plan. Mr. Strong answered it was and said it was also challenging because so many agencies are BIKE & PEDESTRIAN MINUTES 3 December 19, 2013 involved. Mr. Michelson said this area is a major item in the Fox Cities/Oshkosh Urbanized Areas Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and it will get a lot of attention. 3. STAFF CHANGE. Mr. Strong commended the committee members on their commitment to volunteering their time and participation. He said the committee as accomplished a lot. He noted internal staff would continue to hold committee meetings until his replacement is hired. The next committee meeting should be in February. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING • Mr. Bellcorelli said he would be looking into submitting an application for the Walk Friendly Communities national recognition program. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and upon being moved and seconded (Bellcorelli, Rennert), the meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.