MINUTES
Infrastructure Subcommittee Meeting
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Members Present: John Riddick, Rob Christensen

Members Absent: John Ott, Karl Kruse, Dennis R. Knudson, Peter Ashbrook, Joan Smith, Jack Jensen, Steven Kullman, Jay Lindner, Mike Alden, Jacque Cowherd, James Joy, Lorenzo Lawson, David Lile, Mike Moore, Janaire Seye, Robert Walters

Staff Present: Ted Curtis, Corri Flaker, Steve Meyer, Margy Tonnies, Janet Godon, Mary Hooley

John Riddick called the meeting to order at 4:39 p.m.

Old Business: None.

New Business: Ted Curtis introduced Corri Flaker who handed out schedules for bike lanes, lane symbols, and shared lane markings for the spring and fall of 2009, and she showed everyone the projects on the (large) map in the GetAbout office. Corri stated a contractor is assessing repairs needed to shoulders for Forum Blvd., Stadium, Providence, and Nifong/Vawter School Rd prior to striping for bike lanes.

Ted described how staff has been looking at parking on streets with bike lanes and sharrows. The issue is what is safest for bicyclists. With bike lanes, it is antipated that an inexperienced bicyclist will be more careful if they come to a parked car. They’ll have to go around (out of the lane) and they will look before they do that, so we think it will be safer. Ted mentioned working with MoDOT on possible bike lanes for: Business Loop, 763, and Providence north of Business Loop.  In some cases, car lanes would have to be made narrower.

John Riddick asked about Providence Rd. Ted said that there will be a side path along Providence, near Hickman High School, and bike lanes on Wilkes. Also, the intersection at Providence and Business Loop will be re-done.

Corri mentioned the possibility of a bike boulevard on Edgewood, Aldeah, Alexander, Banks Ave, and Madison St. This would extend from the MKT Trail to the Business Loop. Ted said that staff will be working with the neighborhoods on this, because there are options. The purposes of bike boulevards are: making it safer for bicyclists, slowing cars, and dealing with intersections. The idea is to get through-traffic off that street. There will be a process in place to communicate with neighbors on this. John Riddick brought up the fact that Edgewood was just torn up for sewer work, so some people may not like further disruption there.

Corri asked for advice on whether to use Derby Ridge between Blue Ridge and Smiley, (a bit steep) for bike lanes, or to use Secretariat Dr., Mint Julep Dr., and Sir Barton Dr. The group agreed the latter is preferable.

Corri mentioned the possibility of having bike lanes on Fairview, and the possibility of parking on just the West side. There was discussion about the possibility of alternating placement of bike lanes, as a traffic calming feature.

Ted described the term, “Hybrid trail” which means a shared use path with a hard surface and compacted gravel on the side. The City Council may vote on using this as a standard at its next session. Ted also reported we’re almost done with the application for eight to ten intersections that would receive the experimental green lane markings. John and Rob had questions about this, such as whether the paint would be slick. Corri said that a product, “tire grip” will be used, which will be helpful for this, but that staff is still not sure of how reflective it will be.  Ted slowed slides of, and described green merge areas, and explained how this treatment was understood by 70% of people who saw it on an internet test.

Ted described the possibility of a few sections of Ash receiving a treatment for “Back In Angle Parking,” in which parking would be taken off one side of the street, and the back in parking would be on the other side. Though this is much safer for bicyclists, it will be different, and probably controversial. It would be done at a couple of spots on Ash, between Providence and 9th St., behind the Post Office, Tribune, and Courthouse. Ted stated this would be a trial. Some discussion followed reiterating the likelihood of opposition (because it’s different), and also suggesting the possibility of free parking for some time, to encourage people to (learn to) park there.

Ted introduced new wayfinding symbols that could be used on streets to show bicyclists the way to any designated bike routes.

Ted discussed the bike corral in front of Kaldi’s. Staff is considering permanent bollards to replace the temporary ones there now. Corri mentioned this corral was featured in an on-line magazine:  www.CitiesGoGreen.com.

The group spent some time looking over the design for the S. Providence Shared-Use path, and discussed various ways to make the road crossings safer, such as raised crosswalks, curves in the trail just before the crossing to slow bikes, keeping the trail very visible to cars at crossings, stop signs for bicyclists, and, in the case of the crossing closest to Sophia’s, to put it closer to the Outer Rd. John and Rob mentioned how that crossing has a lot of high school traffic and how unsafe it is already.  The possibilities of either closing the road, or making it right-in, right-out only were discussed briefly. Ted said the city is taking over (from the state) the maintenance of the Outer Rd.

The price of this project is estimated to be about $1,200,000. A bridge built over one of the road crossings would be a very expensive. Ted pointed out that normally bridges are better for recessed areas anyway.  The idea of routing bike traffic away from Providence, to Bethel Rd. was suggested. Ted stated we’ll have bike routes on Bethel Rd. Overall, the group felt very positive about the project.

Other, smaller projects were discussed: The Greenbriar Trail has one person strongly objecting (on adjacent property), but strong support, generally.  With the completion of this trail, it was noted that there’ll be a paved trail from campus to Rock Bridge Elementary.

Katy Place - there has been no opposition so far, and there has been discussion of painting directional symbols for bicyclists on the parking lot.
Katy Lane - There’ll be ramp getting down to the trail, making a good connection.

Wilson’s - Steve Meyer reported that the Neighborhood Association is against a trail being built on the hill, owing to concerns about liability.  Due to neighborhood opposition, this trail probably will not be built, though there is a possibility of another connection to the trail from Forum. Also, the shoulders on Forum might be improved. 

Garth extension - Ted mentioned that the neighborhoods appear to like the SAE alternative at this point.

Old 63 - more studies are being done now.

Bear Creek - Python Ct. and connection to Blue Ridge:  8’ neighborhood trails are proposed, for which there will be an Interested Parties meeting on Dec. 10 (5:30-7 p.m.) at Derby Ridge Elementary.

Stadium sidewalk: There will be a 6’-8’ sidewalk on the north side, and just markings on the south side (between Providence Rd. and College Ave.) We may build a sidewalk on the south side to fill a gap.

The group suggested having these meetings more frequently and giving more notice to improve attendance. It was suggested the next one be scheduled in January.

Meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Hooley

Infrastructure Subcommittee Meeting 11-12-08