Lawrence Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting

City of Lawrence

Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee

May 20, 2014 Minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Lisa Hallberg, Erin Paden, Bill Anderson, David Hamby, Justin Eddings, Jacki Becker
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Dan Ashley, Chad Foster, Chris Rogge
STAFF PRESENT:	Todd Girdler, David Cronin, David Woosley, Nick Voss
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Rod Hernandez, Dietrich Earnhart, Michael Almon

1. Call Meeting to Order, Introductions and Assurance of Quorum

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. A quorum was present.

2. Approval of the April 15, 2014 Meeting Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from the April meeting was moved by David Hamby, seconded by Bill Anderson and passed unanimously (6-0).

3. Discussion/Action Item: Proposed City of Lawrence No Parking in Bike Lane Ordinance

David Woosley informed the BAC members that some cars have been parking in bike lanes on Folks Road in areas marked as bike lanes but not posted with a No Parking sign. He noted that he wanted the BAC to discuss this issue before it was placed on a Traffic Safety Commission agenda. Lisa Hallberg started the BAC discussion of this issue by stating that if a lane is marked for cyclists then is obviously is not for parking cars. Bill Anderson asked about the bike lanes on Princeton Drive where vehicles park in the parking lane but often have part of their vehicle in the bike lane especially if it is a truck parking. David Woosley noted that you are supposed to park within six inches of the curb so if you are not that close then you could get ticketed for that. He noted that on some days like this past graduation weekend parking violations are common, and he also noted that the police Department would like to have some local guidance on how to handle this bike lane parking situation. Todd Girdler asked if any existing guides already adopted by the City gives the authority to prohibit vehicle parking in bike lanes. David Woosley noted that the bike lane sign is regulatory and through the Kansas Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) the no parking in bike lanes could be prohibited, but that is not as clear as a local ordinance would be. David Hamby made a motion for the BAC to support the proposed City prohibition of vehicle parking in bike lanes and for the City staff to pursue the creation of that ordinance. That motion was seconded by Lisa Hallberg and passed unanimously.

4. Discussion/Action Item: 2014 Street Striping and Markings – Work Plan Review

David Cronin gave an overview of the street striping and makings plan to the BAC and asked for their comments on the proposed projects particularly two projects for adding bike lanes on 15th Street between Haskell and harper, and 9th Street between Michigan and Mississippi. He noted that these projects in the striping and marking plan are low cost projects that can be done without moving curbs and other structural work on the streets. He also noted that the bike lanes on Lawrence Avenue and Princeton Drive that were painted and are now worn will be replaced with taped lines as part of the upcoming mill and overlay projects. Bill Anderson asked about Vermont Street between 6th and 11th noting that he would like sharrows on that section showing cyclists to take the lane instead of riding in the door zone of parked cars. Nick Voss mentioned that he thought that that section was on the list to get sharrows. David Cronin noted that this year of striping and marking will include many sharrows. A motion to approve the striping and markings plan as presented by Public Works staff with the addition of bike lanes along 15th Street and 9th Street as presented was moved by Lisa Hallberg. That motion was seconded by David Hamby and passed unanimously.

5. Discussion/Action Item: Roundabouts & Bicycle Safety

Nick Voss gave the BAC an overview of the Wakarusa Drive Project at the Legends Drive/Inverness Drive Intersection and noted that the intersection is now planned for a roundabout. He then talked briefly about the navigation of cyclists through roundabouts including cyclists that ride through them as vehicles and cyclists that exit the travel lanes and navigate through them like pedestrians. A diagram was presented to display both of those movements. David Cronin noted that the roundabout now planned for this intersection is a two-lane hybrid design with two lanes on Wakarusa and one lane on the side streets. Nick Voss then asked the BAC members to comment on this design and the use of roundabouts by cyclists in general. Lisa Hallberg said that she thought some education was for cyclists to navigate through roundabouts, especially two-lane designs like this project. Erin Paden said that she often rides with children and would not be comfortable riding through this roundabout with her children. The BAC members all agreed with her concern and noted that for her in that situation they believe the pedestrian style routing through the roundabout was appropriate. Todd Girdler noted that if the decision to maneuver through the roundabout like a pedestrian is made then it needs to be made early on the approach to the roundabout so the intention is clear and the cyclist gets out of the travel lane before they get close to the crosswalk and yield bar. David Hamby told the group that this intersection is on his commute route, and he will ride through this new roundabout and looks forward to its completion. David Cronin told the BAC that the City wants to bid this project soon and would like to get BAC support for the roundabout at this location. Lisa Hallberg asked about if signage exists that can tell the cyclists to take the lane and navigate through the roundabout as a vehicle. Nick Voss told the BAC that he will investigate that to see if he can locate some signage used elsewhere that we could use at this new roundabout. He did note that he has looked at several roundabouts in different states and found that they have different signage. Bill Anderson informed the Public Works Staff that the center islands in roads designed for traffic calming often result in a motorist quickly passing the cyclists as they approach the island, and this is a safety concern for cyclists. He also noted that he has bicycled through many roundabouts in Europe and been very comfortable doing that in traffic. Erin Paden asked if Nick Voss could send her links to the other roundabouts he examined, and Nick Voss told the BAC that he would forward those links to the BAC members. All of the BAC members agreed that education is needed for cyclists and motorists on how to share the roundabouts and navigate through them together. David Hamby moved that the BAC support the planned roundabout construction on Wakarusa Drive at the Inverness/Legends Drives Intersection and that signage be added to that project to guide cyclists riding through the roundabout to take the lane. That motion was seconded by Lisa Hallberg. It was approved by five members voting for it and one member abstaining.

6. Discussion/Action Item: SLT Shared Use Path to Haskell Shared Use Path- Planning a Connection

David Cronin informed the BAC members that the City staff is working on plans to make this connection between the ends of the SLT (South Lawrence Trafficway) shared use path and the end of the Burroughs Creek Trail shared use path. The issue now facing the City is about using 28th or 29th Street corridors to make that connection. He informed the BAC that he had sent the draft plans for this pathway connection to Jessica Mortinger for distribution to BAC members. BAC members told David Cronin that they have not received those plans, but the BAC members are very interesting in this path connection. Lisa Hallberg said that she would like to see the plans before making comments and that some members might want to go out and look at the planned connection route in the field. She asked BAC members to table this item to next month’s meeting on June 17th and the BAC members all agreed to table it.

7. Discussion/Action Item: Reverse Angle Parking RE: 11th & Mississippi St project and Other Future Projects

David Cronin told the BAC that he and his staff have been discussing parking options for this area and had proposed the reverse angle (back-in angled parking) option at staff meetings. He described the project proposed at this location and the need for the developer to have plenty of on-street parking to support the retail part of this project. The developer now plans to have many front-end angled parking spaces along both sides of Mississippi and Indiana Streets. Public Works staff is concerned about this and has suggested back-in angled parking or longer stalls for front-end spaces to improve driver visibility and safety. Todd Girdler noted that the KU staff also has concerns with this project and has expressed those concerns in writing to the City. David Cronin told the BAC members that this concern with on-street parking is also becoming an issue with the USD 497 Lawrence Public Schools projects around town because those plans are pushing most or all of the parking onto the nearby streets. Erin Paden and Lisa Hallberg asked if the proposed project along Indiana and Mississippi would slow the traffic down to about 20 MPH like it is on Massachusetts Street. David Hamby moved that the BAC support the City Public Works staff in designing this project so that is addresses the BAC concerns for bicyclist safety and travel, traffic speed and traffic calming, and parking; and that the City consider the proposed reverse angle parking (back-in angled parking) for this site. That motion was seconded by Lisa Hallberg and passed unanimously.

8. Discussion/Action Item: Appoint a member to represent BAC on the Regional Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee

Todd Girdler told the BAC that the MPO staff is now forming the Regional Pedestrian Plan steering committee approved by the MPO last month and that there is one member from the BAC on that committee list. He asked the BAC if they could name one of their members to serve on that committee. The BAC members briefly discussed this pedestrian plan steering committee and the Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition’s ongoing efforts to get a City task force created to address pedestrian/sidewalk issues in Lawrence. A motion to approve Erin Paden as the BAC member on the Regional Pedestrian Plan – Steering Committee was moved by Lisa Hallberg, seconded by David Hamby and passed unanimously.

9. Discussion/Action Item: Prioritization of Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements

David Hamby told the BAC members that they have been discussing the creation of a BAC Top 5 Projects List for a few months and now it was time for members to share their ideas on what each of them think are the most important projects in the area. He informed the BAC that his priorities were the following:

· 4^th and MacDonald Drive to North Iowa Street – a connection needs to be made here possibly with a short cycle track. The City and KTA are now working on this section so it may be possible to coordinate with KTA to get this done soon.

· North end of the SLT Path needs a paved connection to other bikeways – possible paving of County roads to make a connection up to Farmer’s Turnpike

· North 1500 Road to Noria Road as part of the Lawrence-Eudora bikeway connection

· SLT Path connections to O’Connell Road and Noria Road

· Pavement marking and signs to give guidance to cyclists and motorists on how to share the roads

Bill Anderson told the BAC that his top priorities include the following:

· Bikeway connections across Iowa Street to connect Old West Lawrence with West Lawrence

· Removal of islands in both north and southbound lanes of Louisiana Street

· Bikeways along the 6^th Street Corridor – possible shared use path connection between 7^th Street and Centennial Park

Jacki Becker told the BAC that she agrees with Bill and David’s priorities and also has the following as a top priority for her:

· Naismith and 23rd street intersection Area – needs a better transition from the shared use path going south to 24th Street

Erin Paden noted that her top priorities were the following:

· Bikeway connections for getting over or across Iowa Street safely on bikes – something that will work for child cyclists as well as adults is needed and multiple locations to cross are needed

· Undercrossing of busy arterial streets for bikeways – this is done in other cities

Lisa Hallberg noted that all of these projects are good priorities and that she agrees with all of them being important. She added the following items that are priorities for her:

· signage to direct bicyclists, pedestrians and motorist to share the roadways safely

· Educational programs for sharing roadway space.

Michael Almon asked the BAC if he could present his priorities to the BAC, but he noted that he wanted to leave soon to attend another meeting. BAC members also noted that they wanted to leave soon to attend a Lawrence City Commission meeting starting at 6:30 PM. Lisa Hallberg asked Michael to submit his comments on bikeway project priorities to the BAC and MPO staff, and Michael said he would do that.

10. Discussion/Action Item: Set Agenda for Bike/Ped Coordination Forum

Todd Girdler told the BAC that Jessica Mortinger has been working on arranging this meeting between the BAC and other groups interested in bicycling and pedestrian planning in the region. The BAC members discussed the possible times and dates proposed by staff and decided that June 23rd was the preferred date, time and place for this meeting. The BAC had a very brief discussion of the groups that they hoped to discuss issues with and to identify some common concerns related to bicyclist and pedestrian travel and safety.

11. Other Business/ Updates

· Bicycle Rideability Map

Todd Girdler informed the BAC that Jessica Mortinger has been busy making these map updates and has been seeking donations for the printing of this new map. The map revisions are almost complete, and it appears that we will have enough funding to print 10,000 copies which is the same number we printed with the original in 2010.

· BAC Bike Ride & Bike Month Events Update

Lisa Hallberg informed the BAC that the bike ride with Lawrence City Commissioners was successful with four out of five commissioners participating.

12. Public Comments

There were none.

13. Adjournment of Meeting and Announcement of Next Meeting