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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-10CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2012 The Cycling Advisory Committee met on this date commencing at 4:05 p.m. CITY OF KITCHENER Present: Messrs. M. Arges, S. Burek, D. Class, P. Dedes, Councillor Y. Fernandes (left at 4:50 p.m.), B. Forwell (Vice- Chair) (4:15 p.m.), B. Laube, N. Mehes and Ms. M. Sehl (Chair). Staff: Messrs. M. Parris, R. Schirm (Committee Administrator), W. Sleeth (left at 5:00 p.m.), and Ms. K. Reinert (Minutes) Regrets: Ms. J. Romero. Ms. M. Sehl welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2012. Mr. W. Sleeth has recently been made aware that he has a conflict with this meeting and will need to leave this and future meetings at 5:00 p.m.; Mr. M. Parris, from Parks, will be staying till 6:00 p.m. UPGRADING TRAIL CROSSINGS The list has been finalized for 2012 and includes all suggestions made by the CAC members. Inventory of existing crossings is included on the list. The tender has been done but the total cost is undetermined at this time. Included in the tender are two refuge islands; 1) Laurentian Drive and, 2) Belmont Avenue, and 35 to 40 locations with approximately 70 approaches. The signing will be done internally and separately from the tender. Staff from Engineering will be overseeing the work along with input from Parks staff. It was decided that approval of the minutes will be addressed after Mr. John Griffin's presentation. 2. WAYFINDING WORKSHOP AND PILOT PROJECT Mr. R. Schirm introduced Mr. John Griffin, Environmental Project Manager, City of Waterloo, who is expanding the Kitchener CMP Wayfinding pilot project to a region -wide project. Mr. Griffin was invited to update the Committee on the project. Mr. Griffin explained that the City of Waterloo's Transportation Master Plan has included trail priorities for the past 10 to 15 years but there is no updated mapping available. There is a need to identify linkages and set up a priority list and he was made aware of the City of Kitchener's wayfinding signage project and thought how the City of Waterloo could tie in with the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge on this project. Mr. Griffin displayed a 10 foot Trans Canada trail map and Committee members were invited to view the map and provide input. The map contains both existing and proposed sections of the TCT as well as alternatives for the unconstructed portions. The conceptual dots are where routes should be located. The City of Kitchener has recommended using the pilot project as identified in the CMP using the Iron Horse Trail to Fairview Park Mall but continuing to Mill Park Drive and ending at the pedestrian bridge over the 401 as noted on the map. The City of Waterloo has a missing link along Caroline Street and Burning Bush Road to Weber Street and requires a higher level of wayfinding due to the lack of connectivity. As noted on the map, neither sections are signed. Mr. Griffin was asked to send Mr. Schirm the hyperlink to the map so Committee members can view it outside of this meeting and provide input. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2012 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. WAYFINDING WORKSHOP AND PILOT PROJECT - cont'd The hope is to work on a guiding document and have it imbedded into the Region of Waterloo's Active Transportation Master Plan. When asked by Mr. B. Forwell if Mr. Griffin planned to present this to the Region of Waterloo Active Transportation Committee, Mr. Griffin responded that it was a good idea and it would be done at some point possibly closer to when the Region's Active Transportation Master Plan is completed as the scope of this project is regional. Discussion took place and when asked by Councillor Y. Fernandes what the source of budget would be, it was noted that the City of Waterloo does not have money for signs yet and won't know if there is any until February, when their budget process is finalized. The City of Kitchener's signage will come from the Cycling budget pending approval. If required, there is the possibility of grants being available for this purpose. Councillor Y. Fernandes, Messrs. D. Class, R. Schirm and D. Sleeth are representatives on this committee and a great deal of time has been spent during the two meetings on routes and determining the extent of information to be provided. It is to be noted that this is not just for trails; it is also for on road routes. 3. IRON HORSE TRAIL RAIL CROSSING DESIGN Mr. M. Parris provided the Committee with an updated design handout for their review. They are on schedule for spring construction and the timing is four to six weeks. As suggested by Committee, the new section will be built first, followed by demolition of the old. The signage is in place and no decision has been made on the lighting until the post construction evaluation. Some suggestions have been using reflective tape, paint or cats' eyes and Mr. D. Class suggested consideration of using a light standard similar to the ones around City Hall with one spot light on it located behind the armour stone wall. Discussion took place on the 18 Y2 inch armour stone and where it should be placed relative to the trail for safety purposes, and it was suggested a 24 inch set -back to be considered. Before work can proceed, an agreement needs to be made with Rail- America for permission to enter their land. Motion: That the #1 Safety Priority by the Cycling Advisory Committee for 2012 is the Iron Horse Trail Railway Crossing. Motioned by: Mr. D. Class Seconded by: Mr. M. Arges Unanimously - carried Second motion: That the Committee identify the top five priorities for 2012 for the next meeting. Motioned by: Mr. N. Mehes Seconded by: Mr. D. Class Unanimously - carried Mr. Class offered to put the priority list together along with pictures for the next meeting, provided that Committee members forward their information to him in advance of the next meeting. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2012 - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. COUNCIL CYCLING QUESTIONNAIRE Mr. M. Arges sent the results of the questionnaire to Committee along with a summary. He received 10 out of 11 responses to the survey and commented that the majority of Council are behind the CAC. The main comments and /or issues were as follows; a) receive project status and updates one to two times per year, b) education for both cyclists and motorists, c) The primary function of the CAC is as advocate for the CMP and cycling in the City. Mr. B. Forwell suggested making two presentations to Council; one in the spring and one in late fall and it was decided that a presentation should be made in February to the Community & Infrastructure Services Committee. Education has been a problem. Firstly, lack of availability of CanBike instructor courses due to little interest and, secondly, Ms. Colleen Cooper, from the Region of Waterloo, has had difficulty getting the CanBike program into the schools and community centres. Both CanBike 1 and 2 courses are eight hours in duration and this is a big issue. Sheppard School has committed to this program due to the advocacy of one of their teachers. Mr. Schirm asked the Committee to look at how the CAC could promote this program to assist the Region. Ms. M. Sehl thanked Messrs. M. Arges and D. Class for their hard work and on a job well done. 5. CAC MEETING PROTOCOL AND PRIORITIES FOR 2012 Ms. M. Sehl asked the Committee to decide on how they would like future meetings to be organized to be proactive in getting the work done on a monthly basis. Some ideas were as follows; • Sub- committees • Meetings outside of the regularly scheduled meetings • Formal meetings or break into small groups • Emails Ms. Sehl went on to list the priorities of the CAC; Cycling Master Plan, Advocacy, Social Marketing, Report Card and Monitoring, and opened the floor for discussion. The general consensus was to continue "as is" and form ad hoc committees when required. Mr. R. Schirm pointed out that one of the critical issues is the Councillor Bike Ride event and discussion took place on what the top five safety priorities would be for the February meeting. Motion: That the top five safety priorities for 2012 are: 1) Iron Horse Trail Railway Crossing, 2) Pilot Sign Project, 3) Nyberg Street Contra Flow, 4) Trail access to Wilson Avenue, and 5) Henry Sturm Greenway. Mr. R. Schirm requested that another priority be added which would be Margaret Avenue Bike Lanes; therefore, an amendment was made by Mr. M. Arges to replace Henry Sturm Greenway with 5) Margaret Avenue Bike Lanes. Motioned by: Mr. B. Forwell Seconded by: Mr. M. Arges Unanimously — carried. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2012 - 4 - CITY OF KITCHENER 5. CAC MEETING PROTOCOL AND PRIORITIES FOR 2012 - cont'd The Committee decided that rather than continuing on with item 6 on the agenda, to continue with the priorities discussion and defer Item #6 "Resolution from Township of Carling re. Private member's Bill" to the next meeting. The Committee made the decision to present to the February 27, 2012 Infrastructure and Community Services meeting on the top five safety priorities. A sub - committee consisting of Ms. M. Sehl and Messrs. M. Arges, P. Dedes and D. Class was formed to work on the presentation. Suggestions for the PowerPoint presentation included describing what has been done so far, why theses priorities were decided upon and inclusion of pictures. The presentation should finish with an invitation to the Councillors to participate in a bicycle tour of facilities in the City. Mr. Class indicated that he already has pictures of Nyberg Street and Mr. N. Mehes will provide pictures of Margaret Avenue to Mr. Class. ACTION: Mr. N. Mehes will provide pictures of Margaret Avenue to Mr. Class and Mr. R. Schirm to check into having this presentation go to the February 27th meeting. 6. RESOLUTION FROM TOWNSHIP OF CARLING RE. PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL This item to be deferred to the February 14th Cycling Advisory Committee meeting. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Nothing to report. 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Ms. M. Sehl and unanimously approved, that the meeting be adjourned at 6:02 p.m. Ronald Schirm Committee Administrator