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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-08 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2011 CITY OF KITCHENER The Cycling Advisory Committee met on this date commencing at 4:08 p.m. Present: Messrs. M. Arges, D. Class, B. Forwell (Vice-Chair) (4:20 p.m.), S. Burek, D. Hilker and Ms. J. Romero. Staff: Messrs. R. Schirm (Committee Administrator), Ms. K. Reinert (Minutes) Regrets: Messrs. P. Dedes, B. Laube, N. Mehés and T. O’Brien, Councillor Y. Fernandes and Ms. M. Sehl. 1. That the minutes of the October 11, 2011 meeting be approved with the inclusion that Ms. J. Romero was in attendance. Motioned by: Mr. D. Hilker Seconded by: Mr. M. Arges Reviewing the “Action Items” from this meeting, Mr. R. Schirm is to provide Parks staff with the yield signs for the gates at the Iron Horse Trail crossing. Mr. T. O’Brien was to report back to the Committee regarding lighting standards at the Iron Horse Trail but, unfortunately, he was unable to attend this meeting due to sickness and will report back at the next meeting. UPGRADING TRAIL CROSSINGS 2. Mr. R. Schirm provided updated information regarding upgrading of trail crossings. Mr. Schirm indicated that a report went to Council, and was passed in 2000, requesting that funding be set aside for curb treatment at trail crossings and, thus far, $163,000 has been accrued and another $38,000 has been approved for 2012, therefore, there is $201,000 to be used for trail upgrades as specified in Council Report PW-00-023. Mr. R. Schirm distributed copies of the Report wherein Council was given three options for upgrading trail crossings: i) Option A – includes curb cuts, paving of the ramps and approaches, gates and/or bollards, rumble strips, signs and pavement markings ii) Option B – includes curb cuts and paving of the ramp only. iii) Option C – includes curb cuts, paving of the ramps and approaches, rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, but does not include gates and/or bollards. Council had approved Option C, which includes all improvements except gates and/or bollards. A significant cost is associated with gates and bollards and by concentrating on the other improvements, more locations can be addressed. Included in the Report is a diagram showing the trail crossing standard. A 7.5 metre paved portion back from the sidewalk accommodates the “visibility triangle” which is how far one has to be able to see when approaching the road crossing on the trail. Engineering will create a separate tender to install the upgrades. Parks Planning staff has agreed that the first list of priorities reflect the priorities of the CMP. The Committee is being asked by staff to identify the locations that they consider a priority as reflected in the CMP. It is hoped to be able to address up to 35 locations for 2012. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 2 UPGRADING TRAIL CROSSINGS - cont’d 2. Messrs. M. Arges and D. Class provided the Committee with a list of 64 trail locations that they have documented including pictures but the area is limited to Doon, Fairway to Country Hills, and Conestoga College to Eckert. Mr. Schirm commented that this is an excellent list but what is also required is whether the curb cut is done, what the surface type is from the sidewalk to the ramp, and whether there are any visibility issues. Mr. Schirm stated that funding will be forthcoming every other year and that many more crossings will be able to be addressed in 2013. It is hard to determine an exact cost as it is unknown what already exists at specific locations. Mr. R. Schirm further stated that pedestrian refuge islands will be included in the tender as it represents similar work and accomplishes the goals as set out in the original report. The pedestrian refuge islands would cost approximately $10,000 each and two would be included in the 2012 tender; 1) Strasburg Road, across from McClellan Park, and 2) Belmont Avenue at the Henry Sturm Waterway. Mr. B. Forwell commented that there is “special needs” funding from the government that we could possibly piggyback onto which could include the pedestrian refuge islands. ACTION: Mr. R. Schirm to look into government grants and will report back with his results at the next meeting. ACTION: Mr. R. Schirm to check into when the next tender date is scheduled . Committee members viewed and marked the map for identification of 30 possible priority locations. Mr. Schirm will send a package to Committee members which will include the list of possible locations identified on the map along with the list Messrs. Arges and Class put together and ask for input from the Committee for their priority locations. Action: At the request of Mr. B. Forwell, Mr. R. Schirm to speak to Mr. J. Hill to have major priority upgrading trails added to the Region of Waterloo’s Cycling Committee agenda. WATERLOO SPUR LINE OPEN HOUSE 3. Messrs. B. Forwell, M. Arges, D. Class and Ms. M. Sehl attended the open house. The consultant for this project was open to suggestions and concentrated mostly around City Hall in Waterloo. Some of the issues the attendees were concerned with were; a) Lighting and the tight turns surrounding Waterloo Square in Waterloo, b) Weber Street crossing at Duke/Wilhelm Streets, c) How the Waterloo Spur Line will be connect to Kitchener Downtown. ACTION: Mr. B. Forwell would like to revisit Ahrens and Breithaupt Street at the next meeting. KITCHENER CYCLING QUESTIONNAIRE 4. Members of the Committee sent their ideas to Messrs. M. Arges and D. Class and with the inclusion of Ms. M. Sehl’s suggested changes, the final copy is down to 12 questions and Mr. Arges distributed copies of the questionnaire to the Committee for review. ACTION: This item to be discussed in “Other Business” for decision. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 3 TO DO LIST FOR 2012 5. The Committee deliberated recommended priorities for 2012 and they include: The Pilot sign project from Victoria Park to Fairview Park Mall as identified in the CMP. This route ? was identified when Mr. D. Class, Councillor Y. Fernandes and Mr. R. Schirm met with the Cities of Waterloo and Cambridge to discuss a sign pilot project presently being developed by the three cities and the Region of Waterloo from north Waterloo to and through Cambridge to the Galt/Paris Rail Trail. Mr. John Griffin, City of Waterloo, is leading the project and has received necessary GIS from all Municipalities in order to develop the actual route. Mr. Griffin likes many elements from signing used in Switzerland and Mr. R. Schirm will send it out to the Committee for their review. Mr. Schirm feels there is a great deal of detail on it and distributed copies of our sign pilot project to the working group for review. Ms. Norma Moores, who was the lead consultant on the Kitchener CMP, chaired this meeting and was in support of our sign strategy. The issue of bike lanes on Nyberg Street is in part a Regional issue. Mr. Schirm noted that in order ? to create a contra flow bike lane on Nyberg Street, the street needs to revert to a two-way street with access prohibited to it by motorized vehicles from Ottawa Street. Signing would limit turns into the street to “bicycles only.” Mr. John Hill has already begun discussions with Regional traffic staff on this issue. ACTION: Mr. B. Forwell to take this item to the next Region of Waterloo Cycling Committee ? meeting. Bike lane design for Margaret Avenue. ? Bike lane design on East Avenue from Frederick to Ottawa Streets, including probably bike lanes ? on Borden Avenue, from King Street to Iron Horse Trail with only signage from East Avenue. Bike facility design on Krug Street; both East Avenue and Krug Streets will be large projects ? entailing a lot of work and public consultation but are very important connections from Frederick Street/River Road/ Borden Avenue to the Iron Horse Trail. Mr. Schirm asked Mr. D. Class to send the list of trail crossing locations requiring upgrading revised ? with the removal of curb cuts so Mr. Schirm can forward to Parks for maintenance. ACTION: Mr. D. Class to email his revised list of locations for trail crossing upgrading to Mr. R. Schirm. Wheel railing on River Road Bridge. ? The Block Line Road project will include cycle tracks on the portion from Strasburg Road to Homer ? Watson Boulevard. The portion of Block Line Road from Westmount Road to Strasburg Road will maintain bike lanes as exist now. Mr. R. Schirm noted that funds have been set aside in 2012 and 2013 for this with the project commencing in 2012 and concluding in 2013. CMP REPORT CARD 6. Ms. M. Sehl previously sent an email regarding the CMP report card and deliverables, and what can be done with the CMP and it was recommended that this topic be discussed at the next meeting when Ms. Sehl is present. Mr. M. Arges recommended attaching the project list with the report card. Mr. R. Schirm suggested the statement “that it is the Cycling Advisory Committee’s mandate to report to Council on the implementation of the Cycling Master Plan. What information do you need to know and what is the best way for the information to be reported to you." Mr. B. Forwell asked that the Committee send their revisions/suggestions to Mr. Arges as soon as possible as he would like to have the whole process done by the end of the month. Once completed, Mr. Arges would like to send the information to the Mayor and Council, and follow up with a one-on-one meeting with the Councillors. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 4 CMP REPORT CARD - cont’d 6. ACTION: Mr. R. Schirm to check on arranging one-on-one meetings with Councillors. OTHER BUSINESS 7. Next meeting will take place on January 10, 2012; no meetings scheduled in December. Any items for Region of Waterloo Cycling Committee should be sent to Mr. B. Forwell. ADJOURNMENT 8. On motion of Mr. B. Forwell and unanimously approved, that the meeting be adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Ronald Schirm Committee Administrator