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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-13 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 13, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER Cycling Advisory Committee met on this date commencing at 4:10 p.m. Present: Ms. M. Sehl, Councillor Y. Fernandes, Ms. G. Mitchell, Ms. M. Generoux, Messrs. P. Dedes (Chair), T. Reiser, P. Walberg, L. Oakey, M. Arges, M. Boos (Vice-Chair) and T. Boutilier. Staff: Messrs. J. Joseph, Barry Cronkite and J. Readman Regrets: Ms. V. Van Cappellen, Messrs. S. Gibson and W. Sleeth and M. Parris 1. PIONEER DRIVE CYCLING IMPROVEMENTS Presentation made by Mr. Cronkite on the Pioneer Drive Cycling Improvements project which included a wholesale review pedestrian and cycling initiatives and a discussion of conflict areas. Cycling facilities are to be extended and painted with green, slip-resistant paint at major conflict areas to make safer connections. Mr. Cronkite initiates discussion about trail crossing treatments and trail widths and receives the following feedback from the KCAC:  Consider pavement markings for non-signalized turns and access to trails  Consider concrete pedestrian refuge island with a curb-cut at intersection crossings  Integrate painted bicycle turn symbols or signage  Upon reviewing the two-stage left turn for bicycles on-site, KCAC refers to Book 18 for design of a bicycle lane between two lanes of traffic in the same direction and recommends widening the lane from 1.5 m to 2.0 m Members of KCAC recommend that cycling facilities be painted throughout the entire plan to accommodate active transportation modes where excessive automobile traffic is generated from the community facilities in the neighbourhood.  Mr. Cronkite emphasized that painting severe conflict areas has greater visual impact to automobile drivers and thus may be safer.  KCAC members recommend considering broken green paint instead of solid green in lower-risk areas. 2. STAFF UPDATES Mr. Joseph provided an overview of staff updates, including: Courland and Stirling: Plan to meet with the Region of Waterloo in May 2014 for proposed intersection design. Will discuss final design in June KCAC meeting. Bylaw Review Update: goes to Council in June 2014; will consult KCAC on draft report via email. Curb Cuts and Signed Routes: funding is available to continue adding curb cuts; however there is a delay in moving forward as Sidewalk Infill policy is finalized. Next steps are to create more priority locations for curb cuts (I&T Sub-Committee to determine a Plan of Action for key routes and locations). 1 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 13, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER Trail-Rod Crossings and Pavement Markings: feedback from I&T Sub-Committee. Next steps: Mr. Joseph to book internal staff meeting to review OTM Book 18. Signed bike routes: Locations to prioritize include Iron Horse Trail, Henry Strum Greenway and Krug route. Big Music Fest: Mr. Readman requests volunteers for Bike Valet shifts at festival. Dates are Saturday July 12, to Sunday July 13, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Members of KCAC requested information about website, who to contact, and perks for volunteers. Messrs. Joseph and Readman to coordinate contact information. Bike Fix-it Station Demos: Mr. Joseph provided information about Monday activities during June’s Bike Month and requested volunteers for Fix-it Stands located at:  City Hall (Mr. Reiser to volunteer),  Kitchener Market (Ms. Mitchell to volunteer)  Queen Street / Iron Horse Trail (Mr. Oakey to volunteer) ACTION ITEM: Mr. Joseph to send Google Doodle for volunteers. BikeFest, June 1, 2014: KCAC members to Handout Posters 3. SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATES PEG Sub-Committee approves Report Card for implementation. As it is an election year, Sub-Committee needed to decide whether to present to current or new council; decision to report findings to new council in January 2015. Sub-Committee presents proposed implementation schedule:  Presentation and Report to Council January, 2015  KCAC to endorse Report document by November, 2014  First draft distributed to KCAC in October, 2014  City’s Graphic Design requires 6-8 weeks turnaround time. All content to Communications by September, 2014  All content finalized by September, 2014 (working over the summer)  Feedback from reference communities: collect feedback in August, 2014  Complete own local analysis for Kitchener in June-July, 2014  Send Report Card template to reference communities as an invitation for these communities to complete their own analysis. Potential issue is that completion of all local analyses by July 2014 may not be feasible/reflected. Selected Reference Communities include: Gold Standard Communities Ontario Ottawa Canada Montreal or Vancouver North America Portland, Minneapolis or Seattle International Copenhagen or Groningen Similar Communities Local London, Hamilton, Waterloo, Cambridge, Brantford, Niagara, Barrie or Guelph 2 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 13, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER Education, Safety an Promotion Sub-Committee discusses communication and educational programs. Ms. Generoux describes hands-on bike safety check overs sessions at schools:  Currently four schools set up to participate  Captures Grade 5 students (24-64 students per school)  Interested in involving permanent resident volunteers in the program Mike Arges to follow up with KCAC if volunteers are needed for the program. I&T Sub Committee Refers to Book 18 in regards to mid-block crossings: 1. Multi lane high volume: 3 m wide refuge island, stop bars on trails proposed at Queens Boulevard / Lakeside Trail 2. Single land high volume: 3 m wide refuge island, stop bars on trails proposed at Strasburg Rd / McLennan Park Trail 3. Single lane low volume: stop bars on trails proposed at Glasgow / Iron Horse Trail, and at Borden / Iron Horse Trail. West heights Road Diet: All KCAC members should se email with Street Mix cross- sections to provide space for cycling and parking. Any additional cross-section designs should be sent to Mr. Joseph to bring to City staff. Project dates are to conduct the public participation process in 2014 and install in 2015. 4. NYBERG CONTRAFLOW BIKE LANE PROJECT Sent letter to residents regarding a contraflow bike lane on Nyberg. To date, there have been three resident responses. One resident had positive feedback, the others raised concerns about automobiles driving the wrong way on the street. Could consider curbing the entrance, but must confirm if this is appropriate for winter maintenance and snow clearing. KCAC member feedback included:  Recommendation to highlight conflict points on contraflow bike lanes as they are a new concept in Kitchener  Install signage to indicate to automobiles “no left turn, bicycles excepted”  Recommendation to include signage as a Trans-Canada Trail Motion by Mr. T. Boutilier: To support a contraflow bike lane on Nyberg Street . Seconder: Mr. Arges. Unanimous support Motion Carried. 5. DOWNTOWN CYCLING NETWORK Mr. Joseph introduces the cycling network and asks the KCAC to identify areas for amendment. Recommendations include  Continue sharrows on Joseph street from Water to Victoria  Continue on Queen from Margaret to Lancaster and serve as a detour route  Conduct counts at Stirling and Courtland  Extend the network along Queen from Courland to Highland at the community centre, and extend from the Iron Horse Trail to the entrance of Woodside Park 3 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 13, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER  Encourage implementation on Hall Lane including signage for bicycles to use the lane as an alternative to King Street (could be considered as a separate project)  Mr. Readman refers to City of Edmonton Laneway Beautification  Consider a contraflow bike lane along Duke  Extend from Frederick to Cedar  Extend the network along Madison between Courland and Charles, and improve connectivity with the section of Madison outside Cameron Heights School; north of Charles Street, use Cameron Street in the network rather than Madison Could suggest deferring this move until a later date o O  Ensure bicycling facilities cross future LRT Rail line tracks at 90 angles  Consider a full road diet for Stirling  Improve Water Street / Victoria Crossing  KCAC raises concerns on the connection along Water Street leading to Victoria; improvement options include: Consider two-directional sharrows on Water between Jubilee and Weber o Remove sharrows on Water between King and Victoria, and add one-way o sharrows along College and Young between King and Ahrens Improve connections across Victoria (area subject to future development) o Motion by Ms. M. Sehl: To support the City’s downtown cycling plan “With amendments made today”. One member opposed. Motion Carried. 6. SHARROW STUDY DATES Mr. Joseph requests KCAC members for the following Sharrow Study dates: AM PM Tuesday June 3, 2014 M. Generoux, P. Dedes, M. T. Reiser Boos Thursday June 5, 2014 M. Generoux, Councillor Y. Fernandes, M. Boos 7. OTHER BUSINESS M. Arges requests volunteers for Councillor’s Ride on June 19, 2014. Route is nearly completed and mapped out; approximate route is 13 km. Councillor Y. Fernandes identifies issue with date and rain date for the ride. KCAC retains original dates of Tuesday, June 19 for the ride and a rain date of Thursday, June 26. Motion by Mr. M. Arges: To confirm the date for the Councillor’s Ride. “The date of the ride shall be Tuesday, June 19, with a rain date of Thursday, June 26.” Seconder: Mr. Boos. Motion Carried. ACTION ITEM: M. Arges to provide details about Councillor’s Ride (date, time, route) 4 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 13, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER M. Arges discusses information session on Manitou Boulevard sidewalk and two-way segregated bike facilities. Mr. Dedes asks how project aligns with previous plans from the Region. Mr. Readman explains there is a roll curb due to driveway entrances. Councillor Y. Fernandes invites KCAC to complete Community Workbook – Your Kitchener Your Say. Mr. Joseph explains that there is a transportation section with cycling specific questions, all KCAC members are encouraged to complete the workbook. Mr. Arges requests an update about the Thumbs Up Campaign. Mr. Joseph provided an update about newspaper inserts, radio advertisements and social media efforts in June. Ms. Sehl discuses a survey with political Candidates on perspectives on cycling, and requests it be added to the KCAC June Meeting Agenda (broadcast to voters where councilors stand on cycling issues). Mr. Arges asks the KCAC bout meeting throughout the summer. Mr. Dedes recommends a meeting in July for specific items. 8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 8, 2014 That the minutes of the April 8, 2014 meeting be approved as amended. 8. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mr. M. Arges: That the meeting be adjourned at 6:07 p.m. Motion carried 5