No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC 2013-01-24Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAA C) Thursday, January 24th, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Anthony Cashin (Co- Chair), Mike Shipley, Andrew Tutty, Carrie Speers, David Kuhn, Greg Moore, Keri Cameron, Ken Parker, Dawn Griffin, Dorothy Staal, Councillor Jeff Henry, Lesley Roach (ASL interpreter), Karen Panchaud (ASL Interpreter), Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener, recorder) REGRETS: Stephannie Leach, Paula Saunders, Councillor Jean Haalboom, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic GUESTS: Hanan Wahib (Region of Waterloo), James LaPointe (Region of Waterloo), Kimberly Moser (Region of Waterloo) 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: • Anthony Cashin called the meeting to order. • Anthony Cashin welcomed all members; round table introductions. • The committee welcomed new members Keri Cameron and Greg Moore. 2.0 APPROVAL OF DECEMBER MINUTES & JANUARY AGENDA: • Minutes moved by Mike and seconded by Dawn Griffin. Agenda moved by Ken Parker and seconded by Carrie Speers. 3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS: • None 4.0 DESIGN OF WATERLOO SPUR LINE MULTI USE TRAIL: • Hanan Wahib Project manager of waterloo spur line multi use trail. • She is seeking input from committee regarding the project. • Showed details plans via power point presentation. • Maps were provided for the committee to review. • Using the same ADA pads as the Frederick St project. • Going to use barriers between railway and multi -use trail • The trail will have lighting subject to budget availability. All the piping and materials for the lights will be roughed in so they can be added if need be at a later date. Questions /comments: • Have you thought about solar power? • Solar power is very expensive but ideas will be taken back to Region. • Frederick and Edna there is something missing. Concern for people with visual impairments as where exactly it's safe for them to cross. • Will take the point into consideration. • What colour are the pads? • Will be using yellow. • Comment that yellow is the safest colour to use. • The Region followed comments made in previous GRAAC meeting minutes. • Is there anything that will guide people from one side of the track, across the street, to the other side where the track continues? • A suggestion was made to use roughed up surface stuff for the asphalt ... (change wording) • Comment was made to use the same materials on this trail as will be used at crosswalks. January 24th, 2013 - GRAAC Minutes Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAA C) Thursday, January 24th, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room 5.0 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: • The ATAC committee has extended an invitation for a GRAAC member to sit on committee. • They report to council, ideas that people have for accessible active transportation • Discussing cycling safety, technology and reporting to Regional council to encourage for more transportation infrastructure to be installed across the Region. • Meet every second Tuesday of the month at 4:30 at Regional Headquarters. • With LRT and GRT expansion, ATAC is looking to GRAAC for input. • This committee is open to the public. Questions /Comments: • Someone could sit on the committee as a GRAAC member and continue on once their GRAAC term is over? • Will look into the terms of reference. • If someone from the public wanted to attend a meeting, do you need prior notice? • Yes, to be able to accommodate. • If a GRAAC member sits on the committee, would they be speaking on behalf of the committee? • There needs to be more thought considered as to the official role of the GRAAC representative that would sit on the ATAC committee. Will take back to management and council for discussion. • Maybe having an ATAC rep on the GRAAC committee is an option as well. *Break* 6.0 ELECTIONS: • There is quorum for elections. Seven (7) members present. • Nominations for committee chairs: Transportation Standing Committee (GTSC): - Ken Parker (declined) - David Kuhn (declined) - Carrie Speers (Stand and elected) BUILT Environment - Paula Saunders (Stand and elected) - Dawn Griffin (declined) CO- CHAIRS - Andrew Cashin (Stand and elected) - David Kuhn (declined) - Andrew Tutty (Stand and elected) - Ken Parker (declined) - Dawn Griffen (declined) January 24th, 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 2 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAA C) Thursday, January 24th, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room 7.0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT UPDATE: • Lolita has provided an update on behalf of Paula. • Lolita and Paula have reviewed a set of site plans for the terminal on Ira Needles Blvd. Suggested that access isles be added to parking spaces. Also comments in regards to the pathways leading to the streets and stores, ensuring that they are accessible pathways with accessible slopes and that they end at a safe place for people with disabilities. • These suggestions were sent to the City planner overseeing this project. • Lolita and Paula also looked at the signage at the Auditorium for fire route. The auditorium would like a consistent look for their signage. Should be flat not curved, flat matt finish, large font, picture of a person on stairs running away from fire. • The Ontario Building code. Paula wanted to ask GRAAC how they would like to respond to barrier -free design requirements in the Ontario Building Code. Some of the key areas do not apply to the municipal component and GRAAC would give input regarding municipal component. • How would GRAAC like to move forward in responding to the Ontario Building Code? Each individual update would need to be commented on including those you would like to see kept in. Due date for feedback is March 1St • Dawn Griffin, Dorothy Staal, Anthony Cashin, Greg Moore, Keri Cameron, David Kuhn, Carrie Speers, Mike Shipley (all depending on the time, space availability) have put their name forward to be part of a group to brainstorm and put together suggestions idea submissions to the government regarding the Ontario Building Code. 8.0 UPDATE ON RAPID TRANSIT: • Kimberly Moser from the Region of Waterloo presented a power point presentation about Rapid Transit. • Light Rail Transit in 2 stages; aBRT — 2014 -2015; LRT 2017; LRT stage 2 will include aBRT converted to LRT, Conestoga Mall to Ainslie St Terminal (Cambridge), 23 stations in total, 37 km rout of LRT. • Initially one - vehicle trains; platforms designed for two. One vehicle; 5 articulated sections, 2 cab, 3 coach, 100% lower floor. First in North America. Maximum speed of 70 km /hr. Capacity of 200 passengers /vehicle. Length of the vehicle is approximately 31 meters. • More trains and more buses as the community grows. • Goal is to build up and not out. • King /Victoria hub and the other hub is Conestoga Mall. • Cambridge will have adapted bus rapid transit. • The adapted bus rapid transit will launch in 2014 and the rapid LRT transit will launch in 2017. • Expanding the I- Xpress transit as well. Questions /Comments: • Wider doors for transit buses, can you look at that when deciding to buy new buses? • Will take it back to committee and ask. • What are the plans for dealing with snow and ice on or close to the tracks? • Snow removal as per each city. *Break* January 24th, 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 3 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAA C) Thursday, January 24th, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room 9.0 COUNCILLOR(S) REPORT: Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo) • Uptown West Transportation Study: citizen advisory committee formed, study underway this winter /spring. • Passed a new sign by -law. (A -Frame signs example) If you encounter any problems, please give the City of Waterloo a call. • Bike Sharing project: third party group approached the City to create one and we're pursuing appropriate agreements to support them. 10.0 CO -CHAIR REPORT: • As per the attachment attached to the email with December minutes and January 2013 about roundabouts. • The report was read. • Carrie Speers will register as a delegate for the Planning and Works Committee meeting to speak on behalf of GRAAC on January 29th, 2013 at 9:00 am. ADJOURNMENT: • Meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm. The next meeting will be on Thursday February 22nd, 2013 in the Conestoga Room, Kitchener City Hall January 24th, 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 4