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HomeMy WebLinkAboutATTAC Minutes 2022-01-11 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 11, 2022 The Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee met electronically on Tuesday January 11, 2022, at 4 pm. Present: M. Rodrigues, V. Jenkins, J. Broschek, G. Kirk, T. Slomke, E. Bennett, L. Dramnitzki, R. Hunsberger, A. Simidzija, J. Orita, G. Piccini, B. Forwell, S. Marsh Staff: D. Kropf, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager L. Christensen, Multi-Use Pathways & Trails Project Manager I. Balaban, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager B. Cronkite, Director of Transportation Services 1. Community events Maria Legault shared details of an event on equity in active transportation, being hosted by Climate Action WR. 6:30-8:30 on January 19 2022. Equity in Active Transportation | Discussion & Review Tickets, Wed, Jan 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite G. Piccini asked What is the bicycle mayor of Waterloo? Answer – Advocacy Role Caleb DeGroot-Maggetti introduced himself and shared about community bike rides he is organizing. Winter on-road bike rides are upcoming on the first Sunday of every month. Seven riders attended in December, and fifteen (15) in January. Link for the January ride: https://www.facebook.com/events/447229830269895 T. Slomke asked when does the ride start, and where? A – 2pm at Centre in the square B. Cronkite asked if they tried doing more engagement? Would love for City staff to help with engagement and encouragement. Messaging: Winter cycling isn’t as difficult or extreme as it’s made out to be C. DeGroot-Maggetti was receptive to the assistance. The discussion turned to Winter Bike to Work Day D. Kropf stated the last year it was a pledge to bike on your own. This year, with the event being approximately one month away, and considering the state of the pandemic, the City can not host a public event. Local media usually covers the event, and there may be value in still doing something on that day. D. Kropf asked is that is something we should continue to do, should it continue to be run by the City, is there an opportunity to involve Caleb’s group? ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 11, 2022 B. Cronkite stated that part of the challenge will be the pandemic, and we may not be able to plan anything that has a gathering component. Anything discussed would be contingent on provincial regulations. th M. Rodrigues noted that Winter Bike to Work Day is on Feb 11 this year. 2. Mid-term check-in M. Rodrigues facilitated a conversation on the committee’s workplan and how to prioritize work in 2022. In February of last year the committee brainstormed ideas for a workplan, which resulted in the subcommittee structure currently in use. M. Rodrigues shared a slideshow from last year that summarized what was discussed at those meetings. M. Rodrigues asked if anyone had thoughts or inputs on what has been done over the past year, or if anyone was interested in being involved in a different sub-committee? J. Broschek asked about Vision Zero and Slow Streets – was there a report coming forward for slow streets, and if that was something that the committee should be involved with? Also, the VZ subcommittee has only two members now with D. Brotherston having left the Committee. Were any other Committee members interested in joining the Vision Zero subcommittee? B. Cronkite stated that F. Hosseini would present the 2022 workplan to either the committee or the sub-committee. 2022 would be a very data driven and analytical year for that project. T. Slomke volunteered to join the Vision Zero sub-committee G. Piccini shared that last year the Complete Streets sub-committee had one very intensive meeting to review all Complete Streets initiatives for the upcoming year, and asked D Kropf if the City had a new list of upcoming reconstruction projects for the sub- committee to review? D. Kropf noted that the list is not prepared yet. City staff would be willing to meet with the sub-committee in the next few weeks to review how comments provided in 2021 had been addressed. The sub-committee could then present the findings to the Committee. 3. Cycling dashboard/progress report D. Trueman introduced CycleWRs idea for a cycling dashboard or progress report, to measure the City’s progress on cycling infrastructure and use. The same suggestion was brought forward by CycleWR to the Region of Waterloo, and the City of Waterloo. The dashboard would illustrate progress made on the state of cycling in the City. This would be more streamlined and continually updated when compared to the City’s State ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 11, 2022 of Cycling Report, using metrics and measurements to show improvements year-over- year. The metrics shown would be based off the Cycling and Trail Master Plan, and focus on “leading” indicators. M. Rodrigues asked the Committee what is the target audience for this dashboard, and what kind of information should be presented? D. Kropf noted that this is a brainstorming phase, and if anyone has anything to add, please feel free to contribute. The committee would break into smaller groups in the future to more closely investigate what could be done B. Cronkite stated the need to set benchmarks, and work towards those. Some are easy to define (kilometers built per year), but how could this go beyond that to truly measure the impact of cycling within the City of Kitchener? What should be measured? For example, equity in Active Transportation - how could this be benchmarked? D. Trueman stated that the Cycling and Trail Master Plan identifies barriers to cycling – could a reduction in those barriers be measured? Infrastructure, parking, comfort in riding a bike, etc? J. Broschek stated two thoughts – when it comes to data-driven policy decision, it should not be exclusively relying on quantitative data. Find a way to qualitatively measure things. Secondly, define goals that can be measured in a qualitative way. D. Trueman asked if a survey of cycling attitudes (similar to what was included in the State of Cycling report) could be conducted every year, to track how attitudes towards cycling change within the City? M. Rodrigues suggested to present this as a story or narrative, to show how the mode split has evolved over the years. T. Slomke asked who is the audience for this dashboard? The council is part of the audience. Council sometimes receives backlash from drivers and taxpayers, and this dashboard would be a useful resource for them to illustrate how cycling changes with time and investment. S. Marsh noted that Council is just one member of this audience. The public is another, as it is their money being spent. It would be great to see the number of cyclists as part of this narrative. The prior report card was good but had too many lagging metrics – comparing Kit to Amsterdam, for example. The dashboard needs to use realistic comparisons. B. Cronkite noted that the audience goes well beyond council. Peer cities are also part of the audience, and the opportunity to share this with other cities and to learn from one another. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 11, 2022 J. Broschek suggested the primary audience is the community. Secondary audience includes other municipalities. There are benefits to being a role model to others. D. Trueman liked the notion of storytelling. Example, how many tonnes of Greenhouse Gases have been eliminated by cycling this year in Kitchener? How many people have been saved from cardiac events this year due to cycling in Kitchener? M. Rodrigues suggested financial metrics, including how much is not being spent on a road widening due to increased cycling? How much is not being spent on a new road? D. Kropf shared a GIS image, showing “longest uninterrupted AAAA facility in 2016”, alongside the same image for 2021. A similar pair of images was shown for “all facility types”, graphically illustrating the improvements made to the network over the past five (5) years. The dashboard could show how the longest uninterrupted facility is evolving year over year. M. Rodrigues asked if there are any other suggestions, and if anyone was interested in being involved in this project in the future? D Kropf noted that a meeting would be arranged in the next few weeks. J. Broschek volunteered 4. Subcommittee Updates There were no subcommittee updates G. Piccini mentioned an article on D. Brotherston’s Benton Street project was published in the Record. M. Rodrigues noted that D. Brotherston went to regional council and was well received. 5. Staff updates D. Kropf noted the following updates:  The first portion of the Downtown Cycling Grid on Joseph and Water streets are under operation and receiving winter maintenance. Some deficiencies and outstanding work will be addressed in the spring. A tender for 2022 work is nearly ready for release  Region is coming to the committee next month for their Duke St portion for input.  A pride progress flag and a trans flag were installed at Joseph and Gaukel late last year  All Iron Horse Trail PXOs are operational. A raised crossing will be constructed on Glasgow Street in the spring. A social media campaign is underway to educate drivers on yielding to pedestrians at PXOs. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 11, 2022  A staff report on sidewalk infill in 2022 is planned for Community & Infrastructure Services Committee on February 7, 2022. Staff recommend sidewalks on both sides for Ann Street, Becker Street and Southdale Avenue. Sidewalk and/or boulevard multi-use trail is pre-approved for Joseph Street and Stewart Street J. Broschek asked what are the criteria for PXOs? Specifically interested in the Spur Line Trail crossing on Wellington Street North. B. Cronkite responded that the analysis compares pedestrian crossings to the minimum in the Ontario Traffic Manuals. As part of the Vision Zero program, the Spur Line Trail is on Staff’s radar for 2022. M. Rodrigues asked a question regarding the Downtown Cycling Grid, specifically Ontario Street D. Kropf answered that Ontario Street between King Street and Joseph Street is expected to be built in 2022. The portion between King Street and Duke Street is waiting on decisions from the Region regarding Duke Street. M. Rodrigues asked why there are pylons place on the cycle tracks in the Grid B. Cronkite answered that since the cycle track on Joseph Street is on the “right” side of the road, drivers have a tendency to want to drive in it, since they are used to driving on the “right” side. The pylons should be temporary until drivers become more accustomed to the facility. Continuous small improvements are being made to the gird, including the addition of the flex stakes on the median islands, in response to operational concerns. B. Forwell noted that delivery vehicles continue to park in the cycle track on Water Street B. Cronkite noted that the City will be working with Enforcement Staff to reduce this. I. Balaban noted the following updates:  Micromobility update. The Region will be bringing their report forward in the spring. This has been delayed from their original planned date which would have been in the winter.  Curb cuts and spot fixes. City staff have received the list provided by the committee, have begun to prioritize it, and expect to get started on a number of locations this construction season. Meeting adjourned at 5:21 pm.