BP Feb 6 18 minutes

Bicycle Pedestrian Sub‐Committee Dover City Hall Large Conference Room Dover, DE February 6, 2018 ***APPROVED – MARCH 6, 2018*** Members Present: Others Present: Jim Hutchison‐Chair, Chris Asay, Jayce Lesniewski, Carolyn Courtney, Margery Cyr, Eddie Dave Moses, Gerry Pennington, Fran Riddle Diaz, John Fiori, Kate Layton, CALLED TO ORDER: Meeting opened at 5:02 P.M. Mrs. Cyr was welcomed by the Chair and everyone gave brief introductions. AGENDA The agenda was presented for review. With no changes the agenda was accepted as presented. APPROVAL MEETING MINUTES The minutes were presented for review. Mr. Fiori noted a typo in the previous minutes, “punch and run” should be puncheon (first paragraph). No additional edits were made. The motion to approve was made and seconded, passing without objection. OLD ITEMS Dover Treasure Hunt Mrs. Riddle shared information on the meeting held with Sarah Zimmerman, Kate Layton and Carolyn Courtney. We have developed a list of folks that would be interested in the project. We are hosting a meeting for brainstorming this idea. The meeting of this group will be held on February 22 at the Pitts Recreation Center, Schutte Park from at 3 PM. All are welcomed. Goal to see the interest, talk about how it can take shape and particularly when. We want to pick a date that is not conflicting and possibly complimentary to another downtown Dover activity. Mr. Asay, asked about the grant application for the event? Mrs. Riddle noted we did not get the America WALKS grant, which would have pushed our timeline than we were ready to go. We may look into other grant possibilities. We think the costs of this event will be mainly for signage, we need to get a lot of buy in. It really should not that large, especially to one organization. We have named the sponsors as the: Bike/Ped Subcommittee, First State Heritage Park, and Restoring Central Dover. We are hoping to get a lot partners that would be interested in sponsoring the (3) three key organizations. The chair commented this is a good walking activity to support our pedestrian needs. We have focused on biking so I am glad to see some pedestrian activities. Construction Projects Mr. Fiori reported: Senator Bikeway – DelDOT will install and maintain the green paint. However, another meeting with the city officials (City Manager and Public Works leaders) is planned to discuss maintenance of 130 delineators that will be installed between the cycle track and road. They will be asking the city to install and remove seasonally for winter/snow, reinstalling in the spring. DelDOT would pay and do the initial installation. Mr. Asay noted this was the first time he had heard these delineators were removable. He felt this was never mentioned in the public workshops. There was some discussion on who made the decision to take them out in the winter. Mr.

Asay feels this is terrible. Most of the winter this area is is cycleable, by taking out the delineators it will no longer be a low stress bike route. He wanted to know who made this decision, Century Engineering did not discuss this option or else he would have had a long discussion with them. Mr. Fiori noted the decision was made within DelDOT not at Century Engineering. Mr. Moses noted what would be the alternative to taking them out since leaving them in they will most likely be destroyed by snow plows? More discussion took place on how other communities handle similar situations. Mr. Fiori noted he would look into what other communities do for seasonal issues. Mr. Asay asked if the engineering was put out to bid? Mr. Fiori noted he felt final plans were submitted. He would double check that and update at out next meeting. Still acquiring right‐of‐ways at this time. West Street Multiuse Pathway Construction will start in March and Brecknock Park is also starting in March. Mrs. Cyr asked what is being done at Brecknock. Mr. Fiori responded with finishing the multiuse path from the park to the POW Parkway is being upgraded to ADA compliance with the stub connector to the gravel path of Brecknock. Other Pertinent Construction Projects Mr. Fiori noted the repaving of North Street is being done (sidewalk). Forest Ave. and Saulsbury Road are anticipating construction in the fall of 2018. US13 widening, preliminary plans were sent out last week, comments have a due date and currently plans are show a multiuse path on both sides. Bike Fixit Station Mrs. Layton shared that Wil Grimes with Restoring Central Dover is able to make the purchase of the fixit station. The city will have the concrete poured and then install the unit. The intent is to have this in place before Bike to Work Day. The fixit station will go near the air pump at the Dover Public Library. Some basic discussion took place. Bike Month Events Ms. Courtney reported the Ride of Silence will be held on May 16, 2018. Mr. Siegel was not in attendance to discuss Bike To Work Day this time. Dover Duathlon Ms. Courtney noted registration is open. Process is going smoothly. Mr. Moses offered to donate a bicycle for a “give‐a‐ way item”. It is a special Mike Wolf designed bike from 1930’s/40’s replica Antique Archeology bike. He feels this bike is a collectors item. With discussion, it was agreed each registered participant would receive one (1) ticket for a chance to win the bike. This offer will be included on future promotional advertising of the event. Mr. Moses feels this will be an incentive for those to register for the event. Ms. Courtney noted sponsors are still needed, package information is available on the web site. The chair felt registration would be good this year, as we have no conflicts with Easter or other similar events. Everyone was asked to promote the event and consider volunteering the day of the duathlon. NEW ITEMS Bicycle Friendly Report Card The chair asked about the RT13 project, would that come under the category of improving on the bicycle network? Some of that project falls within city boundaries. That would help us move to Silver category. Note also that the 3rd item on steps to Silver, consider our previous discussion on low stress networks, Mr. Asay’s point is well taken. We can’t put something up and not allow it to stay up. We need to be cognoscente of the presenting low stress options. Our projects should be helping us out a lot. It does really say what we should be shooting for. Mr. Moses noted there are things done in education that he felt were not highlighted. The chair would like to know what were some of the activities of what pushed other communities up to a Silver level? Discussion took place on what options could help, possibly even bike rodeos in the summer with the Restoring Central Dover (play streets) and the Capital School District.

Also bicycle parking was mentioned. Thinking about the bike rack in front of the DPL, then I think about the state buildings? It was noted bike racks were installed in areas around Dover. Most were well received, however we did have to remove the post style bike rack on The Green. Mr. Diaz noted residents complained directly to the Mayor, which filtered down to Public Works, and they were removed from The Green itself. With discussion, Ms. Courtney was asked to inquire with Legislative Hall to see if a bike rack of some sort could be installed next to state buildings on the legislative complex area. The chair noted he would also contact someone he Mark Devore at Facilities Management and also Legislative Council to move this idea forward. We do have some of the hitch post bike racks available that we could possibly work a partnership out to provide the racks being stored now by the city that are looking for a home. Mr. Moses feels we need to talk about keeping our foot on gas when it comes to Del State, Wesley, etc, but I don’t see much lead way there. I want to keep up on this. The chair asked Ms. Courtney if she could follow up with the LAB about what we can do for improve our level of bike education and some of the activities are the other communities are doing that we are not. Ms. Asay noted we ranked high in crashes. Mr. Fiori noted we are bad on crashes statewide. Mr. Asay wanted to know why they only gave us this report card instead of the booklet they gave us last time? We do not know that answer. Independence Traffic Control Measures Mr. Asay noted the State of Delaware put in traffic measures on Independence Blvd. They have added a traffic circle at one intersection and then bump out and islands in front of the park. Mr. Asay noted he was there taking pictures when Ms. Courtney came around. Ms. Courtney noted, yes I live her and these traffic calming measures are not something all of the neighbors wanted. In 25 years of living here, she had never had an issue however, now the stuff at the end of Lamplighter has created safety concerns not present prior to the installation of the islands and stop signs. When the snow started to melt it piled up, creating a huge ponding that did not exist prior. These measures collect trash and are causing safety issues with people running the new stop signs. Mr. Asay noted he recalled some controversy there and that he had heard crash data used was not even for this area. It is noted, it is very unfriendly for bicycles. It was noted that Rep. Sean Lynn forced this issue on the city. City officials had actually voted part of the project down. They later agreed to allow the state of put this in. It was paid for by CTF funds of Mr. Lynn. Several citizens went to the city to get the project stopped. With discussion, there was not much this committee could really do to mitigate having these traffic calming measures removed at this point. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Asay noted now Lincoln Street has sidewalks (new) from one end to the other. He wanted to know who did that? We were not aware if this was a city or state project. ADJOURNMENT With no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM without objection.