BP June 18 draft minutes

Bicycle Pedestrian Sub‐Committee Dover City Hall Large Conference Room Dover, DE June 18, 2019 *** DRAFT *** Members Present: Others Present: Gerry Pennington, Chris Asay, Carolyn Courtney, Eddie Diaz, John Fiori, Jim Dave Moses, Fran Riddle Galvin, Kirby Hudson, Andy Jakubowitch, Durk Lee, Councilman Ralph Taylor INTRODUCTIONS CALLED TO ORDER: Meeting opened at 5:00 P.M. The Chair welcomed Councilman Taylor and introduced him as the Chair of the Safety Advisory & Transportation Committee. The councilman gave a brief introduction of himself and noted whatever he can do to help this subcommittee he is here and ready to assist. AGENDA Mr. Asay wanted agenda additions, the possibility of reinstating the July meeting. It was reported many meetings are cancelled in July and we typically cannot make a quorum. Mr. Asay wanted to talk about the Senator Bikeway Phase 1 and how he would like to see paint used on the roadway. The Chair asked for a motion to accept with changes, the motion was seconded and passed without objection. MINUTES The Chair opened the floor to accept the May minutes. Ms. Riddle noted she just wanted to make sure that we keep to the first Tuesday of each month. If we have to change the date, then we do, but I very much want to be sure we meet on the first Tuesday. After a quick discussion, Mr. Asay accepted a statement by Mr. Moses that the minutes are not very precise however they get the jist of the conversation. Mr. Asay then seconded the motion which was passed without objection. OLD BUSINESS PEDESTRIAN ISSUES Mr. Asay was disappointed Mr. Lewesnksi was not in attendance as he was expected to give an update on any pedestrian issues. Mr. Asay did comment that he was at an MPO Public Advisory Committee meeting and had scene a presentation by a Mr. Pappas the Chairman of new DelDOT sidewalk committee. He can make progress on sidewalks. He is the reason we are getting a sidewalk in front of the church on S. Little Creek Road. He did say at this time they are not taking action on the south side gap of this road. It sounds like this will happen this year. Mr. Galvin added he is the Deputy Director of Maintenance and Operations at DelDOT. Ms. Riddle thanked Mr. Asay for his work on this project. DOVER TREASURE HUNT Ms. Riddle just wanted to remind everyone about the partnership between this subcommittee, Open Streets – RCD and the part the effects us is the treasure hunt, a guided walk out of the park and back. They will go to The Green with a guides with scripted text. Plan is to take people in small groups. We plan to have water stops along the way. We will some volunteers and I will be looking to this group to assist with the walk. We need guides and volunteers just to walk so that we have a crowd. Between the hours of 10 am – 2 pm, we will do 3 guided walks. August 31 is the date. The Mayor’s Kayak event will be taking place at the same time.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Mr. Fiori reported not too much to add. The Senator Bikeway Project has begun construction with the railroad track part of the project. The pathway will be next. US13 is still moving forward and under construction, all is on schedule. The Senator Bikeway, again the project was awarded, waiting for start date. Mr. Bennie Smith now had some concerns he brought to DelDOT and the city. We met with him to get the concerns, which were not being able to park in front his property for services. We explained based on our first meeting, he agreed to use a driveway that was on property he already owned and had signed easements. We had a set of drawing down by Century Engineering to show that would look like. I was told this will not hold up the award of the contract. Mr. Galvin asked if anyone touched base with the city for site plan issues? Mr. Diaz noted it would only be an issue if the parking was on private property and impervious surface. Any thing on public property we do not need approval. Brief discussion on what is existing verses what could be changed. With discussion it was noted the police have agreed to enforce the no parking along this area. EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP Mr. Fiori noted the North Dover Bike rodeo went great with approximately 88 students participating. It would have been nice to have more volunteers from this body to assists with these kinds of events. Mr. Fiori noted he will reach out the Capital for next school year to get more schools involved. We are going to do a bike rodeo or two with our summer camps. Ms. Riddle noted a bike rodeo at the Open Streets event on August 13. Volunteers are needed for that as well. Mr. Fiori planned to attend that one. The August 31, Open Streets event is the Mayor’s event/Treasure Hunt walk and we are not planning a bike rodeo for this date. Mr. Moses said PAL was doing cycling programs. Maybe we could ask him to attend another meeting to find out what they are doing to included with any future applications we put in, this could be helpful. The Chair offered to reach out to Officer Smith, however Mr. Moses said he would do it. BIKE MONTH EVENTS FOR MAY Ms. Courtney noted Bike to Work Day went well. Approximately 30 riders came thru. Councilman Cole and Mayor Christiansen attended and assisted with the Fix It Station unveiling. The Ride of Silence also went well with approximately 40 riders with the escort from Dover Police and Kent County EMS. The youngest rider was 8 years old and it turned out really well. SENATOR BIKEWAY Mr. Asay noted he and the Chair had met with DelDOT (Anthony Aglio and Jeff Niezgoda) officials over the Senator Bikeway heading east over the railroad tracks as they had not seen them before and that was added to Phase 1. The plan to go down Cecil Street and the ally way behind State Street has sharrows. I am questioning the use of sharrows. It seems to be we are confused about why we are using sharrows. I feel we are doing it for several different reasons, it is inconsistent and I don’t know they mean. We have sharrows on Loockerman Street, Division Street with parking on both sides and we have sharrows on North Street which has no parking. Those sharrows indicate to cars that bikes can ride there. I feel this is saying this is the preferred path especially those that want a low stress ride. Since we are putting sharrows on Cecil Street which is the preferred path for low stress and so on, I am unhappy with that and so I asked Mr. Aglio if he could just leave those off. It would seem like there should be something in the DelDOT specifications about sharrows. Mr. Aglio came up with the idea instead of green paint instead of white paint as there are areas where we will be using green paint on areas of the pathway. My suggestion, is that we use green paint for the crossing of Cecil Street over State Street as there are no crosswalks here, this is a busy intersection. I made this suggestion and recommend that we do this on Hazel Street where cyclist cross Hazel at the alley to alert drivers cyclists may be crossing. We did not come up with a solution to Washington Street. Getting back to the point, does anyone have any comments about sharrows on Cecil and the alley way? Mr. Moses asked about other signage other than what’s on the asphalt? Mr. Asay stated directions signs will be on the path. My request is to put signage on top of the street blade signs with Senator Bikeway

signs, DelDOT was not in favor of this. I recommend this committee recommend to the City that they make Cecil and West Streets and Cecil and Queen Streets a four way stop at each of those intersections. I feel this would be traffic calming. Ms. Riddle noted for walking if you get used to four way stops, then you think it’s there when it’s not. Mr. Moses noted Pennsylvania Avenue is now a four way stop that help. Mr. Galvin noted the state relies on the MUTC for traffic control devices, he recommended that the subcommittee look at that and then make recommendations. The city cannot do anything on state maintained roads. Mr. Asay motioned moved to recommend to the city to eliminate sharrows from all parts of the Senator Bikeway due to the misunderstanding he has with the purpose of sharrows. Ms. Courtney noted that we answer to the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee and that this recommendation must go thru them not directly to the state as we do not have that authority. The Senator Bikeway is state project not a city project. Mr. Asay agreed. Ms. Riddle seconded. Mr. Moses noted he feels eliminating anything these denotes this as a bike path, but to say we should not have them all is probably not good. The Chair agreed with Mr. Moses. Mr. Asay noted he especially did not like having sharrows on roads like North Street as they are not good routes to ride on. Mr. Moses saying having the sharrows give notice. Mr. Jakubowitch noted he rides and his opinion over the last 25 years are that all roads are bike roads, nothing stops me from riding them. I find comfort on Loockerman because of the sharrows and enforce my right to be there and it’s nice to point right down and have that marking there as I have every right to be there and share the road. It adds comfort and enforces the riders right. The chair notes many cyclists want the sharrows to bring awareness to the motorists as this has been noted with groups his has ridden with frequently. Mr. Fiori noted the sharrows are not to be used as the “preferred” route, it show the cyclists has the right to be in the road. It gives them the right and not saying it’s the preferred route. Mr. Asay is looking for at least a counter proposal. I just wanted to bring up my concern. Mr. Moses sharrows are not enough, we need signage, too. The more sharrows and signage the better. The Chair called for the motion to be voted on. Mr. Asay then withdrew his motion. Mr. Moses and Mr. Asay would work together and come up with another proposal. Mr. Galvin it is actually DelDOT and consultants that are designing. They may be obliged to abide by the MUTC. You will need to talk through that as well. New Business Planned Developments along Route 8 and the Senator Mr. Diaz reported that Mr. Asay asked me to talk about a couple of projects that have been brought the Dover Planning Commission. Potential development at the north east corner of Saulsbury Road and Rt8 and a project under construction along Forest Avenue across from the Modern Maturity Center. The short answer is that neither of these project will have an impact. The first project, is just a rezoning for commercial zoning improvements that happened in November / December 2018. We do not have a real proposal for this intersection yet. There is only speculation that an office center may go there. It will redevelopment of the block potentially, it did include the Subway. When we receive the proposal we will look to see where the entrances will be and room across the frontage for the bikeway to go through. The project across from the Modern Maturity Center is a commercial retail building with multiple tenants. They now look like they are doing only one building on this site. Mr. Asay noted DelDOT is putting in a road here, right? Mr. Diaz, yes as part of a DelDOT transportation plan, this is a connector road for Forest Avenue and Commerce Way. This is probably going to be a low stress route compared to Saulsbury Road. Proposal – Paris to Pittsburgh Ms. Riddle reviewed the packet material presented with the Paris To Pittsburgh information. Wesley College and Restoring Central Dover are sponsors. This grew out Peace Week held in September from an activity to prevent violence in Wilmington has grown to a statewide series of events. It focuses on peace in a broad sense. This event is film documentary talking about climate and effects on lower income places and small places. The positive side is what communities are doing to combat climate change. It occurred to me that this subcommittee might be logical a co‐

sponsor since bike/walking cities are healthier in the long run. There is not fee and really nothing involved form this committee, rather it is really an opportunity for the subcommittee to have their name associated with the film. The film will be shown at Wesley College. We are looking for volunteering participation to attend as well. We have a deadline of July 1 to being listed in the print program after that we could still be listed as a co‐sponsor online. Mr. Moses motioned to support the co‐sponsor request, Mr. Asay seconded and the motion passed without objection. Ms. Riddle noted the date of Thursday, September 26 at 5:30 PM on the Wesley Campus. Announcements Ms. Courtney noted the Bradford Street Sidewalk public workshop coming up June 24 at the Library 5 – 7 pm. Mr. Fiori noted Rob McCleary the chief engineer at DelDOT retiring. Shantae ____ will be his replacement. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6 pm.

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