Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission

M I N U T E SSeptember 18, 2007 7:00 PMCommittee Room Second Floor, City Hall

Members Present: Scott Carter, Dan Clever, Diane Daniel, Alan Dippy, Bo Glenn, Tim

Griffin, Judy Martell, Pete Schubert, Jack Warman

Members Absent: Excused absences: Jim Dunlop, Henri Gavin Staff Present: Dale McKeel Guests Present: Linda Smith Public Present: N/A

1. Call to Order – Dan Clever called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. 2. Meeting Minutes – In reviewing the August meeting minutes, Tim asked for clarification on

the length of each Anderson Street neckdown, and Judy requested a modification to the Development Committee report. Pete moved to adopt the August 21, 2007 meeting minutes with these changes, Jack seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

3. Adjustments to the Agenda – None. 4. Introductions – Members introduced themselves. Linda Smith, a recently appointed member

of the Planning Commission, introduced herself and said she would be attending BPAC meetings as the Planning Commission Representative.

5. Announcements – Judy asked if BPAC members had heard the comments of Mary Peters,

USDOT Secretary, on the MacNeil Lehrer Newshour. Judy announced that she is resigning from BPAC and will attend through the October BPAC meeting. She said the Development Committee will determine how plans will be reviewed in the future.

6. Public Comments – None. 7. Development Committee Report – Judy reported that the Development Committee met on

September 12. The committee is working on (1) a system for tracking site plan comments, (2) a way to check whether development projects affect facilities that are in the bike and ped plans, and (3) a working list of bike and ped site development issues that need to be addressed. The committee next meets on October 10. Dale mentioned that the Planning Department will begin providing zoning cases to BPAC for comments.

- 1 -

8. Bike Plan Implementation Committee Report – Pete reported on the committee’s September

10 meeting. The meeting focused on the following: (1) reviewing the status of the top 20 projects in the bike plan, and (2) discussing the funding, design, and audience for a new Durham bike map. The committee’s October meeting will be with Phil Loziuk, City Traffic Engineer, to discuss implementation of restriping projects recommended by the bike plan. Pete reported that the committee is still looking for new members and wants to prepare a summary of the bike plan to distribute to the listserv.

9. Pedestrian Plan Implementation Committee Report – Tim reported on the committee’s

August 29 meeting. The committee consists of Diane, Tim, and six outside members. The committee reviewed the four goals of the plan, and committee members will pick items to focus on and put these in a digest form understandable to citizens. The committee will also issue a report on the implementation of the pedestrian plan by the end of the year. Diane asked BPAC about writing a letter to the City Council and the public about the November bond referendum, and whether the letter should be sent before or after the vote. The letter to the Council would request that the bike and ped plans be considered in deciding how the bond funds are spent.

10. Communications Committee. Alan reported that the committee had not met this month.

Alan is looking at different venues for the biker’s breakfast. 9th Street Bakery was mentioned as one possible venue.

11. Discussion of STP-DA Project Funding. Dan discussed a recommended list of STP-DA

projects to request in writing to the MPO. Bo moved to adopt the recommended list and Diane seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Dale said he would assist in drafting a letter to the MPO.

12. Suggestions for NCDOT Div 5 Maintenance Projects. Dan discussed the resurfacing

process and suggested that the BPAC be pro-active in suggesting roads to be resurfaced by NCDOT in 2008. Wally Bowman, Division Engineer, will be invited to attend a future meeting. Pete said he would like there to be an NCDOT liaison who would attend all BPAC meetings. The committee would also like to know about and be involved in the process for paving city-maintained streets as well. Dan asked that an agenda item for “City and State Resurfacing” be added to the future meeting agendas. Diane asked that “Update on Anderson Street Neckdown Analysis” be added to future agendas as well.

13. Fayetteville Road Design. The BPAC reviewed an e-mail message from Kathryn Kalb, City

of Durham Public Works Director, regarding including bicycle lanes in the design of the section of Fayetteville Street that is scheduled to be widened in part by the Lowes development and in part by a City of Durham construction project. The adopted Durham bike plan indicates bike lanes on this section of Fayetteville Road.

The BPAC reviewed the language in Section 12.4.5 (B) of the Unified Development Ordinance, which states: "Either wide outside travel lanes or bicycle lanes, as determined by the City Public Works Director or NCDOT, or appropriate designees, shall be a part of any

- 2 -

road improvement made on roadways which are indicated as bicycle routes on either the Durham Trails and Greenways Master Plan or the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Plan." The BPAC members interpret this language to require that either a bike lane or a wide outside lane be provided, and that the language does not allow a determination that a parallel trail can serve as a substitute for on-road bicycle facilities. The following motion was made by Pete Schubert: “The City of Durham should require bike facilities on Fayetteville Road per the requirements of the Durham Unified Development Ordinance and the adopted Durham Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan.” The motion was seconded by Bo Glenn and adopted unanimously. Dan stated that he would also like more information on the design of the crossings for the American Tobacco Trail that are affected by the widening of Fayetteville Road.

14. Miami Boulevard Widening Project. Dale reported that there will be a public hearing on

September 24 for the NCDOT project to widen Miami Boulevard between Methodist Street and Bethesda Avenue. Pete stated that he would review the project and develop comments on behalf of BPAC.

15. Pickett Road Bridge. Dale reported that a bridge replacement project over Mud Creek on

Pickett Road does not include sidewalks. Since the section of Pickett Road is in the Suburban Development tier, sidewalks are required for new development along Pickett Road, and it follows that sidewalks should also be provided on the bridge. On a motion by Bo and a second by Diane, the committee voted to send a letter to the appropriate parties requesting that a sidewalk be provided on the bridge.

16. Other Business. Other items were discussed as follows:

Dale said he would check into the operation of the traffic signal at the intersection of Morreene and Erwin.

September 29 was set as a possible date for a booth at the Durham Farmer’s Market. Dale checked with the county clerk’s office and was told that the funds from the county

($1000) could be used to make a donation to a non-profit organization that furthers the mission of the commission.

Meeting adjourned; 9:07 p.m. Next meeting: October 16, 2007, at 7 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Dale McKeel. Follow-up items: Provide comments on the Miami Boulevard Widening project (Pete)

- 3 -

Draft letter requesting that a sidewalk be provided on the Pickett Road bridge over Mud Creek (Dale)

Check into the operation of the traffic signal at the intersection of Morreene and Erwin (Dale)

Draft letter of comments on STP-DA projects to MPO (Dale / Dan) Invite NCDOT Division Engineer to future meeting to discuss resurfacing process (Dale)

- 4 -