DRAFT MEETING NOTES

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

MEETING DATE: 05/05/03

MEETING LOCATION: CATS

CALLED TO ORDER: 9:40am

ATTENDANCE:

(Task Force Members)

Ed Barsotti

League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB)

Bruce Christensen

Lake County

Josh Deth

Break the Gridlock

Barb Ladner

Pace

Peter Fahrenwald

CTA

Randy Neufeld

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF)

Andrea Hoyt

Forest Preserve of DuPage County

Keith Privett

Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)

Tom Rickert

Kane County DOT

Craig Williams

Edwards and Kelcey

Gordon Smith, Jr

IDOT

Catherine Kannenberg

Metra

Alan Mamoser

NIPC

Deborah Jan Fagan

DuPage County

(Others)

Christina Anderson

Farr Associates

Bev Moore

Illinois Trials Conservancy

Steve Call

Federal Highway Administration

Amy Malick

CTA

Suzan Pinsof

Suzan A. Pinsof and Associates

Ingrid Verhulst

East Andersonville Residents Committee

John LaPlante

Ty-Lin

Todd Hill

IDOT

Marty Mueller

Knight Infrastructure

Chris Newcomb

47^th Ward Bicycle Advisory Committee

Maryann Romanelli

Hinsdale School Walking Program

Pat Schroeder

McHenry County Council of Mayors

Heather Smith

Chicago Metropolis 2020

Greg Pilaud

FHWA

Heather Tabbert

Kane County

Ryan Abbotts

TY Lin

Doug Gerleman

FTA

Tom Murtha

CATS

Tom Murtha

CATS

Tom Murtha

CATS

Kermit Wies

CATS

APPROVAL OF NOTES: Notes from the October 23, 2002 meeting were approved unanimously without discussion.

PRESENTATIONS:

Mr. Todd Hill announced that IDOT is finishing the District 1 Bicycle Map, which will include Bicycle Level of Service ratings to help cyclists make informed route choices. He is distributing copies of the map to local agencies and is looking for feedback. He also announced that IDOT is embarking on a state-wide bicycle plan. One of the goals of the effort is to do an inventory of planned and existing bicycle facilities throughout the state to help identify gaps and priorities. Mr. Randy Neufeld and others expressed concern that such an effort could undercut attempts to routinely accommodate cycling in all transportation projects. He fears that creating a facilities instead of a policy-oriented plan will limit attention to certain corridors instead of expanding opportunities to make bicycle improvements. He also noted that developing an inventory is labor intensive. It was suggested that a follow-up meeting occur between interested task force members and Mr. Hill to share ideas and ensure that the statewide and regional bicycle planing efforts support one another. http://www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/bikehome.htm

Ms. Deborah Jan Fagan reported that work is beginning on a new 16 mile trail along and near the East Branch of the DuPage River in central DuPage County. The goal of the trail is to link the North Central DuPage Regional Trail on the north (just north of Lake Street) with the Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail, and the future Southern DuPage County Regional Trail to the south (at Hobson Road). This trail, using a combination of off-road and on-road bikeways, will tie together the forest preserves of Spring Creek Reservoir (Lake Street), Swift Prairie, East Branch, Churchill Woods, Hidden Lake, and Green Valley. It is possible that several community parks could also be linked with this trail. The trail will provide access to major employment centers along I-88, business parks, commercial areas, major institutional uses such as the College of DuPage and Benedictine College, and Morton Arboretum. Communities with easy access to this new trail will include Itasca, Roselle, Bloomingdale, Addison, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wheaton, Lisle, Woodridge, Naperville, and Bolingbrook. http://www.co.dupage.il.us/dec/bikeways/index.asp

Mr. Neufeld of CBF reported that work on the City of Chicago’s Bike 2010 Plan is continuing. The next public meeting is scheduled for June 19, 2003 at 5pm (details to follow, or visit http://www.chibikefed.org/2010.) He noted that this is a policy-oriented plan. Chicago is also making progress implementing the Streets for Cycling Plan, an on-street facilities plan.

This summer, the Bike Program is planning to stripe the 100th mile of bike lanes in Chicago and now tackling roads where lanes are more challenging. Chicago’s Bike Parking Program is also continuing installation of bicycle racks and looking at opportunities for more indoor bicycle parking.

Mr. Keith Privett added that CDOT is working on an updated Chicago Trails Plan. The hope is that materials will be available for public input by the June 19 meeting on the 2010 plan. He also noted that the South Lakefront Access Study is in the final stages.

Mr. Peter Fahrenwald reported that CTA has installed bicycle racks on all but a few of its fleet of about 2,000 buses (the exceptions are buses that are about to be retired.) Advertisements are already showing up on the backs of buses announcing that "Bikes ride for free on CTA." More promotion will be done in conjunction with Bike Chicago 2003. Ms. Amy Malick added that CTA is working on a project to improve bicycle parking around rail stations. www.transitchicago.com

Ms. Andrea Hoyt reported that progress is being made on the Salt Creek trail (which sections are under construction?)

Ms. Christina Anderson reported that the Village of Lemont is seeking public comments on its Bicycle Plan through the end of May. The plan can be viewed at: http://www.lemont.il.us/PDF%20Files/BikePlan_Draft.pdf

Mr. Tom Rickert reported that the Kane County Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan has been adopted and that the bicycle map is about to be printed. The map uses BLOS to rate on-road cycling conditions. He also noted that the League of Illinois Bicyclists and Knight Infrastructure will be working with the county to provide a comprehensive signing system for the Fox River Valley trail system. Watch http://www.co.kane.il.us/DOT/COM/Bicycle/index.htm for updates.

Ms. Bev Moore announced that the Mid-America Trails & Greenways Conference is being held in Indianapolis Sept. 21-24, 2003. http://www.indygreenways.org/conference She also announced that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is planning another series of Greenway & Trails Workshops for 2004.

Mr. Ed BarsottiNeufeld reported that Illinois Senate Bill 275 addresses the Boub v. Wayne Supreme Court decision, which took away on-road cyclist liability protection and established a powerful disincentive for towns to add bike lanes and sign routes. On April 30th, Senate Bill 275 passed the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 17-1. It already passed through the Senate with the present wording. The next step is the full House.

Ms. Kannenberg reported that discussions are continuing about whether Metra will expand the pilot Bikes on Trains Program that was conducted in the summers of 2001 and 2002. Mr. John LaPlante stated that he hoped the pilot demonstrated that it is feasible to accommodate bicycles on Metra trains. He also hoped that demand for the service was not being gauged by participation in the pilot, which was low because of its limited route and scheduling options.

Mr. Tom Murtha explained that progress is being made on the plan. CATS is finishing up the report on existing conditions and the Edwards and Kelcey Team has begun work on the best practices report. The next Steering Group Meeting will be scheduled after the existing conditions report is ready for feedback.

Mr. Kermit Wies explained that CATS is seeking public comments on the draft Regional Transportation Plan for 2030. This plan encourages a multi-modal approach to transportation projects through its policy guidance and capital recommendations. The public involvement meetings and materials have focused in large part on the proposed major capital projects—these represent the discretionary part of the plan’s budget. However, about 80% of the projected resources are assumed go to maintaining existing infrastructure. The plan encourages integration of walking and cycling concerns into these efforts. For more information, visit http://www.sp2030.com/Text_SP2030_Process.pdf (go to section 11, p 76, or use bookmarks to get to Recommended Regional Transportation System).

Mr. Murtha reported that CATS’ pedestrian and bicycle planning program will be receiving $100,000 less funding than it had requested, but that staff feels there are enough resources to carry on with key functions. This was a tight year for all agencies; almost everyone cut back a little bit.

Ms. Kilgore gave an overview of the projects that were honored by the Soles and Spokes Awards (see http://www.catsmpo.com/bikeped/BookletText.pdf). She noted that over 100 people attended the Pedestrian Design Workshop co-hosted by Pace.

Ms. Kilgore updated the task force on this project, which is looking for ways to improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations along the Palatine/Willow Road corridor. Meetings about the project have been well attended and IDOT has been open to rethinking some aspects of the designs. For example, there has been discussion of using tighter corners to slow turning speeds and narrow the crossing distance. More information about the project is at http://www.catsmpo.com/bikeped/palwillow.htm

None.

Adjournment: 11:15am

Next Meeting Date/Location: TBD

Notes Submitted By: GLK