DRAFT MEETING NOTES

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

MEETING DATE: 10/23/02

MEETING LOCATION: CATS

CALLED TO ORDER: 9:40am

ATTENDANCE:

(Task Force Members)

John Allen--Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)

Ed Barsotti--League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB)

Bruce Christensen--Lake County

Josh Deth--Break the Gridlock

Barb Ladner--Pace

Bobbie Moore --Palatine/Willow Road Community Mobilization Team

Randy Neufeld--Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF)

Johanna Nyden --Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)

Keith Privett--Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)

Tom Rickert--Kane County DOT

Craig Williams--Edwards and Kelcey

(Others)

Christina Anderson--Village of Lemont

Eric Anderson --Edwards and Kelcey

Steve Call--Federal Highway Administration

Carmen Carruthers--City of Naperville

Jonathan Grosshans--CNT

Nick Jackson--CBF

John LaPlante--Ty-Lin

Dave Longo--Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Marty Mueller--Knight Infrastructure

Eve Pytel--Transystems

Maryann Romanelli--Hinsdale School Walking Program

Pat Schroeder--McHenry County Council of Mayors

Heather Smith --Chicago Metropolis 2020

Al Sturges--Folks on Spokes

Heather Tabbert--Kane County

Randy Warren--CBF

Linda Bolte--CATS

Tom Murtha--CATS

Tom Murtha--CATS

Tom Murtha--CATS

Kermit Wies--CATS

APPROVAL OF NOTES: Notes from the July 10, 2002 meeting were approved unanimously without discussion.

PRESENTATIONS:

Walk to School Day

Ms. Maryann Romanelli described the successful International Walk-to-School Day events in Hinsdale on October 2, 2002. She mentioned that this was the third year Hinsdale celebrated the day. She noted that local access cable produced a five-minute segment on the events. She circulated photos of the events. She described the program at Oak School, which incorporated calculation of walking distances into classroom math projects. She also brought several handouts on international walking successes and opportunities for new programs.

She described one particular success in Hinsdale, where village trustees recently gave unanimous support for a program to build 6.7 miles of new sidewalks at a cost of $1.2 million. She attributed this success to four years of attending meetings and urging local officials to gain first-hand experience of local barriers to walking.

In her capacity as a volunteer walk-to-school resource person for northeastern Illinois, she knew of twelve schools participating in the events, up from three schools last year. One school in Wheaton plans to track the success of the event by recording the numbers of walkers throughout the school year.

Mr. Tom Murtha commended Ms. Romanelli for volunteering to serve as a regional contact and asked her how many inquiries she received. Ms. Romanelli replied that she mailed out about fifteen packets of information to people throughout the region. She also worked with Ashley Gold at National Safe Kids.

Ms. Kilgore commended the Wheaton school for tracking its numbers and hoped that other schools would implement similar programs.

Ms. Romanelli ended by addressing two common parental concerns. With increased fear of child abductions, she recommended forming a "walking school bus" with adults walking with or behind a group of children to ensure their safety (and also benefit from the walk). She also noted that a wagon can relieve the burden of heavy backpacks.

Shared Path 2030 process to develop a Regional Transportation Plan

Mr. Kermit Wies presented an outline of strategies under development in the Shared Path 2030 process that address bicycle and pedestrian issues. He noted that the bicycle and pedestrian community was well represented at the public meetings throughout July and August.

Mr. Wies explained that the RTP currently views bicycle and pedestrian projects as primarily demand management tools. To the RTP, these projects are ways to provide people with alternatives and/or get them out of their carsto traveling by motorized means.

Mr. Wies continued by explaining the four alternatives under development (service intensive, system intensive, system additions, system expansion), and the three elements of each alternative (management strategies, multi-modal arterial system, access-control system). Proposed projects will be categorized into the alternatives.

Mr. Wies described the service intensive alternative as including transit-oriented development, demand management, bike lanes, walkable intersections, bus service upgrades and bikes on transit. Mr. John LaPlante asked about the conflict when access-control projects for cars present access barriers for pedestrians. Mr. Wies answered that these concerns would are be addressed examined in other waysanother alternative.

Mr. Wies said that the system intensive alternative includes projects proposals that address community/expressway interfaces, neighborhood streets, shared use arterial design, and arterial-based bike network.

Mr. Wies said that the system additions alternative highlights project-oriented management and operations, SRA recommendations, and trail connections.

Mr. Wies said that the system expansion alternative also includes project-oriented management and operations in addition to regional boulevards, new expressways and rail lines, and new bike trails.

Ms. Bobbie Moore asked about the classification of expressway bus-dedicated lane projects. Mr. Wies noted that he only highlighted the bicycle and pedestrian related elements; other elementsthe full alternative scheme cover includes expressway bus projects.

Ms. Eve Pytel asked for clarification of an earlier comment about a bike network. Is there an existing bike network that needs to be better documented, or does a bike network need to be developed? Mr. Wies responded that the Soles and Spokes Plan inventory will help with this question. He continued that there is some question about whether the a network exists, and or whether we should "declare" itone. Some people think the bike network is subregional and that the RTP should deal with connections between the subregions.

Mr. Randy Neufeld added the concern that designating a network creates implies a funding hierarchy. He would want to explore designating a network while protecting local funding initiatives. Mr. LaPlante added that we should also encourage improving the biking conditions on roads that are not designated as part of a bike network.

Mr. Tom Murtha clarified that at the task at hand is project alternatives evaluation. Mr. Wies added that he is looking for a description of the kind of regional benefit the RTP can have by looking into these issuesdeliver by including these types of improvments. This may come in the form of reducing motorized trips and/or making the system more cohesive. He asked that people make comments on the project evaluation forms and return them to him.

Soles and Spokes Plan: The Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for Chicago Area Transportation

Mr. Craig Williams provided an update on recent plan activities. He began by noting the large overlap between the steering committee and the people present in the room. He described a one-page document describing the public involvement process of the plan. Ms. Kilgore added that it is a summary of their entire strategy. The details of some of the strategies, such as the two public meeting/workshops, are still being worked out. Mr. Williams also mentioned the website for the plan www.solesandspokes.com. Regional census data, including mode share, were recently posted to the site.

Mr. Tom Murtha provided an update on municipal surveys. The 56% response rate was displayed in a regional map on the wall. Mr. Murtha asked people to contact him if they have special contacts in any of the municipalities that haven't responded. He said they hope to compare survey responses with census mode share.

Mr. Williams said that the presentation by Mr. Wies was helpful because it shows that the RTP process is at the point where it is identifying needs that the Soles and Spokes Plan can fill. He advocated continued attention to the links between the two.

Mr. Williams showed a handout of a Kane County Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) map. Ms. Kilgore said the BLOS is a good tool to avoid trying to direct cyclists to specific routes and instead examine existing infrastructure for how it can be improved for cyclists. Mr. Neufeld added that BLOS does not end with a letter grade because it can also be used to determine what different environments feel like for differently skilled riders. Mr. Williams also noted that BLOS designations could protect roads from "improvements" that would drop their level of service.

Mr. LaPlante mentioned the work Ty-Lin has completed on a regional Bicycle Information Systems program. He provided maps on the walls and encouraged people to examine them. He hopes to have it on www.solesandspokes.com soon. Ms. Kilgore mentioned that they are still deciding how to deal with duplicate information, as well as missing information. Mr. Williams added that this tool will be great for providing information to consultants and convincing them of a multi-modal need in different areas.

Mr. Murtha mentioned that CATS has distributed an agency survey to gather information to supplement the previous municipal survey. He asked that agency representatives in the room respond to the survey or ensure that the appropriate person in the agency has completed it.

Soles and Spokes Awards and Workshops

Ms. Kilgore explained that the Soles and Spokes Workshops, which are distinct from the Soles and Spokes Plan, have provided several opportunities in the last year for people to come together and learn about bicycle and pedestrian design issues. The workshops have helped, she hopes, to build a community of bicycle and pedestrian professionals throughout the region.

Ms. Kilgore continued by describing the next workshop, which will focus on intersection design. It is tentatively scheduled for February 27, 2003. It will also include the presentation of the Soles and Spokes Awards for Excellence, which highlight great bicycle and pedestrian-related projects and programs in the region. She pointed out the draft call for nominations, and asked that any feedback be directed to her.

Ms. Kilgore asked people who are interested in helping with the workshop to contact her prior to the next working group meeting on November 13. She also asked task force members who want to serve on the evaluation committee to contact her by Wednesday, October 30.

Palatine/Willow Road Corridor Project

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. Technical reports have been produced for Northfield and Arlington Heights so far. Walkable Communities Workshops, which will likely be conducted by CATS staff, are tentatively scheduled for next spring.

Illinois Cardiovascular Health Partnership Update

Mr. Murtha is working with a state committee to create a statewide cardiovascular health plan, with the ultimate goal of securing CDC and foundation funding to implement it. The plan would also provide a policy basis approved by the legislature for the transportation community to provide transportation facilities and services that facilitate community physical activity. He supplied a handout of draft ideas and proposals and asked for responses within a week.

New Business:

None.

Adjournment: 11:05am

Next Meeting Date/Location: To be decided at the December Steering Group Meeting - The Task Force may meet in February.

Notes Submitted By: MJS