City of Aurora Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Board met July 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Board for Thursday, July 19, 2010 was called to order at 6:12 pm.
This was called to Order
ROLL CALL
The following members were present: ● Ed Barsotti, chair
● René Craig, member
● Mary Jane Cross, member
● Doug Johnson, member
● Charlie Zine, member
Members Antonio Cerda and Josh Harris were excused.
OTHERS PRESENT
In the audience the following were present:
● Ryan Peterson, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Kane County Division of Transportation
● Constitution House Action Team (401 N Constitution Dr., Aurora):
○ Jody Gjoudla, Constitution House Action Team member
○ Linda J. Freeman, Constitution House Action Team member ○ Toni Wrightsell, Constitution House Action Team member
○ 9 other members
For staff representation the following were present:
● Bob Greene, City Traffic Engineer, City of Aurora
● Roopa Anjanappa, Project Engineer, City of Aurora ● Alex Minella, Planner, City of Aurora
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the May 23, 2019 meeting minutes was made by Zine and seconded by Cross. The motion carried, and the minutes of the May 23, 2019 Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Board meeting were approved.
This Minutes was approved and filed AGENDA
Bike Pedestrian and Transit Plan update - Next Steps
The Bike Pedestrian and Transit plan update is a revision just to the Appendix of the existing Bike/Ped Plan.
Back in 2009, July of 2009, the City Council did approve a Bike/Pedestrian Plan and as part of that plan there were a number of goals outlined. The intent of the new plan is to be more user friendly, and to identify new trails, such as the Butterfield Road Trail, and bikeways. In the new plan the existing roadways have not changed. The proposed plan is instrumental to secure possible grant applications, and it will be a layer of the existing Comprehensive Plan.
In 2015 the plan went before Planning Commission and comments were gathered to further improve the document as well as the related maps. A consent to move forward was obtained, but not withouth additional recommendation of the advisory board to highlight spot improvements opportunities.
Ever since, the Advisory Board has worked hard on collecting suggestions to better the bikeway and biketrail systems, and engineering has done an incredible work addressing those suggestions to enhance the cyclists environment and experience.
The next step of the approval process is to be discussed before the Building, Zoning and Economic Devleopment Committee. Staff encouraged the Advisory Board to continue to review the document to look for improvements. Once the Advisory Board concludes its review, the document is presented to the Planning Committee then to the City Council for approval. The Board discussed which parts of the plan to focus on and decided on a review timeline.
Members of the Constitution House Action Team attended the meeting and appealed to the Advisory Board for support and to help with pedestrian safety for all 230+ senior housing residents at Constitution House, 401 N. Constitution Drive, Aurora. Individual members Jody Gjoudla, Linda Freeman, and Toni Wrightsell shared personal experiences as well as experiences from other residents of getting pinned by cars in the crosswalk on Constitution, cars running over the temporary “Stop” sign in said crosswalk, pedestrians getting hit at the light on Galena by the old Walmart, and needing more time to cross at the light at Galena/Constitution and at Galena/old Walmart. Other issues included hazardous sidewalks and lack of snow removal from pedestrian routes to restaurants/grocery store. Board members and staff acknowledged that these are relevant and alarming issues and discussed suggestions for improvement with the Action Team. Staff extended the timing of the stop lights at the intersections of concern to the longest interval allowed and requested that the residents send feedback on the new crossing time. Board members suggested investigating permanent signage, bringing the curb in to make crosswalk shorter and street narrower, and that all the residents contact their state representatives by phone. Staff suggested random selective enforcement by Aurora Police Department and a road counter video, and pinpointed the most active time for pedestrians. Board members and staff also provided appropriate City contact information so residents could report problems as they arise and encouraged all residents to attend ward meetings.
Member Initiatives:
- Bike Walk Every Town mini-stipend
1) Craig summarized the application, highlighting the intent to build public awareness about the Advisory Board specifically and biking in Aurora more generally, and asked the group for feedback. The Board discussed the GreenFest event, ideas about table setup and interactive activities, the creation of a Facebook page, and bike lights.
2) Zine and the Board discussed a blocked berm entrance near the back of the McDonald’s on Lake Street that burned down and Lane Court, and how that affects the location of a proposed access trail to the Fox River Trail. Zine also noted a temporary parking lot on the Fox River that is currently being used for events at River Edge Park. The Board discussion indicated that this lot is maintained by the City, that it is being used by the Paramount as needed, and that there is no long term plan to make the parcel a parking lot. Members encouraged the City to apply for a grant to get the lot cleaned up for use as a pump track and volunteered to help with the application if there is an appropriate time. Cross indicated that work on getting bicycle and pedestrian safety education into Aurora K-8 schools is generally on hold until administrators come back at the end of the month.
Staff Reports:
- Detailed update/schedule on bike/ped bridge over the Fox River - Montgomery Road sidepath construction
- HSIP application for Farnsworth crossing
- 2019 Planning Projects
Staff reported that the projected completion date for the bridge is summer 2020. IDOT granted time extensions for harsh winter and high water. Work on Broadway and the parking lot is near completion, so construction focus is now on the bridge.
Staff reported that the Montgomery Road sidepath construction is ongoing, with work on curb cuts, ADA ramps, landscaping, and striping to come. The Indian Trail and Farnsworth bike extension easement was obtained and construction began. This is a spot project addressed during water main construction. The bike path fills in the gap on Farnsworth from Indian Trail to Cedar Creek. Two Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) applications have been submitted: one for striping and signage at the Farnsworth crossing, and one to widen the road and install a westbound left turn lane on Indian Trail at High Street. Staff expects to hear back about the applications by the end of August. Improvements will begin on Montgomery Road at Waubonsee Creek Bridge, which has 15 ft on either side. One trail will be closed at a time; temporary bike path will run on the north side of the road then leave the road going up to Walcott Road. The crossing of Lake Street at West Park has been proposed to CIP for next year; results not expected until the end of September. The budget goes to the Finance Committee (composed of both staff and Council members) in October. Board members discussed attending Finance Committee meetings to advocate for the effort. Staff assured the Board that after the completion of resurfacing at Frontenac and McCoy, everything that was taken out would be put back.
PENDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn was moved by Cross and seconded by Zine. The motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.
This was adjourned
https://www.aurora-il.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07182019-1915
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