bike-ped roundtable agenda | august 2011

7/28/2019 Bike-Ped Roundtable Agenda | August 2011

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Altoona Ankeny Bondurant Carlisle Clive Dallas County Des Moines DART Grimes Johnston Mitchellville NorwalkPleasant Hill Polk City Polk County Urbandale Warren County Waukee West Des Moines Windsor Heights

NOTICE OF MEETING

Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)Central Iowa Bicycle Pedestrian Roundtable (Roundtable)

***************************12:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2011St. Etienne Room, Armory Building

602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA***************************

TENTATIVEAGENDA

1. Call To Order

2. Introductions

3. Approval of Agenda

4. Approval of the Roundtables July 19, 2011, Meeting Minutes.........................................Page 2 Approve the J uly 19, 2011, meeting minutes

5. REPORT: CIRTPA Trail Counter Purchase Update.........................................................Page 6

Brief report on the CIRTPAs purchase of trail counters.

6. REPORT: Remaining Earmark Funds ......Page 7

Brief report on the remaining earmark funds from the Central Iowa Bicycle andPedestrian Action Plan.

7. REPORT: National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project...Page 8 Brief update concerning the communities participating in the national count day.

8. INFORMATION: Bosw ell Transpor tation Event.....................................................................Page 9

9. INFORMATION: Bicycle and Pedestrian Related Funding Application Deadlines...Page 10

10. INFORMATION: Bike and Ride Data...Page 11

11. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee

12. Future Agenda Items

13. Next Roundtable Meeting Date

12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, MPO Office 420 Watson Powell J r. Way, DesMoines, IA

14. Adjournment


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August 2011Item No. 4

ISSUE:

REPORT: Approve minutes of the J uly 19, 2011, Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable

meeting

BACKGROUND:

The minutes of the J uly 19, 2011, Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable meeting areenclosed on the following pages.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the minutes of the J uly 19, 2011, Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable meeting.

FY 2012 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 2 Please call (515) 334-0075 to obtain permission for use


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MEETING NOTES

DES MOINES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO)CENTRAL IOWA BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN ROUNDTABLE (ROUNDTABLE)

July 19, 2011 City of Des Moines, St. Etienne Room

12:00 PM Des Moines, Iowa

Roundtable Attendees Present:

Andrea Chase, Natural Heritage Foundation

Dana Conn, Transportation Management Assoc.

Jan Herke, City of Urbandale

Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair

Mindy Moore, City of Des Moines

John Peterson, City of Ankeny

Jim Priebe, Warren County Conservation

Ruth Randleman, City of Carlisle/MAC

Neil Ruddy, City of Carlisle

Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee

Ron Ward, City of Johnston

Vern Willey, City of Altoona

Carol Williams, Story County Conservation

Roundtable Staff Present:

Zach Young, Associate Transportation Planner

1. Call to Order

Chair Jim Lane called the July 19, 2011, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:00 p.m., at

the St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA.

2. Introduction

Participants introduced themselves.

3. Approval of Agenda

Participants approved the July 19, 2011, Roundtable meeting agenda.

4. Approval o f the Roundtab les June 21, 2011, Meeting Notes

Participants approved the Roundtables June 21, 2011, meeting notes.

5. Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan

The MPO staff opened the meeting by asking the Roundtable members to discuss the status of

the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan (Connect) in their communities. Staffasked members ifConnectis being referred to during the planning process.

Andrea Chase asked ifConnectwas presented to the communities for adoption. Staff noted

that Connecthas not been formally presented to the communities.

Chair Jim Lane noted that the communities of Norwalk, Altoona, and Ankeny have included

some elements ofConnectin their own documents but have not gone as-far-as to use the term

Complete Streets.



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Agenda ReportMPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable

John Peterson stated that the communities should not be expected to adopt Connect. He noted

that he viewed the document more as guidance and not as local policy.

Staff noted that Chapter 7, Objective 1, Action 1.1, Benchmark 1.1.1, states that the

Roundtable should recommend that each community adopt Connect. Ruth Randleman added

that the language of this benchmark was intended to unify the region behind the plan.

Discussion ensued concerning the adoption ofConnectby the local communities.

Loren Lown noted that it would be beneficial for the MPO staff to prepare a presentation for

the local city councils to provide them with information on Connectand to encourage each

community to participate in the plans implementation. Mr. Lown noted that the presentation

could provide guidance to the council on which departments are best suited to address the

various sections ofConnect.

Mr. Peterson reiterated that the plan is a regional document and does not determine local

policy. He stated that the plan is a toolkit for local governments and is intended to provide

guidance, not to direct policy. Mr. Peterson went on to state that presenting before local

councils or organizing staff workshops would get the information to local staffs so they can

choose whether to tie Connectinto their local plans.

Chair Lane noted that the plan was designed to engage multiple groups and that part of the

Roundtables job is to make sure these groups are aware of the benchmarks they could be

addressing.

The Roundtable agreed that presenting Connectto the local city councils was something the

MPO staff should begin doing.

6. Complete Street Legislation

The Roundtable did not discuss this item.

7. Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding in Federal Transportation Bill

Chair Lane noted that the current proposals for transportation reauthorization reduce or

eliminate the funding sources bicycle and pedestrian projects rely on for completion. He

encouraged Roundtable members to take the time to write their elected officials. Chair Lane

also noted that the Roundtable should keep track of what happens to funding sources in the

reauthorization bill.

Mr. Lown commented that Transportation Enhancements are an important and stable source of

funding. He pointed out that this funding needs to continue so the local trail system can be

maintained and expanded in the future.

Discussion ensued regarding the transportation reauthorization proposals and how eachproposal will affect funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian projects in central Iowa.

8. National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project

The MPO staff informed the group about the National Bicycle and Pedestrian

Documentation (NBPD) Project. Staff encouraged the roundtable to participate in the

September national count week.

Carl Voss noted that participation is important and that the bicycle friendly community

committee recommended that communities in central Iowa begin counting bicycle usage.

Mr. Voss stated that this type of count is important because it counts users on the street, not



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just on trails. He went on to encourage all the local communities to participate.

Ruth Randleman pointed out that getting these counts would help to determine the

economic impact bicycle and pedestrian users have in the metro area.

Staff expressed its concern that if participating in the counts is left up to the individual

communities the counts might not be completed. Staff encouraged the Roundtable toconsider soliciting count locations from the local communities and have a Roundtable

subcommittee organize the volunteers.

Discussion ensued concerning the Roundtables involvement in the NBPD Project. The

Roundtable members expressed their concern over trying to organize the event on a

regional basis. The group agreed that the best way forward was to let the individual

communities decide if they would participate. The members agreed that the role of the

MPO staff and the Roundtable would be to promote the event. Chair Lane noted that the

communities that participate could share their data with the MPO staff.

9. Transportation Event with Congressman Leonard Boswell

The MPO staff informed the Roundtable of Congressman Leonard Boswells transportation

event to be held before the MPO Policy Committee meeting on August 18, 2011. Staff

encouraged the Roundtable members to attend the event and show their support for the

Complete Streets Act of 2011 and the continuation of Transportation Enhancements, Federal

Recreational Trails, and the Safe Routes to School funding programs.

10. Bike-and-Ride Data

Roundtable participants reviewed the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)

and CyRide bike-and-ride counts for June 2011.

11. Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

12. Future Agenda Items

13. Next Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2011, at noon.

IX. Adjournment

The July 19, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.



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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief report concerning the Central Iowa Regional Transportation PlanningAlliances (CIRTPA) purchase of trail counting equipment.

BACKGROUND:

The MPO staff notes that over the past few months the CIRTPA has discussed usingexcess planning funds to purchase trail counting equipment from TRAFx Research Ltd.At their J uly 20, 2011 meeting, the CIRTPA passed a motion to purchase twenty infraredtrail counters, downloading equipment, and analysis software for a total cost of $11,740.

The MPO/CIRTPA staff will store the counters in their office and lend them out to CIRTPAmembers.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discuss only.

STAFF CONTACT:

Zach Young, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #208.



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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief report concerning the use of remaining earmark funds from the CentralIowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan (Connect).

BACKGROUND:

The MPO staff has been exploring the use of the remaining earmark funds from theConnect to purchase trail counters from TRAFx Research Ltd. These trail counters wouldbe available for use on trails within the MPO planning boundary.

The MPO staff presented two options for purchasing trial counters to the MPO ExecutiveCommittee at the August 10, 2011 meeting.

Option 1: The MPO could reimburse CIRTPA for half ($5,870) of the trailcounter purchase. This would allow the twenty trail counters to be

available for use by CIRTPA and the MPO member governments andagencies.

Option 2: The MPO could purchase twenty additional trail counters andrelated equipment, at a cost of $10,700. This option would utilize fundsremaining from the Connect Plan earmark funds, and ensure the MPOmember governments have their own pool of counters.

Staff recommended that the MPO select Option 2 and utilize the remaining earmark fundsto purchase twenty trail counters and related equipment at an approximate cost of$10,700. The MPO Executive Committee recommended that the MPO Policy committeeapprove the use of remaining earmark funds to purchase trail counters for MPO use. The

MPO Executive Committees recommendation will be presented at the MPO PolicyCommittee meeting on August 18, 2011.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discuss only.

STAFF CONTACT:




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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief report concerning the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation

Project and possible participation.

BACKGROUND:

The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project (NBPD) was established in2002. Alta Planning & Design, along with the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)Pedestrian and Bicycle Council, cosponsor the NBPD Project. The NBPD Projectprovides a methodology for estimating the existing and future bicycle and pedestriandemand in a community.

National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project count dates are as follows:

September 13-15, 2011 J anuary 10-12, 2011 May 15-17, 2012 J uly 3-5, 2011 September 11-13, 2012

Participating in the NBPD Project will provide consistent and ongoing data. Planners,local governments, and bicycle and pedestrian professionals can use the data to measurethe positive benefits of bicycle and pedestrian investments.

The MPO staff notes that, at the J uly 19, 2011, Roundtable meeting, it was determinedthat each individual community should decide whether they would participate in the NBPD

Project. Staff notes that the inclusion of this item allows Roundtable members to discusswhether they intend on participating in the national count day in September.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discussion only.

STAFF CONTACT:




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INFORMATION:

INFORMATION: Brief report concerning transportation event with Congressman Leonard

Boswell

BACKGROUND:

Congressman Leonard Boswell plans to meet with constituents to discuss transportationissues affecting the region. On J uly 6, 2011, the MPO staff met with CongressmanBoswells staff to discuss organizing an event around the visit. Through this meeting, itwas determined that August 18, 2011 at 3:00 p.m., prior to the MPO Policy Committeemeeting, would be a suitable time to hold an event with local transportation stakeholders.

The roundtable event would be approximately an hour long consisting of briefpresentations by Congressman Boswell and representatives from the private and public

sector. The remaining time will be a question and answer session.

The event will spotlight transportation challenges and opportunities facing the region in thecoming years, including transportation authorization. The event would also provide anopportunity to focus on two key bills introduced in Congress this year:

H.R. 2091: Freight Rail Inf rastruc ture Capacity Expansion Act of 2011 Introduced J une 2, 2011 by Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA). On J une 2,2011, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R. 1780: Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 Introduced May 5,2011 by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA). On May 6, 2011, the bill was referred

to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructuressubcommittee on Highways and Transit. (The MPO staff notes that theSafe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 was also introduced in the Senateas S.1056 by Sen. Thomas Harkin (D-IA) on May 24, 2011).

The key participants in this event would include MPO member governments and agencies,the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, the Central Iowa Bicycle and PedestrianRoundtable, the Freight Roundtable, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The eventwould be open to other organizations with an interest in transportation issues as well asthe general public.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Information only.

STAFF CONTACT:




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INFORMATION:

INFORMATION: Brief report concerning bike and ride data for central Iowa.

BACKGROUND:

Below are the most recent Bike & Ride Counts for the Des Moines Area Regional TransitAuthority (DART) and CyRide (Ames):

TABLE 1.DART Bike & Ride User Counts per Month by Year

Source: DART

TABLE 2. CyRide Bike & Ride User Counts per Month by Year

Source: CyRide

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

JANUARY - 334 717 718 521 341 636

FEBRUARY - 425 378 623 973 356 868

MARCH - 553 833 1,183 1,935 N/A 2,252APRIL - 771 1,256 1,904 2,792 2,902 3,075

MAY - 1,240 1,934 2,739 3,454 3,333 3,884

JUNE - 1,718 2,632 3,297 4,228 3,828 4,646

JULY - 1,803 2,823 3,968 4,446 4,174 5,046

AUGUST - 2,077 3,202 6,636 4,385 4,425

SEPTEMBER - 1,898 2,823 3,844 4,156 3,945

OCTOBER 485 1,623 5,873 3,797 N/A 3,862

NOVEMBER 321 1,255 2,282 2,248 2,367 2,623

DECEMBER 99 1,064 701 701 910 1,316

TOTAL 905 14,761 25,454 31,658 30,167 31,105

2008 2009 2010 2011

JANUARY 17 22 134

FEBRUARY 38 63 160

MARCH 54 232 297

APRIL 53 322 376

MAY 189 248

JUNE 284 335

JULY 336 482AUGUST 429 582

SEPTEMBER 87 401 576

OCTOBER 169 289 507

NOVEMBER 79 139 293

DECEMBER 36 53 146

TOTAL 370 2,282 3,808 134


bike-ped roundtable agenda | august 2011

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