bike-ped roundtable agenda | june 2011

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

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NOTICE OF MEETING

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

***************************Tuesday, June 21, 2011 12:00 p.m.St. Etienne Room, Armory Building

602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA

***************************TENTATIVEAGENDA

I. Call to Order

II. Introductions

III. Approval of Agenda

IV. Approval of the Roundtables May 17, 2011, Meeting Minutes .......................Page 3

V. Discussion ItemsA. Trail Counter Purchase....................................................................................Page 6

B. Bicycle Tourism Update...................................................................................Page 7C. Smart Codes Update.......................................................................................Page 7D. Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit Update.................................................Page 8E. Bicycle Facilities Gap Study .................................................................Page 8

VI. Informational Item

Bike and Ride Data .............................................................................................Page 9

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

VIII. Future Agenda Items

IX. Next Roundtable Meeting Date

12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, J uly 19, 2011, St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, DesMoines

X. Adjournment


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FY 2011 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Please call (515) 334-0075 to obtain permission for use

Moines has some concerns over how to approach the assessment of the trails. Mr.

Alvarez questioned whether trails should be assessed as a whole or in segments.

Alternatively, should it be assessed based on the type of trail?

Mr. Lown noted that Polk County has created an assessment checklist to aid in the

process of assessing the trails. Mr. Lown pointed out that people do not expect to

encounter motorized vehicles on the trails and therefore PDMD use on trails posses a

significant amount of danger to cyclists and pedestrians.

Andrea Chase noted that the American Trials website has published some good

examples of policies concerning the assessment of trails. The American Trails website

provides examples of how to categorize different types of PDMDs and provides some

good models of how central Iowa jurisdictions could move forward with their own

trail assessments.

Jim Lane pointed out that the role of the roundtable is to find examples of how to deal

with the PDMD issues, share these examples with elected officials, and make sure

jurisdictions are starting to work on the assessments.

V. (B.) Smart Codes

Staff updated the Roundtable concerning the use of Smart Codes to promote bicycle-,

pedestrian-, and transit-oriented development in central Iowa. Staff noted that, seeing

how Smart Codes are a divergence from business-as-usual, the logical next step is to

educate local decision makers and the public about Smart Codes. Staff requested that

the Roundtable discuss how best to approach this process.

Todd Redenius commented that the Roundtable could be a catalyst to promote Smart

Codes within local planning departments. Mr. Redenius suggested that Roundtable

members talk to their planning departments and report back at the June meeting.

Stefanie Toftey commented that considering the regional nature of transportation and

land use issues it seems appropriate that the MPO be involved.

Carol Williams noted that it is important to educate the public so they can take the

issue before their City Councils. This way it is coming from the public and has a better

chance of getting a positive reception.

Discussion ensued concerning how best to educate the public on Smart Codes.

Andrea Chase asked if anyone in the group was aware of what the City of Cumming is

doing regarding Smart Growth. Ms. Chase noted that the City of Cumming is

exploring how to integrate Smart Growth and sustainable practices in their

community.

Discussion ensued regarding the City of Cummings Smart Growth and sustainability

plans.

Staff updated the Roundtable on the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development,

noting the process would provide opportunities to educate local decision makers and

the public on issues like Smart Growth and Smart Codes.

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V. (C.) Bike to Work Week

Carl Voss updated the group on Bike Month and Bike to Work Week. Mr. Voss

commended several communities including Windsor Heights and Perry concerning

the number of events they have sponsored. Mr. Voss noted that all the events are

getting strong turnouts. However, registration is lagging and registration is the only

way to measure who is riding.

Andrea Chase commented that perhaps the group should explore ways to make

information on how to register more available at future events.

VI. (A.) Bike-and-Ride Counts

Roundtable participants reviewed the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

(DART) and CyRide bike-and-ride counts for April 2011.

VI. (B.) Connect Update

Staff updated the Roundtable on specific benchmarks within the Central Iowa Bicycle

and Pedestrian Action Plan (Connect) that staff is working on implementing. Staffinformed the group about the interest expressed by CIRTPA members to purchase trail

counters.

Discussion ensued concerning the roundtables support for trail counters and how the

data these counters would provide could be used to improve trails in central Iowa.

VII. Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

Marco Alvarez informed the group that the City of West Des Moines is installing bike

lockers sometime this week. They are installing three lockers that will accommodate

up to six bicycles. Mr. Alvarez also commented that they have accepted bids for their

central Iowa trial signage.

VIII. Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for June 21, 2011, at noon.

IX. Adjournment

The May 17, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:01 p.m.

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V. (A.) Trail Counter Purchase

Discussion Item

The Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA):

At their May 12, 2011 meeting discussed using excess planning

funds to purchase trail counters; and,

Requested that staff provide them with more detailed information

regarding the usefulness of the data trail counters would provide.

The CIRTPA Staff:

Researched a variety of trail counters and prepared a cost estimate

for the purchase of TRAFx brand trail counters;

Notes that TRAFx counters are used by the US Forest Service, US

Fish and Wildlife Service, and various park districts across thecountry and in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the West Indies,

and Germany;

Notes that the TRAFx counters are also being used in Iowa by the

Region XII Council of Governments;

Notes that the TRAFx counters come highly recommended by these

users and that data collected is useful when making management

decisions and justifying funding; and,

Requests that the Roundtable provide recommendations to the

CIRTPA board concerning the usefulness of trail counters for the

regional trails system.

Staff Contact: Zach Young, [email protected];

(515) 334-0075, extension #208

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V. (B.) Bicycle Tourism Update

Discussion ItemThe Trails Marketing Group:

Has purchased several website domains with the intention of promoting

bicycle tourism in Iowa.

The MPO staff:

Requests that Trails Marketing Group provide an update on bicycle

tourism promotion to the Roundtable.


(515) 334-0075, extension #208.

V. (C.) Smart Codes Update

Discussion Item

The Roundtable:

At its April 2011 meeting discussed the possibility of using Smart Codes

to promote pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-oriented development as

called for in Chapter 1, Action 5.2, Benchmark 5.2.1 of the Central Iowa

Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan;

Agreed that addressing land-use and transportation is an important issuethat should be discussed further at future meetings; and,

Discussed how to move forward at the May 17, 2011 meeting.

The MPO staff:

At the May 17, 2011 meeting, requested that Roundtable members discuss

Smart Codes with their respective planning departments; and,

Requests that committee members update the Roundtable at the June 21,

2011 meeting.


(515) 334-0075, extension #208.

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V. (D.) Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit

Discussion Item

The MPO staff:

Notes that the Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit was held on June16-18, 2011 in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa; and,

Requests that Roundtable members who attended provide an update on the

summits proceedings.


(515) 334-0075, extension #208.

V. (E.) Bicycle Facil ities Gap Study

Discussion ItemThe MPO staff:

Notes the MPOs Connect: Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

Chapter 4, Action 1.3 states, Establish a process to update governments

and agencies on new trail developments and connections to the state and

regional trail system;

Notes the benchmark for Action 1.3 are the following:

1.3.1 Benchmark: Provide active project updates

routinely to the Roundtable.

Has requested that MPO/CIRTPA member governments and agencies

send updated GIS trail information to the MPO/CIRTPA staff when

projects are completed;

Requests that MPO/CIRTPA member governments and agencies contact

MPO/CIRTPA staff with any questions;

Notes that trail updates ensure that all trail information reflects current

activity in central Iowa and will allow local stakeholders to track progress

on connecting gaps and completing trails within the Central Iowa Trail

System;

Provided, as a supplemental item, 11x17 bicycle facility maps to

Roundtable members for their review; and,

Will provide a large map of Central Iowa Bicycle Facilities forRoundtable members to review at the June 21, 2011 meeting.


(515) 334-0075, extension #208.

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Bike and Ride Data

Informational Item

Below are the most recent Bike & Ride Counts for the Des Moines Area

Regional Transit Authority (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 2,252

APRIL - 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

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

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 2011JANUARY 17 22 134

FEBRUARY 38 63 160

MARCH 54 232 297

APRIL 53 322 376

MAY 189 248

JUNE 284 335

JULY 336 482

AUGUST 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

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bike-ped roundtable agenda | june 2011

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