From: "Tommy Eden" Date: Mon Oct 21, 2002 04:02:22 PM US/Central Subject: Minutes of UTC Bicycle-Pedestrian Subcommittee on 09/26/02 Minutes for Bicycle-Pedestrian Subcommittee of Urban Transportation Commission Thu., September 26, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. 8th Floor Conference Room UTC members present: Tommy Eden, chair Mike Dahmus Others present: none 1. REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF BICYCLE LANES ON STECK AVE. EAST OF MOPAC The person who recommended this change was not present. Mike Dahmus pointed out that heavy traffic at Mopac and Steck creates a queuing problem on the approach to Mopac, because there are limited freeway entrances on Mopac. Vehicles which enter the frontage road at Anderson Ln. must stay on the frontage road, because there is no longer a northbound entrance for them. This causes the traffic on the frontage road to be heavier than it needs to be. East of Shoal Creek, the traffic on Steck is not as heavy. Tommy Eden pointed out that Steck used to have bicycle lanes east of Shoal Creek Blvd., but they had been removed in 1983 or 1984. The subcommittee requests bicycle lanes on Steck east of Shoal Creek Blvd. AND requests signage on Steck from Mopac to Shoal Creek Blvd. indicating that bicycles use the roadway, suggesting that this location be a pilot for use of "Share the Road" signs, similar to those used in other states such as North Carolina and Oregon. 2. PROPOSAL TO REPEAL OR AMEND ORDINANCES REGARDING THE OPERATION OF BICYCLES IN AUSTIN Tommy Eden suggested that there was no urgent need to make the changes which the subcommittee had recommended in August. Considering the opposition from city staff, he suggested that the issue not be considered further for now. 3. PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY ON SOUTH LAMAR The people who were working on this proposal were not present. Tommy Eden pointed out that the subcommittee agreed to have the proposal rewritten to include a bicycle lane only on the west (uphill) side of S. Lamar and to bring the proposal back to the subcommittee. Mike Dahmus was concerned that bicyclists would ride in the wrong direction in the bicycle lane if only one bicycle lane was painted on S. Lamar, thus making the street even more dangerous than it already is. Tommy Eden knew of signs saying "Bicycle Wrong Way" used in Tempe, Arizona, which might be added to the new MUTCD. He agreed to contact a traffic engineer in Arizona to get more information about these signs and send the information to Mike Dahmus by email. Mike Dahmus was concerned about the need to paint crosswalks on all streets--not only on S. Lamar. Tommy Eden agreed to add this issue to the October agenda. 4. REVIEW OF BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES ON BUDGETED STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Tommy Eden had received updated information from city staff about the street reconstruction projects regarding the inclusion of sidewalks and bikeways in each project. There were some questions about the reconstruction project for E. 51st St. Mike Dahmus suggested that the subcommittee should get a breakout for the sections of 51st St. west of Berkman Dr. and east of Berkman Dr. He suggested that sidewalks should be built while the roads are already torn up in order to avoid disrupting traffic twice. 5. UPDATE ON CURB RAMPS FOR BARTON SPRINGS ROAD Tommy Eden reported that the ADA curb ramps on Barton Springs Rd. at Bouldin had been replaced. He had discussed the bicycle ramp on Barton Springs Rd. at Robert E. Lee with several city staff members. Because some staff members were firmly opposed to replacing the bicycle ramp at Robert E. Lee, this issue will not be considered further for the time being.