by Tommy Eden Minutes for Bicycle-Pedestrian Subcommittee of Urban Transportation Commission Thu., August 7, 2003, 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: Lorraine Atherton Dylan Reese Stuart Werbner Travis Weller Scott Grove 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. 2. PROPOSAL FOR IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ON LAVACA STREET DOWNTOWN Tommy Eden reported that he had spoken with Alan Hughes and Ali Mozdbar. Ali Mozdbar had looked at the intersection of Lavaca Street and 13th Street, and he had estimated that the intersection would not meet the warrants for a traffic signal, even during the first special legislative session. It might have more traffic after the students return for the fall semester. The subcommittee agreed that the next effort should be to request flashing runway lights similar to the ones on Barton Springs Road. 3. DISCUSSION ABOUT TRAIL ACCESS FROM BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AND FROM RIVERSIDE DRIVE Lorraine Atherton brought a map and a photograph of a problem at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and Robert E. Lee. She also had a resolution from the Zilker Neighborhood Association in support of re-establishing a spur of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail adjacent to Barton Springs Road. After a brief discussion, Mike Dahmus proposed the following resolution, which the subcommittee approved for UTC consideration at the next UTC meeting: RESOLUTION TO RESTORE AN ACCESS PATH TO THE TOWN LAKE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD WHEREAS the original access from Barton Springs Road (east of Robert E. Lee Road) to the Town Lake Trail was functional and preferred by local cyclists, and WHEREAS the new approach from Barton Springs Road (east of Robert E. Lee Road) to the Town Lake Trail is potentially dangerous and unlikely to be used due to the sharpness of the turn and placement of utility poles, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to restore the original access from the north sidewalk of Barton Springs Road (east of Robert E. Lee Road) to the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. 4. PROPOSAL FOR SHARROWS ON GUADALUPE AND LAVACA STREETS DOWNTOWN Stuart Werbner reported that he had contacted James McKay, a traffic engineer in Denver. He had received some documents about the use of sharrows in Denver, but the issue of sharrows in lanes which are less than 15 feet wide was not addressed. The subcommittee agreed to place the issue on the agenda for the next subcommittee meeting. 5. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE PEDESTRIAN PLAN WITH REGARD TO PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY AND SIDEWALK EASEMENTS Tommy Eden reported that he had contacted Linda DuPriest, who had referred him to Janet Howard. Janet Howard had been working on an implementation plan for the Pedestrian Plan, and she had expressed an interest in bringing amendments to the Pedestrian Plan to the City Council at the same time that the implementation plan was being presented. Tommy Eden agreed to contact Janet Howard to make sure she was aware of the policy requiring that sidewalks and bicycle facilities be included in major road reconstruction and major rehabilitation projects. 6. REQUEST TO REMOVE SIGNS WHICH PROHIBIT PEDESTRIANS FROM CROSSING TXDOT HIGHWAYS Tommy Eden reported that he had not yet contacted Richard Kroger regarding this issue. 7. DISCUSSION ABOUT SETTING PRIORITIES FOR NEW BICYCLE LANES Mike Dahmus reported that he had a new spreadsheet for bicycle lane priorities, but he needed to add a field for the weight of each of the criteria. Mike Dahmus agreed to post a link to his spreadsheet on the austin-bikes email discussion group. 8. DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPOSED BICYCLE LANES ON E. 51ST STREET Tommy Eden reported that Linda DuPriest had indicated that city staff was considering the extension of bicycle lanes for E. 51st Street in conjunction with a roadway project. 9. DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES FOR THE INTERCHANGE OF MOPAC AND US 183 The subcommittee decided to give up on this issue.