Cyclists made a strong showing at Tuesday night's Pedestrian Safety Board (PSB) meeting with JonathanR, KellyW, DonD, RonJ, FranT, Don Spencer and me attending. Overall, the turnout was huge with approximately 30 participants.

Scott Wright and Scott Copen from MUB described the project. It's still not totally defined and they seemed open to ideas. Since they have to submit their application for the stimulus money within the next month or so they'll need any ideas ASAP.

Tentative Dates:
North closed entire year from Jan. 2010 - Dec. 2010 (Deckers to Star City Sewage Plant)
South closed entire year from Jan. 2011 - Dec. 2011 (Deckers to Water Treatment Plant)

Later in the discussion though, they indicated that they could complete the north part in 6 months. They also mentioned that they could break the North part into 2 parts: 1) Deckers to Sixth Street and 2) from Sixth Street to Star City Sewage Plant.

Plans for Bicyclists:
They admitted that they had no plans for handling pedestrians and cyclists and see that as somebody else's job. They said the south end should be easier to provide alternative routes but for the North part, they said they were hesitant about putting pedestrians and cyclists on paths or roads citing various issues such as private property and dangers presented by autos on Water Street and Beechurst but none of those issues seemed insurmountable. Neither the police department representative nor the BOPARC director presented any ideas.

Project Description:
The overall project cost is $68M. The sewer pipe will be all underground. From Walnut Street to Knapp Hall it will go right under the trail. Otherwise, it will be adjacent to the trail. A new water pipe will run from the Water Treatment Plant to Knapp Hall.

They had considered putting the sewer pipe in the river or running it under Beechurst but dismissed both options because they said they would be too expensive.

One reason they're doing this project is to get all combined storm water and sewage to the sewage treatment plant. Now, when it rains hard enough, they must allow diluted sewage to overflow into the river. When asked about separating the storm water from the sewage at the source which could eliminate the need for the rail trail sewer pipe, they said that would be too expensive.

Trail User Benefits:
End result positives for trail users will be that the trail will be widened to 12 feet, there will be kick-outs where people can get out of the way, and there will be rain gardens in 9 locations and improved drainage. Part of the overall project also includes reducing the sewage plant odor.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Action:
Organized pedestrians and cyclists can affect the direction of this project. At the meeting, the PSB presented a pretty comprehensive list of projects that focus on Beechurst and involve improving sidewalks, installing crosswalks and pedestrian actuated signals as well as a shuttle bus. In the next couple weeks, they're going to make formal recommendations to the Traffic Commission, City Council and MUB.

My previous messages on this subject show that the Traffic Commission approved the Bicycle Board's recommendation for the state to install Share the Road signs all the way from South University Avenue out to the Star City Bridge and to install a bike lane between Eighth Street and Evansdale drive. The Traffic Commission held in abeyance pending the outcome of last night's meeting, the Bicycle Board's recommendations to require MUB to provide bicyclist detours as near as reasonable to the trail and to do the work in sections.

What's next:
MUB will conduct 3 public hearings (probably in Council Chambers, their web site doesn't say)

                Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 3:00 PM

                Monday, June 15, 2009 at 6:30 PM

                Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 3:00 PM

before MUB reports back to the City Council votes on July 21.

Thanks to Jonathan for collaborating with me to create these notes!

Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

On 6/4/2009 10:09 AM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:

Monday, 8-June 4:00 PM at the Morgantown Public Safety Center (corner Spruce & Walnut diagonally across from Blue Moose) representatives of BOPARC and MUB will attend the regularly scheduled Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board meeting to discuss MUB plans to close the rail trail to upgrade the water treatment system and install a new sewer pipe. The meeting is open to the public.

At last night's Traffic Commission meeting, I learned that City Council directed BOPARC to work with the relevant parties to develop a plan. Perhaps Monday's meeting is one step that BOPARC is taking to make that plan. To my knowledge, BOPARC has not contacted anyone on the Bicycle Board. (Remember the trail stripe?)

At last night's Traffic Commission meeting, the Bicycle Board presented the following recommendations:

Establish cycling detours around the trail but as close to the trail as reasonable.

Complete the work in sections to minimize the impact on cyclists and businesses.

At least 6 months before the trail is closed:

Install “Share the Road” and “Bike Route” signs every 250 feet on Beechurst Ave., Mon Blvd., Don Knotts Blvd. and University Ave.

Install a bike lane going up the hill on Mon Blvd. between Eighth St. and Evansdale Drive. Keep the bike lane free of debris. The current shoulder is not properly paved and it certainly is not clean.

The Traffic Commission unanimously voted to recommend to the City that the City request the WVDOH to implement recommendations 3 and 4 ASAP.

(The way has already been somewhat cleared for implementing Share the Road signs since the WVDOH has already said that they will install them at their expense. In May 2008, the DOH approved the Share the Road signs on Mon Blvd and Don Knotts Blvd. as well as other Bicycle Board recommended Morgantown-area state-maintained roads with speed limits at or above 40 mph. However, the signs weren't installed because they were part of a greater package that included Shared Lane Markings and Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs that the DOH also approved in May 2008 but then reconsidered in October 2008 because the new Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices that defines SLMs and BMUFL signs hasn't been adopted by the state yet. The Share the Road signs was the WVDOH's idea in the first place so getting them to install them should not be difficult if they are requested as a separate stand-alone project.)

At last night's Traffic Commission meeting, some of the commissioners were not aware of MUBs plan to close the trail. One commissioner, John Martis, vehemently objected to closing the trail and insisted that MUB accomplish the work without closing the trail. He will attend Monday's meeting. The Traffic Commission decided to hold Bicycle Board recommendations 1 and 2 in abeyance until after Monday's meeting.

On July 16, City Council will decide whether to accept BOPARC's plan.
On July 21, City Council will make its final decision on whether to approve MUB's project.

Frank Gmeindl
Chariman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles - John Forester, Effective Cycling