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WVDOH proposed Two-Way Left Turn Lane (TWLTL) on Mon Blvd. between Boyers Av. and Patteson Dr.
by Frank Gmeindl 09 Jan '13

09 Jan '13

Dear Mr. Austin: The Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board is disappointed that the WVDOH apparently did not consider bicyclists in their proposed Mon Blvd. TWLTL and recommends that the MPO encourage the WVDOH to amend their proposal to include (in accordance with the 2009 MUTCD and the 2011 AASHTO Guidelines for the Development of Bicycle Facilities) · a minimum 8-foot wide bicycle-climbing lane on the uphill side of Mon Blvd. between Boyers Av. and Patteson Dr.; · R4-11 Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs every 250 feet on the downhill side, and · an 8-foot wide smooth paved shoulder on the downhill side. The WVDOH proposed Mon Blvd. TWLTL conflicts with the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan that the WVDOH helped to create. WVDOH proposes to narrow the shoulders to 4-feet. Narrowing the uphill shoulder to 4-feet will preclude making it a bicycle-climbing lane. The Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan Engineering Action #17 is to install a bicycle-climbing lane on Monongahela Boulevard between Boyers Avenue and Patteson Drive. AASHTO recommends a minimum 5-foot width for bike lanes or wider when the bicycle lane is adjacent to high-speed motor traffic. The proposed TWLTL will likely increase average motor vehicle speed. Narrowing the shoulders and increasing the speed in the travel lanes will increase risk to bicyclists and pedestrians who still choose to use the shoulders. Many will avoid this route altogether due to safety concerns. The proposed TWLTL will increase safety for Type A[i] cyclists if motor vehicle speed remains the same or decreases. The proposed TWLTL will increase Type A cyclist safety and convenience for the same reasons that the TWLTL would increase safety for motorists. Unfortunately, most Morgantown area cyclists are Type B[ii] cyclists that use the shoulders rather than the travel lanes. Narrowing the shoulders on either side of Mon Blvd. can be expected to discourage the few Type B cyclists that use them now. Knowing that they have the same right to the travel lanes as motorists, Type A cyclists ride in the rightmost travel lane that serves their destination. However, even among Type A cyclists, few will ride the travel lane up the hill on Mon Blvd. because they are scared by motor vehicles passing them closely at high speeds. Even Type A cyclists can be expected to prefer a bicycle-climbing lane on the uphill side of Mon Blvd. More Type A cyclists and perhaps even some Type B cyclists could be expected to use the downhill travel lanes if R4-11 Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs were erected in the corridor but most Type B cyclists would still prefer a wide smooth paved shoulder despite the increased risks of right hook, left cross and drive out crashes (especially at Chipps Hollow where a cyclist could easily be travelling in excess of 40 mph) at crossings. Therefore, the Bicycle Board recommends that the downhill shoulder of Mon Blvd. be smoothly paved to a width of 8-feet but NOT marked as a bike lane and that R4-11 signs be erected every 250-feet along the downhill side of Mon Blvd. Last year, the wide uphill shoulder was smoothly paved. All that remains is to stripe it as a bike lane. A bicycle-climbing lane on the uphill shoulder: · would provide an attractive bicycle route from Star City to Evansdale, a destination for many Morgantown area students and cyclists; · would provide an important connection from the Mon River Trail to Evansdale; · could be part of an important bicycle corridor connecting the 916-bed Domain and the 336-bed University Commons student apartment complexes to Morgantown so some of those 1,200 students could ride their bikes instead of driving their cars; · would be an essential part of a bicycle corridor from the University Town Centre to Mileground when Bicycle Plan Action Engineering #18 bicycle lane on both sides of WV 705 from Willowdale Road to Mileground Road is completed so some of the tens of thousands of cars that travel that corridor most days could be left at home when their users choose to bike. Bicycle lanes are appropriate on roadways with speeds in excess of 25 mph and with few driveways and intersections. Bicyclists traveling in the travel lanes are more visible to motorists merging onto the roadway from businesses such as the Texas Roadhouse and from intersections including Canfield Av. and Saratoga Av. however since Type B and C cyclists will not use the roadway, the bicycle-climbing lane must maximize cyclist’s visibility. Current sightlines are excellent however at a minimum, signage should be placed at these crossings to alert merging motorists that they’re crossing a bike lane and to watch for bicyclists. In addition to contradicting the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, the WVDOH proposed Mon Blvd. TWLTL conflicts with the 2040 LRTP that WVDOH also helped to create. Tier 1 project #40 Regional Bikeway Plan Implementation Program includes projects from the Greater Morgantown Bicycle plan. The WVDOH proposed Mon Blvd. TWLTL violates the Monongalia County and Morgantown Complete Streets Policies. The proposed TWLTL will make Mon Blvd. more dangerous to pedestrians and Type B cyclists. In summary, Monongalia County and the City of Morgantown are striving to achieve a modern multi-modal transportation system. The proposed TWLTL project fails to consider the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. The Bicycle Board requests you to encourage the WVDOH to amend their proposal to include (in accordance with the 2009 MUTCD and the 2011 AASHTO Guidelines for the Development of Bicycle Facilities) · a minimum 8-foot wide bicycle-climbing lane on the uphill side of Mon Blvd. between Boyers Av. and Patteson Dr. and · R4-11 Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs every 250 feet on the downhill side · an 8-foot wide smooth paved shoulder on the downhill side. If the WVDOH will not make these amendments to their proposal, the Bicycle Board requests that the MPO deny the WVDOH proposal to amend the TIP to add the proposed TWLTL project. As you know, Morgantown achieved Bronze Level recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community last year. The City intends to retain the award and even try for a Silver award in 2015 (see Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan Encouragement Action #16). The WVDOH TWLTL as proposed is a step backward for a bicycle friendly community. Frank Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as vehicles [i] Type A cyclists, according to AASHTO are “advanced or experienced riders that are generally using their bicycles as they would a motor vehicle. They are riding for convenience and speed and want direct access to destinations with a minimum of detour or delay. They are typically comfortable riding with motor vehicle traffic however, they need sufficient operating space on the traveled way or shoulder to eliminate the need for either themselves or a passing motor vehicle to shift position”. [ii] Type B cyclists, according to AASHTO are “basic or less confident adult riders that may also be using their bicycles for transportation purposes, e.g., to get to the store or to visit friends, but prefer to avoid roads with fast and busy motor vehicle traffic unless there is ample roadway width to allow easy overtaking by faster motor vehicles. Thus, basic riders are comfortable riding on neighborhood streets and shared use paths and prefer designated facilities such as bike lanes of wide shoulder lanes on busier streets”.

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Mon Blvd. turn lane
by Frank Gmeindl 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

Bicycle Board Members, At Thursday's BB meeting, I said I'd write a letter to WVDOH through Bill Austin on the WVDOH proposed TWLTL on Mon Blvd. between Boyers Av. and Patteson Dr. Attached is that letter. So that I will have your input in time to do something with it before next Thursday's MPO CAC meeting, by Wednesday, please tell me what you think of the letter or use Track Changes and Comments to change it and return it to me. Frank

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Fwd: Agenda for today's Pedestrian Safety Board meeting
by Frank Gmeindl 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

FYI, attached is the Pedestrian Safety Board's letter regarding the Mon Blvd. turn lane. Begin forwarded message: > From: "Christiaan Abildso" <Christiaan.Abildso(a)mail.wvu.edu> > Date: January 7, 2013 11:00:51 PM EST > To: "Maria Smith" <mariasmith(a)busride.org>, "Damien Davis" <ddavis(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, "Don Spencer" <dspencer36(a)comcast.net>, "Mary Gutmann" <maryg1010(a)comcast.net>, "Mike Breiding" <mike(a)EpicRoadTrips.us>, "George Lilley" <mgranlil(a)frontier.com>, "Dwight Harshbarger" <dwight.harshbarger(a)gmail.com>, "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl(a)gmail.com>, "Michael Simms" <michael.d.simms(a)gmail.com>, "Michael Graham" <mwgraham11(a)gmail.com>, "Sarah Bias" <sarahbias(a)gmail.com>, "Angela Wiley" <wileya120(a)gmail.com>, "Matt Cross" <crossnyc(a)hotmail.com>, "James Welty" <jameswelty(a)hotmail.com>, "Debbie Cain" <dcain(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Ilana Chertok" <ichertok(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Martha Summers" <msummers(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Bob Anderson" <randerson(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Tom Bias" <tbias(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Bill Reger-Nash" <wreger(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, "Jeremy Harris" <jeremy(a)itmindshare.com>, "Bill Austin" <baustin(a)labyrinth.net>, "Angela Campbell" <Angela.Campbell(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Hugh Kierig" <Hugh.Kierig(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Jim Rye" <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Joshua Woods" <Joshua.Woods(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Margaret Stout" <Margaret.Stout(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Maria Brann" <Maria.Brann(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Mark Tinsley" <Mark.Tinsley(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Roy Nutter" <Roy.Nutter(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Stanley Cohen" <Stanley.Cohen(a)mail.wvu.edu>, "Courtney Pawlak" <cpawlak(a)mix.wvu.edu>, "David Small" <dsmall1(a)mix.wvu.edu>, "Melody Thomas" <mthoma29(a)mix.wvu.edu>, "Ella Belling" <ella(a)montrails.org>, "Claire Chantler" <cchantler(a)nwvcil.org>, "Jan Derry" <jderry(a)nwvcil.org>, "Lauren Frederick" <volunteer(a)nwvcil.org>, "Nick Hein" <director(a)positivespin.org>, "Regina Mayolo" <reginam(a)verizon.net>, "Jonathan Rosenbaum" <jr(a)wvcompletestreets.org>, "Kevin Leyden" <kleyden(a)wvu.edu>, "Dan Harris" <harrisda(a)wvuhealthcare.com>, "Jimmie Simmons" <Jsimmons2642(a)yahoo.com>, "Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board" <walkmgw(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: Agenda for today's Pedestrian Safety Board meeting > > All - > Please find attached a draft letter regarding the Mon Blvd project. Please provide comments/edits to me by Thursday morning so that I may present the letter at the MPO CAC meeting that evening. > Best, > Christiaan > > >>> On 1/7/2013 at 10:54 AM, <walkmgw(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > All - > Please find the agenda for today's meeting and supporting material (information about upcoming Crossroads meeting and the proposed project on Mon Blvd) attached. See you at 4:30 at the public safety building. Looking forward to a lively discussion. > See you soon. > Christiaan > > Walk more, safely > > Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board > Christiaan Abildso, Chair > Bill Reger-Nash, Vice Chair > http://www.morgantownwv.gov/government/advisory-boards/pedestrian-safety-bo…

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Meeting and aftermath
by Gunnar Shogren 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

Good day everyone and welcome to another week! Thanks to everyone that came to the meeting. I thought it went well. Was quite pleased that we could accommodate Bill's time constraint and have him talk to us about the proposed DOH project on Mon Blvd, most enlightening it was. Please do take the time if you can and offer Frank some advise/critique/help on his letter. Jing certainly is enthusiastic and I'm sure we'll be seeing more from his mapping project and if anyone wants to be on the mapping committee please contact myself, Jing or Frank. Hopefully Frank and others can get a budget request together in time. I'm fairly certain it's already happening, but again, any help that you'd like to give to Frank and that group would be appreciated. I do know that Frank, myself and Jeff Mikorski chatted regarding that some last Friday and it was well received. So how are those projects coming along? Just try and tick a few things off here and there so that you'll have something to report for the February meeting. That would be swell. :) And speaking of that, Jonathan, care to share w/ us what happened at the Positive Spin meeting Friday? I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting to hear how that went down. Okay, I think that's enough for now. Take care and thanks for being involved w/ the Morgantown Bike Board, gunnar. #actingchair Strange letter huh? Well I just wanting to get something out, touch base, etc., so here it is...

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The SRTS Call-In Show Webinar
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

Does anyone have questions they want submitted to this webinar? "Here’s how it works. You register for the Webinar in advance. You submit a question about your most formidable SRTS obstacles and barriers through the registration page, or by emailing mgulley(a)americawalks.org. You attend the Webinar and listen as the experts grapple with the unique problems facing your SRTS program and others around the country. You ask questions, you get answers. Simple." https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/519304625 -Jonathan

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Fwd: January 10 CAC Meeting Agenda
by Frank Gmeindl 04 Jan '13

04 Jan '13

The attached agenda contains more info about the Mon Blvd TWLTL. If you have any thoughts that you'd like me to include in the letter that Bill Austin suggested we write to the WVDOH thru him on this, please send them to me. I hope to get the letter done and sent to your for review and approval by next Wednesday in time to deliver it to the MPO CAC at next Thursday's CAC meeting. Frank Begin forwarded message: > From: "Bill Austin" <baustin(a)labyrinth.net> > Date: January 4, 2013 11:37:02 AM EST > To: <sawdustinc(a)comcast.net>, "'Frank Gmeindl'" <fgmeindl(a)gmail.com>, "'Christiaan Abildso'" <cabildso(a)yahoo.com>, "'Maria Smith'" <MariaSmith(a)busride.org>, <jegdeg(a)comcast.net>, <Roy.Nutter(a)mail.wvu.edu>, <edyoucater58(a)yahoo.com>, "'John E. Sneckenberger'" <jsnecken(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: "'Jing Zhang '" <tranplan(a)labyrinth.net> > Subject: January 10 CAC Meeting Agenda > > CAC Members, > > Happy New Year! Please find attached the agenda for the January 10th CAC Meeting. > > I look forward to seeing you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I may be of assistance. > > Sincerely, > > Bill Austin, AICP > Executive Director > Morgantown Monongalia MPO > 82 Hart Field Road Ste. 105 > Morgantown, WVA 26505 > 304-291-9571 > 304-692-7225 Mobile > “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.” -Mark Twain > “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” -Marilyn Monroe > >

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January meeting. Agenda for your consideration
by Gunnar Shogren 03 Jan '13

03 Jan '13

Good night all. If there's something wrong or missing let me know and I'll change it before the meeting. Attached are the files for the Proposed Budget, December minutes and the agenda, though it is also right here as well. And you should take a look at the somewhat recent thread with the subject "Proposed DOH work on Mon Boulevard". Agenda follows- ***************** January Bike Board Meeting January 3, 2012 6:30pm - Morgantown Public Safety Building, Training room Open Action Items 124 - Andrew: Discuss the possibility of WVU becoming a Bicycle Friendly University with the SGA president and talk to WVU Cycling about serving on BB. 186 - Frank: Check with Damien on outcome of the DOH mtg about BFC signs 188 - Chip: Send BFB application to Gunnar for posting on website 189 - Gunnar: Talk to Colin and Christiaan to figure out what helpers should be listed on ‘singletrack’ project #3 190 - Frank and Jing: Let Gunnar know if they can present Vision 2000 information at the January meeting 191 - Traci: Invite someone from the Morgantown Municipal Green Team to a BB meeting and find out if they’re interested in having an ex-officio position on the BB 192 - Frank: Compile exit plan, list of contacts that are important for BB chair, which contacts he would still like to communicate with Agenda- * Schmooze Time * Last minute agenda items * Approve last month's minutes * Action Items * Ripe Bananas * Report from Projects Updates from Project leaders * Walk/Bike/Transit Map Ideas and suggestions on the bike part of the map Route classification, bike rack locations * Proposed Budget Calendar Plan to get a FY2013-2014 budget request to Terrence ASAP before Jan. 31 * Proposed DOH Work on Mon Boulevard Can we do better and what else could $$ be spent on? * Nominate and vote for a new chair * Review meeting * Adjourn Ongoing Projects- 1. Bike racks at schools Jonathan, Alice, Marilyn 2. Bicycle safety programs at schools, teaching safety and Safe Routes to School Andrew, Frank 3. Create singletrack trails in city Colin, Andrew, Alice, Mark Wise, Ella Belling 4. Complete parking inventory, identify parking gaps Derek, Chet, Jing, Damien 5. Update SLM and STR sign locations Derek, Chet, Jing, Damien, Emily 6. Identify signs, markings, facilities on BikeMorgantown.com Derek, Chet, Jing, Damien, Traci 7. Other GIS ideas Derek, Chet, Jing, Damien 8. Show WVU bike racks on WVU google map of campus Traci 9. Represent BB on Connecting Communities Butch, Jonathan, Bill (liason) 10. Outreach to International community on bicycling Jing, Colin, Butch 11. White paper to recommend bike friendly elements in Evansdale & Hospital redevelopment Traci, Jonathan, Chip 12. Get all major employers rated Bicycle Friendly Businesses Chip, Jonathan, Emily 13. Keep Positive Spin open Jonathan, Butch, Emily, Colin 14. Implement Complete Streets action in Bicycle Plan Damien, Frank 15. Write grants (HISP, etc.) Jeff Mikorski, Butch, Traci 17. Identify locations for installment of Bike Friendly Community Signs Damien, Traci 18. Build Stakeholder involvement Emily ********************

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Re: [Bikeboard] Jan. meeting!
by Derek Springston 03 Jan '13

03 Jan '13

Gunnar and all, My wife's family just found out late last night that they're going to take her grandfather off of life support today, so she's traveling to Beckley today and won't be back in town until late, which means I need to pick Simon up from daycare and watch him tonight. I could still come to the meeting with him, but have a feeling we'd be more distracting than beneficial. Should I still attend? ~Derek On Wed, Jan 2, 2013 at 2:14 PM, Derek Springston <dspringston(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Gunnar, > I'll be at the meeting tomorrow night. > ~Derek > > > On Fri, Dec 28, 2012 at 1:57 PM, Gunnar Shogren <gshogren(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Another month, >> >> Another meeting! >> Next Thursday, Jan. 3rd. >> >> Who's planning on coming? Who's definitely not going to be there? >> Who wants something added to the agenda? >> >> There. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikeboard mailing list >> Bikeboard(a)bikemorgantown.com >> http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >> > > > > -- > *Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha* > > *“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the > future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells* > -- *Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha* *“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells*

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Jan. meeting!
by Gunnar Shogren 02 Jan '13

02 Jan '13

Another month, Another meeting! Next Thursday, Jan. 3rd. Who's planning on coming? Who's definitely not going to be there? Who wants something added to the agenda? There.

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December Minutes
by Traci Liebig 31 Dec '12

31 Dec '12

Hi All, December minutes attached. Andrew Walker-- please review Agenda Item 6 Project #2. I had so many notes on this that I can't decipher which project it was you wanted to work with. If you clarify, I can update prior to the meeting. Thanks and Happy New Year! Traci

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