Frank,
Thank you for your recommendations in regard to the Unified Planning Work Program. In general the purpose of the request to the Citizens Advisory Committee and the MPO’s other committees was to identify specific projects that MPO staff could undertake during the upcoming fiscal year. Please find my response to the concerns you raised below:
1) In regard to the traffic count program as discussed last night we are investigating the feasibility of counting cyclists as part of the normal count program with the consultants performing the counts for us.
2) As far as travel time studies go it is very difficult to perform studies for cyclists given that ridership periods vary greatly and cyclists have a wide variety of capabilities-one cyclist may have to walk up a hill another cyclist may be able to climb. Also, cyclists have different trip purposes, some are intent on traveling as quickly and efficiently as possible while other trips are recreational in purpose with little emphasis on travel speed, in this case measuring travel time is not useful. This is clearly evident on the Rail Trail. Developing a suitable methodology for this type of measurement is a challenge. I am unaware of a suitable methodology for disaggregating these concerns. If the Board would like to suggest one particular corridor for this type of study along with a suitable methodology we can consider it. However, I would caution that it should be feasible to improve any project area suggested for study, meaning that the improvement would be accomplished through either an Enhancement grant or as part of a planned improvement by DOH or the City. It is highly unlikely either agency will consider using imminent domain for cycling improvements.
3) In regard to getting a commitment for training from the Morgantown Police Department-MPO staff certainly supports this goal but as an independent agency we have even less leverage with the Police Department than the Traffic Commission and the Bicycle Board. We will be happy to assist in this effort as identified in the UPWP.
4) The MPO’s mapping effort is directly linked to the update of the long range transportation plan (LRTP). MPO staff is already assisting the Bicycle Board in this effort which should be formally incorporated into the MPO’s Plan to be updated in 2012. Once the MPO has an identified Bicycle element fully included in the LRTP then we will be better able to seek funding for identified projects.
5) In regard to Congestion Management Strategies (CMS). Just to make sure you fully understand how broad the concept as typically used in the profession is, CMS can refer to anything from the use of informational signs that inform motorists of congested conditions in real time to van pools. The MPO’s Transportation Demand Management effort is a broad based attempt to reduce congestion by a variety of methods including enhancing bicycle and pedestrian access it also includes facilitating automobile travel as well as transit. While we understand the strategy of allowing congestion to drive the public to utilizing other modes, the MPO’s mandate is to address the needs of the entire traveling public, not favoring one mode or set of modes over the other. For example, if we simply allow congestion to increase hoping people will switch to bikes or walking we are not only negatively impacting single occupant vehicles (SOV’s) we are also negatively impacting transit operations which are even more sensitive to travel time than SOV’s. Creating a balanced approach to this issue is a difficult task. We must also think of the practicality of implementing these strategies and not all of the MPO’s funding agencies are willing to move to the type of approach suggested in your email.
Finally, I will pass on the comment about the pavement on Collins Ferry Road to DOH Maintenance to see if they can address the issue. I look forward to seeing you tonight. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I may be of assistance.
Regards,
Bill Austin, AICP
Executive Director
Morgantown Monongalia MPO
82 Hart Field Road Ste. 105
Morgantown, WVA 26505
304-291-9571
304-692-7225 Mobile
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
ANDY WARHOL,
From: Frank Gmeindl [mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 10:29 PM
To: Bill Austin
Cc: Morgantown Bike Board; Danielle Williams; Christiaan Abildso; Roy Nutter
Subject: MPO Unified Planning Work Program
Bill,
In response to your request for suggested changes to the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the Bicycle Board offers the following recommendations:
In general, for the revised plan, we recommend more specific commitment to integrating bicycling into the transportation system.
Some examples;
1. The UPWP section entitled, Focus for Fiscal Year 2011, 4th paragraph, of the plan says, "Other major projects for the MPO will be the development of an ongoing traffic count database."
Recommendation: Count bicycles and include them in the database. (Traditionally traffic counts have ignored bicycles.)
2. The same paragraph also says, "It is anticipated that both the traffic counts and the travel time studies will be performed at a limited set of locations...".
Recommendation: Include bicycles in the studies. Focus on locations that could have significantly increased bicycle use and reduced motor use. For example, the roads between Campuses including University Av., Beechurst Av., Monongahela Blvd., Willowdale Rd., Stewart St. Jones Av. and the rail-trail. Count the bikes. Create a baseline. Design experiments. Take data to see how experiments change bicycle use. (This recommendation also applies to UPWP section II-A-1 Traffic Counts.)
3. The section entitled, SAFETEA-LU Planning Factors, subsection 2. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users, first paragraph says, "...working with local emergency service providers on transportation safety education when applicable."
Recommendation: Get commitment from Morgantown Police to complete International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) training as currently taken annually by WVU bicycle police or get them to take one of the 7 other police training courses that the Bicycle Board recommended to the Morgantown police at the December 2, 2009 Traffic Commission meeting.
4. The section entitled, II-A-10 Mapping
Recommendation: Incorporate and continue to develop the Morgantown Bike Route map and develop greater Morgantown Bike Route maps. Classify all Morgantown area roads in terms of bicycling level of service.
5. The section entitled, II-B-17 Congestion Management Strategies
Recommendation: Seriously develop strategies that get people out of cars and onto bikes and their feet, especially where the congestion is highest: between and near campuses. Understand origins and destinations within that area. Identify obstacles to bicycling and walking. Identify attractions to driving. Make walking bicycling and walking more attractive. Make driving less attractive. (IMHO, we have always been doing the opposite.)
Since the MPO was created, it has always treated "bike-ped" separately from motorized transportation and transit. Consequently, most if not all of the built projects make cycling worse. Integrating bicycling and walking with other transportation modes, especially in the 5-mile cross section that constitutes Morgantown could optimize the transportation system for all users and make Morgantown a better place to live as well as a better place to bicycle.
Finally, at a Bicycle Board Mapping Team meeting we discussed improving Collins Ferry Rd. from the rail trail to the pavement near Mylan. The improvement we discussed is just to make the surface rideable by the average cyclists. This could be done by improving drainage in one or two spots that are currently quagmires, filling the gullies in the road bed and rolling it so that it's surface would be similar to the gravel parts of the rail trail. We also suggested that this could be a joint NETL, Mylan, City project using volunteer labor from NETL and Mylan. Danielle suggested that we submit this recommendation to you along with the above recommendations.
We stand ready to discuss any of these with you.
Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
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