1 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,760 Okay, done speaking. 2 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:17,320 Your video stopped. Your microphone is unmuted. 3 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,400 I don't know what it's doing. 4 00:01:26,799 --> 00:01:31,280 » I think it should be unmuted. Give it a thought. 5 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:45,960 I don't know what to do. Samsung is speaking. 6 00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:05,079 Yes, Samsung, we can hear you. 7 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:19,920 Done speaking. Your microphone is unmuted. Your video 8 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,959 is stopped. I don't know what this is doing. 9 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,760 done speaking. 10 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,840 testing. 11 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,920 We hear you. 12 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:55,639 a lot of people tuned into this 13 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,280 bigger. Are you going to start the meeting? 14 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:12,280 » I am. I'm waiting for one more minute. >> Okay. 15 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:25,560 In case anyone has the overunder, we're waiting to get to 40. 16 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:36,560 » How much do we have to bet? All 17 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:40,639 right, we're going to get started. So, welcome everyone. Uh, I'm Vic Duca. I'm 18 00:07:39,199 --> 00:07:46,080 a member of the Maplewood Township Committee. And, um, I chair the 19 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:51,280 engineering, public works, and planning committee, which is, um, the committee 20 00:07:48,479 --> 00:07:58,000 that will be discussing and working on this, uh, potential bike lane project. 21 00:07:54,800 --> 00:08:04,720 Um, I'm going to ask Mayor Adams if she'd like to say hello. 22 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:10,639 » Thank you, Vic. Hi everybody. Um, as Vic said, I'm Nancy Adams. I'm serving as 23 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:15,280 mayor right now of Maplewood on chair of the township committee. Um, and a member 24 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:22,960 of engineering public works and planning subcommittee. So, we've been talking a 25 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:29,120 lot about pedestrian safety and traffic calming for all the nine years I've been 26 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:33,839 on the governing body so far. So, um, this is yet another iteration. So, we 27 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:39,760 won't um I'm going to let Vic run the meeting and um because it's his his 28 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:45,279 group and he'll gather information and he'll explain the process and what we 29 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:49,440 will and won't do at this meeting, for example. But, um thanks for thanks for 30 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:54,560 being here and taking the time out of your evening. Thanks. Thanks, Vic. 31 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:58,560 » Thank you, mayor. Um just want to recognize we have the deputy mayor on, 32 00:08:56,399 --> 00:09:05,279 Malia Herman. Looks like she's on the phone. I know. Um, Township Committee 33 00:09:01,839 --> 00:09:09,600 woman, uh, Deb Engel is joining us and, uh, Township Committeeman Dean Daffis is 34 00:09:07,839 --> 00:09:14,000 on vacation, otherwise he'd be on here, too. So, uh, even though we have a 35 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:19,440 majority, this is not a public, uh, meeting where, uh, action will be taken. 36 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:24,399 This is a community meeting, but, um, we have a majority of the township here. 37 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:29,120 I'm going to run through the agenda and explain to you what we're going to 38 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:33,760 be doing here. So, here we are. Um, I'll we're doing 39 00:09:31,839 --> 00:09:38,800 the welcome, the introduction. I'll talk about the meeting format and the goals 40 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:42,720 in a bit. Then, our township engineer will just talk briefly about complete 41 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:49,360 streets and what we're doing here in Maplewood to um approach street design. 42 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:54,800 Uh, our business administrator, Weary, will talk about the bike network 43 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:58,720 concept. Um, and then, uh, Mr. Kitner will be coming back to introduce our 44 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:02,399 consultants and talk a little bit about that process and then we'll hear from 45 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:07,920 our consultants. They were the they'll be the ones focusing on the project uh 46 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:13,760 with maps and what have you. Then we'll do questions and answers and we'll have 47 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:20,320 some closing remarks. Um we haven't set a time limit here, but let's uh try to 48 00:10:17,839 --> 00:10:27,200 end this at nine o'clock. I think an hour and a half is probably the maximum 49 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:33,519 that we can all um you know given uh to this tonight. We are going to have other 50 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:40,640 meetings. So and let me go to that um back here to the agenda. So let's just 51 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:45,839 talk about the meeting format. So um you know again keep please make sure you 52 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:49,360 zoom uh you have the audio out when you're here on the Zoom meeting. We're 53 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:54,320 going to ask at the point we get to questions and public comment, please 54 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:57,839 raise your hand, we'll recognize you. We're going to ask you to keep your 55 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:02,560 comments to two minutes. Questions and comments. Uh and then if if a 56 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:06,399 participant hasn't spoken, we'll recognize that person before a second 57 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:10,560 comment or a third comment from a previous speaker. We are recording this 58 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:15,200 and we'll be posting it on the township website. Um so what are our goals for 59 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:19,760 the meeting? Uh you know, basically we want to hear from you. uh this is a 60 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:23,839 community meeting. We know that there are opinions on both sides and then 61 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:28,720 there's just some people who want to find out what we're talking about. So, 62 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:34,160 we ask that you respect everyone um not get into any kind of personal back and 63 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:39,440 forth. Uh everyone's opinion is valued by the township committee and uh in our 64 00:11:37,519 --> 00:11:43,760 making our final decision, we will consider all the comments. We'll 65 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:47,360 probably hear suggestions. We'll hear concerns, I'm sure, and then we'll also 66 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:52,320 get recommendations from our professional staff and that'll be what 67 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:56,959 we are uh going to be using to make the decision. Here's the timeline. So, we're 68 00:11:54,720 --> 00:12:02,800 having our first meeting tonight and just to tell you why we broke it into 69 00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:07,279 three sections. Um although you can talk about all of this, all of Parker Avenue 70 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:11,680 if you want to tonight, we don't want to uh limit what you want to speak about, 71 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:16,320 but we're really focusing on the section between Maplewood Avenue to Prospect 72 00:12:14,079 --> 00:12:21,920 Street. And the reason being is that section is a combination of residential 73 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:27,360 uh business and institutional. And um some part of that has no parking 74 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:31,680 already. Uh other parts of it have time limited parking on one side or the 75 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:36,800 other. Then on March 10th, which is next Monday, we're going to have another 76 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:43,040 meeting and that's going to focus on the section between Prospect to Bdon Avenue 77 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:48,880 that is primarily residential except for a couple of religious institutions. Um, 78 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:52,399 and there's parking on both sides of the street for most of it. So, that's going 79 00:12:50,959 --> 00:12:57,920 to be a sort of a different conversation. And then lastly, uh, at 80 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:02,480 the end of the month of March 24th, we're going to have another, uh, meeting 81 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:07,519 and that's going to focus on Parker from Bdon Avenue to Irvington Avenue, uh, the 82 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:10,800 business district there. Again, that's a little different. It's a little tighter 83 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:15,279 there. There seems to be more on street parking. We have parking for the park 84 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:20,720 there. We also have parking for some of the businesses that are just off the 85 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:25,040 corner of Boyden and Parker. Uh on April 9th, we'll take all the information 86 00:13:23,279 --> 00:13:29,200 we're getting from these three community meetings. We'll discuss it at our 87 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:33,600 regular monthly meeting of the engineering, public works, and planning 88 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:38,880 subcommittee. And um that's a virtual meeting and that's at 8:00 in the 89 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:44,399 morning. Then uh hopefully if things go well, we will bring um the discussion to 90 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:49,920 the full township committee. That will be an in-person meeting on April 15th at 91 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:54,000 7:30 p.m. in town hall. There'll be a further opportunity for public comment 92 00:13:52,240 --> 00:14:00,720 and then the township committee will discuss the concept and any next steps. 93 00:13:57,279 --> 00:14:06,320 Um in May the township committee will approve a capital budget and but right 94 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:10,240 now the tenatively the budget includes money for bike lanes. Whether it makes 95 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:14,399 it to the end that's all going to be part of this process. Uh if the bike 96 00:14:12,639 --> 00:14:19,519 lanes are approved, we will do the construction bids, publicizing them and 97 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:23,360 awarding the contract in the summer and in the fall the construction of the bike 98 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:28,720 lanes will be completed. So we're looking to do this, if we do this, we're 99 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:32,320 looking to do this within 2025. Um just to give you some bearings as you 100 00:14:30,639 --> 00:14:35,920 talk as we talk tonight, just so you know what we're talking about because 101 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:40,079 you know sometimes our consultants are going to mention north, south, east, 102 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:45,279 west. So north is the high school side of the building. It's also the side that 103 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:50,720 has the odd street numbers on Parker. Uh south is the 7-Eleven side and uh I'm 104 00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:53,760 sorry, south is is the even street. So that's an error there. It should be 105 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:57,839 south is the even street numbers on Parker. Uh west is towards Maplewood 106 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:02,320 Avenue and the South Mountain Reservation and east is towards the 107 00:15:00,079 --> 00:15:11,360 Irvington Avenue business district and New York City. So that's um that's the 108 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:14,240 uh the plan for tonight. Um, you know, we've dealt with the introductions, 109 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:18,160 we've dealt with the welcome, the format, and the goals. And now we're 110 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:23,760 going to move to township engineer Paul Kitner, who's going to give us just a a 111 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:28,240 brief uh comments on complete street approach here. 112 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:31,120 » Committee Ben Duca, thank you. And I'll try to keep this brief. I see a lot of 113 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:36,079 people. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of questions here. So, I was asked 114 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:40,959 to talk about complete streets. I may deviate slightly from that going into a 115 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:46,079 little history, but uh I'm sure Mr. Duca will let me know if I'm going out of 116 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:53,120 bounds here. Um you know, prior to 2009, the state took a car ccentric approach 117 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:57,920 towards design and construction. I think um you know, it's not to say that 118 00:15:55,199 --> 00:16:04,160 pedestrians weren't considered, but it wasn't, you know, the same emphasis as 119 00:16:00,639 --> 00:16:09,440 it is now. It was more car centric. And what complete streets is really, it's 120 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:13,920 it's looking at people of all age groups. It's looking at all modes of of 121 00:16:12,399 --> 00:16:18,720 transportation, whether it's pedestrians, bicyclists, 122 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:23,839 public transportation, our motorists, and it's designing facilities that 123 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:30,639 accommodate all of these uses. That's really what complete streets is. Um, you 124 00:16:27,839 --> 00:16:35,759 know, I I think uh certainly when you look at a a street that's designed with 125 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:41,199 complete streets, you know, it operates more efficiently. It operates with more 126 00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:46,800 volume. It operates more people, you know, by encouraging bic bicycles, for 127 00:16:43,519 --> 00:16:51,199 example, you could uh reduce congestion. So that's that's complete streets in a 128 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:55,040 nutshell. We're going to get into it with the design and you know, Mr. Down 129 00:16:53,680 --> 00:17:00,000 is going to present this, but I'm also going to provide comments. I'll talk 130 00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:05,120 very briefly about the history. You know, in the township did incorporate a 131 00:17:02,399 --> 00:17:09,120 bike plan in 2010. I think it introduced more of those uh share the share the 132 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:14,000 lane shar. And I think most uh bicyclists found 133 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:19,839 that they weren't as effective as a dedicated lane. They prefer a dedicated 134 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:27,280 lane. In 2012, the township passed their own complete streets policy. And in 2016 135 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:31,360 and 2017, the township uh performed municipal aid grants and reconstructed 136 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:36,400 Parker Avenue. We did a number of pedestrian improvements, uh ramp 137 00:17:33,919 --> 00:17:42,640 upgrades at the intersections. That was from Irvington A to uh Prospect Street 138 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:48,240 over two municipal aid ramps. In 2018 and 2019, we incorporated a safe routts 139 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:53,440 to schools uh program where we upgraded handicap ramps and incorporated push 140 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:58,320 button ped signs. In 2020, we reconstructed the concrete refuge island 141 00:17:55,919 --> 00:18:05,360 that's located at Bdon Avenue and made it more in Parker Avenue and made it 142 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:10,320 more uh ADA compliant. And in 2023, we improved daylighting of the 143 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:16,160 intersection of Parker and Orchard Road. In 2023, we also collected data uh you 144 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:20,799 know with dynamic for Parker Avenue, including speed, speed and volume data 145 00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:26,320 to come up with the bike plan that you see before you. In 24, we installed the 146 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:30,559 four-way stop sign at Parker Bur and SuffK. So, that'll give you a little 147 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:35,919 context, a little history of of where we're at. Um why is Parker Avenue 148 00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:40,240 selected for complete streets? There's a there's a number of reasons. It really 149 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:45,360 connects a whole bunch of things. It connects the business corridor in 150 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:50,480 Irvington Avenue. It inh connects uh St. Kim uh Church, Bordon Park, the 151 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:55,919 residential along Parker Avenue and surrounding streets, Clinton Elementary 152 00:18:53,039 --> 00:19:02,160 School, the Maplewood Jewish Center, Ethical Cultural Society, Prospect 153 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:06,320 Street, CHS High School, commercial shops and buildings on West Parker, 154 00:19:03,919 --> 00:19:10,880 including the YMCA and the Gleon property, and also incorporates the 155 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:15,520 overflow parking for CHS and and the greenway, which was constructed a part 156 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:20,480 of it last year. And of course, it connects Maplewood A uh which opens the 157 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:25,120 doors for future uh bike lane improvements. I want to stress to 158 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:30,080 everyone that bicycles are legal on our streets. Um you know, they have a right 159 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:35,200 to be in our streets and that's part of the complete streets. If you take your 160 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:39,520 time and look at the bike racks at CHS, you know that there's a lot of bikes 161 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:43,760 being used. A lot of our student body are are using bicycles. And I went the 162 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:47,679 other day. There must have been 30 or 40 bikes and this is when it was cold out. 163 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:53,120 In the summertime, I'm sure that number goes up. Um, I want to stress too that 164 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:59,919 this plan is not just for bicycle safety. You know, it squeezes the travel 165 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:04,400 lanes and also performs traffic calming. It also enhances pedestrian safety by 166 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:09,520 upgrading all the crosswalk striping and signage. And I think would be a 167 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:14,720 significant improvement to the corridor. Um, 168 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:19,280 you know, I I think also I just want to mention a few things on the plan and 169 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:23,760 we'll get into this more as well with bike lanes. You know, parking is not 170 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:28,640 allowed. So, it it's it's going to have an inherent impact on parking and we 171 00:20:25,919 --> 00:20:33,440 could get into that as well. But if you look at the corridor that we're focusing 172 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:39,039 on tonight, the majority of it is no stopping and standing or is restricted 173 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:45,840 parking during school days, for example. um you know re so just looking at it 174 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:49,840 holistically uh you know I think this project itself when you look at the 175 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:53,520 projects we've done in the past this is truly 176 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:58,640 a complete streets approach that we would be implementing for this road and 177 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:03,039 you'll see it in the design uh hopefully we can answer everyone's questions with 178 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:07,440 that I think I want to I'm going to have more comments I may interject as Mr. 179 00:21:05,039 --> 00:21:11,600 Downy's giving his presentation, but at this time I'd like to pres uh present uh 180 00:21:09,919 --> 00:21:15,360 Patrick Downey. >> Uh Paul, we're going to have Patrick 181 00:21:13,919 --> 00:21:19,120 Weary speak. The other Patrick. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, that's all right, 182 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:23,200 Mr. Weary. I didn't mean to steal your spotlight there. 183 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:29,679 » Thanks, Mr. Kirner, Mr. Duca. So, I want to share the uh total bike network that 184 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:35,039 we have planned for um the town. This is obviously a concept at this stage, but 185 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:40,559 um it's a a you know can be a guiding document for how we build this out. Park 186 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:44,480 Rab being uh the first earliest um one we have where we have dedicated bike 187 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:50,960 lanes. And so I'll share that now. We'll just describe a little bit of um our 188 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:56,400 approach to this. So we first talked about this network as 189 00:21:53,679 --> 00:22:04,799 part of the 2010 plan that Mr. Kitner had referenced and it looked to connect 190 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:11,600 parks and schools uh municipal amenities uh like uh like the uh the community 191 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:16,559 center uh the train station are special improvement districts being Maplewood 192 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:20,799 Village and Springfield Avenue. And so uh we looked at the most traveled 193 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:25,919 roadways and also the size of the roadways and and our the preference 194 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:31,919 recently is to move towards dedicated bike lanes because uh they are the 195 00:22:28,159 --> 00:22:37,600 safest for the bikers and they do most for traffic coming. And so we can this a 196 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:42,080 public document that we can share but it shows what could become bike lanes 197 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:49,440 throughout Maplewood. And it also shows a legend where we we look at the width 198 00:22:44,799 --> 00:22:55,840 of roadways needed for whether it be um dedicated bike lanes with parking, just 199 00:22:52,000 --> 00:23:02,720 dedicated bikes, no parking, shar. And so we'll use this as we consider 200 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:07,760 when to um start to engage the public around future roadways for bike 201 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:13,919 improvements. That could be like Park Avenue when we're looking to do overall 202 00:23:10,559 --> 00:23:20,000 um traffic improvements to, you know, either reduce speed, manage flows, uh 203 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:23,919 increase pedestrian uh visibility, and that that's what we've been talking 204 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:28,799 about along Parker Avenue. It could be considered when we're looking to repave 205 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:33,679 a roadway. So something like Prospect Street where we expect to pave it in the 206 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:38,559 coming years. We can now start to look at Prospect Street for, you know, is it 207 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:41,919 a viable candidate for uh bike lanes and do we want to start uh engaging with the 208 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:49,039 public in the process like we're doing now for Parker. It could be to connect 209 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:54,000 to other uh infrastructure like South Orange is bringing their greenway south 210 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:59,760 to us and it's going to connect through Chesuit Field. So we have an interest 211 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:04,159 now in looking at um network roadways along possibly Dell and past the train 212 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:07,840 station. Uh so there'll be a lot of different reasons why we begin to talk 213 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:11,840 about roadways in different areas of town, but we want to have an overall map 214 00:24:09,919 --> 00:24:16,080 so that it'll guide our approach so that we we roll this out somewhat 215 00:24:13,679 --> 00:24:20,320 methodically um and with a plan for a larger bike network. 216 00:24:19,679 --> 00:24:22,960 » Thank you, Pat. >> That is all from me. 217 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:28,080 » Okay. Thank you. >> Uh Paul, um I'm going to turn it right 218 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:31,760 back to you again. Uh we talk about dynamic traffic as being our traffic 219 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:37,679 consultants. you just explain what that means and then introduce Patrick and I 220 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:43,360 don't know if John is here but just to >> Sure. So uh you know given the breadth 221 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:48,400 of their experience dynamic traffic uh has been selected as our professional 222 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:54,799 service consulting engineer for for traffic engineering. Now we work closely 223 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:59,760 with dynamic on traffic designs. we have uh you know complete oversight and uh 224 00:24:57,279 --> 00:25:04,159 work with them provide input but you know we're relying on their expertise. I 225 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:09,520 know I've known John McCormack for many many years and uh Mr. Downey has I've 226 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:13,039 known him for a number of years now too and I'm highly impressed with both of 227 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:16,039 them. They're they're very good traffic engineers. 228 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:23,760 » So Patrick Dowy, take it away. >> All righty. Thank you for that uh warm 229 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:27,600 welcome Paul and Vic. Um, once again, Pat Downey with Dynamic Traffic. Happy 230 00:25:25,679 --> 00:25:30,799 to be here. Uh, we love assisting the township with these types of projects. 231 00:25:29,039 --> 00:25:34,240 It's really our bread and butter. Uh, we're excited to start rolling this one 232 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:39,520 out. Gonna just share my screen, assuming I 233 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:43,600 have the ability to do so. There we go. Let me know if everyone can see that. 234 00:25:42,559 --> 00:25:47,279 » Yes. >> Gonna really roll this out in a two-step 235 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:51,200 process. First, I just want to go over at a high level some of the planning and 236 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:55,120 research efforts that have gone into um establishing baseline conditions that 237 00:25:52,880 --> 00:26:00,480 we're working with here and then segueing that into uh the proposed plan. 238 00:25:58,559 --> 00:26:04,400 So, um this graphic you see on the screen is really the compilation of uh 239 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:09,760 several months of effort to understand existing conditions related to traffic 240 00:26:07,039 --> 00:26:14,000 volumes, travel speeds, crash history, and parking utilization along Parker 241 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:18,559 Avenue. And I'll kind of give some quick highlights for each of those items. Uh 242 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:24,000 starting with traffic volumes, uh we're looking at about 5,000 to 7,500 vehicles 243 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:27,440 per day uh for this uh corridor. Depending on the location, it obviously 244 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:31,919 varies a little bit, but in general 5,000 or greater. Just to put that in 245 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:35,840 perspective, um some of the lower order bike facilities you might think of 246 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:40,159 shared lanes with shar sort of things are most appropriate on lower volume 247 00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:43,840 roadways. Think you know 2 to 3,000 vehicles per day or less generally. So 248 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:48,640 really a higher order than that here. Hence uh you know the proposal to 249 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:53,200 institute dedicated bike lanes. Looking at crash history um up and down 250 00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:57,200 the corridor it's obviously concentrated most at some of the major intersections 251 00:26:54,880 --> 00:27:00,799 particularly the signalized ones. Uh but I do want to note some of those have 252 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:05,279 involved cyclists and pedestrians over the years. Between the two of them uh it 253 00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:11,679 accounts for about 7% of the crashes that occurred in a 5-year period that we 254 00:27:07,279 --> 00:27:17,679 took a look at between 2019 and 2024. speeds. Uh 25 mile per hour speed limit 255 00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:21,840 with um 85th percentile speeds. That's kind of a design metric used commonly in 256 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:28,559 the industry uh to represent what you should design for. Uh is ranging higher 257 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:31,840 than that, 28 to 34. So between 3 to 10 miles per hour over that posted speed 258 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:36,400 limit, which is obviously something we want to take into consideration with any 259 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:40,080 design we put forth. Uh and then parking utilization which is illustrated by this 260 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:44,080 uh graph you see at the bottom of your screen. Um essentially we took a look at 261 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:47,840 parking utilization throughout the corridor over the course of a full 262 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:52,400 typical weekday. Uh plotted it on a graph. What you see in green which is 263 00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:57,279 most of the graph is uh essentially low parking utilization under 50% of the 264 00:27:55,039 --> 00:28:01,760 spaces being utilized. So when we look to weigh the benefits of uh bike lanes 265 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:04,880 versus potential cons of eliminating parking, this is something we always 266 00:28:03,279 --> 00:28:08,159 like to take a look at and understand. Okay, how much parking activity is 267 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:13,120 actually taking place? What's being displaced uh by a project like this? 268 00:28:11,679 --> 00:28:15,600 Uh so with that kind of setting the stage for some of the proposed 269 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:19,600 improvements, I'm going to flip to the content plan. Some of you might be 270 00:28:17,039 --> 00:28:22,640 familiar with uh we'll walk through all the pages that pertain to the section 271 00:28:21,039 --> 00:28:26,320 we're discussing tonight, but I put this one on on the screen uh just to give a 272 00:28:24,799 --> 00:28:30,640 little bit of a preview because it shows a couple different uh existing 273 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:34,880 conditions that we're working with here. >> So starting with the 274 00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:40,000 » I'm sorry. Go ahead. Could you um see if you can zoom in a little bit as much as 275 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:44,080 you can so that people can kind Yeah, that's better. 276 00:28:41,919 --> 00:28:47,279 » Appreciate it. What you see at the top of your screen is existing conditions 277 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:50,880 with the bottom of the screen being proposed. 278 00:28:49,039 --> 00:28:54,559 Uh so starting with some of the physical geometry, the cartway width varies 279 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:59,760 throughout this corridor between about 30 feet to 34 feet. Uh to the west of 280 00:28:58,399 --> 00:29:03,440 Valley Street, you can see there's no striped shoulders in the existing 281 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:08,159 condition. uh essentially 15 foot lanes in each direction. Uh to the east of 282 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:12,240 Valley Street for a lot of the corridor, you have four to five foot narrow 283 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:16,000 shoulders with uh roughly 11 foot lanes or greater for lane widths. 284 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:19,360 There's a variety of parking restrictions in place out there. Uh just 285 00:29:18,159 --> 00:29:23,600 within the section we're discussing tonight, there's at least four different 286 00:29:20,559 --> 00:29:27,760 ones, all moving towards similar goals. Um mostly to restrict parking in front 287 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:33,600 of the high school uh during school times on weekdays primarily. 288 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:37,760 Uh bikes are as Paul mentioned before legally permitted to use the roadway as 289 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:42,559 it is. Um whereas there's no formal bicycle accommodations provided. Uh 290 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:46,320 obviously no bike lanes, no shar etc. And the sidewalks themselves are not you 291 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,960 know bike width paths that can be utilized. So while there's biking 292 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:53,520 occurring, they're really not accommodated in the existing condition. 293 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:57,360 So, when we look to the proposed, um, some of the key goals are obviously to 294 00:29:54,960 --> 00:30:00,399 provide a safe bicycle facility, uh, and while we're out there, improve things 295 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:04,559 for motorists and enhance pedestrian safety as well, knowing they're always a 296 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:08,080 priority. Uh, and keeping in mind the constraints that we're working with as 297 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:11,679 well. Um, one of the key constraints uh, beholden to for this project is trying 298 00:30:09,679 --> 00:30:15,360 to work as best we can within the existing cartway of Parker Avenue. We're 299 00:30:13,919 --> 00:30:19,039 not looking to make this a major roadway widening project uh, to accommodate 300 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:22,960 every single feature. is really making the best use of the space we have 301 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:26,720 available. Uh so looking at the proposed conditions 302 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:31,120 you see illustrated on the bottom, some of the key features are consistent 5 303 00:30:28,799 --> 00:30:34,559 foot wide bike lanes uh oriented along the curb lines in both the eastbound and 304 00:30:32,799 --> 00:30:38,080 westbound directions throughout the corridor uh with one narrow exception uh 305 00:30:37,279 --> 00:30:42,480 toward [clears throat] the east end of the limits uh outside of the section 306 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,919 we're discussing today. Uh you see the individual bicycle 307 00:30:44,399 --> 00:30:49,760 symbols. I'll zoom in a little further on the proposed 308 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:53,760 are not only the bicycle and arrow symbol to denote the bike lane and the 309 00:30:51,679 --> 00:30:58,720 accompanying signage. Uh but also enhanced with the green pavement 310 00:30:55,120 --> 00:31:03,120 markings beneath them. Uh the minimum you could do the green's not required. 311 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:07,120 Uh some situations with very high bike activity get full green lanes the whole 312 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:10,640 way. We think this is a fairly appropriate middle ground approach for 313 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:13,279 this location uh where the bicycle symbols themselves are enhanced with the 314 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:17,679 green to bring a little bit more attention to the condition to motorists. 315 00:31:16,159 --> 00:31:21,360 Uh additionally through the major intersections, specifically the 316 00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:25,120 signalized intersections, we have the dashed bike lane extensions, these 317 00:31:23,039 --> 00:31:28,480 dashed green sections uh through the intersection, very similar to what you 318 00:31:27,039 --> 00:31:32,559 would think of as a white pedestrian crosswalk, but green to denote it's a 319 00:31:30,159 --> 00:31:36,159 bicycle facility. Uh so vehicles turning through the intersection are again made 320 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:39,600 aware that bicycles could be traveling through them and they should be aware of 321 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:44,399 them. Uh some additional benefits throughout 322 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:48,159 the corridor. Um part of making the uh number one introducing shoulders to the 323 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:51,200 western section where they do not exist and widening the shoulders from four to 324 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:55,679 five feet in the eastern section where they do uh is it narrows the travel 325 00:31:53,279 --> 00:31:59,919 lanes. That's generally associated with a a traffic calming improvement. with 326 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:03,519 narrower travel lanes uh come more driver attention and typically lower 327 00:32:01,679 --> 00:32:06,720 speeds. Uh additionally, all the crosswalks 328 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:10,960 throughout the corridor at a minimum would be refreshed with high visibility 329 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:14,960 crosswalk striping. Uh the example you see on your screen currently is what we 330 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:18,640 call the ladder uh style. That's one of the high visibility options and there 331 00:32:16,399 --> 00:32:22,399 are some other ones. And there are some additional crosswalks being added to 332 00:32:20,159 --> 00:32:26,559 some of the unsalized intersections uh that currently do not provide any. So, 333 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:29,440 it's certainly uh striving to address the complete streets goals that have 334 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:32,720 been laid out so far, trying to accommodate all the users that we're 335 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:38,720 looking at here, not just motorists, but also uh cyclists and pedestrians. 336 00:32:36,559 --> 00:32:41,919 So, that's the plan at a high level. Uh with that, I'll walk through uh from 337 00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:45,760 west to east through the limits we're here to discuss tonight. Um you know, 338 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:49,200 I'll I'll defer to the township reps on the on the call if you want to jump in 339 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:52,880 with questions as we go or if I'll just get to the end. Uh we'll take them all 340 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:58,159 at the end. take them all at the end. 341 00:32:55,440 --> 00:33:03,679 » Sounds good. So, starting at the western limit of Maplewood Avenue, which you see 342 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:08,080 here, I'll give it a click in. Uh, this is again the western section 343 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:11,919 with no uh shoulders provided. So, here I think uh it has probably the most 344 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:14,799 significant traffic calming benefit since not only are the shoulders being 345 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:20,320 widened, but they're actually being provided for the first time. Uh, bike 346 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:25,200 lane markings throughout. uh refreshing of center line striping, refreshing of 347 00:33:22,559 --> 00:33:30,640 side streeting, stop bars, center lines, stop word markings, etc. Uh refresh sign 348 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:34,640 package, not only for the bike lanes, but upgrading uh you know, stop signs, 349 00:33:33,039 --> 00:33:38,320 no parking signs, etc. where appropriate. 350 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:42,880 Also to note in this section, the hatched uh gray areas you see to the top 351 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:47,519 left and bottom right, those are the uh greenway plan paths. So, this is a 352 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:52,760 pretty important block just to ensure bicycle continuity between those two uh 353 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,760 locations. 354 00:33:54,720 --> 00:34:00,000 Moving our way east to to where we started showing the Valley Street 355 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:04,159 intersection. Um this is one of the key locations uh because it's one of the 356 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:07,760 major crossings along Parker Avenue. So, we think uh some of the supplemental 357 00:34:05,919 --> 00:34:11,760 features to enhance the bike lane, specifically those bike lane extensions 358 00:34:09,359 --> 00:34:15,599 through the intersection are key. Uh and this really uh divides the section into 359 00:34:14,079 --> 00:34:18,720 two distinct areas with the west having no shoulders today and the east having 360 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:23,040 shoulders uh in the existing condition being widened to provide the bike lane. 361 00:34:21,679 --> 00:34:26,960 You'll also see to the bottom right of your screen uh one of the first upgraded 362 00:34:25,119 --> 00:34:30,879 school crossing signs uh throughout the whole corer plan. There's upgraded 363 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:34,480 school and pedestrian crossing signs uh depending on whether the intersection is 364 00:34:32,399 --> 00:34:38,280 just a typical crosswalk or an actual designated school crossing. 365 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:47,440 Moving further east along the high school frontage, um you'll see this is 366 00:34:45,839 --> 00:34:52,560 kind of one of the key areas we think will be most improved uh when it comes 367 00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:57,839 to uh the parking restriction. Uh there's currently uh no parking in 368 00:34:55,359 --> 00:35:02,640 various sections of this block uh either from 9 to 11:00 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on 369 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:06,960 school days. Essentially, you know, some of the higher desirable times for that 370 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:10,640 school activity to be parking there. yet there is some parking activity 371 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:14,320 occurring. Um so that's obviously going to conflict pretty significantly with 372 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:17,520 the proposal to provide bike lanes. However, it should be reiterated that 373 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,480 when you look at the uh the bike racks in front of the high school, they're 374 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:24,240 generally pretty well utilized. So there are bicyclists currently utilizing 375 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:27,680 Parker Avenue and likely other streets to get here. Uh so we have to remember 376 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:33,079 it is important to accommodate them since they have the legal right to use 377 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:33,079 the roadway as it is. 378 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:40,000 Uh toward the east of Academy Street really begins uh more of a predominantly 379 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:44,320 residential character. Uh we do have one more intersection to work through being 380 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:48,560 Prospect Street uh which again gets that similar enhanced treatment with the bike 381 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:52,160 lane extensions uh full signage and striping package complete with 382 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:56,240 crosswalks as you would expect for a major signalized intersection. Uh and 383 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:59,920 then to the east of that you really get to I guess what you would consider the 384 00:35:57,839 --> 00:36:04,320 breadandbut layout throughout uh the rest of the blocks uh moving eastward 385 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:09,440 which is those five foot bike lanes narrowed up uh travel lanes uh and 386 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:12,320 improved uh pedestrian crossings uh you know getting just outside the limits 387 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:16,800 here. This is an example I was referring to where Summit Avenue currently has no 388 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:19,920 crosswalk to cross Parker Avenue. Uh this is just one of several locations 389 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:23,240 where that would be introduced as part of this project. 390 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:30,800 So, I guess unless you want me to go further, I think that's a pretty 391 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:34,560 comprehensive overview of what we've done to date, what the proposed plan is, 392 00:36:33,119 --> 00:36:37,839 and I'm certainly happy to answer any questions. 393 00:36:37,359 --> 00:36:43,040 » Great. >> Mr. Downey, uh, I have a quick question. 394 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:47,440 So, for example, Prospect and Parker, it's a very busy intersection, wider 395 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:52,480 intersection. Uh, you know, this this plan is a work 396 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:57,520 in progress. Do you envision us looking at this uh with the possibility of even 397 00:36:55,440 --> 00:37:02,079 improving some of the design beyond what's shown now? Matable Ballards for 398 00:36:59,839 --> 00:37:05,680 example at the approaches maybe something along those lines. 399 00:37:04,079 --> 00:37:09,280 » Yeah, absolutely. I think there's a few key locations along the corridor. This 400 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:13,040 certainly being one of them. Uh that warrants additional attention as this 401 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:16,640 gets advanced from a concept plan to a formal, you know, construction level 402 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:20,960 drawing. Uh I think all those ideas will be even fully vetted uh more so than 403 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:24,640 they have been now. Uh Prospect Street also has the benefit of having an 404 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:29,200 upcoming uh repaving of its own. So between this Parker Avenue project and 405 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:32,480 uh presumably a future Prospect Street upgrade, I think that intersection is 406 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:35,800 certainly due for an upgrade and we'll receive one. 407 00:37:37,599 --> 00:37:47,520 » Okay, Patrick, can you stop sharing? >> Yes, sir. 408 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:52,880 » There you go. Okay. So, um we're now going to open it up. Just just have that 409 00:37:50,720 --> 00:37:56,480 uh ready to put back up because I'm sure we're going to get questions and you're 410 00:37:54,240 --> 00:38:02,240 going to want to show um in in your responses. So, we're now going to open 411 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:07,960 it up to uh comments and questions. I see Andrew is the first. Um so, Andrew, 412 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:07,960 go ahead. 413 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:19,599 » Uh hi to thanks so much. Uh very impressive presentation and plan. Um my 414 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:25,280 question is about uh the area right in front of Columbia High School. As a 415 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:30,800 parent of high schoolers, I um will will admit that I occasionally do pause in 416 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:38,320 front of the high school building to drop off or pick off pick kids up. Um h 417 00:38:35,359 --> 00:38:44,320 how do you see that bike path interacting with the tendency of drivers 418 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:51,119 to use that as a temporary stopping lane for for that purpose and is there any 419 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:55,760 way to prevent that happening because I expect that folks are going to be very 420 00:38:53,200 --> 00:39:00,079 reluctant to discontinue that practice. um what strategies could be used to make 421 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:04,560 sure everyone is is safe and also there's not a huge push back from the 422 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:08,040 community who's been used to doing that for many years. 423 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:11,440 » Paul, would you like me to jump in on that one or do you want to take that 424 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:15,760 one? >> Yeah, Patrick, why don't you why don't 425 00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:19,400 you show it and then Paul, you can jump in too. 426 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,400 » Okay, 427 00:39:19,680 --> 00:39:25,119 » sure. So, I'll just put that back on the screen briefly. Um so, we can all be 428 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:29,119 looking at the same thing. Um so essentially the short answer is a lot of 429 00:39:27,119 --> 00:39:33,440 that activity now is is really happening because there is no better option. Um so 430 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:38,160 you know what are people to do? It's it's the option that makes sense. So uh 431 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:41,760 in addition to this project uh there's other discussions taking place um with 432 00:39:40,240 --> 00:39:46,240 the school about where we could potentially relocate that activity to a 433 00:39:43,839 --> 00:39:49,520 more formal dedicated location. Um nothing ready to share at this moment 434 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:53,119 that I'm aware of. Uh but that's definitely a concern we're well aware of 435 00:39:51,119 --> 00:39:56,320 and we're looking for alternatives um just so that actually has somewhere to 436 00:39:54,720 --> 00:39:59,760 go to. >> And Patrick, you're thinking of Ballards 437 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:03,040 there. >> Yes. So I know there have been questions 438 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:06,960 throughout the development of this plan about where uh supplemental features 439 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:10,240 like flex ballards along the bike lane could be implemented. Um in this 440 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:14,720 particular location, I think it's definitely warranted. So, um, generally 441 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:19,040 between Academy Street and Valley Street, we would be looking to upgrade 442 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:24,079 this bike lane to have, uh, flexible Ballards located along that, uh, bike 443 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:28,400 lane stripe just to further enhance its, uh, visibility, provide a little more, 444 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:32,400 uh, comfort to cyclists and also to further deter that illegal parking 445 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:37,520 activity that has been observed. >> I I I think, yeah, I mean, the exact 446 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:40,400 detail and design would have to still be vetted with the school and worked out 447 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:45,920 with the school, but that's our concept. I mean, anyone who uh, you know, goes 448 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:49,200 there when school is out or even when school is, you know, in the beginning in 449 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:53,680 the morning, it's it's congested. You can't get through it. So, uh, it's a 450 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:58,240 very good comment. Uh, Mr. How, thank you for the comment and it's something 451 00:40:55,280 --> 00:41:00,319 that we're working on. >> Okay. 452 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:07,599 » Thank you. >> Um, on my screen I have Matthew is next. 453 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:11,599 » Hi, thank you guys so much for this. Um, >> I was just wondering if you have 454 00:41:09,599 --> 00:41:16,880 considered or are considering at all a stop sign on Parker, uh, and Academy. I 455 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:22,480 know there's there's stop signs on Academy, uh, but none on on Parker. Um, 456 00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:26,000 it's intersection that's not really easy to cross unless there's a crossing guard 457 00:41:24,079 --> 00:41:28,079 in the morning. Um, so I just want to know if that's something that's being 458 00:41:27,119 --> 00:41:31,680 considered. >> Pat, you want to take that? 459 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:37,440 » Yeah. So, at this time, we have not done a full evaluation of that. Um, there are 460 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:42,319 specific warrants set forward. um in by the FHWA for when you can and cannot uh 461 00:41:40,079 --> 00:41:45,680 use an allway stop treatment. Um my initial reaction is I do not think it 462 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:50,880 would qualify for that. You're really looking for roads where the two roadways 463 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:55,200 are of similar character, volume, um intensity, etc. That's really not the 464 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:58,960 case in this location. Uh Academy Street carries much less than Parker. So, um 465 00:41:57,680 --> 00:42:02,800 you know, while that could have some traffic calming benefits, it's not the 466 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:07,359 right tool for this particular location. We're trying to use some of the other 467 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:07,359 tools uh in the tool belt. 468 00:42:08,079 --> 00:42:12,040 Okay, I have Brienne. 469 00:42:13,119 --> 00:42:23,440 » Hi. Um, I'm on 44 Parker, so obviously this is a huge impact for me. I do love 470 00:42:20,079 --> 00:42:25,920 biking. Um, but there's a lot of things that I'm not 471 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:28,640 sure if you're keeping into consideration. Obviously, I know 472 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:32,000 everyone's going to talk about the high school and all the congestion around 473 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:35,280 that, which is not going to go away. people are going to park on the side 474 00:42:33,359 --> 00:42:38,800 streets even when and you can't even drive through them because they're so 475 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:45,359 narrow and it's like one ways. It's it's a mess even right now. So, it's a 476 00:42:41,839 --> 00:42:50,240 problem now. But that's that's obvious stuff. Um I think if you're thinking 477 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:56,480 from the homeowner's perspective, a lot of the houses um on across the street, 478 00:42:54,160 --> 00:43:01,920 so the south side of the street, we have really big lots. So that means in the 479 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:07,599 fall we have I don't know and then this is a question for you guys like can we 480 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:12,160 put right now we have massive amount of leaves that go in the front of our yard 481 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:17,040 I mean the front yard in what would be the bike lane and it would it takes up 482 00:43:14,079 --> 00:43:22,240 like most of the street. It's huge cuz we all have like soccer fields in the 483 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:25,680 backyard. So what are you have you guys considered 484 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:30,000 that? Where are we supposed to put our leaves in the fall? Um, and then in the 485 00:43:28,240 --> 00:43:34,800 winter too, like when people probably aren't biking as much, like the snow 486 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:39,200 impact that's going to be going, we have to move cars in and out. Like, you know, 487 00:43:37,359 --> 00:43:43,440 a lot of us have to park our car on the street in order to bring the other car 488 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:47,200 out. We're already going against, you know, people going up and down in the 489 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:51,599 schools and everything else, but like there's a lot of factors in that. And if 490 00:43:49,599 --> 00:43:56,079 you guys do go ahead and do this, even if there's for all of us that are 491 00:43:53,760 --> 00:44:00,560 impacted, are you lowering our taxes because this is an impact on us and what 492 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:06,480 we are being taken away of what we can utilize for our home. 493 00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:10,560 » So I I think uh in terms of the leaves, I I direct the DPW department. I could 494 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:16,079 say that we're not going to stop trees from leaves falling and and dropping 495 00:44:13,119 --> 00:44:21,920 leaves. So the answer is I think in in cases where properties are large enough 496 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:24,720 uh you know you're not going to in some cases you're not going to be able to 497 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:29,200 avoid the impact. I think leaves are going to have to be there. I think as 498 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:33,280 residents it would be wonderful if if we could maybe just coordinate better when 499 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:38,319 it's closer to the pickup times for the leaves. I mean you guys the leaves have 500 00:44:35,839 --> 00:44:44,000 you guys I I feel like a lot of you working on aren't actually on the street 501 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:46,640 like there's just a lot going on all the time. So 502 00:44:44,800 --> 00:44:49,040 » and some of that's unavoidable where you know 503 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:54,079 » it is and the leaves though if you see in this one area it's not just like the 504 00:44:52,079 --> 00:44:59,359 normal house leaves in the fall. It's like the whole and it goes on until you 505 00:44:56,960 --> 00:45:02,880 know there are no leaves and it starts and all of our trash and every I'm just 506 00:45:01,119 --> 00:45:09,839 saying these are things to consider for this one area this of Parker that is 507 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:15,680 already hit with the school impact with all of the congestion. So it's 508 00:45:12,720 --> 00:45:20,319 » it's very it's a lot more intense in this area than it is on like up the 509 00:45:17,599 --> 00:45:24,560 street and Parker at past prospect. Mhm. >> Also, it's a hill, so like kids are 510 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:30,319 coming racing down the mountain >> right now as it is and like they're not 511 00:45:28,319 --> 00:45:34,160 really going people aren't riding their bike up the street unless they're really 512 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:38,000 good bicyclists, which there aren't that many. They're really walking the bikes 513 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:42,960 on the sidewalk up the street. So, just something else to consider. 514 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:47,599 » Yes, we did talk about the uh the leaves and the snow and you know, we're going 515 00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:50,640 to figure out a a plan to to address it. You're still going to be able to put 516 00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:54,319 your leaves on the street. >> Yeah. How about parking for us when 517 00:45:52,319 --> 00:45:58,640 we're we have to move our cars like we park in our driveway, but then you have 518 00:45:56,079 --> 00:46:01,440 to move a car out to get out. You know, you have to put it somewhere or if 519 00:45:59,920 --> 00:46:04,720 there's construction or the landscapers who they have to park on the street when 520 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:07,520 they're doing our yards. There's nowhere else for them. Where are they supposed 521 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:09,760 to park? >> Yeah, those are going to be 522 00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:15,040 conversations that we're going to continue to have with um both the police 523 00:46:12,880 --> 00:46:17,839 and the DPW to figure out how we're going to give instructions for that. I 524 00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:22,000 mean, you're not they're not going to be able and you're not going to be able to 525 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:24,960 park in the uh in the bike lane, but we're going to, you know, we're going to 526 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:28,160 talk about it. We understand that there are some issues there. 527 00:46:26,160 --> 00:46:30,960 » And what about our taxes? >> Uh no, the answer is no. We're not going 528 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:33,680 to reduce them. >> You're not going to reduce our taxes, 529 00:46:32,160 --> 00:46:36,240 but you're taking away something. So, you can't reduce anything. 530 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:38,720 » Well, we're adding, you know, I guess it depends how you look at it. Some people 531 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:42,160 think we're adding, some people think >> the town is adding it, but it's 532 00:46:40,079 --> 00:46:45,520 impacting us. We can't have people, you know, people come over to our house. 533 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:48,640 they can't park on the street where this is a park. Like it's just kind of a 534 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:56,000 nightmare for people. >> So, so the answer is that if in fact um 535 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:59,839 anything we do impacts the selling of the house, then that will be reflected 536 00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:06,280 in the next revaluation. >> I'm sure it will. 537 00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:06,280 » Okay, Daniel. 538 00:47:17,119 --> 00:47:21,040 You're good. >> Oh, hello. Is it my turn? 539 00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:27,119 » Yes. >> Oh, great. Um, thank you for this really 540 00:47:24,880 --> 00:47:32,640 amazing proposal. I am really enthusiastic 541 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:37,839 to see progress in the back master plan. Um, I just have a 542 00:47:35,520 --> 00:47:46,240 question on the the width of the travel lanes. I see 543 00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:54,960 some areas are 10 ft and others are wider. Is there any reason we cannot be 544 00:47:51,359 --> 00:48:02,000 consistent throughout the entire street to be as narrow as possible? because um 545 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:10,880 I'm concerned about the really high speeds people travel across town and 546 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:15,040 having 10 ft 10 foot lanes will help kind of control the speed of those 547 00:48:13,040 --> 00:48:19,040 vehicles. >> Pat, you want to take that too? 548 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:22,480 » Absolutely. So, um the first iteration of this plan really provided those five 549 00:48:20,880 --> 00:48:25,599 foot bike lanes we discussed uh consistently throughout the corridor, 550 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:28,880 but the cartway itself isn't a consistent width. So really whatever's 551 00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:33,200 left was was dedicated back to the travel lanes. Uh could they be narrowed 552 00:48:31,040 --> 00:48:36,400 up to 10 and provide wider bike lanes in those locations instead? I think that's 553 00:48:35,119 --> 00:48:40,559 definitely something we could take a look at. Uh and then in some locations 554 00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:44,720 the center line's not quite in the center of the road. Um it's, you know, 555 00:48:43,119 --> 00:48:47,280 this is surprisingly expensive just to move that stripe a couple of inches. So 556 00:48:46,240 --> 00:48:50,559 we're trying to hold the center line where it is. Uh but if we can expand the 557 00:48:49,359 --> 00:48:54,240 bike lanes a little bit to keep the lanes narrower on a more consistent 558 00:48:52,240 --> 00:48:59,760 basis, I think that's a good suggestion, something we could take a look at. 559 00:48:57,520 --> 00:49:08,480 Yeah, that that would be amazing because uh from a cyclist pers perspective, you 560 00:49:04,319 --> 00:49:15,280 know, 5 feet might be fine, but you're close to the gard and 561 00:49:12,559 --> 00:49:21,440 some conditions might uh necessitate you from getting too 562 00:49:18,720 --> 00:49:28,559 close to the middle of it. So having a wider bike lane and 563 00:49:25,599 --> 00:49:35,160 keeping the private length 10 ft throughout 564 00:49:30,319 --> 00:49:35,160 would be a massive massive help. 565 00:49:36,319 --> 00:49:40,920 » Okay. Thank you, >> Craig. 566 00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:54,800 » Uh yes. Uh thank you. Uh could you hear me? 567 00:49:48,720 --> 00:50:02,960 » Yes. Yeah. Um I I applaud the uh uh effort to uh roll out bike lanes in 568 00:49:58,079 --> 00:50:09,680 Maplewood. Um I I focused a fair amount on biking in New York City in various 569 00:50:06,079 --> 00:50:17,760 capacities. And I also applaud the focus on the Colombia High School area as the 570 00:50:13,359 --> 00:50:24,000 first um node that you're addressing uh for two reasons. one, uh, there are lots 571 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:30,000 and lots of students and maybe teachers who are and will continue to be taking 572 00:50:27,599 --> 00:50:37,280 their bike back and forth from school regardless of u what the township uh 573 00:50:34,160 --> 00:50:42,160 does in this regard. And personally, we live right up the street from Columbia 574 00:50:39,040 --> 00:50:48,800 High School on Prospect Street, six houses in from uh Parker. 575 00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:56,720 Um, so I think working on this is important. Uh, however, I I think the 576 00:50:52,480 --> 00:51:06,640 project as it's been presented tonight is constrained in a way that leads to uh 577 00:51:02,319 --> 00:51:13,119 a less than desirable result. I I think uh the engineers have done what they 578 00:51:09,680 --> 00:51:21,520 should do to look at Parker as a bike lane um possibility potentiality, but I 579 00:51:17,359 --> 00:51:29,920 think uh more importantly is considering uh better alternatives. I I think uh the 580 00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:35,599 way you uh opened it up in my mind uh exactly explains why Parker going all 581 00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:42,160 the way up uh you know taking this as an integrated hole is not not a good choice 582 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:51,285 because there are many nodes of high volume traffic um which uh we've seen in 583 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:55,359 efforts to calm the traffic install uh [clears throat] uh traffic signals 584 00:51:52,720 --> 00:52:02,000 install stop signs because there is a high volume. Um similarly on Prospect 585 00:51:58,720 --> 00:52:06,480 Street, we've seen a very high volume. We've seen accidents 586 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:13,119 uh unfortunately for school children crossing. I think a better uh approach 587 00:52:09,599 --> 00:52:20,240 conceptually instead of trying to have bike lanes that share the road on uh 588 00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:26,079 roads that have high traffic volume is to see if there are suitable ways to 589 00:52:23,200 --> 00:52:32,880 implement the admirable concept of complete streets and ridable uh 590 00:52:29,359 --> 00:52:38,559 neighborhoods that uh make use of other streets that don't have as high traffic 591 00:52:35,680 --> 00:52:45,760 volume. For instance, uh, Prospect Street, I think, is a bad choice of a 592 00:52:41,920 --> 00:52:52,319 bike lane as opposed to Summit Avenue, which is parallel. Summit has much less 593 00:52:48,960 --> 00:52:57,359 traffic. Uh, there is actually signage for bike lanes on Summit. I think trying 594 00:52:55,040 --> 00:53:02,880 to put it on Prospect would be a mistake. Similarly, I think uh for 595 00:53:00,240 --> 00:53:08,880 example, and obviously this is just ideas being thrown out uh uh raised here 596 00:53:06,720 --> 00:53:16,000 uh siphoning the traffic from Columbia High School uh off onto North Terrace 597 00:53:12,559 --> 00:53:20,160 away from Prospect and then perhaps on um 598 00:53:17,839 --> 00:53:25,520 uh other parallel streets, you know, further we have Elmwood and although 599 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:32,157 there's some wiggles to get to it, Midland is really ideal. It's a low 600 00:53:27,839 --> 00:53:36,319 traffic uh flow. Uh [clears throat] 601 00:53:32,800 --> 00:53:43,839 and uh the my basic point is that I think the engineers are doing a very 602 00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:49,440 technically uh astute job of addressing uh safety of bike riders and traffic 603 00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:55,520 flow. But I think it's uh a very suboptimal and not very creative 604 00:53:53,760 --> 00:54:01,680 approach. I think we should be looking at other streets that recognize that uh 605 00:53:59,440 --> 00:54:05,440 there's going to be parking in front of Columbia High School picking up, 606 00:54:03,680 --> 00:54:09,200 dropping off. There's no getting it's never going to change. We're not going 607 00:54:07,200 --> 00:54:14,960 to want to be arresting people for doing it. And going up uh Parker, uh the nose 608 00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:21,520 that you talk about will have the traffic and I think there are parallel 609 00:54:17,119 --> 00:54:30,240 streets and having one or two turns that make the bike lanes uh although not as 610 00:54:25,760 --> 00:54:37,240 neat and linear will lead to much safer uh approaches. 611 00:54:32,800 --> 00:54:37,240 » Okay. Thank you, Rob. 612 00:54:37,520 --> 00:54:44,559 Hi there. Uh Rob Howley. I live on Richmond Avenue, a few houses off of 613 00:54:42,079 --> 00:54:48,000 Parker. Uh first off, want to thank the township for taking on the important 614 00:54:46,079 --> 00:54:52,240 task of making Parker Avenue safer for all road users. Complete streets are 615 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:56,800 crucial for building a safer, greener, and more equitable community. Uh as a 616 00:54:54,880 --> 00:55:03,119 resident, parent, and person who bikes everywhere with his kids, that includes 617 00:54:58,880 --> 00:55:09,119 in the the winter and whatever. Um, you know, I support this project, you know, 618 00:55:05,520 --> 00:55:13,200 full like full stop. Um, so I take this particular section quite often, whe it's 619 00:55:11,359 --> 00:55:19,760 like heading to the village, daycare pickups at the Y or, you know, civic 620 00:55:15,839 --> 00:55:23,920 duty, voting at CHS. Um, like the fact that Parker is high volume is what makes 621 00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:28,079 it good to invest in. It's an efficient route to get around town. Um, and if we 622 00:55:26,480 --> 00:55:32,720 can make the that route safer for everyone, then we can uh alleviate a lot 623 00:55:30,480 --> 00:55:37,920 of problems. Uh my main concern with the proposed design was around the pickup 624 00:55:34,720 --> 00:55:42,480 drop off by CHS uh with cars being in the lane that would undermine the value 625 00:55:39,920 --> 00:55:48,000 of so I'm really thrilled to hear that you know there's a looking at doing 626 00:55:44,880 --> 00:55:50,640 Ballards flex posts or some equivalent because if we're going to invest in 627 00:55:49,119 --> 00:55:55,680 safety you know we should follow best practices and do we can to actually make 628 00:55:52,240 --> 00:56:01,440 it work. Um, I know I personally would not like to have to swerve into traffic 629 00:55:57,680 --> 00:56:05,440 when it's at its busiest to get uh to get around an illegally parked car. 630 00:56:03,920 --> 00:56:09,599 Right now, I just ride in the middle of the lane because that's currently the 631 00:56:07,200 --> 00:56:12,880 safest. Um, I would rather have a designated space off to the side and 632 00:56:11,119 --> 00:56:19,280 cars I'm sure would prefer to have me out of their way. Um and as was 633 00:56:16,160 --> 00:56:24,799 mentioned earlier, uh this also like putting in protection for the section of 634 00:56:21,680 --> 00:56:29,040 the of the road. It was good for cars and pedestrians as well because it will 635 00:56:26,559 --> 00:56:34,480 improve the sight lines for drivers seeing pedestrians. We've already had a 636 00:56:31,119 --> 00:56:39,520 CHS student hit pretty recently uh by Academy and Parker. Um so like I'm sure 637 00:56:37,599 --> 00:56:45,680 they would have appreciated better sight lines. Um, and if you're a driver, uh, I 638 00:56:43,280 --> 00:56:50,079 do drive sometimes when someone's parked, uh, like doing a like throwing 639 00:56:48,880 --> 00:56:53,280 the hazards on, thinking they can do whatever they want. You have to sw you 640 00:56:51,760 --> 00:56:58,640 have to move over into oncoming traffic to get around them. And as a driver, 641 00:56:55,599 --> 00:57:03,599 that's also not great. Um, and the concerns around speeding on Parker are 642 00:57:00,799 --> 00:57:09,200 huge. Uh, but a recent study, I guess now two years old study out of Ruckers 643 00:57:05,839 --> 00:57:15,680 said putting delineators on bike lanes reduce max speeds about up to 28%. So if 644 00:57:12,640 --> 00:57:18,960 you really want to address speeding, it's not, you know, we'll never have 645 00:57:17,040 --> 00:57:26,079 enough cops to arrest everyone. So it's like, you know, put some flex post up. 646 00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:28,799 It's a it's way more scalable. Uh, so I I hope I hope you pursue that. It's 647 00:57:28,000 --> 00:57:34,400 great. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you, uh, Kate. 648 00:57:32,079 --> 00:57:37,920 Hi, I live uh right on Parker Avenue. I'm really excited about this project. I 649 00:57:36,079 --> 00:57:41,920 just wanted to um ask quickly something you touched on in this stretch right off 650 00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:44,720 Maplewood Avenue. Um so it sounds like there will not be road widening and 651 00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:48,640 it'll be working within the existing streets and it won't be impacting 652 00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:50,640 sidewalks and front yards. >> That's correct. 653 00:57:49,280 --> 00:57:54,599 » That's correct. >> Okay, great. Thanks. 654 00:57:55,440 --> 00:58:03,920 » Okay. Uh Christina, nope. 655 00:58:01,920 --> 00:58:08,880 Christina, but it's um I'm I'm just using her computer. But I I wanted to to 656 00:58:06,559 --> 00:58:15,920 raise um yeah point around the high school because I was a high schooler who 657 00:58:12,079 --> 00:58:20,960 uh tried to to bike and I often found it rather like dangerous. Um so I really do 658 00:58:18,799 --> 00:58:27,440 appreciate um like this proposal and I and I want to support it. I would strive 659 00:58:23,280 --> 00:58:31,680 to have more of uh more protection around the high school with things like 660 00:58:28,880 --> 00:58:37,040 um Ballards because I mean now yeah now I'm um I I'm doing urban planning at at 661 00:58:34,480 --> 00:58:43,599 Ruckers and I think that like from the studies that like I've seen and been a 662 00:58:40,240 --> 00:58:46,559 part of they they really do help safety. Um, and then I also wanted to address 663 00:58:44,960 --> 00:58:52,960 the thing, um, I think someone said about, uh, bike lanes on side streets 664 00:58:49,599 --> 00:58:55,920 like Midland or Summit, and that it's kind of difficult because you don't 665 00:58:54,400 --> 00:59:00,079 really need a bike lane as it stands right now along those streets. Um, 666 00:58:58,559 --> 00:59:03,760 because there's just not enough traffic to really demand them. And then also 667 00:59:01,839 --> 00:59:08,960 those streets are a bit limited where they kind of they they end at a certain 668 00:59:06,240 --> 00:59:14,720 point. And the place the reason why you also want to have bike lanes is because 669 00:59:11,280 --> 00:59:19,440 people are for obvious reasons going down the most trafficked streets 670 00:59:16,079 --> 00:59:24,880 already. So they want to have a form of protection on those trafficked streets 671 00:59:21,839 --> 00:59:29,839 that is currently not there for people like myself. And then also another 672 00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:36,319 person made a point about not being able to go up and down the hills or like but 673 00:59:33,599 --> 00:59:42,079 I mean with the advent of like ebikes and I mean I see plenty of cyclists do 674 00:59:40,079 --> 00:59:47,520 frequent those uh those streets with with no worries uh whatsoever. But 675 00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:49,760 that's that's all I want to say is uh thank you. 676 00:59:49,040 --> 00:59:53,720 » Thank you. >> Thank you uh Doug. 677 00:59:56,240 --> 01:00:05,599 Yes. Hi. Uh, thanks Vic. Um, so, uh, I want to speak in support of the bike 678 01:00:03,119 --> 01:00:10,880 lanes and I want to thank the township committee and and the administrator and 679 01:00:08,799 --> 01:00:18,240 the engineer, uh, for taking the initiative on this. I commend the effort 680 01:00:14,160 --> 01:00:21,839 um to uh [clears throat] um first of all the the bike lane plan which I hadn't 681 01:00:20,079 --> 01:00:32,160 seen before as well as to implement the bike lane plan. Um I did have a couple 682 01:00:26,079 --> 01:00:38,480 of comments. Um so for one um uh bikes need to be able to make left 683 01:00:34,079 --> 01:00:46,720 turns. So, the bike lanes are good as as shown on the plan for going straight or 684 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:52,799 making right turns. Um but um uh perhaps uh some bike boxes would be helpful um 685 01:00:50,079 --> 01:00:59,040 at intersections for making left turns, particularly at heavily 686 01:00:55,920 --> 01:01:02,799 uh um trafficked intersections like uh the one that jumped out to me was 687 01:01:00,319 --> 01:01:08,000 Maplewood Avenue, but also Valley Street and Academy as well as other hightra 688 01:01:06,319 --> 01:01:13,440 intersections. Um 689 01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:19,440 uh in terms of the travel lane width, um the um 690 01:01:16,480 --> 01:01:26,240 this is a street I think that school buses use on. So um while a narrower 691 01:01:22,640 --> 01:01:31,680 train lift train, I'm sorry, a narrower narrower lane width is helpful for 692 01:01:28,880 --> 01:01:36,720 traffic calming. Um, we also have to be cautious about um when buses pass each 693 01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:42,160 other that they don't clip their mirrors. Um, I think at one point New 694 01:01:39,359 --> 01:01:47,599 Jersey Transit was recommending a minimum lane width of 10 and 1/2 ft, but 695 01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:53,599 probably dynamic traffic could verify what the current minimum recommendation 696 01:01:50,559 --> 01:02:00,240 is for that. Um, and again, that's just to avoid the buses clipping each other's 697 01:01:55,920 --> 01:02:05,680 rearview mirrors. Um, one thing, um, I wonder about too is at 698 01:02:04,160 --> 01:02:10,400 Valley Street. I don't know if there's a planned improvement for Valley Street by 699 01:02:07,599 --> 01:02:15,119 the county, um, as they're improving other intersections. 700 01:02:12,319 --> 01:02:20,480 Um, if they are, this might be an opportunity to install a bike signal as 701 01:02:17,680 --> 01:02:26,000 part of the signal. Um, you know, a separate little signal for bicyclists to 702 01:02:22,319 --> 01:02:31,599 use. Um and [clears throat] um this is this next thing is less about 703 01:02:29,280 --> 01:02:38,079 bikes but more about efficiency is that I've wondered whether a barn dance type 704 01:02:36,240 --> 01:02:46,160 crosswalk situation would make the intersection more both safer and more 705 01:02:41,440 --> 01:02:50,160 efficient. Um, a barn dance is where um all the cars stop and it's all 706 01:02:48,000 --> 01:02:56,799 pedestrians. Not just to cross the street corner to corner, but to cross 707 01:02:53,119 --> 01:02:59,920 diagonally across the street so that pedestrians only have to cross one 708 01:02:58,480 --> 01:03:04,160 street, so they're crossing fewer streets, so they're in the street for 709 01:03:02,160 --> 01:03:09,119 less time, which gives the cars more time, more green time. Um, someone would 710 01:03:07,119 --> 01:03:12,799 have to obviously do the calculations to see if that makes the intersection more 711 01:03:11,359 --> 01:03:18,559 efficient. I'm not sure that it would, but I just thought I'd bring it up. Um, 712 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:22,480 so again, I I commend the effort. Um, I've worked with 713 01:03:20,640 --> 01:03:26,559 Dynamic Traffic before. It's a great firm. Um, uh, thank you. That's all I 714 01:03:25,760 --> 01:03:30,760 have. >> Thanks, Doug. Jason, 715 01:03:33,599 --> 01:03:40,319 » yes. Hello. Sorry. Um, yeah, you all can hear me, I assume. Okay, excellent. Um, 716 01:03:38,720 --> 01:03:45,520 yeah, I just wanted to briefly speak out in favor. Um, I'm very glad to hear 717 01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:49,599 about this. Again, I live um on the east side of town, very close to Parker. So, 718 01:03:48,000 --> 01:03:53,839 this would have a I think very positive impact my family. My children are in 719 01:03:52,400 --> 01:03:59,200 middle school now, but they would be able to ride their bikes to uh Colombia, 720 01:03:57,359 --> 01:04:05,039 which would be fantastic if they could do that. Um, and to be able to do it uh 721 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:10,000 safely. I also think that um we have a tendency to think of car infrastructure 722 01:04:07,440 --> 01:04:14,559 as like natural or godmade or something, but it's it's not. We made decisions to 723 01:04:12,319 --> 01:04:20,400 make everything revolve around cars and it's had very negative impacts on being 724 01:04:17,760 --> 01:04:24,160 able to get around without a car. Um that's literally killing us in the 725 01:04:22,480 --> 01:04:27,839 planet right now. And so I think I mean just in a holistic level like cutting 726 01:04:26,000 --> 01:04:32,319 back on car infrastructure is probably a good thing to do. And I think um if we 727 01:04:30,720 --> 01:04:35,680 can get more ways for people to get to Colombia, it would actually cut down on 728 01:04:33,680 --> 01:04:39,760 the drop off traffic. We wouldn't need as many cars there. So I think um just 729 01:04:38,400 --> 01:04:43,119 on that level would be great. And again, I do understand some people's 730 01:04:40,960 --> 01:04:47,520 frustrations. I just think that um I've lived abroad in places that have bike 731 01:04:44,799 --> 01:04:53,039 lanes and it dramatically improves the quality of life, I could say. And I'm 732 01:04:50,160 --> 01:04:59,920 glad to have that in our town. Thanks. >> Thank you, Ken. 733 01:04:56,400 --> 01:05:04,319 » Yeah. Hi. Uh thanks. This is a a great presentation. Um the I have a couple 734 01:05:02,640 --> 01:05:08,799 points. Uh one is about the high school. It was like the first point I had. Um 735 01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:13,119 I'm in favor of uh the bike lanes by the way. Uh in terms of the high school, 736 01:05:11,039 --> 01:05:17,760 that is a concern. I don't know if it's possible to actually move all the bike 737 01:05:14,880 --> 01:05:22,559 racks for the school to the east part. Uh, so it's completely separate from all 738 01:05:20,079 --> 01:05:25,839 the pickups and drop offs because I think that's going to be a herculean 739 01:05:24,000 --> 01:05:29,839 task and it's only going to tie up that traffic between the school and 7-Eleven. 740 01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:34,160 So, I don't know if this has been presented yet to the high school, but if 741 01:05:31,359 --> 01:05:39,039 they could actually move where the kids uh go to their bike racks, that probably 742 01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:46,119 would alleviate a lot of those issues. Um, otherwise, um, will this affect the 743 01:05:42,000 --> 01:05:46,119 Jity stops that are on Parker? 744 01:05:48,000 --> 01:05:52,480 » I have to say we didn't talk about that. It's a very good point. We'll have to 745 01:05:50,960 --> 01:05:55,119 Yes, it will. We'll have to figure that out. 746 01:05:52,960 --> 01:06:00,559 » Okay. Because I I ride the Jitney. I'm I'm near Bordon Park. And then, um, uh, 747 01:05:58,640 --> 01:06:05,680 uh, Patrick Downey, you mentioned about the speed limit. Um, it's 25 right now. 748 01:06:04,000 --> 01:06:09,920 He said it's a little bit above average from what you've done before or seen. So 749 01:06:08,319 --> 01:06:14,720 when will you know if the speed limit's going to be changed? 750 01:06:12,799 --> 01:06:18,720 » So it's not necessarily that we would be looking to change the speed limit. It's 751 01:06:16,319 --> 01:06:22,160 really to through a systematic design improvements bring the travel speeds 752 01:06:20,720 --> 01:06:26,640 occurring more in line with that speed limit. So right now what we're seeing 753 01:06:24,240 --> 01:06:30,640 the averages range between 24 to 30 depending on location. The 85th 754 01:06:28,640 --> 01:06:35,119 percentile which is a popular design metric is 28 to 34. So, the upper end of 755 01:06:33,599 --> 01:06:39,599 that is getting to be almost 10 miles per hour outside of what the speed limit 756 01:06:36,960 --> 01:06:42,480 is. Um, through narrowing the lanes, uh, additional emphasis on pedestrians and 757 01:06:41,119 --> 01:06:47,599 cyclists. We're hoping that number comes back down. 758 01:06:43,680 --> 01:06:54,319 » Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, uh, Alex. 759 01:06:52,079 --> 01:06:59,119 » Hey, good evening. Um, I just want to thank everybody for this really 760 01:06:55,839 --> 01:07:03,359 thoughtful presentation. Um, and the effort that the council is making 761 01:07:01,039 --> 01:07:07,440 towards making our road safer. Um, so I'm actually one of the statistics. Uh, 762 01:07:05,359 --> 01:07:12,880 two years ago I was hit by a high schooler on Parker who was pulling into 763 01:07:09,440 --> 01:07:15,359 the faculty parking lot. Um, I was in the middle of the lane. I think someone 764 01:07:14,160 --> 01:07:19,039 else said you take the middle of the lane when you're on Parker cuz it's the 765 01:07:16,720 --> 01:07:24,559 safest thing to do. Um, and I'm a pretty experienced cyclist. Um the the the kid 766 01:07:22,559 --> 01:07:27,599 legitimately probably he said he couldn't see me because of the 767 01:07:25,839 --> 01:07:32,720 congestion from all the illegally parked cars. Um and if you look at that 768 01:07:30,400 --> 01:07:39,280 corridor right now um during school hours you it's basically illegal to um 769 01:07:36,720 --> 01:07:42,559 stop or stand um or idle I think is one of the signs. Although most of them were 770 01:07:40,799 --> 01:07:49,200 pretty sun damaged at this point and could use replacement which I think this 771 01:07:44,559 --> 01:07:53,359 project would do. Um, and so I like I think there's a lot of really great 772 01:07:50,640 --> 01:07:56,160 stuff here. Um, everyone's made a lot of really good points around that as well. 773 01:07:54,720 --> 01:08:01,599 I just have a couple of other suggestions or considerations for the 774 01:07:58,799 --> 01:08:07,760 group. Um, the the first one is I would strongly encourage a leading pedestrian 775 01:08:03,839 --> 01:08:12,000 interval um at the traffic uh signals. Um, that would allow cyclists and 776 01:08:09,440 --> 01:08:16,560 pedestrians to cross ahead of the cars. Um, and I would also, if it's not 777 01:08:13,920 --> 01:08:20,880 already a law for the town to make it legal for cyclists to use the LPI, New 778 01:08:18,960 --> 01:08:26,080 York City implemented this and it made intersections a whole lot safer. Um, the 779 01:08:23,679 --> 01:08:31,520 the second thing would be to re I didn't see it specifically on the proposal, but 780 01:08:28,000 --> 01:08:37,440 to revisit um the top of Maplewood Avenue and Parker. Um something like 781 01:08:35,759 --> 01:08:42,799 everyone's a lot of folks have said this but like these improvements ought to 782 01:08:40,080 --> 01:08:48,560 make uh it safer for all road users including drivers. Um frequently drivers 783 01:08:46,159 --> 01:08:53,199 are are driving into oncoming traffic because they cannot judge that turn for 784 01:08:50,480 --> 01:08:57,199 whatever reason. Um so some some kind of alteration to keep them on the right 785 01:08:55,279 --> 01:09:02,000 side of the road would be great. Um I have been both in my I drive and bike. 786 01:08:59,839 --> 01:09:06,799 Um, I've been in my car and almost been hit several times by people making that 787 01:09:04,000 --> 01:09:11,839 turn. Um, another suggestion for consideration would be at Parker and 788 01:09:09,040 --> 01:09:18,000 Prospect. It we've had crash after crash after crash. Um, I live a few doors down 789 01:09:14,960 --> 01:09:23,679 on Prospect by Parker. Um, I would strongly encourage us uh at the town to 790 01:09:22,000 --> 01:09:27,839 ban right on red for that whole intersection. Um, right now it says 791 01:09:25,839 --> 01:09:31,120 right on red when children are present. I can tell you no one is looking to see 792 01:09:29,679 --> 01:09:35,279 if children are present before they decide to make a ride on red. Um and I 793 01:09:33,359 --> 01:09:41,040 believe cars going around other cars to make ride on reds have contributed to a 794 01:09:37,600 --> 01:09:45,839 number of accidents. Um to address some of the other concerns 795 01:09:43,040 --> 01:09:51,440 like we we need when you reduce road volume it it has the it has the effect 796 01:09:49,120 --> 01:09:55,920 of reducing the number of cars on the road. Um I I know folks have made the 797 01:09:53,600 --> 01:09:59,440 suggestion to somehow redirect traffic to the side streets. When you reduce the 798 01:09:57,920 --> 01:10:04,000 volume of the roads, it will have that effect, which this project should 799 01:10:01,199 --> 01:10:07,840 accomplish. Um and roads like Summit are already generally pretty safe to bike on 800 01:10:05,840 --> 01:10:10,719 because they have natural traffic calming measures. Like they're 801 01:10:09,199 --> 01:10:16,159 staggered, they have a lot of stop signs. Um so that's already in place. 802 01:10:13,920 --> 01:10:20,640 Um, and I also really appreciate the thought that's gone around addressing 803 01:10:18,159 --> 01:10:25,120 and around Columbia High School protecting that lane. Um, because the 804 01:10:23,360 --> 01:10:29,840 the drop off situation definitely needs to be remediated. Um, I've I've talked 805 01:10:27,760 --> 01:10:33,520 to kids who are biking to school. Um, when I was laying on the ground after I 806 01:10:31,600 --> 01:10:36,800 was hit, a bunch of kids actually came over to me and they were like, "You have 807 01:10:34,880 --> 01:10:42,159 the right to be in the road." Um, which like at at a really bad moment kind of 808 01:10:39,520 --> 01:10:45,600 made me like a little thankful when I didn't know if my ankle was broken 809 01:10:43,600 --> 01:10:51,040 because it's like there's other kids going through this. Um, we really owe it 810 01:10:48,239 --> 01:10:57,679 to our kids and other and family members uh to to protect them as road users. Um, 811 01:10:53,920 --> 01:11:02,880 because like even if you are a a driver or if you don't bike and you just walk, 812 01:11:00,480 --> 01:11:06,159 that area is super dangerous. Um, it's more dangerous than a lot of 813 01:11:04,000 --> 01:11:11,679 intersections in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Um, you may not realize it cuz like it 814 01:11:08,239 --> 01:11:16,000 it feels smaller. Um, but it really is. Um, and and these measures should make 815 01:11:13,840 --> 01:11:20,880 it a whole lot safer. Um, believe me, you do not want to be in a car accident. 816 01:11:18,719 --> 01:11:25,360 You have to use insurance from your car company, which sounds as bad as it is. 817 01:11:23,199 --> 01:11:29,840 Um, and and if a kid is hit or someone that's like not lucky to work work at 818 01:11:27,440 --> 01:11:33,440 home like I do, um, it could have like a lifealtering effect for them both 819 01:11:31,679 --> 01:11:38,239 economically and if they have to, god forbid, take painkillers or anything 820 01:11:35,199 --> 01:11:42,400 like that. So, um, again, I applaud uh the work that the the town's done. It 821 01:11:40,400 --> 01:11:45,840 seems really thoughtful. Um, but I would also appreciate if you could take those 822 01:11:44,080 --> 01:11:48,080 suggestions under consideration. Thank you. 823 01:11:46,400 --> 01:11:51,840 » Thank you. >> Um, 824 01:11:49,679 --> 01:11:59,920 Carmen, >> hi. how are you? Um, I am 825 01:11:56,320 --> 01:12:05,280 a almost a 30-year resident of Maplewood and I live up the block from Columbia 826 01:12:01,760 --> 01:12:12,000 High School. So, I think that these the bike lane is going to significantly 827 01:12:07,600 --> 01:12:19,040 significantly impact the residents of um especially those within the Colombia 828 01:12:13,679 --> 01:12:22,719 High School area. Uh, I am not against bike lanes. I think they're very good 829 01:12:21,040 --> 01:12:29,120 for the community and for the environment. However, I think that 830 01:12:25,600 --> 01:12:34,560 choose that the area around Columbia High School should be exempted in some 831 01:12:31,360 --> 01:12:39,360 way from the bike lane situation. I'll tell you why. I have, like I said, I've 832 01:12:37,120 --> 01:12:43,840 been living here a very long time. I have seen a lot in front of Parker 833 01:12:42,000 --> 01:12:50,080 Avenue. I have not been able to get out of my uh driveway and I don't have the 834 01:12:46,719 --> 01:12:55,280 benefit of a very long driveway. Um, I have a basically a twocar driveway. I 835 01:12:52,880 --> 01:13:03,280 have to go out to move my car and I have to echo a lot of the concerns that Brian 836 01:12:57,840 --> 01:13:12,400 had um spoken about and also um um Mr. Miller about uh looking at alternatives 837 01:13:06,960 --> 01:13:17,199 to routes for the streets. Um the first of all, 838 01:13:14,080 --> 01:13:23,679 Parker Avenue and I understand that that you would like to have this done to sort 839 01:13:20,000 --> 01:13:27,440 of lessen the speed of cars, but that's not really going to change. I have seen 840 01:13:25,600 --> 01:13:32,239 cars speeding down here. There used to be a time when the police would would 841 01:13:29,520 --> 01:13:38,480 actually stop frequently in front of my house um because people uh cars and uh 842 01:13:35,920 --> 01:13:42,560 drivers are speeding down. Um, as someone who uh has been very 843 01:13:40,640 --> 01:13:49,040 involved in the community, I worked for the township for Soma Two Towns. I've 844 01:13:45,040 --> 01:13:55,239 been uh uh president of PTAs. I have noticed that the the the 845 01:13:55,360 --> 01:14:05,920 I have noticed that Parker Avenue is is is a is a very busy street, right? It's 846 01:14:02,560 --> 01:14:11,440 very busy. the cars are zooming down and um 847 01:14:07,440 --> 01:14:19,040 just today um I saw a young man get out of the parents' car, fling the door open 848 01:14:16,560 --> 01:14:23,679 and heaven forbid there would be a bicyclist coming down that bicyclist 849 01:14:21,520 --> 01:14:29,679 would have been thrown onto my l onto my uh lawn because that is that is what 850 01:14:27,280 --> 01:14:35,360 happens here. If if you have any understanding of what Colombia um what 851 01:14:32,800 --> 01:14:41,360 the traffic is like here in the mornings um uh for Columbia High School, you 852 01:14:37,760 --> 01:14:47,600 would know that this is a a disaster waiting to happen, that kids are going 853 01:14:43,600 --> 01:14:56,000 to get hurt. Um when you come down from Parker uh Crossover Prospect going down 854 01:14:51,440 --> 01:15:00,320 the hill, you can barely see uh what's in front of you and there have been 855 01:14:57,760 --> 01:15:04,239 accidents, right? Um I think that's that's a consideration. First of all, 856 01:15:02,000 --> 01:15:08,159 there's poor lighting on Parker. But you know what? The most important part for 857 01:15:05,760 --> 01:15:14,159 me, and I know that there are others who support the the bike lanes, um, and many 858 01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:21,360 of whom I'm hearing from do not actually live on Parker. Um, 859 01:15:17,920 --> 01:15:27,679 as a Parker resident, I think that there has to be some compromise here. Uh the 860 01:15:24,000 --> 01:15:33,440 compromise it should be that that residents should be allowed to park 861 01:15:29,840 --> 01:15:39,520 during a certain uh time during the um during the day. Right now the parking is 862 01:15:36,159 --> 01:15:45,040 from 9 to 11 and 1 to 3. What you're proposing or what this plan is proposing 863 01:15:41,760 --> 01:15:50,880 is 247 no parking. And I think that's very unfair to the residents to to the 864 01:15:48,400 --> 01:15:57,679 homeowners on Parker Avenue. It affects their market value. Okay. And I, you 865 01:15:53,920 --> 01:16:04,080 know, I that's important to us and I think that right now this plan is 866 01:16:00,480 --> 01:16:09,280 compromising the interests of the residents, especially those around 867 01:16:06,239 --> 01:16:14,560 Colombia High School for the benefit of maybe 40 or 50 bikes. And we don't even 868 01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:19,600 know if those 40 or 50 bikes are students riding down Parker Avenue or 869 01:16:17,040 --> 01:16:24,960 they're coming from other parts of town. Um, the other reason that there is low I 870 01:16:22,719 --> 01:16:31,360 I I heard that one of the evidence for choosing Parker Avenue is that uh very 871 01:16:27,760 --> 01:16:34,640 little uh parking activity. Well, if you come here between 9 and 11, no one's 872 01:16:33,520 --> 01:16:39,600 going to be parked because they're following the rules. If you if you come 873 01:16:36,800 --> 01:16:45,280 here between 1 and 3, no one is going to be parked because you're following the 874 01:16:41,040 --> 01:16:52,800 rules. So 247 prohibition against parking in front of my own home where 875 01:16:48,800 --> 01:16:59,199 the surrounding um streets provide no parking. Um let's say academy the board 876 01:16:56,560 --> 01:17:05,360 of education that's all part board of ed parking. There's no parking there during 877 01:17:01,199 --> 01:17:12,239 the day on North Terrace. The parking is also limited from 9 to 11 and 1 to 2. If 878 01:17:09,120 --> 01:17:18,159 I need work on my house, if I need to have um people visit me for whatever 879 01:17:14,880 --> 01:17:23,840 reason, right, medical um we have to think about seniors too, right? They 880 01:17:20,320 --> 01:17:28,080 cannot be uh driving and parking in a certain area and walking up, especially 881 01:17:25,840 --> 01:17:34,480 if it's it's snowing, especially if the weather is bad. So, I I think that, like 882 01:17:30,800 --> 01:17:41,280 I said, I I I I support bike lanes. I think it's great, but I think that that 883 01:17:39,120 --> 01:17:44,159 bike lanes around Columbia High School because I don't I think we're the only 884 01:17:42,800 --> 01:17:50,880 ones that are affected this significantly as opposed to those over 885 01:17:47,120 --> 01:17:54,640 on the other side of Prospect. So, I really would hope that this is not a 886 01:17:52,480 --> 01:18:00,400 done deal because I have seen that before where you know you have community 887 01:17:56,960 --> 01:18:06,800 input and then it it's done anyway. Um, but last thing I want to say is that I I 888 01:18:03,280 --> 01:18:13,360 really did not appreciate the the the um the short notice of this plan of this uh 889 01:18:10,000 --> 01:18:19,040 meeting. Um I got a letter in on Wednesday on my porch. Uh and then on 890 01:18:16,719 --> 01:18:25,280 Friday an email. Fortunately, I'm very techsavvy and I and I and I I read 891 01:18:21,760 --> 01:18:32,000 emails. Um but at this point, um I think that you may have a low uh response rate 892 01:18:28,400 --> 01:18:37,280 here. mainly because of the lack of notice or adequate notice for this 893 01:18:34,000 --> 01:18:43,120 meeting which will significantly impact um the the residents of Parker Avenue, 894 01:18:40,080 --> 01:18:50,080 specifically Columbia High School. >> Thank you, uh Kate. 895 01:18:47,440 --> 01:18:55,280 » Yeah, thanks. Um I just wanted to voice my support for the bike lanes. Um I bike 896 01:18:52,719 --> 01:18:58,880 all around town. I have an ebike. I bike with my daughter on the back and I have 897 01:18:56,960 --> 01:19:03,199 a son who goes to Columbia and who bikes there all the time and there's a lot of 898 01:19:01,280 --> 01:19:07,840 kids who bike there and there should be more. I mean, part of the reason the 899 01:19:04,719 --> 01:19:11,760 traffic there is so bad is because some kids aren't, you know, aren't choosing 900 01:19:09,600 --> 01:19:16,320 to bike or walk or or do other active ways to get to school and anything we 901 01:19:13,360 --> 01:19:21,520 can do to encourage that would be great. Um, so I'm strongly in favor Parker is 902 01:19:19,040 --> 01:19:26,719 the right place to put this in because it's not safe um to cycle on the busy 903 01:19:24,159 --> 01:19:29,280 roads and that's where you end up going. You're going to go the most direct 904 01:19:28,000 --> 01:19:33,840 route. You know, you're it's transportation, right? It's not 905 01:19:30,880 --> 01:19:38,640 recreation. Um so you want to make them as safe as possible. I think, you know, 906 01:19:36,480 --> 01:19:42,800 we're behind here in these towns when it comes to this stuff and it's actually 907 01:19:40,560 --> 01:19:45,520 going to hurt our property values um at some point that we don't have better 908 01:19:44,080 --> 01:19:50,640 bike infrastructure because a lot of people are coming to expect it um as 909 01:19:47,920 --> 01:19:57,199 part of a safe, walkable, you know, green community. Um so I am strongly in 910 01:19:54,719 --> 01:20:03,040 support. A couple more specific recommendations. Um more protection and 911 01:20:00,800 --> 01:20:07,120 more ballards. those, you know, just painting the road on the the line on the 912 01:20:05,280 --> 01:20:13,199 street, you know, it does not give you a lot of protection from a car. Um, and 913 01:20:10,960 --> 01:20:17,120 I'm very, you know, worried when I have my daughter on the back that, you know, 914 01:20:15,600 --> 01:20:21,199 we're not visible enough, someone's not going to see us, someone's going to make 915 01:20:18,080 --> 01:20:25,600 a mistake. Um, so having any any additional visibility or ideally 916 01:20:24,000 --> 01:20:30,560 physical protection you could put would be would be wonderful. Um, it really 917 01:20:27,920 --> 01:20:34,640 makes all the difference. Um, someone mentioned it, but bike boxes at the 918 01:20:32,080 --> 01:20:38,800 intersections, especially on um, you know, coming up to Prospect going east 919 01:20:37,120 --> 01:20:43,199 because if you're on a bike and you have a heavy load on the back, um, sometimes 920 01:20:41,440 --> 01:20:46,640 it's hard to get going if you're on an angle and going up a hill. So, a bike 921 01:20:45,040 --> 01:20:50,000 box would allow you to be able to turn left and would give a little bit more 922 01:20:48,560 --> 01:20:56,080 just a little bit more safety, a little bit more space there. Um, and my other 923 01:20:53,600 --> 01:20:59,840 suggestion is maybe bike parking in a couple different places of the at the 924 01:20:57,520 --> 01:21:03,280 school rather than all putting, you know, the bikes in one area. Right now, 925 01:21:01,600 --> 01:21:08,000 they're all sort of combined in the front and um, you know, people lose 926 01:21:06,480 --> 01:21:11,840 things, helmets gets lost, things like that. So, 927 01:21:10,320 --> 01:21:17,440 maybe there's a couple other places at the school you could um, you could uh, 928 01:21:14,640 --> 01:21:22,400 put bike parking. And there's study after study that shows that bike lanes 929 01:21:20,239 --> 01:21:27,440 are good for local businesses. They help local businesses help property values. 930 01:21:25,199 --> 01:21:31,120 And I think increasingly people who are moving to a community like ours are 931 01:21:29,440 --> 01:21:35,360 going to expect a lot more safety on the streets than we have right now. Um, and 932 01:21:33,520 --> 01:21:39,120 I'll echo, you know, what someone said earlier that it's a lot safer, feels a 933 01:21:37,600 --> 01:21:43,120 lot safer to actually bike in New York City to me at this point than it does to 934 01:21:41,040 --> 01:21:47,840 bike out here, even though the traffic volumes are are um, you know, are much 935 01:21:45,679 --> 01:21:50,159 less out here. And that's because we just haven't we just don't have the 936 01:21:49,040 --> 01:21:53,760 infrastructure yet, and we really should. So, I commend you all for taking 937 01:21:51,760 --> 01:21:59,199 this important step. I hope it can be part of a bigger network that the towns 938 01:21:56,719 --> 01:22:03,679 build um connecting to Soma and I hope we can give people other ways of getting 939 01:22:00,880 --> 01:22:06,080 around that are fun and healthy and less um impactful on the environment. Thank 940 01:22:05,679 --> 01:22:09,639 you. >> Thank you, David. 941 01:22:10,960 --> 01:22:17,760 » Hi, good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes. 942 01:22:14,239 --> 01:22:23,199 » Terrific. U yeah thanks for the presentation, but listen, I'm a 943 01:22:20,080 --> 01:22:29,679 homeowner on Parker A. Um, I live on the north side of Parker Avenue, just uh shy 944 01:22:26,400 --> 01:22:34,400 of Prospect. And everything I hear from this plan, it it it's apparent that the 945 01:22:31,840 --> 01:22:39,360 losers here are the residents. We're the ones who are not being considered. Um, 946 01:22:36,800 --> 01:22:48,080 I've heard on during your presentations more than twice uh this this idea that 947 01:22:43,920 --> 01:22:53,520 um uh that bicyclists have a right, have the legal right to to to use a road. And 948 01:22:50,159 --> 01:22:59,440 they do. Um, I'm I'm not anti-bike. I'm not anti- uh bike lanes, but before this 949 01:22:57,600 --> 01:23:03,679 plan goes into place, and it sounds like it's going to go into place, you guys 950 01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:08,639 need to seriously consider the impact it's having on us, as Carmen mentioned, 951 01:23:06,000 --> 01:23:12,480 and Brienne before her. Uh, for instance, what are you guys going to do 952 01:23:10,560 --> 01:23:18,320 for homeowners who still have oil heat and have the oil 953 01:23:15,520 --> 01:23:24,159 trucks pull up to fill up their tanks? What are you going to do with the Amazon 954 01:23:20,719 --> 01:23:27,760 trucks? Uh, we all order from Amazon. Uh, what are you going to do about the 955 01:23:25,440 --> 01:23:31,280 Fresh Direct trucks that park in front of people's houses to deliver their 956 01:23:29,360 --> 01:23:38,800 groceries? Heck, what are you going to do about the uh postal trucks uh who 957 01:23:35,040 --> 01:23:43,840 park uh uh on Parker and Prospect uh when they deliver their their mail? It 958 01:23:41,280 --> 01:23:50,000 sounds like no thought has been given to this. Certainly, it it's not being 959 01:23:46,080 --> 01:23:54,480 addressed. Um when we have guests or contractors, they need to park somewhere 960 01:23:52,320 --> 01:24:00,159 and the surrounding streets here on Kensington 961 01:23:56,080 --> 01:24:04,080 uh and uh North Terrace and Academy. Some changes are going to have to be 962 01:24:01,679 --> 01:24:10,080 made if this plan is implemented to allow us to park on those streets or 963 01:24:07,199 --> 01:24:16,159 allow our contractors who come and improve our homes, to improve the values 964 01:24:13,120 --> 01:24:23,600 of our homes and improve the township for them to come here and to be able to 965 01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:28,400 do their work. Um, so the residents I think are being shortchanged. I would 966 01:24:25,520 --> 01:24:33,199 hope that you would seriously consider um um doing something for us because as 967 01:24:30,719 --> 01:24:37,360 Brienne pointed out and as Mr. Duca confirmed, something's being taken away 968 01:24:35,520 --> 01:24:41,600 from us, but our taxes are not going down. Thank you. 969 01:24:39,199 --> 01:24:45,360 » Thank you. We did we did talk about the delivery. It is something we're trying 970 01:24:43,040 --> 01:24:48,760 to figure out. Uh, Stephen. 971 01:24:48,800 --> 01:24:56,080 » Uh, yes. I just want to echo uh my thanks for holding this meeting and um, 972 01:24:55,040 --> 01:24:59,600 you know, all the work that has gone into this and all the thought that's 973 01:24:57,120 --> 01:25:07,679 gone into this. Um, I particularly echo what uh, I believe it was Jason and Kate 974 01:25:04,239 --> 01:25:11,040 said. Um, I think um, especially for Maplewood, I I love I 975 01:25:09,600 --> 01:25:15,679 love this town and the progressive values, but I always found it odd that 976 01:25:13,679 --> 01:25:20,639 there were no designated bike lanes um, in a town like this. And again, I I also 977 01:25:17,920 --> 01:25:25,120 feel safer uh, bicycling in New York City than I do here. Um, and again, it's 978 01:25:22,719 --> 01:25:29,520 a lack of infrastructure. Um, so I think that this is a a great first step 979 01:25:27,040 --> 01:25:32,719 towards making the town safer, uh, more equitable, and more desirable. And and 980 01:25:31,520 --> 01:25:38,639 to touch on that point again because it's come up a few times. Um but you can 981 01:25:34,960 --> 01:25:43,840 uh look up that or it's very uh apparent that uh property values rise with things 982 01:25:41,199 --> 01:25:47,600 like bike lanes um greenways and basically like more pedestrian safety 983 01:25:45,840 --> 01:25:52,000 because that's what people want. They want to live in a safe community where 984 01:25:49,040 --> 01:25:55,600 they can walk to places safely uh with downtowns with trains. Like that's what 985 01:25:54,080 --> 01:25:58,480 will help raise property values. It's not I I wish the bike lane was actually 986 01:25:57,120 --> 01:26:03,520 going past my street cuz my house would rise in value too. Um, but yes, I just 987 01:26:00,800 --> 01:26:07,199 wanted to echo that and um say thank you to uh everybody working on this to make 988 01:26:05,280 --> 01:26:11,520 this a reality. [snorts] >> Thank you, Jen. 989 01:26:09,440 --> 01:26:15,760 » Hi, good evening again. Thank you for this. Um, and we are avid bike riders. 990 01:26:13,760 --> 01:26:20,880 We're on Parker further up. So, more for the next meeting. Um, and completely we 991 01:26:18,880 --> 01:26:26,800 would bike our kids to preschool in South Orange from Parker. So, we're huge 992 01:26:23,280 --> 01:26:29,679 proponents of biking. But my concern off the bat is you hadn't thought about the 993 01:26:28,159 --> 01:26:34,880 jitneys and you haven't thought about the school buses. The traffic that we've 994 01:26:32,159 --> 01:26:39,360 all been in while while waiting for school buses to pick up preschoolers or 995 01:26:37,360 --> 01:26:43,440 sorry kindergarteners while they're waiting to for their mom 996 01:26:41,199 --> 01:26:48,080 or dad to let them on the bus. It backs up from the high school all the way up 997 01:26:46,239 --> 01:26:52,560 to prospect while that one child is waiting to get on the bus. So there has 998 01:26:50,480 --> 01:26:56,000 to be thoughts around the busing. I mean, maybe this integration plan will 999 01:26:54,080 --> 01:27:03,760 change if we're going to do more biking. Maybe we don't need as much busing. Um, 1000 01:26:58,719 --> 01:27:09,520 but I think there's it's scary to park, ride, or walk on Parker. Your speed 1001 01:27:06,400 --> 01:27:14,159 numbers cannot be accurate based on what we see. Maybe a little bit up, you know, 1002 01:27:12,000 --> 01:27:20,560 as you head towards Armington, they hit the gas a little more, but they are 1003 01:27:17,040 --> 01:27:24,960 traffic is going way over 35 miles an hour on this road. And when we have 1004 01:27:22,719 --> 01:27:29,199 guests come over, we tell them to park on the side streets because I do not 1005 01:27:27,040 --> 01:27:34,960 trust anyone driving on this road. We have been sideswiped numerous times. So, 1006 01:27:32,719 --> 01:27:38,880 unless there's some kind of barricade or maybe both the bike lanes are on one 1007 01:27:37,360 --> 01:27:45,360 side of the street and you build something, but it is it's scary up here 1008 01:27:42,000 --> 01:27:52,280 to to be on the road. So, but thank you and I hope these conversations continue. 1009 01:27:48,560 --> 01:27:52,280 » Thank you, Casey. 1010 01:27:52,880 --> 01:27:58,960 Uh yeah, I just wanted to thank you for the presentation. I am a resident of uh 1011 01:27:56,719 --> 01:28:04,480 Parker Avenue and I just want to uh echo the sentiments from uh Carmen, Brianna, 1012 01:28:02,000 --> 01:28:09,440 Craig, and David that uh you know, as a homeowner on Parker, this is negatively 1013 01:28:06,639 --> 01:28:15,199 impacting us. Um I can completely respect the need to increase safety. Um 1014 01:28:12,960 --> 01:28:19,679 but Parker Avenue, as was just noted by Jen, is uh there's a lot of reckless 1015 01:28:17,280 --> 01:28:24,239 driving here. Um, and I think congesting those roads more with with narrowing the 1016 01:28:21,760 --> 01:28:27,760 lanes and uh and trying to add more bikes uh is just going to create more 1017 01:28:26,400 --> 01:28:33,120 problems. I'd be interested to know if you guys have more kind of specific bike 1018 01:28:29,760 --> 01:28:37,440 data on the amount of of bikers that are experienced on a typical day. Um, I'm 1019 01:28:35,679 --> 01:28:43,679 also concerned about the jitney stops being taken away. Guest parking workers. 1020 01:28:41,280 --> 01:28:46,480 Uh, the heck the garbage guys coming. Uh, where are they going to park their 1021 01:28:44,880 --> 01:28:51,840 truck when they want to go grab my garbage? are they going to end up 1022 01:28:47,520 --> 01:28:55,520 charging me more? Um, and just echoing the concerns of the actual residents of 1023 01:28:53,679 --> 01:29:02,080 Parker who are going to be impacted, not the um, not the others. So, thank you. 1024 01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:07,040 » Yeah, just to be clear, we haven't said we're going to eliminate the Jity stops. 1025 01:29:04,560 --> 01:29:10,239 We're going to figure it out. >> Right. Right. I just concerned because 1026 01:29:08,400 --> 01:29:13,280 they have to stop and not be stopping in the uh, bike lanes, which is just danger 1027 01:29:12,719 --> 01:29:17,120 to the bike. >> Well, we have to figure out something. 1028 01:29:15,440 --> 01:29:19,600 » I appreciate it. So, I look forward to hearing more. 1029 01:29:17,840 --> 01:29:24,960 » Okay, Josh. >> Yes, thank you. Um, it sounds like 1030 01:29:22,800 --> 01:29:31,199 there's a lot that still needs to be figured out. Uh, and I have to tell you, 1031 01:29:28,320 --> 01:29:36,639 I'm a resident of Parker between Academy and Prospect 1032 01:29:33,199 --> 01:29:42,080 and the congestion is unbelievable, particularly in the mornings. Uh, I'm 1033 01:29:39,040 --> 01:29:51,360 often not able to leave my driveway or it's quite difficult. Uh, and I was a 1034 01:29:47,600 --> 01:29:55,360 little bit surprised when you began by recognizing the problem at the high 1035 01:29:53,600 --> 01:29:58,719 school and then said you're waiting to hear 1036 01:29:57,199 --> 01:30:05,679 from the high school about how they're going to solve it. So, I just wanted to 1037 01:30:02,000 --> 01:30:11,679 get your commitment that the next time there's a meeting, there's a response 1038 01:30:09,040 --> 01:30:18,159 from the high school so we know what the situation is because that's really the 1039 01:30:14,639 --> 01:30:23,679 serious part of this proposal. And that's where I fear, you know, people 1040 01:30:21,440 --> 01:30:29,600 are really going to be hurt. I can't tell you. You know, people drop kids 1041 01:30:26,719 --> 01:30:36,000 off. They open car doors into what would be the bike lane. It It's pretty serious 1042 01:30:32,880 --> 01:30:39,920 stuff. And I really would like a commitment that we will understand what 1043 01:30:38,320 --> 01:30:47,679 the high school is going to do about this to uh eliminate this problem of 1044 01:30:43,920 --> 01:30:53,440 very congested drop offs. >> Yeah. Um just so we did meet with the 1045 01:30:50,560 --> 01:30:57,120 principal at the high school and uh that was our second meeting and we've had you 1046 01:30:55,440 --> 01:31:02,960 know a discussion with him and he raised a number of questions and concerns um 1047 01:31:00,560 --> 01:31:06,159 that we're working through. I don't I don't recall someone saying we're 1048 01:31:04,320 --> 01:31:09,840 waiting to hear but we're not waiting. We're working we're in conversation with 1049 01:31:08,239 --> 01:31:13,560 the high school. We're we're going to try to solve this. 1050 01:31:13,679 --> 01:31:20,080 Well, we're waiting to hear how you're going to 1051 01:31:17,280 --> 01:31:25,840 » we understand that. Thank you. Uh Martin, 1052 01:31:22,719 --> 01:31:29,920 » uh yeah. Um I'm a resident of Parker. Uh I just want to chime in here and say I 1053 01:31:27,920 --> 01:31:34,480 think this is a huge win for families that live on Parker that are raising 1054 01:31:31,600 --> 01:31:38,400 kids here. Um you can look just on Zillow in terms of property values. 1055 01:31:36,400 --> 01:31:44,000 There's a walkability and a bike ability score. That's that's reflected directly 1056 01:31:40,719 --> 01:31:48,719 in your property values on Zillow. Um, home buyers are looking for a walkable, 1057 01:31:46,000 --> 01:31:54,719 bikable community. Um, they're looking for safe streets. Um, the front yard of 1058 01:31:52,320 --> 01:31:58,960 of my house on Parker Avenue should be a place where my kids can play. We 1059 01:31:56,239 --> 01:32:04,480 shouldn't be held hostage by dangerous roads. Um, so when I hear people say 1060 01:32:01,920 --> 01:32:08,800 like, "Oh, we should do bike lanes on side streets because Parker's too 1061 01:32:06,960 --> 01:32:12,719 dangerous," I I'd really push back. We're we're we need bike lanes on Parker 1062 01:32:10,880 --> 01:32:18,159 because it's too dangerous. Um, so yeah, I just I just think that 1063 01:32:16,320 --> 01:32:21,600 Maplewood is a town that's going to lead the way and um, if we do this 1064 01:32:20,239 --> 01:32:25,520 successfully, I think we're going to be setting an example for all the towns 1065 01:32:23,199 --> 01:32:29,360 around us and I think it's the right thing to do. So, I want to thank 1066 01:32:26,960 --> 01:32:36,000 everyone for this presentation today. I think it was really good. 1067 01:32:32,800 --> 01:32:41,320 » Thank you. Um, is there anyone else who didn't get a chance to make a comment or 1068 01:32:37,920 --> 01:32:41,320 ask a question? 1069 01:32:50,639 --> 01:33:00,800 Okay, I see no one else. So, um, thank you everyone for your comments. We heard 1070 01:32:56,000 --> 01:33:04,639 from 18 of you. Um, and we are, you know, this is exactly what we were 1071 01:33:02,320 --> 01:33:09,440 looking for to hear what some of the concerns are. Um, you know, we we 1072 01:33:08,000 --> 01:33:12,880 thought of some of these some, you know, the the thing on the jity, I'll be 1073 01:33:10,800 --> 01:33:19,520 totally honest. We kind of missed it. So, we'll be talking about that. Um, 1074 01:33:16,400 --> 01:33:23,600 but we are we are going to be having two more meetings. As I said, I'm just going 1075 01:33:20,880 --> 01:33:30,239 to put that up again just to remind you. We have a meeting uh next Monday and 1076 01:33:28,239 --> 01:33:34,880 we're going to be focusing on the area which is you know again primarily 1077 01:33:32,320 --> 01:33:39,040 residential except for a couple of the religious institutions and that'll be 1078 01:33:37,120 --> 01:33:45,120 from Prospect to Bdon and then on the 24th we're going to be um looking at 1079 01:33:43,360 --> 01:33:49,840 Bdon to Irvington Avenue business district. uh you know, April 9th, we'll 1080 01:33:47,760 --> 01:33:53,920 be talking about, April 15th, and you know, until we have a decision, we're 1081 01:33:51,760 --> 01:33:59,360 going to keep talking about it. And it's it's not a done deal. We're still trying 1082 01:33:56,320 --> 01:34:03,760 to figure out um I think there's a desire to move forward um with 1083 01:34:01,920 --> 01:34:08,239 something. Uh and we're trying to figure out what makes the most sense. Uh 1084 01:34:06,320 --> 01:34:11,760 Carmen, you spoke, but you can speak again, but we're going to ask you to to 1085 01:34:10,159 --> 01:34:17,199 be real quick. >> I will be real quick. In the event that 1086 01:34:14,480 --> 01:34:23,520 this bike lane proposal becomes a reality, I would like I would like as a 1087 01:34:19,920 --> 01:34:32,480 Parker resident to for this the town to look at where residents will be parking 1088 01:34:27,040 --> 01:34:39,600 in the area um and maybe um ex limit the um or eliminate any of the no 1089 01:34:36,480 --> 01:34:45,679 parking um on the side streets so that people can park their cars. I mean, 1090 01:34:41,520 --> 01:34:50,560 that's an alternative. Um but um you know my position is that we should do 1091 01:34:48,480 --> 01:34:53,199 something about not instituting this around the Columbia High School area. 1092 01:34:52,400 --> 01:34:57,040 And thank you. >> Great. Thank you. 1093 01:34:55,120 --> 01:35:02,239 » Okay. Uh members of the township committee, anybody have anything to say? 1094 01:35:01,120 --> 01:35:08,320 » We good. >> Nope. Thanks for everybody coming out. 1095 01:35:04,800 --> 01:35:11,440 » All right. Thank you everyone. Um you're certainly welcome to come back on the 1096 01:35:09,760 --> 01:35:15,120 10th. Thank you to all of our presenters. 1097 01:35:13,440 --> 01:35:18,120 » See you. >> Bye.