Um, and we are recording so we can go ahead and get started. Thank you everyone for your patience. Thank you Remy for getting us out of a jam. Um, in the interest of um, Tommy had a really good icebreaker for us, but in the interest of time, I think we might just
quickly go around the space and introduce ourselves, name, neighborhood. Um, and we'll start with maybe the folks on Zoom. Uh, James, you want to kick us off? Sure. James Van Brinken, Rich Street
Neighborhood. >> Josh. >> Oh, Josh Carp. >> I'm seeing a Hannah or Hana. >> Um, go. Uh, good evening. uh Belmont area. Welcome. Thank you. All right. Josh
trying you again. All right. Well, Josh Karp lives um in in Python. I'm Guigens. I live in Belmont. I'm the co-chair of BPAC along with James Bon. >> Kevin Sarwood.
I'm Peter Krebs, Belmont. Natalie Ashin of Woolen >> Little High. >> Little High. Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. I mean it's by the river student. >> I'm Kendall and I live
>> Mike. I'm Kyle Robin. I am the city police. Mikey, I live in Rose Hill. I live in >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Uh, Thomas Frank, bike coordinator, Mark
the Jet Neighborhood. And do you all know about our next neighborhood walk? It's on North Browns off of Architects leading it. Uh, Sunday. >> There'll be announcements at the end for events. Thank you, Tommy. Um
>> we didn't meet last month. >> Um because we were many of us were at the mobility summit. Um so there are no meeting minutes from last month but approval of the agenda. Are we good? Anyone have thoughts, feedback?
Okay. Um public comment. All right. Hearing no public comment. Zoom folks public comment. Okay, hearing none, um we're going to shift right into bike month updates. Peter and Tommy first.
>> Why don't you uh start with the uh the volunteer form? >> Okay, just run through that. So, bike month's starting um bike month is the month of May, but we have just completed a um volunteer sign up form that's on
the web and I I also have physical signup sheets that I'm taken over to the summit that's or social that's happening after today. So, um we could pass these flyers and you could QR code scan the QR
code. Um so there are many events uh more than one event per day this time for bike monk which is great but most of those are like shop rides or like events that individual groups are putting on like so for example PC is putting on a
um bike to work station on um the middle January the middle Wednesday of the month uh Wednesday the 15th. It's up to PC to find those events, but they're uh volunteers. But there are a
couple big events that we're all working on together that we need tons of volunteers for. And uh some examples of those are the Fridays after five bike valet. That means like three or four people for a long event and there um six
Fridays after 5 because we're also doing bike valet for um for the TomTom Festival which is in April. Um family bike month uh sorry family bike day need tons of volunteers. We need like 10
volunteers for that. Um Riverfest we're doing a bike valet. Um what else? Uh this month for the first time we're having a proclamation of bike month at both the city council and the board of
supervisors which is exciting and people should come and be recognized and you know show up. So all of these things are on the single form that people can use to sign up. And then I have a volunteer
who will um forward all these volunteers names and contact infos to the groups that are leading each of it. So pass this around or if you don't want the flyer, don't keep it because I I do
need them. But if you're interested, take it or take a picture of it. There's a QR >> there's a QR code on there that takes you right to the form. Um yeah. So, uh what else is new this year? Um the
TomTom uh >> we'll be at Eagle Fair as well the week prior on the 18th, >> right? >> Um doing another bike valet actually. >> Um uh so what's new though? Um, I think
there's a couple small things and it's still some things that haven't been totally um like I'm I'm still in conversations with the bike shops themselves to do a bike repair clinic and like multiple ones throughout the month of May. So, that's still kind of undecided on how we're going to do that, but it sounds promising that from the
bike shops um point of view. Uh we're going to have a a big party at the end um with uh Meredith Sunday funday ride um and then we're going to party at um Random Row um uh and do a port forward
to raise some money for a um adaptive bike camp that's happening in June at Elmor High School called I and Shine. Um, so and there's there's I I have a draft email you're on that too, by the way, with the uh shots city schools
about um potentially doing some stuff with the city schools, but that wouldn't be like public public information. That'd be kind of like um more just working with the schools themselves on some things. So,
um but but we're going to run back a lot of stuff because there's already a lot of stuff on the on the on the calendar. Oh, one more thing that's potentially still in the work. Um, the sustainability office, uh, they have these climate cafes, uh, every what, three months or so.
>> Um, and they have one that that already lines up with May 8th, and they are asking if they want to um, kind of tie it into mental health and biking. Um, so there's some talk around what that might
look like, but that that hasn't been totally um, uh, you know, figured out quite yet. Um, but I just want to echo uh, the proclamations. This is the first time that we've got our act in order and we are ahead of schedule. Both
proclamations are in both city and board of supervisors agendas, packages. Um, and therefore we can really focus on getting a big turnout. um of people showing up and attending. So that that should be on everybody's radar.
>> So um also I don't don't know if there's a collective press release for bite month but um the proclamations definitely should be on the media press release because actually media is present at both the board of supervisors
and city council. So they will run that if they're told in advance that it's happened. So that's that's cool. And um yeah, just there's there's more and more uptake by the community like
stepping up and and um uh running events. Um >> one more thing, Peter. Um just I don't know. I can't I didn't look but um big thing is really just try to get more people to sign up for the bike business challenge or the bike challenge.
>> Yes. So, in terms of bike month, you can ride share has a program where they're trying to get folks um to record their miles. Um they could be biking, walking, or car pooling, just trying to offset like single car trips. So, >> not transit.
>> Uh yeah, transit. Transit's in there. >> Transit qualifies for always for the incentive ride share, but I don't know that they get special bike month business. There's a there's a special program through ride share for bike months, but
okay. Throughout the entire entire year, you can sign up for Connect Charlotte or connect um >> Virginia ConnectVA actually. Um >> but um yeah, it's a cool program. So, we're trying to highlight it during bike months.
>> Yeah. Um >> um Kevin had a question. >> Yeah. >> Um what are the proclamations? You don't have to recite them. I just mean like what are what's the idea? Biking's fun and it's sustainable and uh
uh it it it it's a part of like the city and the counties like long range 50 planning uh you know you copy and paste >> it >> it's whereas where is all these things here now I you know Diego Wade
>> you can go back and look at last year you want to see >> month in Charlottesville Virginia during May Um, >> so it's like not an ordinance, but it's something that they have >> a ceremonial >> record. Yeah. Like statement I guess. Okay.
>> With whereas >> Yeah. >> But one of the and so this is why you might want to sign up like number one it's great to give public comment on the day when that's happening. Um, number
two, the um, uh, somebody has to receive this proclamation, and we're still working through what that looks like, but typically when there's a proclamation, that receiving entity has a chance to make a few comments.
>> So, which is a little bit elevated over the public comment as far as stature >> and who's receiving it. >> We we haven't figured that out yet. And it also happens right at the beginning of the meeting. So if you want to show up just for that, you're not going to be sitting there all night.
>> Although we do encourage you to stay >> so you can see what happened. >> Um that reminds me um we just need to make sure to I haven't yet looked at what else is on the agenda for those two um days. That's important.
>> That's important. I was >> Yeah. Um so um our thinking was that it would not be a single recipient for either city or a county. It might be a longtime advocate plus a bike oriented
business owner plus a TBD something like that would be public. >> Yeah. For the city for for sure. Yeah. >> Um uh then there one outstanding if we have a few seconds for discussion Tommy. Um, one thing I did want to get a better
sense of is how we're how we're handling the walk, bike, and roll to school element. >> Is it other do we just say like we encourage you to walk, bike, and roll to school? >> I'm not honestly I'm not planning on
doing anything really. Like I I I I already have like set up certain like things to go out like in terms of press release and graphics and and that's not on the list. Um, so I mean if if it it falls under like all that then we we
would I do have an emailed draft with Amanda. Um, so I think you both were also copied on that. But if they want to promote that, have at it. But I don't know. my experience a couple years ago was just like exhausting and trying to wake up. >> Um,
>> so noting that that Kyle's in the room and and I'll stop talking after I say this next thing, but I think our working assumption is that we included on the calendar say go do these things at your school. Maybe a line in the press
release about it, but it's way too hard to coordinate. so many schools m now multiple districts public private schools they don't all have the same means um that's sort of our logic with that are there different thoughts
that so is there a way to get that into the safe like program in some way just only because you know it's a nice thing to do and I know we've talked about like maybe is not the right ed it because May is
just bonkers in school communities. But, you know, we I think we've talked about September like trying to get it on the front end of the school calendar so that kids can start and families can start kind of making it a routine for the whole year and not like a one-off right as school closes, but um I know you got
a full plate too, Kyle, but >> yeah. Uh I mean there's not a kind of cookie cutter way to do it. Um because every school is so different and every school is um has a
different staff availability. Um it's pretty hard to go into a school and ask people to do extra work, right? Um if you do that, they'll probably just kick you up. >> Um yeah. So, uh, I mean, the most
success that we've had with doing any kind of bike to school day or bike activities at at schools have been mostly volunteer or parent le um, you know, I mean, I've been there doing them, but I'm one person, you know,
we're trying to capture all the schools, so it's a little harder to do. Um, you know, there there were a couple years where we just kind of uh met with the schools and really tried to encourage them to do their own thing, whether it's just like a welcoming
committee with a a snack and a sticker or something like that, you know, like not even necessarily trying to trying to draw up support for people ride bikes, but just celebrating people to do. Um which there were a couple of uh equity
issues with that in the past. Um, so it's really complex to to do something like that, you know, get in the middle of the school. >> I mean, yeah, apologies. I I know because I'd let it for a couple years and it was hard. Um, it was really hard.
>> Um, so the approach that I that I take with that and would take with that is I think it's a question for the schools themselves. >> Yeah. you know, to go to each individual school and talk to them, which is a lot
of work. >> Um, and it's interesting because from year to year, much like much like um like education programs and PE, there's a lot of turbulence with people and who wants
to take the lead on this and who wants to do better. Um, so it's not real. It's it's hard to create it. in a way where it could be selfating. >> Thank you. >> So, so I think that that's our logic of
of using public channels to just encourage people in their neighborhood to navigate your neighborhood to walk and bike, including getting to school. And by the way, the national day is on the 12th or whatever it happens, >> which is which is kind of the approach
that we've taken with with basically city communications. We have it on like on the published school calendar that's on every refrigerator, >> you know, walk to school day, bike to school day and then it's like we sent out newsletters and then also all the workers
system. >> Cool. >> Yes. >> We double down on family bike day last year. That's the communication that we provided to uh Amanda um through parks right actually provided that we I didn't um and so that's I want to try to do
that again. Um there was one final thought I had about this but um >> yeah I'll come back to you >> and we should probably keep the agenda moving. >> Thank you. The only last item is that the next five month planning meeting is
a week from tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and also the the details of that including Oh, it's in person at a TPD location. So, just um reach out to Tommy or me if you'd like to. >> We're thinking Wolf Factory, but we'll
see what happens. I guess the one final thought I had was when we did do a lot of work um two years ago, uh I I can only say that at Sunrise, formerly Brown Moran, uh there like it paid dividends. Like I see more people biking uh to that
school. They have asked for more bike racks. Uh there were more parents biking their kids. And I think that's honestly true for everything that we've been doing the past couple years. uh and and we don't necessarily have data in front of us, but I think just observationally I I feel that's the case.
>> Something that might be helpful if we do decide to do it like a September thing is instead of it being all the same day for all of the schools, >> it's school by school. So, it can be >> Yeah. supported better by limited resources that we have.
>> Yeah. One thing that I need I need to talk to Kyle about is, you know, some of the schools has like spring twins and like spring events. In some respects, it's maybe easier to work with those existing events for like a bike related thing. Um, that's I know Kyle's done that in the past and I've also done that
um in the past. Um, so that might be the easier approach. >> Um, well, I encourage folks to sign on Feb volunteering because it's um Peter Peter makes it really easy. We have a really good group of people from all across the community. So, >> it's very fun. >> It's very fun. Yeah, >> it's very fun.
>> Cool. Thank you so much for the big push. Um, all right. Questions for staff. >> Um, yeah. >> Um, I mean, in the update, yeah, it was talking about the bike registry. Okay. And
>> abandoned bike something. Um, this is only my second meeting, so I don't know what that is. Can you explain what the bike registry and the band? >> Yeah, so >> what kind of feedback? >> Yeah, thank you. I had the same question. >> Um, yeah. Okay, so real quick. Um, so
the bike band of bike um policy has been kind of this draft thing that's been talked about within BPAC for like almost 10 years now. Um, and uh, part of that's because co and no one was talking about it. But um we started talking about when I first was hired and as I learned more
and more and more what we really need to tie to is some sort of existing citywide bike registry. Um so now that we have a ebike voucher program and we're we're trying to get more and more folks to you know own extensive bikes I want to make sure that
if if they were stolen through that program or otherwise that they can hopefully get them back. So yesterday I stopped by played against sports and try to communicate existing bike registries that we all can take advantage of for free and that they can go onto that bike
registry to see if a bike was stolen before they they buy a bike from a potential person who who stole it. Does that make sense? >> So these bike registries, there's two of them that exist nationally. uh Project 529 uh which is owned by an insurance
company and uh Bike Index uh which is a nonprofit. They've both been around for like 14 15 years. Um and they um like if your bike is stolen here in Charlottesville and then someone sells it in Chicago and theoretically the play
sports in Chicago can see that that was stolen, report it and not buy it. Um if that makes Yeah. So, we're trying to make sure that and I would like to create a cityowned version of that and try to promote that since we're not going to be able to stand that up in
time for bike month because that was my goal. Um, and this would be run through the city police office and I would be supporting them. It' all be free and it would all be about um helping us and it wouldn't be a requirement or anything.
it would just be um a way for us to um to to try to like lower crime, fight crime. Um so I'm just going to be promoting bike index through bike months as many times as I can. So at the bike valet I'm going to have a little handout
to talk about all this. abandoned bikes came up because um originally the library was talking about a need to there's there's bikes locked to the bike rack there for weeks or months on time and they asked me can I do something
about it. I looked into it. the police are unwilling to um cut a bike block or even um find out who the owner is of a bike that's been sitting there for months on time um and assume that
nature will take care of uh the bike um for lack of a better example. Um so I'm trying to stand up a bike abandoned bike um policy um but that's proven to be extremely difficult. Um, employees want something very specific that's in city
code that um uh that that tells them exactly what they can and cannot do. Um, this there part of this is related to the ordinance that they try to propose um a couple months ago around the homeless encampments and they want to make sure that whatever language they
have um it it shows the public that they're allowed to do this thing if that makes sense. From my standpoint, the biggest thing is we have abandoned bikes that are locked up to a bike rack that we paid for in City Rideway that we can't now use the bike racks because there's abandoned bikes there. I want to
try to um either find a new home for those bikes or find the owner through a bike registry program um or try to um get those bike those bikes off the bike rack. So, to some extent, I'm not really asking for a lot of input because I've
done a ton of research, but if you guys do have input, I'm holders on that. You have a question. >> Um, I'm sorry, I think you were going to ask. >> Um, I think I heard you say that you're going to promote bike index for this bike loan.
>> Yeah. >> But that there there was like future plans to stand up a a city registry as well. Is that like in addition to bike index or just >> So you can build a city registration through project 529 and or bike index.
Okay. >> So if you register for either one of those well if you register through bike index you can just it will just automatically get >> it'll be in the city in the city. >> Everyone should register their bike some kind of or something. So, Project 529
also uses Bike Index, but not the other way around. Project 529 does not open up their their spreadsheet to bike index. >> That makes sense. Okay. >> So, I'm kind of telling folks to use Bike Index. I also am leaning towards
Bike Index because it's free, >> but also because they're a nonprofit and I have less concerns about like what they're going to ultimately do um >> with the data >> with the data and all that. >> Sure, if that makes sense.
>> Yeah, that would be my suggestion. I um I used them in the past and then you know >> I think that's the one I >> there is a um if we do do a uh bike project 29 offers a sticker bike index
does not and you would think that's not that's you know sticker who cares when I was talking to play against sports that's the first thing they're looking for is if it had like a UVA >> because UVA has a bike registration program that's not super well managed but it does have a sticker and they Look for that stick.
>> Yeah, >> that's interesting. >> Um, I'm seeing a there was a question from James in the chat around there was some color coding in the staff updates, yellow coding and red coding. >> Yeah, you can disregard most of that. I some of that stuff I did highlight on
purpose. Like I did highlight the fact that the the phase three bike racks have arrived after six months of saying that they're on their way. Um, so they are here and they have a bike seat belt logo on them which is kind of cool. Um, and there was like one other thing I
highlighted, but the other stuff was from last month that I just never unhighlighted. >> Um, I think I highlighted public works has purchased a temporary light. That's not new. I told you guys that last time. But what is new is they plan to install the East High Deno project for June of
2026. So, they have a timeline now and it's going to be up for six six months. Um, so just FYI, I'll just highlight this verbally that and many other projects are going to be happening next fall. So
a lot of projects are going to start off in our entrance corridors especially, which would be it would have been nice if some of that stuff was staggered out, but um all Yeah.
>> Yeah. A lot of detours >> that the that when the big street bike died going to start happening too because >> we are waiting from traffic engineer on their proposal to city council on that.
>> Okay. >> Um yeah that's in that's with traffic engineering right now. They had some questions about that project and they are supposed to be providing I think city council an update soon is my
understanding. >> Did did we get bike month money? >> Yeah. >> Great. >> Yes. >> Great. >> And we're probably going to get some more um not just for bike month but just bike programming money is coming our way in the near future.
>> Great. >> It's going to be tied the timeline is the budget. um getting uh adopted and whatnot. It's not CIP, but it's Yeah. Timothy, did I answer your questions? >> Yeah. And just for the abandoned bite,
it sounds like it would require an act of like council for an ordinance or something if the police are you proposing any language to them or >> Yes. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to write all the language. And I think our my the process that I'm going to propose
is um either I see or I hear from somebody about a potential band of bike. I go check it out. I put a tag on it and says, "Hey, does this bike belong to someone? You have two weeks or whatever to remove it." I come back. It hasn't been removed. There is no communication.
Um and I I call the cops and I say, "Can you cut this lock? Bring it to the um the police impound." It sits there for 120 days. No one claims it. It gets um either donated to Community Bikes if Community Bikes wants it or it goes to city auction where currently a lot of
abandoned bikes are going anyway. It turns out about 40 on average per year. >> But those bikes aren't locked up. Is that >> correct? >> Okay. >> Yeah. The abandoned bikes that are going to auction are not locked up. They're found like off the red banded trail or
you know whatever. But probably what's happened is someone's else has cut the lock and they're done with that bike. >> Yeah. >> And it would be nice on my end if through that process I can just look up a bike registry and be like, "Oh, I can find the real owner for this." >> Yeah.
>> All right. Any further questions for Tommy or Kyle? >> Yeah. Michael, >> any details you can share about the traffic engineering question for Fifth Street? Yeah, I mean uh basically they aren't
sold as it a as a permanent project. Um and they want to do a quote demo project. Um all along it was speced out to use quick build materials. Um but it was never designed to be like a quick build
project. Um so uh graphic engineering is um coming up with their proposal to use that design in a temporary like demonstration way. >> Yeah. >> Um collect some data during that process
and to either show it success or failure. >> Who decides that? That's that's a big question that we're trying to >> I have asked for it to be multi-season and to have the fire trucks be able to test drive around it.
>> Okay. >> So that they're comfortable using that as an emergency access. >> Is that one of the concerns? >> It was a concern from them that taking that a second lane away from cars would make it better for them. But if it's available and there's no if they can fit
>> the fire truck down it. Okay. And I think it that that part of the conversation's always been part of the design process. >> Um >> support every single traffic project. >> It's fire, >> right? which is I will just say what's interesting is recently Richmond is is
looking at our Belmont Bridge project and they're asking us for questions about um the mountable curbs um and essentially saying do do our emergency services have they taken advantage of mounting those curbs to get around traffic and so far the answer
from fire and police is no one's had to do that yet um but Richmond is looking at our project and replicate potentially replicating Richmond that's they need it. >> So, so one um I guess a request I I
would have is a committee member is that whatever switch happens for it to be now comfortably a temporary trial project. It still needs to be a robust project that that's not flimsy and falls apart.
So, for example, if um a jersey barrier is a temporary measure that is not going to >> fall over the first time someone runs over it. Um >> second, second that. >> Versus flex post
>> versus well that design I think has a lot of flex in them. Um, >> yeah, >> I think the design, you've seen most of the design during the public planning. I mean, you haven't seen the final design, I don't think, that's been announced, but um, I think that maybe honestly
>> you should be looking to your left to provide some comments. >> Um, my comment is I have to budget meeting. >> Oh, thank you for your time. >> Thanks everybody. >> See you later. Yeah, that that's just confusing to me
because if the project was already supposed to be flex post, then what exactly are they scaling down? >> Um >> duration the time period. >> Well, from our standpoint, it the duration was permanent, right? Like we
were >> always supposed to be >> a per I think honestly there was confusion over what this was from the get- go. Um, I think we I I I think maybe we could have done a better job of highlighting
that, but at the same time, I think a lot of you all knew this was a this was supposed to be a permanent thing that we were doing. So, um, but there was confusion. Um, and now
the they're trying the traffic engineer, it wants to um punch some data um to to test, use it as a test. >> So y'all, when this thing gets built, we got to be out there using it all.
>> Like even if you don't need to be going to Fifth Street Food Lion, maybe start shopping differently. >> Josh has his hand up. Gosh, >> go ahead. >> Hey, am I here? >> Yeah. >> Okay, I can say some things about So, I
have a question about this fifth street project as well, but also some flavor. I ran into Bran Duncan, meaning I found him uh at uh Peter's event a few weeks or a month ago. Uh, and traffic's plan,
last I heard, is to do a short pilot of a non-bikeke lane on Fifth Street. So, six months max. And they're proposing to close a car lane, but not call it a bike way. Um, so that's interesting to me.
Uh, I I am afraid that it's a plan designed to fail because they aren't going to tell anyone you can ride your bike here. Um, so that's just some some color from talking to Brennan. My question is, uh,
and Tommy, this is a question not for you, but to go through you. Um, I think Brennan's got to come to BPAC and show us a plan. Uh, and it's got to be soon because construction is supposed to begin this summer. It's April. Uh, that
does not give a lot of time to review a design. Um, so I'm going to send mail and not ask you to do stuff over over voice too much, but my request for the staff in the room now is bring us traffic to this venue to discuss this
plan as soon as possible because I don't think it's a good plan right now. Um, and I don't think it's frankly meant to be a good plan. Um, because it's not a bike way. It's just closing a lane and not calling it anything and doing it for
a short duration. Um, let me see. I'm looking for my notes. I have notes. >> It's not how public process works where the engineer like unelected says psych. We're doing this other thing >> after plans have been presented, >> right? Yeah. No, that's not how it
works. I mean, it also sounds like if if we're going to close a lane and not tell anyone that you can now ride in the area that's closed, the results of the data in my mind would be more traffic and less people biking, not knowing Greek and biking. If if if that's if that's
what the plan, I mean, you know, we're hearing this hearsay from Josh, but >> yeah. So, this is what I would like to get Brennan and that was what Brennan told me verbally informally a month ago, right? So, hopefully it's better since then, but I think we need to get him and
Caleb here soon before they go to council because council has many things to think about and that might not include details of a plan like this. Other than this group, I don't know who will do that kind of thinking in the public. So, I would like to get them
here to present as soon as reasonable. Um, I'm sorry I have more questions. I'll try and be quick with them. Um, again, Tommy, this is I'm saying this to you cuz you're our liazison, but it's really a question I want you to pass to other people. Um, and tell me if this
would be answered later in the call because that would save some time. We're talking today about traffic calming, which is great. I'm excited for that. But there is also last year's list of trafficcoming projects and I haven't seen progress on them for 6 months or so
and I want to know the status of the projects specifically the 30 or 40 projects on the 2025 click build list. So Tommy either do you know or can you forward a request to Brendon and Caleb about those projects?
Um I will man um >> if you don't know then we'll just talk to traffic. >> What I'll say is that there's been a renewed interest over those projects. Um while talking about how to update the
traffic calming manual or create one essentially. Um >> yeah Tommy I'm sorry. I want to save time. I a new manual, a new policy is great, but there's projects on the books and I wonder if built or not.
>> Yeah, they're they're talking we're talking about where to get the funding and where to uh and how to move forward with those projects uh during those discussions, but there have been limited and I'm asking the same questions. So, I don't have any answers
for you. >> Yeah. And again, I'm not uh I'm impatient, but not with you. I'm impatient with traffic engineering through you. So, sorry for that. Nothing to do with your work. Um, let me see. Oh, yeah. Tommy, this actually is a
question for you this time. Um, I was first of all, I'm really happy with all the work on sidewalks and all the money for sidewalks. So, great. I appreciate that very much. The sidewalk priority list on the website is really, really
out of date. I was looking and it says we're going to begin construction on prospect in 2024, fiscal 2024, which obviously we're not. Um, can I ask about keeping that dashboard up to date or making a new thing to track those projects?
>> You can definitely ask that. Um, I've been asking the same thing. All that's also with public works, not engineering, but the project managers. Um the uh OS is coming next month to um uh BPAC with
Ben on um I can't remember for what it's already on the agenda. >> I'm opening the agenda now to look >> but I asked her >> citywide mobility plan. >> Citywide mobility plan. I asked her to talk about connecting Charlottesville and how to improve a dashboard through
connect Charlottesville. Um, and so I'm I'm hopeful that she can work with public works on providing a much better dashboard and one that it gets updated uh on a more regular basis. >> Great. So that's that's OS and public works then. Is that right? OS has a new
job as of this week in office of communication communication and public engagement. She is our new public engagement person and she is going to work with all departments including public works especially and I'm trying to get her um or she's she's
going to work public works on many things including hopefully this dashboard because I've been told it's a priority but I've been told that for a couple years now. Yeah, I think we need to ask Evan as well. I think Evan's pro dashboards, so that may help.
>> Sam was also pro dashboard. >> Great. >> When he was in that role. >> Yeah. Well, where's the dashboards then? Anyway, so sorry. I apologize, Tommy. That question was not for you either. It's again for someone through you, but thanks for the references. Um, I'm really sorry. Very last thing. This is
for Kyle. And I might, my question for you might be, can I have 10 minutes of your time? Another time. I loved seeing your talk at the schoolboard meeting. Thank you very much for that. Everyone else, go watch it. It was fun. Um, I would like to get more granular data
about the speed camera program. And I don't know what your dashboard shows you and so I don't know if I need to ask this question to to you Kyle or to or to CPD. Um, so my my yes no question for you is do you have per incident data in the dashboard that you can see or is
that only the police? that that it's all like that's all questions for for the police department. >> So it's not in your dashboard. >> It's not mine. No, >> but there's something you can log into and look at. Correct. >> There's a little information that I have
like all the all the information that I shared last night. I don't have access to. I had to get that from CPD. >> Okay. Uh I'll Who CPD should email? Um, you can email Craig Wade.
>> Okay. Uh, thank you Gwyn and James. I'm going to, if you don't mind, each of these questions, unfortunately, it's for somebody not in this room, so I'm going to ask your help in tracking down some answers, but I'll do it offline. Sorry for >> I've already emailed Brennan. >> Yes, I thank you so much. I will ask him
for questions later, and I'm sorry in advance. >> Okay. All good. Um, it is almost 6, so we're going to keep moving with the agenda unless there are other urgent requests or questions for Tommy and Kyle. Anyone else on Zoom? Okay, hearing none, we are going to
shift to um James is going to walk us through some uh some some discussion of proposed trafficcoming um projects and I don't know if it's possible to um uh make James Yes. Great. Never mind. Hi, James.
Hi. Thank you. Um, okay. I'll try to be quick um with this cuz I'm looking forward to the discussion about it. Um,
this is a kind of successor to the quick builds program. We've been told the city wants to move away from the term quick builds which is um kind of flex posts
restriping. The city did a lot of quick builds uh last year which is great and now they are trying to figure out internally what is an ongoing quick build program
look like? Um how does it work? How do we keep implementing these things? How do we decide where should get improvements? How do we review them to see if they're working? Um,
and so we wanted to kind of do this a similar process where we we ask those questions of ourselves so we can present to staff a list of things that we would like to see from the program. Um,
and you can see here they have pointed us to Harrisonenberg's program which is a model that they're looking at as inspiration. Um, as a good example
um, and I'll go through that quickly, give a quick overview before we start. Um, you can see eight questions here that are not necessarily complete, but I've tried to break down the various
parts of a program to think about and some questions to be thinking about. We don't have to discuss all of this today. It may be that some of these we don't really have an opinion on. We just want it to work and make it work however it works. others maybe we really do have an
opinion um or multiple opinions. So before I leave it up to the floor, um just wanted to give a quick overview of Harrisonenberg's program.
They have it's a fairly new program. Um residents can apply for improvements to streets that they feel unsafe.
Um there is a scoring metric, a a public scoring metric that scores those streets based on a lot of different factors. Um obviously things like speed and and traffic volumes, but also um I think
things like proximity to parks and schools. Um there are a lot of things. I'm not remembering them all, but that they're given a score. The scores are publicized and each year staff
looks at the roads that have been applied for and unsuccessful roads from previous years and chooses one neighborhood to focus on that year. And I thought that was an interesting decision.
Residents apply for streets and streets are scored, but one neighborhood is picked. Um and then once that neighborhood is picked, they do a public um input process and look at all the streets in the neighborhood, not just
streets that been applied for um and design improvements, put out the improvements, and then 12 months later review them. I'm less clear on how they review them. And that's one of the questions we could be talking about. Um,
so I think that's all I have to say. These questions are just kind of to start the discussion. There are lots of other questions we could be asking. I just thought we could put these these up here. Feel free to jump in. If there are
any questions that you have kind of strong opinions about or um things you'd like to see in the program, then kind of have at it. >> Thank you, James. Um I will I will add to what James shared that we are looking
at making making it a standing part of our monthly meetings to be revisiting what what will now be called trafficcoming, not quick builds. um kind of moving forward as a way to kind of keep this as a persistent drum beat of BPAC activity beyond like
oh we'll put it in a subcommittee and let them kind of move things forward which we've done in the past to some degree of success but I think it's um it's important enough that it deserves kind of focused attention from the whole group um and focused input. So, um I
think James, what we can do is put this on the agenda for next month. Um and and urge people to take in the Harrisonenberg uh approach. Um it's not it's not ownorous to read through their trafficcoming procedures and manual um and come with some ideas. I think I
think the other part is just, you know, at some point or maybe if we get Brendan at our next meeting, which I have invited him to, um we could talk about this as well, like how do we make sure that we're informing what traffic engineering would like to do. Um and making sure that we're like we're able
to work with them. Um >> remember you also have >> and we also have public works. >> Correct. Yeah. Exactly. >> Um so it could be a busy meeting, right? During bike month, but um >> and he has confirmed that's calendar. >> Okay. Super. Um, so anyway, just wanted
folks to have that context. >> Can I add a couple um >> Yeah. >> or additional information? Um, in our office, we've got three accounts or four really because Kyle's account um now, but bike improvements, which is designed
for infrastructure projects. Um, new sidewalks. Uh, those are C these are CIP accounts. So, money um infrastructure money uh and then um neighborhood transportation improvements and that's the account that we're using for like
trafficcoming or equip builds or whatever. I think it's $200,000. Um that's goes in there every year. Um, I'll have to go double check that. It might be 100,000, >> but there is there's at least $200,000
in there right now um remaining after the 2025 version of transportation um funds. So, that's part of the conversation that we're having with traffic engineering um that Josh was talking about um about those remaining
30 projects that we had identified. Um uh do we can we use what funding sources can we use to like get those projects done? And then the the other thing I just want to highlight as you guys think about this is um you just heard a lot of
questions quote coming through me uh and um not to me um so maybe think about who's receiving project ideas through this process. >> Yeah. >> Because currently it's basically traffic engineering.
Right. So, we have a traffic petition right now that neighbor neighborhoods can apply for and those petitions go directly to the traffic engineer >> to somebody in Rose Hill recently. >> Very good. >> Well, Rose Hill has a current traffic
petition, but no one knows about it. Uh because it went to that office >> and >> it's a black hole >> where the petitions go to die. >> You know what I'm talking about, Mike? Right. >> Yeah. Okay. In a different location. Different person, different location. Well, uh, Mike also put that petition
just for your reference on the biking and walking web page just to kind of highlight it a little bit more. >> Great. >> Um, but, uh, but I think that's part of the problem. We own an account that's supposed to be worked on these projects, but the project ideas are coming up outside of
our office and this committees um, and going either directly to traffic engineering or honestly directly to city council. um and then making their way down. So the idea here is to try to find like
what is the best mechanism um where these um these projects generate from and how do they get prioritized? >> Is there any uh instance that you know of where petition resulted in results in the build environment? in the
build environment. Um, how >> more virtual environment? Well, I got to say there was a result in fight Bill, but no one was happy with the result, which is nothing and a lot of talking over the course of a year and a half to two years >> originated from
>> Well, I mean, >> tech technically you could say the fight >> I think that's Yeah, >> technically you could say the um the Rose Hill petition from a couple years ago with with Nells and um and Dean uh did result in something, but it was kind
of it kind work through the urgent transportation, but like that project was prioritized because of the petition, right? It wasn't a direct one to one. That makes sense. And it didn't ever answer some of
their questions on that petition, i.e., can we get a four-way stop sign here? >> They know that, >> right? Um, good good point. This whole process is >> Yeah. Um there's a $100,000 per year for
neighborhood transportation CIP. >> I have a question. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Is um is one of the goals of EPAC talking about this more to be able to like shape
how the city develops the traffic comment program? >> Yes. And I think one of the most important things is that if you're a traffic engineer, and this is not to disparage traffic engineers, but you're mostly concerned with things like traffic, like the quantity of cars and
how fast they're going. >> And I think we all might take a slightly different approach that it's not just 85th percentile speeds and traffic volume. It's perceptions of safety. It's how close are you to a school, to a park, to places where more vulnerable
street users are potentially going to be using the infrastructure. We're not. Um, and so I think our influence would be how do we th those things that are a little harder to measure, they're not hard data. Um, it's hard to tell a traffic engineer that they should pay
attention to that step or we can tell them, but it's hard for them to take that in because they're used to models and mathematics. So the more that we can inform that that process and the Harrisonenberg um James I don't know if
you can go to the Harrisonenberg uh if you can screen share that or Tommy but to just look at um how yeah the pie chart down here and I'd be curious like this is how they these are the factors that they weigh and I don't know if youall can read that
back there in more detail in the Olympics. >> Yes. So speed is the is the largest factor and volume. So we we're still satisfying the traffic engineers for 50%. But then we have these other factors here and they're weighted. So you can every project is scored um and
then they're weighted according to these percentages. So even if you're not totally like satisfying the traffic engineers, you a a project might still be able to be implemented because it satisfies these other considerations. So I think that's where we can have a lot
where I would like us to have input um to inform what they do because it's very easy for them to say nope that it's not needed here because it doesn't meet you know we don't have high enough speeds and we don't have high enough volume. >> Yeah. And just as like a point of
reference to where we were 10 years ago before I even moved to Charlottesville Locust Avenue which has come up a couple times recently. uh the the current traffic engineer was looking at potentially raising the speed limit um on that corridor and at the same time we
were doing our bike ped master plan um there was a petition uh trafficcoming petition I think I don't know if you know the >> from the mayor yeah >> well no that's from a couple years ago but from 10 years ago before you and I worked here Amanda and Brennan worked
with the neighborhood to do to stud to see what they could implement for traffic calming So they went from potentially raising it to like 30 or 35 miles an hour to try to implement ways to calm traffic because it was the the speed was above 25 which is supposed to
speed limit then it is now. Um so the the speed limit hasn't changed. Um but they implemented some buffer buffers to the bike lane to try to narrow things down but there wasn't a whole lot that they implemented. Um, and they were supposed to kind of go back later to like see and I think Brennan may have
looked at some data later that and I but I don't honestly know that like that slowed speed. So there is a new petition uh for Locus Avenue and 250 specifically um and that's been in
that hole she was referencing here plus um over there. So there's got to be a better way to do this, I guess. Especially since there was a utility project that ripped up that entire corridor that this would be the time to do it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. That context is definitely helpful. I think Yeah. I mean, I think
this like reading through their plan, I think it's pretty good. I think there could be a lot of good things that the city could be doing. My only like concern is like obviously the benefits of a quick build is you see the changes in the built environment very quickly
until obviously until recently with 30 projects waiting >> and so you know if you're adding all this process like >> is is it is the process getting in the way of like actual results I think is is one of the things I would I would be concerned about. But at the same time,
like if the only way it's going to continue to exist is by adding more process to it, then that's what you got to do. >> Well, and keep in mind that there needs to be a followup with these projects, right? Like we did 30 projects, >> you know, out there in the public. The
snow it chewed up a bunch of those. >> Uh what what is the future of those projects? Um >> that's the thing that we don't have a process for. Correct. Kind of what you're saying, right? is you know we these are meant to be installed on a temporary basis
>> but past that I mean we didn't have a way of measuring the success of it which is what we talked about before um but also we didn't don't have a process or a plan for you know does the clock start ticking as soon as those are installed like okay if this is if they're there
for a year or two years or three years and they're deemed successful then they need to become permanent like we you know that's just a hypothetical, we don't have them. >> Well, >> it's just put them out there, glue glue up a flex post down, and then see what happens. >> Hope for the best.
>> So, the one distinction that is important is in Harrisonenberg's program, we are not talking about flex posts in restriping. We're talking about chicaines. We're talking about raised crosswalks. We're talking about like pretty hardened infrastructure that would be permanent. Um and you know I
appreciate the the question James around like uh community input. I mean I think probably everyone is like yes the community should have input and that adds a lot of time and that also pulls out the haters. So you know if we can
develop policies where it's like these are the criteria all the criteria are met. We know that fire department's on board. Let's just put it down. let's not spend a lot of time asking people their opinion when like they're not experts on traffic coming. Um, and we have this
body that can weigh in and represent the interest of the public, the the nonmotorized public. Um, so that would be my own personal preference. >> I think that's good like to think about for sure. I I love that like that kind of like well we've done our homework
like someone could argue the bike master plan was that we did our homework why can't we do this stuff now um but some of that stuff was recommendations and not like we this is what we're for sure doing. >> Uh but there are still always going to be projects I think that we're going to
want to try to do sooner than the concrete crew can come around and actually do. So can we get can we use flex post for those you know >> especially when with $100,000 in the budget. Yeah. >> So having like like maybe like a pilot period for but
then having a clear followup of like >> how do we measure success? How does that happen? And how do we move to like concrete or something more permanent? >> And by the way success is not necessarily volume or any of that. Success is like the water the drainage isn't going to change. I know that
sounds boring but like that's a huge thing. So like it's about like what what is this project going to look like from like once it's concrete and if we can like do it so there's no standing water and a crosswalk and that's an ADA problem then let's move forward and do
it >> yeah um again I'm new to this maybe I need a BIP like remedial class or something I don't know the history of the the quick builds but are were none of these questions kind of answered in the quick build program like what did we
learn about community engagement about how quickly something can be built or or or any of that. >> I mean, we were the community engagement for those. I mean, there was one notable exception which was over in the Green Leaf neighborhood where there was a very quirky intersection that required a lot
of um handholding and kind of walking alongside the neighborhood because it was a very difficult location and the the solutions that were offered needed to be adjusted. Um but for the most part, those just went in. Um, >> and what were I mean thinking about the
pie chart I read through the the plan as well. How were those sites determined >> like were there that might inform how the new traffic calming >> criteria might be set up? >> Some of those locations were put forward
by a subcommittee of BPAC. So we were able to make recommendations given kind of a set of like overarching criteria from that came from Ben Chambers. So like you know certain we were looking for certain locations that met certain criteria. Um and then a number of them
were actually just produced by staff. Um so that's what comprised the the full list of quick builds. Um not all of which have been implemented as we've heard. Um but yeah but that was kind of the the process and that was I mean
really that also emerged from a terrible tragedy which is that someone was hit and killed in a crosswalk. um you know, had that driver been going more slowly, would that person still be alive today? Maybe. We don't know. But, um there was a period at which the city was very
animated around making some changes quickly. I think we've lost some of that momentum, too. Um you know, it's it's like the worst possible thing to have to experience a tragedy like that. And if you don't make like if you don't go and
do make changes after someone has has died like there's you know you're missing a huge window of opportunity. So I think we it's on us to try to keep this momentum going. And I will say that Caleb Smith um who's the assistant traffic engineer has
>> he's a traffic >> he is a traffic engineer. Sorry. Thank you. um he's open to this and he's looking at Harrisonenburgg um as as a model. Um my question too is like if they can have raised crosswalks in Harrisonenberg and their fire department's cool with that.
>> Hey, by the way, did you hear um that we can do street art now? >> I've heard that there has been progress on this. Yes, that's great. >> Um yeah, Timothy, uh you're not really behind April here, I guess. >> Not at all. None of us. It's there
really wasn't much of a program. We started to try to work on a program with BPAC, but then there was this urgent transportation fund that got dropped on our lap and then uh Ben, Kyle, Brandon and I like based on our knowledge and
community, you know, engagement. The neighborhood walks were like a big influence for me um and what I saw and heard during those walks u for example. But um there was no processes. Um,
however, uh, the Ben, Kyle and Tommy had already had always planned and that there would be some sort of like survey that was attached to this and that was not implemented. Um, and I that was a real unfortunate thing. I think we we
lost a lot. >> Yeah, >> we talked about doing a followup Rose Hill quick. >> Yeah, that'd be great. I think um >> Rose Hill is going to be where everything happens. Yeah, that's where it all comes together. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's make that happen.
>> Yeah. Something I don't know if this is pertinent to this discussion or not, but I've been making charged with making promotional materials for the Rose Silver bathing project. Um, and um, I don't know, I feel the need for some kind of visual
flashcard side. talked about making a manual or a booklet or something of like the different build the typologies you know you can't just say chain >> yeah they're like what language is that >> just pictures are going to be better I don't know if that's something
>> would be great stuff >> um look at the Milwaukee um trafficcoming program they have it's in their manual or visual examples of all these Y some pictures on the website.
>> Um yes, what I think would be really cool, Mike, and we can talk later is we have some examples now in town of a lot of this stuff. >> Yeah. >> Um so let's start um using those photos >> in some photo album. Um and it doesn't
have to be some world class thing, right? It can be >> I can send you some photos that I have. >> I have photos of all that stuff now basically. So, um >> yeah, >> one little thing I'll just say, um we we used new flex post uh for a lot of those
projects and those are real brittle and they did not hand up. That was something I think that we've learned. I don't know if that's been written down anywhere, but >> uh that's just um points. >> And can we move away from flexos and towards armadillos?
Whatever you whatever the public works and public service they really like those flex though. So it's >> but they're so bad and they just fall apart. >> At least not just >> that's MUTCD manual for uniform traffic control
devices >> make it real hard. Um I was I've seen yellow ones >> that was but they just have to not fall apart like they're just if you go around Summit Elementary like they're just it's like a
>> it's a flex post to break into >> Oh my god. >> I know. Seriously. >> Do do we have time for one more comment on this? Yes, please. >> Um, so in terms of the questions we should be asking, um, after number
seven, how do we tell if it's working? We should be thinking about the question, what do we do if it isn't working? >> Um, because from what Brennan was talking when he visited this committee, seems like if a project doesn't meet
whatever criteria um, we someone decides for it, it's done away with. Well, the other approach would be that if trafficcom calming doesn't slow down traffic enough, well, then you should have more traffic cominging. You shouldn't say that this project was a
failure and uh tear it up, go back to what it used to be. I think similar to that um is the design for a quick build with flex pose might be very different than the concrete version. And the
example that I will provide is Sheridan in North North Road um by Northeast Park. >> North Avenue. Yeah. >> Yeah. North Avenue. Uh it's currently kind of this like circle. It's not a roundabout per se, but there's just this
massive amount of asphalt and it was unclear where the travel lanes were and and there was no sidewalks for pedestrians to cross over to the park. So by building this ginormous circle, it defined the traffic lanes. But if you're going to build a concrete version, I
think it would actually be building the sidewalks, right? >> And then eating up space to define the travel lane and teeing up that intersection, but in lie of having a sidewalk, we decided that design, if that makes sense. So there's a did this
work maybe not in this version of it. >> That reminds me of what we were saying about Fifth Street. If you do a demo that isn't representative of the um ultimate design, then it isn't a valid experiment, >> right? Or if all the flex posts get knocked over in the first month.
>> Yeah. Um thank you all so much for caring about traffic coming. I think hopefully we can have a have an impact here. James, is there anything else you want to offer or add? And thank you for kicking us off.
Um no that was helpful good and good step towards um I think having something to present to staff and taking Johnny's point presenting to engineering stuff.
>> Yeah, I would say a lot of this is in like um Caleb and Brendan's ballpark right now. So I'm just going to keep you all updated. >> Okay. Um, >> and we have a direct line to Caleb, too. And we've had this conversation. James and I have had a conversation with him. So, we can keep that keep that moving.
>> All right. It is 6:25, y'all. Um, announcements and other business. Um, this is happening. >> I'm planning >> um on Monday. >> These people in person. This is great. This is what I was asking about um a few
meetings ago when I was like, "Hey, how do we build roads like start to finish? What is what are the steps?" >> Yeah. Hopefully we don't actually, but yes. >> Yeah. >> Um Yeah. So, uh if we build a road for bikes, yeah, exactly. Um we'll pass this
around. There's a QR code there if you want to put that in this. >> Oh, did I? Okay, great. >> Um the FY 2017 budget is going to be voted on in city council. uh next week. So, if you have any comments that you
want to send to our elected officials, the time to do that is before April 6th. Um and then I don't know how public this is, but um we've been told that there's an event especially for folks who live
in the downtown area to talk about West Main and Water Street, Ridge, the whole the whole intersection there. Does that apply to anyone in this room or anyone online? Um we can make sure I mean downtown maybe you know we can think of
that as a broad category of neighborhoods. Um but yeah wanting to make sure that this is a meeting that's um also bringing the business the downtown business community into the conversation around you know what we want to see in that intersection. Um, so
we're hoping that we can get some good inputs and helpful um, you know, we want to make sure that we're we're bringing those folks along as we think about necessary improvements to that huge corridor um, and really important infrastructure. So, um, yeah, if anyone
fits that, they'll let us know >> or know somebody >> or knows somebody, yeah, who might be interested in sticking up for better bike ped. >> So, basically, this event has not been scheduled yet. >> It hasn't been scheduled. I thought it was >> Did he actually preserve it? >> I thought it was April 27th, but
>> Okay, then. >> But but just let us know and we can make sure you get the right info. >> All right. Um, cool. Anything from the Zoom? >> Anyone else have an event? Tommy, sorry I totally put you off at the outset, but please talk about your neighborhood walk.
>> Next neighborhood walk. We leave these once a month um in different neighborhoods throughout the city. We're actually going to be at UVA. We're gonna explore UVA grounds at Darden and some of the new facilities over there. Um it's on um
uh not this Sunday, which is the 5th, so the 12th of April at 10 a.m. And we're going to meet at PJ uh parking garage, the bike rack outside JPA JPJ. >> Um at 10 a.m. on Sunday the 12th.
>> All right. >> Are y'all going to go to the gardens behind the behind >> behind? Yeah, behind the hotel. Yeah, we're gonna Those are awesome. Those are so pretty. I didn't set the route this time. So, Bill Palmer from the art and there's a pretty interesting history.
>> Sorry, I'm gonna I'm gonna adjourn us, y'all. Thank you for being here. Come back next month, please. Thank you to all the new folks and the students who are with us. Um, good night. >> So, I would just go
intersection almost every day. I work out at the city gym >> on either my bike or running. Yeah. >> Um, so I'd be happy to attend.