Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee
Minutes of the Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Regular Meeting
Tucson, AZ
Submitted by Richard
Corbett
Committee members, staff and members of the public introduced themselves. New City of Tucson Ward 5 (Councilmember Shirley Scott) BAC Member Zach McDonald was introduced and welcomed.
The minutes of the March meeting, as presented, and without additions or corrections, were declared approved by the Chair.
3. Call
to the Public
Eric Gonnason stated he is a Raytheon 16 mile a day bicycle commuter, and that one can bike safely in our community (he says he has done so for “quite a few years”). He went on to urge more cycling.
Tucson Police Sergeant Tim Beam reported that there were 33
bicycle-motor vehicle crashes last month (March), for a total this year so far
of 101. This continues to run ahead of last year (when there were 76 thru
March), probably due to the continued milder weather we have had.
Pima County Sheriff’s Sergeant Karl Woolridge reported that
there were four bicycle-motor vehicle crashes in unincorporated Pima County in
March, including a fatality on Nogales Hwy, when a north bound cyclist
inexplicably made a U turn in front of on-coming traffic and was fatally
struck. The other three included an auto driver being cited, a wrong way
cyclist being hit on private property, and an 11 year old girl running into a
car, with only minor injuries, and no citation.
Rosemary Carmody asked why the 11 year old girl was not
cited, and Sgt Woolridge responded that there was no reason to do so, as the
girl was removed by her parents, and learned a valuable lesson with no serious
injury.
Chair Bachman-Williams stated that it was the consistent
position of the BAC to encourage citations for both cyclists and motorists,
whenever an offense was committed.
Chair Bachman-Williams, at this point remembered, and then
acted on, appointment of PAG Staff member Richard Corbett as an Ex-Officio
Member (under the BAC By-Laws), as Corbett is an official candidate for the
Secretary office (and has been acting in this role for about the last eight
months).
5. Oracle
Road (SR77) TE Grant Modifications – River Road to Roger Road
Natalie
Clark, southern Arizona ADOT Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant coordinator,
gave a history of the project, which was awarded in 2004, and has gone through
project scoping. The scoping has revealed that there is not enough pavement
width, based on ADOT requirements, to be able to stripe a shoulder/bike lane
there. The project will move forward to upgrade/install sidewalks as originally
set out in the grant application (along with the shoulder/bike lanes).
Carmody
asked if all three travel lanes could be narrowed in order to get the width
needed for the shoulder/bike lane? Clark answered that ADOT lane width
standards do not allow the narrowing any further than they already are.
Diana Tolton
asked if “Share The Road” signs could be installed? Clark answered that the
Tucson District Office should be contacted to request these signs.
Roy
Schoonover stressed that this section (River to Roger) is the only remaining
gap in the Oracle Road north-south bikeway, an REALLY needs to be closed.
Tucson Transportation Director Jim Glock said that the only good way to
re-stripe is to do a pavement overlay, so he agrees that this will have to wait
a bit. Corbett mentioned that this stretch (River to Roger), is included on the
list of RTA bike projects, because this tight section was known last Fall, and
recognized as needing more funding than the TE grant has available.
Carmody
stated that she feels ADOT should put bicycles higher on their assessment list;
Chair Bachman-Williams agreed that real consideration of bikes needs to be in
the design process from the beginning, not added on later.
G.J.
Anderson urged that ADOT find a way to add shoulders/lanes as soon as possible,
and not put them off. Schoonover added that with the change in Tucson District
Engineer, it would be important to get him ‘in the loop’ early. Clark responded
that they were already working with new in Tucson District Engineer on the TE
projects, and also coordination with TDOT. Tucson Transportation Director Jim
Glock said that there is a real ‘risk’ of ADOT turning Oracle Road over to the
City without City agreement, so it is important to work cooperatively with
ADOT. He suggested seeking more TE funding to help with this project.
6. RTA
Information Session
Tucson
Transportation Director Jim Glock said that he was there to provide
information, not to be pro or con regarding the upcoming RTA election, May 16th.
He mentioned the prior presentation to the BAC of the RTA Bike Plan by Tom
Fisher & Richard Corbett.
He then
presented a PowerPoint on the RTA Plan (more info is available on line at:
He also
explained the RTA Oversight Committee, which is a way to help safeguard the
Plan, if passed. The members will be appointed for eight year terms, to be in
that role longer than any elected officials’ term.
A variety of
questions/comments were offered, including: Why are the bike projects in
“Environmental Enhancements”? (Just happened to be put there, as bikes are
definitely environmentally friendly); Why no mention of maintenance? (Enabling
legislation does not allow funding of maintenance – Glock mentioned that the
City would put forth an aggressive program for street maintenance, using City
funds); What has been learned from past votes/failures? (Glock said 1. the
state of the economy, 2. grade-separated intersections are highly controversial,
and 3. too much transit would not win). Schoonover mentioned the 3 + year work
of the RTP Task Force, including increased recognition of funding for
maintenance.
Ken O’Day
was recognized by the Chair, and proceeded to state reasons he does not like
the RTA plan, including (he asserted): The funding for bikes is “token’ (3%
total – 1% each for bikeways, sidewalks, and off road trails); The sales tax is
to “fund sprawl”, and is supported by builders, realtors, etc; The PAG Regional
Council wrote the enabling legislation (why no maintenance funding?); Miles of
bike lanes includes roads that already have them – they are being re-built; The
street car tracks will be in the travel lanes – a problem for cyclists?; What
about accountability? Cited the 1997 County Bonds and the shift of Santa Cruz
path funds as examples.
7. BAC
Elections
Russ
Clanagan, Chair of the nominating Committee, handed out a sheet listing the
candidates that were willing to run. These include: Chair, Diana Tolton; Vice-Chair, Wayne Cullop; Secretary, Richard
Corbett; and Parliamentarian, Brian Beck.
Donna Aversa
with Diana Tolton seconding, moved to challenge the Chair’s interpretation that
the Secretary can be an Ex-Officio member. Aversa asserted an oversight was
committed, since she believes only voting members may hold office.
Several
members and staff pointed out that a literal reading of the by-laws supports
the Chair's position. The By-laws state, in Article 3. Officers, B.
QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS: “Only voting members who have served on the
Committee for a minimum of six (6) months shall be eligible to hold the Office
of Chair or Vice-Chair, unless the composition of the Committee does NOT meet
this criterion.” Note that
nothing is said about the other two Officers (Secretary & Parliamentarian).
Anderson,
seconded by Clanagan, moved to table the motion challenging the Chair’s
interpretation that the Secretary can be an Ex-Officio member, to the next
meeting, prior to the elections. This motion passed unanimously.
There was
then a request to get the bylaws to all members, and Melissa Antol said she
would see that they were mailed out. It was suggested to do them as pdfs, and
then E-mail them, to save money and time.
Tolton
handed out a sheet with her “Proposed Objectives for May 2006 – 2007”, and
explained that she would not do as much as previous Chairs. She then encouraged
some competition for the Chair office. Bachman-Williams said he did not run
because he is a teacher and cannot be accessible during the day. Carmody said
she did not feel the Chair needs to be accessible 24 hours a day. Tolton then
directly asked Bachman-Williams to run, and he declined again, whereupon she
stated that she would probably be a one-year Chair.
Elections
will be held in May, and all candidates must be present.
Tucson
Transportation Director Jim Glock stated that Melissa Antol has done an
outstanding job with her work, especially in the past month, as so many actions
were needed for the Clean Air Fair and Bike to Work Day. He stressed her
dedication to the job, and stated again that he has worked to get a
bike-friendly culture throughout the Tucson Department of Transportation, and
urged the Committee to take advantage of the new TDOT Webmaster.
Melissa
Antol stated that funding has been found to do the overlay so the Grant/Tanque
Verde/Kolb Intersection could be re-striped with a west-bound area for bikes,
to the left of the right turn only lanes.
Cullop
reminded everyone about the May 13th BAC Retreat (a public notice
will be needed), and stated that the ‘formal’ retreat will begin at 9:00 am,
after earlier (6:30 am) bike rides. The Retreat will go until 2:00 pm, with a
working lunch.
Aversa
reminded all of the GABA-Tucson 25th Gala celebration on Saturday
April 22nd, at McCormick Park, 2950 N Columbus Blvd. Bill Adamson
reminded all of the Green Valley event 4:30 pm, April 20th. Bachman-Williams reported that the Downtown
Links Committee met and the 4th Avenue underpass design is still
un-decided.
10. Potential Items for Future Agendas
·
BAC
Elections
·
BAC Retreat
·
Aviation-Barraza
Pathway east end concerns
·
Motorized
bicycles, concerns as to legality, & status
11.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm
Bill Adamson, Pima County
G.J. Anderson, Pima County
Donna Aversa, Oro Valley
David Bachman-Williams, Pima County
Brian Beck, City Ward 2
Dave Boston, Ward 6
Steve Bresler, City Ward 1
Rosemary Carmody, Pima County
Russell Clanagan, Town of Marana
Stephen Cohen, Pima County
P. Wayne Cullop, City Ward 4
George Dudley, Pima County
Jean Gorman, City Mayor’s Office
Zach McDonald, City Ward 5
Roy Schoonover, Pima County
Diana Tolton, Pima County
Jim Glock, TDOT
Melissa Antol, TDOT
Sgt. Tim Beam, Tucson Police
Richard Corbett, PAG
Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley
Lt Mike Pryor, Tucson Police
Sgt Karl Woolridge, Pima Sheriff's
Natalie Clark, ADOT
Mike Sanders, ADOT
Lori Boston, citizen
Jim Brooker, citizen
Leon Byerley, citizen
Eric Gonnason, citizen
Ken O’Day, citizen