Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Advisory Group

MAYOR TRUSTEES George D. Alpogianis John C. Jekot Joe LoVerde ACTING Danette O’Donovan Matyas VILLAGE MANAGER Denise M. McCreery Hadley Skeffington-Vos Craig Niedermaier Dean Strzelecki VILLAGE CLERK Marlene J. Victorine MINUTES BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN ADVISORY GROUP Remote Participation July 28, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Advisory Group meeting was held remotely on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. The meeting was called to order at 11:02 a.m. by Chairman Niedermaier. Members Present: Staff Present: Chairman Craig Niedermaier Nathan Bruemmer, Staff Liaison Peggy Reins Tom Powers, Village Engineer Stephen Sanders Katie Schneider, Community Engagement Coordinator Ticia Doughty-Ashcroft Andrew Vitale, GIS Coordinator Brian Lee Kathy Thake, Assistant to the Village Manager Nick Zakula, Police Bureau Chief Tim O’Brien, Civil Engineer II Also Present Tim Gustafson, Epstein Ted Hamilton, HR Green George Alexopoulos, HR Green Call to Order Approval of Minutes Group Member Sanders, seconded by Group Member Reins, moved to approve the minutes of the June 23, 2021, meeting; on voice vote all concurred. New Business Prior to starting the New Business, Trustee Niedermaier introduced Brian Lee, the newest member of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Group. Mr. Lee stepped up to fill a vacancy in the committee. Mr. Lee has lived in Niles for 13 years, and has biked and walked in the area for over 40. Mr. Lee introduced himself. I. Discussion – Cleveland and Waukegan/Cleveland and Caldwell Intersection Design Options 1000 Civic Center Drive Niles, IL 60714 Phone (847) 588-8000 Fax (847) 588-8051 WWW.VNILES.COM  Ted Hamilton of HR Green presented alternate designs for the Cleveland and Waukegan intersection based on the Committee’s feedback from the previous meeting. The first design restricts through movements on Cleveland as well as any left turns onto Cleveland, with pedestrian refuge islands and some minor pavement widening on the west. The second design widens Waukegan with a 15’ median and full access for left turns in both directions. The third design is kind of a hybrid of the first two, with a 15’ wide median, restricted left turns in the south bound direction from Waukegan, and provides pedestrian crossing only on the north side of Cleveland. The north side of Cleveland would have an 11’ refuge island. There was extensive discussion about the merits and disadvantages of each design option, with notable concerns about restricting through traffic and left turns onto Cleveland, widening Waukegan, and how bicycles will navigate the intersection. Group Member Doughty-Ashcroft had to leave the meeting early but took a moment to ask if the Committee can push their meeting time back once school resumes. She also announced her desire to celebrate the new crosswalk on Nordica near Culver School on the first day back to school. She is hoping some members of the Committee and/or Village Staff will join her that morning to hand out educational materials and promote pedestrian safety. II. Epstein Plan Update Tim Gustafson, Epstein, gave a quick update on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update. He announced that they were putting the “meeting in a box” materials together so they would be ready for the Walk and Roll Event in the first week of August. He also shared the working logo for the project, and asked the group to weigh in with their thoughts on it. The next step for the Plan is scheduling stakeholder interviews and getting the website live, and then beginning those interviews. III.Continued Discussion – Cleveland and Waukegan/Cleveland and Caldwell Intersection Design Options Conversation returned to the Waukegan and Cleveland intersection design options. Group Member Lee asked if Design 1 can be adapted to be friendlier to through traffic for bikes. Village Engineer Tom Powers said one option would be to connect both refuge islands, blocking the middle of the Cleveland intersection, with cut outs for through movement for bicycles. There was discussion about the impact of various designs on the immediate neighbors, as well as about traffic counts through the intersection for both bicycles and vehicles. Ted Hamilton went on to present the design for the Cleveland and Caldwell intersection. The design has an 18’ wide median providing a 10’ left turn lane and an 8’ barrier median on the north side of the intersection. There will also be a single crosswalk at the north leg of the intersection, connecting to the North Branch Trail path. Group Member Reins suggested a cyclist accessible push button for the overhead pedestrian lights at the intersection. Everyone seemed largely satisfied with this design. Discussion again returned to the Waukegan and Cleveland intersection. Chairman Niedermaier polled the Committee members about which design they favor. Group members were split between Design 1 and Design 2, but the consensus was that neither are ideal. Group Member Sanders asked if we could table the decision. The group looked at a design solution from the City of Bloomington, IN, which blocked  through traffic but allowed bicycles through, and discussed its applicability to Cleveland and Waukegan. There was further talk about the left hand turn issue, why IDOT is requiring it, and whether the Village can push back more. It was decided that the engineers should have one more conversation with IDOT summarizing the Committee’s concerns with the current design options. IV. Walk and Roll Bureau Chief Nick Zakula reminded the Committee about the upcoming Walk and Roll Event on August 5th. There will be a raffle and the Police Department got tons of bike helmets, lights, horns and accessories to give away. They also received a nice Trek bike as the grand prize. They will have safety demos at the event, as well as a ride and a walk. A bike shop is coming to display and demo, as well as some things for sale. There will also be snow cones for sale and a taco trucks. Group Member Reins brought up the importance of motorist education rather than just putting all of the responsibility on the cyclist. Chief Zakula said they will be handing out pamphlets from the Secretary of State’s office. Group Member Sanders said he might be able to get some pamphlets from Ride Illinois to hand out. Other Discussion Staff Liaison Bruemmer said he would send out a survey to pull the committee members about future meeting times. Comments from the Public None. Next Meeting August 25, 2021 at Noon. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Group Member Sanders, seconded by Chairman Niedermaier; all concurred and the meeting adjourned at 12:58 PM. Nathan Bruemmer Staff Liaison