NOTICE OF MEETING Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Central Iowa Bicycle Pedestrian Roundtable (Roundtable)

) *************************** Tuesday, June 21, 2011 12:00 p.m. St. Etienne Room, Armory Building 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA *************************** TENTATIVE AGENDA I. Call to Order II. Introductions III. Approval of Agenda IV. Approval of the Roundtables May 17, 2011, Meeting Minutes.......................Page 3 V. Discussion Items A. B. C. D. E. Trail Counter Purchase.................................................................................... Page 6 Bicycle Tourism Update................................................................................... Page 7 Smart Codes Update ....................................................................................... Page 7 Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit Update................................................. Page 8 Bicycle Facilities Gap Study ................................................................. Page 8

VI. Informational Item Bike and Ride Data ............................................................................................. Page 9 VII. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee VIII. Future Agenda Items IX. Next Roundtable Meeting Date 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, Des Moines X. Adjournment

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MEETING NOTES DES MOINES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) CENTRAL IOWA BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN ROUNDTABLE (ROUNDTABLE)

May 17, 2011 12:00 PM

City of Des Moines, St. Etienne Room Des Moines, Iowa

Roundtable Attendees Present:

Marco Alvarez, City of West Des Moines Andrea Chase, Natural Heritage Foundation Dana Conn, Transportation Management Assoc. Dustin Delvaux, City of Bondurant Heath Ellis, City of Pleasant Hill Josh Heggen, City of Windsor Heights Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation Dayne Magneson, U.S. Army Corps Kris May, City of Mitchellville Todd Redenius, City of Ankeny Joe Spradling, HDR Engineering Stefanie Toftey, DART Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee Ron Ward, City of Johnston Carol Williams, Story County Conservation

Roundtable Staff Present:

Zach Young, Associate Transportation Planner Luke Parris, Associate Transportation Planner

I. Call to Order
Chair Jim Lane called the May 17, 2011, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:00 p.m., at the St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA.

II.

Introduction
Participants introduced themselves.

III.

Approval of Agenda
Participants approved the May 17, 2011, Roundtable meeting agenda.

IV.

Approval of the Roundtables April 19, 2011, Meeting Notes

Participants approved the Roundtables April 19, 2011, meeting notes.

V. (A.) Department of Justice Trail Usage Ruling

Loren Lown noted that the next step concerning the Department of Justice ruling is to assess the trails. Mr. Lown informed the group that Polk County has completed preliminary assessments and are now waiting to see if Power-Driven Mobility Device (PDMD) usage becomes a problem on the trails. Marco Alvarez noted that the City of West Des Moines is also waiting to see if the PDMD use on trails becomes an issue. Mr. Alvarez noted that the City of West Des

Moines has some concerns over how to approach the assessment of the trails. Mr. Alvarez questioned whether trails should be assessed as a whole or in segments. Alternatively, should it be assessed based on the type of trail? Mr. Lown noted that Polk County has created an assessment checklist to aid in the process of assessing the trails. Mr. Lown pointed out that people do not expect to encounter motorized vehicles on the trails and therefore PDMD use on trails posses a significant amount of danger to cyclists and pedestrians. Andrea Chase noted that the American Trials website has published some good examples of policies concerning the assessment of trails. The American Trails website provides examples of how to categorize different types of PDMDs and provides some good models of how central Iowa jurisdictions could move forward with their own trail assessments. Jim Lane pointed out that the role of the roundtable is to find examples of how to deal with the PDMD issues, share these examples with elected officials, and make sure jurisdictions are starting to work on the assessments.

V. (B.) Smart Codes

Staff updated the Roundtable concerning the use of Smart Codes to promote bicycle-, pedestrian-, and transit-oriented development in central Iowa. Staff noted that, seeing how Smart Codes are a divergence from business-as-usual, the logical next step is to educate local decision makers and the public about Smart Codes. Staff requested that the Roundtable discuss how best to approach this process. Todd Redenius commented that the Roundtable could be a catalyst to promote Smart Codes within local planning departments. Mr. Redenius suggested that Roundtable members talk to their planning departments and report back at the June meeting. Stefanie Toftey commented that considering the regional nature of transportation and land use issues it seems appropriate that the MPO be involved. Carol Williams noted that it is important to educate the public so they can take the issue before their City Councils. This way it is coming from the public and has a better chance of getting a positive reception. Discussion ensued concerning how best to educate the public on Smart Codes. Andrea Chase asked if anyone in the group was aware of what the City of Cumming is doing regarding Smart Growth. Ms. Chase noted that the City of Cumming is exploring how to integrate Smart Growth and sustainable practices in their community. Discussion ensued regarding the City of Cummings Smart Growth and sustainability plans. Staff updated the Roundtable on the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, noting the process would provide opportunities to educate local decision makers and the public on issues like Smart Growth and Smart Codes.

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V. (C.)

Bike to Work Week

Carl Voss updated the group on Bike Month and Bike to Work Week. Mr. Voss commended several communities including Windsor Heights and Perry concerning the number of events they have sponsored. Mr. Voss noted that all the events are getting strong turnouts. However, registration is lagging and registration is the only way to measure who is riding. Andrea Chase commented that perhaps the group should explore ways to make information on how to register more available at future events.

VI. (A.)

Bike-and-Ride Counts
Roundtable participants reviewed the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and CyRide bike-and-ride counts for April 2011.

VI. (B.)

Connect Update Staff updated the Roundtable on specific benchmarks within the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan (Connect) that staff is working on implementing. Staff informed the group about the interest expressed by CIRTPA members to purchase trail counters. Discussion ensued concerning the roundtables support for trail counters and how the data these counters would provide could be used to improve trails in central Iowa.

VII.

Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

Marco Alvarez informed the group that the City of West Des Moines is installing bike lockers sometime this week. They are installing three lockers that will accommodate up to six bicycles. Mr. Alvarez also commented that they have accepted bids for their central Iowa trial signage.

VIII.

Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for June 21, 2011, at noon.

IX.

Adjournment
The May 17, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:01 p.m.

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V. (A.) Trail Counter Purchase

Discussion Item The Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA):

At their May 12, 2011 meeting discussed using excess planning funds to purchase trail counters; and, Requested that staff provide them with more detailed information regarding the usefulness of the data trail counters would provide.

The CIRTPA Staff:

Researched a variety of trail counters and prepared a cost estimate for the purchase of TRAFx brand trail counters; Notes that TRAFx counters are used by the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and various park districts across the country and in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Germany; Notes that the TRAFx counters are also being used in Iowa by the Region XII Council of Governments; Notes that the TRAFx counters come highly recommended by these users and that data collected is useful when making management decisions and justifying funding; and, Requests that the Roundtable provide recommendations to the CIRTPA board concerning the usefulness of trail counters for the regional trails system.

Staff Contact: Zach Young, zyoung@dmampo.org; (515) 334-0075, extension #208

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V. (B.) Bicycle Tourism Update Discussion Item The Trails Marketing Group: Has purchased several website domains with the intention of promoting bicycle tourism in Iowa. The MPO staff: Requests that Trails Marketing Group provide an update on bicycle tourism promotion to the Roundtable. Staff Contact: Zach Young, zyoung@dmampo.org; (515) 334-0075, extension #208.

V. (C.) Smart Codes Update Discussion Item

The Roundtable:

At its April 2011 meeting discussed the possibility of using Smart Codes to promote pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-oriented development as called for in Chapter 1, Action 5.2, Benchmark 5.2.1 of the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan; Agreed that addressing land-use and transportation is an important issue that should be discussed further at future meetings; and, Discussed how to move forward at the May 17, 2011 meeting.

The MPO staff:

At the May 17, 2011 meeting, requested that Roundtable members discuss Smart Codes with their respective planning departments; and, Requests that committee members update the Roundtable at the June 21, 2011 meeting.

Staff Contact: Zach Young, zyoung@dmampo.org; (515) 334-0075, extension #208.

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V. (D.) Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit Discussion Item

The MPO staff:

Notes that the Second Annual Iowa Trails Summit was held on June 16-18, 2011 in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa; and, Requests that Roundtable members who attended provide an update on the summits proceedings.

Staff Contact: Zach Young, zyoung@dmampo.org; (515) 334-0075, extension #208.

V. (E.) Bicycle Facilities Gap Study Discussion Item

The MPO staff:

Notes the MPOs Connect: Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Chapter 4, Action 1.3 states, Establish a process to update governments and agencies on new trail developments and connections to the state and regional trail system; Notes the benchmark for Action 1.3 are the following: 1.3.1 Benchmark: Provide active project updates routinely to the Roundtable.

Has requested that MPO/CIRTPA member governments and agencies send updated GIS trail information to the MPO/CIRTPA staff when projects are completed; Requests that MPO/CIRTPA member governments and agencies contact MPO/CIRTPA staff with any questions; Notes that trail updates ensure that all trail information reflects current activity in central Iowa and will allow local stakeholders to track progress on connecting gaps and completing trails within the Central Iowa Trail System; Provided, as a supplemental item, 11x17 bicycle facility maps to Roundtable members for their review; and, Will provide a large map of Central Iowa Bicycle Facilities for Roundtable members to review at the June 21, 2011 meeting.

Staff Contact: Zach Young, zyoung@dmampo.org; (515) 334-0075, extension #208.

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Bike and Ride Data Informational Item Below are the most recent Bike & Ride Counts for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and CyRide (Ames):

TABLE 1. DART Bike & Ride User Counts per Month by Year
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER TOTAL 2005 485 321 99 905 2006 334 425 553 771 1,240 1,718 1,803 2,077 1,898 1,623 1,255 1,064 14,761 2007 717 378 833 1,256 1,934 2,632 2,823 3,202 2,823 5,873 2,282 701 25,454 2008 718 623 1,183 1,904 2,739 3,297 3,968 6,636 3,844 3,797 2,248 701 31,658 2009 521 973 1,935 2,792 3,454 4,228 4,446 4,385 4,156 N/A 2,367 910 30,167 2010 341 356 N/A 2,902 3,333 3,828 4,174 4,425 3,945 3,862 2,623 1,316 31,105 2011 636 868 2,252 3,075 3,884

Source: DART

TABLE 2. CyRide Bike & Ride User Counts per Month by Year
2008 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER TOTAL Source: CyRide 2009 17 38 54 53 189 284 336 429 401 289 139 53 2,282 2010 22 63 232 322 248 335 482 582 576 507 293 146 3,808 2011 134 160 297 376

87 169 79 36 370

134

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