Tell Senator Boxer to make “complete streets” part of the new federal transportation bill! Senator Boxer heads the powerful Environment and Public Works Committee that is writing the federal transportation bill.
Complete Streets are needed to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across streets and highways.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
October 21 Meeting
Monument Community Partnership
TRANSPORTATION ACTION TEAM
Meeting Minutes
Date: Oct. 21, 2010Time: 7:15 pm
Place: Keller House, 1760 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94520
Facilitator: Mary Lou Laubscher
Secretary: Bruce Lyon
WELCOME: ROLL CALL: Kathy Renfrow, Dave Pitman, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Bruce Lyon, Catalina Wright, Bryan Balch, Laura Jean Pearson.
INTRODUCTIONS:
Laura Jean, a bicycle and roller blade enthusiast, joined us this meeting.
Bryan Balch joined the meeting and shared his idea for Pedi Cabs.
Dave Pitman mentioned his work to promote Bed Bug awareness on his web site.
Catalina shared a touching story about her son’s puppy.
Wes shared a story about saving a kitten.
REVIEW ITEMS:
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety:
Laura Jean commented positively about the pedestrian and sidewalk improvements on Monument Blvd. The new color concrete sidewalks add some character to the Monument and improve the visibility of pedestrian walk ways. She also commented about her experience with pot holes and hazardous sidewalk surfaces throughout the City while roller blading. Bryan Balch mentioned that disabled persons using wheel chairs, seniors, and mothers with strollers also have difficulty with poor sidewalk surface quality. Laura also commented about the need for a sidewalk/pedestrian bicycle access across Willow Pass Road because of threatening conditions and fast traffic. Laura Jean also mentioned her Idea of a Paseo or including a special path for bicycles and pedistrians along Monument Blvd.
Pedi Cabs:
Bryan Balch indicated his support for Pedi Cabs, and a bicycle shop and related business to provide economic opportunities for residents of the Monument Corridor. Pedi cabs are three wheeled bicycles modified to accommodate passengers, or urban farm products and include advertizing that could support businesses along the monument. Drivers on their way through town would be attracted to stop at various businesses, to shop, dine out, and otherwise enjoy the character of a pedestrian friendly environment. The Pedi cabs would add to the character, offer an opportunity for photo’s and advertize local business.
Mary Lou mentioned that she envisions the Senior Action Team and other senior groups enjoying outings in the Pedi Cabs. They might also go to the Concord Senior Center for free lunches.
Kathy Renfrow commented on the amount of time and community involvement necessary to achieve improvements to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Mary Lou also suggested an idea for a community celebration to honor the effort to improve the sidewalks and bicycle pathways. Kathy also spoke about the importance of participating in the MTC Public Participation Plan because there are grant opportunities to support community involvement.
SCUFI, Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator: SCUFI offers training for Concord residents in planning and operating an urban farm. The farmers would earn enough to make a middle class living, provide healthy food choices to the community and support other related businesses. Monument residents would eat healthier because of the fresh produce produced nearby.
OTHER PROJECTS;
The Splash Park at Meadow Homes Park on Sunshine Drive: The City of Concord has prepared a Landscape Plan design for a Splash Park for youth at Meadow Homes Park.
The SCUFI BART Project:
Preliminary design has begun on two sites suitable for SCUFI projects, the 7 acre BART site between San Miguel Road and Monument Blvd. The SCUFI project at the BART site has passed BART Design Review and is ready for a meeting with the City Planners.
The Bulge Community Garden Project:
The 1.8 acre site called “The Bulge” is located at the end of Mayette Ave. near the Walnut Creek Channel on land owned by Contra Costa County. The Bulge parcel, which has an opportunity for a community garden, is included in the Counties Iron Horse Trail Improvement project. Our committee members are currently researching utility easements and other information, for the Bulge project, in preparation for a future presentation to the Iron Horse Corridor Management Program Advisory Committee (IHCMPAC).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Bed Bug awareness meeting is October 28, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm at Meadow Homes Elementary School, 1371 Detroit Ave, Concord. There will be a presentation in Spanish.
The HEAL meeting is scheduled for Friday October 22, 2010 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
A SCUFI meeting is scheduled for Friday October 22, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with special guest presenter James Kalin with Virtually Green. James Kalin is an expert and leader in promoting sustainable urban farming. He is the consultant for our local SCUFI trainings and gardening spaces.
MEETING FEEDBACK:
It was great to see and hear the progress on the Community Gardens Projects.
NEXT AGENDA:
- Monument Trail updates from Ray Kuzbari and Jeff Rogers from the city if new information is available.
- Update on community funding opportunities for the Monument Trail Project.
- Update on the progress of SCUFI projects at the Bulge and on the BART site.
- MTC Public Participation Plan, How will the community become involved?
- Monument Blvd Urban Design Plan and Design Guidelines: Will the City move forward on the process?
NEXT MEETING:
November 18, 2010 at 7:00pm, at the Keller House, 1760 Clayton Road, Concord, CA
ADJORNMENT: 8:30 PM
Monday, October 18, 2010
September 16 Meeting
Monument Community Partnership
TRANSPORTATION ACTION TEAM
Meeting Minutes
Date: Sept. 16th 2010
Time: 7:05 pm
Place: Front Porch, Keller House, 1760 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94520
Facilitator: Mary Lou Laubscher
Secretary: Bruce Lyon
WELCOME: ROLL CALL: Dave Pitman, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Ray Kuzbari, Bruce Lyon, Eric Amaya, Catalina Wright, Jeff Smith, Dianne Slattery, Jeff Slattery
INTRODUCTIONS:
Ray Kuzbari, gifted the Transportation Action Team with a large format map of the Iron Horse trail along the Monument area of Concord. It shows the three street and trail improvements in progress or in the planning phases.
REVIEW ITEMS:
Ray Kuzbari, City of Concord Transportation Manager, reported to the Transportation Action Team the progress of two phases of improvements to the existing trail paths from Monument Blvd. to Willow Pass Road next to the Iron Horse trail.
THE TRAIL:
Phase I
Phase I trail improvements will include a 12’-0” wide paved path from Monument Blvd. to Mayette Avenue and is expected to be completed by 2011. This part of the Trail is owned by the County and includes the “Bulge”. Phase I budget is $900,000. Phase I trail improvements are not approved yet because the City needs a design consultant for the design work. The expectation is the trail improvements would be approved by the city by January 2011. Proposed gates at both ends of the trail will be incorporated to improve security.
Phase II
Phase II trail improvements will include a paved trail from Mayette Avenue to Market St. with both sides of the trail to receive Landscaping and Irrigation. Phase II budget is $675,000. The Proposed bike routes will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. The red lines on Ray’s map show special road pavement marking demarking the bicycle lane and will improve bicycle safety.
Phase III
Phase III trail improvements will include a paved trail from Market St. to Franquette, improved lighting in the tunnel that runs beneath Highway 242, bike lane, landscaping, irrigation, and sidewalk improvements on Franquette Ave. This part of the trail is owned by the City of Concord. The long narrow parcel is located near the existing storage facility. The City is still waiting for Proposition 84 funding with an expectation that the funding will be available in November and will fund the last segment of the trail.
Bruce asked about the “ Bulge”. Ray responded that the “bulge” is located on County land and the approved budget and scope of work approved by the county only allows for the trail improvements and does not currently include a shared water meter.
A future trail extension from Willow Pass Road to Commerce Avenue called the “Commerce Avenue Extension” will extend from the terminus of Commerce Ave to Water World. The proposed extension will cross Pine Creek.
Request to Ray in designing the trails
Please leave room in the design for future community projects such as:
A nature trail
Signs showing the History of Concord
Example of drought resistant plants that do well in Concord
A recreational area
OTHER PROJECTS:
Construction of pedestrian improvements is currently underway along Monument Blvd. Ray described Class II Bike Lane and Class III Bike Route improvements for Monument Blvd.
Ray described the following terminology;
Class I Bikeway is a paved bike trail 10’-0” to 12’-0” in width.
Class II Bike Lane and sidewalk improvements .
Class III Bike Route with “Sharrows” markings signage, with 4” wide paint edge line on the street pavement. “Sharrows” are bike lanes shared with the roadway.
Monument sidewalk improvements are scheduled to be completed before the end of the September
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Computer training classes are offered at the Michael Chavez Center. The center recently graduated over 100 persons and will be starting a new cycle. The enrollment is full and there is a waiting list for classes starting in January.
The Monument Community Partnership Health Fair will be on October 2, 2010 from 11:00 to 3:00pm.at Meadow Homes Park.
Dave announced he has expanded the Transportation Action Team Blog. He has newer maps of the Monument Trails we discussed tonight.
MEETING FEEDBACK:
People were pleased with the change in venue having the meeting outside in good weather. One of the guests brought a flashlight and used it to illuminate the map as Ray spoke. Many people came to the meeting interested in the Community Garden project and commented their support for the incorporation of a community garden project into the “bulge” in the Trail project. We welcome our new members.
ADJORNMENT: 8:15pm
NEXT MEETING:
October 21st, 2010, 7 p.m. Keller House
Vision Statement By the year 2015 The Monument Transportation Action Team will have planned and implemented a “local” transportation system that will serve all residents of the Monument area who need it. It will be affordable, sustainable, safe, coordinated, environmentally sound, and get riders where they need to go in a reasonable time
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Grand opening of pedestrian overcrossing
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Presentation to Parks Commission
At the Sep. 8 meeting of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission, Danea Gemmell, Acting City Engineer presented on the two Trail Improvements projects described elsewhere in this blog. The projects are funded, and will start this fiscal year. She is still waiting to hear about the Proposition 84 grant, and will hear if funding is granted later this fall. This grant will provide amenities for the Market Street trail site, and extend the trail to Willow Pass Road. For the Class I Bikeway, she’ll have Conservation Corps volunteers working on the trail, and security gates and dog facilities will be installed. The project design will be until June 2011, bids will go out in the summer and then construction a year from now.
Joan Carrico, Director of Community & Recreation Services told the commission “we did work with the Monument Community Partnership Transportation Advisory Committee.” “The Monument Community Partnership is very happy to see these improvements in the community.”
Joan Carrico, Director of Community & Recreation Services told the commission “we did work with the Monument Community Partnership Transportation Advisory Committee.” “The Monument Community Partnership is very happy to see these improvements in the community.”
Thursday, August 12, 2010
News on Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements
Traffic Light poles waiting to be installed at intersection of Robin and Meadow Lanes.
Article in Contra Costa Times:
Monument Corridor sidewalks getting a face-lift
By Paul Thissen
Friday, July 16, 2010
July 15, 2010 Transportation Action Team Meeting
Even though the transit authority has improved bus routes that benefit seniors and people in need of traveling from the Monument Corridor to local hospitals, clinics, and health care facilities, there is still a need in the community for a replacement van for the Route 8 Shuttle. According to the Seniors Needs Assessment , Seniors are in need of transportation to many regularly scheduled events and available services. The Transportation Action Team explored ideas to develop a sustainable van route, a “Van Plan”, including the ideas of partnering with local businesses and employing trained volunteers. All aboard the Van Plan… Join us at our next meeting is Thursday, September 16, 2010, 7:00pm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)