HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-02-2024 Fairhope Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee Meeting MinutesFairhope Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee Minutes-July 2024
Attendees: Members-Chris Riley, Gary Gover, Johnny Prewit, Katy Bolton, Jack Graves, Bill Hall, Richard
Johnson .
Unexcused Members: No Council Liaison present; Excused Member absence: Morgan Russell, Mike Walker
Guests: Nigel Te m p l e, Fairhope Resident
Call to order at: 4:31pm, July 2, 2024
Review/Approve January Meeting minutes.
May Meeting minutes approved with corrections to Elk Club Crosswalk write-up deleting "not needed "
and insert, Crosswalk does not support the city connectivity plan due to no si dewalk on Laurel St .
Administrative ltems-(AII)-Nomination of a Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons and Secretary . Reminder
that the next meeting will be September 3, 2024, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM in the Giddens Conference
Center. Bryan Flowers has resigned due to job and other committee commitments. The City Clerk w i ll
post the vacancy. If anyone has any candidates that they can recommend, have them go to
https://www.fairhopeal.gov/city-government/city-committees
4 . Elks Club -American Legion Crosswalk-Recommend that the city use traffic calming and add turn
warning signs and lights to both ends of the curve given the fatal car crash just south of the spot
Richard Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Committee asked the PW department to add this to the
connectivity plan for the future .
5 . Pedestrian Safety at Twin Beach and Boothe Roads -Nigel Temple wrote to the City Council with cc to
the P&B Committee concerning the lack of clear sign age at the referenced intersection. At a previous
meeting the committee had recommended that pedestrian crossing lights be added to the intersection
however the Traffic Safety Committee was unable to decide what action to take . We need a member
to take this item for action .
Nigel Temple, Fairhope resident, stated that he has addressed the dangers of this intersection to the
City Council, Mayor, and the Police Department. Richard Johnson said the city has received money to
conduct a traffic/pedestrian study of the Twin Beach and Booth Rds intersection. He anticipated that
the contract would be let in the near future but put a 6-12 month timeline for the study to be
completed and submitted to the City .
6. ARC -GIS Field Maps App update
Bill Hall had forwarded the new Username and Password for ARC -GIS access to all committee
members. Members should continue to add dangerous intersections in preparation for the SS4A
Safety Planning Study to be conducted in the future.
7. SHARROWS signage, bike rack , and bike repair station installation status update
Richard Johnson stated that the Bike Rack will be installed after the lift station at the Pier St boat
launch is completed. Another bike rack will be installed at the Fairhope Pier . Katy Bolton asked if
additional Sharrow lane markings could installed near the Elks Club to reinforce the need to share the
road. Richard Johnson said he would look into adding them. Katy will follow-up with Richard and
George Ladd .
8. School Bicycle Workshops -need School System buy-in status update
No update on this project .
10. Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) Committee Members Dangerous Intersection Survey-
The City is waiting on the grant money to put the Safety Planning Study.
11. Update on Triangle Property development project-
The pedestrian tunnel work is expected to commence next month . The tunnel will connect the North
and South Triangle parcels passing under Veterans Drive . The authorization has been sent out for the
contract to develop the South Triangle property mountain bicycle course. The International Mountain
Bike
Assoc i ation of America will help with design.
12. Baldwin County Connectivity Plan Update -
No update on this project.
13. "Open Forum " discussion of any topics not on the agenda .
Gary Gover stated that portion of Fairhope Ave between Brown St and the building at 559 Fairhope
Ave has very few trees and that trees provide shade for pedestrians. He was concerned that the city
had similar areas that lacked trees and that this was a problem . Richard Johnson stated that the City
has added over 500 trees over the past years and will continue to add them as needed. He said that in
the downtown business district Public Works has used "tree wells" which allowed them to plan trees
and contain their roots so they can not damage the sidewalk areas.
Katie Bolton stated that during her weekly shop ride she encountered an e-bicyclist riding over 20 mph
on the Eastern Shore Trail. The e-bicyclist did not appear to be peddling, just riding at high speed using
her electric motor. The committee felt that Katy should reach out to the Baldwin County Trailblazers
as they are the sponsors for the trail and might have guidance as to addressing speed limits on the
Tra il.
Meeting adjourned: 5:28 pm
Submitted: Bill Hall