TAC Moves Forward With Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan

Report On The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting Of 1/21/21

Pedestrian And Bicycle Plan
TAC charted a plan forward to complete the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. The Superintendent of Public Works Guilford Mooring has hired a new GIS intern who will be able to update the Plan’s main map[TZ1] , the crucial document that will mark and codify the future vision for the Town’s bicycle and pedestrian networks (until the next revision- it is intended to be a living document)[TZ2] . The intern is starting next week. Mooring expects to be able to guide the intern to make basic corrections like taking routes off the map that are not viable or public. The members of the TAC are reviewing the map and will come back at next week’s meeting to share proposed revisions and discuss. The revisions will then be given to the GIS intern who can update the map. Additionally, TAC Chair Aaron Hayden is preparing a draft proposed letter to the public that will introduce the Pedestrian and Bike Plan. Once map and letter are completed, the plan will be forwarded to the Council for public outreach and hopefully, Council approval.

Project Prioritization
TAC addressed the project prioritization system under development. The system will be a consistent way to score different proposed projects. The Complete Streets / Traffic Calming Subcommittee asked Planning Director Christine Brestrup if there might be funding to provide technical help to the subcommittee to finish the prioritization system. Brestrup said she would ask the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), as they often offer grants at this time of year. Mooring also anticipates receiving a Complete Streets grant from the State to complete Amherst’s Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, a forward-looking plan which, using the scoring system, will identify which transportation projects will be prioritized in future years. At the TAC meeting next week, there will be updates on potential funding for technical assistance for the plan, and next steps.

Traffic Plans For Ongoing Projects
There was a discussion about the possible interference of traffic patterns between two planned adjacent projects, one a mixed-use development on South University Drive, including a new roundabout at Snell Street, and the other, the upgrade of Northampton Road (Route 9) from the intersection with University Drive to South Pleasant Street. Mooring said it is unlikely that construction on the two projects will overlap in time; the South University Drive project should be done this summer, and the Northampton Rd project will likely go out for bid this fall. TAC Chair Aaron Hayden suggested that he and Mooring could develop guidance about how to sign for and route traffic, including to maintain walking and biking access, for these and future projects.

Regarding the pending upgrade at West St and Pomeroy, the TAC learned that the Council will be leading discussions. Mooring said the intent is to go into public discussions trying to gather data, not to go in with any particular design.

Main Intersection Downtown
Finally, there was a question about confusing paint striping and traffic signs at the downtown intersection of Main Street, Amity Street, and South and North Pleasant Streets, since the Shared Streets project plans to change the traffic configuration in that area. Mooring said that the Department of Public Works would be removing the out-of-date signage and fixing the stripping the day following the TAC meeting.   

The next TAC meeting is scheduled for February 4 at 5 PM.