Pathways Committee Meeting - Open to the public

April 18, 2005 5:00pm City Hall

Potential Actions:

• Mike to look for national guidelines for identifying/classifying roads (perhaps Greg Easson would have access to such information)
• Committee to develop a color coded map for Oxford with public input
• Committee to add map to city web-page, Oxford bike club web-page
• Committee to identify potential shortcuts & connections and request easements as appropriate
  • Kate to find out about connection between Van Buren and path
• Engineers to ensure that MDOT allows bikes on pedestrian paths
• Committee to determine ownership of last portion of railbed to Thacker Mountain Road
• Engineers to specific access to gully on old railbed south of whirlpool in a way that minimizes tree loss (potentially from the north)
• Engineers & committee to develop rules, signage, and barriers on old railbed south of whirlpool that will help ensure harmonious relationships between the users of this and nearby land (e.g., hunters, runners, bicyclists, walkers, university teams/coaches, emergency vehicles)
• Engineers to specify use of existing poles for lighting & factor in costs of lighting into the project
• Engineers to evaluate pedestrian access to new path bridge on all four points on Jackson
• Committee & Engineers to discuss with university re: adding bikelanes to new road
• Engineers to consider benefits/costs of raised crosswalks
• Engineers to check wash out areas near dumpsite on old railbed
• Committee & Engineers to clarify locations for bike racks & signage

Discussions/Questions

• How many connections are we trying to work in at this point? How to develop ÒshortcutsÓ or connections to key locations (e.g., Van Buren to trail, Wal-Mart to UM campus, Pat Lamar Park to trail)?
  • Best & most feasible connections will be done with this projectÉ however will need to continue to branch out from first phase
  • Connections to Jackson Avenue need to be explored
  • Connections to other campus areas (e.g., Indoor practice facility) may be possible with new road planned by UM
  • Pat Lamar Park (n.b. has been tried previously on college hill: ditches were challenging, difficult to get easements Ð MDOT Road). Plan to wait on MDOTÕs work on HWY 314.
  • Connection to Middle school - would need to be through school property Ð so may be difficult.
  • Crosswalks - would need to have signage for roads and path - consider raised crosswalks
  • Molly Barr bike lanes to connect with path via crosswalk
  • Potential for connection from Path to Tennis Courts / Ball fields
• How do we make it obvious to newcomers how to make sure donÕt find themselves in a dangerous situations?
  • Develop a map of streets color coded for types of use (kids, some traffic, mixed traffic)
    • Blue - Bikes and pedestrians only e.g. the converted rail line)
    • Green - Neighborhood streets, limited traffic, speed limits 20mph or less
    • Yellow - Caution required, bike traffic mixed with significant motor traffic
    • Red - Primarily Motor Vehicles
• Is there any provision for dividers between path & roads?
  • Not at this point
• Path direction: Molly Barr - Park/Bramlett Drive vs. North Lamar-Williams-Bramlett
  • Park seems more difficult (ditches, hills)
  • North Lamar would get people closer to square
• Old Railbed south of Whirlpool
  • This portion of the trail will most likely be called a pedestrian path (as opposed to a bike path). This will allow the surface to remain non-paved.
  • Potential for connection to Thacker Mountain Road - the ÒlastÓ portion of the railbed may belong to the MS Forestry Commission - which may enable an easement to be obtained
  • Relationship between hunters and other path users
  • Some loss of leafy canopy should be expected to enable equipment access to gully for repair. Access could be made from South or North of gully. North seems wider.
  • Motorized vehicle access? Some motorized vehicles may be allowed (e.g., emergency vehicles, university vehicles); however, rules and signage (and potentially barriers) should be developed to minimize use of path by motorized vehicles
  • washout area on old railbed trail (just past dump site)
• Lighting Standards
  • Currently lit between Price & Jackson - approximately every 400 ft
  • Unable to find existing standards/guidelines for lighting bike paths (some found for pedestrian paths)
  • Existing poling can be used
  • Some lights will need to be shielded for some houses
• Path clearance & maintenance
  • Some areas have brush very near path - Path & area near it will be cleared to a safe distance.
  • Path will be maintained by city crews
• Path Signs, resting points, bike racks, & parking lots
  • Photo #1: Area for new pedestrian bridge, potential location for small retreat area (some difficulties accessing Jackson from path)
  • Signage required in several relevant parking lots
  • Tennis Courts may need bike racks
  • Signage at Molly Barr using existing structures with directors to locations/hot spot
• Path & the round-a-bout on Old Taylor & Ford