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Greenways, Blueways and Trails BOYNTON BEACH GREENWAYS, BLUEWAYS, AND TRAILS PLAN PUBLIC WORKSHOP HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE BOYNTON BEACH CITY LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, 208 S. SEACREST BOULEARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Jerry Taylor, Mayor Joe Casello, Vice Mayor Mike Fitzpatrick, Commissioner Carisse LeJeune, Assistant City Manager Warren Adams, Historic Resource Preservation Planner Debby Coles-Dobay, Public Art Manager Debbie Majors, Grants Coordinator Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director Woodrow Hay, CRA Member Carisse LeJeune, Assistant City Manager, welcomed all to the workshop at 6:20 p.m. She explained this was for the Master Plan. In 2004, the Recreation Department created a Greenway Master Plan, which was later adopted by the City Commission. Staff took the original plan, updated it and expanded it for connectivity throughout the City, region and the State. She introduced the members of the City Commission that were present as noted above. There were maps on each table, broken down by quadrant. Ms. LeJeune introduced Stuart Robinson, Consultant with Kimley Horn. Mr. Robinson welcomed all to the meeting and expressed the goal was to create a plan to improve the walkways and bikeways in Boynton Beach. There were many exciting projects in the City that would improve bike paths and pedestrian ways. Three dots were given to each attendee, and they were invited to place dots on an infrastructure board on areas they felt were potential priorities for Kimley Horn to analyze. There are different ways to provide infrastructure which he would review and he would relate them to various opportunities for the City. Mr. Robinson pointed out there were various storyboards to help the attendees become familiar with the project and its scope. Preliminary ideas of potential locations for the bike lanes, the walking paths and bike paths had been previously identified. Each table had an aerial map the attendees could use to give Kimley Horn additional ideas to analyze and potentially incorporate into the plan. The maps were set up by geographic areas in the City. Meeting Minutes Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015 The overall goal was to increase and enhance all modes of transportation, tourism, education, recreation, economic development, health, physical fitness and environmental conservation throughout the defined areas. While the focus was on all modes of transportation, they sought to encourage non-motorized active transportation. Studies show physical activity through active transportation is a great way to address chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and other conditions associated with modern society. They will provide recommendations on design guidelines, mapping, parking and others, and formulate detailed actions to address the diversity of users through Complete Streets. Mr. Robinson explained they will build on the 2004 plan and expand it to include public streets having on-road bike lanes and sidewalks. They will build on plans from the County and regional level. Palm Beach Council, through the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Authority has a bike plan that Kimley Horn had reviewed as part of this project. The Treasure Coast Regional Planning County is looking at a regional plan, with hiking and biking that includes trails in Boynton Beach. Two areas that were identified were the Boynton Lawrence corridor and the connection to the Tri-Rail by Quantum and Gateway. Kimley Horn would build from existing facilities such as the Palmetto Greenway Linear , Park, along the south side of the Stanley Weaver Canal providing walking and biking opportunities. There are opportunities by Caloosa Park. The neighborhood on the north side of the park would have a shorter pedestrian access to get to the Park than by car. There are designated existing bike routes which was a County initiative from years ago. They mapped them for potential improvements. U.S. 1 was the first section within all the local FDOT districts that has a buffered bike lane, which has an additional separation from the motorized vehicles. There are some existing crosswalks on Seacrest Boulevard that will be incorporated. They will include more safe crossings and a median can serve as a safe refuge for people crossing the street one direction at a time. There are potential locations along the canal rights-of-way. There is a chance to cross from the west side of the Palmetto Greens Linear Park to the east side. This would be a safe crossing improvement. The South Florida Regional Water Management District allowed a walking and biking path through the right-of-way and there is a process that was established with the Water Management District to permit a facility. The Palmetto Greenway Linear Park was an example of that type of facility and they mapped out a proposed shared-use path. Kimley Horn reviewed connecting existing parks and preserves such as the Seacrest Scrub and opportunities to widen roadways to allow for on-road bicycle lanes, but noted they would have to address swales to improve drainage. 2 Meeting Minutes Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015 Mr. Robinson commented the project would become a Complete Street. The project would provide facilities for all users and abilities, and Complete Streets are designed to move cars and people. Projects such as this can improve crash rates and make Florida more walkable and cycling friendly. He noted Florida has some of the worst safety rates regarding crashes, and this type of project can improve those rates. Primary tools for street designs were reviewed which included crosswalks, flashing beacons, median island refuges, lighting on shared use paths, neighborhood greenways and buffered bike lanes. Mr. Robinson explained they had proposed bike lanes along Quantum and Seacrest Boulevards and other examples of bike lanes were viewed. There will be designated space on the roadway for bicyclists to use. Some are conventional bike lanes. Some could be buffered as was along U.S. 1 and some use green asphalt which provides additional recognition to motorists that bicyclists are on the roadway. Photographs of neighborhood greenways were reviewed. These were low-volume, low- speed roads that do not need a separate path or sidewalk because most cyclists feel comfortable riding in the road. These could be designated through signage or pavement markings. A shared-use path is shared between pedestrians and cyclists. They are on areas along roadways and canals and examples of these paths were viewed. Mr. Robinson noted the FDOT has a new standard for providing buffered bike lanes. State highways would have the new standard and U.S. 1 and Boynton Beach Boulevard have this. Cycle tracks are where bike lanes are not just separated by paint. They are separated by a physical barrier such as curbing or on-street parking and the cyclists ride next to the curb between parked cars or sidewalks. Sidewalk design was important. Pictures of sidewalks with good design principals, including trees to help with shade were viewed. Interactive flashing beacons can be added to crosswalks. Pedestrians press a button for a flashing light to warn motorists they will cross. There are other ways to design crosswalks to signal crossing activities to motorists through textured pavement and medians. Examples of these were viewed. Curb extensions and bulb-outs shorten the distance pedestrians have to cross and increase visibility. It gets them closer to the area where they will cross. Median islands were important for crosswalks and at intersections and round-abouts. Lighting could be included on some of the projects, but not on all because of costs. Mr. Robinson commented it would be important to include at crosswalks and bus shelters. On-street parking helps provide a walkable environment. Shading and trees are a potential component to improve walkability and bus shelters, especially high-volume shelters. Mr. Robinson explained a road diet is an implementation strategy. If having a 3 Meeting Minutes Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015 four-lane road, the car lanes can be reduced to three to reallocate space for other types of amenities. An example was shown where it provided bike lanes. They are including Blueways and paddling trails in the project. Some locations, such as Caloosa Park could be used as a trailhead that includes shelters and signage or map of the network so users could decide where they would go on the trail. These should be at places where restrooms and water fountains are available so people can rest. Mr. Robinson anticipated trailheads would be at larger parks and areas near downtown. There is a regional project in conceptual form involving the FEC. As the railroad is used more for passenger trains, especially if the Tri-rail Coastal Link comes, there would be a need for pedestrians and cyclists to access the stations. They have the potential for a station in downtown Boynton Beach. Regional agencies have identified a Rail with Trail network to provide a path along the rail to funnel people to the station. This item is being incorporated into the City's plan. Mr. Robinson advised the design principals they used were good street designs starting with a human-scaled approach and car and traffic capacity principals to create great public spaces. A draft network plan was viewed containing Kimley Horn's preliminary ideas. Mr. Robinson requested the attendees share their ideas on areas they think are important for walking and biking. They should write their ideas on the boards and they could talk about some of them as they circulated among the tables. They also had comment cards that could be used. Mr. Robinson thanked all for attending the meeting, and advised he would go to each table to receive their feedback and answer any questions. The public workshop/ concluded at 6:52 p.m. / LAAAJL Catherine Cherry () Minutes Specialist 09/30/15 4