University Assembly Transportation Advisory Committee

Transportation Advisory Committee
Minutes from Friday, November 21, 2008
12:15 PM — 1:30 PM, B16 Day Hall

Present

Marin Clarkberg, Jim Gibbs, Marisa LaFalce, Leon Lawrence, Lois Levitan, Arnim Meyburg, David Proctor

Ex-officio present

Judy Eckard, David Lieb, Inda Mahler, Helen Steh, Ed Strong

M. LaFalce called the meeting to order and asked for approval of the October minutes. They were unanimously approved.

Update on t-GEIS

D. Lieb said t-GEIS was presented to the Town of Ithaca in September. The town held open forums for comments. The comments were addressed and added to the final t-GEIS. He distributed an information piece call “Transportation, Cornell and the Community”. This was sent to all Tompkins County residents. The format of the t-GEIS is basically three sections: current conditions impacts of doing nothing mitigations

The Transport Impact Mitigation Strategies (TIMS) was developed from the mitigations. This will be Transportation’s strategic plan for the next 5 — 10 years.

D. Lieb invited the committee to go to the website: www.tgeisproject.org and review the document and bring comments to the next meeting. A. Meyburg asked the following of D. Lieb: When you say the TIMS are the projects over the next 5 years, have these been priority reviewed? D. Lieb said yes, that they are part of the $10M university’s transportation/community investment initiatives. E. Strong noted that the UA is interested in learning the TAC’s comments on the TIMS.

D. Lieb was asked how t-GEIS ties to sustainability. He replied that Transportation Services, 19 years ago, (started focusing on sustainability before it was called that) introduced our TDM programs to reduce single occupant vehicles (SOV) coming to campus. All of our efforts are focused on finding ways to boost alternatives to the SOV. We have about one-third of faculty/staff in those programs which we have maintained over the years. We have not been able to increase that participation. This has led us to try to make the existing programs better to meet the community needs.

D. Proctor asked if the one-third participation means two-thirds are driving. Referring to the table on page 6 of the handout, D. Lieb said that 55% of faculty/staff drive SOVs. A. Meyburg noted that Transportation has focused on programs that the university has provided. It is clear that the impact on surrounding communities needs to be addressed. D. Lieb said the t-GEIS scope was looking at the communities surrounding Cornell and how Cornell can assist the community in projects. The investment initiatives allow Cornell to help defray the local match for state and federal monies.

E. Strong noted that he would take this conversation back to the UA who will be taking action December 3rd on sustainability. M. LaFalce said she didn’t think the committee could give feedback to the UA by December 3rd but will be making comments at the next meeting.

D. Lieb mentioned Cornell’s Climate Commitment and the Transportation Wedge group. The bulk of their time is spent on sustainability issues. He noted it is a slow process on a decentralized campus.

M. LaFalce commented “wearing her job hat” that she has watched the change in transportation — it is no longer “parking” but commuting. Hopefully, we (TAC) can work with Transportation.

D. Lieb said that people want access and mobility — not necessarily parking and that Transportation needs to provide something other than disincentives (cost). H. Steh said that we established a culture at Cornell traveling to meetings by car. Transportation is questioning that and is providing options and incentives.

Published Information on Pedestrian Routes

D. Proctor said that there is very little published information on getting around campus on foot. Not only is it faculty, staff and students but visitors, too. There are maps that have pedestrian bridges but no paths that lead to them, i.e. the pedestrian bridge in Collegetown and the paths to it. He asked if that was reasonable. D. Lieb commented that the electronic maps are a central resource and certain layers can be turned off. S. Powell said that this issue has been discussed by the Bike and Pedestrian Safety Committee. Andrea Haenlin-Mott, Facilities Services ADA Coordinator, is working on an access map for mobility impaired. Such a map would also be helpful on site planning and design for new buildings and how routes of travel will be impacted. A. Meyburg said that it makes a lot of sense for visitors so they can view this beautiful campus. At many places — such as zoos, botanical gardens, campuses, etc. they have posts with directional signs and it would make the campus user-friendly. E. Strong said that Washington, DC uses that system and it has been done very tactfully. J. Gibbs noted that a new Grounds director is coming on board and this may be the time to introduce this concept.

A. Meyburg commented that signs are an issue — for instance the Duffield Hall sign is gray on a gray building. The sign is not there for us but for visitors and they cannot see it! J. Gibbs said that signage on campus is a philosophy (unobtrusive low key clutter) and maybe it is time to change it.

E. Strong asked if there is an easy link to driving to campus — maybe that is where a pedestrian map should reside.

L. Levitan asked if TAC should formalize a link to the Campus Planning Committee. E. Strong said he would try to contact the Campus Planning Committee.

M. LaFalce noted that Sue and Jim will carry the map idea forward and perhaps CIVR can be contacted to see if information can be on their web page. H. Steh said she would follow-up on it.

A. Meyburg said that it seems in line with the sustainable transportation — published maps of walking to campus. That information should be at people’s fingertips. Information is elemental in making informed decisions. D. Proctor noted that it could be a student project using Goggle Mapping.

M. LaFalce said that the UA is looking to TAC to make recommendations around sustainability. She will try to put together a general statement and pass it on to TAC for comments before sending it to UA.

This meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.