November 2000
Citizens Advisory
Committee on Transportation
Meeting Minutes
November 8,
2000
Present:
Maureen
Budetti
Charles
Langalis
Sandy
Lewis
Robert
Puentes
Andrea
Giberson
Helen
Reineke-Wilt
1.Administrative
Items
A. Review
and approval of outstanding minutes
The minutes
from the July, September and October meetings were reviewed and approved
without
modification.
B. Election
of Officers
Rob Puentes
and Charles Langalis were elected Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively.
2.Discussion
Items
A. Electric
Bus
The vendor
who supplies the battery packs for many of the electric buses in the country
has recalled the battery packs for replacement.This
resulted in taking buses off routes of already-operating systems.These
buses that were already being used will be given first priority for replacements.The
Electrek bus falls lower on the priority list since the service has not
yet begun and may not be ready until February.A
CACT member suggested that the smaller buses Washington Metro Transportation
Authority (WMATA) has been using for some routes could be employed in Falls
Church in the interim.
B. Development
Projects
There are
no new development projects.No additional
news about the Adcom site – does not appear that Marriott will be going
in.Jennings project is moving along,
as is the Anderson project.With
respect to the latter, 4 townhomes have been sold with 12 still available.
C.Transportation
Task Force
Helen
Reineke-Wilt supplied copies of the current issues before the Transportation
Task Force (TTF).Some key issues
include:
-Speeding
on West Marshall Street: It appears that residents were not happy with
some of the solutions recommended by the TTF and may seek other alternatives
– such as the construction of traffic calming devices such as speed humps.
-Trucks
on Birch Street: City Police are monitoring the issue.
-North
Cherry Street: City Police are going to be more of a presence to ensure
safety – especially at the intersection with Hillwood Avenue.City
is looking into getting bike lanes painted on the street which could, among
other things, serve as a traffic calming strategy.
-Railroad
Avenue: Seeking to turn this short segment of road back into a public street.
In
addition, Helen mentioned that the City might be able to leverage the funds
dedicated to the regional Dulles Rail Corridor Project into funding for
a Citywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
D.Pedestrian/Walkability
Plan
Sandy
and Andrea are examining the Pedestrian plan employed by Arlington County
to see what elements could be applied for Falls Church.They
will then develop a draft, reviewed and revised by CACT members before
going forward.
Charles
distributed maps and a cover letter for a Pedestrian Thoroughfares/
Walkability Survey and provided some ideas to aid in the creation of
a database on the current physical state of the City’s non-motor vehicle
access.CACT members were each assigned
a particular Ward in the City and will canvas the Ward noting where non-motorized
transportation is hampered by inadequate or unsafe elements are located
(e.g., blocked/no sidewalks, utility poles, signage, traffic lights).
3.Other
Business
Rob mentioned
that he is giving the keynote presentation at the Village Preservation
and Improvement Society’s Fall Meeting on transportation issues affecting
the City and the region.CACT members
were invited to attend.
The meeting
ended at 8:50 pm.
Rob Puentes
