Minutes - 09/13/2000 - Safety Pathway CommitteeMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE OAK BROOK SAFETY PATHWAY COMMITTEE OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
Unofficial until approved as written XX or as amended _ on
November 8, 2000
1. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m., Co -Chair Hartmann presiding.
Committee Members Present:
Co -Chair Hartmann, Co -Chair Cullum, Dinkel, Doyle, McShane, Miologos, Richardson, Walters
Committee Members Absent:
Member Huizenga
Others Present:
Roy Cripe, Oak Brook Park District; Stephen B. Veitch, Village Manager
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member McShane noted that he was inadvertently listed as a co -chair in the draft minutes of the May 10
meeting and requested a correction.
A motion was made by Member Doyle, seconded by Member Walters, to approve the minutes of the meeting
held on May 10, 2000 as amended. Passed unanimously.
3. PROJECT UPDATES
Village Manager Veitch and Park District Director Cripe provided updates on various pathway projects:
A. 22nd Street. Construction continues. The concrete is substantially complete and more than half of the
asphalt is installed. The project includes the short apron at the SE corner of Jorie and 22nd Street that had
been on the Public Works maintenance list. In addition, the Village is installing Opticom equipment on the
bridge while the project is open. This will improve the performance of the system at the McDonald's Drive
and Jorie/Enterprise intersections. Director Cripe noted that there might need to be some adjustments made
to depressed curbs and storm drainage structures as the project concludes. The contractor is presently about
10 days behind schedule.
B. York Road. The punchlist is now complete. The Village will be replacing two or three pine trees that
have not survived and are out of warranty. The crossing south of 3420 York is completed. Member Doyle
noted that usage of this path is increasing. There was a consensus that this project need not be carried on the
project updates list, but that the ultimate goal of completing pathways on both sides of York Road between
31" Street and Salt Creek should continue to appear on the priority list.
C. Midwest Road. Manager Veitch reported that the pre - construction meeting for this DuPage County
project will take place on Monday, September 18, at which time more information should be available
concerning the construction schedule and sequence.
Minutes of Oak Brook Safety pathway Committee
Meeting of September 13, 2000
Page 2
D. Harger/York. The Tollway Authority has reversed its earlier stance and has indicated that it will issue
permits within its right -of -way for the project without the condition that the Village accept the Harger Road
bridge.
Phase I engineering revealed significant problems along Harger in terms of floodplain occupancy and
compensatory storage. Costs estimates soared to more than double the budget and there was concern about
the sufficiency of the grant. The Village staff is now pursuing with the grant authorities restructuring the
engineering grant and obtaining a new construction grant for a reduced scope - the York Road portion and
the connection to the Forest Preserve path on Harger east of Yorkshire Woods (part of the regional trail).
The prognosis is good. This would make the rest of the Harger portion, some of which is to be constructed
by a developer, a local path allowing the Village to do what is reasonably possible without the constraints of
the mandated design criteria. There was general agreement with this direction. The staff was asked to
investigate the feasibility of a cantilevered structure, attached to the bridge, to carry the Harger Road path
over Salt Creek.
E. Spring Road. Manager Veitch reported that recent traffic counts indicate an ADT of just over 1000
vehicles per day, which is the threshold for provision of a facility of any type according to IDOT standards.
He noted that the striped shoulder that is in place seems appropriate on that basis, but that it is not wide
enough to meet the standard for marking as a bike lane.
He further reported that he had contacted the Forest Preserve District's Manager of Planning and
Development, Andrea Hoyt, regarding the concept of an off -road path and possible structure at Salt Creek.
According to Ms. Hoyt, the area southeast of Adams and Spring is highly rated forest and the District would
prefer not to place a path through it. Manager Veitch noted that even if that were not the case, this segment
would be extremely expensive and complicated by floodplain and compensatory storage issues with their
attendant costs.
Co chairman Cullum reported on a subsequent conversation with Ms. Hoyt which provided some reason to
hope that the District might be amenable to installing a path skirting the south and east sides of the parcel at
Spring and Adams as part of a linkage to the property further south on the west side of Adams, owned by
IBLP, which the District is seeking to acquire.
F. 31" Street. Manager Veitch reported that the Village still anticipates extension of the grant and moving
into Phase I1 engineering this year, which construction to occur in the 2001 -02 time frame.
G. Regional Trail. Completion of Phase I engineering is still anticipated in the fall. At this point, only this
phase has been funded. The timeframe for construction is still unclear. Issues concerning wetland areas and
the route in the Brookfield Zoo area are apparently responsible for the delay. Member Richardson noted that
the crossing under I -294 at Salt Creek would be inundated under moderately high water conditions without
modification.
H. 2000 Village Project. Village Manager Veitch reported that a contract was awarded to Lemont Paving
Company on August 22 for 356 Street, Covington to St. Stephens Green. Work is expected to begin this
month and be completed in November. The right -of -way issue pertaining to the segment on Wood Glen
Lane between York Road and the existing path caused it to be deleted from the project, but we expect the
problem to be resolved in time to construct this segment next year.
Minutes of Oak Brook Safety pathway Committee
Meeting of September 13, 2000
Page 3
4. OLD BUSINESS
A. Maintenance Issues. Manager Veitch reported that overlays planned in Brook Forest, on Hunter Drive,
and in Trinity Lakes (including the area south of the bridge) are underway and should completed very soon.
The asphalt apron at 160' Street and Spring is included in this work.
The entire system was inspected in July and several issues were addressed. The Forest Preserve District
added screenings to the rough area between the Mill and the asphalt path to the west. The District plans to
address the issue of the narrow "runaround" at the cable gate on the path on the north side of Salt Creek
where it meets York Road by narrowing the cable span, widening the "runaround" and adding screenings.
This should make it possible to ride around the gate more easily.
B. System Signage. The committee reviewed the concept for signage coordinated with new street markers
and expressed approval. Where signage is needed at locations other than a corner with a street marker, the
same small sign on a short black post is envisioned. Manager Veitch reported that the Village Board
authorized bids on the street marker materials on September 12 and that the plan is to assemble and install
them over a two -year period. There was discussion about interfacing the system signage with path systems
in the parks and forest preserves and the possibility of placing small boxes containing system maps at
appropriate locations (i.e., the Sports Core, Central Park, Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve).
The next step will be to lay out the system signage scheme on a map and in the field (in some areas).
C. Committee Vacancy. It was reported that the Village has shifted Member McShane to the previously
vacant southeast quadrant position and appointed John Dinkel to the resulting at large position. The Park
District has appointed Elaine Miologos to the southwest quadrant vacancy created by the resignation of
Rosetta Lombardi.
D. Policy on Pathway Surfaces. There was a lengthy discussion about whether or not to recommend a
change in the 1996 policy, approved by the Village Board, that pathways ringing the Sports Core remain
stone paths. Manager Veitch reported that DuPage County would replace the 3151 Street segment with
asphalt if requested to do so by the Village. The cost of paving the other stone paths is estimated at about
$50,000, given the good stone base already in place. In either event, the Village is planning to pave the
unpaved segments of Polo Road in 2001.
Member Doyle expressed the view that what runners most value is a smooth surface. Co- chairman Cullum
reported that nevertheless, the runners he has spoken to prefer the stone surface. Several members noted
comments from parents that the stone surface is difficult for bikers, particularly children, to negotiate. It was
noted that paving the short segment between the York Road underpass and Golf Drive would provide,
ultimately, a paved route from York Woods and other east neighborhoods to the Bath & Tennis Club.
It was agreed to consider including a question or questions on this subject in the Village's 2001 Citizen
Survey, space permitting. Village Manager Veitch will draft questions for the Committee's review at the
next meeting.
E. Review of Priority List. In view of the hour, it was agreed to defer this review to the November
meeting, and to make it the primary agenda item. It was also agreed that the project update, which is now
provided in writing, could be reviewed and discussed by exception.
Minutes of Oak Brook Safety pathway Committee
Meeting of September 13, 2000
Page 4
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Pathway Map Update. The Committee discussed updating the pathway map. It was agreed that the
map could be simplified and published as a centerfold or insert in a Village or Civic Association newsletter.
The publication could also serve to introduce residents to the system logo that will begin to appear on street
markers and in other locations.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
It was agreed that a series of press releases are in order, heralding the completion of the York Road link, the
22"d Street link, and the introduction of the signage system. Manager Veitch will proceed to prepare the first
release.
Co chairman Cullum reported on his discussion with Andrea Hoyt or the Forest Preserve District concerning
a north/south path through Mayslake connecting the 35 "' and 3151 Street paths. The District is interested in
coordinating timing with the Village.
Co- chairman Cullum raised the question of the best disposition of the Forest Preserve path that dead -ends
into 315` Street near Polo Road. Several options, including abandonment and a grade crossing of 31 st Street,
were discussed. Manager Veitch will review the 315` Street improvement plans and consult with the County.
Co- chairs Cullum and Hartmann indicated their willingness to serve for another year and were elected by
acclamation.
7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no additional business, a motion was made by Co -chair Cullum, seconded by Member Walters,
to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. Passed unanimously.
The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Samuel E. Dean
Board Room at the Village Hall.
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