MDI TOMORROW

MDI Tomorrow Transportation Meeting 08/07/02

Attendance:Ý Susan Covino Buell, Stephanie Clement, Jim Fisher, Mollie Phemister, Clare Wood

I. Indicator additions

Stephanie asked those present if they had any additional indicators for the list.Ý The group went through the ìopportunitiesî list previously developed and added the following indicators based on the discussions:

… # of schoolchildren participating in Project Graduation.

… # of bicycle rentals on MDI.

… # of bicycles carried on the Island Explorer.

… Island Explorer delays (as measured by the ITS system ñ if this data is kept and recorded) ñ this might point to level of traffic, need for more service, etc.

… Island Explorer speeding tickets/accidents ñ this might point to need to make up time because of excessive traffic and delays

… Visitation on the shoulder seasons

… Amount of bicycle tourism there is to MDI (# of individual trips and group tour numbers)

… Miles of Village Connector Trails (trails outside the park that connect villages to Acadia)

… Number and size of trucks (i.e., tractor trailers, dump trucks, refrigerator trucks, etc.) on MDI

The group also slightly changed a few indicators:

The indicator on the number of downtown parking spaces and by what type was changed to include Acadia National Park spaces and to reflect that we meant all MDI downtowns, not just Bar Harbor.Ý
The indicator on the number of passengers on transit services to and from MDI was changed to include cruise ships and people who generally arrive without their cars.

Stephanie asked the committee to think of policy changes they wanted to see enacted and add indicators that would provide data to help direct enact those policy changes.Ý Those present generally felt that the indicators listed sufficiently covered the data that was needed.Ý Mollie added, however, that not everyone knows what the transportation policies are on MDI and that it might be helpful to describe these in some way.Ý Stephanie said that this would probably be a good topic to include in the transportation section of the MDI Tomorrow document.Ý

II.Ý Selecting the indicators we want to track

Stephanie described three ways for those present to select the indicators they think are most important:

1. the group could exclude all those indicators for which data is easily gathered and already tracked by one organization and only prioritize those indicators for which data needs to be compiled or is not readily available.

2. the group could choose among all the indicators listed.

3. the group could select a #1 priority among all three levels of indicators (i.e. the class for which data is readily available and tracked by someone, the class for which data is available but needs to be compiled, and the class for which primary research may be required).

The group elected to follow the third selection process.Ý Chris Andreasson faxed Stephanie his votes, so she placed dots on the board representing his choices, in addition to her choices.Ý The indicators selected as first priority were:

Average Annual Daily Traffic at the Trenton Bridge (data gathered daily by MDOT)
Number of Downtown (all towns) and Acadia National Park parking spaces and what type these are (Bar Harbor Parking Review Committee has data for Bar Harbor, but remainder would have to be collected).
Miles of bikeable roads ñ defined by the group as having 3 ft paved shoulders (may be data in the MDI Bicycle Plan).
Analysis of where MDI employees commute from (Tom has some data for the Jackson Labs, but the remainder is unknown)

Several other indicators were nominated with only one or two votes:

Employment numbers in towns (basically, how many people work in each town).
Number and Type of MDI car and bicycle accidents (note:Ý the intent is to document all accidents, not car/bicycle interaction-type accidents).
Visitation on the Shoulder Seasons.
Number of Passengers on transit (e.g., USAIRWAYS, the CAT, Vermont Transit), non-automobiles (e.g., bicycle touring, sailboats), and cruise ships to and from MDI

Generally, folks thought that there were so few indicators selected that we could probably include all that received a vote.Ý The data for the State of the Island report should be pulled together by September 20^th.Ý

III.Ý Presentation at the August 22^nd MDI Tomorrow large-group sessionÝ

Stephanie reported from the MDI Tomorrow Steering Committee that there will be an opportunity to present the indicators that we have selected to the large group on August 22^nd.Ý She added that this exercise was scheduled to avoid duplication of efforts when gathering data about indicators. ÝIt also will help identify if there are issues that are falling through the cracks (i.e., they are important to several groups, but not high enough to be on anyoneís priority list).Ý

Mollie volunteered to present from the Transportation Committee on August 22^nd.Ý Stephanie added that the Steering Committee also has asked that presenters tell a short story to illustrate the problems related to their issue are.Ý

IV.Ý Data Gathering Assignments

Those present also signed up to gather information about other indicators they might be interested in or have specific data for (see the attached list).Ý Please note that we also signed up other committee members who were unable to attend the meeting, but we knew already had information/data on some items.Ý Stephanie reported that the goal is to complete this research and compile a draft of our section of the State of the Island report by September 20^th.Ý The Steering Committee is hoping to have each committee write an op-ed piece for the local newspapers sometime between October 3^rd and November 7^th.Ý These op-ed pieces will serve as a summary of what each committee has found regarding issues and data.Ý They will also serve as an exhortation to bring residents to the Island Networking conference, scheduled for November 13^th and 14^th.Ý

V.Ý Next meeting