November 13, 2018 Minutes
The November meeting took place from 9:00 – 10:30 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library Auditorium. Approximately 75 staff members in attendance in addition to SAC Members.
Executive Committee Members Present: Sarah Wojcik-Gross, Jen Abbinett, Buffi Vestal, Lauren Trethaway, Sophia Bredice
Guest Speakers
Karen Simon & Pat Ivey of the NC Department of Transportation – update on the Business 40 closure
Simon Resources – consultant with NCDOT, since 2006
Pat Ivey – division engineer for region
Amy Hubbart (Simon Resources), Sebrina Glen (PART)
Saturday, 6am – between US52 (east) and Peters Creek Parkway (west)
Pat Ivey – rain has created issues, decisions will be made if weather causes closure delay
Tie-in of Peters Creek Pkwy bridge this past weekend
Signage, portable message boards
Offsite improvements – MLK/8th and PCP/Academy
Cost – $10 million (includes planning)
Phase 1: November – Summer
Bridges closed: Liberty, Main, Church, Strollway Land, 4th St (reopens January 2019), Broad St (reopens Spring 2019)
Then can open US52 – Main
Phase 2: Summer 2019 – Spring 2020
closing Chery, Marshall, Brookstown bridges
Hopeful that the project will decrease from 20 to 14 months
Traffic flow improvements have been made for interim period at intersections
Signal timing can be changed remotely to help traffic flow for accidents, other delays
Detours: (pocket maps as hand out)
Familiarize yourself with detours before you go, lots of signs with three bridges closed.
Certain areas avoided for detours for traffic flow
Official detours are 40, 52, Peters Creek Parkway – boards will be placed before split in Greensboro
New Research Pkwy off 52 if heading south; MLK off 52 if heading north (from 40Bus)
100,000 cars on 40 will increase to 140,000 with the detour. Morning/afternoon peak hours will be busy – build 20-25 extra minutes into commute time. Drive slowly and safely to avoid accidents which will cause additional delays.
Peak time – 6:30am – 8:30am; 4:30pm – 6:00 pm
Bus 40 west to east – Knollwood to Cloverdale or last exit will be Peters Creek Pkwy
Bypass 40 – Peters Creek Pkwy
Presentation on website; facebook page is current and monitored every day. NCDOT website has cameras, real time info (feeds into WAZE and other apps).
Bridge visualization with arched openings, full shoulders on both sides, brick retaining walls, transparent noise wall, long ramps. Strollway land bridge with 10’ path and landscaping; green bridge with arches and nighttime lighting.
In case of accidents – incident management plan has “quick clearance plan” to remove accident quickly, use message boards to reroute traffic. DOT has three zones with towing company contracts – incentive package built in for quick removal. NCDOT trucks patrol for accidents – more routes/more drivers added.
WAZE app partnered with NCDOT to show detours, alternate routes. Owned by Google Maps, hope to have better communication.
First two days – managers will be together in command center to assess plan and make changes if needed.
Sabrina with PART
- 22,000 minutes… 45 min commute during scope of project – what else could you be doing?
- Enhanced bus service and discounts in the downtown area, but does not reach up to WFU. Add time, go early. No guarantee of time.
- For WFU: Discount of 40% first month, 30% second month, 20% each month after.
- PART vanpooling – meet in neighborhood, members of group drive the van. Commute is determined by the group in the van, very flexible. Cost is based on mileage you are driving. Van/insurance/gas/roadside assistance/maintenance + emergency ride home. Free taxi ride from University to your destination include as part of the vanpooling program.
Questions asked of the NCDoT Members
- A staff member expresses concern regarding speed of drivers on Research Parkway; they drive too fast and over the posted limit.
Response: This sounds like an enforcement issue. I will gladly make WSPD aware to see what additional enforcement can be done!
- A staff member is very concerned that there is no left turn arrow onto MLK from Research Parkway [NOTE: there seems to be a light at MLK and Research Pkwy, so I’m not sure of the real issue here because the signal timing should allow for a left turn only].
Response: WSDOT can investigate the possibility for a protected left turn phase, but will need support from NCDOT as it’s a State intersection with an exit ramp from US 52. Adding protected left turn phases on the side street may increase the overall delay experienced for the other legs of the intersection with the additional traffic on MLK.
Tim Auman, WFU Chaplain – Chaplain’s Emergency Fund
- Assisting members of faculty/staff/students in midst of crisis – any aspect of life (loss of income, health crisis, car issue)
- Visit to Chaplain – easy resource, includes support, money management skills. Hear their stories – find issues beneath the issues. Assist/support. Employees can speak on behalf of others so that chaplain staff can reach out. Very inclusive definition of community.
- Sponsor individual families during holiday seasons. Have office raise money to emergency fund – 100% goes toward staff/faculty/students in need.
- Role of the chaplain is to have your heart broken every day. Invite those in our community into our space, reach out to those suffering the most.
- Email Peggy Beckman for more info.
- Payroll deduction is in conversation stage.
Kelsey Reedy of the United Way of Forsyth County
Director of Donor Relations – kelsey.reedy@uwforsyth.org
- What does United Way do? And why?
- Forsyth County is 3rd worst in helping children climb up income ladder (behind Native American reservations in South Dakota)
- Fund over 70 programs to move people from poverty to self-sufficiency.
- Education/income/financial stability/basic needs.
- United Way puts groups together to solve the issue, not just provide services.
- 85-88c of every dollar goes directly to programs
- Each United Way operates independently to serve their county’s specific needs.
- Money distribution is decided by community volunteers who review grants, not by United Way staff.
- WFU group is one of the top 12 biggest donors.
- A “hand up” is not the same as a “hand out.”
Standing Committee Goals and Report-Outs
Communications
- We are on standby to assist with the communications needs for our peer committees, especially Events in preparation for the staff appreciation event. We’ll schedule a co-committee meeting in the coming weeks to begin planning an aggressive outreach campaign.
- Good feedback on our enewsletter – thanks to everyone for your help with that.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Events
- Date – June 4. Save the dates coming out soon with incentives for attendance.
- Speaker planned, working on location.
Fringe Benefits – No meeting since last time
Membership – nothing new
Pro Humanitate
- Ronald McDonald House holiday activities + sustained effort going forward.
- Toy drive in RL&H, SFS, UCC, Miller, ZSR – starts today through November 30 to give evaluate, wrap, distribute
- January will begin a meal once each month – survey will come out soon
- Thank you for Project Pumpkin involvement.
Outside Committee Report-Outs
(SAC representatives on other committees)
Capital Planning Advisory
- Campus Master Plan update
- Two new academic buildings in Davis Field area for swing space to remodel older buildings (Tribble); second quad at top of Davis
- Look at additional dining possibilities
- Entrance road will be brought back up Davis Field as original plan
- 5-10 year plan with additional parking on the perimeter; increase the pedestrian nature of campus
- Plan is on facilities website
Faculty Senate – Has not met; going on a retreat soon
Parking & Transportation
- Meeting on Thursday
- Increase of 2nd level appeals, taking additional time – may need compensation.
- Boot + tow policy still in the works.
Tree Advisory – no report
Sustainability website has spreadsheet listing each tree on campus
Council on Inclusion and Diversity
- New requirements and responsibilities of being on this Council
- Strategic plan in the works
- Calls to Conversation
- New website
- International student experience – mental stress, isolation; task force put together for specifically Chinese students then internationals
- Looking for staff to participate in C2C dinners
Finance Advisory – hasn’t met
Campus Rec Advisory Board – hasn’t met
Professional Development Advisory Board – hasn’t met
General Announcements
We will reconvene in January, when we will welcome Paul Whitenever, who will speak to us about the new WakerSpace on campus.