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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/20/2024 - TRANSPORTATION BOARD - AGENDA - Regular Meeting3/20/2024 Agenda Page 1 Transportation Board Meeting SUMMARY AGENDA Wednesday, March 20th, 2024, 6:00 PM Online via Zoom or in Person at 281 N. College Avenue This hybrid Transportation Board meeting will be conducted in person at 281 N College Ave, 1st floor conference rooms or you may join on-line via Zoom. Participants should join at least 5 minutes prior to the 6:00 p.m. start time. ONLINE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: You will need an internet connection on a laptop, computer, or smartphone, and may join the meeting through Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/join Webinar ID:992 3667 9837, Passcode 735155. Keep yourself on muted status. For public comments, the Chairperson will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to comment. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY PHONE: Please dial +1-719-359-4580 and enter Meeting ID 99236679837; Passcode 73515. Keep yourself on muted status. For public comments, when the Chair asks participants to click the “Raise Hand” button if they wish to speak, phone participants will need to press *9 to do this. Staff will be moderating the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Transportation Board. When you are called, press *6 to unmute yourself. Documents to Share: Any document or presentation a member of the public wishes to provide to the Transportation Board for its consideration must be emailed to aiverson@fcgov.com at least 24 hours before the meeting. Provide Comments via Email: Individuals who are uncomfortable or unable to access the Zoom platform or participate by phone are encouraged to participate by emailing comments to aiverson@fcgov.com at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. If your comments are specific to any of the discussion items on the agenda, please indicate that in the subject line of your email. Staff will ensure your comments are provided to the Transportation Board. 3/20/2024 Agenda Page 2 Transportation Board Meeting SUMMARY AGENDA Wednesday, March 20th, 2024, 6:00 PM Online via Zoom or in Person at 281 N. College Avenue AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (FEBRUARY 2024) 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Transfort and Poudre School District Collaboration Study (Seth Lorson, 45 minutes) 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. City Council 6 Month Calendar Review b. Staff Liaison Report 10. ADJOURNMENT TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR February 21, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Online Via Zoom or In-Person at 281 North College Avenue 2 /21/202 4 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Cari Brown Vice Chair: Council Liaison: Ed Peyronnin Emily Francis Staff Liaison: Aaron Iverson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Cari Brown, Chair Ed Peyronnin, Vice Chair Jerry Gavaldon James Burtis Jess Dyrdahl BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Stephanie Blochowiak Nathalie Rachline Indy Hart CITY STAFF PRESENT: Cortney Geary Rob Mosbey PUBLIC PRESENT: None 3. AGENDA REVIEW Iverson stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None. TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2 /21/2024 – MINUTES Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JANUARY 2024 Gavaldon made a motion, seconded by Peyronnin, to approve the January 2024 minutes as amended to clarify Vice Chair Peyronnin called the meeting to order. Yeas: Brown, Burtis, Dyrdahl, Gavaldon, and Peyronnin. THE MOTION CARRIED. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Active Modes Projects and Grants – Cortney Geary Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager, provided background information on the Safe Streets and Roads for All federal grant program that was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law. The program provides $5 billion from 2022 to 2026 for projects focused on preventing roadway deaths and serious injuries using the safe system approach which encourages safer people, safer vehicles, safer travel speeds, and designing roads to be safer. Eligible activities under the grant include developing a safety action plan, supplemental planning, a demonstration activity, and project implementation. Geary outlined the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan and noted Fort Collins is eligible to apply for project implementation grant funding due to having that Plan in place. She noted one of the transformative actions in the Action Plan is the implementation of the Active Modes Plan and the Action Plan sets the overarching goal that by 2032, no one dies or has a serious injury while traveling on Fort Collins streets. Geary noted the City did apply for a grant in 2022 prior to the adoption of the Vision Zero Action Plan; however, that application was not successful. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked if promoting the use of more roundabouts around the community is part of the Active Modes Plan. Geary replied it could be included in the supplemental planning for 2024. Gavaldon asked if the grant funding would be applicable to fund the new speed cameras at intersections. Geary replied funding for that program may not specifically be eligible for Safe Streets for All; however, the program will be helpful in terms of meeting Vision Zero goals. Geary outlined the City’s 2023 grant application which included an implementation grant for improvements along Harmony Road such as separated bike lanes, bike phasing at signals, signal timing improvements, street lighting, and vehicle lane narrowing that was not awarded. Geary stated there was a desire for the project to TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2 /21/2024 – MINUTES Page 3 be further into design, include more specifics about exactly which improvements were to be made where, and include evidence of more direct communications and outreach to the residents who would be immediately impacted. Burtis asked if it would be possible to implement a section of the Harmony Road improvements given resurfacing is occurring anyway. Geary replied this grant is all or nothing for Harmony; however, the restriping could be done in a way to make the improvements possible in the future should the funding allow. She stated staff is considering whether to reapply for the Harmony improvements. Geary discussed the other aspects of the 2023 application, including a demonstration project for separated bike lanes on Centre Avenue from Bay Road to the western side of Worthington Circle. Dyrdahl asked about the timing of the project. Geary replied the resurfacing will happen in the summer with the bike lane project hopefully following soon after. Geary discussed the grant award for a study of all arterial bikeways where separated bike lanes were recommended. She stated the hope is for this work to set up a 2025 or 2026 implementation grant. Dyrdahl asked about the Health Equity Index score. Geary replied it was developed for City Plan and it was updated as part of the Active Modes Plan with the 2020 Census data. She stated the Index looks at areas where different socio-economic and other health factors that would lead to a higher risk for being disadvantaged. Geary outlined next steps for the Centre Avenue project and noted the notice of funding opportunity for 2024 has come out so staff will be working on that application as well. She also showed a list of other grant opportunities being pursued. Gavaldon commented on increased traffic on Highway 392 . Dyrdahl asked about the term ‘pedestrian hybrid beacon.’ Geary replied it is the flashing lights that are activated by a pedestrian or cyclist pushing a button. Geary discussed the multi-use path that was recommended for one side of Country Club Road by both the City and County. She stated the County is applying for a grant to further that work. Gavaldon asked if an overpass is being designed for Vine and Timberline. Geary replied it is part of the capital project prioritization study. Iverson noted the railroad is interested in being part of the project. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked about the membership of the forthcoming Active Modes Advisory Board and about the interaction between that Board and the Transportation Board. Iverson replied the Board will consist of nine people and the selection process is happening now along with all other boards. He stated the first meeting of the Board will be in April when new Board members start on other boards. TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2 /21/2024 – MINUTES Page 4 Additionally, he noted Lauren Nagle is the staff liaison to the Board and stated it has yet to be determined how the Transportation Board and new Board will work together, though the ordinance provides for a non-voting liaison between the two. b. State of the Infrastructure and Asset Management – Rob Mosbey Rob Mosbey, Asset Manager, stated the State of the Infrastructure report ties into the three main pillars of asset management: levels of service, risk management, and cost. He stated the six main asset categories are: bridges, railroad crossings, sidewalks, streets, traffic devices, and transit stops. Mosbey discussed other components of the report, including average useful life and remaining useful life of assets. Chair Brown asked if remaining useful life assumes no maintenance or standard maintenance. Mosbey replied appropriate maintenance is assumed. Mosbey noted the City has about $2.5 billion worth of assets. Burtis asked about the cost of sidewalks versus streets given streets take up so much more space. Mosbey replied sidewalks are quite expensive to construct and concrete is more expensive than asphalt. Chair Brown asked if this will be an annual report. Mosbey replied in the affirmative and noted this is the first. Mosbey discussed other components of the report, including replacement value of assets, the list of assets and their conditions, the ten-year lifecycle financial ratio which looks at acquisitions, operations and maintenance, and asset replacement. Gavaldon commented on the areas in town that have sidewalks only on one side of the roadway and asked if completing those walks on the other side of the roadways is part of this report. Mosbey replied the pedestrian program has a prioritization model that looked into the possibility and the cost of completing those to ADA standards was $134 million several years ago. Mosbey discussed the investment summaries per asset class and commented on the number of bridges that have exceeded their useful life. He noted each asset class has a backlog. Gavaldon asked how many times reserve funds have been used. Mosbey replied he was only aware of a couple emergency repairs that had to use reserves. Mosbey discussed the useful life of streets and noted overlays renew streets back to 100%. He stated streets are currently operating at an average of level of service B , though with the addition of more roadways, models are showing a deterioration to level of service C by 2030. Gavaldon asked if there is a process in place to ensure new developments design TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2 /21/2024 – MINUTES Page 5 roadways to standards. Mosbey replied in the affirmative and stated there is a five- year catastrophic failure clause. Gavaldon asked if there is a way to avoid having gaps in sidewalks and bill back a development when it comes on line. Mosbey replied there is a repayment program that has occurred on a number of projects wherein the City will complete a sidewalk for which the development then repays; however, if the sidewalk is to be ripped out and rebuilt by the development, repayment is not required. Mosbey discussed the gaps and assumptions aspects of the report and commented on the accuracy and completeness components. Chair Brown asked if this report was done completely with existing staff. Mosbey replied in the affirmative. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked about the recipients of the report. Mosbey replied it goes to the PDT Director, Caryn Champine. He stated he was unaware if it has been shared with Council, though part of the budget lead team has seen it. Members commended Mosbey on the presentation and report. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Gavaldon reported on a 9 News story on a successful multi-family neighborhood development in Arizona that does not allow cars. He stated such a development could be successful in Fort Collins if the bus system were more reliable. Gavaldon reported on the Police Chief’s task advisory force meeting during which community deaths, excessive roadway speeds, and distracted driving were discussed. He stated there is a bill in the state legislature to ban the use of cell phones while driving. Additionally, Gavaldon stated there are six red light cameras and a new state law will allow for mobile cameras. He announced the citizen police academy will occur starting in September and ride alongs are being offered. Dyrdahl reported on Winter Bike to Work Day and stated the March meeting will be her last as she will be participating in the fall Semester at Sea program as a field director. Gavaldon stated he will attend the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in Dyrdahl’s stead. Members discussed the removal of advertising from bus stops and buses. Burtis reported the City Park Avenue bike lanes have been clear of cars. He also stated he saw the Transfort 3 line was out at the Equine Center on Overland and is hopeful that is a permanent route change. Chair Brown reported on a co-worker who is new to the city being excited about Bike to Work Day and the city’s bike facilities. She also noted next month will be her last meeting TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2 /21/2024 – MINUTES Page 6 as she is term limited. Gavaldon reported on the recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting during which a development near Front Range Village, Union Park, was discussed. He noted he provided information to the Commission about the annual SPIN report. He also reported he got a bike box at the Museo de las Tres Colonias. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. City Council 6-Month Calendar Review Iverson noted the State of the City will occur February 26th and the Transportation Projects Fair is tomorrow at the Atzlan Center. Additionally, Council will discuss the urban forest plan at its March 26th work session, the first allocation of the 2050 tax at its April 9th work session, and the sunsetting tax renewals at its April 23rd work session. b. Staff Liaison Report Iverson reported he sat in on interviews for new Board members. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. by unanimous consent. Transfort & Poudre School District (PSD) Collaboration Study Transportation Board March 20, 2024 AGENDA Overview Existing Conditions Discussion •Goals & Outcomes •Schedules •PSD School buses •Transfort-PSD Schedules Coordination •Barriers & Opportunities Next Steps •Recommendations Project Overview To determine opportunities for better collaboration between Transfort and PSD. •Best Practices Research •Existing Conditions Review •PSD School Transportation •Transfort PSD Schedules Coordination •Development of Collaboration Opportunities •Identification of Challenges & Initial Opportunities •Collaboration Strategies Plan GOALS SCOPE OF WORK JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT DECNOV TASK 1Project Management & Stakeholder Outreach TASK 2Best Practices Research TASK 3Current Conditions Review TASK 4Develop Collaboration Opportunities TASK 5Collaboration Strategies Plan JAN TAC Meeting Task Deliverable (per SOW) 2023 2024 FEB Complete Transfort PSD Project Schedule MAR PSD Existing Conditions School Total Number of Enrollments Total School Bus Routes Schedule School Bus Participation Regular Special Education School Bus Arrival (a.m.) School Bell Time (a.m.) Gap Time (Minutes) Number of Students Percentage MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School 830 -1 8:10 8:15 5 1 0% 2 Preston Middle School 982 7 -7:30 7:50 20 303 31% 3 Webber Middle School 739 6 1 7:35 7:50 15 289 39% 4 Boltz Middle School 622 7 3 7:30 7:50 20 129 21% 5 Blevins Middle School 546 4 -7:30 7:50 20 129 24% 6 Lesher Middle School 778 4 1 7:30 7:50 20 220 28% 7 Lincoln Middle School 539 9 1 7:30 7:50 20 419 78% 8 Polaris Expeditionary Learning Middle School 127 ---8:15 --0% HIGH SCHOOL 9 Fossil Ridge High School 2263 203 6 8:45 9:00 15 203 9% 10 Fort Collin High School 1989 396 7 8:40 9:00 20 396 20% 11 Rocky Mountain High School 2087 266 6 8:45 9:00 15 266 13% 12 PSD Global Academy 684 ---9:00 --0% 13 Centennial High School 125 2 --8:00 -2 2% 14 Poudre Community Academy 538 25 --8:20 -25 5% 15 Poudre High School 1958 525 17 8:45 9:05 20 525 27% 16 Polaris Expeditionary Learning High School 155 ---8:00 --0% CHARTER SCHOOL 17 Liberty Common High School 1511 ---7:45 --0% 18 Ridgeview Classical School 834 ---8:00 --0% 19 Compass Community Collaborative School 263 ---8:00 --0% Fall 2023 Service Coordination Transit Schedules & School Bell Times FALL 2023 COORDINATION LEVEL SCHOOL Transfort Schedules & PSD Start Times Transfort Schedules & PSD Dismissal Times MIDDLE SCHOOLS Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School BAD FAIR Preston Middle School POOR VERY GOOD Webber Middle School BAD BAD Boltz Middle School FAIR EXCELLENT Blevins Middle School POOR EXCELLENT Lesher Middle School GOOD GOOD Lincoln Middle School POOR FAIR Polaris Expeditionary Learning Middle School EXCELLENT EXCELLENT HIGH SCHOOLS Fossil Ridge High School BAD POOR Fort Collin High School BAD BAD Rocky Mountain High School POOR EXCELLENT PSD Global Academy FAIR EXCELLENT Centennial High School FAIR VERY GOOD Poudre Community Academy BAD VERY GOOD Poudre High School POOR EXCELLENT Polaris Expeditionary Learning Middle School EXCELLENT EXCELLENT CHARTER SCHOOLS Liberty Common High School POOR GOOD Ridgeview Classical School POOR GOOD Compass Community Collaborative School EXCELLENT EXCELLENT AVERAGE POOR GOOD Coordination Best Practices TYPES OF COORDINATION Service Coordination Transit Pass Program Paratransit Service Supporting Peak Transit Needs Maintenance & Physical Stock Sharing of Drivers and Staff Service Coordination BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS •Enhance student mobility & reduce absenteeism •Expand school choice FOR PSD •Fewer routes = Lower cost •Achieve sustainability goals FOR TRANSFORT •Increase current ridership & ridership in the future •Public transit and school transportation ‘complement’ each other, allowing students to ride public transit as an option Minneapolis Public Schools saved $1.55 million per year in school bus service costs from 2009 to 2012 by allowing high school students to take unlimited rides on public transit during the school year (Fan & Das, 2015) OPPORTUNITIES •Future collaboration when bell times change •Transfer from Transfort to school bus •Improve bus stops •Shelters/benchs •New stops closer to schools CHALLENGES •Difficulty in adjusting the public transit schedules due to network connections •School bell times tend to change and variations / early release days •Communication about changing of bell times •Low frequency routes provide little room for error •FTA regulations RECOMMENDATIONS •Regular coordination meetings between PSD and Transfort to: •Identify priority schools for transit service, facilities, and better connections •Share information about routes, schedules, and bell times to identify opportunities SUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL LONG TERM HIGH HIGH Paratransit Services BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS •Enhance student mobility & reduce absenteeism •Expand school choice FOR PSD •Reduce procurement costs to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicle FOR TRANSFORT •Increase current ridership & ridership in the future •Complementary service to accommodate students with disabilities who cannot use the bus without wheelchair lifts or ramps to facilitate access. Iowa Department of Transportation found that it could be beneficial for school districts to coordinate with public transit to provide service for disabled students because public buses are already equipped with the lifts and wheelchair tie-downs required under the ADA. By coordinating transportation services for special needs and disabled riders, taxpayers in an area save money by reducing the need for extra vehicles, fuel, equipment, and drivers (Andrle et al., 2003). OPPORTUNITIES •Subscription-based service CHALLENGES •Riders are required to call 45 minutes in advance to use the service •Increased use of Transfort paratransit services RECOMMENDATIONS •Regular coordination meetings between PSD and Transfort to: •Update the information of students enrolled in the program •Ensure ADA policies & procedures are met SUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL MID-TERM MEDIUM HIGH Transit Pass Program BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS •Enhance student mobility & reduce absenteeism •Expand school choice FOR PSD •Funding opportunities FOR TRANSFORT •Increase current ridership & ridership in the future •Provision of transit passes for students to encourage use of public transit for school trips and non-school trips. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that Minneapolis students that used the Student Pass experienced 23 percent lower absenteeism than non-pass users (Fan & Das, 2015). OPPORTUNITIES •Bohemian Foundation grants supported free student bus access on Transfort in the past •New partnerships that support maintaining routes/services that support student transit use CHALLENGES •Transfort has been fare free since spring of 2020 and may remain fare free long-term – this creates challenges to getting financial support for pass programs RECOMMENDATIONS •Educational outreach for students and parents to promote student transit service •Financial partnerships for service targeted at student transit use SUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL SHORT-TERM LOW HIGH Supporting Peak Transit Needs BENEFITS FOR PSD •Extra revenue FOR TRANSFORT •Peak demand management •Reduce cost to add additional vehicles and drivers during special events •Utilize school buses to support public transportation during special events with high numbers of riders needing to be transported to/from an event place. In Ames, Iowa, to accommodate the morning rush to Iowa State University in residential areas with high student population, CyRide – the local transit agency – began contracting with the Ames School District’s transportation provider in 2002 for the use of several vehicles and drivers during these peak times, after the buses have finished dropping off students at public schools. Benefits of this agreement include CyRide saving and extra revenue generated for the school district by utilizing buses when they would otherwise not be in use (Andrle et al., 2003). OPPORTUNITIES •Special event coordination between City and PSD •Coordination between PSD and Transfort to manage routing and scheduling, staffing CHALLENGES •Service booking, routing, and staffing RECOMMENDATIONS •PSD and Transfort work together to develop terms and agreements for extra services SUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL LOWSHORT-TERM LOW Maintenance & Physical Stock BENEFITS FOR BOTH PSD AND TRANSFORT •Reduce costs & save money on maintenance facilities, supplies, and equipment •Share the resources for daily maintenance and storage of vehicles. Combining and coordinating procurement functions for equipment and supplies. Mason County Transportation Authority in rural Washington coordinates school district and public transportation resources, saving both over $20,000 per year in operating expenses, $120,000 in vehicle purchase costs, and $84,000 in annual fuel costs (Burkhardt, Koffman, & Murray, 2003). OPPORTUNITIES DAILY MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS •PSD & Transfort bus storage facilities are close to each other and currently share the bus wash •Joint procurement of parts and supplies •Future EVs and associated charging facilities •Shared fueling for diesel and gas CHALLENGES •Different operating environments and compliance requirements •Different vehicle specs •Regulatory and institutional barriers RECOMMENDATIONS •PSD and Transfort work together to identify potential sharing like fueling and EV charging •Collaboration for future maintenance facilities •Share training facility with driver test track SUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL MID-TERM MEDIUM MEDIUM Sharing of Drivers and Staff BENEFITS FOR BOTH PSD AND TRANSFORT •Securing workforce •Reduce costs No good examples found but anecdotal evidence of other transit agencies utilizing school bus drivers on weekends and summers. OPPORTUNITIES •Provide bus drivers the opportunities to work full- time RECRUITMENT •Consolidate recruitments, background checks, drug screening, and training •Backfill training needs CHALLENGES •Similar AM peak hours •Different job requirements between transit operators and school bus operators •Regulatory and institutional barriers RECOMMENDATIONS •Regular coordination meetings between PSD and Transfort to manage routing, scheduling, and staffing •Potentially identify a central management software for coordinating drivers •Coordination between PSD and Transfort to: •Standardize job requirements •Joint recruitments: background checks, drug screening, and trainingSUCCESS STORY PHASE LEVEL OF EFFORT IMPACT LEVEL HIGH HIGHMID-TERM •Sharing bus drivers, logistics for route operations and dispatch services, driver background checks, drug screening, driver training, and other administrative staff. Next Steps •Develop final plan with collaboration recommendations (March 2024) •Keep the dialogue between Transfort and PSD going long-term (suggest quarterly or semiannual meetings) Thank you!QUESTIONS?