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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 - Transportation Board - Work PlanTRANSPORTATION BOARD 2007 WORKPLAN The goal of the Transportation Board is to promote the implementation of a balanced transportation system that provides choice, mobility, access, congestion mitigation and safetyfor all people while achieving: ])Efficient and Effective movement ofpeople and goods throughout the community; 1)A reduction in the rate of VMT growth to equal the rate of population growth; and 3)Enhanced mobility through emphasis of modal shifts. Advise City Council on transportation issues, planning and construction projects in a timely fashion II. Transportation Financing - explore financing options to address transportation needs, including, but not limited to, dedicated funding mechanisms III. Education and Outreach - reach out proactively to the community to both solicit input and educate regarding transportation issues that face the city IV. Transportation Safety - Promote transportation safety as it affects all modes of transportation, via consideration of engineering, education and enforcement V. Regional Transportation - Build communication links with other transportation bodies in the city and region Appendix A TRANSPORTATION BOARD 2007 WORKPLAN SUPPORTING MATERIAL I. Advise City Council on transportation issues, planning and construction projects in a timely fashion A. Provide periodic recommendations to Council throughout the year B. Regularly interact (every 3-4 months) with council liaison to ensure Council is receiving needed input from the Board C. Planning activities and construction projects that could receive Board consideration are: 1. Transportation elements of sub -area plans 2. The Mason Transportation Corridor project 3. Building on Basics (BOB) projects, including: • North College Improvements • Harmony Corridor Improvements • Timberline improvements • Intersection Improvements • Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan programs 4. Railroad Issues II. TRANSPORTATION FINANCING - explore finance options to address transportation needs, including but not limited to a dedicated funding mechanism A. Maintenance 1. Promote adequate funding for pavement management needs in addition to the Y. cent sales tax, making up any additional funds from the General Fund or other sources. Include inflation -proofing to recover costs due to increases in construction prices and additions to the street network. 2. The Board will take an active part in discussions of alternative funding mechanisms such as the Transportation Maintenance Fee (TMF) B. Operating 1. Promote and support long-term funding for transit 2. Monitor the balance between user fees and operating/maintenance costs for public parking. This balance is important to the success and vitality of retail services and the overall downtown economy. 3. Encourage business contributions/partnerships Transportation Board - 2007 Work Plan Appendix A November 9, 2006 Page 2 C. Capital 1. Work with City Council to address the chasm in capital funding for streets by: • Monitoring Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) planning and discussions and recommend appropriate actions to Council (potentially a significant area of activity during 2007) • Finding new ways to provide financial leveraging, such as by seeking supporting/matching funding from the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning Council (NFRT & AQPC) • Assessing Street Oversizing and other fees to ensure that sufficient impact fees are generated to cover the community wide cost of development to ensure adequate public facilities 2. Support long-term funding for the enhanced travel corridors, such as the Mason Transportation Corridor 3. Investigate ways to adequately fund the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) capital improvement project list, preferably via a dedicated long-term funding source(s) 4. Help to prioritize TMP projects when appropriate, considering all travel modes in order to best meet the mobility needs of the city D. General 1. Continue to promote and support increases of statewide transportation funds including equitable "shareback" of statewide funds for regional needs 2. Develop and promote a package of transportation projects for the City's budget exception process 3. Participate in the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) resource allocation process III. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - reach out proactively to community to solicit input and educate A. Educate citizens and businesses on transportation needs, promoting the importance of maintaining and enhancing mobility in the face of increasing congestion. Identify and utilize communication channels for the education of citizens. • Increase the public awareness of the rapid growth in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), its effects on congestion and air quality, and alternative methods of dealing with this problem • Develop methods to illustrate more clearly the community costs of providing a transportation system, including such things as "social and hidden costs"; costs associated with congestion; total costs of transportation for the community and the individual; how costs can be reduced; and how needs can be met • Identification of and education about specific behaviors of users of the system that cause safety problems B. Opportunities for education and outreach could include: • Community Booth (e.g. Foothills Mall, New West Fest, • Attendance at the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Fair in Sept. 2007 (in cooperation with other community groups, city departments, or boards) • Working with City Public Relations staff Transportation Board - 2007 Work Plan Appendix A November 9, 2006 Page 3 • Convincing Coloradoan to run a transportation -focused series • Board member to write the Coloradoan soapboxes • Write a soapbox for the quarterly transportation issues of the Utility Bill Newsletter (Written Route) C. Possible Soapbox topics include: • Transportation Master Plan • Transportation Maintenance Fee • Mason Transportation Corridor • Arterial standards cap problem • Pavement Management Funding (e.g. pavement condition "sweet spot') • Safe cycling history (addition of lanes on Lemay once considered good, no longer) • Specific projects • Roundabouts • Pedestrian Program • Transit • Hostility factor between modes • True cost of travel for all modes IV. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY - Promote transportation safety as it affects all modes of transportation, through engineering, education and enforcement A. Make recommendations for enforcement and its funding in all modes of transportation B. Be proactive in the planning and promoting of enforceable pedestrian safety regulations C. Identify specific portions of the infrastructure and transit system where safety issues exist D. Identify embedded hazard issues (i.e. equinox visibility, weather) E. Review perceived issues regarding automated traffic enforcement technologies, including evaluation of effectiveness in reducing accident rates F. Consider the issue of long haul through -truck traffic on Fort Collins city streets V. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION — Build communication links with other transportation bodies in city and region A. Network with other City boards and commissions on transportation planning and construction projects 1. Informally monitor the transportation related activities of other Boards and provide regular reports back to the Transportation Board Transportation Board - 2007 Work Plan Appendix A November 9, 2006 2. Specific liaisons assignments are as follows: • City Council — Board Chair • Planning and Zoning Board — Clausen Air Quality Board — TBD Natural Resources Board — Hallock-Solomon • Parks & Recreation Board — Price • Chamber of Commerce — Grigg • Economic Development Activities (e.g. EVSAG) - Robert 3. Additional informal liaisons are: • Loveland Transportation Board — Gary Thomas • Transit Accessibility Advisory Board — Gary Thomas • Northern Colorado Bicycling Community— Price • Regional Transit Activities - Edmondson Page 4 The Transportation Board will review its liaison assignments at the January 2007 meeting. B. Continue to participate in the activities of the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning Council (designate e-mail links) 1. Monitor projects, planning activities, funding and issues — Grigg VI. ADDITIONAL AREAS OF INTEREST A. TRANSPORTATION PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS The Transportation Board feels strongly about the use and importance of clear, accurate metrics of transportation system performance. Transportation Board is supportive of the FCMOVES (Mobility Index) program to be undertaken in 2007 by the Transportation Services Area. The Board desires regular updates (every 1-2 years) of transportation metrics to better understand the dynamics of transportation modes. 1. Future meetings should include agenda items to discuss progress of the FCMOVES program 2. Explore opportunities to link results of metrics to public education and outreach activities in Section III B. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS 1. Work with City Staff and advise Council on the development and implementation of effective Intelligent Transportation Systems 2. Promote the new Traffic Control System as an information network for monitoring and improving traffic flow • Evaluate performance measurements of the current system to help monitor system effectiveness Transportation Board - 2007 Work Plan Page 5 Appendix A November 9, 2006 • Determine new ways of utilizing the completed Traffic Control information network to improve mobility of people throughout the city 3. Investigate and promote other technology and innovation such as: • Bus -system GPS (global positioning system) • Pedestrian count -down devices and audible crossing devices • Integration of transportation data with the GIS system • Implementation of compliance data studies • Methods of automated traffic enforcement • Implementation of a rating system for bike lanes and paths • Real time transportation network condition monitoring system • Better collection of accident data (including bicycle incidents as distinct type of accident) • Increased accessibility of transportation data by the general public • Bicycle and pedestrian detection devices at intersections • Telecommuting efforts • Improved security through right-of-way coordination • Demonstration projects for clean fuel technologies • Real-time travel tracking Appendix B TRANSPORTATION BOARD RETREAT OCTOBER 28, 2006 CONSTITUENTS: • Board as "citizens" • Other boards • Other agencies, regional governments • Board advises City Council • Others? - Staff - Meet w/other cities' boards such as Loveland TBoard and MPO ? - Promote Board's role and existence to citizens Hear more from citizens, Press release re: Board minutes, *T-Board email for citizens?* - Look for opportunities to engage community such as have T-Board @Sustainable Living Fair Set proactive agenda of topics to work on/talk about (in addition to provide staff feedback) Future? - Ride the T-Rex light rail, tour Union Station SW TOD - Tour DMU factory in Fort Morgan - CSU Energy Efficiency w/AQAB - "Virtual" lab field trip - Sister city board YEAR IN REVIEW: Highlights • Brought many new members onto Board and brought them up to speed • Field trip to Airport was great Trolley trip Action to Council that affects City First Modern Roundabout in city Concerns • Couldn't sway City Council and City Manager to protect Street Maintenance Funding • Get Council to solicit Board's advice more often • Lack of attendance of Council liaison (Kurt) at Board meetings (request quarterly reports/attendance by Council rep) • Not much done on educational/outreach to community • Disappointed by joint Transportation Board/Air Quality Advisory Board meeting • Didn't get with Natural Resources Advisory Board to discuss Duck Lake/SH-392 issue — HAVE BOARD CHAIRS MEET SOMETIMES Transportation Board — 2007 Work Plan Appendix B Page 2 • Lack of focus on Transportation Capital funding issues (still $1.1 billion short; no closer) (dedicated funding) • More information on Truck Bypass CONDUCT OF MEETINGS • Too many agenda items to maintain focus • Don't be redundant. Have presenters be aware of Board's background knowledge • Time keeper has helped • Move action items to front of the meeting ? • Limit # of topics on agenda. Meeting to end at set time (9 p.m. e.g.) ? • Put other items in "Parking Lot" for future discussions ? • Consider Work Sessions as well as Regular Meetings to discuss items ? • Use electronic discussion of "Parking Lot" ideas/issues (blog) • Put deadlines on `Slog" conversations (how to determine board meeting topics) • Look at BFO direction for clues as to what is important to them • Reach out to Council members • Reach out to other community leaders/groups for their list of what is important to them • Capture a blalanced view of what is on people's minds • Reach out to other Board liaisons (not just AQAB) such as: Senior Advisory Board, Dial - A -Ride Advisory Board) • Have staff cut to the chase, so the board can dialogue • Use electronic communication pre -meeting • Give Board URL to project websites for background information ACTION ITEM SUMMARY DISCUSSION • Action requested in written form • Not just staff, but board as well • Executive summary not to exceed '/z page • Entire document only 1 page • Communicate agenda items to staff (MJ) and Chair • Financial Impact optional (move to #3) • Any action item brought to board for direction to Council; use AIS form Minority opinion? - Allow minority opinion (dissent) voice to be heard in Board memo to Council - Dissenting minority provide input to memo (2-3 sentences) WORK PLAN • Work Plan succinct and to the point • Short Work Plan with Work Plan appendix • Tight list of things Board wants to make progress on in year • Suggestion: 1 page Work Plan - 6 lines with summary statement of explanation for each - AIS for full text Work Plan Transportation Board — 2007 Work Plan Appendix B Page 3 BOARD AGREES: 1. Advise City Council on Transportation issues, planning and construction projects in a timely fashion. 2. Transportation Financing — explore finance options to address transportation needs, including but not limited to a dedicated funding mechanism. 3. Education and Outreach — reach out proactively to community (e.g. blog, soapboxes, sustainable fair) to solicit input and educate NWF re: important transportation issues in community. 4. Transportation Safety — Promote transportation safety as it affects all modes of transportation, through engineering, education and enforcement. 5. Regional Transportation — Build communication links with other transportation bodies in city and region. PARKING LOT ITEMS: • T-Board Blog • Pre -schedule Board liaison Reports • Randy Hensley's Spreadsheet re: various forms of Transportation Finance • Enlighten community as to using Board to give input/agendas re: issues • ID and educate Board as to safety hot spots in system (all modes) • Report 1 year of roundabout safety record • Exchange (sister program) • Meet with other Transportation Boards (Loveland?) • Add metrics under education • Issue liaisons?