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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 01/16/2008MEETING MINUTES of the TRANSPORTATION BOARD January 16, 2008 6:00 p.m. 215 North Mason Street Community Room Fort Collins, CO 80521 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Gary Thomas 482-7125 Vice Chair: Ed Robert 2244864 Staff Liaison: Mark Jackson 416-2029 Administrative Support: Polly Bennett 224-6058 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: James Clausen Sara Frazier Bill Jenkins John Lund Kip McCauley Shane Miller Ed Robert Sid Simonson Garry Steen Gary Thomas Scott VanTatenhove ABSENT: Wade Troxell, Council Liaison CITY STAFF PRESENT: Mark Jackson, Staff Liaison Polly Bennett, Executive Administrative Assistant Mike Herzig, Capital Projects & Street Oversizing Manager Lucinda Smith, Senior Environmental Planners OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Neil Grigg. Citizen and former Board Member Bruce Votipka, Citizen CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Thomas at 6:00 p.m. 2. AGENDA REVIEW The Agenda was approved. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Bruce Votipka, citizen. Bruce lives east of Fort Collins High School. Bruce is here regarding a safety issue near the intersection of Timberline & Horsetooth. He's lived there 11 years. The intersection used to have a sign that said, "Stop when pedestrians are present." That since changed to "Yield when pedestrians are present." Cars making a right turn take the right-of-way, and if more vehicles are backed up, they continue turning. It has increased significantly since the sign change. There is a finding in a staff advisory group that most accidents occur with cars turning right or left don't yield right-of-way to pedestrians. He understands that there may be some traffic flow concerns from an engineering standpoint. Thomas: Is there a crossing signal? Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 2 Votipka: Yes, but cars turn even if he has the light. Jackson: I will check with our Traffic Engineer to see if it is in keeping with a change to the MUCTD. Votipka: He called and spoke to someone and was told that the change was made for traffic flow. Robert: Does the intersection have tum lanes? Jackson: No. Robert Is it programmed for that? Jackson: I don't know. We'll take a look. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (November 2007) Robert: Question on pg. 4. What does "AND" stand for? Jackson: It was a clarification of Sara's question, above. Clausen: It was he who was omitted from the October minutes. After Bennett was tarred and feathered for the misidentification of Clausen, Robert moved to approve the revised November Transportation Board meeting minutes. There was a second by Clausen (yes, Clausen). The motion carried unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Wade Troxell, Council Liaison Mr. Troxell was not able to attend. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Introductions Each existing and new board member, and staff support person introduced themselves. Jackson: New members, please don't leave tonight without getting a packet from me. I have a copy of the Transportation Master Plan and the new Master Street Plan map for each of you. I have three staffinembers here tonight. Mike Herzig, from Engineering is here to talk about the Railroad Task Force; Lucinda Smith, from Natural Resources is here to discuss the Climate Task Force; and Helen Migchelbrink is our new City Engineer. Helen comes from Eagle County. She is a great leader and engineer and we are thrilled to have her on our team. Migchelbrink: I've been here a month now and am entrenched, having bought a house in Parkwood. My husband is also an engineer. I am a mechanical engineer, cross -dressing as a civil engineer. Simonson: I took the Cityworks 101 class last year and highly recommend it. It is a fantastic time. Jackson: We had all 6 Transportation departments there with all their vehicles and personnel and had a wonderful time. b. Climate Task Force Lucinda Smith Jackson: Lucinda Smith is the Coordinator of the Climate Task Force. Gary Steen is our representative to the group. Lucinda presented an update from the Climate Task Force and asked for comments and questions from the Board before the Task Force goes to Council at a Work Session. Intergovemmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 4'" Assessment Report, 2007) came out with several reports. Key highlights: Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 3 Temperature has increased since the mid 20`h century very likely due to human greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts of climate change are very likely to impose net annual costs which will increase over time as global temperatures increase. Many impacts can be avoided, reduce, or delayed by mitigation. Colorado Climate Action Plan: Reduce statewide emissions by 20% GHG reduction below 2005 levels by 2020 Reduce statewide emissions by 80% GHG below 2005 levels by 2050 55 recommendations to reduce emissions Reduce>40,000,000 metric tons CO2 by 2020 Net savings of $2.6 billion by 2020 Can directly benefit Fort Collins In 1999, the goal was set by the City of Fort Collins to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% (1.1 million tons) below 2010 levels. Fort Collins has made good progress, but is not on track to meet the 2010 reduction goal. Activities at other cities and at the state level will help. Council Resolution March 2007: Appointed a task force of citizens, boards & commissions, and City staff. Existing/Pending measures represent 406,000 tons CO2e (recycling, renewable energy programs, landfill methane capture, 2004 Residential Energy Code, E-waste ban, etc.) New measures: solid waste reduction/recycling; mixed (multi -media); energy; transportation. Specific funding mechanism is not addressed at this point. Measures under consideration: Push to meet City's 50% waste diversion goal; enhance Climate Wise program; local carbon offset program (voluntary; revenue source); government leading by example; community -wide climate challenge. Other measures still pending: Parking Management for the downtown area; importance of funding. Transportation sector would be responsible for 3% of the reductions. Schedule: Board and internal City input complete by the end of January. January 31, recommendations taken to the City's Strategic Issues Team. Robert. What is the impact of the 19,000 oil wells in Weld County? Smith: It is very significant for ozone, and there are some greenhouse emissions as well. The Task Force is focused on Fort Collins emissions and hasn't studied that. Robert: What about LED street lights? Smith: Ours are high pressure sodium and are quite efficient. Robert: The landfill is scheduled to move to a new site north of Fort Collins in 10 years. Is there new technology for that? Smith: I will ask Susie Gordon for information on that. New data indicate the Latimer County landfill has — 24 years of life at its current location before it will need to move to the new location near Wellington. Robert: Grade separators are another consideration. Smith: I believe they are in the new master plan Robert: Feedback from Traffic Operations on how they control traffic flow? Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 4 Smith: The traffic system was significantly upgraded in 2005. The Traffic Engineer plans to optimize the signal timing again to optimize flow. Robert: They did on College, but Harmony and Lemay need it. McCauley: Cost effectiveness is broken down up to the point of Transportation Issues. Smith: The Task Force hadn't weighed in on those strategies when this package was prepared. The cost benefit analysis for Transportation will be available when this goes to Council. McCauley: Transportation is set at 3% reduction, which is the least effective. Are there studies on the $2,000 tax incentive and possible parking incentives for purchase of Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs)? Smith: I believe there are studies, although I don't have them. The quantification is not based on historic success, but rather on numbers of hybrids in the current mix. Frazier: As far as parking incentives, I see the efficient automobile as being parked while the less efficient automobiles are driving around looking for parking. Perhaps there is a better solution. Miller: One of the issues being debated is if you increase the rate at which people acquire new vehicles, does it offset the amount of GHG being produced? Is there actually a net gain? Studies? Are you creating an extra demand that wouldn't be there without adding the new vehicles? Thomas: It takes "x-amount" of GHG to make a car. Jenkins: Definition question. Cost effectiveness x-dollars per ton? Smith. In this case it means the cumulative tons of CO2 if the program is implemented to 2010 over the costs out to 2010. The savings come in where there are more reduction savings than costs. One time savings and ongoing savings are both considered. Miller. You are familiar with these tradeoffs. Of all of these ideas for decreasing GHG, which one do you think has the most potential to exceed the aggressive expectations? Where are we underestimating? What is your personal opinion? Smith: Maybe the smart meters. They have three scenarios. The first has only 300 meters. The second has 600. The third has all residential meters replaced. And, perhaps the local carbon offset program. One study showed offsets of $10 billion (?). Steen: A couple of them. One transportation -related is getting people out of their cars. It is a behavioral and cultural change. There is a very small change coming from Transportation, but we contributed 33% to Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2004. We could have a much larger impact. Robert: In several European countries, they have plans to keep older, junk vehicles off the highways. As an incentive to keep them off the highways, they increase licensing fees as years go on. That hasn't caught on here. Simonson: 800 subsidized cars at $2,000... is that funded somewhere? Smith: That will come as funding opportunities are discussed. Increasing motor vehicle registration fees, eliminating registration fees for LEVs and finding a funding source are all being considered. Simonson: To provide an incentive for a product where supply doesn't meet demand seems adverse. I am driving a car that is older, not new, and would be paying taxes to fund someone else's new car. Jenkins: In terms of marketing the plan to Council, the 2004 Emissions vs. Reductions slide is important to include. Everything is based on energy consumption. VanTatenhove: Was there any weigh-in on Trash Districting? Smith: It is not part of the 50% waste diversion goal. Lund: Looking at the two pie charts, Transportation generates 33%, electricity 47% Smith: That is what is purchased and used here in Fort Collins. Steen: The Task Force is recommending two compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) per household, and 15% renewable energy use. Lund. Looking at rebates/incentives for LEVs ... what about rebates/incentives for CFLs, solar panels, and wind power, etc.? Smith: That is also being considered. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 5 VanTatenhove: Where are incentives for the private business sector (i.e. private delivery trucks (liquor trucks in particular idle while delivering)? Smith: A great suggestion to consider. There is no focus on fleets. Thomas: It would be nice to show the interrelation of the Ozone Non -Attainment situation with this. Smith: Please see fcgov.com/ctf where you can submit comments. c. Railroad Task Force, Mike Herzig, Engineering; Neil Grigg, T-Board representative Herzig: Over the last few years, train issues have elevated from blocked crossings and horn noise. A new track was built parallel to the tracks behind The Coloradoan which impacted us significantly. We were getting significant blockages while cars were being switched. The Federal Railway Administration also enacted a longer/louder horn regulation. They have five years to remodel their old engines. That created all kinds of complaints from people living near the tracks. A number of things were tried to mitigate the problem, including involvement of a State Senator. The Bill failed, and the City Manager's Office formed this Task Force, consisting of five citizen members, 3 Boards & Commissions members, 3 key staff members. We met September — December. I just received a draft of the Task Force's report at 4:30 this afternoon. The report has not yet been given to Council, so I can't release it to the Transportation Board tonight. They are addressing five issues: Hom noise Blocked crossings (Riverside, specifically) Grade separated crossings Rail line relocation Hazardous materials being transported by the railroads through town There are 17 primary recommendations, including a quiet zone study (an area where the train will not blow their horns — safety measures must be present to prevent vehicles from crossing in front of a train); and staff allocated to work on railroad issues. This committee was formed directly by the City Manager's Office and is going straight to Council next week. Grigg: Mike knows more about railroad issues than anyone in town. The issues are very difficult and will require long-term work. My main message to you is that it is an issue the T-Board should track. Simonson: What is the horn regulation? Herzig: 96 decibels now, going to 100; time 15 — 20 seconds of blasting, two shorts and a long. The train engineer is held responsible for any infraction/resulting accidents and can lose his/her job. Robert: The switching delays are caused when waiting for a switchman to manually switch the train. Can't they install remote control switches? Herzig: The railroad is cooperating to some degree. They used to deliver 82 cars that had to be sorted. UP agreed to sort some of them in Cheyenne and sort empty cars in Milliken. However, there is significant exchange still occurring due to increase in business in Windsor. The question is whether Fort Collins should be the one bearing the brunt of Windsor's good fortune. Clausen: Should we add another Board member to the Task Force? How do we keep an eye on it? Herzig. The Task Force is over now. They recommended having a staff member on board. We have to see what Council says. VanTatenhove: Are other communities along the line involved? They might listen more. Grigg: We are recommending a consortium to continue the work. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 6 Thomas: There is some discussion about putting the switch back in Greeley so they could pull into Windsor from the other direction. Herzig: That is one thing we heard they are looking at. The location used to be there. Clausen: Wasn't the Railroad guy who came last year rather obstinate about going through Greeley? Thomas: Yes, and Greeley isn't too hot on it either. Herzig: Railroads are willing to do something if we pay for it. c. Transportation Board Planning — Mark Jackson, Interim Transportation Director Thomas. It occurred to me that we should have a retreat for all of us on what is our Street program and Master Plan and how does that work? Jackson: I have a couple of ideas I'd like to bounce off of you to see where your interests lie for the next year. We may want to hold meetings at other locations so you can see more of Transportation. What is the interest of the Board for a special session to discuss the Transportation Master Plan? I was the Project Manager for the TMP and can bring you up to speed on it. Jenkins: I would really like to participate in something like that and know more about the Plan. It would be nice to have a reference point when things come before the Board. Miller. I second that. Thomas: There is more science to it that I first admitted. Jackson: It starts with "What is our vision?" and then goes on to "How do we get there?" There is a complete inventory of Capital Projects that are required to get there, including funding potential. Lund. Does it show linkages to other Plans? Jackson: Yes, it does. Lund: Are the Plans shelf -ware or plan -ware? Jackson: It is a matter of cash flow. The Transportation Master Plan is implementable. It is elegant in that it was done simultaneously with City Plan (the comprehensive plan). VanTatenhove: Are the Capital Project costs updated? Jackson: They were done in 2003. It was my plan before being appointed Interim Director, to update them yearly. We did it for the first 2 years, but then staffing reductions took their toll and will for another 2 years. Robert I'd like to see us start with City Plan. We haven't touched the long project list, which includes 200+ projects. Thomas: If we don't have the list, we can't find the money. Robert: We need a dedicated funding source for Transportation. I'd like to look at the big picture and then study funding. Jackson: Would you like to do this during a regular meeting? It will take more than one meeting. We could do a special session on a weekend... half a day. Robert Could we do it a couple times a month? Lund: In the summer I'm gone on weekends. Miller: I think the 30,000 foot presentation during a regular meeting would allow everyone to get that part. Going into details could be done at a special meeting and if you aren't available you'd still get the overview during our regular meeting. Lund.• Is it possible to do an overview and have individual sessions? Jackson: Yes. I can talk about it in a lot of different ways. I need direction from you on how to structure it. Thomas: Would you prefer a weekend or an alternate Wednesday night? VanTatenhove: I prefer an alternate Wednesday night. Jackson: I can perhaps do something toward the end of the first quarter. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 7 Robert: Can you assign us homework so we don't go into this unprepared? I'd like to recommend that we invite the City Council. Thomas: Mark will come back to us with a proposal. Jackson: A couple of things for your feedback. I would like to get you out into the field more. We had such positive feedback when we got people out to the facilities, I would like to hold a meeting at Transfort, at the Streets Facility, at Traffic Operations so you can learn more about what we do. Does that interest you? YES! Thomas: There are other Transportation Boards (Loveland, Greeley) that have suggested that we get together. Robert After we know the ABCs. Jackson: The other thing I'd like to do is have you get some more face -time with our other Department Heads. You see the Transportation Planners when they come make presentations. I'd like to have them run the meetings when we meet at their facilities. Polly and I are still your go -to people. Robert Could we go on a field trip? i.e. Harmony Corridor? Frazier: Mason Corridor, Poudre River District. Jackson: I will investigate that. Jackson: You will hear a lot about finance this year; parking district proposal, major project updates on Mason Corridor, Harmony, Bayer's Front Range Village with a roundabout at Horsetooth & Ziegler. You may see conversations on regionalizing transit and if it is feasible to form a district. You will receive updates on major development proposals and their impacts. Are there other things you are interested in as a group? We don't have to solve it tonight, but be thinking about it. Robert: I haven't heard much about what triggers us to look into safety issues. Does the City have a system through which they identify problem intersections? Preventive safety programs. Jackson: It depends on how proactive you want to be. By modes? Yes, we collect that data. Thomas: As citizens, we should all bring those things to Mark's attention and he will bring it back to staff. ACTION ITEMS None. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Lund: None. Miller: None. VanTatenhove: PSD Choice Busing finished meeting and has handed the work to the Superintendent. McCauley: None. Simonson: What will happen for Mr. Votipka's request about the sign? Jackson: I meet with my Department Heads tomorrow morning and will pass it off to the Traffic Engineer for verification and response. We take it very seriously. Clausen: The City's response is amazing. When I was in high school, my mom hassled someone in the City about the railroad crossing at Harmony and it was fixed very quickly. Frazier: UniverCity is a very exciting concept. We are going into our second year, and I'd like time in the coming year to update the Board. We met the new Executive Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 9. Page 8 Director, Doug Johnson, yesterday. We heard a good presentation about the homeless situation and the National Association of Integration here in Fort Collins that helps organizations get their act together. We will be having a workshop in May. I got to see the Seaboard Walk in Corpus Christie and Galveston, and their "wayfinding" was interesting, but not much. Robert Polly, please add the telephone numbers of presenters to the minutes. Two railroad crossings need attention: Timberline & Vine and the one near the brewery at Mountain Vista Drive. Lund. The one on westbound Harmony — one lane is smoother than the other. Jackson: The railroad will fix their tracks and nothing else. It is an unfunded mandate for the City. Steen: The Wayfinding meeting today was good ... I appreciated the invitation. It was interesting how wayfinding affects transportation. Question on potholes: is there a way to report them? There is a bad one at Whaler's Way and Boardwalk. Jackson: You can call the Streets Department at 221.6615. Or go online. Steen: Is there an asset management system in the City? Does it include Transportation? Jackson: The new CFO is heading it up. No, it doesn't include Transportation, just facilities. Thomas: The Council didn't fund Pavement Management adequately in the last BFO. Jenkins: DK was interviewed by the Coloradoan a few weeks ago. It was astounding... the best article I've seen in years. Thomas: Next Wednesday at Mugs on College, 7pm. All About Transit -Oriented Development. Video produced by the American Institute of Architects. Good way to get grounded. Also, Bruce Hendee is working on Stoner's development at Harmony and I-25 and will come speak to us that night. I attend the MPO meetings from time -to -time... if you think the RTA is dead, it isn't. A new committee was formed. The Governor also formed a Blue Ribbon Panel to look at Transportation Issues. There is also one on Education and one on Health Care, so they will be competing for money. STAFF REPORTS Jackson: I was at a CDOT conference with members of the Blue Ribbon Panel and asked how they felt their work would rate against the other two and they were stymied. One person finally said they don't think it's going to go. It will likely be Education, at this point. I also had coffee with Salazar's aide, who agreed. PDT Reorganization: Two services areas linked together. Jeff Scheick, from Oregon Department of Transportation is our new PDT Director. He will have oversight of Transportation, Community Planning, Development Review, Permits & Zoning, and Transfort. I will retain my role as Transportation Group Director. He begins with a soft -start next week and will be on -board February I". Hopefully, you will meet him at the February meeting. I-25 Corridor: Lots coming up (i.e. Prospect interchange, SH293 & Harmony Road, Timnath's upcoming development plans). Big discussion — one of the most important we will see in the next 5 years. Council scheduled a retreat work session on a Friday evening, February 8, from 5 — 9. It will be an open meeting, but not in Council Chambers where you can just drop in. It may be video taped, but there won't be a live feed. No public comment at work sessions. There may Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board January 16, 2008 Page 9 not be seating for attending public. My hope is that we will be able to make the Council more comfortable with what the adopted plan is and that CDOT simply can't help with the projects. The Price of Government: Expectations vs. funding stream need to be reconciled. A lot has to do with Transportation, Police, Fire. You will see this ratchet up in March. There is a regional air quality low-cost seminar on February 6 about commute options. $40. Polly will email the information to you tomorrow. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. H. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, i wLi - & �u tct- Polly Be"ett Executive Administrative Assistant January 16, 2008 - Transportation Board Meeting FOLLOW-UP ITEMS: a. Response to Mr. Votipka, Citizen, regarding his concern about signage at Timberline and Horsetooth. From Ward Stanford, Interim Traffic Engineer: I spoke with Mr. Votipka and let him know we would review the intersection for the possibility of further changes to try and help improve the problem he described. (cars not giving him the ROW when he rides east/west on the north crosswalk). He made mention that there were some different signs in the past, but that was not accurate. The signs existing are the only signs that have been in place. Nothing has been removed or added since the installation of the current signs many years ago. I reviewed the current signage and have sent Rich Brewbaker a work order to install additional signage at the intersection. We will add "Turning Traffic Must Yield To Pedestrians" signage on each leg of the near side of the intersection. Currently we have "Yield to Pedestrians" signage on the far side of each leg of the intersection (as is appropriate). The signage was approved last week and is to be installed by end of day, Wednesday, February 27th. b. Landfill move/new technology. From Stephen Gillette, Larimer County Solid Waste Division Manager New data indicate the Latmer County landfill has — 24 years of life at its current location before it will need to move to the new location near Wellington. Current technology exists to allow a landfill to be built there. It is difficult to predict what new technologies might develop over the next twenty years. For more detailed info, please contact Stephen Gillette at Latimer County, (970) 498-5762, sillette@larimer.org. c. RR switching delays - Unfortunately, the City has no jurisdiction over the types of switches the RR installs. Contact Mike Herzig, Street Oversizing & Capital Projects Manager. Mike is the City's Railroad contact, at 221.6583. d. Response to concerns about several RR crossings From Mike Herzig, Street Oversizing & Capital Projects Manager and Railroad Contact for the City of Fort Collins: We are familiar with the crossing that Ed is concerned about at Timberline at Vine. The BNSF will be rehabilitating their crossing, the northerly track, this spring in April or May. The Southerly track belongs to the Great Western. Along with the BNSF, we will be doing some paving to help smooth out the crossing. The best person to contact at this time is me at 221-6583. I maintain contact with the railroad crossings that need repair or replacement. With multiple railroads in the City, we help to direct the complaint to the right railroad. If something is critical at a crossing, there is an emergency 800- number on the signal bungalows at each crossing. That is the best option for alerting the railroads about immediate problems.