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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 01/21/2009APPROVED MEETING MINUTES of the TRANSPORTATION BOARD January 21, 2009 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason Street 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: Olga Duvall Bill Jenkins John Lund Kip McCauley Ed Robert Garry Steen Gary Thomas James Clausen Shane Miller Scott VanTatenhove ABSENT: Sara Frazier CITY STAFF PRESENT: , Mark Jackson, Transportation Group Director, 416.2029 Polly Bennett, Executive Administrative Assistant, 221.6601 David Kemp, Transportation Planning, 416.2411 OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE Councilman and Board Liaison Wade Troxell 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. with a quorum present. 2. INTRODUCTIONS — OLGA DUVALL, New Board Member Ms. Duvall became a US Citizen recently and immediately applied to join the Transportation Board. She rides the bus every day, relying on it to get her anywhere she needs to go. She is the Social Services Director for the Salvation Army, so helping senior citizens is a passion. 3. AGENDA REVIEW The Council Work Session discussion item will move to third position under Action Items. Kathleen will present her item at the Natural Resources Board prior to presenting here, so her item will move down. With those changes, the Board approved the Agenda unanimously. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT None. Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (November 2008) Page 4 — Thomas — The FTA should be RTA. At the end of Section 8, The BNSF line is considered too curvy for high-speed rail. Steen moved to approve the November 2008 Transportation Board meeting minutes as amended. VanTatenhove seconded. With the changes, the motion carried unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Wade Troxell, Council Liaison Mr. Troxell will be a more regular attendee, as the Electric Board changed their meeting dates. The Council had a number of greatly qualified applicants, but Olga stood out. 6. ACTION ITEMS a. Bicycle Advisory Committee — David "DK" Kemp, Kathleen Bracke Kemp: Here tonight to identify a Transportation Board member to serve on the Bicycle Advisory Comm ttee. The Committee offers a community a focused approach looking at transportation, but most specifically bicycling. The 2008 Bicycle Plan called for the formation of a Bicycle Advisory Committee consisting of Boards & Commissions members, stakeholders, and three community at -large members. The BAC will be a sub -committee of the Transportation Board. Frequency of meetings will be determined at the March meeting. The BAC will have a line item on the T-Board Agenda monthly, and will send a rep if there is something to report. Thomas: Not just a bicycle advocate, but also someone who can speak to all modes of transportation. Jackson: I want to emphasize what DK said about bringing a whole -system view to this Committee. The desire is for our member to bring a multi -modal perspective to the Committee. Steen: My perspective comes from the recent bicyclist deaths. VanTatenhove: From a school district perspective, we are shifting 9`" graders to high school, so routes will be an important consideration. VanTatenhove, Bill Jenkins indicated their interest in serving as the Transportation Board member. They will serve as co -members until the date of the meeting is determined and can be coordinated with their schedules. b. South College Corridor Plan — Timothy Wilder Seeking a recommendation to Council for adoption of the Plan. Council initiated project as part of the Southwest Enclave Annexation. The focus has been on citizen engagement to identify a vision for the area. The results are successful, and this Plan fulfills the commitment we made to Council. The study area is isolated to the commercial areas and vacant lands. No existing neighborhoods were in the study area. Plan Foundations: City Plan Transportation Master Plan/Master Street Plan South College Avenue Access Control Plan/US 287 Environmental Overview Study Mason Corridor Plan Transit Strategic Plan Our goal is to clarify what these plans say and how they apply to the corridor. The purpose is to identify a vision for the future. Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 3 Conditions: The highway is missing sidewalks and other basic infrastructure south of Harmony Road. Options are limited in the area. Accident rate in the area is one of the highest in the region. Lack of parallel street network. Bike lanes are inadequate. There was a bike lane project completed recently. Transit conditions are inadequate and well used. Overall Plan Vision: To make basic upgrades to infrastructure and design, increase collaboration between residents, businesses, and stakeholders, better integrate the area into Fort Collins community while respecting its unique attributes. Major Ideas: Framework plan (land use) is the first thing considered. Streets, trails, gateway into town, transit - oriented development are depicted first. Future commercial use, existing commercial, future residential/institutional are identified. Moving south, future residential areas are depicted with a neighborhood commercial center. Key Issues: Lack of neighborhood services. Location for supermarket and other retail services. Good streets, paths into the neighborhoods, regional connections. Mason Corridor and future transit -oriented development considerations. The plan emphasizes the concept of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). South College Gateway Area — this isn't another County commercial development... set backs, trails, landscaping, highlighted by special buildings. Transportation Improvements — widening to 6 lanes with a median, parallel street network, sidewalk, and controlled access. Short-term opportunities — no funding to pay to widen College Avenue. Sidewalks are a priority. Improvements to Trilby intersection. Potential traffic signal improvements at 3 intersections. Short -Term Improvements: Connect storefronts with sidewalks, striping between buildings. Basic landscaping along the highway. Long -Term Improvements: Multi -use off-street trail along College Avenue, Fossil Creek Trail, a privately developed trail. Bike lanes and bike routes are also depicted. Improved transit service. The Transit Strategic Plan is being updated, but there are some improvements to be made as a top priority. Potential for commuter rail as a long-term solution. Financing: Developer contributions Urban Renewal Authority City-wide sales tax "Building on Basics" General Improvement District Other special improvement districts The Plan does not recommend one specific funding strategy. As a regional project, this was #1 on the North Front Range Transportation Master Plan. McCauley: What alternatives are there to adding three traffic signals in the area? Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 4 Wilder: Overall, the State considers this a non -rural highway where mobility is more important than access. Over time, with development, it will become more congested and urbanized. Inevitably, access issues will come up. Fairway Lane needs a signalized intersection because of the Transit Center. Bracke: The State mandated the locations to enable efficient traffic flow. The locations were considered during the Transportation Master Plan, and initially more signals were recommended. Signal spacing is integral to flow progression. Wilder: This was considered for progression. Jackson: When access points are better defined, it helps with progression. Bracke: That was the spirit of the Access Control Plan. Miller: The accident rate wasn't stated explicitly, but are the speeds and current access free-for- all causing a higher rate? Bracke: The number of injury accidents out there is twice as high as other areas. Wilder: The left turns are also an issue. Miller: What proportion of the capital is dedicated to transit? Wilder: It isn't broken out. Bracke: We can bring that information back with the Transit Strategic Plan. The Foxtrot buses running on this section carry the most bikes of any routes. Jackson: With the new South Transit Center, this area will be exciting for transit. Foxtrot and the Mason Corridor will connect through the South Transit Center. Robert: Accident rate is high, is the speed limit 50? Bracke: It varies, from 50 — 55. We predict that it will be lowered to 45 in the future. Robert: The bus blocks a lane when it is parked, so other vehicles are swerving to avoid them. When there is a curb and gutter installed, installing bus pullouts would be advantageous with a caution light on the outside back comer of the bus and on a post at the entry to the bus stop pullout, that flashes in yellow, "Yield to Bus", when activated by the bus driver before pulling back out into traffic. Simonson: Regarding Carpenter as a planned entrance to the City. Limitations on Carpenter for expansion on either side had been turned down and frozen. Jackson: During the 2004 Master Plan, we asked Council to change the Master Street Plan to depict Carpenter as a 6-lane arterial. The situation more or less resolved on its own because CDOT took over that section of road. They do not intend to make it 6 lanes. I anticipate that being revisited when we update the Master Plan. CDOT knows it will need additional capacity, but it is a low capacity. Jenkins: How will people cross the street? Is it dependent on traffic signals? Bracke: We worked with Transfort to locate stops near traffic lights. There is one grade separated crossing proposed. One of the safety factors we build in is an extra pedestrian button on the ped refuge island. That would be part of the intersection improvements. Jenkins: Is this a good area for a parking structure? Wilder: Not today. There isn't an apparent need. The businesses are very stable, with no plans to change use. There is a lot of vacant, developable land as well. Simonson: Driving the Trilby/College area — can bus benches be located in the area? Passengers stand right on the road. Duvall: Can areas that need immediate attention receive it on an interim basis or do they have to wait for the Plan to be implemented? It is impossible to walk there in wet weather. Wilder: There is no money for improvements right now. Bracke: The recommendation will come out of this Plan, but from a safety aspect, we will look at the situation and look for resources to address it now. It helps to have it as part of the Plan. Thomas: If it is the sense of the Board to elevate that, we can include it in our letter to Council. Wilder: I am also interested if you have an opinion on priorities. Troxell: This looks shovel ready. What is going forward as far as stimulus package? Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 5 Jackson: Two processes. 1) if Federal dollars come through State government there may be an opportunity for Transit. From the State perspective, we are looking at the 392 interchange and some capital construction projects that are ready to go within 180 days from the President signing the bill. At the same time, we are preparing on a staff level. Miller. Is there a list of all of the unimproved bus stops in Fort Collins? Bracke: We only looked at the ones in this area as part of this Plan. Jackson: Transfort is doing their update right now, so they are looking at it. Robert: Could we put in our letter a request to establish a minimum for transit stops? Bracke: We do have established design guidelines for new Transit stops. Lund: Are there statistics showing which stops are most highly used? Bracke: We do. Thomas: On page 45, you illustrate parking. Is the sidewalk next to the traffic lane? Wilder: We are revising some of the graphics. Long term, there would be a detached sidewalk along College (landscape strip between the highway and the sidewalk). We are going to remove the older graphics. Simonson moved that we send a letter to Council stating that we approve the South College Corridor Plan as it relates to Transportation elements with special consideration given to necessary immediate improvements. Steen seconded. VanTatenhove: Would we comment on potential roundabouts? Bracke: At the master planning level, no. The design process will come forward to the group when design begins. Jackson: It is a good comment, but I would remind you that it is a State highway and they own that determination. After discussion, the motion passed unanimously. c. Update -Transportation Council Work Sessions —Jackson This is to review the conversation we had with Council on December 16 and tie that into two future sessions in February and May. At the December Work Session, Council directed us to bring input from the Transportation Board. The December meeting recap and questions for the Council to consider. The presentation was better news than I anticipated (why Transportation is important and what we are doing now); we touched on budget but stayed at a high level. The intent of the first meeting was to set the stage, give context about what Transportation in Fort Collins entails (needs, issues). The February conversation will make the issues more real. The context moving toward our discussion in July will be set. What are the needs versus resources, etc. The June/July Council meeting will be when Council is knee-deep in the BFO process. Transportation is and should be considered to be a Core Service. The end game is to do a lot of education, tell them what we can do, what we can't do due to funding issues. We will roll in real -world anecdotes (i.e. neighborhood traffic calming, which was not funded during the last BFO cycle). The Citizen Survey just came out and people want to grow the transit system. It isn't that we don't know what to do, where to do it, why to do it, etc. It is that there are no resources to do it. I will speak specifically to the funding picture nationally, State-wide, and here in Fort Collins. We are dipping into our reserves because of the increase of cost of materials. We are suffering because of the woefully inadequate gas tax, and other shrinking revenue sources. I am prepared to tell Council that at the rate we're going, the general transportation reserves funds could be extinct by 2010. In terms of capital projects, the way Fort Collins has traditionally funded projects through Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 6 concurrent development and the ''/<-cent sales tax that occurs on a 10-year cycle that specifies projects to fund. It isn't a stable, consistent, ongoing funding source. We don't have a stable, consistent, ongoing funding source for Transportation in Fort Collins. There is no bridge fund to replace a catastrophic bridge failure, for example. Troxell: Some of these projects should be part of the stimulus package. There will be a new set of rules for the immediate future, but they aren't clear yet. Thomas: It seems unlikely that we will get a sales tax of 0.80 passed. Jackson: We are getting ready to submit a list of projects. We will have them for roadways, transit, bike/ped etc. There may be multiple stimulus packages coming. Congress cares about putting people to work. Robert: How can the City Council expect to have a Transportation system, have a staff of 40+ people, and not allow them to do their job? We are wasting our manpower and talent. Is there an opportunity to revise our thinking on funding and cut the revenue pie differently? We need to move open space and natural areas down on the priority list. Lund: What is the priority for roads on Council? Troxell: I can't answer for the Council, but I think we are missing a prioritization process. Miller: I am interested in efficient transportation, preserving the assets we've already built, and doing the maintenance when it is less expensive (specifically Pavement Management). My personal perspective is that it doesn't have to be a choice between Transportation and open space/natural areas. This needs to be a discussion with both this Board and with the Council. How are we investing in a transportation network that will hold the line on congestion when every project addresses moving single occupancy vehicles? Jenkins: Funding is obviously the big issue. What is the definition of Capital Improvement Projects? The funding source for Capital Improvement Projects are development impact fees and sales tax. More explanation is needed when you move through this budgeting process. Jackson: Those are two of the funding sources. We did have the road and bridge levy fund, but that went away. We receive some general fund money for pavement management. A Capital Improvement Project is any project that is infrastructure -related broken down by mode. They can be funded in a myriad of ways. Replacement of buses is a capital expense (rolling stock). We are starting to tap Special Improvement Districts as another revenue source. Jackson: I don't want to come across at this Work Session as "woe is me." Every Service Area has funding issues. Starting in February, we want to make the situation more real (discuss Operations & Maintenance, what we are doing, what we should be doing, what we can't afford to do). We will talk about Street Maintenance, Bridges, Snow Removal, Sweeping, Preserving our Infrastructure. It will be an honest conversation, not a pity party. We would like to go back in the summer (June/July) with suggestions. We will show what we can do with an extra million dollars per year. You don't fix Transportation problems, you chip away at them. We will also discuss the Transportation Master Plan update, what is on the books, what are our opportunities, what could 'we do. There are a lot of unfunded capital projects. We will be lucky to stay status quo in this next budget cycle, and we may be facing reductions in service. It isn't a matter of irresponsible spending. We were over our snow budget by $1 million in 2006 because of the back-to-back blizzards. We used reserves for Front Range Village because it was an economic decision. No Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 7 one foresaw the drastic increase in oil and asphalt materials. It also affects concrete, steel, rebar, etc. Action requested: This is a chance for you to get your key interests across to Council early. As a Board, you will be more integrally involved in the upcoming Budgeting for Outcomes process. Thomas: We can send a unified message or a divided message as to Transportation related priorities. Robert: Are we able to go to Council on the Capital Improvement Projects, for instance, and say that these projects were due to be complete back in 2000 and they still aren't done? You have to do reactive planning because there is no dedicated funding source. Jackson: The flexibility of doing projects in "bandwidths" is that it allows us to do projects as funding meshes. Lund: It seems that it is a matter of understanding the mind of Council regarding their priority for Transportation. Thomas: Council sees three things competing for tax dollars: Transportation, Parks, and Police. We can only officially speak to Transportation. We may be a divided Board in our viewpoints. We can discuss the major themes we discussed tonight. Miller: When trucks and automobiles are registered in Larimer County does any of the money come to the City? Is it based on value or weight. Jackson: Yes. It is based on value. Miller: If you drive a light -weight car, the impact on the pavement is lower. It is a bit of an equity issue; some people think there are environmental issues on heavier vs. lighter vehicles; the relationship with the weight of the vehicle and the damage to the pavement is higher in heavier vehicles. Jackson: Pavements are designed to carry heavier vehicles. We want heavy vehicles to use the arterials. Simonson: California is proposing that the tax is paid on how much you drive the car. Miller: It is also about creating incentives for vehicles that use less petroleum. McCauley: The gas tax is a greater portion of funding of pavement management than vehicle registration. Average mpg on a heavier vehicle resolves your concern. Fuel efficient vehicles are paying lower gas taxes. Jackson: Vehicle registration revenue is about 4% combined. Robert: Are we changing our construction standards anticipating lower O&M costs? i.e. if we build something right, it doesn't deteriorate as quickly. Some countries tax vehicle registrations based on age with newer vehicles being less expensive to register. McCauley: I drove less when gas was $4/gallon. I see the economic impact as a driving demand. I am not in favor of assigning a percentage to capital improvements. An approach that decreases the demand to drive is good. Miller: When the interstate highway system was built, there was a will to create a system that could be used. The result was a level of prosperity that accompanied it. There is an apparent change in what it actually costs to use the system in growing cities. VanTatenhove: It requires massive Federal subsidies that aren't there. I don't think the City of Fort Collins is going to change the way we transport ourselves. Miller: Did the Federal government build all 17,000 lane miles of roadways? Jackson: If you consider gas tax... Miller: If we are going to affect change, don't we need to change the way we allocate City resources? Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 8 hanTatenhove: When a City makes a fundamental shift to a new mode of transportation, we deal with the bottom line. Thomas: The original street cars were put in by subdivision developers. Same thing' today... developers put in the roads and pay impact fees. Jackson: One thing I think I am hearing is yes, there are communities that put their money where their mouth is with regard to Transit service. Are you willing to pay extra RTD tax? It is a community commitment. Jackson: You heard the context for the February meeting and then covering capital issues in May. Does that sound like a good approach? Robert: The word "dedicated" is missing. Dedicated funding that you and your staff can work on and anticipate for 10+ years out. Steen: The general public doesn't perceive a problem in funding because you do such a good job. Gary's Themes: Transportation isn't getting the support it needs from financing/economy, safety, etc. It is not an amenity, it is a utility. It is a matter of safety: pavement management, bridge safety, etc. Mark's Themes: Raise the importance of consistent and stable funding sources. Modal balance in Transportation capital project funding. Ideas for funding sources. Taxes, fees, reprioritization of current dollars? Budget for Outcomes begins in Q2 '09. Priorities? Early message to Council? Gary will pull together a draft memo to Council and circulate it for Board input. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Update — North I-25 DEIS — Bracke This is CDOT's presentation. The CDOT rep couldn't be here tonight, so Kathleen is the messenger. We are in the public and agency review portion of the process. The formal comment period ended in December 2008 though on -going opportunities are being provided by CDOT. The final EIS is planned to be completed by the end of 2009. We are not seeking formal action from the Transportation Board this evening, although we will receive comments and/or concerns from you. CDOT is hosting workshops over the next month. Purpose: Meet long-term travel needs between the Denver metropolitan area and the rapidly growing population centers along the I-25 corridor north from Fort Collins to the Wellington area. (boundary: 287 to the west/85 east) Two packages are proposed. The end product will likely consist of elements of both. The interchange improvements are the same in Package "A" and Package `B." Package "A" encompasses the BRT and/or light rail along the existing BNSF rail line with added transit stops. Package `B" concentrates on I-25, with no general purpose widening. There Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 9 is a no -action alternative showing level of improvements without additions. No action $57M; Package "A" $2.433B; Package B $2.00613 (all costs 2005). Schedule: Preferred alternative established early 2009. Final EIS — remainder of 2009. Phased implementation. Limited funding available. CDOT Project Manager: Carol Parr, carol.parr(a,dot.state.co.us www.cdot.info/northi25eis 970.352.5455 or 303.779.3384 Thomas: CDOT is paying for high-speed rail study, but it isn't included in this EIS. It should at least be acknowledged. Robert: Do these figures include costs of O&M? Bracke: It is reflected in the EIS document. There is a cost for capital and a cost for O&M. VanTatenhove: In Package "A" are the rails jointly shared? Bracke: It would show double tracking. There shouldn't be double tracking from Prospect through downtown. There is enough room south of Prospect within the RR corridor for double tracking without affecting other property. Bracke: Over the next few months CDOT will pull information from communities along the corridor, the FHWA and the FTA and begin making decisions on the preferred alternative. There will be a public process. The Board will have an opportunity to weigh in on that. Jackson: This project is too far out for the stimulus package. Environmental clearances aren't complete yet. Bracke: CDOT is getting this EIS ready so that our region can be poised for future funding opportunities. b. Election of Officers Officers will be elected at the February meeting. Gary is willing to serve as Chairman for another year, as is Ed. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Simonson: Attended the Timnath/Fort Collins announcement. Transportation issues were touched on. Fort Collins will put more money in. McCauley: None. VanTatenhove: None Lund: None. Jenkins: None. Steen: Residential Environmental Program is coming up. Peak Oil discussion February 11 7 — 9 p.m. at the Drake Center by Cafe Columbine. Press lately on the school issue at Lady Moon and Kechter. Pressure to respond? Jackson: The article was okay... we've been responsive. Mason Corridor— got environmental clearance. Robert: None. Miller: Israel started a wholesale replacement of their vehicles away from petroleum. Duvall: None. Approved Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2009 Page 10 Thomas: Met with Bill Kaufman. CDOT's situation is so dire that they can foresee closing highways if something doesn't happen. They may not plow if snow gets deep. 9. STAFF REPORTS — Mark Jackson Next month we will meet at Traffic Operations on Linden at Vine Drive. Joe Olson will present a primer on Traffic Timing. I was at the Transportation Commission to present the I-25/SH392 Interchange 1601 Study. It was unanimously passed. They were excited at the collaboration between Fort Collins and Windsor. It goes to Council on February 3 in hopes of getting it "shovel ready" for the stimulus package. IGA with Timnath defined boundaries. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, PC Polly BMnett Executive Administrative Assistant Planning, Development & Transportation