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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 09/17/20141 MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD September 17, 2014 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Olga Duvall 970.224.4346 Vice Chair: Garry Steen 970.420.7557 Staff Liaison: Mark Jackson 970.416.2029 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Olga Duvall, Chair Garry Steen, Vice Chair Eric Shenk Pat Jordan Kevin O’Toole Sara Frazier Gary Thomas ABSENT: Boardmember Clint Skutchan Boardmember Sid Simonson Councilmember Ross Cunniff Mark Jackson, Deputy Director, PDT Aaron Iverson Mary Atchison Karen Cumbo Joe Olson, Traffic Engineer PUBLIC PRESENT: Dale Adamy, Cheryl Glanz 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Duvall called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm with a quorum. 2. AGENDA REVIEW The agenda stands as written. Thomas noted an error on the agenda denoting approval of June minutes. The date was corrected to August/ 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Thomas moved to accept the August 2014 Board minutes as written. Jordan seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. 6. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT - Garry Steen Steen stated there was no Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting in August. Approved by the Board at their October 15, 2014 meeting. 2 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS • Social Sustainability Plan Update – Mary Atchison Mary Atchison reviewed the role of the Social Sustainability department and discussed a gap analysis conducted for the City in terms of gaps in affordable housing and other areas. She stated housing, community health and wellness, income disparity and mobility were the areas in which gaps were found and went on to detail strategies for addressing each gap area. Specifically relating to mobility, Atchison stated goals are to expand the availability of affordable transportation opportunities by increasing transit service, support Transfort’s existing strategic plan, support affordable housing opportunities along transit corridors, reduce the cost of private automobile ownership for low-income residents, and increase bicycle use year-round. Additionally, a goal is to reduce mobility limitations for individuals who cannot drive. • Downtown RR Quiet Zone: Road Closures – Mark Jackson & Joe Olson Joe Olson discussed train horn rules and stated the implementation of a quiet zone along Mason Street would need, minimally, to involve gates and flashing lights at each affected crossing, which would cost roughly $3 million. Staff has determined it is not feasible financially or physically to install the necessary gates; however, acquiring a waiver for the train horn rule is a possibility, which would involve the closure of the Magnolia and Myrtle crossings to motor vehicles. He requested feedback in terms of whether or not this idea is worth exploring. Boardmembers held a brief discussion regarding the possibility of the Magnolia and Myrtle Street motor vehicle closures, during which, concerns regarding access, safety and cost were discussed. 8. ACTION ITEMS • Midtown in Motion – Aaron Iverson Aaron Iverson described the project limits of the Midtown area and stated the goal of this plan is to develop a quality and attractive corridor providing access to the MAX system. He went on to detail the proposal and key features for the corridor and the Board discussed the plan and issues with the area. Iverson stated the large pieces being recommended by staff include reconfiguring access to the frontage roads, cleaning up intersections with multiple movements, and upgrading the landscaping and infrastructure throughout the corridor. Additionally, he discussed cost estimates and noted the project will occur in sections as funding becomes available over at least the next fifteen years. Thomas made a motion, seconded by Jordan, to recommend to Council approval of the Midtown in Motion proposal as presented. The vote was unanimous. • BFO Recommended Budget – Mark Jackson & Karen Cumbo Karen Cumbo discussed the overall budgeting process and the challenges related specifically to the transportation section. Cumbo noted two capital taxes are expiring at the end of 2015, including a quarter cent for street maintenance and the capital projects 3 tax, both of which are slated to be on the April ballot for consideration to continue. Boardmembers specifically discussed Sunday MAX and Dial-a-Ride service. Jackson discussed options the Board has to voice issues and concerns with the proposed budget and detailed each of the budget items related to various modes of transportation, transit, parking, road improvements, and snow removal. Boardmembers supported Sunday transit service, both MAX and Transfort, with the suggestion of pulling funding from the Vine-Lemay study (Offer 1.9) and bridge funds (Offer 1.2). Thomas made a motion, seconded by Jordan, to recommend full MAX Sunday service and associated routes be funded by pulling $500,000 from the Vine/Lemay study and the remainder (approximately $484,000) from bridge funds; however, if that is impossible, MAX only Sunday service should be considered as a last resort. The vote was unanimous. Jackson stated the recommendation to Council will also include referencing the BAC recommendations. 9. REPORTS • Boardmember Reports Gary Thomas reported he has been appointed by the Governor to the Regional Air Quality Council. • Staff Report Jackson provided a brief description of the October meeting agenda and reported that Transfort has just received the CASTA large transit system of the year award. 10. ADJOURN Jordan made a motion, seconded by Frazier, to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m.