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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 03/19/2014MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD March 19, 2014 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Garry Steen 970.420.7557 Vice Chair: Vacant *** Staff Liaison: Mark Jackson 970.416.2029 Administrative Support: Polly Bennett 970.221.6601 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Garry Steen, Chair Mark Jackson, Deputy Director, PDT Olga Duvall Polly Bennett, PDT Executive Administrative Assistant Eric Shenk Amy Lewin, Transportation Planner, 970. 416.2040 Sid Simonson Pete Wray, Senior City Planner, 970.221.6754 Pat Jordan Paul Sizemore, FC Moves Program Manager, 970.224.6140 Clint Skutchan Craig Foreman, Director of Park Planning & Dev, 970.221.6618 Sara Frazier Matt Day, Landscape Architect, 970.224.6096 Seth Lorson, City Planner, 970.224.6189 ABSENT: OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Councilmember Ross Cunniff Jonathan Carnahan, Citizen Kevin O’Toole 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Steen called the meeting to order at 6:05p with a quorum. 2. AGENDA REVIEW The agenda stands as written. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Jonathan Carnahan, Citizen. Mr. Carnahan recently got involved when he began using public transportation. He likes the idea of MAX, but believes that the east/west connections are deficient. Using the system from Snow Mesa, he would have to get off at Drake and wait, which takes his commute from 35 minute to an hour and 40 minutes. It will triple some people’s time. Even now, making connections can’t be done. Shopping and sight-seeing is not a problem, but for those who work, it is not reliable. Employers are requiring employees to demonstrate that they have reliable transportation. Relying on MAX and Transfort is not always reliable. Approved by the Board at their April 16, 2014 meeting. ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 March 19, 2014 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Jordan moved to accept the February 2014 Board minutes as written. Simonson seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. 6. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT – Garry Steen The BAC had a light turn-out. Aaron Iverson presented the Midtown Study, Tessa Greegor presented an update on the 2014 Bicycle Master Plan Update, and Amy Lewin presented the Bike Share Business Plan. The Bicycle Master Plan includes an approach to developing a low- stress network that makes biking more comfortable for the general population. 7. ACTION ITEMS A. Election of Officers – Mark Jackson Kevin O’Toole, by phone proxy with Polly Bennett, nominated Olga Duvall for Chair and Garry Steen for Vice-Chair. Skutchan made a secondary nomination in support of O’Toole’s. Simonson seconded the nomination. The nominations were approved unanimously. B. Lincoln Corridor Project – Amy Lewin & Pete Wray Lewin and Wray request a letter to Council in support of the Lincoln Corridor Project. The study area is bordered by Vine Drive to the north, Mulberry to the south, College Avenue and Jefferson/Riverside to the west, and Lemay Avenue to the east. Overview: • There are longstanding existing infrastructure deficiencies. • This project is included in City Plan as a “Catalyst/Priority Gateway Project” • Funded in the 2013/2014 work program • Addresses emerging issues in the area Vision: The new Lincoln will be recognized as a Great Street: an active and vibrant destination that celebrates our history and is a model for sustainability. Community Engagement: • June and September public workshops • Multiple open houses • Three online surveys • Regular updates to Boards & Commissions • Two Council work sessions • Formal stakeholder group meetings • Multiple small group/individual meetings ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 March 19, 2014 Key issues were addressed, including the need for existing driveway access; the need to accommodate truck movements; the need for neighborhood infrastructure improvements; the need to improve the level of service for all modes of travel. Continuing discussion about impacts on Vine & Lemay and the overall project cost. Preferred Alternative – Key Elements: • Two travel lanes (per Master Street Plan) • Buffered bike lanes • Wide sidewalks • Transit stops and shelters • On-street parking • Reduced speed limit • New Lincoln bridge • Streetscape amenities (i.e., pedestrian gathering areas, pedestrian crossings, street furniture, wayfinding signage, etc.) Transit: Routes 5 and 14 currently serve the area. Phase 1 = 30 minute service (combined headway on Lincoln Avenue) Phase 2 = 15 minute combined headway Phase 3 = less than 15 minute combined headway (MAX headway is 10 minutes) Near-term, Phase 2 would increase existing service; Phase 3 would add the Lincoln Shuttle Long-term, Phase 4 would add a Downtown Circulator (per the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan) Neighborhood Projects: • New sidewalk connections • Interim sidewalks • New pedestrian crossings • Transit stop improvements • Education program and signage to reduce impacts of cut-through traffic • Neighborhood gateway/interpretive signage or monuments Project Costs: There will be a BFO offer made for the short-term and mid-term projects. Total projected cost is less than $1 million. Total Lincoln project build-out cost is estimated at $19.3 million including design and construction. The breakdown is: • Roadway $9.2m • Landscaping $2.1m • Right-of-Way $0.9m • Gateway amenities $2.6m • Lincoln bridge $4.5m ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 March 19, 2014 Potential funding scenario (pending approval by voters, City Council, and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board, as applicable): • Voter-approved Sales Tax Initiative $5.5m • DDA $2.85m • Street Oversizing Fees $0.7m • Keep Fort Collins Great tax $0.25m • North College Fund Reallocation $2.0m Total estimated available funding $11.3m, leaving a gap of $8m. Project Benefits: • Social – attractive, active, safe street environment • Economic – supports additional economic activity • Environmental – stormwater/water quality management; reduces reliance on single- occupant vehicle Next Steps: • Build interim sidewalks on the south side of Lincoln Avenue • Secure funding for final construction plans • Prepare final construction plans & phasing and secure approvals • Implement Phase 1 transit improvements • Secure funding and implement neighborhood projects Skutchan: It doesn’t seem appropriate to spend public money to resolve the cut-through issues. These are public streets. I also wish that there were more firm implementation plans and options if the enhancements aren’t feasible or funded. Would it cost more to add them later? Because of those issues, I can’t support the project as-is. Jackson: Scalability will happen during the design phases. Skutchan: The ability to implement the vision incrementally is necessary. I’d like to see a step-by-step path to attain the vision. I don’t support it as-is because that implementation plan is lacking. Frazier: Have you received input from the industrial community in the area? Lewin: They were very involved in the Stakeholder Group discussions and are generally supportive. Wray: We’ve been careful to maintain access to businesses and accommodate truck turning movements, etc. The design provides a balanced approach with regard to safety, mobility, etc. Duvall moved that the Board write a letter endorsing the Lincoln Corridor Plan’s vision, while outlining concerns of funding availability, scalability, and phasing options. Jordan seconded. The motion passed six to one, with Skutchan dissenting. ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 March 19, 2014 8. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Poudre River Downtown Project – Craig Foreman, Matt Day Foreman and Day presented an introduction to the project. There will be a Council Work Session on July 8 th . Plan includes: • Flood mitigation • Habitat improvements from Shields to Mulberry • Recreation improvements Shields, Lee Martinez Park, Legacy Park, Linden Street, Lincoln Avenue & Woodward, to Mulberry. Goal: better connectivity to the Poudre River. Elements of water, habitat, and people. Whitewater park near the old power plant, and historic area. 20 year vision. Seed money in the 2015-2016 process, plus significant private funding possibility, and the City’s next ¼ cent sales tax. Urban corridor with urban interface. Upstream from Shields is a natural experience. College Avenue is a transition through the urban corridor. This project is to begin defining the best way to get people to and from the river. They are working with Parking Services to spread out the parking access. Looking at Wood Street and Hickory Street where there is no current access. The challenge is synthesizing all the plans that are out there. Poudre Trail has an at- grade crossing at Linden. Looking at bringing more access through Gustav Swanson, relieving traffic from the Old Fort Collins Heritage Park area. The Coy irrigation diversion by the old power plant can come out, and there is approximately 50 – 60 feet of river that can be necked down for additional bank habitat areas. The river is currently 100-feet wide at that point and only needs to be 50-feet wide. Flood mitigation and safety is also a part of this master plan. They are working with FEMA on floodplain requirements. See www.fcgov.com/poudre-downtown for more information. B. Transit Oriented Development Study – Seth Lorson Minimum parking means the minimum amount per dwelling unit. Maximum parking requirements do not allow providing excessive parking. There are no minimum parking requirements currently. Parking is based on the number of bedrooms. Mason/College Corridor, Campus West and Downtown Fort Collins are in the study area. Transit supported infill and development and commitment to MAX and greater density. All minimum parking requirements were removed. Urban growth boundary around the city – no outward growth; sustainable development. More development occurring in the TOD Overlay Zone. Council enacted a stop-gap ordinance in October 2013 of 70% of the parking requirement for multi-family residential and mixed use. This expires in September 2014. ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 6 March 19, 2014 Objectives: Implement objective parking standards Outreach/involvement of key stakeholders Create a strong policy foundation Examine parking and impact fees Schedule: March – public outreach May - P&Z, Council Scholarly debate is for and against parking minimum requirements. Minimum requirements create more parking in the core. Lack of minimum requirements encourages vehicle usage and lengthens trips, reduces development density, creates inhospitable project design, hampers infill development, makes affordable housing more challenging, harms the environment. Best practice examples: Somerville, MA Eugene, OR Santa Monica, CA Hartford, CT TOD & Transit Station Area Design Principles: Land use development Mobility management Community design What are the most important factors for the City to consider in reevaluating commercial and/or residential parking requirements? Do we tweak parking in the TOD Overlay Zone once MAX is up and running? There should be some significant learning opportunities in the first 6 months. The Planning & Zoning Board believes in the vision. However, they don’t necessarily believe that transit passes, care share programs, off-site car storage, parking fees (separate from housing), walking proximity to high frequency transit/MAX, enhanced bike and pedestrian facilities, mixed use projects, shuttle service reduce the demand for on-site parking for multi-family residential developments. Steen: I see this is a cultural thing. Acceptance will gradually come our way. Skutchan: 93% of people the Board of Realtors surveyed are dependent on their car. Indicators are positive but not powerful. We need to advocate for this project. People are still shy about height along this corridor. If we are doing structured parking, we have to get to 5- stories and above in order to be financially feasible. We’re becoming a city, and we need to figure out how to do it. ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 7 March 19, 2014 Frazier: The need to achieve a feeling of open space is very important. That is why the Summit is viewed as a failure. Skutchan: It is also surrounded by 1970s construction, so it stands out. Steen: The more we develop our bike and pedestrian systems, the more important this type of Plan becomes. An update document will be sent to Council at the end of the month. Recommendations and alternatives will be presented in May. Scheduled for P&Z and Council adoption June – August. C. BFO/BOB2 Update – Mark Jackson Staff is doing some outreach on BOB2. The Council Work Session on the BOB project list was postponed to July. Renewal of the quarter-cent Street Maintenance tax is also being discussed. There doesn’t seem to be much traction to move it forward as a fee of some sort. BFO is ramping up. Staff is busy preparing offers. Updates/spreadsheets will be prepared for you to review in the next few months so you can decide how to approach Council. We will do a basic review of the 2013-2014 cycles. The process is being streamlined a little. They are focusing prioritization on enhancement offers (new, different) beyond core services. There will be a lot more direct public outreach. 9. REPORTS A. STAFF LIAISON REPORT – Mark Jackson Staff put in an offer in the 2013-2014 BFO cycle to extend Sunday service system-wide, which was not funded. We were prepared to make another offer in this next BFO cycle. Staff was directed to bring a request to Council last night, which was denied. We are adding 26,000 hours of service without adding staff, but were prepared to extend Sunday service if directed. We will bring it back as part of the budget process. Save May 10 th on your calendars for the MAX grand opening! Council Work Session at Lincoln Center next Tuesday to finalize the Strategic Plan. Transportation will be a huge part of it. This should run from 4 – 7p. Paul Sizemore is sitting in on the Energy Board meetings each month. Mark also attended last month. Interesting discussions. Sitting on a Transportation discussion panel presentation on Transportation Funding with Representatives Fisher, Kefalas and Ginal on Saturday, 10 – 12p at the downtown Library. April Agenda: Discussion Items: • Intersection Prioritization Study Tim Kemp, Dean Klingner 30 min • Transit Design Standards & Guidelines Emma Belmont 30 min ***DRAFT*** Regular Meeting Minutes Page 8 March 19, 2014 • BFO Update Mark Jackson 30 min Action Items: • None B. BOARD REPORTS Skutchan: Horsetooth intersection at MAX – hearing negative feedback on the left turn arrow at McClelland. It is causing confusion for pedestrian and cyclists. Also curious about how we give feedback on how MAX is operating. It was disappointing that Council didn’t approve the Sunday service extension last night. It seemed rushed. East/west connectivity – is there an option for using lanes for bus-only at certain commute hours? It could be an enhancement to MAX travel. Jackson: I don’t remember having that conversation before. Duvall: I registered to be a MAX Ambassador. Jonathan made the point that many employers require a driver’s license and reliable vehicle. I was required that in my new position. They said the public transportation is not reliable. How can we make it easier for people to avoid this and still get to work? It is a good thing to keep in mind for future discussion. Jordan: This morning I requested that the driver bring $10 in tickets. He showed up with $50 in tickets, which I refused. This happens a lot. Last time it was $20, which I could do. Frazier: As a Board, we need to keep in mind the reliability of transportation/transit options. Shenk: I live south of Trilby now and could really use a bike trail. The gap is between Skyway and 287. It would be helpful if a sweeper could hit 287 once a month. Jackson: CDOT ran out of their deicing product and had to use sand. That is what made a mess. I will ask Larry Schneider to make that request of CDOT. Steen: I attended the Boards & Commissions meeting at the Lincoln Center, and came out feeling like nothing happened. Jackson: Council will discuss it at a future retreat. Next meeting on Greenhouse Gas is April 1 in Conference room 1A here at 215. 10. OTHER BUSINESS Nothing. 11. ADJOURN The meeting concluded at 9:20p. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ Polly Bennett Executive Administrative Assistant Planning, Development, and Transportation Service Area