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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 07/19/20171 MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD July 19, 2017 6:00 p.m. Traffic Operations Conference Room 626 Linden Street Fort Collins, CO FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Eric Shenk Vice Chair: Annabelle Berklund Staff Liaison: Paul Sizemore 970.224-6140 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Eric Shenk, Chair Cari Brown Valerie Arnold Indy Hart Andrew Bondi Karl Ayers Nathalie Rachline York ABSENT: Councilmember Ross Cunniff Annabelle Berklund, Vice Chair Paul Sizemore Christine Macrina Kurt Ravenschlag PUBLIC PRESENT: Ryan Dusil, North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Shenk called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. AGENDA REVIEW Sizemore stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bondi made a motion, seconded by York, to adopt the June 2017 minutes as written. The minutes were adopted unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. DocuSign Envelope ID: C65CD1B2-025F-4268-8D64-A3D49CDDD135 2 6. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT – York York reported on the last Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting during which Bike to Work Day and Open Streets were discussed. The June Open Streets event was the best attended ever. E-bikes were discussed and members participated in an E-bike demo. York asked Boardmembers for opinions related to whether the E-bike discussion should be broadened to include electric skateboards and other electric modes. Bike parking at the stadium was discussed as well and it was noted that bikes will not be allowed to park near the stadium on game days due to security issues. 7. DISCUSSION/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS • Non-Motorized Plan - Ryan Dusil Dusil discussed the Front Range MPO and stated it is the regional transportation planning organization for the north Front Range. The regional 2013 bicycle plan was the precursor to this non-motorized plan which was adopted earlier in the year. Dusil discussed the public outreach process for the plan and stated the plan first fulfills the federal requirement for bicycle and pedestrian plan as part of the regional transportation plan, second, updates the components from the 2013 plan, third, summarizes data to make an infrastructure inventory and finally, provides a tool for the member communities. Boardmembers discussed recreational versus commuter cyclists and Dusil detailed the counters, both permanent and mobile, purchased for the program. Dusil detailed the components of the plan and stated the future steps include looking more deeply into non-motorized transportation and transit connections as a region. Arnold asked how the North Front Range MPO is funded and governed. Dusil replied the organization is federally mandated and funded; however, local dues are paid. York stated the web site has a great deal of information involving the organization’s history and mission. • “Engage” Software Discussion – Macrina Macrina stated there is a new volunteer coordinator for the entire City organization and this software will allow all volunteers to track their hours. Macrina showed the user interface and illustrated the software. She noted the City does not want to place a great burden on volunteers in terms of time using the program but stated the software will hopefully keep volunteers engaged. Macrina stated the first half of the year’s meeting time data has already been captured and meeting time will continue to be captured administratively. • Transfort Update and Conversation – Ravenschlag Ravenschlag discussed Transfort, the community public transit provider for local bus services, Dial-a-Ride, and one regional bus route to Longmont and Boulder. Additionally, Transfort provides a Safe Ride service on weekend evenings. Ravenschlag detailed the Dial-a-Ride service which is $2.50 per one-way ride, and the free Dial-a-Taxi service. He went on to discuss the bus fleet and transit centers as well as the relationship with CSU which has greatly increased ridership. DocuSign Envelope ID: C65CD1B2-025F-4268-8D64-A3D49CDDD135 3 A large portion of Transfort’s funding, 45%, comes from the City’s General Fund. The remainder comes from federal grants, KFCG, ASCSU, fares, and several other smaller sources. Limited Sunday and holiday service will begin August 27th. Five routes, including MAX will run on those days. Boardmembers and Ravenschlag held a discussion regarding the relationship between the Board and Transfort. Ravenschlag stated Transfort would like to come to the Board more frequently to receive feedback on ideas and service changes. Rachline asked about the demand for the Flex service to Boulder. Ravenschlag replied it has over 800 boardings per day. Boardmembers discussed fares and ridership and the possibility of subsidizing service and pursuing relationships with large employers. Ravenschlag noted CSU’s funding provides enhanced service to campus. Ravenschlag stated enhanced service would be provided to any other entity willing to provide such funding; however, it is not likely there is another entity with similar needs and funding which is why enhanced travel corridors have been identified. Ravenschlag stated the current Council-adopted operating philosophy is based on productivity and coverage. He noted behavior changes tend to not occur unless time and money are impacted. Boardmembers discussed the best means toward starting a conversation around changing funding for public transportation. A boardmember asked if discussions are ongoing regarding Loveland contracting with Transfort for its bus service. Ravenschlag replied the plan recommends an IGA between the two cities for bus service which would be structured in a way to allow neighboring cities to opt in as well. Preliminary conversations are occurring. Ravenschlag discussed the benefits of a possible transportation district, including taxing benefits and the creation of economies of scale. • 2018 Work Plan First Discussion – Shenk Shenk discussed the overall meaning of the Work Plan. Rachline suggested the possibility of including more specific work items. Shenk noted a large part of the Board’s work plan reacts to the requirements and activities of the City, with some broad priorities. He stated the Work Plan is purposely general. York noted the Work Plan needs to go before Council and get its approval. Arnold asked about the purpose of the Board in relation to Council. Shenk replied there have been no action items on the agenda in several months; however, the Board is asked to provide input when a major transportation-related item is going before Council. Boardmembers discussed the overall role of the Board and the relationship of their advisory opinions to Council and citizens. Sizemore suggested the Board list its priorities for the next year and include a broad DocuSign Envelope ID: C65CD1B2-025F-4268-8D64-A3D49CDDD135 4 statement addressing such. He also suggested the effectiveness of the Work Plan can be reflected in the year-end Annual Report. Shenk indicated the discussion would continue at the next meeting, with adoption planned for September. 8. ACTION ITEMS None. 9. REPORTS • Boardmember Reports Shenk stated the City has a grant regarding the Climate Action Plan and has received proposals for innovative projects to help achieve the City’s aspirational Climate Action Plan goals. The Transportation Board has been offered a seat for judging the applications and the Board discussed who will fill that role. It was agreed that interested boardmembers would check their schedules and coordinate with Sizemore via email. York reported on the Coalition for Infrastructure’s examination of the cost of parking. Arnold reported on the upcoming discussion related to the Sign Code. Ayers reported on Transfort usage during the FoCoMX weekend. • Staff Report Sizemore stated the Pitkin crossings and Foothills underpass are completed and the Lincoln Bridge will be opening Saturday. Additionally, a revised budget has been selected for the City Plan and Transportation Master Plan update. Sizemore reported Bike to Work Day was the most well-attended thus far. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. by unanimous consent. DocuSign Envelope ID: C65CD1B2-025F-4268-8D64-A3D49CDDD135