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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle Advisory Committee - Minutes - 09/26/2022 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR September 26, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Hybrid Meeting – Zoom and 281 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Jordan Williams Vice-Chair: Dave Dixon Staff Liaison: Cortney Geary 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Dixon called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL (INTRODUCTIONS) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Ruhlen Seth Lorson Jordan Williams, Chair, At Large Member Dave Dixon, Vice Chair, Bike Fort Collins Tim Anderson, Fort Collins Bike Co-op York, Transportation Board (sub for Rob Owens) Katherine Chu, At Large Member Marcia Richards, Parks and Recreation Board Whitney Allison, At Large Member David Hansen, Colorado State University ABSENT: Mike Weber, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Ed Peyronnin, Colorado State University Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee David Kovach, Senior Advisory Board Todd Dangerfield, Downtown Development Authority Jonathan Crozier, Poudre School District Kevin Krause, Natural Resources Advisory Board PUBLIC PRESENT: Stephen Beckley Mark Houdashelt BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 2 3. AGENDA REVIEW Vice Chair Dixon stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – AUGUST 2022 Chu made a motion, seconded by Anderson, to approve the minutes of the August 2022 meeting as written. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Vision Zero Action Plan – Rachel Ruhlen Rachel Ruhlen, FC Moves, discussed the definition of Vision Zero: an approach to transportation safety that accepts no loss of life or serious injury in the transportation system. She outlined the history of the program and noted Fort Collins has made a statement that it is committed to Vision Zero; however, it still needs a Vision Zero Action Plan to become part of the official network of Vision Zero cities. Ruhlen discussed the Vision Zero safe systems approach which holds individuals responsible for following the rules of the road while also holding planners and policy makers responsible for prioritizing safety into design. Ruhlen discussed the interaction between the Vision Zero Action Plan, the Active Modes Plan, and the 15-minute City Analysis, and outlined historical crash data noting that while overall crash numbers are down, severe crashes are up. She stated severe crashes primarily occur at arterial intersections and discussed the high-injury network in Fort Collins. Ruhlen discussed the Vision Zero technical advisory committee’s work and requested feedback from the BAC on why Vision Zero could be achievable in Fort Collins, assuming it is achievable, and on the best way to communicate to stakeholders regarding the need for managing traffic speeds. Dixon stated facility design will be the most important factor in managing traffic speeds. York commented on the need for design to help meet climate goals by enabling more efficient use by alternative modes. Dixon discussed an article regarding the bias of the transportation system due to people’s innate nature to identify with motorists. Allison commented on the root of the problem being the dependence on car culture. Hansen commented on the need to get Vision Zero information to new drivers, BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 3 perhaps through driver’s education programs. Ruhlen commented on driving becoming less appealing if parking is more difficult. Chair Williams asked what type of funding is being put forth for the Vision Zero Action Plan and its implementation. Geary replied there is a funded offer in the budget for Vision Zero Action Plan implementation for $150,000 over two years. She stated it will be important for every transportation-related investment to work toward Vision Zero and there is a possibility of the formation of a dedicated Vision Zero program with dedicated funding. Ruhlen noted staff did apply for a $28 million Safe Streets for All grant which has a 20% local match. Chair Williams stated it will be important to highlight for Council how far behind Fort Collins is from Colorado peer cities in terms of safety. Ruhlen noted that data is part of the Safety in Our City report which is on the Vision Zero website. Members discussed the fact that driver’s license renewals occur without drivers having to take tests on new laws. York commented on the importance of having goals in the transportation network other than just moving people faster. Houdashelt asked if there is any data regarding how many serious crashes involve drugs and alcohol. Ruhlen replied that data is in the Safety in Our City report and alcohol is certainly a large factor in crashes; however, other types of impairment are more difficult to decipher. York commented on the need to improve police reports so they include data that will help drive changes. Houdashelt stated it may be helpful at certain intersections to prohibit right turns on red lights. Hansen commented on changes made to campus police report forms to make them less ambiguous and include more location data. Ruhlen reported on the Safe Streets for All grant request for design and implementation of the near-term recommendations from the Active Modes Plan that are located in three USDOT identified underserved census tracts as well as the East Elizabeth corridor, for which CSU is providing matching funds. She stated design and construction funds for the three intersections in Fort Collins with excess crash costs: College and Trilby, Drake and College, and Shields and Horsetooth, have also been requested, as has funding for the Harmony/Power Trail grade-separated crossing. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 4 York asked who is funding the Safe Streets for All grant. Ruhlen replied it is from the USDOT and is part of the recently adopted federal infrastructure bill. b. North College MAX Plan – Seth Lorson Seth Lorson, Transit Planner, stated the public comment period for the North College MAX has just ended. He commented on the Transit Master Plan showing the extension of MAX to North College Avenue and noted the current Transfort routes that service the area are the fastest growing routes in the network. Additionally, providing MAX service in the area aligns with some of the community’s other goals including livability and equity. Lorson outlined the three phases of engagement completed with a focus on equity and discussed the resulting long-term recommendations, including the placement of the bus in a business access transit (BAT) lane which would be shared with turning vehicles. Additionally, the sidewalk will ultimately be extended to a 12-foot shared-use path for bikes and pedestrians and the median will be narrowed. Lorson stated the temporary turnaround for the MAX line will be at the roundabout on Willox with a future turnaround proposed at Terry Lake Road. Lorson outlined the proposed route for the realigned North Mason. He commented on the challenges with existing bikeways that parallel North College on neighborhood streets that have parking. He noted installing protected bike lanes would require that parking to be removed. Chair Williams noted making biking more appealing for transportation purposes must include comfortable direct routes. Lorson discussed the phasing plan for the North College MAX line and the ultimate goal of increasing MAX frequency on North College Avenue to have a one-seat ride from North College Avenue to the South Transit Center. He discussed desired land use changes in the area and noted redevelopment conflicts with affordability. Lorson outlined the next steps, including presenting to the Transportation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, and the North Fort Collins Business Association in the coming months and Council next year. York asked how this aligns with the Vision Zero Plan noting it would be a good opportunity to create infrastructure that would be needed to meet goals of the Plan. Lorson replied almost every aspect of the MAX plan is designed to make things safer for bikes and pedestrians. York questioned how the short-term plans align with Vision Zero and stated being able to move bikes and pedestrians to a separate lane earlier in the process would increase adherence to Vision Zero. Lorson commented on riders and BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 5 pedestrians being able to use the parallel networks in the interim and on plans to make the North College corridor permeable from those parallel networks. Houdashelt commented on the $4 million bus rapid transit offer that was not recommended for funding and asked if that amount would cover the entire first phase of this project. Lorson replied it would have funded 100% of the design through the final phase and was actually $10 million. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Hansen reported CSU is looking to codify Vision Zero and form a more formal committee with the hopes of attaining annual funding. Additionally, CSU is working on a complete streets standards guideline document for capital construction projects on campus and is working on a work zone guideline document. Allison reported on a visit to Crested Butte and commented on the town’s implementation of traffic calming zones. Dixon reported Bike Fort Collins is ramping up Safe Routes to School programming for the fall. He stated there will be an upcoming walk/bike to school challenge within the School District. He commented on the Wish for Wheels FoCo program that provides bikes to 2nd graders in Title I schools. Chair Williams commented on volunteering for the bike/pedestrian intersection counts and recommended others volunteer. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Transportation Board Report York reported on volunteering for the bike/pedestrian counts. He reported the Transportation Board received a presentation on the Active Modes Plan and made a recommendation to Council to adopt the Plan. He reported there are two new Board members and noted he will be leaving at the end of the year. He stated the Board also reviewed the City Manager’s proposed budget and will include the BAC recommendations in its letter to Council. b. Staff Liaison Report • Safe Streets for All Grant (**Secretary’s Note: This item was discussed at the end of the Vision Zero Action Plan item.) • East Pitkin Street Advisory Bike Lanes Geary stated the East Pitkin Street advisory bike lanes should be opening in early BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 6 /2022 – MINUTES Page 6 October. She noted the FC Moves website has a video describing their use. • Other Geary commented on the record participation at the last Open Streets event and thanked the volunteers for the bike/pedestrian counts. York suggested the mailers to the individuals living on the Open Streets route should be brought back. Geary replied those will be brought back next year. Members commented on possible ways to count participation numbers at future events and made suggestions for additional food trucks and music. Chair Williams asked about the next steps for the Active Modes Plan. Geary replied there are several Board and Commissions that have requested additional time to review the Plan prior to making a motion; however, the Plan will be on the Council work session agenda October 25th. c. Future Agenda Items • 15-Minute City Analysis Geary stated she will be presenting on the 15-minute city analysis. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM by unanimous consent.