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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle Advisory Committee - Minutes - 10/05/2020 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR October 5, 2020, 6:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Aaron Buckley Vice-Chair: Marcia Patton-Mallory Staff Liaison: Aaron Iverson 970-416-2471 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Buckley called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Amanda Mansfield Aaron Buckley, Chair, Fort Collins Bike Co-op Jerry Gavaldon, Transportation Board Marcia Patton-Mallory, At Large Member Ed Peyronnin, Colorado State University Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee Mike Tupa, Parks and Recreation Board Todd Dangerfield, Downtown Development Authority Rick Arneson, Bike Fort Collins ABSENT: Ben Mayer, Poudre School District Greg Wells, Senior Advisory Board Jason Miller, Air Quality Advisory Board Mike Webber, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Kevin Krause, Natural Resources Advisory Board Becky Cramer, At Large Member PUBLIC PRESENT: Erika Benti Ryan Dusil, North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization Dave Dixon, Bike Fort Collins BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 2 3. AGENDA REVIEW There were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Erika Benti, CSU, introduced herself and her Parking and Transportation Services Alternative Transportation team. She discussed the work of the team at CSU and its work with the City around various initiatives. She discussed possible ways in which CSU and the City could work together on other issues. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – AUGUST 2020 Gavaldon made a motion, seconded by Patton-Mallory, to adopt the August 2020 minutes as amended to change the spelling of Patton-Mallory's name in the "For Reference" box. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization Regional Active Transportation Plan – Ryan Dusil Ryan Dusil, Transportation Planner with the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), discussed the role of the NFRMPO stating it is the federally-designated transportation planning agency for northern Colorado. He stated the Regional Active Transportation Plan involves human-powered modes of transportation, including electric-assist technologies, and is an update to the shared regional vision for improving active transportation both within and between communities. Dusil outlined the stakeholder engagement and public outreach process, including the steering committee, for the plan and stated staff is now working toward the plan development phase. He discussed the history of active transportation planning for the MPO and detailed various planned trail connections for the northern Colorado area. Dusil requested input as to what types of regional guidance would be most useful to the City, what types of quick improvements would most increase biking and walking around the city, and what types of engagement would be most effective in reaching community members. He outlined the input received thus far noting previous responses have included the desire for the plan to focus on equity, align local and regional priorities, doing a segment-level analysis of regional active transportation corridors, having more focus on youth, older adults, and individuals with disabilities, BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 3 infrastructure and wayfinding standards, and promoting facilities, among other things. Tupa suggested identification of extended trail linkages could be helpful in a plan map. Gavaldon stated the Transportation Board discussed the Power Trail crossing of Harmony design and cost considerations. He expressed concern about the high cost of the crossing and deviation of the route. Dusil replied the MPO is not often involved the design of actual facilities and will often defer to the city; however, it may play a role in prioritizing the best use of funds set aside for regional facilities. Gavaldon requested a further discussion of this crossing at a future meeting. He also asked about other communities' experience with class 3 E -bikes. Dusil replied he has not seen much information outside Fort Collins and Boulder as they are the communities leading the way in terms of allowing class 1 and 2 E-bikes on trails. Chair Buckley commented that CSU officers do not have a way of quickly identifying class 3 E-bikes which makes enforcement difficult. Patton-Mallory discussed growth toward Wellington and the Montava development and noted that is a large gap in the low-stress bicycle network. She encouraged prioritizing connections from the area. Tupa asked if any entity reviews I-25 crossings for bike lane facilities. Gavaldon replied that is a CDOT responsibility; however, the City does have the opportunity to provide input. Iverson concurred and stated the City does provide input on CDOT's highway crossings. He noted the Prospect overpass will actually contain a protected bike lane. Gavaldon asked if the Committee and the Transportation Board could weight in on overpass bike lanes via Council. Iverson replied the Boards could receive presentations on the projects. Peyronnin asked if there is much interactivity between the MPO and the University. Dusil replied Aaron Fodge is on the MPO's leadership team for the NoCo Bike and Pedestrian Group and collaborative work between the organizations has occurred around facilities that especially service the University. b. E-Scooter and Bike Share Update – Amanda Mansfield Mansfield stated staff has decided to submit a memo to Council rather than attend a work session due to Council's full schedule. She stated the memo is set to include the following: how the E-scooter and bike share programs have gone so far, the functionality of E-scooter geofencing, actual safety issues, perceived safety, ridership, and next steps resulting from the request for information. Mansfield stated staff is intending to put out a request for proposal for new service providers on October 26th and the hope is to bring in a program with electric-assist bicycles as part of the fleet. She requested Committee members take the E-scooter BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 4 and bike share survey that is available on the City's webpage and she outlined the general themes of responses received thus far. Gavaldon stated challenges of the programs must be mentioned as well as successes, including Bird's reluctance to aid in data sharing. Mansfield replied the requirement for data sharing is explicitly stated in the RFP. Gavaldon asked if only class 1 and 2 E-bikes will be part of the proposal. Mansfield replied in the affirmative. Gavaldon asked if there would be anything that would warrant the consideration of including class 3 E-bikes in the future. Mansfield noted the class 3 E-bikes are not currently allowed on trails, which would provide an issue. Iverson stated that has yet to be considered. Chair Buckley stated his is unaware of any E-bike shared-model provider that offers class 3 bikes as part of its fleet. Mansfield noted trail signage is being competed regarding the types of E-bikes allowed. Gavaldon asked about the penalty for being caught with a non -permitted E-bike or other device. Mansfield replied she will follow up with additional information on that. Committee members discussed trail and campus speed limits. Chair Buckely commented on the original Zagster model being focused on Old Town and stated there were not enough bikes provided when the program expanded throughout the city. He suggested more of a focus on Old Town, CSU and other areas where there would be higher ridership. Mansfield agreed but noted there are some difficulties in weighing that with equity concerns. Dangerfield asked if the RFP is considering a dockless model. Mansfield replied the RFP leaves that open. Dangerfield noted there is a heavier desire for sidewalk space particularly given COVID and outdoor dining. He encouraged appropriate messaging and noted enforcement of the dismount zone is not currently occurring. Gavaldon commented on getting hit by a bike on a downtown sidewalk and questioned the penalty for riding through the dismount zones. Dangerfield asked if there is an ability to geofence E -bikes. Mansfield replied in the affirmative and stated service providers typically do that for E-bikes. Patton-Mallory supported having the shared mobility devices more heavily concentrated in the Old Town and CSU areas. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 5 c. Bike Fort Collins Update – Dave Dixon Dave Dixon, Bike Fort Collins, stated Bike Fort Collins has a number of ideas and initiatives it is considering and would like to bring as many as possible before the BAC for its consideration. He stated this presentation will be around initial bicycling improvement opportunities Bike Fort Collins sees relative to infrastructure. He stated Bike Fort Collins would like to maintain a fluid list of intersection and road facilities that represent opportunities for improving the bicycling experience for all within the city. Dixon detailed three specific intersections that are currently part of that list: Drake and Overland Trail, Elizabeth and Shields, and Elizabeth and Taft Hill. He discussed issues with each intersection and showed videos of specific instances of concern. He also discussed proposed improvements for each intersection. Arneson commented on a possible solution at Drake and Overland Trail. Gavaldon commented on speed limits being of concern at Drake and Overland Trail and mentioned an Aurora protected bike lane design. Dangerfield commented on the dangers of riding on arterial streets throughout town. Gavaldon concurred. Tupa commented on striving for a city-wide intersection standard for vehicle/bicycle interactions to increase predictability. Committee members and Iverson commented on transit and bicycle plans for West Elizabeth. Patton-Mallory noted the Timberline and Vine intersection is planned for signalization and likely improvements as part of the proposed 2021 budget. d. 2021 Work Plan Discussion – All Chair Buckley suggested he would make an effort at a draft of the Work Plan for additional discussion at next month's meeting given the lack of a full Committee. Gavaldon noted the Transportation Board is also formulating its Work Plan and will share it with the Committee. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Dixon announced the upcoming Wish for Wheels FoCo event that provides bicycles for second graders. Chair Buckley stated CSU is eager to partner on the E-scooter/bike share RFP. Patton-Mallory commented on seeing a bicyclist riding on I-25 toward the construction zone. Tupa stated the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to take a position of BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 10/5 /2020 – MINUTES Page 6 support on the temporary redeploy of funds to cover a portion of the Parks maintenance budget to alleviate pressure on the General Fund. Dangerfield stated the two alley projects currently in process just reached a 60% design development and an RFP just went out for a general contractor for the projects. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Transportation Board Report Gavaldon supported more education and enforcement efforts around Downtown dismount zones. He stated the Transportation Board will be focusing on its Work Plan and recently received presentations from the NFRMPO as well as from Mansfield on the E-scooter/bike share update. Additionally, the Board received a presentation on the budget. Gavaldon went on to provide further detail on the Aurora protected bike lanes. b. Staff Liaison Report Iverson stated he has received approval to advertise and recruit for Tessa Greegor's position, the Active Modes Manager. He also noted the City Traffic Engineer position has been approved for hiring. c. Call for Agenda Items 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM by unanimous consent.