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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 11/28/2007MEETING MINUTES of the TRANSPORTATION BOARD November 28, 2007 5:45 p.m. City of Fort Collins Traffic Operations Building 626 Linden Street FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Gary Thomas 482-7125 Vice Chair: Ed Robert 2244864 Staff Liaison: Mark Jackson 416-2029 Administrative Support: Polly Bennett 224-6058 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: James Clausen Don Edmondson Sara Frazier Neil Grigg Bill Jenkins Shane Miller Ed Robert Gary Thomas Scott VanTatenhove ABSENT: Wade Troxell, Council Liaison Garry Steen CITY STAFF: Mark Jackson Polly Bennett Kurt Ravenschlag Clark Mapes OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Suzette Mallette, MPO CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Thomas at 6:00 p.m. 2. AGENDA REVIEW The Agenda was approved. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (October 2007) Robert moved to approve the October Transportation Board meeting minutes, which were revised to reflect Clausen's request a presentation on the Harmony Road/1-25 Corridor plan when possible. There was a second by Jenkins. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Wade Troxell, Council Liaison Mr. Troxell was not able to attend. Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 Transportation Board November 28, 2007 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Traffic Safety from a Police Perspective, Officer Jeff Groves Officer Groves began with a story of the secret to a long life ... no left turns! Jeff has been full- time with the Traffic part of the Police Department for 14 years. There are five officers on his complaint -driven team. They take complaints on nearly everything, including speeding, neighborhood problems, etc. and work closely with Rich Brewbaker, Dan Holland, and Steve Gilchrest of Traffic Operations to resolve issues when the complaint involves striping, signage, speed studies, traffic light issues, etc. The Traffic Unit members work 7am-5pm, drive unmarked vehicles and are all motorcycle certified. Right-tum arrows at some intersections (Horsetooth & Lemay, College & Laurel) speed up traffic flow. The safety issue with them is slim to none. In general, we have very few severe crashes and fatalities. His team would recommend having the red/yellow flashing signals be red in all four directions because people assume that is how it is. Two red-light camera systems in operation (Drake & College, north and south -bound only, and Timberline & Harmony). 40 - 50 tickets per week at Drake & College, down from a high of 70 — 80 before they lengthened the caution cycle, although the accident rate has gone back up. 100+ tickets per week on the left turns at Timberline & Harmony. There are 3 speed oriented camera vans out, and a 4"operator working into evening hours. There is no loss for violations there. Photos are not suitable for framing, but do a pretty good job. It costs $9k - $14k per intersection to install the red light camera systems. Overall, the systems are paid for completely by violators. Edmondson: You hinted about the politics of traffic operations. Do you care to elaborate? Groves: For instance, in some areas if you start to run a median down the middle of a road that blocks access to a business, you could have an intense political issue very quickly. From our standpoint, do politics figure in to our jobs daily? No. But issues can and do come down from the City Manager to the Police Chief to us. Edmondson: How about the politics of working with the Traffic Operations Departmen? Groves: None. I've worked with them successfully for over 10 years with solutions arrived at jointly. Edmondson: My experience has been that responses are quick. It may not always be what one wants, but responses are always quick. Groves: Another example of the cooperation between departments is that Sandy Aragon of Traffic Operations was integral in getting the $35 surcharge added to speeding tickets. It pays for one officer's salary, the speed indicator trailers, etc. Grigg: Groves: Longmont has 12 traffic officers, Greeley has 10, Loveland has 8, we have 5. At any time there are 7 officers on duty plus an overlap shift. There is no specific dedication to Traffic by daytime officers. They have assigned districts and respond to calls as necessary. Laser guns are specific to the Traffic Officers, although there are two older radar guns out there too. Lasers are $4,500 apiece. Frazier: Pedestrian/motorist concern: Crossing light on Mountain Avenue in Old Town, the motorist can't see the indicator as well as the pedestrian can. Same thing on Elizabeth Street in the Campus West area. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 3 Groves: An indicator might be able to be added. Traffic Operations is working on solutions to a couple of other similar locations. Miller: I assume the signs that tell motorists what their speed is, work. What is your opinion? Groves: There will always be a percentage that will ignore them because they realize it isn't a violation. It is critical that we continue with increasing the number of reminders like these signs. Miller: I've heard that speed humps don't work in neighborhoods. Is that consistent with your observation? Groves: They work temporarily. The noise level goes up because cars screech to a halt to cross them and then roar off. They also run about $14,000 each to install. The speed signs run $5,000 each and are portable. Jackson: We've had people call and ask to have them removed. Groves: We don't have specific data, but we installed a speed camera on Dunbar for awhile and there was no shortage of violations. The money could be more wisely spent. Robert: What is the status on bicycle patrols in the downtown station? Groves: They are still in use. They are most effective during the Brewfest and other major activities. Robert: I haven't seen a patrolman on a bike in over a year. Robert: Have you considered using a blinking light system? Groves: When you approach an intersection in Europe/Mexico, the green light flashes when the light is about to change. That would be an issue to address with Traffic Operations department. Robert: If you want your unmarked vehicles identified at times, how about magnetic logos? Groves: I don't want them marked at any time. Robert: Data to report how we're doing? Groves: Sandy Aragon compiles crash data after the fact. No data relating to bicycle/vehicle crashes. Robert: What is the status of bicycle enforcement? Do you ticket for infractions? Groves: There are certain things more contributive to accidents than others. I would stop for those things (i.e. riding a bike on the wrong side of the street). If a bicyclist runs a stop sign in front of me am I going to do something? Sure. Am I looking for it, no. Robert: Is it limited because of budgetary issues? I didn't hear the Chief say he needs more Traffic Unit Officers. Groves: No, you didn't. He was requesting more officers for the Annexation. Robert: So he hasn't asked for more public safety officers? Grove: I believe he's made the request through BPO, but it hasn't been funded. The $35 surcharge helped us add two officers in the last year and a half. Robert: Using Mountain/College intersection, could that be considered for a full crossing for pedestrians including diagonal crossing? Grove: No. You are on a secondary federal highway and the City can't even put up a speed control sign without going through CDOT. Jackson: In a "barn dance" crossing, you hold all phases of traffic on red, giving up mobility. It is a dance we do between mobility and safety. Robert: Perhaps this Board can identify the squeaky wheels a little more through data that would allow us to speak up as a Board. Groves: Data isn't always the best way. Someone has to collect and file it. We only have one crime analyst who would be our data collection person. You are asking them to capture even more data from all records. Robert: Which goes to the need of additional funding. Groves: I don't think the data is that beneficial for what you are asking. Miller: You made three recommendations tonight regarding traffic safety, based on data, your observations over the years, and the collective observations of officers over the years. Our charge is to find a way to justify recommendations to Council, which is why we are data driven. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 4 Groves: The flashing red issue and the left turns in front of oncoming traffic is data driven. Most everything else is based on my 35 years of observation. Robert: So we can Thomas: I saw two bike accidents this year, both of which were the bike's fault. One was on the wrong side of the road, one was drunk. is there any sense that the rate is up? Groves: My sense is that yes, incidents between bikes and vehicles are up. The occur in easily identifiable areas: around campus where arterials flow near campus (Laurel, Elizabeth) and around the four high schools and routes to those areas. There was one very serious accident at Horsetooth and Arctic Fox this year, which was the bicyclist's fault. Changes were made as a result. The "lug nut" rule applies: those with the most lug nuts wins. Frazier: Do bicycle safety programs help? Groves: I don't have an opinion. It will be years before we see the results. Jackson: We have increasing bicycle traffic as well as increasing vehicular traffic. Groves: It isn't unreasonable to expect increased enforcement. Thomas: As a Board, we'd like to see more. Groves: My cell number is 567.8131; 221.6842 is the Traffic complaint line. b. Harmony Corridor Plan Amendment: Harmony Gateway District at I25/Harmony, Westside, Clark Mapes The plan was written in 1991 and identified the Gateway area at Harmony and I-25 as a community entry/gateway. The plan doesn't state a preferred vision, but explains possible outcomes ranging from a traditional highway business area to natural areas. It concluded that more work is necessary. An intensive urban district is being looked at in the area. Developer/Ownership team has approached the City wanting to work on an urban district on the south side of Harmony. It will be a true Transit Oriented Development pedestrian district oriented toward Transit (TOD = Transit Oriented Development), with multi -story buildings. The river valley/low ground is planned as a centerpiece including canals and ponds. I would like to bring it back to this Board in January for a recommendation to Council. We are taking it to Council on February 5, 2008. Robert: Will this require a change in the structure plan of the City? Mapes: Yes.It is currently an employment district. With Timnath's announcement about their plan to develop along I-25, it will require a change. Robert: Will Stoner be required to build a new interchange at 1-25 and Kechter? Bracke: No. CDOT looked at it to see if it provided relief for Harmony, and it doesn't. Jackson: It is also a spacing issue. Grigg: You said something about a canal. Where exactly would that be? Mapes: It would be down the center of a half -mile area. Grigg: How do they keep the water clean? Mapes: It is ground water that circulates. Frazier: Is it either/or or and...regarding the two concepts you mentioned. Mapes: It is an AND. Both concepts. It is like a small downtown at I-25. Thomas: When you come back in January, will you bring some of Marlys' people to comment on Transit? Jackson: We need to bring Transfort people and Kathleen, who has been working on it. Miller. Where do we see information on this? Mapes: I will get information to you prior to the January meeting. Edmondson: We need to know numbers of people that Transit would move. Mapes: They are proposing four 15-story residential buildings. It is 250 acres — comparable to a new downtown. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 5 Miller: Is this to prevent Timnath from developing out there? Mapes: No, but it is definitely a reaction to Timnath's announcement that they want to develop near there. Miller: So that is what part of the incentive is. Mapes: It is a hanging aspect. There is no legal way to prevent Timnath's development from happening. Thomas: Can you send us the PowerPoint on this? Robert Or post it on the City website. Mapes. I will put it on the City website. c. 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, Suzette Mallette, Regional Planning Director, WO MPO is responsible for the long-range Regional Transportation Plan. The Plan is done every four years. We work with 15 member governments across the region to develop the Plan. This is a corridor -based plan this time (bike, rail, road). They look at surface and bridge conditions and safety issues, freight, truck flows, commodity flows, rail systems. It is difficult to get data because the truck and rail companies are protective of the data. Also look at bike/pedestrian, aviation, and carpool/vanpool, Intelligent Transportation Systems ITS), Transit. Socioeconomic and Environmental Profiles are also examined. The Land Use Plans come from the local governments. The southern boundary is Weld County Road 38. Berthoud is included. Grigg: The map looks different than I expected. It doesn't really show the intense development in Weld County. Mallette: Erie, Brighton, and Longmont are annexing and we will be sharing a boundary between the Denver region soon. Thomas: Your road data includes that commercial development? Mallette: We develop a travel demand model, so it looks at it (external inflow of traffic). We develop a Vision Plan including corridor visions and tiering, Congestion Management Process, and Implementation. The Council will recommend adoption of the Plan on December 6. The Plan is on the web at NFRMPO.org Jackson: If you have an interest in it, I'd recommend looking at the Plan online. It's a really good document from a regional planning standpoint. Robert: Is this the base line that the Governor would use to determine funding? Mallette.• It is part of the baseline that the State uses. Thomas: Is any of this (ozone non -attainment) going to change any of that (RTA)? Mallette: We have to prove to the EPA that we are going to comply. d. Ozone Non -Attainment, Suzette Mallette, MOP Ozone is not a pollutant that just happens; it is made from volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. It causes respiratory problems. The health standards: 1-hour standard (0.12 ppm established in 1978) and 8-hour standard (0.08 ppm) established in 1997. We were determined to be in non -attainment status in 2002. There are 14 Front Range Ozone Monitor Sites. New standard takes into account extreme and fluctuating meteorological events. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 6 VanTatenhove: Why is the downtown level lower than the foothills level? Mallette: This is meteorological ozone. The prevailing winds blow toward the foothills, so those readings are higher. We knew in 2002 that we wouldn't be able to meet the 8-hour standard. The EAP allowed us to do an Early Action Compact (EAC) IF we can be back into compliance by the end of 2007. Weld County has 19,000 oil wells. Flash emission controls were placed on them, greatly reducing emissions. New car standards are also reducing the emissions. "Let's Take Care of Our Summer Air" public outreach messages were instituted ("Stop at the Click"). There are 152.8 pounds per day of man-made emissions. 468.1 pounds per day are biogenic (not man-made) emissions (trees, etc.). The non -attainment area includes a large part of Latimer County, including half of Rocky Mountain National Park. Robert: Why are there no tests done on diesel engines? Mallette.• They may be coming. Non -attainment implications? We will be stuck with this for 25 — 30 years. We have to do an attainment SIP (State Implementation Plan) due by November 20, 2008. We also have one year to do a conformity test on the RTA Plan and the Doctor Cog Plan. Three different Planning Regions are working on that. Any new stationary sources of emissions are subject to LAER (lowest achievable emission rate). The Transportation Conformity aspect will be difficult. Reasonably Available Control Technology requirements for existing stationary sources will apply in portions of Latimer and Weld counties. The Attainment Plan process is underway. Agency discussions have begun; technical work is underway; control measure options are being developed. Stakeholder meetings began in October. Modeling and control strategy development will occur throughout 2008. Schedule: EPA Proposal June 2007 EPA Promulgation March 2008 EPA Designations 2010-2011 SIPS due 2013-2014 Attainment required 2015-2021 Frazier. Are they looking at the biogenic sources as well? Mallette: Yes, including low -emission trees. Thomas: Did you say that nearly half of our emissions are coming from somewhere else? Mallette: If we do all the work we can and can't reach attainment, the EPA can go after upstream sources. Frazier: Have they looked at the effect of feedlots? Mallette: I haven't heard about feedlots. They generate methane, and I haven't heard it brought up. Clausen: Once the wells are dealt with, what else can be done? Mallette: Vehicle emissions in this area don't contribute that much. In Denver, vehicle emissions are a huge contributor. We will probably be required to have a lower emission gas and more stringent emissions (California standards). Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Clausen: So consumers won't be heavily impacted, it will be industry. Mallette: Correct, although you may feel the effects. Thomas: Mobile reads of vehicles could eliminate dirty cars. Mallette: Check out ozoneaware.com as well. ACTION ITEMS a. Master Street Plan Updates, Kurt Ravenschlag, Transportation Planning Page 7 Jackson: This is Kurt's swan song. He was selected as the new General Manager for Transfort, a definite loss for Transportation Planning, but a well -deserved promotion. Ravenschlag: The last time the MSP was amended was in 2004. In that time things have changed. These are the "clean up items" or minor changes to the Master Street Plan to make it more accurate (to correct mapping errors, make approved street name changes, etc.). Three types of arterials: 6-lane; 4-lane, 2-lane. Robert: Does this address roundabouts? Bracke: The Master Street Plan addresses shows the functional aspects of roadways, not intersections. Thomas: Why do these changes if it doesn't effect change? Bracke: These changes are only to make the map accurate. 1. Reclassify Laporte Avenue between Wood Street and Taft Hill Road from a two-lane collector to a two-lane arterial. 2. Reclassify Jerome Street from a local street to a collector street. 3. Remove collector that parallels East Vine Drive to the north between the BNSF rail line and east of Campfire Drive. 4. Rename Lincoln Avenue to International Boulevard. 5. Reclassify Nancy Gray Avenue and Miles House Avenue from local streets to collector streets. 6. Reclassify Overland Trail south of Drake Road from a 4-lane arterial to a collector street. 7. Reclassify Horsetooth Road west of Taft Hill Road from a 4-lane arterial to a collector street. 8. Remove portion of Overland Trail between Horsetooth Road and Harmony Road. 9. Rename Cambridge Avenue to Lady Moon Drive. 10. Reclassify Cinquefoil Lane from a local street to a collector street. 11. Realignment of Zephyr Road connecting to Trilby Road. 12. Reclassify Brittany Street from a local street to a collector street. 13. Reclassify Autumn Ridge Drive from a local street to collector street. 14. Reclassify Province Road between Fairbourne Way and Brittany Drive from a local street to a collector street. Action Requested: Seeking Board approval of the proposed Minor Amendments to the Master Street Plan and a recommendation to Council. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 8 Robert: In the Harmony between Timberline and Ziegler there is a lot of construction with another street by the shopping areas by the new Walgreens. Is that something that should be included in this? Bracke. They are commercial local roads and don't show up on the map. This is the primary artery system. VanTatenhove: Does this include the southwest annexation? Ravenschlag: No. That will come in another round. Clausen moved that the Board recommend that the City Council accept the Amendments. Second by Don Edmondson. Passed unanimously. b. 2007 Annual Report, Gary Thomas Gary presented a draft of the 2007 Annual Report. Additions after review and discussion: Add representation on the Poudre School District Choice Busing Committee (VanTatenhove) Add representation on the Railroad Task Force (Grigg) Add recommendation of adoption of the Minor Amendments to the Master Street Plan. Edmondson moved that we adopt the revised 2007 Work Plan. Second by Clausen. Passed unanimously. c. 2008 Work Plan, Gary Thomas After review and discussion, the following five items were adopted as the 2008 Work Plan: 1. Advise City Council on transportation issues, planning and construction projects in a timely fashion. 2. Transportation Financing — explore financing options to address transportation needs, including, but not limited to, dedicated funding mechnisms. 3. Education and Outreach — reach out proactively to the community to both solicit input and educate regarding transportation issues that face the city. 4. Transportation Study — Promote transportation safety as it affects all modes of transportation, via consideration of engineering, education, and enforcement. 5. Regional Transportation — Build communication links with other transportation bodies in the city and region. Edmondson moved, Clausen seconded that we retain the five work items for 2008. Passed unanimously. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Frazier: UniverCity met first of the month. We discussed the National Association for Interpretation grant money. The UniverCityTransit Task Force has discussed applying with Arts & Culture and another group. Doug Johnson was appointed as a director. Miller: None. Edmondson: None. Clausen: None. Regular Meeting Minutes Transportation Board November 28, 2007 Page 9 VanTatenhove: PSD Choice Busing is ready to make their recommendation. The group will continue. Collaboration with Transfort is written into the recommendation. Jenkins Coloradoan article about people who met at New Belgium about dangerous intersections for bicycles. I attended. I've been commuting to work for 7 weeks, which has made me hyper -sensitive to bicycle safety. Robert: None. Thomas: RTA is not dead. 9. STAFF REPORTS Jackson: City Engineer: Helen Migchelbrink accepted my offer and begins work Friday. She comes highly recommended from Eagle County. Traffic Engineer: No luck so far. Budget: 2008/2009 budget was adopted. Transfort Strategic Operating Plan: Will come to the Board early in 2008. Lorimer County Road & Bridge: 48 hours after first reading of the budget, Latimer County informed us that they are withdrawing our support from the Road & Bridge funds. They can do this legally, and it is a sign of the times. 2008 appears to be covered, but 2009 is in jeopardy. December Aeenda: • December 19t° — no meeting. Dinner together at Canino's, 6:00 p.m. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m. January: Harmony/I-25, Clark Mapes Climate Task Force, Lucinda Smith Respectfully submitted, PKW. b ti ut Polly BetAiett Executive Administrative Assistant