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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 07/20/20161 MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD July 20, 2016 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason 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 Annabelle Berklund, Vice Chair Gary Thomas York Cari Brown Pat Jordan Olga Duvall ABSENT: Tim Sutton Councilmember Ross Cunniff Mark Jackson, Deputy PDT Director Lindsay Ex Amy Lewin Emma Belmont Aaron Iverson PUBLIC PRESENT: Alan Braslau, Energy Board 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Shenk called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. AGENDA REVIEW Jackson stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Thomas made a motion, seconded by Berklund, to adopt the June 2016 minutes as presented. The minutes were adopted unanimously (7-0). 5. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. 2 6. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT - York York reported on the recent Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting during which a presentation on a TAP grant was heard and the West Elizabeth Plan and Downtown Plans were reviewed. 7. DISCUSSION/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS • Climate Action 2020 Strategic Plan Update - Ex Ex discussed the City’s goal of a 20% reduction in its carbon emissions in the next four years and carbon neutrality by 2050. Goals increase accountability and allow the City to track its progress. Energy efficiency is the largest aspect of the pathway toward the 2020 goal; however, making a difference in the transportation arena takes more time. Progress since 2005 includes fuel efficient vehicles, congestion management, mass transit, and bicycle friendly aspects. Iverson discussed the importance of decreasing miles traveled and shifting to cleaner and more efficient vehicles. Most of the budget offers involve the former and include the Trip Reduction Efficiency Program. Jordan asked if there are regulations against companies leaving their trucks running. Ex replied the City organization has a policy around anti-idling; however, there is no city- wide policy. Iverson continued to discuss offers related to expanding bicycle facilities and furthering the low-stress network. Berklund asked what year the baseline levels were measured. Ex replied it was 2005 for transportation. As a community, we are about 25% down on per capita emissions. • Budgeting for Outcomes Update – Jackson Jackson stated the individual offer teams have presented their recommended platforms of projects to the Budget Lead Team and that group has now convened in an attempt to evaluate the various offers. Public comment will begin following the presentation of the recommended budget to Council. Duvall asked when the drilling platforms will go public. Jackson replied that may occur in late August. Jackson went on to discuss opportunities and challenges for the upcoming budget stating the allocation of funding given to transportation was high and allowed for preliminary funding of all core offers and $20 million in enhancement offers. However, he noted any offer with a General Fund aspect is likely to be questionable with funding, including extended Transfort service. He noted aspirational goals such as those related to the Climate Action Plan will need fundamental shifts in terms of adding more transit and cycling infrastructure in order to be successful. Chair Shenk asked if the new healthcare costs are simply the new cost of doing business. Jackson replied in the affirmative. Jackson went on to discuss changes in the City organization job structure and future impacts of healthcare costs on the City’s budget. 3 Thomas discussed the push to place funding for ongoing items in the KFCG fund which will expire in four years unless renewed. Brown asked when East Mulberry is likely to be annexed. Jackson replied it is not likely within the one to three year future; however, there are enclave opportunities. (**Secretary’s Note: The Board took a brief recess at this point in the meeting.) • Transportation Board Workplan - Shenk The Board had a brief discussion regarding the points in the Workplan and made slight wording modifications. Transportation equity and the need to bring transit infrastructure up to ADA standards were discussed. 8. ACTION ITEMS • West Elizabeth Enhanced Travel Corridor Plan – Lewin/Belmont Belmont stated an Enhanced Travel Corridor is defined as a corridor that emphasizes high-frequency transit, bicycling and walking and aids in growth management. She noted the IGA effort through the City and CSU has placed more emphasis on the Shields and West Elizabeth intersection and that intersection is therefore not highly integrated in this Plan. This Corridor involves a huge amount of transit riders and bicyclists and the need to decrease conflicts among users is emphasized in the Plan. Phasing elements aim to address existing deficiencies sooner than later while still using public funding wisely. Three main phasing elements will begin this year and include improvements to the transit network and improvements to north-south road crossings. Interim improvements include filling in gaps in the sidewalk and bicycle network and improvements to bus stop amenities and sidewalk connections to bus stops. In terms of the long-term recommended design, which is funding dependent, looks at high- frequency transit, buffered and/or protected bike lanes, an enhanced pedestrian network, and some vehicular improvements. The importance of minimizing impacts on private property has been emphasized. Lewin detailed the proposal for additional north-south connectivity and phasing for each mode. Brown asked how protected bike lanes affect snow removal. Lewin replied it does require a different approach to snow removal and that is acknowledged in terms of maintenance considerations in the Plan. Bus stop islands and detached sidewalks, where right-of-way is available, will also be considered. Additionally, a roundabout is being proposed at West Elizabeth and Overland Trail. Thomas asked about the safety of utilizing a small curb for a protected bike lane. York stated that curb can become a hazard for both bikes and vehicles. Lewin noted protected bike lane design is rapidly changing and best practices will be examined prior to final design. She went on to present cross-section designs for the remainder of the Corridor. Belmont discussed the 2016 proposal stating funds have been identified to be moved from a low-productivity route to serve this area more effectively. She requested Board recommendation of the Plan for Council. 4 The Board had a brief discussion regarding the safety of protected bicycle lanes and suggested that design should be included in the Plan as being yet to be determined. Thomas made a motion, seconded by Jordan, to support the adoption of the West Elizabeth Enhanced Travel Corridor Plan with the caveat of further study on bike lane protection. The motion was adopted unanimously. 9. REPORTS • Boardmember Reports Thomas reported on a letter he wrote to the Federal Railroad Administration regarding quiet zones. York asked about the stoppage of MAX buses near the railroad crossings. Jackson replied there is no sunset to that regulation as it was a requirement of the railroad in order to use their right-of-way. York suggested the policy be reviewed; however, Thomas and Jackson recommended against it given the difficultly of discussions with the railroad to begin with. York reported on the Coalition for Infrastructure group and the Built Environment Working Group meeting, during which Nature in the City and human-powered transit BFO offers were discussed. Berklund commented on the Laurel roundabout discussing dangerous actions by motorists. She suggested signage regarding yielding to pedestrians should be installed. • Staff Report Jackson reported on two grant applications for I-25 improvements. The FAST lane grant which had a freight corridor aspect to it was denied; however, the TIGER grant could still be successful. The West Prospect Area Plan is receiving a merit award from the American Planning Association for its community engagement, unique public outreach efforts and collaboration with land owners and CSU. The Lemay and Riverside intersection railroad improvements have been completed and the Board discussed the need for a liaison between the Parking Committee and the Transportation Board. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. by unanimous consent.