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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Committee 2014-12-17 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, December 17th, 2014 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Rooms 202 & 203 of Town Hall, in said Town of Estes Park on the 17th day of December, 2014. Present: Kimberly Campbell Cory LaBianca Gregg Rounds Thom Widawski Also Present: Greg Muhonen, Director of Public Works Kevin Ash, Public Works Civil Engineer Jen Imber, Public Works Administrative Assistant Sandy Osterman, Shuttle Committee Representative John Ericson, Town Board Liaison Bob Holcomb, Town Trustee Absent: Ann Finley Stan Black Belle Morris Amy Hamrick Bryon Holmes Chair Campbell called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. GENERAL DISCUSSION No public was in attendance, so public comment was not heard. With no quorum present, approval of bylaws and November meeting minutes was postponed until January 21st, 2015. Officer elections will be held at the January meeting as well. Director Muhonen discussed the seating arrangement for TAC meetings, noting protocol at other Town-officiated meetings consisted of board, staff support and staff liaison sitting at the main table and all other attendees sitting in the audience. Trustee Ericson likes the informal setup of TAC meetings and feels it promotes conversation to have additional staff and representatives sitting at the main table . Chair Campbell recommended everyone but public be seated at the main table, with public arranged in back seating. Consensus with the rest of the board was for staff, trustees and board members sit at the main table and public seated behind in the audience. Trustee Ericson informed the board that the Town Board Study Session on January 13th, 2015, will include a discussion of a downtown visioning process, which overlaps the Downtown Estes Loop project. TAC members were encouraged to attend as audience members to listen in on the discussion. Shuttle committee representative Sandy Osterman suggested TAC members look up and read articles on downtown parking that were published by the Fort Collins Coloradoan. STAFF UPDATES ON TOWN PROJECTS An update was provided to the board on Director Muhonen’s meeting with the BOR regarding the transit hub parking structure placement on the south side of the river. Site relocation may take a year, with utility relocations and viability of property being examined. Director Muhonen is attempting to balance aesthetic needs with $2M budget overage. Feedback was requested from the board on the need of a full aesthetics package or if a scaled back version would be acceptable. Members stated concern about the finished product looking like a cement bunker if softening aesthetics such as wood elements Transportation Advisory Committee – December 17th, 2014 – Page 2 were removed. Aesthetical elements were discussed and reconsidered, with cost for each element taken into account. Less expensive design elements such as dyed concrete were also suggested as an alternative. Downtown Estes Loop project small group meetings have been taking place. Cory Labianca attended the environmental/historical group and reported that multi modal transportation was discussed, especially ideas on bike lanes. The small group expressed concern over four traffic lanes on Riverside and the diminishing effect it would have on parks, as well as the pollution and noise. Thom W idawski attended the business group, reporting mixed opinions from business owners. Chair Campbell suggested traffic numbers are in large part dictated by hotel capacity and improved traffic flow could increase number of Front Range day-trippers. Director Muhonen updated on the Downtown Estes Loop progress meeting he attended with Central Federal Lands. Additional concepts are being proposed based on citizen small group discussions, including the potential to reroute Hwys 34 & 36, reconfiguiring lane geometry and better signage to incentivize use of the bypass. Director Muhonen suggested talking to CDOT about altering the geometry of the Hwys 34 & 36 intersection to alter driver behavior and direct more traffic to the Fall River entrance of RMNP. Some concern was voiced about the potential backup down Hwy 34 at the Fall River Entrance as a result of this. DOWNTOWN ESTES LOOP Until the NEPA report comes out, not much can be done with the Downtown Estes Loop project by the committee. Updates and reports will continue each meeting, but a committee recommendation will be postponed until NEPA results are known. MAJOR EVENT TRAFFIC CONGESTION MANAGEMENT Chair Campbell has extensive experience with major event traffic management . Topics of consideration include how to get traffic in and out of venue, what to do with pedestrian traffic, signage, barricades and cones and helping people understand where they need to go. Efforts can be personnel intensive and may be beyond the Town’s current capability. Director Muhonen suggested identifying a final product the committee wishes to deliver, when it will be ready and who will be the recipient. Chair Campbell suggested presenting a concept to Trustees as an approach the Town may want to adopt on busy days/events. The plan may require land, additional personnel, and a budget, so it will be important to get a preliminary direction from Trustees to determine if they would like to appropriate resources, and then TAC can proceed to flesh out a detailed plan. A trial run could be implemented on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2015. Trustee Ericson feels the response would be positive from Trustees and recommends Director Muhonen speak with Administrator Lancaster to gauge Administration’s reaction. Since law enforcement cooperation would be vital to the plan, it was recommended Chief Kufeld be brought into the discussion soon to provide feedback. Director Muhonen will relay this concept to Administrator Lancaster and then schedule it for a Town Board Study Session so TAC may present to Trustees. Director Muhonen will also approach the Police Deparment to get their thoughts on concept, interface and training. With no other business to discuss, Chair Campbell adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.