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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 12-18-19 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, December 18th, 2019 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Room 202 of Town Hall on the 18th day of December, 2019. Present: Belle Morris Gordon Slack Stan Black Tom Street Ron Wilcocks Scott Moulton Janice Crow Linda Hanick Also Present: Trustee Carlie Bangs, Town Board Liaison Vanessa Solesbee, Parking & Transit Manager David Hook, Engineering Manager Elias Wilson, Public Works Admin. Assistant Greg Muhonen, Public Work Director Jennifer Waters, Public Works Engineer Katrina Kloberdanz, CDOT James Usher, CDOT SHUTTLE COMMITTEE Tom Moore Julie Pieper Eric Lund Brooke Lloyd Absent: Ann Finley Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment. Chair Morris introduced the visiting Shuttle Committee members. Director Muhonen spoke to the importance of volunteers and thanked the Shuttle Committee and TAB for their input, hard work, effectiveness, and important impact on policy decisions. He shared his appreciation of the different member aspects that make up the TAB as this often leads to impactful change. Muhonen also expressed his gratitude for CDOT’s support and recognized engineers James Usher and Katrina Kloberdanz for their contributions to the Estes Park community. Manager Solesbee thanked the TAB and Shuttle Committee for their hard work this year and emphasized her gratitude for their support in the implementation of the Downtown Parking Management Plan. Manager Hook thanked the TAB and Shuttle Committee for all of their work. Hook then introduced Jennifer Waters as the new Development Review Engineer and Flood Plain Manager for the Public Works Department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Black) to approve the November meeting minutes and all were in favor. Transportation Advisory Board – December 18, 2019 – Page 2 US HWY 34 & MACGREGOR AVE ROUNDABOUT This project was identified in a plan several years ago and will take place at the intersection of US Hwy 34 and Macgregor Ave. There exists a strong crash pattern that could be corrected with the installation of a roundabout. During the lifecycle cost analysis, a four-way stop, a traffic signal, and a roundabout were considered, with the roundabout being found to be the most appropriate for this situation. The goal is to improve safety for all modes of transportation in this area. A meeting regarding the project scope was held in September of 2018 and a public open house was held in December of 2018. Final design plans were completed a couple weeks ago and will be released tomorrow. There will be a speed reduction to 25 mph within the roundabout. Utilizing a full road closure cuts the length of the project from six to three months. CDOT’s James Usher stated there are penalties if the project is not completed by Memorial Day and weekend work would only occur with an agreement from both CDOT and the Town. Director Muhonen stated that both CDOT and the Town of Estes Park will contribute to the project landscaping. The selected contractor will be responsible for submitting a formal detour plan and six message boards will be used to direct traffic. Member Moulton shared his concern about traveling on Big Horn Drive, stating Chapin may be a better option. He shared that Big Horn has been used but his concern is related to the blind corner. Muhonen stated that if all detour traffic is directed to Chapin there could be a potential traffic issue for those turning left whereas Big Horn provides a signal. CDOT welcomes input. Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and a marked crosswalk will be available at the new roundabout. Muhonen stated that modifying the crossing movement will be assisted by a pedestrian island which doesn’t currently exist. Chair Morris asked if there would be any other markings. CDOT stated white cross bars will be used but that no other colors could be used, however green paint cou ld be put between the white lines. Member Hanick stated Bozeman, Montana is utilizing different colored lines. CDOT stated that not only have studies shown this is unsafe, but that FHWA does not allow this practice. There are experiments currently taking place with red paint being utilized for public transit. CDOT further shared that their experience with pedestrian compliance within roundabouts is good. Usher confirmed that once a contractor is selected, public involvement will be initiated. TOWN SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS (Community Development Director Randy Hunt) Chair Morris asked Hunt if there are ways to influence policy requiring private owners install crosswalks as part of their development. Hunt stated there’ve been discussions related to translating/incorporating the Complete Streets Policy concepts into the Estes Valley Development Codes. Hunt stated that from reading the existing code language it appears to be from the 1980s and 1990s and is mainly focused on vehicle traffic rather than mass transit and other modes of transportation. Hunt’s goal is to bring into the picture the fiscal realities. A balance must be achieved with the costs of developing in the Estes Valley. Many of the multimodal methods are more cost effective for current residents. An update to the Comprehensive Plan is needed as it is almost 24 years old. The contemporary multimodal thoughts aren’t incorporated. Hunt stated it would be ideal to have a valley-wide comprehensive plan which, as is typical practice, results in development code updates. The Complete Streets policy gives us what is needed to help with redevelopment projects. Section 7.12 of the development code is the Public Facilities section dealing with transportation. In the future Hunt would like to end up with a more thorough section. Hunt stated that he would gladly come back and discuss. There is a proposal to have a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that Hunt would like to review. The key thing the TMP would do is identify priority areas. Transportation Advisory Board – December 18, 2019 – Page 3 The Town is at the cusp of dealing with redevelopment of properties that are past maturity which require rehabilitation. There is no mention in the existing code requiring redevelopments incorporate newly implemented infrastructure requirements. Member Slack shared his concern about another discussion related to bicycles on the Town’s Riverwalk and the knowledge of the property owner views in the area. Hunt stated that a multimodal corridor would be great but existing code does n’t make it easy to require. Manager Hook stated that bicycle facilities were incorporated at the river level during the Moraine Avenue Bridge project. Wilcocks said that we can’t get to this type of work until the river flooding from Riverside Dr. to US Hwy 36 is corrected. He stated this work should be considered by the Town as critical to our transportation needs. Hunt stated the Downtown Plan has general guidelines dealing with this but has not yet been included in the code language. Wilcocks stated that it has been seven years since the flood and it continues to prevent many projects in the downtown area. Co-Chair Street shared that most cities have an issue with requiring more parking for developments. If more parking is being required than necessary it creates less space. Street asked if the parking standards will be reviewed. Hunt stated that the commercial and retail requirements are not applicable today. Hunt stated that the Town needs to have an integrated concept of how to get from the front door of a building to a certain location. Redesign of parking lots will be a piece of this as well. Muhonen stated that site development standards are private, and that street standards are what defines what needs to be done in the public right of way. Hunt said the ability of doing a private improvement that meets these needs are the goal. PROJECT UPDATES (Parking & Transit Manager Vanessa Solesbee) Seasonal Paid Parking An RFP was issued for a Parking Management Firm to implement paid parking. There was quick turnaround time for bid submissions. Five proposals were received and the top three firms, as identified by the selection committee, will be interviewed tomorrow. Solesbee is very pleased with the proposals and resumes received. 2020 Shuttle Program Update The Town has been working to complete the action items from CDOT. All is on track to receive the electric trolley in the next couple weeks. By 2021, the Town should be in possession of the second trolley. Solesbee shared that the charging station for the electric trolley will be located on Elm Road on existing Town property. Solesbee is working with the Power & Communications Division to determine the best times to charge the trolley. The Town will continue to pursue funding for a second charging station, stop signage, benches, reconfiguration of the Visitor Center parking lot, and access gates for the parking structure. Solesbee credited the Shuttle Committee for their work in helping to determine 2020 routes. Visit Estes Park (VEP) has been helpful in identifying where people are going within Estes Park. Solesbee wants to ensure fiscal responsibility in shuttle operations. Member Wilcocks stated that an HOA is requesting information on what a parking spot is worth. Muhonen said $30,000 is the one-time cost to build a parking spot in a lot. Wilcocks shared that there are HOAs who would like the Town to buy their parking lots (i.e. Kind Coffee, etc.) and asked about permitting. Solesbee said that when a Parking Management Firm is brought on board, decisions will begin to be made. PROJECT UPDATES (Public Works Director Greg Muhonen) The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will present the Downtown Estes Loop updates at the January 14, 2020 study session. Muhonen shared with the group that he went through his files and found a TAB job description. He spoke with the Town Clerk’s office and they felt it would be very Transportation Advisory Board – December 18, 2019 – Page 4 beneficial. The document has been sent to Chair Morris and TAB discussion will occur at the regularly scheduled January meeting. PROJECT UPDATES (Engineering Manager David Hook) Manager Hook stated that the US Hwy 34 & Steamer Drive signal is still in the design phase. The Wildfire development project has the construction plans submitted and roadway improvements are part of the development. Two grants have been awarded for the Fall River Trail project. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2020 from east of Fish Hatchery Road to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). An RFP will be issued in January with a construction timeframe yet to be determined. The Downtown Wayfinding is being resurrected and will be focused on making paid parking successful. An RFP will soon be published to finish the plan that was started. Construction plans will be developed to utilize the allocated funding. The next version of the plan will be brought to the TAB in January or February. Member Slack asked about the upcoming development project on CO Hwy 7. Hook stated the land use approval is done but construction plans have not been received. Director Hunt shared that the developer does one project at a time and, hopefully, construction plans will come in soon. OTHER BUSINESS With no other business to discuss, Chair Morri s adjourned the meeting at 1:48 p.m. Recording Secretary Elias Wilson, Public Works Department