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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - Transportation Advisory Board 2018-03-21RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 21, 2018 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Room 203 of Town Hall on the 21st day of March, 2018. Present: Also Present: Kimberly Campbell Gordon Slack Ken Zornes Tom Street Belle Morris Stan Black Amy Hamrick Bob Holcomb, Town Board Liaison Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director David Hook, Engineering Manager Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Lochen Wood, RMNP Absent: Ann Finley Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment. A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Zornes) to approve the February minutes with minor edits and all were in favor. DOWNTOWN ESTES LOOP UPDATE: Corey Lang of AECOM was in attendance to review the updates on the plans for the Downtown Estes Loop (LOOP) with the TAB. CDOT is approaching 70% design for the LOOP project and are gathering additional input from key stakeholder groups. Lang explained changes in the plan since presenting in July 2017. Then accepted questions from TAB members. Concerns and suggestions were noted although Lang would explain the background to the existing decision -making. Some items noted are: Request for a visual barrier to separate bike lane from vehicular lane. Flexible delineators seasonally placed were suggested. Suggested shared off -road trail in lieu of on -street bike lanes on Riverside Avenue. Muhonen expressed concern about comingling bikes with Riverwalk pedestrians. Concern was expressed about potential jaywalking near proposed Riverside crosswalk near the public restrooms. Lang offered the suggestion of a potential railing. Another suggestion was for planter boxes or bike racks be added to prevent jaywalking. Must double-check if fire/emergency access is required. Cannot completely block these areas. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — March 21, 2018 — Page 2 - Evaluate shuttle stops while planning for future growth. TAB recommended giving up some parking to ensure stops are available (out of the main lane) for buses/shuttles/loading. SHUTTLE UPDATE Transit Program Manager Brian Wells provided this month's shuttle update. • The existing Barlow Plaza shuttle stop will be dropped due to safety reasons. • Implementation of the Green Route servicing the Transit Facility Parking Structure will not occur in 2018. • There will be a Town Board presentation by the transportation authority at the June 12 Town Board Meeting. Wells offered to any interested parties, to provide a one -hour special presentation on this information. • The shuttle sponsorship deadline is March 30. Wells requested that if any members know a business or individual that would like to sponsor to please send them his way. Lochen Wood of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) announced that RMNP is removing the shuttle stop from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The shuttle parking located there is causing those visitors wanting to patronize the Visitor Center to not find any parking available. Member Campbell expressed strong opposition to taking out this shuttle stop. The decision puts the responsibility on the Town of Estes Park to provide parking for the RMNP hikers. If the Bear Lake corridor is shut down from 11A — 2P during peak visitor season, all traffic will go back to Town rather than pushing them to the Park-n-Ride. RMNP has already made the decision to remove the shuttle stop official. The Dynamic Message Signs, once installed, will communicate to drivers when Bear Lake Road is closed and that Beaver Meadows shuttle parking is closed to help alleviate traffic issues. Member Hamrick suggested that this hiker shuttle traffic get pushed to the parking hub at the Events Complex. Wood further stated that RMNP is moving forward with establishment of the Day Use Visitation Plan. RMNP is working to define conditions and on identifying strategies to customize for the best outcome for RMNP. Different areas of RMNP have different needs while some strategies affect all paid entry stations. Wood is anticipating the ability to provide more complete information to the TAB in June 2018. PROJECT UPDATES, Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director Downtown Parking Management Plan (DPMP): Director Muhonen stated the intent to take the request for the transfer of Parking Structure savings to the Town Board on 3/27 in order to proceed with Phase 1 of the DPMP. However, the Town's Finance Director will be unable to get this prepared for presentation until May 2018. As a result, there will be no Green Route established and there will be a delay in beginning Phase 1 of this program. Vanessa Solesby of Kimley-Horn sent information on potential new technology. The technology consists of a camera system that operates on solar energy and has other benefits. The Town cannot dive into the details until the new Parking Manger is hired to help ensure technology chosen is best for the Town. Fall River Trail Extension RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — March 21, 2018 — Page 3 Muhonen shared that the Town received grant funding in the amount of $400K from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW). This will be used for Phase 3 of this project and will extend from the intersection of Fish Hatchery Road and David Drive out to RMNP's Aspenglen Campground entrance. PROJECT UPDATES, David Hook, Engineering Manager 2018 Street Improvement Program (STIP): Regarding the Brodie Avenue Improvements project, all feedback received from the TAB has been provided to the design consultant. Redesign is currently taking place and the comments were well received. The Town was awarded grant funding in the amount of $336K from Safe Routes to School through CDOT. As the design continues additional work required is being discovered due to extreme cross -slopes. Some of the work defined are the removal and replacement of the curb and gutter, and storm drainage work. This results in a much larger scope of work than just street rehabilitation. The Town is currently anticipating construction to begin in June. The design for chip seal and patching is nearing final design. The Invitations to Bid will be published late this week or early next week. Moraine Avenue Improvements: The project continues to progress. Soon the contractors will pour the top deck of the box culvert. Most work taking place can be viewed from the established pedestrian bridge. The river has been diverted into the structure now, freeing up workspace for the contractors. Progress continues on the acceleration process with the goal of the road opening by Memorial Day remaining. US36 / Community Drive Turn Lane: The design contract award to Cornerstone Engineering was approved by the Town Board. The design kickoff meeting took place last week. DMS — Dynamic Message Sign Installation: Manager Hook reported that the Town has encountered a hurdle in the past month with CDOT. The process requires CDOT sign off on the contract award, however the selected vendor hasn't met the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirement. At this time it is reflected the vendor has 0% DBE participation. Monday the Town found out one of the subcontractors was, in fact, DBE qualified. Hook is back to discussing with vendor how to get all the information updated for CDOT signature. TAB INITIATIVES: Chair Morris sent an email to the TAB members requesting ideas for board initiatives moving forward. Morris collected responses from the members and recapped with the group those ideas that were expressed most. Member Street requested Morris provide this information to all members prior to the April meeting for review. The discussion and final determination could then take place once all are informed. Member Campbell suggested it would be a good idea for TAB to handle wayfinding signage captured in the Downtown Plan. Campbell stated the TAB could help with design consistency and the public process. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — March 21, 2018 — Page 4 Julie Pieper of the Shuttle Committee was in attendance to explore the option of becoming a permanent member of the TAB. Other members of the Shuttle Committee expressed constraints of the 2 hours per month required. The Shuttle Committee wants to remain the same as they currently are, with the potential of inviting TAB to their meeting. Member Campbell suggested to the TAB that one very beneficial activity would be for there to be a 1-day transportation symposium planned and initiated for residents and/or visitors. This would incorporate all facets (STIP, Shuttles, etc.) of transportation at different tables. This would give the residents/visitors a voice in what they feel should happen related to transportation. Member Hamrick stated she'd appreciate CDOT coming to the TAB meeting to provide updates and status on the Highway 7 project. Director Muhonen will reach out to CDOT. OTHER BUSINESS With the resignation of Member Claudine Perrault, the vice -chair position is vacant. Nominations were requested and Member Campbell nominated Member Tom Street as new vice -chair. Member Black seconded the nomination and all were in favor. There remain 2 member vacancies on the TAB, with 1 having been filled and Member Gordon Slack being reappointed to a new 3-year term. Chair Morris asked that members encourage folks they know, with the required experience, to apply. Director Muhonen reminded the group that the entire area defined as the Estes Valley (controlled by the Estes Valley Development Code) is where TAB applicants need to reside in order to qualify for the TAB positions. With no other business to discuss, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:59 p.m.