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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - Transportation Advisory Board 2018-02-21RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 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 215t day of February, 2018. Present: Also Present: Kimberly Campbell Gordon Slack Ann Finley Tom Street Belle Morris Stan Black Amy Hamrick Ken Zornes Bob Holcomb, Town Board Liaison Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director David Hook, Engineering Manager Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Absent: Lochen Wood, RMNP Claudine Perrault Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment. A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Finley) to approve the January minutes and all were in favor. TAB BY-LAW MODIFICATION The TAB reviewed the suggested by-law modifications. A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Hamrick) to accept the suggested modifications and all were in favor. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek will present the modified by-laws to the Town Board for adoption. A discussion was then held regarding email votes that are primarily for document approval in preparation of submission to the Town Board. Clarification is needed on what business can be discussed/held via email. Director Muhonen referenced other advisory board operations and a recent comment by a Town Board Trustee asking members to maintain awareness of the Sunshine Law to ensure violations don't occur. Email communications with all members is considered a meeting and cannot occur. The suggestion was made to have all discussions in a regular meeting. Muhonen then suggested that when new members are brought on board, there should be a common practice to review with the Chairperson, the roles/responsibilities/boundaries, etc. of the advisory board. SHUTTLE UPDATE Transit Program Manager, Brian Wells, presented this month's Shuttle Committee update. Sandy Osterman has asked to step down as the Shuttle Committee RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — February 21, 2017 — Page 2 representative. The Shuttle Committee is working on appointing a replacement. Wells is the intermediate representative. Wells summarized 2017 shuttle statistics related to routes and timing. Suggestions have been received to move the hiker shuttle stop to the east side of the Visitor Center and leave the Town shuttle stop on the south side. This is being discussed and all affects considered. McDonald Transit, the contracting service provider for the Town shuttles, has raised the renewal for 2018 from $56.48/hr. to $63/hr. As a result, the Green Route will have to be removed from the system. It would cost over $40K to reinstate this route. Sponsorship for the shuttles is in full force and sponsors can only be acquired until March 31, 2018. The current sponsor goal is $13K. Member Slack questioned the ridership numbers for 2017 being lower than 2016. Wells stated that the shuttles ended an hour earlier in 2017 and did not provide spring service. He also reported that the J-1 students more frequently used bicycles in 2017 and that the RMNP hiker shuttle had more day trippers. Member Hamrick asked if there has been any progress on getting shuttles to run through the parking structure. Director Muhonen stated that the Mayor called a meeting with the US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) leadership and legislative representatives to discuss the matter. Terry Stroh, the author of the existing Special Use Permit (SUP) was receptive to the proposal, but only with an addition of electronic gates acting as a service gate and a gate for the shuttles. Muhonen was excited to hear this possibility. Public Works is currently reviewing, however the need remains for a determination on reinstating the Green Route prior to doing going through this effort. PROJECT UPDATES, Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director Downtown Estes Loop: The TAC committee met last week. CDOT is currently getting appraisals and providing offers to seven key property owners for the Right of Way acquisitions required. The consultant, AECOM reached 70% design completion and will be attending the March TAB meeting to provide updates. CDOT approved diagonal parking on Moraine Ave. and is providing for a bike lane. Downtown Parking Management Plan (DPMP): Director Muhonen requested feedback regarding the potential request that the savings from the parking garage be used to reinstate the shuttle's Green Route at a cost of approximately $41K. This request would be part of the March 27 Town Board Meeting as a supplemental budget request. Muhonen plans to present other ideas for potential expenditures against these savings including approximately $40K for counters at the parking structure to properly track and monitor structure usage. Member Campbell stated that, until there is better utilization of the parking structure, it doesn't seem appropriate to utilize funds on the Green Route, but that the funds should be used to provide better service for special events. Since the goal is to get visitors/residents to walk more, why provide shuttle service at the parking garage rather than require they cross the bridge to the Visitor Center for the shuttle stop? Muhonen RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — February 21, 2017 — Page 3 indicated the reason is less about ease for the residents/visitors and more to do with maintaining reliable headway. Left turns onto US 34 from the Visitor Center is incredibly difficult in peak season and creates shuttle delays. It was further discussed that with the funds being available now, and the BOR being willing to work with the Town on the SUP now, this seems the most appropriate time to make these requests. The need will arise and the situation may be different. Member Hamrick inquired about the future potential for an employee shuttle. Per Wells, the 2016 4-week test route for employees parking at the Events Complex was a big flop. Member Campbell clarified that the test route took place in the morning but the real need is for those with an afternoon shift. After more in-depth discussions related to existing shuttle routes, ridership and potential new routes, the TAB expressed full support of Director Muhonen's suggestion related to expenditures against parking structure savings. Director Muhonen discussed the plan for rolling out the DPMP (i.e. logistics, administrative details, etc.). He stated there is potential for reorganization involving moving transit operations from the Community Services Department and moving it into Public Works stating it makes sense to combine transit and parking management in the early years. This would also create a need for the Shuttle Committee to potentially combine with the Transportation Advisory Board. The Shuttle Committee would need an opportunity to review and assess this transition. Muhonen requested the TAB provide guidance on this topic asking if the members believe a Shuttle Committee member should fully join the TAB. Manager Wells described the current Shuttle Committee functions stating they only meet three to five times each year. Wells will confirm, with the Shuttle Committee, their thoughts on the matter and will report at the regular March TAB meeting the reactions or ideas expressed. Stormwater Master Plan: This process is moving along. There was recently a presentation at a Town Board Study Session wherein the Trustees requested public outreach occur and that Public Works return with the feedback received. PROJECT UPDATES, David Hook, Engineering Manager 2018 Street Improvement Program (STIP): This year's street improvement program will include chipseal, crack seal, and mill & overlays on several identified streets throughout Estes Park. This presentation will be given at the Town Board Study Session next week. Fall River Trail Extension: The recent application for grant funding from the Land Conversation and Water Fund in the amount of $400,000 was approved and the funding has been granted. The construction is still anticipated to take place in 2019 on Phase 3 of this project meaning a trail will be constructed beginning at David Drive and extend to the Rocky Mountain National Park's Fall River Entrance. Brodie Avenue Improvements: RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transportation Advisory Board — February 21, 2017 — Page 4 The design of the Brodie Avenue improvements is progressing well. The public meeting held in January at the school had a very low turnout. Next week, the design consultant should have 90% drawings. The plan is to perform construction while school is not in session. The Town is hoping to have a decision on the Safe Routes to School (' SRTS") grant soon. The TAB requested the Brodie drawings be provided for review by the entire group. Manager Hook extended his apology for not realizing the practice of bringing drawings related to trails for feedback from the TAB. During the meeting, the 30% drawings were delivered for review by the members. Director Muhonen and Manager Hook explained the trail portions of the drawings and comments were collected. Moraine Avenue Improvements: The Moraine Avenue Bridge project is moving along. The project is currently at a point where the contractor is constructing rather than destructing. They're pouring the bottom slab of the box culvert this week. The rebar and walls have been installed/erected. Discussions continue regarding construction acceleration to recoup time lost. Schedules continue to be subject to weather. If there is no acceleration, completion cannot take place until the end of June. Ideally, with an accelerated date, completion would be by the end of May. There is a plan that is coming together but there is never a guarantee. There was a public meeting with downtown business owners today and attendance was very good. The biggest complaint was about a decline in business due to the Moraine closure and business owners are distressed about the April closure of Elkhorn Ave. US36 / Community Drive Turn Lane: Public Works will be taking a design contract to the Town Board meeting next week for approval. There is an existing plan to install both a left -turn and right -turn lane based on a recent traffic study from the Community Center project. There is a scenario where construction could occur this fall. Funding may be an issue and would delay construction on this project until 2019. DMS — Dynamic Message Sign Installation Manager Hook is currently working with the low bidder to reach an agreement for a reduction of the bid amount to fit the Town's budget threshold. The Town of Estes Park's Streets and Parks Divisions would take on some of the identified work to allow removal from the contract scope. These negotiations would equate to a reduction of approximately $95K from the original bid of $219K. The Town would require a construction contract of approximately $125K in order to move forward. Out of pocket costs will take place for materials needed and this has been budgeted. It is critical to get a contract in place due to the potential of long lead times on needed items. OTHER BUSINESS No other business identified. With no other business to discuss, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:59 p.m.