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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Transportation Advisory Board 2019-5-15 A EP TOWN OF ESTES PA I Transportation Advisory Board Agenda May 15,2019 Current Members: Belle Morris(03/31/20) 12:00 PM—2:00 PM Stan Black(03/31/20) Gordon Slack(03/31/21) Room 202&203 Ron Wilcocks (03/31/21) Tom Street(03/31/22) Estes Park Town Hall Ann Finley (03/31/20) Linda Hanick(03/31/22) 170 MacGregor Ave Vacant(03/31/22*) Janice Crow(3/31/21) *Pending Finalized Appointment Public Comment 12:00— 12:05 Approval of April Meeting Minutes Chair Belle Morris 12:05— 12:35 CDOT Update—Highway 7 Keith Wakefield, CDOT Project Manager 12:35— 1:00 Priority Grid Review Chair Belle Morris 1:00— 1:20 Project Updates Public Works Director Greg Muhonen 1:20— 1:40 Project Updates Engineering Manager David Hook 1:40—2:00 Project Updates Parking& Transit Manager Vanessa Solesbee Other Business Adjourn The mission of the Town of Estes Park Transportation Advisory Board is to advise the Board of Trustees and the Public Works staff on Local and Regional Comprehensive Transportation Planning Policies; Maintenance, Operation and Expansion Programs; and Transportation Capital Projects. Carlie Bangs, Town Board Trustee Liaison Greg Muhonen, Estes Park Public Works Staff Liaison RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 17, 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 thel7th day of April, 2019. Present: Gordon Slack Tom Street Belle Morris Stan Black Ann Finley Ron Wilcocks Janice Crow Also Present: Trustee Carlie Bangs, Town Board Liaison Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director Vanessa Solesbee, Parking & Transit Manager Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant David Hook, Engineering Manager Absent: Linda Hanick Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Wilcocks) to approve the March meeting minutes with suggested edits and all were in favor. COMPLETE STREETS RECOMMENDATION LETTER: Chair Morris is still working through the creation of the letter. Morris will send to the TAB once complete. TAB agreed that letter of support would be beneficial to the process. Co-Chair Street asked if the creation of the Complete Streets document would require an ordinance. Director Muhonen stated he'd gotten a question about why a resolution is being done and it was requested this be reformatted to a policy rather than a resolution. Per the TAB the main objective is that there be permanence to the process. A policy would require Mayoral signature as opposed to a resolution which requires only a Department Director's signature. Muhonen stated that an ordinance becomes local law. In order for private builders to be held to the same standard the Estes Valley Development Code would need amended. Street asked if there if the policy can be strictly enforced or if there is flexibility to ignore the policy. Muhonen stated there'd be internal ramifications as a resolution however with a policy there'd be legal ramifications. Member Slack stated it would be beneficial to utilize work to occur on Fourth Street as an example for the Town Board meeting to show the Trustees a situation in which this processed has been applied. Engineering Manager Hook drafted the Complete Streets document with updated formatting. Hook will review and update the document annually. Hook reviewed the revisions made with the TAB and provided copies along with the memo to the Town Board (referencing attached policy). Any exceptions to the policy would require approval by both the Public Works Director and the Town Administrator rather than the Board of Adjustment as previously indicated. Muhonen offered to the TAB, an example of a development review instance where the checklist could not be applied. Transportation Advisory Board —April 17, 2019 — Page 2 A motion was made and seconded (Crow/Wilcocks) to send a letter of support endorsing the Complete Streets policy and all were in favor. CONCEPT OF CONGESTION PRICING: Chair Morris introduced the concept of congestion pricing to the TAB. Morris Sent supporting video/articles to the group last night to review for this discussion. Congestion Pricing is a new tool in controlling traffic congestion and modifying driver behavior. It encourages usage of public transportation thereby impacting traffic congestion. Fees are collected via tolls, express lanes, and core charges. This method is currently used in Stockholm, Sweden. Prior to implementing, there was only a 40% approval of the concept but politicians instituted congestion pricing anyway. After six months, the approval rating rose to 52%, then later to 70%. There are a variety of industries using this method including airlines. Morris suggested having a conversation with Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) to potentially institute a gate fee, providing the funding to the Town. Morris stated that the traffic congestion and pollution due to visitors entering RMNP is exacerbating the congestion issues in town. At this time, RMNP is considering working with the Town to have digital messaging via the newly installed digital message signs. Public Works will continue to work with the RMNP to discuss ideas. Member Crow stated that a percentage of the RMNP entrance fee gate is earmarked for RMNP's transit operations only. Slack suggested having discussions with CDOT about potential fees on state highways. Morris agreed stating that they've partnered in other endeavors (FLAP, Loop). Director Muhonen stressed the importance of going through the Town Board with these suggestions rather than going straight to CDOT. Member Black stated paid parking is a form of congestion pricing and suggested the TAB finish ironing out the implementation of paid parking before taking on another initiative. Black does not support recommending RMNP raise their entrance fees for this endeavor since it is public land. Trustee Liaison Bangs thanked Morris for bringing this concept to the table. Bangs stated that she appreciates the tool being offered and discussed with the TAB but this may need to wait for other things to finish being worked through. She said there may be a future for this to be implemented in the downtown corridor. It will have to be discussed in the future. Wilcocks expressed concern about comingling Town needs and RMNP needs. Then lack information about the Town. We do not want a goal that would create an empty lane due to expense of use. Current language appears negative. Co-Chair Street stated Kyle Patterson's press release showed different concepts and will be shared with the public in a couple months. The question is whether or not funding will be made available to initiate changes. TAB MEMBER SELECTION STATUS: Trustee Liaison Bangs stated that an interview committee has been selected. Morris asked about potential applicant conflicts of interest like representatives of employing agencies. There are no existing concerns about the interviewees and trusts that a member would recuse themselves if necessary. The expectation would be that whomever is selected, regardless of outside influences, they would participate as a citizen. If someone is representing an agency, they're welcome to attend all meetings and offer updates as John Hannon of RMNP has done. PROJECT UPDATES (G. Muhonen — Public Works Administration) Director Muhonen reported on the Community Drive / US 36 roundabout funding difficulties. The Town Board signed off in support of the change order and the design teams have also executed the change order. Progress is being made. Once the new designs are complete Muhonen will bring back to the TAB for review. Transportation Advisory Board —April 17, 2019 — Page 3 PROJECT UPDATES (D. Hook — Engineering Manager) US 34 & MacGregor Avenue Roundabout: Director Muhonen and Supervisor Berg will be meeting with CDOT regarding appropriate roundabout landscaping, 4th Street / Elkhorn / Town-wide. Today was the bid opening for the combined overlay project. Coulson Excavating was the low bidder with numbers coming in under the engineer's budget. The Engineering Division is working to prepare the Town Board memo for next week's meeting. Contract execution and project start date will be coming soon and all are hoping for the Preconstruction Meeting to occur in early May. Muhonen stated there is a potential margin for contingency. Muhonen will send an email to CDOT to confirm their preference on where to spend the remaining dollars. Muhonen is hoping for the dollars to go toward the US 36/US 34 intersection. Brodie Avenue Improvements: The final design plans for Brodie Avenue were received earlier this week. The Engineering Division is working through final clearances and CDOT approval per the grant funding requirements. Hook is hoping to publish requests for bids next week with short window. Construction is anticipated to begin after Memorial Day. PROJECT UPDATES (V. Solesbee — Parking & Transit Manager) Parking Warrant: Solesbee thanked the TAB members for their attendance at the special meeting scheduled yesterday. The information is being combined and incorporated for next week's Town Board Study Session. Solesbee will provide the Trustees all the content of warrant but will be sure to include suggestions received in yesterday's meeting. Real time parking availability is also being presented at next week's meeting. Estes Transit: Shuttle season begins June 22. The Town received significant sponsorship of shuttles this year. Solesbee is finalizing shuttle stop signage and plans for shuttle maps to be completed tonight and reflected on the website by the end of the week. DMS: Currently working on international symbology for added sign usage. CDOT Agreement for 2nd Electronic Bus / Charging Station: Once this agreement has been approved, the Town will immediately order the charging station but will hold off on ordering the next bus. CDOT Audit: The audit will occur in June and will be focused on operations and recordkeeping. The Parking & Transit division is now looking for volunteers to assist visitors with getting on and off the shuttles/buses. Manager Solesbee needs to confirm ability, but would potentially like to recruit a volunteer license plate recognition (LPR) driver. Electronic vehicles will not work out for this initiative due both the driving and the technology sucking up the vehicle's electricity. Muhonen stated that the seasonal staff will be leaving end of August, therefore he asked TAB members to volunteer in September and October to complete collection of data. P&T Strategic Plan Goals: Transit goals are due April 25. Solesbee requested input from TAB members. Solesbee prefers that an equal number of goals be submitted for both parking and transit and walked through the focus areas for this initiative. One goal mentioned was to redirect the RMNP Hiker Shuttle from the Visitor Cener to the Events Complex. Member Slack stated that one downside to this is that there are no restrooms at that stop. Member Crow stated that for shuttles/buses it would be a 40-minute turn. The TAB discussed different route options. All are hoping for the Green Route to be reimplemented. Member Wilcocks stated he's glad to see that Cleave Street is on the list of 1-year goals. Muhonen stated that Public Works will definitely bring that design back to the TAB as well as have community meetings. Member Finley asked about the possibility of transit up and down the valley. Solesbee stated her strong desire to add RTA to the document if TAB is supportive. Chair Morris inquired about a roundabout at Steamer Drive and US 34, and any pedestrian components to access the opposite side of US 34. Muhonen stated there will be a corridor Transportation Advisory Board —April 17, 2019 — Page 4 assessment from Summit to US 36. The consultant will look at Complete Streets solutions to devise a plan. Solesbee met with the Police Department (PD) on these safety concerns and is hoping to do something different this year. Member Black stated the importance of addressing the influx of tour buses and larger RVs. Both cause significant congestion and contribute to safety concerns. Muhonen stated this is an ongoing conversation with PD and a lounge is being added at the Visitor Center for tour bus drivers. This needs communicated to the tour bus drivers. Solesbee would like added to website. Member Wilcocks suggested that all TAB members have a printed copy of the Downtown Plan. Trustee Liaison Bangs suggested that the TAB Chair have a copy at a minimum. OTHER BUSINESS Chair Morris reviewed the suggested Meeting Code of Conduct with the TAB, and discussed a couple examples of areas needing improvement. Morris stated that the goal is to offer all perspectives while leaving time for all to speak. Solesbee stated that it's important, from the Public Works angle, to be able to capture all concerns and ideas being shared. This is difficult when there are multiple discussions. All were in favor of the guidelines set forth. With no other business to discuss, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m. Recording Secretary Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Department