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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Transportation Advisory Board 2020-7-15 A EP TOWN OF ESTES PAIZIc Transportation Advisory Board Agenda July 15,2020 Current Members: Belle.Morris(03/31/23) 12:00 PM—2:00 PM Lawrence Gamble(03/31/23) Gordon Slack(03131/21) Ron Wilcocks(03/31/21) Tom Street(03/31/22) VIRTUAL—COVID-19 Ann Finley(03/31/23) Linda (03/31/22) Scott Moulton(03/31/22) .Imuce Grow(03/31/21) The Transportation Advisory Board will participate in the meeting remotely due to the Declaration of Emergency signed by Town Administrator Machalek on March 19, 2020 related to COVID-19 and provided for with the adoption of Ordinance 04-20 on March 18, 2020 Options for the Public to Participate Remotely and Provide Public Input: 1. By Electronic Mail: Members of the public may provide public comment or comment on a specific agenda item by sending an email to publicworks@estes.org.The email must be received by 5:00 p.m.,Tuesday,July 14, 2020. All emails will be provided to the Transportation Advisory Board and incorporated into the minutes. 2. By Telephone Message: Members of the public may provide public comment or comment on a specific agenda item by calling (970) 577-3587.The calls must be received by 5:00 p.m.,Tuesday, July 14, 2020.All call-in information will be provided to the Transportation Advisory Board and incorporated into the minutes. 3. No public attendance at this meeting. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING MEETING Options for participation in the meeting will be available by call-in telephone option or online via Zoom Webinar which will be moderated by the Transportation Advisory Board Chairperson. CALL-IN (TELEPHONE OPTION): Dial public participation phone number, 1-253-215-8782 Enter the Meeting ID for the July 15, 2020 meeting: 913 9611 0615 followed by the pound sign (#).The meeting will be available beginning at 11:50 a.m. the day of the meeting. Please call into the meeting prior to 12:00 p.m., if possible. Request to Speak: For public comment,the Chairperson will ask attendees to indicate if they would like to speak—phone participants will need to press *9 to "raise hand".The Chairperson will be moderating the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Transportation Advisory Board. Once you are announced by phone please state your name and address for the record. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (ONLINE): Individuals who wish to address the Board via virtual public participation can do so through Zoom Webinar at https//zoom.us/w/91396110615—Zoom Webinar ID: 913-9611-0615. Individuals participating in the Zoom session should also watch the meeting through that site, and not via the website, due to the streaming delay and possible audio interference. Start Time:The Zoom Webinar will be available beginning at 11:50 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Participants wanting to ensure their equipment setup is working should join prior to the start of the meeting at 12:00 p.m. Request to Speak: For public comments, the Chairperson will ask attendees to click the "Raise Hand" button to indicate you would like to speak at that time.The Chairperson will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Transportation Advisory Board. • You will experience a short delay prior to re-connecting with the ability to speak. • State your name and address for the record. In order to participate,you must: • Have an internet-enabled smartphone, laptop or computer. o Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio experience. • Join the Zoom Webinar. o The link can be found above. • Click "Participate Virtually in the Transportation Advisory Board Meeting". • DO NOT watch/stream the meeting via the website at the same time due to delays and possible feedback issues. Documents to Share: If individuals wish to present a document to the Transportation Advisory Board, material must be emailed by Tuesday,July 14, 2020 by 12:00 p.m.to the Public Works Office at publicworks@estes.org. AGENDA NEXT PAGE AGENDA Transportation Advisory Board Wednesday, July 15, 2020 12:00 p.m. 12:00— 12:05 Public Comment Chair Belle Morris 12:05— 12:10 Approval of May Minutes Chair Belle Morris 12:10—12:40 Project Updates Public Works Director Greg Muhonen Engineering and Administration 12:40—1:00 De-Brief"Stay Healthy Streets" Chair Belle Morris Co-Chair Tom Street 1:00—1:20 Transit Update Parking& Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee 1:20—1:40 Electric Vehicle Plan Parking& Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee Grants Specialist, Christy Crosser 1:40—2:00 Estes Park Comprehensive Plan update Public Works Director Greg Muhonen Chair Belle Morris Adjourn Carlie Bangs, Town Board Trustee Liaison Greg Muhonen, Estes Park Public Works Staff Liaison RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 12, 2020 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually via Google Meet on the 12th day of May, 2020. Present: Belle Morris Gordon Slack Larry Gamble Tom Street Ron Wilcocks Janice Crow Linda Hanick Scott Moulton Also Present: Wendy Koenig, Mayor Trustee Carlie Bangs, Town Board Liaison David Hook, Engineering Manager Greg Muhonen, Public Work Director Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Barb Ayers John Hannon Teri Salerno Lowell Rosenthal Absent: Ann Finley Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT No electronic submissions of public comment were received prior to the deadline. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded (Slack/Hanick) to approve the February meeting minutes and all were in favor. Gamble abstained from the vote as he was not a member at the time of the February meeting. Chair Morris introduced new member, Larry Gamble, to the group and standing members introduced themselves. Member Gamble shared a quick snapshot of his background. Gamble began in landscape architecture, and was then hired on with RMNP. Gamble received his Master's Degree in Regional Resources Planning for CSU. Gamble went on to work at the City of Loveland as a planner, which is where he first met Director Muhonen. When a position with RMNP was newly created, it fit him to a tee. Gamble continued to work for RMNP for the next 25 years and finished as Chief of Planning. Gamble is now retired and is looking forward to working with everyone. 2020 TRANSIT PROGRAM Manager Solesbee introduced the presentation prepared for the May 26 Town Board study session. The presentation will highlight budget and logistical impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and planned outreach. Solesbee requested feedback, ideas and/or input from TAB prior to the study session. The implementation of transit service has been delayed to July 1, 2020. Daily service for all 5 routes will continue from July 1 through October 4. Solesbee is negotiating a flexible lease contract with Rocky Mountain Transit Management as a safety measure due to the pandemic. Many public health safety measures will be implemented based on research of peer communities and weekly calls with all transit agencies. Smaller buses will be used in Transportation Advisory Board — May 12, 2020 — Page 2 Estes allowing for physical distancing. Estes Transit will provide face coverings, are looking into driver protection barriers, will practice daily fogging and antibacterial wipes to wipe down seating and areas. Discussion of the value of transit will be addressed another time. This will involve a discussion about outreach and feedback, the different values between locals and guests, and will look at the environmental impact of shuttle service versus hundreds of thousands of cars. A ridership survey went out to all and the Town has received well over a hundred responses. Although the survey is not yet closed, Solesbee shared some preliminary results. At this point, the survey is very split between "Not Likely at All" to ride public transit this year and "Very Likely" to use public transit. Solesbee is looking at 10 riders per vehicle, with planning all along the way. If 10 riders were picked up at one stop, no one else allowed to get on along the route. Solesbee stated there will definitely be operational challenges, but the driver will have to pass those waiting if that is what is deemed necessary. One of the options being explored is providing shuttle flexibility to run the fleet. Solesbee is working to strengthen existing community businesses to fill the gaps (i.e. Via Mobility). Member Slack asked if there's an option for a call and pick-up program. Solesbee stated that on-demand rides may put the Town in competition with local businesses which is not and intent of this service. Member Moulton confirmed with the group that the shuttle service is critically important to locals, especially on the Housing Authority front. The plan for the 2020 Transit Season is to have the shuttle pick-ups occur at the parking structure, however the RMNP Hiker Shuttle and CDOT's Bustang will continue to use the Visitor Center parking lot. POSTPONEMENT OF PAID PARKING Going to the Town Board this evening is the resolution to suspend 2020 parking fees as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19. Normal permits and citations are being issued but not the "stepped-up" version. Enforcement of parking is primarily the same as last year. Data will continue to be collected. Outreach regarding employee permits is creating interest from business owners. ELKHORN AVE. / MAIN ST. CLOSURE POTENTIAL A pilot program is being presented for COVID protection. This is a conceptual idea for discussion. It is important to start the discussion as ideas all over the world are devising ways to open up areas for citizens to move around without the constriction of the downtown sidewalks. The goal is to try and help enable social distancing. Director Muhonen emphasized that this is just an idea that will not go anywhere if the downtown merchants aren't supportive. This is up for discussion to help mitigate exposure. The question is whether or not there is a need to give people space while walking downtown. This may result in lines of patrons along the sidewalk, among the ice cream eaters and may result in further congestion. It's truly up to the merchants what they feel is needed. There will be a conversation organized by the Chamber of Commerce at 11 a.m. on Friday with the merchants to discuss ideas. Chair Morris and Co-Chair Street will create the document after discussions have been held with the merchants. This may also be discussed at the May 26 Town Board meeting. Muhonen has made CDOT aware this discussion would be occurring. Gamble expressed concerns about the location but stated it is a wonderful idea. He would not recommend doing a pilot test at this location in the middle of the day. Member Hanick stated that the MacGregor Avenue & Wonderview (U.S. 34) are already Transportation Advisory Board — May 12, 2020 — Page 3 closed. She stated that she will personally no longer be going downtown as there is no way to socially distance. It was very busy over the past weekend and will only worsen. Moulton likes the creativity of the draft plan. If safety measures are provided, he would encourage those hesitant to come downtown. Street reminded the group that if a pilot is to be done, it would not start until after Wonderview is open. Muhonen agreed and stated the Wonderview construction is scheduled for completion July 1. Street wants to see the pilot but without impeding travel to RMNP. RMNP's John Hannon stated that all options of the RMNP reopening are being explored and more will be rolled out at tonight's Town Board meeting. Trustee Bangs shared her appreciation for the approach being taken and getting downtown merchants involved. Muhonen confirmed that if the merchants are not on board with this pilot program, the discussion would probably be pulled from the agenda. Muhonen requested a position document from TAB — how the members are feeling about this. Street made a motion that the TAB support Public Works in their participation in the next Town Board study session to present the basic ideas regarding implementation of the Safer Streets program, as presented in the TAB packet, contingent upon the support of the business community. Slack recommends the Town Board liaison, Carlie Bangs, convey to the Town Board that this idea is under consideration by the TAB. Bangs stated she plans to share this information with the Town Board tonight. Co-Chair Street reiterated that the main goal of this program is to help the downtown business community by attempting to increase shopping and eating traffic, and by making the downtown environment more inviting and appealing. Street withdrew his motion. PROJECT UPDATES (Engineering Manager David Hook) Fall River Trail Extension: The Town now has a construction contract for a phase of the Fall River Trail along Fish Hatchery Rd. A preconstruction meeting was held last week and the Town is reviewing the submittals. Hook is now awaiting confirmation of a firm start date but anticipates it'll be sometime in June. Signal at Steamer Dr. & Hwy 34: The design process continues to progress. Hook has requested a study on how this signal will impact areas on the other side of U.S. 34. REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Muhonen stated that it would be helpful for the Town Board to hear from TAB via a letter of support from this group on the safer streets pilot, if comfortable doing so. Member Crow made a motion to support authorizing a letter of support be sent by TAB, to the Town Board. With no other business to discuss, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1 :57 p.m. Recording Secretary Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Department