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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES TAB Task Force 2021-02-08 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 8, 2021 Minutes of a scheduled meeting of the Sidewalk & Trail Needs Task Force of the Trans- portation Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on the 8th day of February, 2021 Task Force: Belle Morris, Ann Finley, Larry Gamble, Linda Hanick, Scott Moulton, Christy DeLorme Attending: Chair Belle Morris, Larry Gamble, Linda Hanick, Ann Finley, Public Works Di- rector Greg Muhonen, and Blake Robertson (joined at 12:14 via phone) Absent: Scott Moulton, Christy DeLorme Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT The Task Force Meeting was advertised and a link to the virtual meeting was provided. No members of the public participated in the meeting other than Blake Robertson. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded (Morris/Finley) to approve the February 1 meeting minutes and all were in favor. NEW BUSINESS The Task Force reviewed the Estes Valley Master Trails Plan, paying particular atten- tion to how the plan relates to the upcoming pathway audit to be conducted within a 1 mile radius of the school campus. Chair Morris wanted to ensure that the audit would also capture “mobility challenged.” Finley suggested that the notes section on the Path- way Audit Checklist could be used to capture impediments hindering ADA compliance. Chair Morris pointed out that there are two pathways noted in the Implementation Chap- ter of the Master Trails Plan that directly relate to the pathway audit. These are listed as #8 (School Zone Improvements) and #8.5 (Stanley Park Trails) on the Master Trails Plan map and in the Implementation Table. Because the Master Trails Plan does not identify any needed improvements on High- way 7 between U.S. Highway 36 and Pawnee Drive, Director Muhonen recommend that the Task Force look for potential crossing locations that would connect the west side of Highway 7 with the pathway that runs along the east side of the highway. Chair Morris encouraged the Task Force to look and think “big.” The planning work of the Task Force will ultimately be tied into the Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan and the future Multi-Modal Transportation Plan for the Estes Valley. For example, should there be a pathway along the west side of Highway 7 since the future Wind River Housing Project will be constructed at Lexington Lane and Highway 7? A current affordable multi-unit housing project is under construction on the west side of Highway 7 south of Tranquil Lane. Families, students, and workers will need safe access to the school cam- pus and various job locations. She encouraged the Task Force to collect such infor- mation now to fill in the gaps in the trail system. Ultimately this information will be incor- porated into other planning documents. She believes the goal should be to have path- way integrity. Director Muhonen pointed out that the trails depicted in the Master Trails Plan do con- nect, but Graves Avenue, for example, is not included in the plan. Chair Morris also pointed out that the Master Trails Plan does not include a connection to Mountaintop Preschool as was discussed at the last Task Force meeting. Director Muhonen pointed out that the upcoming audit could be at a higher level, or “big- ger picture” approach. Or at the extreme, the Task Force could consider a sidewalk on every street. Chair Morris agreed that would be extreme, but mentioned Woodstock Drive as an important street that should be considered. It provides connectivity between Mountaintop Preschool, the Event Center, the residential neighborhood off Prospect Av- enue and a connection to Estes Park Health. Chair Morris suggested the Woodstock Drive connection to Stanley Avenue should be considered as important as Graves Ave- nue. It is gaps and connectivity like this that the Task Force should focus on. Director Muhonen wondered what happens once the Pathway Audit Checklist has been completed? What is the ultimate goal of the exercise? Chair Morris recommended that the Task Force identify the routes to assess and then assign individuals to complete the assessment. Task Force members need to make the case for which streets and routes are important. Gamble recommended using something like a street classification for the routes to/from school. For example, Arterial, Collector, or Local. Director Muhonen proposed that the Task Force members highlight the1 mile radius map with the three levels. He also pointed out that the Task Force may need to decide where it is acceptable to have a shared surface for walking. For example, a short cul-de-sac could have a shared sur- face for autos, pedestrians, and bikes because of low traffic speed and low traffic vol- ume. Chair Morris mentioned that there are some streets that are too steep for sidewalks and ADA compliance is difficult. Examples include Aspen and Birch streets. They would be unsafe for wheelchair use. She also mentioned Morgan Street where it connects to Highway 7 since it would serve a sizable neighborhood. If the Task Force uses traffic volume as a criteria of importance, we may miss the pedestrian volume in well-fre- quented areas similar to Morgan Street. She asked the Task Force members to develop criteria for the three classifications. Director Muhonen suggested that there be three cat- egories to keep it simple. After some discussion, it was agreed to use three classifications and accompanying col- ors for mapping as follows: High - Green Medium - Yellow Low - Pink Some example ways to define the “High” category include the following: - Volume of traffic on the street - Residential density being served. For example the new workforce housing on the west side of Highway 7 currently has no sidewalk and no crosswalk. - Pedestrian/bicycle demand - Most impactful. For example where a sidewalk would dramatically improve safety and accommodate a significant number of users. Chair Morris suggested that the “Low” category, which would be local streets and neigh- borhoods, could be assessed by individuals who could also invite neighborhood resi- dents to participate. The “High” and “Medium” categories could be assessed as a group. Director Muhonen agreed to print 11” x 17” street maps of the 1 mile radius from the school campus. These will be made available to Task Force members during the Graves Avenue audit scheduled for February 9. The Task Force reviewed the Stanley Park Master Plan. Chair Morris wondered if making a sidewalk a priority along Community Drive would help to secure funding for the U.S. Highway 36/Community Drive roundabout? Director Muhonen stated that would not help to secure funding. However, he would like to see trails funding continue beyond 2024. A prioritized list prepared by the Task Force and ultimately the TAB would help to create a vision for the community to get behind which could eventually lead to additional trails funding. The Task Force looked at the promenade within the Stanley Park Fairgrounds as a pos- sible connection between Fourth Street and Community Drive. Chair Morris encouraged the Task Force to look at multimodal connections and ensure they are complete (i.e., continuous) and can safely accommodate multimodal users. The Task Force agreed that 4th Street upgrades could extend to the sidewalk along Highway 7 and the pro- posed sidewalk along Highway 36 for continuity. Discussion followed about high traffic speeds on Highway 7. Director Muhonen men- tioned that more effective than flashing pedestrian crossing lights would be some sort of impediment that would slow cars down. Robertson pointed out that effective traffic en- forcement may be less expensive than infrastructure improvements. He went on to rec- ommend that any fines collected should go into a special fund to continue enforcement, pathway, or crossing improvements. He mentioned how well the MacGregor Avenue roundabout was working to slow down traffic speeds and improve pedestrian safety. Discussion followed about roundabout etiquette and using turn signals to indicate the driver’s intentions. Finley and Robertson suggested that education on roundabout eti- quette is needed in local newspapers and possibly as a handout at area motels. The Task Force briefly reviewed the Pathway Audit Checklist. It was agreed that the Checklist would be used for the Graves Avenue audit on February 9, and the Checklist would be amended in the field as needed. Gamble offered to make changes to the Checklist following the Graves Avenue audit. Action Items 1. Muhonen to print the Pathway Audit Checklist for the Graves Avenue audit to be held on February 9. 2. Those participating in the Graves Avenue audit should bring a clipboard and a pen. 3. Muhonen to print 11” x 17” street maps showing the 1 mile radius around the school campus. These will be provided to Task Force Members at the Graves Avenue au- dit. 4. Task Force members to identify High, Medium, and Low pathway routes on the street map using Green (High), Yellow (Medium), and Pink (Low) highlighters. High- lighting to be completed by the next Task Force meeting on Monday, February 15. 5. Task Force members are to revise the Pathway Audit Checklist in the field as needed during the Graves Avenue audit. Revisions are to be forwarded to Gamble. 6. Gamble to revise the Pathway Audit Checklist following the Graves Avenue audit. Meeting adjourned at 1:17 p.m.