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Item 5B DCS for Transportation Phase 2 Update CITY OF BOULDER PLANNING BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: December 3, 2020 AGENDA TITLE Update on the scope for phase 2 of the Design and Construction Standards (DCS) for Transportation REQUESTING DEPARTMENT / PRESENTERS Planning & Development Services Jacob Lindsey, Planning and Development Services Director Edward Stafford, Development Review Manager Transportation and Mobility Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer Noreen Walsh, Project Manager OBJECTIVE Define the steps for Planning Board consideration of this request: 1. Receive this written update on the scope of work for transportation updates to the Design and Construction Standards SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide a written update to the Planning Board about the scope of the next phase of the city’s Design and Construction Standards (DCS) and Boulder Revised Code (BRC) updates related to Transportation. The phase 2 updates will further align the standards with adopted policy and technical documents related to transportation infrastructure so private and public construction projects are designed and constructed using industry standards and guidelines for safety, mobility, sustainability and/or quality. The updates selected for 2021 recognize limited city resources available to complete this work, and additional updates beyond 2021 have been identified for inclusion in future work plans. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: No action is requested at this time. If the Planning Board has questions or comments they should be sent to Edward Stafford, Development Review Manager at StaffordE@bouldercolorado.gov. Suggested Motion Language: No action is being requested of the Planning Board at this time. PUBLIC FEEDBACK A verbal update on the DCS project was provide to the Transportation Advisor Board (TAB) at their November meeting. TAB expressed support for the work and had questions about how the DCS coordinates with parking minimums and how the city’s pedestrian crossing treatment guidelines update project will factor into this project. This project will not address parking minimums as that is a land use regulation item that is included in future work on the AMPS project. BACKGROUND The Design and Construction Standards is used to prescribe minimum standards to be used in the design and construction of public infrastructure located in public right-of-way and easements with in the city of Boulder, as well as private transportation and utility improvements that connect or impact public infrastructure. The DCS is enacted through the BRC and changes are adopted by City Council with recommendations from appropriate boards, such as TAB, Water Resources Advisory Board, and Planning Board. In 2019 and 2020 two updates to the DCS were completed and ultimately adopted by City Council. The first update was to the utilities sections of the document and include changes to meet current stormwater management regulations and updates to reflect best practices and current operations of the city’s utilities systems. The second update was related to transportation standards and was intended to be the first of several phases of updates for transportation. This first set of transportation updates included changes to implement current best engineering design, construction and maintenance processes, new and improved materials and technical details, and continuing efforts to align the standards with other adopted policy documents, such as the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. Over the past several years there have been many transportation related changes proposed for DCS updating in response to community concerns regarding the current transportation related design and construction standards. Additionally, the Transportation Master Plan Update in September 2019, completion of the Transportation Landscape Maintenance Plan in 2020 and other transportation staff work has highlighted additional items to be updated in the DCS. The proposed changes included in this memo address clarifications, current best practices, and adopted master plan policy direction and represent the next part of the phased updates to these standards. ANALYSIS The purpose of the phase 2 update the city’s Design and Construction Standards transportation related sections is to further align the standards with adopted policy and technical documents so private and public construction projects are designed and constructed using industry standards and guidelines for safety, mobility, sustainability and/or quality. Due to the impacts of COVID-19 on sales tax revenue, the staff and funding resources for this project have been reduced and this project has been prioritized along with the rest of the Transportation and Mobility and Planning and Development Services departments’ work plans. The timeline has been extended so that all of the identified updates occur over the course of several years. The 2021 updates will be completed with the use of consultants which addresses staff capacity issues and provides subject matter expertise. In 2021, the new funds available total $50,000 along with some limited funding from a previously arranged contract. The sections proposed for 2020 were selected for both their priority of importance and the staff and funding resources being available to complete the work. Since the consultant selection process has not been conducted and the actual costs are unknown, it is possible that some section updates will need to occur in 2022. The 2022 budget will plan to allocate additional funding for this project. DCS and BRC Section to be updated in 2021: • 2.07 Street Geometric Design – changes to standards related to radius of intersections, curb returns, horizontal curves, design speed, turning radius, for improved safety for bicyclists and pedestrians • Chapter 3, 10, 11 and check 6.6 and 9.3 Landscaping – changes to tree buffer, irrigation and list of recommended plantings to use to reflect Transportation and Mobility department’s Landscape Maintenance Plan and other Parks and Recreation work efforts. • BRC – Sight Triangles – changes include new sight triangle for public multi-use paths where they intersect with a driveway or alley and a design standard where existing buildings do not allow for sight triangle(s) to be achieved. • Chap 11 Tech Drawings - revise existing technical drawings, as needed, in the DCS to reflect current design practice. • 1.03 Engineering Reports – ensuring that the right content in the reports that need to be submitted as part of development e.g. pavement design reports, geotechnical analysis • Chap 8, Pavement Cuts Restoration Standards – ensuring that the work done by others meets industry standards The following items have been identified for future updates in 2022 and beyond: • 2.02 and 2.03 Traffic Study and Traffic Study Formats • 2.04 Site Access • 2.08 Sidewalks • 2.09 Residential Street Design • 2.12 Street Lighting Standards • 8.02 Traffic Signal Standards • 8.04 Work Zone Traffic Control • Bridge and Retaining Wall Standards • Emergency Access Standards • Alley design and functionality standards NEXT STEPS Staff is working to finalize the scope of work for this phase of the update and will be posting a Request for Proposal prior to the end of the year. Work on the updates will commence in early 2021, with the updates ultimately being presented to the TAB and the Planning Board for recommendations and City Council for potential adoption later in 2021.