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06.14.21 DRAFT TAB Meeting MinutesDRAFT TAB Minutes June 14, 2021 Page 1 of 5 CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/ Commission: Transportation Advisory Board Date of Meeting: June 14, 2021 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Meredith Schleske 303.441.3204 Board Members Present: Tila Duhaime; Robert Hutchinson, Mark McIntyre, Ryan Schuchard, Alex Weinheimer Staff Present: Erika Vandenbrande, Director for Transportation and Mobility Bill Cowern, Deputy Director for Transportation and Mobility Natalie Stiffler, Deputy Director for Transportation and Mobility Yvette Bowden, Assistant City Manager/Director of Community Vitality Cris Jones, Deputy Director Community Vitality Scott Schlecht, Transportation Infrastructure and Operations Superintendent Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer Devin Joslin, Principal Transportation Engineer Mark Shisler, Transportation Operations Engineer Mike Sweeney, Transportation Engineer Chris Hagelin, Senior Transportation Planner, Acting GO Boulder Manager David Kemp, Senior Transportation Planner Ryan Noles, Senior Transportation Planner Danny O’Connor, Senior Transportation Planner Jean Sanson, Senior Transportation Planner Brian Wiltshire, Engineering Project Manager Allison Crump, Transportation Planner Jenny Godwin, Transportation Planner Meredith Schleske, Board Secretary Others Present: Mallory Baker, Walker Parking Consultants Type of Meeting: Advisory/ Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to Order [6:02 p.m.] Instructions to Virtual Meeting Participants – Jenny Godwin, technical host reviewed rules and technical operations on the virtual platform. Mark McIntyre will record video; not official record. Agenda Item 2: Approval of April and May Minutes [6:05 p.m.] April: Correct spelling of Hilliard, pages 1 and 3. Correct title of agenda item 7 to reflect public hearing and TAB recommendation. Motion: Approval of April TAB Minutes as revised. Motion: Weinheimer Second: Schuchard 5:0 Motion Passes. May: Replace, "if pricing targets commuters" with, "disparity of current pricing and pricing increases between commuter and resident permits, what is constraining more rapid price increases" among the "questions concerning..." bullet point, page 4, item 6. Replace, “Broadway/Rayleigh” with, “details of 28th Street Project.” Page 5, item 7, bullet 5. Motion: Approval of May TAB Minutes as revised. Motion: Duhaime Second: Schuchard 5:0 Motion Passes. Motion: Approval of April and May TAB Minutes as presented. Motion: Duhaime Second: Hutchinson 5:0 Motion Passes. Agenda Item 3: Public Comment [6:13 p.m.] • Lynn Segal – you do not know me because you do not see me, you should see me. Riding bike to south Boulder, we cannot afford CU South, Gunbarrel. It would be the end of Boulder. Disposal of natural habitat – open space, transportation, all integrated for “growth”. Nightmare riding to CU South, not a single tree DRAFT TAB Minutes June 14, 2021 Page 2 of 5 along the path, asphalt heat jungle, highway going around neighborhoods. Water View is so disgusting, that name on a flood plain. Workforce housing does not mean landscapers and culinary arts workers, it means high end Google staff. It will cause a transportation nightmare again in Gunbarrel, drives the prices up, increases wealth inequity. • Stephen Haydel – surprised nothing on TAB agenda about Ralph Cook’s death at Manhattan and Table Mesa, no big investigation, no changes coming there. He was using unmarked crosswalk, got killed. Hopefully there will be an investigation and quick changes. Two close calls on Broadway bike path: flashing yellow arrow, do not know why we allow them anywhere. Left-turning motorist was not watching in the multi-use path. Another left turn from Broadway by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) changes from protected to flashing yellow at 7:00p.m. - worst time, night, people cannot see cyclists. o Update signals, make it protected lane only. o Traffic island in middle of Table Mesa needs to be closed off. o Not a best practice anymore but 28th Street project has left turns across three lanes. o Engineering practices are not keeping up. • Monica Boykoff – lived on Walnut Street 11 years, watched street sweeper go by in middle, leave compost pile on the side of the street next to the sidewalk full of decomposing muck and gunk. Other cities block off sides to parking on scheduled days, sweep the entire street. TAB Comment • Mark McIntyre – TAB should engage with citizens, make public comment friendlier. Full screen with three- minute timer is intimidating, request discontinuing. Staff will obtain latest standards. Agenda Item 4: Information Item regarding Access Management and Parking Services (AMPS) 2.0 [6:25 p.m.] (memo only, no presentation) Board and Commission Feedback and Impact Summary – Revitalizing Access in Boulder Implementation and Action Plan Input was gathered during formal updates and the project’s two “Access Allies Lite” meetings, an informal gathering of board and commission members and the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) to discuss Neighborhood Parking Management and Parking Pricing strategies. The Access Allies Lite meetings were held on April 27 and May 5, 2021. Feedback was gathered regarding Neighborhood Parking Management and Parking Pricing. The Access Allies Team included members of the business and tourism community, as well as representatives of the school district, CU Boulder, County partners, and members of various City boards and commissions provided themes, specific recommendations and impact. TAB Feedback • Question regarding specifics to be presented to city council at study session 6/22/2021, why parking pricing, fines and neighborhood parking management strategies comprise current work plan, if other things must wait or not happen at all, whether city is constrained from making profit to allocate to other initiatives or programs, why pricing cannot increase more rapidly. • Comment that parking is foundational for city’s climate and transportation goals, acknowledge pieces as a whole policy statement. Concern expressed that city council be apprised of the importance of getting this right. Parking is not just a place to put cars, (a) one of the city’s most powerful assets for climate action, (b) a large amount of publicly-owned real estate, and (c) a service with a market price. You can expect residents to respond. • Questions regarding equity – access, pricing, types of services and passes; what we are doing to address the missing link – motorists visiting for a day or two, less than fulltime workers. • Inquiry about what materials will be provided to city council for the study session, including TAB emails. • Comment regarding mythology about TABOR Act requirements and restrictions, fee versus tax. Suggested question to ask city council at study session: Are you ready for us to raise prices more quickly and more aggressively than what is outlined? Agenda Item 5: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Snow and Ice Control Program [7:06 p.m.] Jenny Godwin and Scott Schlecht made the report to the board. Executive Summary This memorandum provides TAB with an overview of the Transportation & Mobility Snow and Ice Control Program for the 2020-21 season. The city’s snow and ice control efforts: 1. Support safe travel for all modes during snow events. Snow and ice control is an important element in the city’s focus on travel safety and Vision Zero goals to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes. 2. Focus on efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, in alignment with Transportation Master Plan, Boulder Police Department Master Plan and Boulder Fire Department Master Plan goals. 3. Provide informative and timely communication to community members. This memo summarizes key program goals, provides an overview of 2020-21 operations and a summary of lessons learned for future planning. DRAFT TAB Minutes June 14, 2021 Page 3 of 5 TAB Feedback • Questions regarding de-icing practices on multi-use paths, especially at low points, any anticipatory de-icing, potential warning signage. • Kudos expressed to staff for incredible work under difficult circumstances. • Inquiry concerning why snow is not stored in auto lanes (example: Iris and 30th, four-lane streets), what mode should be slightly inconvenienced. • Comment that city seems to find funds to plow more and advertise yet continue to ask for volunteers to plow transit stops - not a good look. • Question whether 2020-2021 pre-messaging included residents’ responsibility to clear snow along with ending forecast in order to increase urgency. • Observation that climate change will continue to account for more snow events, encouragement to staff to assume the worst and request appropriate funding rather than take a hit every year; not fair to transportation department’s budget. • Comment regarding how impressive it is that multi-use paths are cleared so quickly. Agenda Item 6: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Transportation Capital Improvement [7:42 p.m.] Projects (CIP) Part II of III Gerrit Slatter made the report to the board. Executive Summary Each year, the city goes through an annual budget process in which departments create a six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This year, the time period is 2022 through 2027. The TAB role in this process is defined in the Boulder Revised Code (BRC) TITLE 2 GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, Chapter 3 Boards and Commissions, Section 14 - Transportation Advisory Board; “. . . to review all city transportation environmental assessments and capital improvements.” This agenda item is intended to continue TAB’s guidance with the city’s CIP development process by providing background information and analysis, a tentative schedule and key issues for this year. TAB will be asked to make a formal recommendation to council at the July TAB meeting. Staff appreciates the beneficial role that TAB provides during the development CIP and looks forward to a collaborative effort throughout the full Transportation CIP effort. TAB will be participating in a CIP workshop to be held shortly after the June meeting with the purpose of the workshop being to do a deeper dive into the proposed projects in the 2022-2027 CIP and their connection to the goals and objectives of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The funding situation for the Transportation Department is of vital importance to the planning and programming of the CIP process for 2022 and beyond. In addition to the reduced funding caused by COVID-19, there are other background factors that are reducing the ability of the Transportation Department to fund and deliver programs and projects consistent with the goals and objectives of the TMP. When accounting for inflation, sales tax revenue has been flat in Boulder for nearly 20 years. Because sales tax funds nearly 70% of Transportation, and because construction cost indexes have been outpacing inflation rates, this has led to reduced spending power and reduced opportunities for matching federal/state grant funds. The funding outlook and condition of the transportation funds are discussed in greater detail in the Background/Analysis section. TAB Feedback Staff asks that the TAB review the recommended draft 2022-2027 Transportation Fund CIP as well as the Transportation Development Fund CIP and provide feedback. • Question regarding goal of TAB CIP Working Session – modal split, prioritization of CIP projects. • Encouragement to approach prioritization.as, “Would you rather…” and considering project overlap, cost efficiencies, consolidation. • Appreciation expressed for inclusion of four columns with more detail of modal split per project. • TAB CIP Bike Tour – proposed appointment will be sent. Agenda Item 7: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Vision Zero (VZ) Pavement [8:17 p.m.] Management Initiative, including Planned Improvements for 2021-2022 David Kemp and Jenny Godwin made the report to the board. Executive Summary Making streets safer for all modes, including cycling, is one of our key Transportation Master Plan goals and is essential for achieving Vision Zero. Beginning in 2020, the city paired bicycle facility improvements as identified in the 2019 Low-Stress Walk and Bike Network Plan with annual street resurfacing on three key streets: Pine Street (Folsom Street to 28th Street), Table Mesa Drive (Vassar Drive to Broadway) and Folsom Street (Iris Avenue to Valmont Road). In 2021, in conjunction with the annual street resurfacing program, staff is planning additional improvements along Folsom Street from Valmont Avenue to Pine Street in the form of a curb separated bike lane treatment. Staff will also provide improvements along Baseline Road from Gregory Canyon to Broadway, including the installation of a bike DRAFT TAB Minutes June 14, 2021 Page 4 of 5 lane at the eastbound approach of the intersection at Baseline and Broadway. In 2022, staff is planning to install buffered bike lanes on Lehigh Street between Cragmoor Road and Table Mesa Drive following the resurfacing of the corridor and as part of a two-phased approach subsequent to the implementation of a Safe Routes to School project in 2021. TAB Action Requested 1. Does TAB have any feedback regarding the bicycle facility improvements planned for Baseline, Folsom and Lehigh? TAB Feedback • Question about any room to experiment with parked cars being the buffer on Lehigh, any restrictions to flexible bollards. • Interest expressed in inserting flex posts on uphill side of Lehigh, possibility of curbing in select places, repurposing left turn lane, signal analysis; operational breakdown at Folsom and Pine – three cases of right- turning vehicles striking cyclists; Arapahoe from Folsom to Colorado is in floodplan – interest in low cost ideas from consultant. • Inquiry about staff response to detailed email from Community Cycles, including a bike box. Agenda Item 8: Matters [8:47 p.m.] • Matters from Staff/Non-Agenda • Regional Transportation Update – Jean Sanson • State transportation funding bill SB21-260 – passed, to be signed by governor. Adding $5 billion, also a climate bill. • Northwest Rail – the train to Boulder. Conceptual exploration over a few decades including running on tracks owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF); starter service (D Line) – 3 trips AM, 3 trips PM Longmont-Denver. Clear that it will require integration with Front Range Passenger Rail Commission/District, Amtrak, RTD. City transportation stall will be doing technical work over next two years, momentum seems to be increasing. TAB Comments Question regarding City of Boulder’s position on peak rail versus RTD system. • Budget Update – Erika Vandenbrande • Reminder that 2021 transportation budget is $4.3 million less than 2019 – 10% less. More funds are anticipated but nothing close to 2019. Had opportunity to propose adding funds back for snow and ice removal, staff training, design and construction standards (DCS) for roads, planning for Transportation Master Plan (TMP) in areas of data and sustainability, signal maintenance, HOP bus service. Caveat to HOP funding is not going forward with DRCOG grant until monitoring shows ridership increases. Looking at project overlap more closely when planning. TAB Comments Question regarding any Vision Zero funds. • Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Update – Ryan Noles Focus on intersectional safety – significant cost overruns on all three intersections. • Colorado and Regent – making bike lane turn less sharp, considering impact of raised surfaces to cyclists. • Colorado and 28th - making bike lane turn less sharp, considering impact of raised surfaces to cyclists. Alex – happy with mods. How does it overlap with CIP project? Alex – other locations 922, considering impact of raised surfaces to cyclists. • Broadway and Rayleigh TAB Comments • Suggestion to consider reflector at Broadway and Rayleigh nose of the island. • Comment that this presents a good opportunity to analyze lessons learned, improve the process, avoid soliciting input from TAB and public without relative dollars attached in the future. • Question whether there is a philosophy regarding slip lanes going forward. • 30th Street Update – information was captured in Agenda Item 6. • Matters from the Board [9:30 p.m.] • Open Board Comment • Acknowledge member of community Ralph Cook, struck and killed by a motorist at South Boulder Road, may have been less severe with slower traffic, second time in recent memory on this road. Question whether there is a public policy regarding flowers at the location, ghost bike (bicycle roadside memorial), etc.? Looking for what can we do, devastating to DRAFT TAB Minutes June 14, 2021 Page 5 of 5 family, devastating to hear it happen over and again. • Suggestion that with high profile crash, police department provide base facts, perhaps transportation staff suggest engineering treatments that could help prevent. • Comment that police departments lack protocol for fault-finding in bike-motorist crashes, seems worth looking at best practices suggested in recent Harvard research. • Potential future topic, possibly deputy attorney office. • TAB/staff operating agreement – draft likely soon for open board discussion of best ways of working with, not around, each other. • Comment that TAB’s desire is TMP, safety for citizens, discussion for best outcomes with financial fiscal integrity. • Observation that assumption of is required for effective collaboration. • Request for more robust minutes, more accurate conveyance to council. Can be included in operating agreement. • Suggested future topic – Boulder’s racial past, land use policy, consequences (intentional or not) must be realized and acknowledged as advisors to city council. Request to invite Community Relations and Human Relations Manager Clay Fong to present to TAB soon. • Comments that climate change can be so much talk, too easy to wait to take action, need to implement and make day-to-day decisions based on principles, good financial management. • Kudos expressed for Get on the Schoolbus, must sign up by July 1. Agenda Item 9: Future Agenda Topics [9:20 p.m.] • Thursday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. - Joint Planning Board/TAB Working Session: 55th & Arapahoe Station Area Master Plan and East Boulder 60% Recommendations • Request for update on racial equity initiative and how integration is happening. • CIP Working Session – June 30, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. • CIP Bike Tour – July, let Gerrit Slatter know about sites to visit • CU South - July • Pedestrian Crossings Guidelines • Roundabouts – should they be included in Boulder options/better than signalization? Agenda Item 10: Adjournment [10:18 p.m.] There being no further business to come before the board at this time, by motion regularly adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 10:18 p.m. Motion: Moved to adjourn: McIntyre Second: Duhaime Motion passes 5:0 Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be a regular virtual meeting on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise decided by staff and the Board. APPROVED BY: ATTESTED: ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Board Chair Board Secretary ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Date Date An audio recording of the full meeting for which these minutes are a summary is available on the Transportation Advisory Board web page.