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07.12.21 TAB MinutesTAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 1 of 6 CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/ Commission: Transportation Advisory Board Date of Meeting: July 12, 2021 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Meredith Schleske 303.441.3204 Board Members Present: Tila Duhaime; Robert Hutchinson, Mark McIntyre, Ryan Schuchard Staff Present: Erika Vandenbrande, Director for Transportation and Mobility Natalie Stiffler, Deputy Director for Transportation and Mobility Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer Devin Joslin, Principal Transportation Engineer Mark Shisler, Transportation Operations Engineer Sarah Huntley, Director of Communications and Engagement Mike Sweeney, Transportation Engineer Chris Hagelin, Senior Transportation Planner, Acting GO Boulder Manager Ryan Noles, Senior Transportation Planner Danny O’Connor, Senior Transportation Planner Brian Wiltshire, Engineering Project Manager Phillip Kleisler, Senior Planner, Planning Ryan Noles, Senior Transportation Planner Allison Crump, Transportation Planner Jenny Godwin, Transportation Planner Phil Kleisler, Senior Planner, Planning and Development Services Meredith Schleske, Board Secretary Others Present: Derek Silva, CU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business Strategy CU Boulder; Richelle Reilly, CU Campus Architect; Abby Benson – Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Strategic Resources and Support CU Boulder; Bill Fox, Fox Tuttle Transportation Group Type of Meeting: Advisory/ Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to Order [6:01 p.m.] Instructions to Virtual Meeting Participants – Allison Crump, technical host reviewed rules and technical operations on the virtual platform. Agenda Item 2: Approval of June Minutes [6:04 p.m.] Proposed amendments to Agenda Item 8: Matters Add: • Comment that TAB’s desire is to reach our joint TMP goals, the safety of citizens, and the best outcomes within our fiscal constraints. • TAB and staff must be able to ask hard questions and express views without it being perceived as an attack on anyone. Insert: “of this” into “Observation that assumption of this required for effective collaboration.” Motion: Approval of June TAB Minutes as revised. Motion: Mcintyre Second: Duhaime 4:0 Motion Passes. To ensure TAB quorum, motion made to reorder agenda: following Public Comment, address Public hearing and TAB recommendation regarding Transportation Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Part III of III, resume agenda order. Motion: Reorder agenda as proposed. Motion: Duhaime Second: McIntyre 4:0 Motion Passes. Agenda Item 3: Public Comment [6:13 p.m.] • Karen Hollweg – speaking as resident who will be impacted by your recommendations to city council and planning board regarding the CU south traffic plans and annexation. Three points: 1) Pre covid, morning appointments out of range of SKIP bus took five changes of stoplight at Table Mesa and Broadway to get through intersection. That intersection is already at maximum capacity. Annexation agreement needs no net TAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 2 of 6 increase performance standard in peak times. 2) Highway 36 access should only be used for emergency only; if not, will add to already overloaded Table Mesa and Broadway intersection. 3) Support multimodal transportation system, city should provide TAB and all decision maker estimates of additional greenhouse gas (GhG). • Lynn Segal –Not from south Boulder. Emphasis on CU South because of all the other growth all over town, won’t recognize in five years. Will have transportation nightmare all over Boulder – 30th & Pearl, Boulder Reservoir, Diagonal Plaza, Boulder Junction, Gunbarrel, 21st Street, 23rd Street, 20th Street & Pearl, 17th & Pearl. – new condos driving up land values. Car elevators to squeeze out every inch. Alpine – Balsam, north Boulder by Bus Stop. Unbelievable, this is not a progressive town. Boulder has to have a carrying capacity. Delas like Flatirons Gravel, Liquor Mart. $5 million off price – good deal for CU. Liquor Mart, sold to CA investor. Big troubles ahead. Do not do CU South, will be end of this place. Separate the floodplain. • Kurt Nordback – compliment CIP bike tour, privileged to join. Great way for public, TAB and staff to talk informally. Concern regarding what staff said at last city council meeting - expectation to meet transportation-related climate emissions goals through standards and vehicle electrification. Won’t work/not sufficient, also vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and modal shift goals, need more substantive change in how we address transportation in the city. Request staff to clarify statement to public and city council. • Peter Mayer – Co Chair, PLAN Boulder, reiterating comments by George Gerstle, board member, former Transportation Director of Boulder County. Believe more needs to be required of CU in annexation agreement, including no net traffic increase in peak hours; show how shuttle bus, pedestrians and bikes move between campuses; safety of the proposed highway 93 access point on a steep curving hill with high-speed traffic, clear recipe for disaster, have seen no data; specific agreement to construct bike and pedestrian underpass connecting Table Mesa to Moorhead under Table Mesa. • Mike Marsh – serious concerns regarding Fox Tuttle traffic study begun during covid spike when a lot of traffic was not on the roads, used wrong multiplier in calculations (too low), compounded errors. Must be accountable, hope TAB will take a hard look and offer critical analysis. • Ben Binder – registered professional engineer and surveyor, urge TAB to question wisdom of adding new, unsignalized treacherous intersection on CO highway 93 to serve CU South. High winds, aggressive drivers, high traffic volumes, one of state’s most hazardous roads in winter with snow blowing across, described as death trap. Urge you to exercise good judgment, common sense and reject city staff recommendation for major intersection at that location. Surprised engineers didn’t review crash data; informed that city is not required to review according to Colorado access code. • Stephen Haydel –two high ozone alert days. Do we mow during those times? Transportation department should be a leader. Car lane added to Colorado & Regent project - there will be issues at the bottom of Colorado & 28th Street, bikes going 20 – 30 m.p.h. into really large bollards, especially in winter or during rainstorms. Any documentation or changes? Could not find information on website. • Margaret LeCompte – part of neighborhood organization, Save South Boulder, opposed to any actions in Fox Tuttle report, should not be used as a guide. Agree with Binder and Mayer regarding danger of proposed highway 93 intersection, requirement for net zero increase in traffic by CU. Traffic is at a standstill today, capacity is at maximum. Fox Tuttle study recommends extending left turn wait time on Table Mesa to distance of 12 feet - longer space to stack up behind stoplight, not a solution. Remedies won’t work. Diagram of new intersection at highway 93 is a death wish. Urge TAB to reject traffic recommendations. Agenda Item 6: Public Hearing and TAB recommendation regarding Transportation Capital [6:35 p.m.] Improvement Projects (CIP) Part III 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 Transportation Advisory Board (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 of the 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 TAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 3 of 6 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. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends TAB consider the following motion: TAB recommends approval of the proposed 2022-2027 Transportation Fund, Transportation Development Fund and Boulder Junction Fund CIP which supports the vision and goals of Boulder’s Transportation Master Plan. TAB Clarifying Questions • Question whether staff found value to adjust expenditures to better reflect actual expenditures, if it a good use of time. • Inquiry if there is a total number for each of four modes and the relative percentage of each. • Question about a way to put scheduled district maintenance under Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP) then do some enhancements using funds drawn from somewhere else. For example, PMP will cover redoing part of Folsom but cast in place concrete to separate the bike lane might come from VZ capital projects. Opinion that it’s more transparent being separated out. • Question if fiber optic fiber optic is already at other major intersections. Public Participation • Stephen Haydel – relating to TMP reduction of commuters, any plan to start reducing vehicle lanes? Good opportunity to do road diet on 30th, cut budget by two-thirds. Department should start looking at climate goals. Also Table Mesa, Broadway southbound two not six lanes. These five years of projects will not reach TMP goals. • Lynn Segal – you guys are stuck with what Planning Board (PB) does. You are part of the problem, cannot meet goals because of PB plans. I don’t want to drive but hate riding bike to large stores in east. You’ll hate your job, want to get off TAB. I stay around my area; others don’t want to ride their bikes where they live. Bus reductions add to the problem. You must have a say to other groups in a super masterplan of all city operation, planning, transportation and housing. You must get it worked out, all for naught in high rise environment. • Sue Prant- commend staff doing more with PMP, safer facilities, get stuff on road quicker. We would like to see more working with the city for more funding, routine maintenance, making street safe. • Lisa White – a quick glance at transportation funding by mode share, first glance looks great; now feel numbers are misleading. 28th Street is primarily a transit project. A lot of the reason these things are so high is due to the roadway and desire to not impact car travel. Repurpose space, lot of potential for low stress test and bicycle infrastructure in future. Spend smartly, maybe do things that require political will. • Kurt Nordback – agree with White, modal distribution numbers are deceptive, cost is necessitated by vehicle use, number of signal changes for benefit of motor vehicles. Pedestrians and bikes function fine without vehicles, don’t require signals. Would like more awareness of that, ideally from staff. TAB should look at costs with skeptical eye. TAB Discussion • Comment that regarding modal distribution, this CIP reflects first attempt for transparency and delineation. • Acknowledgement of comments from public, compliments to Slatter and team, one of best processes we’ve seen. • Appreciation expressed to staff, hope to do more of this kind of dialogue. • Comment that distribution rework is very helpful – how we spend money is most telling way of analyzing what we do and if we’re making progress, note staff’s willingness to look through a TAB lens, it’s about progress, not as much perfection. This CIP represents progress, appreciation for Weinheimer’s comments, multi modal breakdown, page by page breakdown in memo. • Question about under what circumstances we would remove pavement. Support expressed, comment that this year’s CIP is more understandable • Comment that this CIP is not as vigorous regarding meeting climate goals, not only contributor. More transparent, more defensible. Motion: TAB recommendation of the 2022-2027 Transportation Capital Improvement Project to Planning Board. Motion: McIntyre Second: Duhaime TAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 4 of 6 4:0 Motion Passes. Agenda Item 4: COVID-19 Travel Data Update [7:22 p.m.] Erika Vandenbrande presented to the board. Data is posted on the Vision Zero website page. Travel is still down 10% from pre-COVID 19. Total crashes in May were reduced 40% compared to same timeframe in May 2019, crashes still down from 2019, reduction is significantly greater in terms of the amount of travel that's come back. Severe crashes fluctuate from month to month; in May 2021 four severe crashes represent 20% reduction compared to five in May 2019. Statistical significance is probably within boundaries of error. In terms of cycling travel, significant reduction internal to the city between 35% and 50% depending on the particular area. US 36 bikeway has a 20% reduction compared with pre-COVID 19 levels. Transportation demand and HOP service is still very, very significantly impacted – 65% less ridership than pre- COVID 19 overall, 77% less HOP ridership January to June 2021 than in same period in 2019, a substantial hit. However, June 2021 ridership is 59% of June 2019, and increase compared to 2020 levels. TAB Chair Duhaime turned the meeting over to Vice Chair McIntyre. Agenda Item 5: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Arapahoe Multi-use Path [7:26 p.m.] and Transit Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP) Ryan Noles made the report to the board. Executive Summary The State Highway (SH)7/East Arapahoe project’s community engagement plan is founded on a “consult” level of engagement per the city’s public engagement framework. This means that project staff has been working directly with the public throughout the project to ensure their concerns and aspirations are consistently understood, considered and reflected in alternatives development as well as to share feedback on how public input influences decisions. Information on the project is available on the project webpage and two virtual public meetings were held in Spring 2021. During the first meeting, March 17, 2021, project staff introduced the purpose of the project and solicited input on the design options under consideration. A BeHeardBoulder questionnaire was also open March 12 -18, 2021, soliciting feedback on design options. At the second virtual public meeting on May 26, 2021, project staff shared results of public input and presented the preferred design option. Information on the project and the public meeting was distributed to 1,891 residents, property owners, businesses and other interested parties through a direct mailing. The City of Boulder distributed this information in both English and Spanish through their city email groups and social media. TAB Feedback • Question regarding goal to implement continuous multi-use path, whether work will have to be undone 38th Street to Arapahoe to accomplish the greater goal of the continuity of the path. • Inquiry concerning what cyclists and pedestrians do to travel safely east passing Flatirons Golf Course. • Question about width of bike lane at traveling east past the golf course, if an interim vertical separation such as plastic bollards is practical. Agenda Item 7: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding CU South Project Update [7:54 p.m.] Phil Kleisler made the report to the board. Executive Summary The University of Colorado Boulder submitted an annexation application in 2019 and has prepared a multi-modal traffic access study to inform annexation negotiations. At its November 17, 2020 meeting, City Council formally requested that TAB provide input on the transportation elements of the project. Staff provided a high-level briefing to TAB in December 2020 and April 2021. City staff is now sharing a summary of the proposed annexation terms relating to transportation. The full agreement, including the transportation terms, will be shared with the board on or around July 9 with the release of the preliminary agreement. This agenda item is intended to get board members’ input on the approach to the annexation terms ahead of a public hearing before the Planning Board (July 22) and City Council (September 7). The annexation agreement outlines requirements for access to the site with South Loop Drive serving as the primary access point, Tantra as a secondary access point, and a new access point on State Highway 93. The agreement includes a trip cap that limits daily vehicle trips to 5,550 daily trips for South Loop Drive and 750 daily trips for State Highway 93. The agreement requires that CU monitor trip generation and allocate additional funding for mitigation programs if trip caps are exceeded. Both parking maximums and unbundled parking for attached dwelling units are also required. CU Boulder will be required to implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program and construct a mobility hub to provide multimodal access and services. Lastly, the agreement outlines a series of on- and off-site improvements to mitigate traffic impacts. Action Requested of Board No formal action requested. This agenda item is intended to receive board input ahead of the scheduled public hearings before the Planning Board and council. TAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 5 of 6 TAB Feedback • Question about timing of traffic count during COVID 19 during a particularly low level of vehicles on city roadways. • Question regarding the feeling that certain roadways around the project area are already at peak capacity, whether it is or is not good practice to build roadways and plan transportation to accommodate worst case scenario, or if we should not do that, and if so, why? • Inquiry regarding concern about proposed intersection with SH 93, lack of signalization, and if it becomes necessary, who pays? • Question whether city wishes to change the use of Moorhead Drive and make it local access only or transit and multi-modal, restricting single occupancy vehicles. • Request for conceptual overview of proposed traffic regarding commuters, more traffic in Boulder, more vehicles, how traffic is projected to occur in peak hours, definition of “trip”. Observation that study includes ten intersections - does it include transit, does “bound by warrant” indicate serious injury? Talk of regional bussing investment? • Comment that TMP key metric is trip reduction; question if trip cap is aggressive enough to reach GhG goal and avoid climate emergency. • Suggestion that Moorhead is key element – make it beautiful, safe, pleasant experience. Rethink some of restrictions/limits, make it a privilege to use, local traffic only. Make real commitments. Unbundle all parking, support expressed for real market pricing. • Inquiry about the origin of changing Tantra Drive to emergency only, question why it’s desirable versus South Loop Road. • Encouragement to TAB members to reach out to staff or make public comment at City Council September 7. Agenda Item 8: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Vision Zero Innovation Program [8:45 p.m.] Devin Joslin made the report to the board. Executive Summary This memo provides a status update on the ongoing planning, design, community engagement, implementation, and evaluation of the Vision Zero Innovation Program (VZIP). In addition, the memo summarizes plans for the proposed Group II projects for which TAB feedback is requested. Many of the proposed Group II projects are focused on implementing treatments along seven Neighborhood Speed Management Program (NSMP) complex corridors, as well as various pedestrian crossing locations. To accelerate progress toward Vision Zero, the city is using a portion of its Vision Zero funding to make innovative, quick-build improvements to our streets, with emphases on corridor traffic calming and increasing pedestrian comfort and visibility at crossing locations. Additionally, the VZIP takes a holistic approach to fulfill multiple needs identified through existing city programs, accessibility goals, as well as community requests. The initial group of selected treatments (“Group I” projects) were installed beginning in Fall 2020. Group I project installations, in some cases delayed due to COVID-19 impacts and supply chain issues, will continue through Fall 2021. In addition, new treatments have been identified (“Group II” projects) for installation throughout 2021. Before and after installation, staff will collect data and community feedback to evaluate the treatments’ effectiveness. This data will help staff understand the effectiveness of a variety of low-cost solutions that can further the city’s Vision Zero goals through continued crash reduction. The evaluation is also being used to inform and potentially expand the toolbox of traffic calming treatments that can eventually be used elsewhere in the city. TAB Action Requested 1. Do you have any additional feedback or questions about the Group I projects? 2. Do you have any additional feedback or questions about the Group I projects? TAB Feedback • Suggestion to pare down words in presentation to the public, comment that single page is excellent. • Question about prospects for funding into future years. • Question whether pictured traffic calming circles are big enough to have a positive impact; do they make it safer rather than more dangerous? • Inquiry if counts are balanced between each direction. 9:12 p.m. Hutchinson left the meeting. Agenda Item 9: Matters [9:12 p.m.] • Matters from Staff/Non-Agenda • Design and Construction Standards (DCS) Update (Slatter) – consultant engaged, beginning work, update likely in September. • Matters from the Board [9:14 p.m.] • Pedestrian Action Committee (PAC) Update (Duhaime) – last meeting was held, participants felt TAB Minutes July 12, 2021 Page 6 of 6 heard and made impact. Good example of community engagement, appreciation of Amy Lewin’s work. •Vision Zero Partnership Update (Duhaime) – now facilitated by Boulder County. Pride in growth, several looking to City of Boulder’s initiatives, great interest in speed kidney, city has support as a leader. •Greenways Advisory Committee (GAC) (McIntyre) – materials unavailable in advance, recommends restoration of dedicated staff position, increased funding. Counter comment that other departments who might be asked to contribute, such as Parks & Recreation, Library, and Open Space & Mountain Parks, are essential for some disabled populations. •Open Board Comment •Schuchard attended June 22 Study Session regarding Access Management & Parking Strategy (AMPS) in response to invitation for a TAB representative. Noted that TAB would like City Council to direct staff to be more aggressive, parking policy is key way to reduce GhG in the transportation sector. City of Boulder has direct control over that. It was a positive discussion; TAB was encouraged to look at parking as a climate tool. Suggestion that TAB conduct a working session after August TAB meeting. Two concerns regarding AMPS dialogue: do not see VMT or mode-shifting anywhere; transportation as a system of energy. Climate plan concerrning transportation –key discussion points: what are GhG performance trends? How are we going to integrate VMT and mode shifting and related Vision Zero goals into the kind of plan that we already have in our transportation master plan? •Appreciation of Schuchard’s background, information, renewed sense of urgency. Also for CIP working sessions, supports focused session on climate. Opportunity for TAB and staff to join in urgency in support of City Council’s climate emergency declaration. •Schuchard to forward notes and thoughts, proposed steps forward, then figure out how to move with speed and urgency within framework. •Duhaime – update on re draft TAB rules and procedures is coming soon. Agenda Item 10: Future Agenda Topics [10:01 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 •Monday, July 26, 6:00 p.m. - Greenways Advisory Committee (GAC) •Climate and Transportation, August •Pedestrian Crossings, TBD. Request not just for design, also how locations are determined, etc. •Automatic speed enforcement, state code barriers? Relevant information to be forwarded to newest member Schuchard. Agenda Item 11: Adjournment [10:07 p.m.] There being no further business to come before the board at this time, by motion regularly adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 p.m. Motion: Moved to adjourn: Duhaime Second: Schuchard Motion passes 3:0 Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be a regular virtual meeting on Monday, August 9, 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. Tila Duhaime per attached email Meredith Schleske 8/11/2021 8/11/2021 From:Tila Duhaime To:Schleske, Meredith Subject:Re: Final July TAB minutes for your approval Date:Wednesday, August 11, 2021 1:17:29 PM External Sender Thank you, Meredith. The July minutes are approved. Tila On Mon, Aug 9, 2021 at 9:04 PM Schleske, Meredith <SchleskeM@bouldercolorado.gov> wrote: Hi Tila, For your approval/signature. Thanks, I LOVE your haircut! Meredith Meredith Schleske Administrative Specialist O: 303.441.3204 schleskem@bouldercolorado.gov Department of Public Works Business Services Division 1739 Broadway, Boulder 80302