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11.14.22 TAB Agenda 2B 10.10.22 DRAFT TAB Meeting MinutesDRAFT TAB Minutes October 10, 2022 Page 1 of 5 CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/ Commission: Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Date of Meeting: October 10, 2022 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Meredith Schleske 303.441.3204 Board Members Present: Alex Weinheimer, Chair; Rebecca Davies; Tila Duhaime; Ryan Schuchard; Triny Willerton Staff Present: Natalie Stiffler, Interim Director for Transportation and Mobility Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer Devin Joslin, Transportation Engineering Senior Manager Mike Sweeney, Transportation Engineer Senior Project Manager Valerie Watson, Transportation Planning Manager Chris Hagelin, Transportation Principal Planner Danny O’Connor, Principal Transportation Planner, Transit Program Manager Melanie Sloan, Transportation Principal Project Manager Jean Sanson, Transportation Principal Planner David Kemp, Transportation Senior Planner Daniel Sheeter, Transportation Senior Planner Gastonia Anderson, Budget Senior Analyst Cris Jones, Community Vitality Interim Director Samantha Bromberg, Community Vitality AMPS Program Manager, Access Coordinator Meredith Schleske, Board Secretary Also Present: Nicole Speer, City Council Member Type of Meeting: Advisory/Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to Order [6:01 p.m.] Instructions to Virtual Meeting Participants (not an agenda item) – Veronica Son, technical host reviewed rules and technical operations on the virtual platform. Agenda Item 2: Approval of September 2022 Minutes - tabled to November. [6:02 p.m.] Agenda Item 3: Comments from Director and Chair regarding the fatality at Broadway and Lee Hill [6:02 p.m.] Motorcyclist Ryan Bigoness died after being hit by RTD bus, no further details from investigation, will continue to call out severe and fatal crashes. It is a somber note to start the meeting with, hope to make improvements. Question regarding whether it was the first fatality in City of Boulder limits this year, good example to support more immediate transparency in data. Agenda Item 4: Introduce Brad Mueller, Planning and Development Services Director [6:07 p.m.] Natalie Stiffler turned the meeting over to incoming director Brad Mueller. Appreciates welcome from all, planning and transportation are synergistic – learning history of modern mobility, importance of land use in transportation. There is a better way than “build it and they’ll come.” Colorado native, attended CU for undergraduate degree, graduate school in New York in city planning, has worked up and down the Front Range. There were dual mandates for urban planning in mid- to late-1900’s - open space and preservation. Worked on macro and municipal levels including multimodal focus. Goals include Listen, Build relationships, Recruit/fill vacancies and support staff, Develop management team, Listen some more. TAB Comments • Question regarding how TAB can reach out, inform staff of position on land use. • Appreciation expressed for time and comments, TAB is charged with advising city council and Planning Board, interested in better ways to engage with planning process. o Staff response: Appreciation for thoughts, cannot comment on TAB coordination with Planning Board yet. DRAFT TAB Minutes October 10, 2022 Page 2 of 5 Agenda Item 5: Public Comment [6:21 p.m.] • Sue Prant, Community Cycles – regarding the Grandview crossing at the new CU Conference Center, sees it as dangerous with a number of movements happening there, all with dangerous issues. Developer Limelight (Aspen Skiing Company) submitted a new travel study, not much improvement, issues with design and construction standards (DCS) compliance, does not even mention bicycles. Important because city attorney’s office says they cannot do anything about it if it meets the standards and right-of-way permit must be issued within 30 days. Note that Community Cycles has been trying to get DCS revised since 2015 for this exact reason. We’re building dangerous things. Looking forward to meeting with Mueller and Stiffler on Friday, hopeful for staff other than usual two traditional transportation planners. • Alexey Davies, Community Cycles - regarding CU Conference Center, especially Broadway southbound traffic turning left across lanes of traffic and median. No mention of cyclists and safety in revised traffic study. Question regarding Boulder Revised Code right-of-way permits section 8.D.5.1.A – does “ensuring the public safety” apply to this project? How is safety maintained? • Lynn Segal – question regarding what Brad Mueller did in Florida and if it involved religion. Person online said he was a musician – that’s a good background. Also why is there no further information on the motorcycle fatality a month later? It’s like the Marshall Fire – we should know, now afraid of buses. “Build it and they will come” comment is striking, would like to see TAB as ex officio to Planning Board, and Open Space Mountain Parks Board and Water Resource Advisory Board are those that legislate CU South. Will be end of Boulder as we know it. Hill hotels on both sides of Broadway impact TAB and bikes waiting for red lights, traffic backup. Would like to see some automation of signals like northbound on Broadway before Alpine with on-demand button. About 10 cars were backed up, idling, impacting climate. If it costs something, developers should pay $120/square foot which is the true impact, instead of current $30/square foot assessment. Agenda Item 6: Public hearing and TAB feedback and consideration of a recommendation [6:30 p.m.] regarding Residential Access Management Program (RAMP), Performance-based Pricing, and Trailhead Access Management Cris Jones and Samantha Bromberg made the report to the board. Executive Summary The purpose of this memo is to provide final recommendations for implementation of performance-based pricing and the Residential Access Management Program (RAMP). Performance-based pricing and RAMP are strategies developed as part of the city’s Access Management and Parking Strategy (AMPS) program. Staff from multiple city departments have worked together to implement AMPS-related projects since its adoption in 2017 and have collaborated in the 2022 work to implement the new strategies supported by council in 2021. The staff recommendations are the culmination of many months of work to mount a data-driven program where none existed before. The memo contains recommendations for the following changes to managed parking across Boulder: • Rate changes for on-street parking in paid parking districts based on demand in accordance with performance-based pricing regulations. • Implementation of a trail access management workgroup dedicated to studying and recommending solutions for residential areas impacted by adjacent City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) trails. In addition to the recommended changes, the memo seeks to update advisory boards, commissions, and City Council on the performance of the existing Neighborhood Permit Parking (NPP) zones, paid on-street parking, and areas of interest for future study. Performance-based pricing is recommended for downtown (Central Area General Improvement District), not currently for Boulder Junction and University Hill General Improvement Districts due to development of employee downtown parking. TAB Clarifying Questions • Questions regarding cost recovery for NPP, definition of/process for NPP extension. Comment that commuter pass cost is currently $105/quarter, not likely to be a low-income resident. o Staff response: plan approved by City Council last year increases residential parking permits by $10 annually to reach cost recovery; commuter parking permit pricing increased as well. NPP extensions are blocks identified by staff as potential candidates or neighborhoods that have submitted a petition and is in pending status. • Questions about racial equity instrument outcomes, any additional detail with how determination was made, whether creation of a transportation wallet would disproportionately impact certain neighborhoods, if Community Vitality has yet defined its racial equity statement. o Staff response: in recognition of parking spillover, NPP was originally created for residents who live there. Those who have a car and want to store it on street will benefit more. Racial equity lens was DRAFT TAB Minutes October 10, 2022 Page 3 of 5 an attempt to see how to benefit more community members, be more inclusive. Trying to create virtuous cycle so benefits flow back to those who have provided for them via excess funds, reinvestment in the neighborhood/community. A discount program would benefit income-qualified residents who don’t have motor vehicle. • Inquiry regarding aggregate occupancy and downtown garage compared to on-street occupancy, hope to develop tool to help members of public to research parking availability themselves. Comment that we should be taking advantage of garage space, query if we can encourage/direct drivers to garage. o Staff response: there are 800 on-street spots and 1,600 garage spaces in the downtown district, raising cost of on-street but not garage parking, ensure we can accommodate peak demand. Downtown meters restrict both pricing and time. • Inquiries regarding why some of the downtown district is not shown on maps, racial equity/parking management/permitting in Knollwood, low usage in University Hill. Unaware that council directed staff to explore a low-income residential permit, memo seemed to be misleading regarding commuter permits. • Question about managing mode shift by these programs. o Staff response: mode shift goals are built into the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) beginning in 1989, Boulder outperforms all cities of same size. Public Participation • Lynn Segal – Stratified parking seems to be good idea but seems to be underutilized, cost is not enough to prohibit people coming in. On demand e-vehicles or e-vans should be trend for people coming into town. CU South will make it worse, picking at edges, needs wholesale reform. Questions for TAB 1. Does the TAB have any questions on recommended performance-based pricing changes? 2. Does TAB have any questions about the proposed next steps for RAMP and the associated Trail Access Management Workgroup? 3. Does TAB support staff’s continued work to develop access management strategies for the East Aurora Neighborhood? TAB Discussion • Regarding East Aurora petition for NPP, general concern expressed that the program doesn’t generate its own cost, implementing more NPP neighborhoods creates inequities, preference to use city resources for higher utilization areas versus by neighborhood request or complaint-based. • Observation that in assessing a street’s parking performance, enforcement has difficult task tying parkers to residency. Measuring spillover, no option for residents to pay to park across the street, no flexibility, could help ameliorate spillover problem, could consider removing blocks that are not performing from NPP (like around schools). Less than 50% parking in Mapleton district, doubt that it would pass racial equity test. Program is designed only to expand, council encouraged bold action. Encouragement to remove “only once a day” requirement, implement higher parking prices now. • Chair query if TAB want to provide formal feedback; still in development, TAB comments will be shared with council. Comments that intent of the racial equity instrument is to be thoughtful, point is to consider impact. • Comments that it is easier to weigh in if options are presented. Regarding racial equity, car dependence works against wellbeing in a lot of ways but if transit is not good, requires bigger conversation. Agenda Item 7: Staff briefing and TAB Feedback regarding Core Arterial Network (CAN) Update [8:02 p.m.] Valerie Watson, Gerrit Slatter and Devin Joslin made the report to the board. Executive Summary Since the launch of the Core Arterial Network (CAN) initiative in spring 2022, Transportation & Mobility Staff have made significant progress on work plan items relating to the three Priority Corridors as well as other CAN projects. The memo provides an update on these activities, as well as a request for Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) feedback on overall CAN initiative and Priority Corridor progress, CAN work plan schedule, and funding strategy. TAB Action Requested Receive and file memorandum. Offer feedback on overall CAN initiative and Priority Corridor progress, CAN work plan schedule, and funding strategy. Questions for TAB DRAFT TAB Minutes October 10, 2022 Page 4 of 5 1. Does TAB have feedback on the updated work plan and funding strategy? 2. Any additional questions about the CAN initiative and Priority Corridor progress? TAB Feedback • Request for more information on phase 1 of Baseline project protective bike lane improvements and proposed materials, if floating bus islands will be considered, downtown mobility study. o Staff response: Moving away from white flexible delineators but depending on budget, may be used temporarily until hardened or other material can be implemented continuously, incorporating community feedback to prioritize locations for hardening in Phase 1, must also consider flood mitigation, maintenance concerns. Floating bus islands might be considered in phase 2, requires more capital and difficult to test in interim phase in any low-cost fashion. • Regarding downtown mobility study, the city has it on radar and a lot is going on already, starting to scope. It could address a more comprehensive view, consider two-way streets downtown, possibly bikeway to downtown bus station, outdoor dining, connect Hill to downtown, expand Greenstreets, parking management. Downtown visioning exercise and Downtown Business Partnership could help shape and inform. • Enthusiasm expressed for Baseline project; doesn’t currently feel safe. Looking forward to speed management, sense of security, more permanent. • Appreciation for integration of resources, support for addressing downtown mobility study earlier. • Congratulations extended for CAN progress in a short time, consider through-goers in addition to residents. • Comments regarding next TMP update, including transportation for 8–80 years, micromobility up and down corridor, intersect with transit stations. • Staff comment: Manhattan Project Safe Walk-to-school event – Willerton will attend. Agenda Item 8: Matters [8:37 p.m.] A. Matters from Staff/Non-Agenda 1. Regional Transportation Update (Watson) – TIP Call #4 (focused on regional connectivity), community engagement including on-demand videos, which were very successful for Call #2, bilingual mailers, office hours. Public hearing and TAB recommendation to council in November, council endorsement in December, applications due in January. Weinheimer and Willerton will try to attend technical meeting 11/14/2022. 2. Federal Funding Opportunities Update (Slatter) – lots of funding made available by Biden administration in many categories, will be pursuing Transit Oriented Development Pilot Program, Safe Streets for All Grant (SS4A), Bridge Investment Program (BIP), Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP), Strengthening Mobility & Revolutionizing Transportation Grant (SMART). Most City of Boulder bridges are not eligible for funding. Working with City of Broomfield for Foothills-63rd Street Call #3 application, with Boulder County on Highway 7 starter transit service between Brighton and Boulder (City of Boulder contribution $100,000), City of Longmont for Highway 119 bus rapid transit including trans-signal service and bikeway connection and enhancement. Capacity exists to pursue other projects as well. If all were funded, staff estimate that $5.8 million in city investment could leverage $33 million additional funding. TAB Comments • Question why we are not eligible to apply for Vision Zero Action Plan implementation funding. o Staff response: Vision Zero Action Plan is not certified, planning to do so with next update/not ready due to staffing capacity. DRCOG exploring regional, collaborate application approach in next cycle, were not ready for previous cycle. • Appreciation for being on top of it including being prepared for SMART grants, will notify staff of opportunities. B. Matters from the Board [9:16 p.m.] 1. Grandview at Broadway Intersection Safety, including Hill hotel development – Duhaime. Lots of moving parts, talked with Community Cycles, interested in where city lies in the process, what level of approval is ascribed to city manager or council, top of mind to preserve public safety. Community Cycles calculates potential twenty-two-fold increase in conflicts as currently designed. Revised transportation study excludes consideration of University Avenue as access point and multi-use path as existing transportation facility. City should be asking CU for more comprehensive study before issuing right-of-way (ROW), concerns are valid. Mueller commented that development review is valid concern for Planning as well, always welcomes comments, committed to a hard look, must be careful about process, quasi-judicial and non quasi-judicial roles. CU will break ground no sooner than December. a. TAB question if general feeling is that it is difficult with existing processes to provide safety, what in the process is creating that difficulty, whether this or other projects? Staff response: matter of standards required by City of Boulder (COB), CU, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), others. Not aware of any outcome that would be deliberately unsafe. b. Comments from Community Cycles demonstrates lots to think through, safety should be top priority. DRAFT TAB Minutes October 10, 2022 Page 5 of 5 c. TAB question of what leeway COB has to tell developer application is insufficient in omitting multiuse path. Staff response: believes that CU must defer to TMP in that it is reflected in standards. TAB comments that city code has a charge to ensure public safety, opinion that that particular multi- use path at that intersection cannot be omitted from transportation consideration - connects CU, Boulder High School, downtown, South Boulder, businesses, used by many kids as well. Comment that DCS specify criteria for traffic studies; CU study falls far short. Their recommendation against closing the southbound left-turn lane at that intersection is most concerning conflict with potential for head-on collision. Their reason was level of service at University and Broadway, ultimately blocking off 13th Street due to twenty-year traffic growth projections, which would reflect failure on all TMP goals. Could probably be mitigated “don’t block the box”, seems like a bad reason to introduce a lot of cars turning, successful treatment on Baseline for Martin Acres. Opinion that city should be able to push back. Councilmember Speers commented that she learned appreciation for city attorney office expertise, trusts safety concern is always paramount with staff. Regarding question about what in process is making this hard, key is, who has the power to change it. 2. Open Board Comment – there was none. Agenda Item 9: Future Agenda Items [9:48 p.m.] Public hearing next month on TIP Call #4, full agenda but TAB members may reach out with other requests. Agenda Item 10: Adjournment [9:49 p.m.] There being no further business to come before the board at this time, by motion regularly adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 9:49 p.m. Motion: Moved to adjourn: Weinheimer Second: Willerton 5-0, Motion passes. Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be a regular virtual meeting on Monday November 14, 2022 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.