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02.12.24 TAB Agenda 3 - 01.08.24 DRAFT TAB Meeting MinutesCITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/ Commission: Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Date of Meeting: January 8, 2024 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Meredith Schleske 303.441.3204 Board Members Present: Alex Weinheimer, Chair; Rebecca Davies, Vice Chair; Tila Duhaime; Triny Willerton Staff Present: Natalie Stiffler, Director for Transportation and Mobility Valerie Watson, Deputy Director for Transportation and Mobility Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer Veronica Son, Senior Transportation Engineer Sydney Schieffer, Transportation Senior Planner Daniel Sheeter, Transportation Senior Planner Jean Sanson, Transportation Senior Planner Melanie Sloan, Transportation Principal Project Manager Charles Ferro, Development Review Planning Senior Manager, Planning and Development Services Karl Guiler, Senior Policy Advisor, Planning and Development Services Meredith Schleske, Board Secretary Also Present: Nicole Speer, Councilmember Type of Meeting: Advisory/Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to Order [6:01 p.m.] Agenda Item 2: Technical Rules – Sydney Schieffer, technical host reviewed rules and technical [6:01 p.m.] operations on the virtual platform. Agenda Item 3: Approval of 2023 Minutes [6:02 p.m.] A.October 9 B.November 13 Motion: Moved to approve October and November 2023 minutes. Motion: Davies Second: Willerton Motion passes 4:0 2024 Fatality – Director Stiffler reported that pedestrian Virginia Dalton, 90-year old woman, struck by driver at Broadway and Alpine while crossing east leg of intersection, later died at hospital. Will keep TAB updated. No operational or maintenance issues found at this intersection to date in coordination with Boulder Police Department. Staff evaluated work planned this year regarding signals. Left turn phasing improvements have been a focus last several years. This location is identified in Safer Signals and Safer Streets Project, Safer Main Streets grant for signal improvements including a four-section flashing yellow arrow signal head on southbound approach to provide left-turn phasing changes. Implementation expected this summer; left turn phasing to be determined by current guidelines, also to be reviewed this year in comprehensive guideline evaluation. Priority item per Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP.) Leadership and staff recognize any loss of life is tragic; preventable, which is why we do what we do; appreciate partnerships, believe that using the safe system approach, national best practice, is how we will efficiently reach our Vision Zero goal. TAB Comments •Questions about why hardened center line that was installed after a few crashes was removed from North Street and Broadway and if it might be a tool, and if flashing yellow arrow signal might instead be a protected left turn, considering the volume, crash trends and number of pedestrians. Further inquiry regarding length of mast arms, room to install protected yellow signal, and whether it is designated at all times in guidelines. o Chair and staff response: North Street intersection had highest number of incidents but hardened center line was removed because some vehicles could not make the turn. The flashing yellow light signal at Alpine was identified and will be paid by the Safer Main Streets grant but staff will be 02.12.24 TAB Agenda 3 - 01.08.24 DRAFT TAB Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 revisiting in near future in review of Traffic Signal Practices guidelines, an internal staff document shared with TAB in the past several years. •Reiterated that North Broadway is too fast, wide, downhill. Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP) specifies how to address this kind of crash. Question if Safer Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant changes timeline or intersections. o Staff response: Grant enables moving forward on several unfunded items in VZAP; signals, intersections, demonstration project, corridors, pedestrian crossings. •Appreciation expressed for information, effort to apply for and be awarded this grant, noted that it is a lot of work, will save lives. Agenda Item 4: Public Comment [6:22 p.m.] •Lynn Segal – suggestion on 90-year old situation, reminds of my recent situation that I had a backpack stolen by employee in municipal lobby 15 seconds after removing computer, setting it down September 14th. Will never know what happened. He said it was supervisor’s bag, gave it to her, she set it down during fire alarm. Employee had traumatic reaction. What happened with 90-year old woman is trauma to city, to me. Live nearby, there will be so much more activity in Alpine-Balsam area when it opens. Recommending restorative justice in my situation, desire to talk to employee. Sent him a letter but am sequestered from him, each other. Need site visit of 90-year old woman’s crash. Planning Board members and staff should recreate with driver, review rules in place there. Driver’s life is upended. Not just preventative development, real risks, should know what happens with transportation in city. TAB should be involved in 2206 Pearl Street development that is requesting parking reduction. Agenda Item 5: Matters [6:26 p.m.] A.Matters from Staff/Non-Agenda 1.Remarks from Director Stiffler concerning Baseline and Mohawk – Completed Phase 1 Baseline; Phase 2 kicking off this year. Have received some feedback from cyclists regarding difficulty in seeing some features - added vertical delineators last week to clarify path of travel for bikes and vehicles, as speed of travel made it difficult to see horizontal features. TAB Comment - seems like new features are aimed at slowing down speed/increasing awareness of cyclist. Avoid putting onus on more vulnerable road user to change their behavior, they don't carry the burden of care. Staff response: Design and treatments are primarily intended to slow turning vehicles, but also help all modes be cautious and aware as they move through the intersection. 2.Regional Transportation Planning Update (Sanson) - lot to celebrate, lot of work ahead. Trends are going the wrong way, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is increasing. Working to provide solid regional transportation alternatives defined by Northwest Area Mobility Study (NAMS). a.CO 119 - $160 million secured for Boulder-Longmont Diagonal corridor bus rapid transit (BRT), commuter bikeway, safety improvements, starting Fall 2024. Meanwhile, rumble strips and signage have been placed to alert drivers to cyclists along the shoulder. b.CO 7 – update to Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) design project to refine East Arapahoe concept plan/develop 15% design set expected in spring, construction of multi-use path and transit stop enhancement between 38th and Marine Streets and Cherryville Road later this year. c.South Boulder Road – nine-mile road connecting Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette. Willerton and Davies serve on steering committee. Online survey will be open through mid- February, virtual public meeting and pop-up event scheduled later in January. Boulder County will lead transit study in 2025. d.Northwest Rail Peak Service/Front Range Passenger Rail – study to identify requirements, costs, operational needs to upgrade existing railroad tracks and develop rail stations (Boulder Junction, Diva Square in Boulder) for peak service from Denver Union Station to Westminster Station, downtown Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Longmont. 3.Update on City Council's 2024 Legislative Priorities (Sanson) – upcoming bills. a.Vulnerable Road User Protection Enterprise – expected to be introduced, would be first state to establish dedicated funding via registration fee on heavy vehicles for small-scale infrastructure projects to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. b.RTD/Transit Authority Fares and Reform 1.Free Fare/Youth Fare - expected to include request to ongoing general fund for free fare month during summer ozone season and year-round youth pass. 2.RTD Reform including size of district and board, transparency in reporting. c.Transit-oriented Communities/Land Use – more carrots than sticks - $30 million tax credits for higher densities near high frequency transit, could include denial of transportation 02.12.24 TAB Agenda 3 - 01.08.24 DRAFT TAB Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 funds or imposition of a state housing goal for non-compliant local governments. TAB Comments – questions regarding reintroduction of hands-free bill this session, if City Council has yet been briefed on these bills and taken a position. Staff response: Bicycle Colorado is working diligently on the hands-free bill, will follow up with City of Boulder Intergovernmental Officer for update. City Council will be briefed in a few weeks. 4.Pavement Management Program / Mobility Enhancements – Moorhead Avenue Update (Slatter/Sheeter) – pavement maintenance, mobility and safety enhancements on Moorhead Avenue from 27th Street to Table Mesa in 2024. Change in practice to install enhancements per Vision Zero and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in advance of repaving. Moorhead is important connector in bike network between Martin Acres, US 36 bikeway, CU Boulder, downtown. Engaging with neighborhood on mobility enhancements. Process is moving swiftly to align with concrete and paving contractor availability. TAB Comments – appreciation; was worrisome part of commute to Manhattan Middle School. Coming off of multi-use path and crossing 27th Way needs protected bike lane, serves so many people. Question regarding how it interacts with proposed Baseline West development 2700- 2750 Baseline Road. Some precedence that TAB be invited in to development conversation, not miss the opportunity. Staff response: No guarantee that project will be approved; plan to make improvements that will stand regardless and not preclude further enhancements if it is approved. 5.2024 Transportation & Mobility Work Plan and Project Priorities/Citywide Strategic Plan (Stiffler) – typically share at TAB retreat but may be better now/good awareness for TAB members before city council retreat. Citywide strategic plan is providing much more clarity under the overarching Sustainability, Equity and Resiliency (SER) framework. Transportation and Mobility are guided by the most recent Transportation Master Plan (TMP) updated in 2019; Report on Progress to be made this year. Transportation continues to be major contributor to Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions – more commuters living further away. An ongoing pilot program at City Council’s request will be Boulder Social Streets 2.0 – process for residents to use city street space for various uses. TAB Comments – Questions regarding first three Core Arterial Network (CAN) priorities, Downtown Plan of the CAN, inquiry whether citywide strategic plan may impact those of departments. Staff response - Baseline in process, Folsom Transportation Improvement Projects (TIP) funding available in 2025; Downtown Mobility Study potentially initiate in late 2024, could be impacted by Civic Area Phase 2 and Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) resource demands. Not anticipating that Citywide Strategic Plan is likely to impact transportation but may affect other departments across organization. B.Matters from the Board [7:34 p.m.] 1.Potential Items for City Council Letter (Davies) – with City Council retreat in March, suggests as February meeting discussion. One item might be off-street parking. Davies will forward list of suggested topics to TAB members using blind copy feature to avoid creating a meeting; also review items from 2023 TAB Retreat. New member terms begin in April. 2.Open Board Comment a. Davies - Impressed with Baseline work, great project, model of what is possible when everything aligns – resources to work on target area, staff expertise, support including from City Council. Wide bike lanes, feeling of safety for all modes. Staff response: Appreciation, huge accomplishment for team, unique in country. TAB Comments Weinheimer – innovative, more to come. Willerton – innovation with protected bike lanes is beautiful. Agenda Item 8: Future Agenda Items [7:42 p.m.] TAB members may relay requests to Chair in advance of February agenda meeting January 16, 2024. Agenda Item 9: Adjournment [7:43 p.m.] There being no further business to come before the board at this time, by motion regularly adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Motion: Moved to adjourn: Duhaime Second: Willerton Motion passes 4:0 Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting: 02.12.24 TAB Agenda 3 - 01.08.24 DRAFT TAB Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 The next meeting will be a regular virtual meeting on Monday February 11, 2024 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. 02.12.24 TAB Agenda 3 - 01.08.24 DRAFT TAB Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4