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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-03 - BPAC Minutes Meeting Minutes DESCHUTES COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, October 3, 2013 - Noon to 1:30pm La Pine City Hall Audio recording of this meeting is archived for review and/or transcription. The purpose of this document is to outline topics of discussion and actions by the Committee. Members Present: Mary Barron, Bill Braly, Cheryl Howard, Phyllis Lewis, Michele Sims, Jim Stone, Kevin Tanski Agency: City of Bend - Robin Lewis, Rick Root; Commute Options – Kim Curley; Deschutes County – Peter Russell; City of La Pine – Kathy Agan; ODOT - Bill Hilton, Dan Serpico Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. Introductions Approval of Prior Minutes The minutes of Sept. 5, 2013, were approved, with a correction indicating Commute Options was working with ODOT regarding employee trips in the Murphy Road project area in Bend, not Sisters. 1st/97 improvements in La Pine, Bill Hilton, ODOT Bill reviewed ODOT’s upcoming project to add a traffic signal and sidewalks to the intersection of US 97/1st-Reed. The traffic signal will address turning issues at the intersection, particularly the eastbound to southbound move (Reed to 97) and southbound to eastbound (97 to Reed) and pedestrians crossing 97. The project will be consistent with La Pine’s plans for the 97 corridor in town by adding sidewalks, bike lanes, bioswales, and turn lanes. The project may also cause traffic to enter the north end of La Pine at slightly lower speeds due to the area having a more urban feel. Portland State University and the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation, Dan Serpico, ODOT Dan shared his experience at a weeklong class on accommodating bikes in Portland via roadway design, ancillary facilities, routing, signing, etc. He took the class in August and participated in a Sunday Parkway, which are rides along predetermined routes. The ride had around 25,000 participants and the City modified traffic signals modified to accommodate through travel on a bike, closed sundry streets to cars, and allowed vendors along the routes. The class featured a combination of lectures, discussions, and field trips. The bike tours 2 included buffered bike lanes, bike boulevards, cycle tracks (both one way and two way), bike signals, bike pathways on bridges, etc. Many of the segments were either on paths separated from traffic or on very low-volume streets. The classes are offered six to eight times annually and have varying durations and costs. Dan also presented a sample of Portland’s bike map, honing in on key features about how the map accommodates both the savvy cyclist who rides for utilitarian reasons and the more casual recreational rider. La Pine sidewalk improvements, Tom Headley, Century West Tom talked about the upcoming sidewalk that will be built on the west side of US 97 across the City Hall’s frontage. The sidewalk is intended to be a showcase of urban amenities, including distinctive lights with a historic feel to impart a sense of place. The other sidewalk project is along Huntington between the Senior Citizens Center and Bi-Mart. That sidewalk segment will be more of a general design. Construction for both is expected spring 2014. Bend bike/sidewalk improvement program, Robin Lewis and Rick Root, City of Bend Robin and Rick gave a general summary of the city’s efforts to identify and prioritize a systematic upgrade of Bend’s bike and sidewalk system. The City has blended the Bike/Ped plan portion of the Transportation System Plan with input from the Bicycling and Walking Improvement Priorities (BWIP) subcommittee and field work to set general locational priorities. The City was overlain with three concentric circles centered on Franklin/3rd with each ring being about 1.5 miles in depth. The City will first concentrate on the central core, an area broadly defined as 14th Street to the west, Reed Market to the south, 12th Street to the east, and Butler Market to the north. Bicycle corridors that will receive first priority are Franklin Avenue for its east-west function and 3rd, 8th/9th, and 14th street for north-south links. While a bike improvement can be built anywhere at any time, the general time line is for the central core, aka Focus Area 1, to be done by 2017; Focus Area 2 improvements be completed by 2018, and Focus Area 3 projects to be done by 2022. BPAC Business Cheryl asked Peter to prepare a draft of the press release regarding the need to aim sprinklers so they don’t spray onto sidewalks due to nighttime temperatures now dropping to freezing and to remind motorists to watch out for pedestrians given darkness happens sooner and lasts longer now. Updates South County: Jim indicated trees are being removed as the Lava Lands pathway is moving forward. City of Bend: None. City of Sisters: Phyllis said on Nov. 5 there will be a public meeting at the Sisters High School regarding the controversial paved path project proposed between Sisters and the Toll Gate/Crossroad subdivisions with an ultimate goal of reaching Black Butte Ranch. There is hope Senate Bill 260 could provide funding to finish the paved trail to BBR. Sisters Park and Recreation District has a few board members who are concerned with the potential financial obligations that the Sisters Trail Alliance may have incurred relating to the paved path. The 3 STA, and by extension the SPRD, would be obligated for $52,000 as well as maintenance costs of the paved path. City of Redmond: The Redmond Bicycle Advisory Committee continues to roll along, according to Bill Braly. The group has done several rides in town to begin developing a map of preferred routes. Deschutes County: The Super ACT at their meeting last month approved the proposed project list in Region 4 (Central Oregon from Columbia River to California) for ODOT’s 2015-18 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The STIP recommendation will then be forwarded to the Oregon Transportation Commission. The list includes the project proposed by Deschutes County and La Pine to add sidewalks to the south side of 1st Street between Huntington and 97 and the west side of 97 from 1st to 6th streets. ODOT: Bill and Dan mentioned US 20 will be chip sealed between mile points 8 and 48 and seeks a letter from BPAC on the project to ensure bicycles are addressed in terms of rock size. Also it would be helpful if BPAC provided a letter about which state highways or portions of state highways are heavily used or favored by cyclists. Cheryl will send an e-mail out to BPAC to jump start the letter. Commute Options: The Drive Less Challenge is Oct. 21-Nov. 1 is coming up. Kim passed out pledge cards. Other: Cheryl mentioned the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be meeting in Bend Oct. 17-18 to do strategic planning. OBPAC would like to hear from locals about their issues and concerns. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 1:34 p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2013, noon to 1:30 p.m. at ODOT, 63055 N. Hwy 97 Building M (new building).