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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-07 - BPAC Minutes Meeting Minutes DESCHUTES COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Noon to 1:30pm ODOT, 63055 NW Hwy 97, Building M, Sparks Lake Room (Upstairs) 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, Pam Hardy, Cheryl Howard, Phyllis Lewis, Matt Martin, Jim Stone, Kevin Tanski Agency: City of Bend – Nick Arnis, Robin Lewis, Rick Root; Bend MPO – Jovi Anderson; Bend Metro Park & Recreation – Steve Jorgensen; Commute Options – Kim Curley, Brian Potwin; Deschutes County – Peter Russell; City of Redmond – Mike Caccavano Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 12:10 p.m. Introductions Approval of Prior Minutes The minutes of Oct. 3, 2013, were approved. Bend Transportation Options Walk and Bike Project Prioritization, Robin Lewis, City of Bend Robin provided a memo that summarized the five walk zones (downtown; midtown; 27th St- Senior Housing; Wilson Ave near Genna Stadium, Old Mill District) the City has identified previously. The zones can all be expected to have a significant number of pedestrians due to a combination of block size, land use, transit, and amenities. For bike zones, the memo focuses on four key corridors (3rd Street; 8th/9th streets; 14th Street; Franklin). The routes were based on input from the cycling community, destinations, pre-existing bike lanes, system connectivity, and transit. Robin is looking for feedback from individual BPAC members to ultimately develop a prioritized list of bicycle and pedestrian projects. For the walking zones the suggested items to comment upon were 1) sidewalk segments in need of upgrade or completion; 2) connections that need to be created; and 3) difficult street crossings, including Americans with Disability (ADA) ramp issues. For the bike zones the suggested items include 1) bike lanes in need of completion or upgrade; 2) connections that need to be created; 3) difficult street crossings; and 4) bike parking needs. Robin would like any comments from BPAC members be sent to her before Thanksgiving. 2 Deschutes River Trail Bond Project, Steve Jorgenson, BMPRD Steve first presented a map showing the top 10 ten sites in terms of usage, according to recent trail counts. The highest use site is the portage path around the spillway near the Colorado Avenue Bridge with 1,500 daily users that can climb to 2,500 in the summer. When the park bridge is closed for about a year, users will have to detour to the Colorado Avenue Bridge, which could be a challenge given bridge’s narrow, raised sidewalks vs. the potential pedestrian demand. Other notable sites in the top 10 in terms of daily users were Drake Park Bridge (~1,100), near Bill Healy Bridge (~500); South Canyon Bridge (~400); and Sawyer Park (~200). The Deschutes River Trail (DRT) bond resulted in ten projects totaling $2.6 million with an estimated completion of May 2016. Steve reviewed the projects from north to south, which include four miles of trail, three bridges, and a boardwalk, amongst other items. BMPRD is reviewing consultants’ proposals to deliver the projects and hopes to select a firm by early December. Safe Routes 2 School, Brian Potwin, Commute Options Brian reviewed the evolution of Safe Routes 2 School (SR2S) to where schools are now incorporating the program and delivering it themselves. Brian has been teaching the teachers to deliver the SR2S program, thus making the program sustainable at the school. Reynolds and Ponderosa schools have incorporated the SR2S teachings into a blending of other courses, such as a bike trip to a field exercise in a science class. Brian is now going to work with driver education programs so he can teach high school students about other road users, particularly those who are vulnerable. Brian is also looking for any contact info from BPAC for schools that might be interested into the SR2S program. BPAC Business Kevin reviewed the proposed revisions to the BPAC Goals suggested by the ad hoc review committee. The key revisions were to use multi-modal instead of non-motorized as transit will now become a BPAC member, add greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions due to federal requirements for the Bend MPO, and stress complete streets. The group discussed adding language regarding OSU-Cascades to the responsible parties list due to the college’s potential traffic impacts to the west side of Bend. Other comments should be sent to Kevin within two weeks so the proposed revisions can be adopted at the December BPAC meeting. BPAC members then adopted a 2014 BPAC calendar in terms of agenda and message. The 2014 calendar will use the same timelines as the 2013 calendar. The group also discussed doing outreach to law enforcement officials to gauge their interest in adopting the bike diversion program now used by the Bend Police Department Updates South County: Jim reported they have been working on mountain bike trails, mainly. 3 City of Bend: None. City of Sisters: Phyllis reported after an Oct. 26 meeting of the Sisters Park and Recreation Department (SPRD) that the Sisters Trail Alliance (STA) has decided to become a stand-alone organization rather than remain under SPRD’s umbrella. The separation stems from the controversy over a grant application for a paved trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch in the Deschutes National Forest. The paved path application was the subject of an open house on Nov. 5. Phyllis said roughly 20 people spoke in favor of the proposed paved trail. City of Redmond: Mike mentioned the Redmond Bicycle Advisory Committee continues to work on bike routes and what they should look like. Bike/ped aspects are also an important component of a refinement plan for US 97 in the south part of town. A recent charrette included two-way frontage roads with bike and ped facilities. Deschutes County: The web-based version of the County bike map has been put on hold while County IT staff works on installing a new electronic permitting and tracking system for the County. The Road Department also received letters from several homeowners on Sisemore Road opposing paving the road. The County Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update looked at the issue and had decided the road would remain unpaved. The Friends of the Three Sisters Bikeway would prefer the road be paved. ODOT: Work continues on the Lava Lands trials project. Commute Options: None. Other: Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 1:33 p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2013, noon to 1:30 p.m. at ODOT, 63055 N. Hwy 97 Building M (new building).