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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSkyliners Rd Project UpdateRoad 61150 SE 27th St.• Bend. Oregon 97702 (541) 388-6581 • FAX (541) 388-2719 MEMORANDUM TO; BO,\RD OF COUN"lY COMMISSIONERS FROM; GEORGE KOLB, COUN1Y ENGINEER ~ SUBJECT: SK\1JNERS ROAD -FHW,\ RESPONSE TO SUBDIVISION COMMENTS DATE: 8/1/2012 CC: ERIK KROPP, INTERnv! COUN'IY ;\DMINISTRATOR The purpose of this memo is to summarize the issues that have been raised by the homeowners within the Skyliners Subdivision concerning the reconstruction of Skyliners Road. I have attached the letter from the Federal Highway Association (FHWA) summarizing there decisions concerning these issues along with the comments from the residents. The following is a short summary of the issues: 1. The biggest concern is how to control speed through the subdivision. The following are ideas from the residents: a. Install traffic slowing islands at three locations along Sky liners Road. One would be at the start of the private property approximately 1 mile east ofthe subdivision, and then one each at the east and west boundary of the subdivision. One resident wanted these to be landscaped islands. The FHWA has agreed to install two islands that would be developed using pavement markings with delineator posts that can be removedJor winter maintenance. The purpose oJthe islands will be to slow traffic down as they enter the subdivision. b. Reduce the width of the road through the subdivision. Comments ranged from having no bike lane to a five foot bike land and six foot bike lane. They also wanted the travel lane width reduced to 10 feet versus 11 feet. The FHWA has agreed to reduce the width ojthe travel lane down to JOJeet but will keep the bike lanes at six Jeet Jor the entire project including through the subdivision. 2. Retaining off street parking for residents in the winter. This parking will remain as is but will be parallel versus head in parking. This is to accommodate the bike lanes and also avoid the intersection sight distance issue that occursJrom cars parking "head-in" at the intersection Quality Services Performed with Pride \ I Western Federal Lands Highway Division u.s. Department 610 E. Fifth Street of Transportation Vancouver, W A 98661 Federal Highway Administration Phone 360-619-7700 Fax 360-619-7846 July 25,2012 Sent Via Electronic Mail In Reply Refer To: HFL-17 Mr. George Kolb Deschutes County Engineer Deschutes County Road Department 61150 SE 27th Street Bend, OR 97702 Re: Skyliners Road Project OR PFH 247(1) Dear Mr. Kolb: The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) has received several e-mails from individuals who attended, or were responding to a summary of, the June 25,2012 meeting of the homeowners along Skyliners Road. Attached is a summary of the comments received. In response to these comments, I offer the following: • FHW A and Deschutes County have determined that, due to the high number of bicyclists using the road, the project will include designated bike lanes from the beginning of the project at the entrance into the private youth camp to the end ofthe project at the city limits. The limits of this designation are based on current bike use which occurs throughout the project limits. FHW A has no data indicating bike use drops off at the eastern boundary of the subdivision and would not support ending the bike lanes and mixing bikes with traffic in this area which has numerous driveways. • FHW A does not consider Skyliners Road to be a residential street but rather a rural collector road that serves multiple users, including public traffic accessing the Deschutes National Forest One of the stated purposes ofthe project is to improve safety for the road users by reducing conflicts between bicyclists and motorists. We acknowledge that the speed reduction through the subdivision is an important goal for the project and have modified the typical section to narrow the travel lane width to 10-foot where the designated speed limit is 25 mph. However, regardless of reduced speeds, FHW A recommends the 6-foot bike lane be retained through the subdivision, due to the potential conflicts between bicyclists, motorists, and traffic entering and exiting the numerous driveways. July 25,2012 Skyliners Road Project, OR PFH 247(1) Page Two • FHWA acknowledges that current traffic speeds through the residential area often exceed the posted speed limit. While the most effective means of addressing this problem is increasing enforcement, roadway design can incorporate elements that encourage slower speeds. Deschutes County and FHWA have agreed to incorporate traffic islands into the project. These islands would be located at the boundaries of the residential area within the designed 25 mph speed zone. The islands would be developed using pavement marking and channelizing posts. The channelizing posts would be mounted for easy removal during winter to facilitate snowplowing. In addition to these islands, appropriate signing will be incorporated into the project to inform drivers of the need to reduce speeds in through the residential area. • An island to the east of the residential area, near the Morrison property (MP 8), would not be included in the project. This island is within a rural area with higher travel speeds. Motorists would not expect to encounter this type of traffic control device and high speed maneuvers would be required. FHWA considers this an unsafe condition. • The existing road currently has widened shoulders for parking from the western boundary ofthe residential area to the snow-park turnaround. Near the junction with River Road this shoulder is used by residents for parking. The proposed project will retain these widened shoulders and the residential parking that currently exists. However, due to the addition of the bike lane, head-in parking will be discouraged through the use of pavement markings indicating the need to park parallel. Off-street parking is not included in the project. Please let me know if you have any concerns with how FHWA has addressed these issues. If you have any questions, or need additional information, I can be contacted at 360-619-7568. Sincerely yours, Michael W. adorn Project Manager MWO/mcb Attachment cc: File Summary of Comments Homeowner's Meeting June 25, 2012 Tad Hodgert: 1: The 'neighborhood' begins at the Eastern and Western edges ofthe private property ... not at Boulder Road. 2: Do a staged speed reduction. Drop to at least 45 near mile post 8, then 25 (max) before Boulder Road through the sub-division, all non-passing. 3: Narrow the road maximally, but maintain the bike lane at 6', through the subdivision (central to west islands) only. 4: Three traffic slowing islands: West Island -needs to be west of Marci's 'last driveway' and west of the resident's parking; South (East Bound) lane bulges south into NFS property around (treed?) island. Yes, we assume the waterline will stay straight rather than stay under the bike lane. Central Island -needs to be East of Boulder Rd with North (west bound) lane bulging around (treed?) island into NFS lands removing no large trees. This Island should have a (solar?) amber flashing light. East Island: MP8 to Morrison property with the North (west bound) lane bulging around (low impact vegetated) island into NFS lands. NOTE: Design the (West bound slowing) East and Central Islands to safely accommodate human powered traffic rounding Islands' west radius turning around to head back to town. 5: Recreation parking shall remain west of current snow park. (Not discussed: this writer strongly prefers all head in parking on the south side, with nothing on the north side, as compared to parking both sides parallel.) 6: Place lots of signage slowing traffic coming into village, signage keeping bike lane clear for human powered traffic and out of the road, and, did I mention, slowing traffic through the subdivision. Bob Crane I want to hear more about the off street parking planned for the Skyliners subdivision. If what I heard last night off street parking will be required and built as part of the road project due to the bike lanes? Tell me more. My largest concern is winter parking for residents. Every few years we get huge snow storms and the side roads, River Road, Skyline Dr., Mill Road, are closed to traffic. These roads are public roads and not county roads and are there for not plowed by the County. In 1992-93 and 1998-99 we had to park on Skyliners and snowshoe to our home on River Road for 5 months. During these events 4 families from Bearwallow road, 13 familys from River Road, several familys form Skyline Dr. all are forced to park on Skyliner Road until the snow melts or the side roads can be cleared. Summary of Comments Homeovmer's Meeting June 25,2012 Page Two Kelly Esterbrook I'll speak for my husband and I living on the front road... we wOilld like the road to be as narrow thru the neighborhood as possible. We do not support 6' bike lane thru the neighborhood; we would like to advocate a 5 ' bike lane. My husband and I would like to also advocate for a change from II' travel lane to 10' lane. We feel every little bit will help to keep a neighborhood environment slowing the traffic where kids and pets may have a chance to be seen by cars traveling at 25 mph rather than 45 -65 as they travel now thru the neighborhood. Doug Treadwell As a long time resident of Skyliners, I decline to be included as one of those who advocate 6' bike lanes through the neighborhood. My perception of what residents would like to see in the road design for our subdivision would trend toward a bottleneck to slow traffic. If narrowing the travel lane to 10' and the bike lane to 5' will help accomplish this, I urge you to implement it in the plans and specifications. With 32 kids living up here, it is imperative that creative consideration be given to make cars have to slow down. Dan Walker My concern with this project is to slow the traffic though our community and to the West. The huge bike lane that is proposed will only increase speeds. The current precedent for bike lanes in Bend Oregon is that 35 mph roads like Mt. Washington get bike lanes but 25mph residential streets don't have bike lanes. Northwest Crossing is the closest community to the Skyliner Subdivision and all their residential streets are without bike lanes. Not even the roads that lead to Summit High School or Miller Elementary School have bike lanes. So a theme, or standard, has already been put out to the drivers of Bend ........roads with bike lanes are 35+ mph ........narrow residential roads without bike lanes are 25 mph. Mixed messages will be sent to drivers if there is a wide bike lane in the Skyliner community and the speed limit is 25 .......this would not be consistent with the current standard in Bend. If cars are slowed to 25mph we do NOT need a bike lane though the Skyliner community. Bike races up Skyliners are not a reason for a bike lane through the community. Historically ALL the bike races that have come up Skyliners have stopped or turned around before the residential community. A bike lane though the residential area does not serve the bike racers, Summary of Comments Homeowner's Meeting June 25,2012 Page Three it would only serve the lone riders that finish the last mile of paved road. They can ride with the traffic like all other residential bike riders do in Bend. It is less than a mile from Boulder Road to the concrete bridge .......for the bettennent of our community the bike lane can certainly be tenninated for the last 0.8 mile. A bike lane though the residential subdivision would be unique, unprecedented, and a detriment to those that live here. Please slow the cars though our community, no signs, rumble strips, flashing lights, NOTHING will make up for the hazards created by a wide, straight and smooth road.