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Home My WebLink About2019-07-11 - BPAC Minutes117 NW Lafayette Avenue, Bend, Oregon 97703 | P.O. Box 6005, Bend, OR 97708-6005 (541) 388-6575 bpac@deschutes .org www.deschutes.org/bpac MEETING MINUTES DESCHUTES COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, July 11, 2019 – 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building M, Diamond and Crater Lake Conference Rooms, Bend Members Present: Dave Thomson, Christopher Cassard, David Roth, Katie Hammer, Katrina Lagenderfer, Mark Smith, Morgan Crowell, Rick Root, Sam Handelman, Scott Morgan, and Wendy Holzman. Agency/Organization: Zechariah Heck (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Ashley Hooper (COIC/CET), Tom Headley and Matt Tipton (Century West Engineering), and Dakota Howarth (ODOT). Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. Introductions Attendees of the meeting introduced themselves and, if applicable, identified the organization they represent. Approval of Prior Minutes The June 6, 2019 minutes were approved. BPAC Business The committee directed Zechariah to issue a call for nominations for the Big Chain Ring Awards. The deadline for nominations will be August 15. Selections of awardees will occur at the September meeting. BPAC’s annual report meeting with the Commissioners will occur in late September. Zechariah and Dave will work together to create the awards. Zechariah informed the committee that CDD management does not find review of development applications to be within BPAC’s purview. Thus, Zechariah did not provide specific details about the proposed development in the recently approved Westside Transect Zone. However, he encouraged individuals to participate in the public process if interested. Further, Zechariah passed along the views of CDD managers that if BPAC wants to become a regular reviewer of new development plans it should discuss the idea with the BOCC first. Chris and David R. informed the group they attended the CDD work plan hearing in front of the Board of County Commissioners. Chris relayed that County Commissioner Henderson mentioned how he wants citizens to be part of the process in updating the Transportation Page 2 System Plan. Both members expressed the opportunity this presents for BPAC to engage in a larger transportation policy discussion. CET Summer Services and Master Plan Survey Results – Ashley Hooper, CET Ashley provided an update on the CET rider survey, which totaled over 400 surveys. Riders are mainly aged between 18 – 45 years old. Vast majority of riders have full time jobs. However, the majority has a household income of less than $12,000/year. Most people are walking to/from bus stops. A majority use the bus more than five times a week and have been riding for more than a year. The community connector program had different results. One reason is the Redmond Proficiency Academy, which buses in students from the entire region. Ashley also updated the committee on CET’s summer services: the ride the river shuttle and service to/from Lava Butte are up and running. In addition, OSU Cascades has initiated a Micro Transit Service, which entails: multiple vans, free, 12pm – 8pm, covers Downtown Bend to Hawthorne Station. Committee Reports Bend MPO TAC -- TSP update for the City has a deadline in 2020 and Bend Metro System Plan may see results the fall 2019. Deschutes County TSAP -- A transportation safety action plan (TSAP) is underway by both the County and the City of Bend. The County TSAP has an advisory committee that BPAC participates on. Dave will send a link to both draft plans to the BPAC to receive feedback. The data used was 2012 from 2016, so two bicycle fatalities were not counted. Tumalo US 20/Cook Ave/OB Riley Intersection Planning – The advisory committee has recommended a roundabout option. Cascade Lakes Hwy Review – a report has been published; recommendations include several options but are dependent on what the Forest Service will do. A consensus was determined that a refinement of the parking lots needs to be done. Regional/Agency Updates South County: Mark informed the group that tunnels have been installed by roundabouts in Sunriver, which has garnered positive feedback from the community. Scott shared several south county residents have been vocal that Huntington Road needs “share the road” signs. Dave T. responded the Road Dept. has expressed support of this idea and simply need to know where the public thinks the signs should go. Scott also shared the Harper Bridge project has been completed and looks good. Deschutes County: Terrebonne Refinement Plan (US 97 couplet using existing alignment and 11th Street along with bike/ped improvements, especially by the school) has a joint work session with PC/BOCC on July 11 and a hearing before the PC on July 25. The file is 247-19-0004664-PA. Page 3 Consultant (Kittleson & Associates) has completed drafts of the Des. Co. Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP), which includes cities of La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters and the parts of the Bend MPO that are outside of the Bend UGB. KAI has also done a TSAP for City of Bend for land within UGB. Staff are reviewing and commenting on both at separate meetings on 7/10. TSAP includes bike/ped specific recommendations. Spring River Road Parking Improvements – Project was recently completed. Constructed paved parallel parking, loading/unloading zones, bike lanes, and buffer zones on Spring River Road on the east side of the Deschutes River (Harper) Bridge. ARTS – Project was recently completed. ODOT installed new curve signage and roadside delineators on several County roads as part of the All Roads Transportation Safety (ARTS) program as countermeasures for roadway departure/fixed object collisions. The ARTS program is a statewide, jurisdictionally-blind program that provides federal highway safety funding for safety improvement projects based on crash history. The County roads included: Deschutes Market Rd Alfalfa Market Rd Lower Bridge Way Fryrear Rd S Century Dr (work also included installing centerline rumble strips) C Ave: 6th St to US 97 – Work began this week and will continue through August. Project includes constructing sidewalks, paved on-street parking, and storm sewers on C Ave adjacent to Terrebonne Community School. The project is funded in part by an Oregon Safe Routes to Schools grant. Six Corners Intersection Improvement – Work will begin at the end of July and continue through early fall. Media releases regarding road closures will be forthcoming. Project includes reconfiguring the existing 6-leg intersection of SW Canal Blvd, SW 61st St, and SW Quarry Rd into a 4-leg intersection with other safety improvements. ODOT: Chris shared that ODOT is in the process of buying right-of-way for bus stops along with many other upgrades on Hwy 20 between Empire and 15th St. Also, there will be bike detection systems on McKenzie Pass that head into blind curves. Commute Options: Drive Less Connect has been replaced with “Get There”. Other Updates: Morgan shared the reroute of the greenway along Milwaukie Street appears to be avoided because of community input. City Council will make a final decision shortly. BPAC Goals and Objectives – Sam Handleman, BPAC Sam provided the group a list of potential projects that members could participate on. This list has been pared-down through several feedback discussion with the group. Sam encouraged the group to consider the why behind each project and to vote for a project that they are willing to participate in actualizing. The following bullet points cover the highlights of the discussion. Connectivity emerged as the focus the committee should move forward with. Page 4 Sam motioned to create a subcommittee to look at the standards/barriers/options for connecting bicyclists between communities. The motion failed. Chris motioned that BPAC assign proposed subcommittees to move forward on projects that focus on 1) potential new routes to connect population hubs (including an off-highway route between Sisters and Bend; and 2) linking various trail systems throughout the county). The motion passed unanimously. Chris and Sam will fine-tune the project list and provide a summary of each subcommittee’s duties to the group. Chris added the following amendment, which was approved by the Committee during the August 1 meeting: To clarify a motion on BPAC’s projects… Chris moved to adopt the following two projects for primary focus in the coming year, with consistent work via standing sub-committees to be volunteered and/or assigned by the BPAC Chair: - Projects #1 & #4: Research the requirements for a lower stress route (LTS 1, 2 or 3) between Deschutes County communities, i.e. Bend, Sisters, Sunriver, Redmond, and La Pine, that replace high stress routes (LTS 4). Advocate for the development of lower stress routes between Deschutes County communities. - Projects #2 & #7: Encourage better linking of the various trail systems so they are more effective parts of the county-wide transportation system, working with entities such as Bend Parks and Recreation, Redmond Area Parks District, other city parks authorities, and the BLM and Forest Service as appropriate. This would include improving links within cities as well as access to federal BLM and Forest Service trails, and non- motorized connections between municipalities. Chris also moved that the following projects continue with a secondary focus: - Project #3: Engage more directly with CET and become more involved with mass-transit development in the county. - Project #5: Do more organized and comprehensive outreach to community groups concerned with active non-automotive routes and infrastructure, particularly for pedestrians. - Project #6: Develop more interaction with county transportation planners to determine transportation planning requirements and process (by jurisdiction) for new developments. If and when appropriate, address with the Board of County Commissions what, if any, role BPAC could serve as a project reviewer. Meeting Adjourned at 1:45 pm Next Meeting Thursday, August 1, 2019 12:00 to 1:30 pm ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building K, Conference Room