HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-03 - BPAC Minutes
117 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, October 3, 2019 12:00 to 1:30 pm
SHARC, 57250 Overlook Road, Sunriver
Members Present: Dave Thomson, Christopher Cassard, David Roth, Katie Hammer, Mark Smith,
Rick Root, Sam Handelman, Scott Morgan, and Wendy Holzman.
Agency/Organization: Zechariah Heck & Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng
(ODOT), Andrea Napoli (Bend MPO), Melissa Bethel (City of La Pine), Ashley Hooper (CET), and Kim
Curley (Commute Options).
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 September 2019 minutes were approved with a correction that Chris Cheng was not present.
Public Comment
No public comments were shared with the committee.
Sunriver Update – Mark Smith
Mark provided an update of what has occurred in Sunriver recently and what is to come.
Sunriver has 33 miles of paths.
The HOA plows the bike paths when there is at least three inches of snow.
Sunriver recognizes the bike paths as an amenity that draws people to Sunriver.
New tunnels have been installed that will allow bikes to ride through instead of dismounting
(as required with existing older tunnels).
The community does not have parking to access trailheads. This causes traffic jams and
some safety concerns when streets are flanked with parked cars.
Sunriver has 12 percent occupancy throughout the year.
One of the main focuses of the HOA is to get people to/from the SHARC (apx. 3,000 a day in
the summer) via biking/walking.
There are 50 FT employees and 160 seasonal employees in the summer.
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Gravel route update and thoughts on trails leading out of town – Kevin English, Dirty Freehub
Kevin, who administers an online databased of gravel routes, i.e., Dirty Free Hub, provided an
explanation of the potential of gravel routes connecting communities.
Kevin shared demographics for gravel biking: 75% of age demographic is between 35 to 64
years old, etc.
A gravel route has pavement and unimproved routes; it is not technical like mountain biking.
According to Kevin, one of the draws to gravel biking is the social aspect of it (riding side by
side).
Many of the routes published by Dirty Free Hub have options for e bikes.
There is some use of gravel biking as commute options.
Kevin discussed an issue of one the trails near the tunnel at the Deschutes National Forest
Welcome Center. The concern is there is a difficult section to navigate without a mountain
bike because of large rocks. There was a discussion on how a bypass could be created. It was
determined the USFS would have to be involved.
Kevin discussed several other opportunities for improving gravel routes.
Kevin would like to see a public process for Bend Park and Recreation District’s decisions on
changing bike paths.
Get There Challenge – Kim Curley, Commute Options
On Monday, October 7, the Get There Challenge will begin. Kim encouraged committee members
to register and track their rides.
Fare Free Tuesday Events – Ashley Hooper, CET
CET is kicking off a new program called, “Try Transit”, which will offer free bus fares on Tuesdays
October 8 and 15. CET is promoting the Get There Challenge with Commute Options.
BPAC Business
Dave provided a summary of the BPAC Annual Report with Board of County
Commissioners. Dave shared that although Jeff Monson, with Commute Options and
awarded the Lifetime Achievement, wasn’t able to make it to the award ceremony, he sent
his thank you to the committee.
Dave sent out the 2020 meeting schedule and asked for feedback from the group
regarding the Sisters/west county visit. The group decided it would be best to visit Sisters in
April.
Several Big Chainring Award policies have been proposed to simplify the process of
selecting awards. Dave would like to have a discussion in November.
Committee Updates
COACT: During the last meeting, there was an update on transportation funds throughout
the state. Central Oregon will receive the same amount of funding as last years.
Tumalo US 20 at Cook: Dave shared there is further consideration of a separate bike path
crossing of the highway and the most feasible option is an underpass near 4th street.
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Regional Updates
South County – new share the road signs will be installed by the County as recommended by
Scott.
Redmond – Kicking off a Vision 2040, which includes a connected transportation system. The
public wants to focus on public transit.
Deschutes County – Zechariah shared with the committee that the Westgate subdivision has
been required to install a paved multi-use path; the Terrebonne couplet proposed by ODOT
was not approved by the County Commissioners; and Tanya Saltzman, Associate Planner with
the County will be taking over the staff liaison role for BPAC.
Bend - TSAP has concluded and the MPO is implementing some of the actions identified in the
TSAP. Bike detection signals will be installed in six locations.
ODOT – Chris provided a follow-up on the rumble strip exception question brought up during
one of the last BPAC meetings. According to Chris, the one-foot exception has not been used
since a memo allowing it was published. Chris also shared that Pilot Butte’s rotating flashing
beacon is broken and will be installed in several months (manufacturer went out of business
so the entire device will need to be replaced).
COIC/CET – Ashley shared that Saturday services will begin for regional connector routes in
January.
Commute Options – Kim shared that Jeff Monson is retiring in December, as such applications
for the Executive Director position at Commute Options are being accepted. Kim informed the
group that Kate Armstrong will attend BPAC meetings more regularly.
Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 pm
Next Meeting
Thursday, November 7, 2019 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm
ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building M, Diamond and Crater Lake Conference Rooms, Bend