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Home My WebLink About2020-01-09 - 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, January 9, 2020, 12:00 to 1:30 pm ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building M, Baney Conference Room, Bend Members Present: Dave Thomson, Christopher Cassard, Ann Marland, David Roth, Katie Hammer, Sam Handelman, and Wendy Holzman. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Tom Headley (Century West Engineering), Ashley Hooper (CET), 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 December 2019 minutes were approved with no corrections. Public Comment There were no public comments. Organizational Update – BPAC Initiative #1: Lower Stress Connecting Routes Between Municipalities Subcommittee Sam distributed a proposed workplan for the committee, with the goal of subjectively rating each community route from a low-stress standpoint. Tasks include:  Create an inventory of what’s there today and how they rate with different types of cyclists  Get a sense of population (on and off season)  Engage with Dirty Freehub re: gravel routes  Engage with Chris (ODOT) to review routes  Do field reviews of routes  Talk to Chris Doty (Deschutes County) about potential improvements to discussed routes (even including subsections) Page 2  Publish findings (potential for map?) Additional points of discussion:  Consider gravel bikes—outdated maps don’t currently account for them, and usage is increasing  In reviews, consider two variables: how wide a tire do you need? How direct is it?  Possibility to create maps and put on BPAC website? Redmond BPAC Update – Dave Dave attended the Redmond BPAC meeting and provided the following items:  Redmond BPAC members expressed interest in getting a route from Redmond to Smith Rock. Potential for collaboration with our BPAC?  Irrigation canal in the area will be piped soon, which could be good timing with respect to development of a path/trail  Next month’s Deschutes County BPAC meeting will be in Redmond; this is a potential discussion item  Redmond BPAC is starting to develop a concept of trails on east side of Redmond and potential extensions to river outside of UGB, County & BLM property Safe Passing Laws for Bicyclists: Oregon vs Washington – Sam Sam led a discussion regarding the differences between safe passing laws in Oregon versus those in Washington.  He stated that Oregon law regarding the safe distance for vehicles to pass cyclists is very convoluted and badly written.  As of January 1, Washington updated its law (SB 5723) to require vehicles to pass with three feet between them and the cyclist, and allows vehicles to go into other lane if possible. Sam sees this as much more reasonable and enforceable.  These types of safe passing laws are especially relevant in this county due to the types of roads we have, the high number of cyclists and the prevalence of trucks, hauling, etc. Questions raised by the group:  Is three feet enough?  Is listing a finite distance as effective as just a general “tip-over” distance, which is more flexible and requires more thinking?  Is the purpose of the law more for awareness in general, since most motorists aren’t aware of the specificities of the written law?  What does BPAC have to do with it? How does this relate to charter to advise county commissioners?  Dave suggested having more discussion about what we think OR law might look like, and to consider how we can educate people in general  Sam will write up proposal for what could be sent to BOCC. Endorsement by BOCC would likely be a first step. People as individuals (rather than BPAC) can choose to engage their state-level representatives. Page 3 North Corridor Update – Chris Chris distributed a draft concept map of the latest North Corridor update and requested feedback for additional items to consider. Potential consideration of:  Multi-use path from Juniper Mobile Homes to Empire along the railroad  Between Empire and Cooley, potential for path on west side of new 97 (east of old 97) ODOT won’t have the final alignment for the path for a while due to coordination with multiple jurisdictions, but Chris wanted to provide the essential points now.  BPAC members should give Chris thoughts as needed  Construction potentially can start 2022-23 Other Items David Roth noted that Bend post office parking is inadequate. He observed in December that for a full block north and south, cars were parked in bike lane and sidewalk due to lack of off-street parking. He is looking for suggestions for people as individuals (not as BPAC). Call non-emergency number? Talk to Post Office? Suggestions welcome. Committee Reports  US 97 Parkway Project: finished first phase of planning with a prioritized list of projects  Deschutes County TSAP: Chris Doty has a report from consultant identifying tasks. The next phase is implementation, which will utilize an additional consultant. No timeline yet.  Pilot Butte Master Plan Update: published draft report (noted last meeting)  Smith Rock Advisory Committee: There have been some staff changes, and there will be a stakeholders meeting in next few months. Regional Updates  Sisters – Design has started for a roundabout at Locust, and will include multi-use elements. No funding yet.  Deschutes County – Terrebonne couplet is off the table. Instead, ODOT will build a grade- separated interchange at Lower Bridge Way/97, which is already in the TSP.  ODOT – As part of the Terrebonne project, ODOT will be looking at pedestrian crossings. In addition, they are scoping of bike/ped crossings at Hawthorne and the parkway. Finally, Chris shared the newly-released Blueprint for Urban Design. ODOT is switching from standard roadway classifications to a more narrative urban design guidance in decisions. This will apply to new projects going forward. More details to come next month.  Commute Options – Brian Potwin is the new Executive Director; there has been some reshuffling of staff.  COIC/CET – CET is rolling out Saturday service on February 1 for regional community connector service; press release to follow. They are moving forward with the La Pine-Sunriver service in Page 4 May; a meeting in early February will provide more details on the specific route. In addition, they are working on the regional transit master plan, reviewing transit service. Also upcoming: Statewide transportation improvement fund (STIF) committees. Meeting Adjourned at 1:25 pm Next Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm Redmond City Hall, 411 SW 9th St, Redmond