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Home My WebLink About2020-03-05 - 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, March 5, 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, Katrina Langenderfer, Rick Root, Sam Handelman, and Wendy Holzman. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Kim Curley (Commute Options), Andrea Napoli (Bend MPO), Ashley Hooper (COIC/Cascades East Transit), Tom Headley (Century West), Greg Bryant (CTAC, CET). 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 February 2020 minutes were approved with no corrections. Public Comment There were no public comments. Forest Service Paved Path - US97 Knott/Baker interchange to Lava Lands Visitor Center  Dave shared information about the project via email prior to the meeting  BPAC members are encouraged to submit comments on the project as individuals  Regarding the BOCC, several BPAC members will draft a letter to the Board voicing support for the project; if the Board agrees, BPAC will formally submit the letter as a public comment. ODOT Active Transportation Program and Funding Opportunities – Susan Peithman, ODOT Active Transportation Policy Lead  Susan provided an overview of funding and statewide programs at ODOT; her presentation will be distributed to BPAC members  ODOT’s aims are to provide safe and reliable multimodal transportation system  The primary funding program is Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF). Within that, there are required and discretionary programs. Page 2 o Required: 1% of state gas tax goes to bike-ped ODOT projects; Safe Routes to School Infrastructure; Multimodal Active Transportation Fund o Discretionary: Active Transportation Leverage; Safe Routes to School Education; Off- System Bicycle and Pedestrian fund; ADA curb ramps  OR Bike Bill: Recipients must spend a minimum of 1% of state highway funds on pedestrian and bicycle projects…walkways and bikeways must be provided every time a public road is “constructed, reconstructed, or relocated.”  Pedestrian fatalities have increased 53% in last 10 years nationally, yet there has been a 5% reduction in motorist deaths  In Oregon, there has been a 50% increase in pedestrian fatalities on state highways  ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program: plan was adopted in 2016, includes 2040 vision  State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which is Governor-appointed, advises ODOT and OTC  The Blueprint for Urban Design provides a new framework that can be helpful for planning bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Notably, projects now start with maximum protection level for bikes/peds for that scenario, and then must work backwards from that if those protections need to be reduced Safe Routes to School program:  Advisory committee - wrote rules to clarify legislation, assists in the selection of projects for infrastructure program  Construction, planning assistance, and education are all components of the program Community Paths Program:  Funding is provided by the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund (which is comprised of 7% of Connect Oregon fund and the bicycle excise tax) plus other fund sources (taxes, lottery, etc.)  The program funds projects that develop, construct or reconstruct of paths, focusing on critical links, regional paths, and path crossings.  Program will open next winter to accept applications for grants. Approx. $14M total available. Transportation Options program:  This program focuses on all of the elements that help people drive less (information, assistance, encouragement); includes grants, sponsorships, trip planning  Innovation Grants: supports implementation of Transportation Options Plan  Looking forward, BPAC will be a good resource for ODOT regarding rural routes and the surrounding issues, including e-bikes. 2020 Central Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit Planning - Dave  Location: possibly due for west county/Sisters? (Ann will look into potential locations). In the past, BPAC had the room donated and the speakers receive no fee; attendees pay the cost of lunch.  Date: usually around third week of May  Dave asked for volunteers Page 3 Trails subcommittee update - Chris  The committee had two interviews with productive engagement with Bend and Redmond, including Parks districts  The Trails Manager of BPRD presented trail connectors potential (on radar, conceptual), which is exactly the type of thing this committee is talking about  Will have follow up committee meeting to determine next interviewees. Community connections subcommittee update - Sam  Had discussions with Kevin English, who suggested a route between Sisters and Bend  Also spoke with Chris Doty from Deschutes County re: Sisters to Bend. He initially expressed concern about publishing gravel routes since there could be variations in quality and/or safety.  Talked with his own club about worst route and the consensus was that it is Sisters to Bend  Sisemore Road is a potential connector, but the county will be doing construction on it this summer to repair the bridge, which will make scouting difficult.  Next meeting will be with Chris from ODOT Bend Transportation Bond – discussion on BPAC/BOCC role, if any  Consensus was that it is probably not the place of BPAC to advocate, but people certainly can do so as individuals. Committee Reports  Bend MPO TAC: Next meeting will discuss how Federal dollars are awarded (yearly); they are considering combining them for 3 years at a time and making it criteria-based. In addition, the MPO just submitted a pre-application for TGM grant for mobility hubs.  Tumalo US20/Cook Ave/OB Riley Intersection Planning: ODOT presented roundabout plan; presented at Planning Commission hearing on February 27, which was well attended (50 people). The vast majority of attendees seemed to be in support of roundabouts. Regional Updates  Deschutes County – See note above for Tumalo roundabout public hearing. In addition, the Road Department has an RFP out for an update of the County TSP—deadline is March 19. They expect this will include the updating of bicycle-pedestrian elements, with a focus on unincorporated communities.  ODOT – Safe Routes to School applications are due June 1. Chris urged the committee to spread the word for projects, ideas, infrastructure and non-infrastructure related. o Community Paths rulemaking is in progress o Chris reiterated the call for public comments for the Lava Butte paved path project  Commute Options – distributed Get There brochures  COIC/CET – Launching Sunriver-La Pine service on May 22. They hope to align with the groundbreaking event for the La Pine transit hub. In addition, there is a Regional Public Advisory Committee meeting next Wednesday (March 11), and people are encouraged to come as Page 4 members of the public. They will discuss the virtual workshop, the online survey that was part of the master plan process. Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 pm Next Meeting Thursday, April 2, 2020 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building M, Baney Conference Room, Bend