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Home My WebLink About2021-10-07 - 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 7, 2021, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Virtual Zoom Meeting Members Present: Dave Thomson, Chris Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Wendy Holzman, Mason Lacy, David Roth, David Green, Ann Marland, Kenneth Piarulli, Neil Baunsgard, Emily Boynton. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Robin Lewis (City of Bend), Greg Bryant, Henry Stroud (BPRD), Brian Potwin (Commute Options), Andrea Napoli (Bend MPO) Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. Introductions Tanya provided a brief introduction of virtual meeting procedures via the Zoom platform. Attendees of the meeting introduced themselves and, if applicable, identified the organization they represent. Approval of Prior Minutes The September 2021 minutes were approved. Public Comment There were no public comments. Committee Business – Dave 2021-2022 meeting schedule  Dave is working on setting the meeting schedule for 2022. He noted that regional meetings have been suffering slightly, and he will work on addressing it for next year. Big Chainring Awards  Announcement for the Big Chainring awards went out this week, and are open until Oct. 25. Following that, we will organize a meeting the following week for those who want to be part of the selection committee, with a vote for the winners at the November meeting. Page 2 North Corridor project update – Chris Cheng  Acknowledged an email from Ariel Mendez (circulated separately) with some criticisms of the current plan  Schedule: o Next month, RFP for project will be released o June 2022 will be the notice to proceed for design build contract; this serves as the final deadline for changes (such as the undercrossing) o Construction will likely begin Fall 2022; will likely proceed with U.S. 20 portionfirst o End of 2024 should be the end of roadway work  Budget: Total is $140-$150 million, depending on a few scope items o Out of that total, $53m for right of way (twice as much as originally anticipated); $7m for engineering/design/utilities; $80-90 for construction  The bulk of funding is from federal infrastructure grant; the primary components are the realignment of Highway 97, removal of signals at Cooley and Robal and grade separation, and roundabout at US 20 and Cooley. These are the foundational aspects of the funding.  Multi-use path is being written into the specification as a concept, but it is up to the design-build firm to determine the actual details.  Discussion of undercrossing near Robal Road; the City of Bend is working on a feasibility study on this and related crossings. In this project, they could build a culvert now so it can be ready once funding is available for a culvert under the railroad. This was written into original FEIS but was not carried forward into latest FEIS approval due to lack of funds (this occurred with other elements as well).  David Green noted the lack of connections from the bike-ped infrastructure to Bend (i.e. Empire). He noted the ODOT Empire project, which theoretically will work on connections between 3rd Street and US 20, but has concerns about that planning trajectory and wants to make sure BPAC is in the loop. Also, are there standards on the percentage of funds that need to be spent on bike-ped facilities? o Chris Cheng noted in response to the above funding question that from the 1970 Bike Bill, 1 percent of each project is allocated to bike-ped. In addition, bike-ped infra must be built when there is full reconstruction of roadways.  Henry asked about the history of decision-making on not having grade separated crossings. The lack of them seems like a significant issue. Was a grade-separated crossing at Robal considered? If those types of infrastructure are off the table, are there ways to futureproof such types of facilities? o Chris C.: Ultimately, it was the cost that eliminated grade separated crossings. It is difficult to future proof (i.e. can’t buy right of way in advance, just in case) unfortunately.  Chris Cassard: who at ODOT could be a contact for either letter from BOCC? A: Bob Townsend, Miranda Wells. BPAC and Commute Options - Brainstorm how BPAC can support walking and cycling education and encouragement in Deschutes County  Desire to get BPAC to focus more on education and encouragement. Could we do more in these other areas?  Brian Potwin kicked it off, noting other organizations that do similar work as well—not just Page 3 Commute Options o Examples include the Oregon Friendly Driver Program; Safe Routes to School.  Would it be possible to have a section within BPAC meetings to discuss work of other organizations? Newsletter?  Wendy noted that BPAC is in a tough position with respect to it’s being an advisory committee to the Board of County Commissioners  Discussion of bike education in schools and who provides bike education: in this case, Commute Options gets funding from ODOT and delivers the program in the schools and partners with PE teachers  Dave Thomson.: what about opportunities for adults to learn how to bike commute? Brian noted Get There, and the related Get There challenge.  Tanya noted the opportunities to engage with county communications, perhaps including BOCC meetings or social media blasts going forward. TSP Subcommittee Update No update. Agency partner meeting is Oct. 27 where they will prioritize projects. The subcommittee is currently awaiting a draft of that. External Committee Reports Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee:  Finalizing draft CIP project prioritization for first five years. Not enough info yet to vote and approve the draft CIP. The City is putting together more materials to support this.  Rachel: shoutout to Mason for advocating for the need for more information  Nov. 9 is the next meeting and hopefully more information will be made available  Wilson Corridor: there is an ongoing conversation about design potential and improvements; there will be another open house in November with updated design. Other Updates Bend  City: has more public education going on now—for instance, crosswalk safety. Four messages are going out this month and another 11 coming out thereafter.  Of note with Wilson bike facilities, winter maintenance will be an issue. Need to push community to support funding in TSP for this—including sidewalks and pedestrian refuges.  Applied for FLAP grant for Century Drive, including a crossing near Mammoth and a 30% plan for grade-separated crossing to connect Skyline Ranch Rd and Haul Rd. trail.  MPO: future use of COVID Relief Act funds ($1.5m); don’t need to spend for a few years but are meeting with various jurisdictions to help frame up some direction for bike-ped projects Sisters  City continues to build multi use paths, especially around new subdivisions  Sisters Trails Alliance now has 122 miles of trails they maintain. Page 4 Redmond  BPAC met Monday, did field trip on bikes to evaluate the two quiet street projects they are slated to work on next year: they visited the existing quiet street first, then rode to the other two. The goal was to get committee members’ input on signage, road markings, traffic safety devices to make recommendations to city and ODOT.  Quiet streets can be implemented in short time frames (paint, signage, etc.), unlike other projects we often discuss  These quiet streets will improve connectivity with multi-use trails and other facilities.  Redmond BPAC is also looking at a potential bike signal at the crossing near Home Depot. Deschutes County  Senior Transportation Planner Peter Russell and consultant Matt Kittelson met with the Planning Commission on Oct. 14 to talk about the TSP. General discussion about alternate modes occurred as well as BPAC’s document about potential new routes and connectors.  Kittelson will hold a second online open house on the TSP from Nov. 1-14 to seek public comments. The open house will include a story map and an interactive map, a list of potential solutions based on previous research on existing conditions, and will have comments boxes. ODOT  Tumalo roundabout construction is scheduled for late 2022-2023  Mervin Sampels-Greenwood US 20: there is a delay in the process due to a bid contest issue, so it will begin later than originally planned. COIC/CET:  CET is in the process of planning winter service between Warm Springs and Government Camp. Representatives will be going to Ski Bowl and Timberline for career fairs.  Hawthorne Station has reopened and CET participated in Welcoming Week  Back to reduced schedules due to lack of drivers (despite hiring campaign)  Mobility hub feasibility study kicks off in mid-November Messaging: Fall sprinkler shutoffs Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 pm Next Meeting Thursday, November 4 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm - Virtual Meeting