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Home My WebLink About2021-11-04 - 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, November 4, 2021, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Virtual Zoom Meeting Members Present: Dave Thomson, Chris Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Wendy Holzman, Emily Boynton, Neil Baunsgard, David Roth, David Green, Kenneth Piarulli, Mark Smith. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Barb Campbell (Bend City Council), Greg Bryant, 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 October 2021 minutes were approved. Public Comment There were no public comments. Committee Business – Dave 2022 meeting schedule  Dave sent out proposed 2022 meeting schedule. There were no objections so that will be the plan going forward. Big Chainring Awards  No applications were received this year, unfortunately. In the future we will look into more aggressive ways of sharing, as well as determining who receives the press releases and media blasts. Page 2 South County/Sunriver meeting in December?  This year, the traditional South County meeting slipped by. Does South County have an interest in putting together a presentation for December meeting?  Mark would be happy to put something together: pathway master plan is the main project happening at the moment. Mark needs to coordinate with Tom Headley first. BPAC and Commute Options – Follow up on how BPAC can support walking and cycling education and encouragement in Deschutes County  Following up on last month’s conversation. Any additional ideas?  Chris Cassard: a good community promotional method was Open Streets (blocked off streets, info booths, etc.). This event used to be well attended in Bend. Perhaps Commute Options could consider returning to that event. (FYI, Dave believes CO might have lost their funding from the City of Bend) o Redmond has done this in conjunction with the street festival  Ken: it is tricky for BPAC to spearhead these types of events/actions due to a lack of direct funding for/from the committee; could BPAC get a sponsor to help fund a PSA in the future? TSP Subcommittee Update  The subcommittee group met with Matt Kittelson (TSP consultant) and Chris Doty to preview the bicycle project component of the TSP, which nicely summarized the input BPAC has provided thus far. The subcommittee subsequently provided some edits, which the agency partners will review on Tuesday November 15.  In general, the subcommittee stated that the TSP team seems very interested in including this input and were very appreciative of the work involved in putting this together. In addition, they seem to be focusing on bicycling as transportation, not just recreation. External Committee Reports COACT:  The MPO presented idea of COACT being the home for the Oregon Safe Travels program. There was discussion of the makeup of subcommittee (for instance, should it include elected officials or not?) This subcommittee would meet 3 to 4 times a year, set goals, refine the communications plan, look at crash data, and determine how to get those safety messages rolled out to the region. BPAC should have some representation on this committee once it is established.  Travis Brower from ODOT presented on upcoming funding: there are many potential opportunities that might be relatively fast to obtain. One of the stated concerns for these funds is for active transportation, so some funding will be allocated for that, as well as Community Pathways program. Bend MPO TAC:  In the MPO meeting, Dave brought up the good response to the safety study and noted that because of the way our government is structured, these conversations are often all about Page 3 education, but nothing about enforcement. We need a better link between traffic enforcement and transportation planning.  Discussed the process of allocating funding: how to reallocate extra funding that was not needed for the railroad undercrossing on Brosterhaus? Potential to reallocate to a railroad undercrossing feasibility study in the North Corridor project? Baker Road Interchange IAMP:  Met last week, reviewed three alternatives for the interchange. Big constraints: railroad, country store/school. Two potential designs are fairly conventional.  The plan that got best support (and most expensive) is the flyover option, which puts everything into a roundabout on the east side of U.S. 97, thereby solving the issue of the tracks and traffic backups.  This alternative takes into consideration how to get pedestrians and bikes in and around the interchange—the flyover will keep the existing bridge and add a standalone bike-ped overpass as well as tunnels to avoid at-grade crossings.  Funding for first two are $18m, flyover is $34m  This project will integrate the east side Lava Butte/museum trail and take into account the opportunities for when Arnold Canal is piped.  Virtual open house began Nov 1 until November 14.  David prepared a summary document to be distributed to BPAC. Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee:  Working on finalizing its prioritized schedule for the first bond issuance (first 5 years of work); meeting next Tuesday to look at a couple of different main options. There’s been a lot of progress in prioritizing bike-ped projects. Other Updates Bend  Already mostly covered in above meetings but Councilor Campbell provided the following input:  Councilor Campbell is emphasizing railroad undercrossing in North Corridor as much as possible; at the very least she wants to ensure that what’s built now doesn’t interfere with undercrossing in the future  Had the Oregon MPO meeting last week, which included agenda item about the railroads (largely consisted of consoling each other about how difficult it is to coordinate such projects) Redmond  BPAC met this week; majority of meeting was to debrief on the October field trip to ride and walk the two Quiet Streets (Quince and Dogwood). Discussed additional wayfinding opportunities. Mike Caccavano designed some signage to ID the street.  Discussed expanding the Quiet Streets network with the goal of connecting the multi-use trails through the canyon, and the Homestead Trail. Quiet Streets will provide better connectivity and safety  Q: is there a policy about public transit on those streets? A: not much discussion of that, just Page 4 more about education/signage, additional signals  With additional QS designations, that concentrates them on north end of town. Need to next look at other side of town. Deschutes County  TSP open house delayed until December. ODOT  Tumalo undercrossing is moving along, getting design going  Chris encouraged people to participate in Baker Road open house  Safe Routes to School grants are opening for submissions next February. $26.25M will be available for local agencies this time.  North Corridor project is moving along, including the feasibility study for undercrossing. There is also potential for alternatives built into the existing funding mechanism.  2024-27 scoping is underway (bulk of infrastructure spending); more info to come as it is solidified. COIC/CET:  Moving forward with development of NE and SE routes. About to start second round of outreach to neighborhood associations, and then to 60% drawings for bus stops  Warm Springs to Government Camp service: waiting for bus as well as drivers  Getting ready to start Mt. Bachelor service. One way will be $6 ($1 more than pre-COVID but less than during COVID); bus capacity will be more this year, but masks will be required  Working on summer shuttle (Bachelor/Cascade Lakes) schedule now Additional items Councilor Campbell updates:  City of Bend has some money ($1.7M) for tourism promotion or tourism facilities  Last night they decided they do not want to turn it over to Visit Bend and instead to determine the allocation themselves. A few options: 1: Bike-ped bridge through Drake Park needs to be rebuilt 2: Bike parking downtown 3: Restrooms downtown  Community building subcommittee will first take up subject, put out RFP (either general or specific). Comment opportunities to Council or Barb directly.  Dave: consider funding bike share? Messaging: Sidewalk snow removal will be done in December. Meeting Adjourned at 1:26 pm Next Meeting Thursday, December 2 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm - Virtual Meeting