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Home My WebLink About2022-04-07 - 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, April 7, 2022, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Virtual Zoom Meeting Members Present: Dave Thomson, Chris Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Wendy Holzman, Neil Baunsgard, David Green, David Roth, Kenneth Piarulli, Emily Boynton, Mason Lacy. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Kim Curley (Commute Options) 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 March 2022 minutes were approved. Public Comment There were no public comments. Committee Business – Dave  Sisters/West County 2022 update is postponed until the May meeting  Discussion of returning to in-person meetings full or part-time: o The group discussed options and comfort level for in-person meetings o Overall participation and attendance seems to be better via Zoom, but we lose the personal touch. In addition, some presentations are harder to see via Zoom. o Considerations: tech limitations of having half Zoom/half in person; idea of city-focused in person, or every other meeting in person/virtual. Page 2 o Dave suggested: meet in person in Sisters in May, then Zoom for June, then try for hybrid in July  BPAC provided an updated letter of support for the City of Sisters grant application to build a roundabout at US20 & Locust  BPAC Annual Report to Board of County Commissioners o Dave distributed this prior to the meeting for review; seeks comments Initial planning discussion for 2022 Central Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit  As part of the 2022 goals, BPAC wants to resurrect the Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit. When and where?  In the past, meetings have rotated around Central Oregon and have represented more than just Deschutes County (because other counties and cities do not have BPACs). The last one was in Bend; previously have been in Prineville and La Pine. The summit consisted of people from local community to present on what they’ve been doing or would like to do. In addition, BPAC would try to get people to speak from around the state, as well as policymakers. Sometimes have aligned with OBPAC meetings in the area. In past, more than 50 people have attended in Bend, other locations have been closer to 30.  Need to form subcommittee (4 or 5 people); in previous years, it took about three months to plan. Wendy, Chris C. and David Roth expressed interest in helping  FYI, Statewide Transportation Options is meeting in Bend in early September. Potential for synergy?  Timing: possibly September? If so, will do some significant planning beginning with June meeting. US97 North Corridor project update (Chris Cheng)  This will likely be a monthly update from now on, and will have a more robust update in June o Intent to award design-build contract in late April, Notice to Proceed in June  Budget: $85m budgeted for construction, bid is $100m, which is actually pretty decent considering recent inflation rates  Scope has changed but this will be discussed in June, with interesting changes to active transportation to be revealed  Estimated schedule: likely demolition will start very soon after June, first year will likely be focused on US 20, followed by US 97 the following year TSP Subcommittee Update (Mason, Dave G.)  The subcommittee is planning to meet with Kittelson and Chris Doty after reviewing and providing feedback of the document that was distributed. More updates after that meeting.  From the existing project list, one significant highlight: $12.4M for Lower Bridge Way, Page 3 including $3.7 for bike/ped.  The subcommittee is generally pleased with project list, but they have a few refinements. External Committee Reports COACT:  Met with an outreach rep from OBPAC in order to better inform how OBPAC can better represent BPAC on COACT. Meeting on April 18 with other BPAC representatives to talk more about these resources. Next COACT meeting is April 14. Bend MPO TAC:  Met yesterday, had presentation from LCDC on their rulemaking for Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities, focusing on compact development and reducing greenhouse gases.  Receiving more money for surface transportation block grant. The general process: funds come to the MPO; 60 percent is given to Bend for pavement preservation, 20 percent for planning, and remainder is given to agencies that put in requests to the MPO. There are some opinions that money provided to city should be reduced, and directed instead to active transportation. Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee:  Neighborhood Street Safety Program: bundles smaller grassroots projects together, potential for more project ideas to be considered  Butler Market and Boyd Acres RFP for design has been released. This is one of the largest key route projects stemming from this bond.  Portland Ave: once they tear it up for water improvements, the intent is to do other bike-ped improvements (roundabout at 9th and Portland, for example)  Midtown crossings: large feasibility concept design is underway  Wilson corridor is under construction Other Updates Redmond  Looking at restarting some events post-COVID: Open Streets event will happen this year on June 18; the city has previously done it in conjunction with a street festival. Subcommittee is currently planning the event.  The city is once again doing its annual bike-ped count in September. It will be done two times: first to capture children going to school and then to capture weekend traffic.  Helmholtz Way (within city limits) is problematic. Question: where do we start in terms of lobbying to start getting shoulders built or bike lane or any other improvements? Deschutes County  Consultants are in the midst of determining dates for first advisory committee meetings for bike/ped/transit topics in Tumalo and rural trails by Sisters as part of the TGM grant.  The County continues to have discussions regarding County zoning and ODOT’s proposed Page 4 multi-use path between Baker Road and Lava Butte. ODOT  McKenzie Pass: construction will be bumped to 2024, largely due to the need for matching funds; full update to come next month o Chris’s research project about small sections of auxiliary bike lanes was accepted and will likely be integrated into the McKenzie Pass project Planning:  Lava Butte to La Pine planning study is now open  Greenwood-US20 study will look at a lot of the crossings there, will begin in next two weeks  Midtown crossing: city-led process for Greenwood, Franklin and Hawthorne Construction:  US 97-Terrebonne moving forward, likely will build an undercrossing and dog-bone, this will be discussed  Mervin Sampels to Greenwood: likely the construction will be going through 2024 due to many complications. Included in delay is the crossing at 6th and Greenwood.  US 20 3rd Street to Purcell, likely won’t start until 2024 but will include Mt. Washington to Division path (2024-25)  US 20 Ward-Hamby: great roundabout and would like to have a field trip at some point. Not yet complete.  OR 126 in Redmond: have good sidewalk and crossing projects in design, to be constructed in 2024. COIC/CET  FYI: Core Area Advisory Board is underway. Did a walking tour, will focus a lot on bike-ped connectivity  Within one week of releasing bid for construction for new stops in Bend and Redmond  Route 9 will run through new Wilson intersection  Currently examining fares and looking forward to new fiscal year  Have increased wages for bus drivers twice in the last year but are still looking for drivers Meeting Adjourned at 1:35 pm Next Meeting Thursday, May 5 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm – In-person meeting in Sisters, exact location TBD