HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-05 - 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, May 5, 2022, 12:00 to 1:30 pm
Sisters Library
Members Present: Dave Thomson, Chris Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Ann Marland, David Roth, Wendy
Holzman, Neil Baunsgard, Kenneth Piarulli.
Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Jennifer
Letz (City Councilor, Sisters), Paul Bertagna (City of Sisters), Troy Rayburn (City of Sisters).
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 April 2022 minutes were approved.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Committee Business – Dave
Decide on format for June meeting
o Next month: meet via Zoom; further meetings we will explore hybrid model but there
may be technological limitations due to room setup and AV staff limitations
BPAC Annual Report to Board of County Commissioners – Tanya and Dave to coordinate BOCC
dates (first date available)
Sisters pedestrian/bicycle update – Paul Bertagna, City of Sisters Public Works
For BPAC’s annual Sisters-focused meeting, Paul Bertagna provided an overview of Sisters-area
bike-ped projects, including bike master plan and pedestrian master plan projects including the
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following:
North Pine Street multi-use path: this path travels from W. Cascade Ave to approximately W.
Lundgren Mill Drive
W. Barclay Drive multi-use path from roundabout at Hwy 20 to N. Pine Street
S. Elm Street multi-use path from E. Jefferson Ave to E. Tyee Dr., which will include a bridge
Adams Ave streetscape project – 100% design
The team is looking at north-south connection to Sisters Trail Alliance trails in county
ODOT updates: North Corridor and McKenzie Pass (Chris Cheng)
This is the time of year for safety messaging about McKenzie Pass: The road is officially
closed, so if you choose to cycle there please respect workers in the area. Normal spring
work: clear trees, plow snow, patching pavement.
North Corridor: Should be seeing exploratory work and demolition of some buildings soon.
The bulk of work should be early February next year. Chris will bring in Miranda Wells for
next month to explain more fully.
Work on US 20 will happen prior to US 97 work.
Dynamic Bike Warning System on McKenzie Pass (and Cascade Lakes Highway) Results and
Discussion (Chris Cheng)
ODOT now has results of study examining the dynamic bike warning system on McKenzie
Pass. In the study, speed was used as a proxy for “safety.” Saw very small reductions in speed
(43 mph vs 41 mph) in some cases.
Group discussion items: That said, what is important seems to be less speed and more
general awareness and staying in lane on curves, etc., so speed might not be the best
indicator.
Do the signs perhaps give a false sense of security? Possible, but we do not want to
discourage biking so don’t want to discourage good signage.
TSP Subcommittee Update (Mason, Dave G.)
Meeting scheduled a week from today with consultant and Chris Doty
External Committee Reports
Bend MPO TAC:
Voted last Wednesday on how to allocate additional money coming to the MPO for the 2021-24
period. Currently 60% of funds go to Bend for street preservation; remainder goes to MPO for
planning activities and grants for small projects. There was a strong feeling in the committee
that city’s amount of funding should be reduced.
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Next round is 2024-2027. Recommendation was to continue to freeze city’s funding proportion
and give more to the MPO.
Looking at bike share again, including e-bikes. Will be dockless.
Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee:
Meeting quarterly—next at end of May
Other Updates
Sisters
The city is close to purchasing the east portal property on west side of downtown. The goal has
always been a mobility hub; currently working on RFP for design
Trying to include e-bikes in TSP
City is launching a new destination management organization (previously Chamber of
Commerce). New organization that could take on bigger picture issues, including sustainable
tourism. Will hire executive director and then will eventually launch as own entity.
Redmond
Redmond BPAC met on Monday, primarily about restarting Open Streets: June 18. Due to limited
staff, it will be part of Redmond Street Fair but not as a separate event. Will have a presence but
will mainly be a booth.
Dry Canyon trail: signage will go in at the end of this month, primarily on-trail.
Continuing to work on e-bike policy. Going to take a while.
Deschutes County
The County has had initial meetings with stakeholders on the TGM grant for Tumalo
Community Plan Update for bike/ped/transit and rural trails for Sisters Country. The TGM
meeting for Tumalo is May 3 and the rural trails was April 26.
TCP open house on May 11 at 6 p.m. in the Tumalo Community School gym.
COIC/CET
Just released RFP for construction of new stops for Bend and Redmond routes.
Still need drivers!
Thursday shopper shuttle between Bend and Sisters is still active but not very popular
unfortunately
Meeting Adjourned at 1:36 pm
Next Meeting
Thursday, June 2 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm – Virtual meeting