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Home My WebLink About2023-06-01 - 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, June 1, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Via Zoom Members Present: Dave Thomson, David Green, Rachel Zakem, David Roth, Ann Marland, Wendy Holzman, Ken Piarulli, Mason Lacy, Chris Cassard. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Barb Campbell (Bend City Council), Nicole Mardell (Deschutes County - CDD), Miranda Wells (ODOT), Ryan Farncomb (Parametrix), Chris Blake (City of Bend) 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 May 2023 minutes were approved. Public Comment There were no public comments. Committee Business  Thank you to departing members Annie and Ken  Discussion of moving July 6 meeting to July 13 due to holiday, but July 6 was preferred.  Recruitment and reappointment update: reappointments of Wendy, Mason, Rachel, and Dave Green are on BOCC consent agenda for June 7. Recruitments for others are pending.  Interview subcommittee: Wendy, Chris, David Roth, perhaps David Green Page 2 Lava Butte – La Pine path project update – Miranda Wells, ODOT Project Manager, and Ryan Farncomb, Parametrix Senior Consultant  Planning study is in its first half at this point  Ryan provided an overview of the project: goal is to find a preferred bike/ped route between Lava Butte and La Pine, and to find a preferred alignment by fall. Currently conducting outreach (public, online open house, tabling, plus local sounding board),  Study area: Lava Butte at north to Wickiup Junction to the south (approximately 20 miles long)  Goals: safety and comfort; multimodal connectivity; equity; community and economic vitality; coordination and collaboration; optimize investments  Wants healthy separation from car traffic; use for walking, hiking, cycling, mobility devices, but no equestrian uses  Four alternatives: A)next to 97; B) use existing facilities; C) new paths; D) east of 97 o Generally would be 12-14’ wide for new facilities; for existing, would be looking to widen road shoulders or use existing paths o New paths would potentially follow electric infrastructure corridor/forest roads o Existing paths would use paved path from Lava Butte via Sunriver Questions/Comments Q: What treatment might there be to forest roads for option C? A: Would not pave forest road itself but would create an adjacent paved path. Q: These types of connections align nicely with TSP. Forest service road would still be open to traffic? Any discussions with Forest Service? A: FS preference is to stick to existing corridors (don’t want to fragment habitat). Mason: some meandering might be nice instead of just straightaway Q: What about motorcycles or ebikes? A: Different rules for different types, still in discussion. Q: Is there consideration of impact of dust being next to unpaved roads? And is it possible to do a mix and match of the alternatives? A: Still figuring out the dust issues, while also trying to avoid turning trail project into major road paving project. Yes, there is potential to mix and match pieces of different alternatives  Concern for proximity of path to wildlife fence  Concerns from Sunriver about using existing paths? Volume is already high; paths aren’t necessarily designed for direct travel  Mason: in favor of alternative C  Dave T: consider the distinction between recreational versus transportation users. Alternative C seems to split the difference.  Wendy: Sunriver doesn’t seem very realistic or popular; 97 alignment is too close to traffic. Likes alternative C. Page 3  Ryan: for the US97 alignment, would have to look at east-west connections too Next steps: will continue working on alternatives and seek input. Will aim to choose preferred alternative by fall. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – Nicole Mardell, Deschutes County Senior Planner  Nicole provided an update about the Comprehensive Plan project, including an overview of County jurisdiction; population growth (between 2010 and 2020, the county grew by 40,000) and comprehensive plan process  Summarized engagement thus far (October 2022- Feb. 2023); roughly 550 participants via open houses, online surveys, meeting in a box, etc.  Concerns: housing affordability; wildlife habitat; increasing natural hazards; sustainable recreation opportunities; use of agricultural lands; resources for education/community building  Some polarizing issues: agricultural lands, development  On June 22 the Planning Commission will refine goals and policies; the initial public hearing with Planning Commission will be held in October. CET Grant request  CET is pursuing a Transportation Growth Management (TGM) grant (ODOT) to hire a consultant to develop a capital plan to strategically prioritize its procurement (buses, land, buildings, machinery, bus stops, etc.)  Need more buses and a way to prioritize the purchase of them  Chris Cassard moved to provide letter of support; unanimous vote in favor TSP Subcommittee Update  Anticipating copy of draft for BPAC review in June External Committee Reports Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee  Several open houses coming for Portland Ave, Olney underpass, and Butler Market. Dates TBD but likely late June/early July  Want to reprioritize which north-south and east-west key routes are most important  Council goal is to establish a utility fee for transportation funding—essentially, to treat the transportation system like a utility for identified transportation projects and reduce reliance on the general fund. Does not require a public vote; Council can pass it. However, Council wants feedback.  Councilor Campbell asks people to try riding potential key routes and provide feedback Page 4 Other Updates ODOT:  Walk and rollabout was held last Tuesday, focused on accessibility and lived experiences at crossings. Excellent event that revealed a lot of details that are often overlooked when being a cyclist only. COIC/CET  Waiting for more drivers  Summer Mt Bachelor service starts on June 21 Deschutes County:  Aiming for a June 22 appearance before the Planning Commission to have a work session on the TSP Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 pm Next Meeting Thursday, July 6 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm – County offices, DeArmond Room, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend