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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-04 - 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, February 4, 2021, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Virtual Zoom Meeting Members Present: Dave Thomson, Christopher Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Ann Marland, Sam Handelman, Scott Morgan, Mason Lacy, David Green, Wendy Holzman, Ken Piarulli, Rick Root, David Roth. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Kim Curley (Commute Options), Greg Bryant (Bend MPO), Robin Lewis (City of Bend), Barb Campbell (Bend City Council), Mike Caccavano (Redmond City Engineer), Jovi Anderson (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 January 2021 minutes were approved as written. Public Comment There were no public comments. Redmond Update – Ken Piarulli and Mike Caccavano (City of Redmond) Ken and Mike shared a presentation of Redmond BPAC updates. Significant wayfinding signage has been added on Dry Canyon and Homestead trails plus the areas that connect to them:  Challenges occur when they go through city infrastructure  Signage has been placed on street posts and other locations; bike boxes have been added in places to direct people through areas such as SW 4th St to connect different sections. Page 2  Did ride-around of Homestead Canal Trail, helped ID any additional gaps. One of the biggest challenges is near Fred Meyers (busy streets, complicated connections). Redmond BPAC continues to work with City on that area to provide safe signage.  Dry Canyon Trail: worked with City and Parks Department to provide signage. Highlight: the post that provides wayfinding, mileage, overview map all in one place. In addition, there are signs embedded right into trail, and ¼-mile mileage markers for those who want to measure their distance. Additional updates:  NW Hemlock reconstruction: this area connects newer development with older formerly County roads (with different conditions between 19th and 27th). The city was able to squeeze a multi-use path (8-foot paved) to connect to a newer development. Offset the road a bit and added a sidewalk on south side of road. Good feedback thus far.  Pavement marking improvements: as they do pavement maintenance, the city tries to make minor improvements. Have been putting in a double stripe crossing and have received good feedback. Adding bike boxes and sharrows on the Quiet Streets; using thermoplastic has proven much better than paint.  Planned Quiet Street connections: trying to increase the Quiet Street network to connect Homestead-Canal to Dry Canyon. Two connections have been identified; Quince St. (part is a collector with bike lanes, part will be Quiet Street), and Dogwood was recently constructed.  Redmond Bike Map: city staffing plus COVID has slowed the update process. The goal is for digital and print version to showcase multi-use trails and Quiet Street networks aimed at the novice cyclist. The project is in a holding pattern with respect to a physical map (thus far, Community Development will fund). Hopefully this project will be reinvigorated later this year. Capital projects:  Maple Ave-Dry Canyon Staircase: received a grant for design, and now the reconfigured parks SDCs has provided funding for construction ($0.3M). Out to bid now. Will have a trough for bikes to get up the stairs.  South Redmond Corridor: this has been in discussion for years but the pavement is deteriorating on 97, warranting more immediate attention. A lot more traffic signals will be added, and more access to Canal Boulevard; will allow U-turns. A 5’ cycle track will be added at the same elevation as 6’ sidewalk; median. Kickoff meeting with ODOT on design was held last week.  Open Streets 2021: this event has been a significant effort with BPAC for several years, to promote safe biking and walking in community, build awareness of existing networks and Quiet Streets. Due to COVID it was cancelled in 2020. Usually the event is held in late June, so this year seems doubtful without a clear idea of the future. At this point, Redmond BPAC is tabling it for 2021, and hopefully come back bigger and better in 2022—possibly still in conjunction with street festival. Redmond BPAC considered doing the event in the fall, but that depends on street festival in part and that is too up in the air. Page 3 TSP Subcommittee Update  Mason noted that TSP is for unincorporated County (not cities)  January 21 was first meeting with Agency Partners. Chris Doty (Dorector, County Road Department) emphasized the importance of BPAC (“all ears”). He said it’s worth including aspirational projects, because it makes those projects more competitive for grant funding in the future. Doty wants to meet with BPAC outside of agency partner meetings to discuss bike/ped. Trying to take proactive role.  The subcommittee provided the County with a big picture vision document—emphasized bike/ped as transportation mode, as well as connections. They are developing a routes document draft, and could use input from everyone or idea for connections.  Subcommittee will send out email for feedback: 1) have we missed any connector routes? 2) notes on routes but not too specific—safety or related, major improvements needed, etc.  This is the beginning of the TSP process, but BPAC wants want to give the consultant team as much as possible on the front end External Committee Reports COACT:  Not met yet, no schedule yet  Oregon BPAC is contacting bike/ped people all across the state. Met to discuss what they can do at their level to help with our ACT (which isn’t meeting now). Perhaps this is where e-bike discussion can fit in? Bend MPO TAC:  Met yesterday, presented work program and discussed TSAPs. Two studies were completed in 2019, thus far no additional action. Rick can provide links.  Put together summary of bike-ped counts in cities Other Updates South County  Working with an engineering firm to evaluate pathways systems and focusing on tunnel system  Will add ideas for South County into TSP project Bend  Working with ODOT on North 97 as well as 3rd Street conversion to city route  Requests a BPAC point person for the North 97 project Sisters  The city put in a bike Fix It station at the village green  Maps: they use a QR code that gets you to trail maps. Sisters paid for theirs via sponsors around the city, and they have paid ads on the maps. The trails utilize trail counters and can make that data available for advertisers.  Working on implementation of the city’s visioning work Page 4  Talking with ODOT re: routes between Sisters and Bend and then to Black Butte; would like overpass across 20 into Camp Sherman, enabling people to ride from Sisters to Camp Sherman to Suttle Lake Deschutes County:  Senior Transportation Planner is working on the draft scope of work and budget for the TGM grant  Had a TSP Agency Coordination meeting on January 21. In addition the BPAC updates noted above, they are honing the methodology on how to assess future traffic volumes on the County network; incorporate crash data and mitigations identified in the County’s Traffic Safety Action Plan which was done about 1.5 years ago; and looking at bike/ped issues. Commute Options:  School is reopening and Commute Options suggests messaging for safety.  Oregon Friendly Driver class is on the website to take at your leisure. COIC/CET:  Submitted projects for STIF 2021-2023 biennium. Not yet approved. Looking for $11M worth: mobility hub, purchasing and matched funds; revenue recovery funds to allow them to be fare-free from COVID; communications and outreach; Pacific Crest bus line for Bend-Klamath Falls. Others include continued service operations, plus admin support and marketing.  Have gone to snow schedule for a few days recently, have had to clear stops based on recent ridership in November through January. General Updates – Dave (placed at the end of meeting for timing reasons) Annual Report Update  Final draft of annual report has been shared with the group, and this will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in the next few weeks.  BPAC will be looking for TGM grant reps for each sub- project (Sisters Trails and Tumalo Community Plan)  ODOT is forming a Baker Road Interchange Area Management Plan PAC to look at long-term plans at the south end of Bend, which will be where Lava Butte Trail will come in. BPAC has been offered a seat on an advisory committee. Interested parties should email Dave. Meeting Adjourned at 1:32 pm Next Meeting Thursday, March 4 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm - Virtual Meeting