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Home My WebLink About2022-03-03 - 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, March 3, 2022, 12:00 to 1:30 pm Virtual Zoom Meeting Members Present: Dave Thomson, Chris Cassard, Rachel Zakem, Wendy Holzman, Neil Baunsgard, David Green, Kenneth Piarulli, Emily Boynton, Annie Marland, Mason Lacy. Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County – CDD), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Alec Fransen (Century West), Emily Dougan (Commute Options), Greg Bryant, Barb Campbell (Bend City Council 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 February 2022 minutes were approved. Public Comment There were no public comments. Committee Business – Dave  BPAC Annual Report to BOCC: o Waiting for new goals/priorities to be finalized, they will then be folded in to the report and the report will be distributed  BPAC provided a letter of support for the City of Sisters grant application to build a multi-use path connecting Village Green Park to the Peterson Ridge Trail System  The County requested BPAC representatives for both components of the TGM grant (Sisters Trails and Tumalo Community Plan). Sisters: Annie Marland volunteered and will be the representative. Tumalo: Dave Thomson expressed interest and will represent BPAC. Page 2 New goals for BPAC in 2022  David Green led the subcommittee, which included Wendy, Neil and Chris Cassard, to discuss goals for 2022.  The subcommittee proposed four goals, which are summarized briefly below and more extensively in a document that was shared with the committee prior to the meeting: 1. E-bikes. Engage in ongoing conversations about rules and use. Currently it is extremely confusing with respect to e-bike type and geographic area/ownership. BPAC may not agree within the group (and doesn’t have a particular official stance) but wants to be a part of the conversation as it develops. 2. Participate in planning transportation infrastructure projects. Brief the BOCC and county staff on findings and recommendations about ODOT projects. o Engage early o Safety o Connectivity 3. Community outreach. Increase efforts by: o Maintaining BPAC’s role as a hub of information about bike/ped issues and projects o Developing a community outreach program to understand community viewpoints from a variety of organizations o Re-establish the Three-County Summit for bike and pedestrian transportation o Working with organizations and agencies such as Commute Options, school districts, parks districts on topics such as safety, e-bikes, connectivity, and open street events. 4. Bike share. Support any efforts to develop bike share programs in the county or in any of the county’s cities. We understand that BPAC can’t necessarily take the lead on this, and also understand it will be city-focused, but nevertheless bike share remains an important conversation topic.  Wendy moved to approve the above 2022 goals; Annie seconded. Unanimous vote to approve goals. TSP Subcommittee Update  The subcommittee has not heard from Kittelson/project team recently. Subcommittee will meet and review the goals that were provided to the Planning Commission.  The subcommittee would like some clarity on how the bike/ped project list fits into overall plan and goals. Page 3 External Committee Reports COACT:  None for now; Emily (new BPAC representative) is working on background research on COACT. Bend MPO TAC:  North Corridor railroad undercrossing: a couple of options for feasibility study as well as for funding  BPRD reached agreement with North Unit Canal District to build path on Canal Row Park out to Deschutes Market Road. This has been informally used but the agreement will formalize the allowable use. Baker Road Interchange IAMP:  Has developed a close-to-final recommendation for interchange, to be distributed later  Moving forward with refinement of the preferred alternative along with phasing Bend Transportation Bond Oversight Committee:  Wilson/9th roundabout will start construction very soon. Mason will send link to the city website. This will utilize a new roundabout design with separated bikeways.  This year: Neff and Purcell intersection construction will begin (not part of the transportation bond); Purcell extension north of Neff will be part of bond. Goal is to build these two components at the same time.  Midtown crossings: council just approved $500,000 feasibility study. Accelerated timeline aims to get concepts together in next six months. Other Updates Bend  Councilor Campbell has been thinking about how to connect things out east (Horse Butte etc.) with respect to FLAP grant Sisters  Multipurpose paths are nearly complete  Bridge over Whychus Creek (part of Troy’s project discussed last month) will be built Redmond  Redmond BPAC hasn’t met since last time but are meeting next Monday Deschutes County  The County is in the early stages of assembling stakeholder committees for TGM grant for Tumalo bike/ped/transit and rural trails by Sisters (see above for BPAC representation update). The Planning Commission will choose their representatives on the stakeholder committees at 3/10 meeting.  The Road Department is moving forward with Hunnell Road extension north to Tumalo Road, which will be a good route for bikes/peds to avoid 97 when going to/from the mall and rural Page 4 residential neighborhoods in the Deschutes Junction area. There has been some recent public comment expressing concern about the project, but the project has been in the TSP since 1998 and is slated to begin construction in June. ODOT  Bend North corridor: construction to begin in fall  Waiting on the city for final results on the railroad undercrossing and funding opportunities  Baker Road IAMP: notes that it’s not finalized but the project is moving toward Alternative 1, with potential phasing towards parts of Alternative 3  There currently is a huge ODOT planning backlog due to pricing agreements.  US 20 Mervin Sampels-Greenwood project is underway, but the timeline is being extended to mid-2023, due to the project encountering some complications  Working on advancing Mt Washington to Division Street path  TGM grants are open  Safe Routes to School grants open  Reopening of FLAP grants: applicants can request additional funding or new projects Commute Options  Searching for communication and program coordinator. This position would work on developing the vanpool program and improving communications and marketing  Save the Date: May Walk and Roll Anywhere (May 1-15), through Safe Routes to School and the Get There Challenge. COIC/CET  Moving forward with moving a bus stop from Riverwoods Church to the Riverwoods Country Store; this change will be able to have better signage. Any Baker Road improvements from the Baker Road IAMP will help the bus route too.  Bike share: this will be looked at to some extent with the mobility hub feasibility study  Driver shortage: have been able to increase frequency on two routes (1 and 6). Hopefully will return to full service soon.  In the process of switching to computer aided dispatch system, which will allow better scheduling, especially for dial-a-ride. Won’t need 24-hour notice for the latter, and will be more efficient for drivers. Meeting Adjourned at 1:35 pm Next Meeting Thursday, April 7 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm - Virtual Meeting