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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-04 - 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, April 4, 12:00 to 1:30 pm ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Building M, Baney Conference Room, Bend Members Present: Dave Thomson, David Green, Sabrina Haggerty, Chris Cassard, Neil Baunsgard, Matt Muchna, Jennifer Letz, David Roth, Mark Smith, Rachel Zakem, Mason Lacy Agency/Organization: Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County), Chris Cheng (ODOT), Henry Stroud (BPRD), Trevor Johnson (Redmond BPAC), Derek Hofbauer (CET/COIC), Gregory Bryant, Marika Tammaru (Commute Options) 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. Public Comment  None Approval of Prior Minutes The March 2024 minutes were approved. Committee Business  Expiring terms: Neil, Chris, Sabrina, Mark, and Dave T. Chris noted that he probably will not continue. Dave T. noted that he will continue, The rest should contact Dave with their intentions.  May meeting will be Sisters/West County meeting. Likely will be held at City Hall and can be hybrid,  Need volunteers to represent BPAC on COACT and Bend MPO TAC to support Dave. MPO TAC meets monthly; COACT meets four times a year plus a safety subcommittee that meets monthly. Page 2 Final TSP Update – Dave T.  Second reading complete. Effective date is June 18, 2024. Safe Sidewalk Awards  Per last year, BPAC will recognize all nominations. Motion to approve all was unanimously approved. Dave will contact applicants and let them know that there will be awards in front of BOCC at date TBD. Annual report to BOCC  Sabrina, Dave T. and Dave G. met to discuss the report; will follow the format of last year’s report, highlighting about five different goals/projects. Won’t do the summary of each meeting, which was stopped last year.  Goal is to get draft out to group before the May meeting and make final changes then. Update on permeable pavement  Will be sponsoring a permeable pavement workshop on June 10 (location and time TBD), with participation from other agencies and cities. Dave G. is looking to connect with additional interested parties. Neil suggested also reaching out to the school district.  Examples will all be paths, but this treatment could theoretically be applicable to roads.  Dave G. will finalize logistics. Committee 2024-2025 goals  Dave has compiled list of goals/discussion thus far. Would like people to volunteer for various items, either via subcommittee or bringing additional thoughts to June meeting  Items thus far: o Outreach: how to do a better job of communicating outwards, organizing contacts. (Jennifer, Dave T. and Matt) o Community connections: initially focused on TSP, but enough ongoing activities to sustain this as a goal. Maybe we could have info on the BPAC website about progress of various projects. (Dave T., Dave G., Matt, Mark) o Transit: What is our role in terms of transit? Envision Bend does have a transit group (Dave G. and Matt) o Project input: keeping BPAC involved in providing input on more projects. Perhaps look into inviting various agencies in quarterly to discuss active projects (Dave G. and Mark) o (this is not technically a goal) Accessibility: Derek has mentioned this before. Commute options is aiming to create events to highlight accessibility challenges, not just for transit Page 3 but in general. Mid or late May for an event, potentially focused on Galveston corridor, plus access to mobility hubs and various transit stops. Derek can provide relevant updates to BPAC—not necessarily BPAC’s lead. (Dave G. and Derek) o Revitalizing Big Chainring awards (Neil, Jennifer, Dave T., Mark). General timeline is for fall (opposite time of the year from BOCC presentation). o Things that have fallen off lists: e-bikes and bike share o Mason commented on project input goal: consider what BPAC’s role is (i.e. how much advocacy?) This also ties into outreach—how/when does it elevate? The group engaged in discussion about BPAC’s role, who it represents, etc. o Henry: BPAC doesn’t have an official relationship with BPRD but they’d very much welcome BPAC input on individual projects o Dave T.: would it make sense to have BPAC member assigned as contact point for specific agencies? For those who are not represented already on various committees? Noted that BPAC advises not just the county but the cities within the county and (possibly) ODOT. o Greg suggested advocacy/education on electric mobility and what the bike trails are o Mason noted that primary goal should be to be a good stakeholder and be invited to provide input. But how can we identify additional opportunities/get invited to these discussions? o Dave T.: keep project input item as goal; he will try and reword it to encompass this discussion. Will likely need further discussion. Consider combining with outreach. June agenda item can discuss what the charter is and how this would fit into that, as well as how all the goals work together. Tanya to distribute the charter to the group. External Committee Reports Oregon Community Paths project (Dave T.): OBPAC meeting had a presentation about this program, which has both federal and state funding. Grants will alternate being awarded with federal and state dollars. $61 million of federal money, about $6M from state. Also will divide funds into two buckets: one for construction of trails, two for feasibility/scoping studies. Calling for initial proposals in July; would have to partner with ODOT. MPO TAC Have been reviewing 2025-45 project list. Through this process, they generate list of projects and put into a model to see how doing all of them would impact VMT, congestion, bike/ped trips etc. Of note: If they did all of the projects (which isn’t financially possible), we would reduce VMT per capita in Bend. They’ve never seen that output from the model before. Page 4 Other Updates ODOT Grant season!  OR Community Paths coming in summer/fall (see above). If you have ideas, let Chris know. Projects must take place outside of right-of-ways.  Innovative Mobility Micro Grants: $15,000 in flexible state funding to connect underserved communities with public/active transportation  Carbon Reduction Program: chargers, electrification. $12M available.  Community charging and Infrastructure Grant – rebates up to 75%  Coming up on McKenzie Pass season. As usual, the road is closed. Will be working weekends, more so than in previous years. Other improvements include signage and bathrooms. BPRD:  Partnering with City of bend, hosting first public meeting for Riverfront Street project. April 18 at BPRD 5-7.  Started in depth look at higher traffic trails, including Larkspur and Old Mill. Working on signage and striping to encourage safety. Commute Options  Several events are planned for May; can share promo posters with the group. Lots of volunteer options. COIC/CET  Working on a capital plan, which will include updates to electric feasibility study  Working on a bus stop improvement project  Route 3 now includes NW Crossing Redmond  Projects under way include bike map, 6th Street safety, and looking for an innovative micro grants for reflective vests Deschutes County TSP effective date is still 6/18/24. Page 5 Meeting Adjourned at 1:41 pm Next Meeting Thursday, May 2 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm – Sisters City Hall