HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-17, PTS Minutes1 Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee
2 Minutes of the Jan. 11, 2017 Meeting
3 Upstairs Conference Room Alfred Stiff Office Building
4
5 Attendance:
6
7 Voting Committee Members:
8 Ralph Zimmer (Gallatin County), Chair
9 Danielle Scharf (City of Bozeman), Vice Chair
10 Marilee Brown (At-large Member), Secretary
11 Mandee Arnold (City of Bozeman)
12 Tony Gaddo (At-large Member)
13 Vance Ruff (Bozeman School District)
14 Absent: Tom Foster (Gallatin County), Bud Jarvis (Bozeman School District)
15
16 Official Non-Voting Committee Members:
17 John Van Delinder (City of Bozeman Streets Department), Todd Swinehart (School District)
18 Absent: Bill Brownell, Road & Bridge Supervisor (County)
19
20 City Commissioners, County Commissioners, and School Board Members
21 Absent: I-Ho Pomeroy (City Commissioner), (County Commissioner), (School District Trustees),
22
23 Law Enforcement Liaison Officers
24 Officer Roland Moore (Bozeman Police Department)
25 Absent: (Sheriff’s Office)
26
27 Regular Attendees and Guests (City, County, Bozeman School District, and Montana Department
28 of Transportation Staff):
29 Linda DuPriest (Transportation Demand Management consultant)
30 Jeff Hough (Galley Vallery Land Trust)
31
32 Citizens and Other Guests:
33 Kevin Jacobsen (Morrison-Maierle)
34
35 Quorum: Present.
36
37 1. Call to Order, Introductions and New Business.
38 Ralph Zimmer, PTS Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM and
39 introductions of attendees were made.
40
41 2. Agenda.
42 Ralph offered the opportunity to provide comments on the agenda. None were made.
43
44 3. Public Comment.
45 None was given.
46
47 4. Minutes. The minutes of Dec. 14, 2016 – Vance and Danielle made the motion. The minutes
48 were approved with one correction of deletion of Vance Ruff on line 17.
49
50 5. Report on Results of Previous Actions & Consideration of Follow-Up Action.
51
52 Ralph reported that last month we had approved supporting transportation funding in the
53 legislature but we were not specific in addressing methods to do so. The Montana
54 Infrastructure Coalition, which is comprised of a large number of organizations, Cities, and
55 Counties is working with Kalispell Republican Senator Frank Garner to submit a bill which
56 would add 10 cents to the state fuel tax with 4 cents going to the MDT and 6 cents going to
57 Cities and Counties. It will be publically announced tomorrow. All money will be used for
58 transportation expenses. Hybrid vehicles would be taxed $100 and electric vehicles would be
59 taxed $150.
60
61 We have been requested to supply names of public citizens to help contact legislators to
62 support these proposals. The Republicans seem to be generally against this tax increase.
63 Ralph would like to submit names and email addresses of individuals willing to support this –
64 please send yours and others to him. No deadline has been given us.
65
66 6. County Commission, City Commission, and School Board Reports.
67 City Commissioner I-ho is in Germany. No reports given.
68
69 7. Liaison Officer Reports.
70 Bozeman Police Department Officer Moore had to leave early so was not available to report.
71
72 8. Reports from Non-Voting Official Committee Members.
73 John Van Delinder stated that snow plowing is all the City had been doing.
74
75 Todd thanked John for the City doing a great job plowing. He told of the prospect of building
76 a second high school. BSD.org has a lot of information on the project if anyone wants more
information. There will be a public information session on Jan 31
st
77 at 6p.m at the high school.
78
79 9. Reports from Related Groups.
80
81 John reported for the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board. They are still working on an
82 outline of bike improvement projects that would be smaller in nature. Transportation
83 Alternatives projects were not discussed.
84
85 GVLT reported that they are purchasing a bicycle/pedestrian counter. WTI will manage the
86 counter results and the City is installing it. It will be placed on the Galligator just north of
87 Garfield. It will help with getting grants and catching abusers.
88
89 10. Election of 0,1, or 2At-Large Voting Members for 2017
90 Ralph explained that the committee could elect one or two voting At-Large members but was
91 not obligated to elect any. Danielle nominated Tony Gaddo and Marilee Brown for our 2017
92 at large voting members. Ralph called for other nominations and asked if everyone was
93 willing to vote on them together. No one asked for a secret ballot. They were both elected
94 unanimously.
95
96 11. Election of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary for 2017
97 Marilee nominated Ralph Zimmer for Chairperson. There were no other nominations. It was
98 unanimous that he should again be Chairperson.
99
100 Vance nominated Danielle Scharf for Vice Chairperson. There were no other nominations. It
101 was unanimous that she should again be Vice Chairperson.
102
103 Marilee nominated Mandee Arnold for Secretary. Mandee was unanimously elected.
104
105 12. Consider Supporting Various Projects for MDT Transportation Alternative Funding
106
107 Ralph received a letter from Taylor Lonsdale that the deadline for TA applications will be on
108 March 31. He will not be able to present options today to us, but Linda DuPriest is here and is
109 willing to to share with us some ideas. Her Demand Management Committee will be heading
110 up the applications to be made for TA projects chosen by the City. They are looking at the
111 Transportation Master Plan and GVLT for guidance. Jeff said that GVLT has a committee and
112 would be working with the City to help choose projects.
113
114 We explained to Linda what happened at the December meeting since she had not been there,
115 and that we had hoped that we could group together some projects. It is hoped that Taylor or
116 Linda will be coming back to our Feb. meeting so that we could prioritize the projects that we
117 would like to see completed. Danielle suggested that if Taylor could give us a list of projects 2
118 weeks ahead she could prepare a system so we could rank them individually before coming to
119 the meeting.
120
121 It was agreed that after we give our opinions today on projects, we are going to place the ball
122 in Linda’s court.
123
124 Todd asked if TA projects are being submitted on behalf of the City or also other agencies.
125 The School District will be submitting them separately from the City and we have not heard
126 of any from the County. We will submit the same letter of support for the school district as
127 last year unless they want it changed. Linda and Taylor will coordinate to see what list they
128 can generate for us of suggested TA projects.
129
13. Discuss Proposals for Improving Pedestrian Use of North 7
th
130 Street
Kevin Jacobson from Morrison-Maierle presented. They are working on 7
th
131 Street – phase 3
132 of the project that will be going to construction this summer. It consists of a two-block stretch
133 between Main Street and Durston. This project has nothing to do with new development and
134 is really a streetscape project.
135
136 Linda asked if the curb would be moved and was told no. There are Safe Routes to School at
137 Villard so curb bulbs with rapid flashing beacons (RFB’s) will be placed there. Bike facilities
138 have been met with quite a lot of resistance from the MDT so they focused on everything
139 behind the curb instead of moving it. If parking was eliminated then there might be more
140 opportunity for bike facilities. He will go back to MDT and ask about eliminating the
141 parking.
142
Design standards might allow for lanes to go down to 10 or 11 feet. On 8
th
143 street between
144 Durston and Oak it will have a multi-use pathway – also from Tamarac and Oak. David Find
145 is working with Kevin on the economic development of the City with the tax increment.
146 The City is against having a separated pathway on only one side of a street.
147
148 Tony mentioned that there are no easements to allow for them. He believes that down the
149 road is discussion for what we can do between the curbs with MDT.
150
151 Linda stated that the northern end is where we really need bike lanes. Currently biking on the
152 sidewalks is the norm.
153
154 Morrison-Maierle is doing the design and Tony is acquiring easements for the project.
155
156 It is being funded with a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district that is taking the increase in
157 tax over time. Tax Increment Financing starts with blight and then puts it right back into the
158 district. We are taking future tax revenue and putting it back into the district.
159
160 Right now the plans are at the MDT and then they will make any changes needed.
161 Construction will take place this summer.
162
163 A letter of support would be great to the City Commission or the MDT. The system impact
164 process review is under the Planning Department and Jim Skinner.
165
166 The curb bulb at Villard is an issue with the MDT. John suggested that the City might be able
167 to help with the show plowing on the Bulbs. A note might help the project. The bulb,
168 crossing, and safe routes to school mean that it will benefit pedestrian safety. Linda thinks
169 that the TMP recommends a flashing beacon or signal.
170
171 Mandee made a motion and Marilee seconded it to write a letter of support to Kevin Jacobsen
172 who will then distribute it. It passed unanimously. It needs to be copied to David Find.
173 Kevin will email Ralph with the details. Ralph would like input from members for input into
174 the letter. Tony will help with a list.
175
176 14. Implementation of Bozeman Community Transportation Safety Plan.
177 Danielle thinks we should ask for feedback report to the MDT. John asked if we should put
178 something in the budget to the City and was told yes. John said that the City should put some
179 money into press release announcements.
180
181 15. Additional Business (Time Permitting)
182 Ralph reported that the TCC met this morning to hear the progress on the update to the
183 Transportation Master Plan. On February 7 the consultant will submit the plan draft and a
184 public meeting will be held on February 28.
185
186 The Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program is a contract between City, MSU
187 and the Western Transportation institute’s Small Urban Rural Livability Center. They have a
188 grant to improve transportation options including bussing, walking, etc. David Kack is in
189 charge of busing; Rebecca Gleason is in charge of bike and pedestrian. Linda is working with
190 the City. They will utilize the research at WTI and work with MSU to help with traffic of all
191 kinds. It is a three-year effort. Linda’s focus is on bike and pedestrian. Taylor is the liaison
192 with this committee but she will be coming to these meetings. She is a contractor to the
193 University which is contracting with the City. David Kack is the contract manager. Linda
194 can be reached at ldpstrategies.com or Linda.DuPriest@gmail.com.
195
196 16. The next meeting will be held on February 8, 2017.
197
198 17. Adjournment
199 The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 PM.
200
201 Minutes by Marilee Brown
202 Preliminary edits by Ralph Zimmer