HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-17 Minutes - Transportation Coordinating Committee Bozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee
Minutes 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Commission Room, City Hall, 121 N. Rouse Ave.
A. CALL TO ORDER – Introductions & Attendance
10:03:16 AM (00:00:58)
Committee Member – Jeff Krauss, City Commission: Present
Committee Member – Steve White, County Commission: Present
Committee Member – George Thompson, City Planning Board: Present
Committee Member – Doug East, County Planning Board: Absent
Committee Member – Jenn Nelson, MDT, Butte District Engineer: Absent
Committee Member – Bill Brownell, County Road Superintendent: Present
Committee Member – Craig Woolard, Director of Public Works: Present
Committee Member – Dennis Taylor, Acting City Manager: Absent
Committee Chair – Chris Scott, County Planning Dept. Representative: Present
Committee Member – Marty Matsen, City Planning Director: Absent
Committee Member – Ralph Zimmer, Pedestrian & Traffic Safety: Present
Committee Member – Katie Potts, Proxy for Carol Strizich, MDT Multimodal Planning: Present
Committee Member – Jeff Ebert, MDT, Butte District Administrator: Present
Committee Member – Dan Martin, City Citizen Representative: Absent
Committee Member – Sam Gianfrancisco, County Citizen Representative: Present
Committee Member – Dan Stevenson, MSU Representative: Present
Committee Member – Jason Delmue, BABAB Representative: Present
Committee Member – Jeff Patten, FHA Division
Committee Member – Kyle DeMars, MDT Maintenance Chief: Absent
Committee Member – Lee Hazelbaker, Transit Advisory Committee: Absent
Also in attendance: Marilee Brown, Safer Bozeman; Jeff Hough, GVLT; Stephen Albert, WTI; Scott
Randall, RPA; Tony Gaddo, Dowl; Dave Crawford, TD & H; Vicki Crnich and Joe Walsh, MDT; Levi Ewan,
Gallatin County Road and Bridge; Matt Workman, Rick Hixson, Rich McLane and Katherine Maines, City
of Bozeman.
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
Limited to any public matter within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Area Transportation
Coordinating Committee not on this agenda. Please limit your comments to three minutes.
10:05:04 AM (00:02:46)
None
C. MINUTES – April 26, 2017
10:05:15 AM (00:02:57)
Ralph Zimmer asked to remove the word “Sam” from line 69 in the minutes. Jeff Ebert made a
motion to approve the minutes with this correction. Jeff Krauss seconded the motion and the
motion passed.
D. SPECIAL PRESENTATION - None
E. TCC COMMITTEE/MEMBER REPORTS & PROJECT UPDATES
(Members of the TCC who sit on other related committees, are invited to report on such
activities that are of interest to the full TCC)
1. Transit Committee
No update as no one on the Transit Committee was in attendance.
2. Gallatin County (Commission, Planning Board, Road Department)
10:06:48 AM (00:04:30)
Bill Brownell spoke about the projects that the County Road Department has been completing
this summer. These projects include completion of 30 miles of chip seals and repair of 3 bridges.
The County also plans to complete 4 miles of mill and overlays to start in August. Steve told the
group that he would be attending a meeting this afternoon with Commissioners from Jefferson
and Broadwater Counties to look at the Williams Bridge. They would like to get funding to assist
in the repair of this bridge but the situation is complicated because Gallatin County only owns
half the bridge. Chris Scott mentioned that the County Planning office was working the City of
Belgrade, the Montana Department of Transportation and Robert Peccia and Associates on the
Belgrade Transportation Plan update.
3. City of Bozeman (Commission, Planning Board, Engineering Department)
10:10:05 AM (00:07:47)
Craig Woolard shared an update for the City. The Transportation Master Plan has been passed
by the Commission. Oak, Ferguson and Flanders Mill construction has started. A signal will be
installed at Babcock and Ferguson and MDT is installing a left turn lane at Huffine and Ferguson.
Kagy is near completion. A turn lane has been installed between 7th and 11th. Graf is done and
was scheduled to be opened until a traffic accident put the signal out of commission. We now
hope that Graf will reopen before school starts. S. 11th will be constructed between Graf and
Kagy. East Olive is also being reconstructed this summer and the City is completing chips seals
and mill and overlays. The City has reached a settlement on the right of way purchase at Baxter
and Davis. Jeff Krauss spoke about Griffin and 7th and his concerns with safety at this
intersection. He hopes to see this intersection improved as soon as possible. Steve White asked
about the light at Durston and Cottonwood. It seems to be timed, not triggered and stops traffic
even when there’s no traffic coming from the side streets. Craig responded that it is not a final
design and will be improved in the future. Dan Stevenson asked for an update on the S. 11th
construction timing. Craig shared with the group that the contract has been awarded and that
construction will begin this season and continue next year.
4. Bicycle Advisory Board
10:21:22 AM (00:19:04)
Jason Delmue mentioned that a subcommittee has been formed to look at improvements
identified in the Transportation Master Plan and put together a priority list.
5. Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee
10:22:23 AM (00:20:05)
Ralph Zimmer’s update included mention of a subcommittee that has been formed to look at
the pedestrian projects included in the Transportation Master Plan Update. Also, the group
formed to promote the construction of a separated shared use path along Frontage Road has
become official as of last month. They have elected officials and bylaws. Marilee Brown is the
chairperson of that group. The PTS has voted to be a partner to that group.
6. Montana Department of Transportation
10:24:44 AM (00:22:26)
Jeff Ebert updated the group on their local projects. On S. 19th, Kagy to Stucky, they are finishing
up the chip seal and expect to be done within 30 days. Rouse is ongoing and will continue
through November. It will resume next summer when crews will complete the pavement
markings. The guardrail project occurring in Bridger Canyon is in progress. MDT is upgrading
signals to include left turn arrows on Huffine at the intersections of Huffine and Ferguson and
Main and Babcock. A signal will be installed at the Valley Center Spur Road at both the Valley
Center and the Frontage Road intersections. Ralph Zimmer asked if MDT had commenced
acquisition of the additional easement it needs from Montana Rail Link/Burlington Northern
Santa Fe on the north side of the frontage road for MDT's Slope-Flattening-Belgrade project. He
had been told MDT needs to secure an additional easement bet partially covers the existing gap
between the north edge of MDT's easement and the north edge of the MRL/BNSF right-of-
way. He urged MDT to acquire the entire width of that gap for the entire length of the project
as that additional easement would potentially be needed for future expansion of the highway
and for the future construction of the separated shared-use bike/ped path called for in MDT's
recently completed frontage road corridor study. Jeff wasn’t sure additional right-of-way was
needed but he agreed to look into it. Jeff Krauss asked about the Griffin and S. 7th intersection.
Katie Potts shared that it should be completed in 2019. Katie also spoke about the Belgrade
Long-Range Transportation Plan and mentioned some upcoming TA projects that are currently
in review.
7. Montana State University
10:40:35 AM (00:38:17)
Dan Stevenson thanked the City for the work that has been completed around the university.
These improvements will be important to traffic movements around campus. MSU’s Bike Board
is looking at ways to improve bike infrastructure on campus. They are also working with the City
and WTI on transportation alternatives. Steve Albert shared an update on the Transportation
Demand Management project. WTI is currently surveying employers regarding their employees’
origins and destinations. They’ve found that a large percentage of their employees are within 5
minutes of a transit stop. They have prepared a document that has gone to the MSU
Administration to try to help congestion around peak hours around MSU (peak spreading). They
are proposing a Cat/Griz Greenhouse Challenge and are working with MSU Parking on a traffic
plan for football games. They submitted an application for a $9 million grant to look at reducing
traffic within the canyon. MSU has approved and posted their final transportation master plan.
It can be found on the MSU website under Campus Planning.
8. Other TCC Member/Committee Reports
10:49:20 AM (00:47:02)
None
F. OLD BUSINESS
10:49:34 AM (00:47:16)
None
G. NEW BUSINESS
10:49:41 AM (00:47:23)
Trail to the M Project Update – Craig Woolard
Carolyn and Mitch could not be in attendance so Craig gave a brief update. They are working
with MDT to draft a maintenance agreement encompassing the encroachment permit. They are
working with one final property to obtain easements. Craig was unsure of the timing of the
project. Jeff Ebert mentioned that 600’ of the project will be completed with the Rouse project.
10:52:34 AM (00:50:16)
Ralph Zimmer mentioned proxies and that governing documents for this group requires written
notice of proxy. Ralph is concerned that not everyone is giving this written notice. He feels the
group should either adhere to the rule in the bylaws or the group should amend the bylaws.
Chris Scott asked that the group follow the bylaws and email the Chair and the Secretary when
someone will act as their proxy.
H. UPCOMING MEETING DATES AND ADJOURNMENT
10:56:05 AM (00:53:47)
October 25, 2017 – REGULAR MEETING
January 24, 2018 – REGULAR MEETING
April 25, 2018 – REGULAR MEETING
July 25, 2018 – REGULAR MEETING
For more information please contact Katherine Maines at 406-582-2273
Committee meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability and require assistance, please contact our
ADA coordinator, Mike Gray at 582-3232 (TDD 582-2301).