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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-19 Minutes - Transportation Coordinating Committee1 Bozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee Minutes 10:30 am, Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Commission Room, City Hall, 121 N. Rouse Avenue A. CALL TO ORDER – Introductions & Attendance Committee Vice Chair - Jeff Krauss, City Commission: Present Committee Member – Scott MacFarlane, County Commission: Absent Committee Member - George Thompson, City Planning Board: Present Committee Member – Jeff Boyle, County Planning Board: Absent Committee Member – Bill Fogarty, District Administrator, MDT Butte District: Absent Committee Member - Bill Brownell, County Road Superintendent: Absent Committee Member – Mitch Reister, City of Bozeman Public Works Director: Absent Committee Member - Andrea Surratt, City Manager: Absent Committee Member - Marty Matsen, City of Bozeman Community Development Director: Absent Committee Chair - Christopher Scott, County Planning Department Representative: Present Committee Member - Ralph Zimmer, Bozeman Area Pedestrian & Traffic Safety: Present Committee Member - Katie Potts, Proxy for Carol Strizich, Chief, Planning & Policy Analysis Bureau, MDT: Present Committee Member - Duane Liebel, MDT Engineering Services Supervisor: Absent Committee Member - Dan Martin, City Citizen Representative: Present Committee Member - Dave Fowler, County Representative: Present Committee Member - Candace Mastel, MSU Representative: Present Committee Member – Todd Swinehart, Bozeman School District #7: Present Committee Member - Jason Delmue, Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board: Absent Committee Member - Jeff Patten, Federal Highway Administration: Absent Committee Member - Kyle DeMars, MDT, Bozeman Maintenance: Absent Committee Member - Lee Hazelbaker, Transit Advisory Board: Absent Also in attendance: Emily Kelly; Marilee Brown, Safer Bozeman and GAP; Scott Randall and Chris Hardan, RPA; Lisa Fischer, HDR; Erik Garberg and Doug Fischer, Dowl; Danielle Scharf and Tony Gaddo, Sanderson Stewart; David Kack, WTI/MSU; Levi Ewan, Gallatin County; John Van Delinder, Matt Workman, Shawn Kohtz, Taylor Lonsdale, Anna Rosenberry, and Katherine Maines, City of Bozeman. B. PUBLIC COMMENT #1 Limited to any public matter within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee. Please limit your comments to three minutes. 10:32:08 AM (00:03:31) Emily Kelly, 2215 Ferguson Avenue – Emily gave public comment on the lights recently installed on Baxter Lane from the Post Office to Harper Puckett. They are extremely bright and she feels that they were either improperly installed or need to be shielded. She checked lights installed along other main corridors (Main, 7th, Oak, etc.) and they are not as bright. 2 Jeff Krauss responded to Emily’s comments letting her know that the City is currently performing a lighting audit and noted that the lighting design and requirements are related to road speed. C. MINUTES – July 24, 2019 10:38:47 AM (00:10:10) Dan Martin moved to approve the minutes. Jeff Krauss seconded the motion and the minutes were approved unanimously. E. SPECIAL PRESENTATION - none F. 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 10:39:22 AM (00:10:45) David Kack provided an updated for the transit committee sharing that HRDC has hired a consultant to look at Streamline’s routes. The current routes were developed 14 years ago. Funding for this project was provided by the City, County, MDT, and HRDC. Demand for bus service continues to grow, especially downtown and around MSU. Dan Martin added that Streamline is looking at a campus shuttle that will connect the Tech Park to other areas of MSU. ASMSU and MSU are funding this project. 2. Gallatin County (Commission, Planning Board, Road Department) 10:42:05 AM (00:13:28) Levi Ewan spoke about the bridge replacement on Baxter Lane, east of Jackrabbit and mentioned that Gallatin County is working with MDT on the 191 Corridor Study. The County is seeing a lot of residential development along Baxter Lane and south of Huffine. Ralph Zimmer attended a recent meeting regarding the Triangle Plan and mentioned that the 3rd draft of the plan is out. Outreach will include a series of open houses and a news release. The plan will be considered by the Cities of Belgrade and Bozeman and Gallatin County. 3. City of Bozeman (Commission, Planning Board, Engineering Department) 10:46:26 AM (00:17:49) Taylor Lonsdale gave an update on the City’s road construction projects. The Durston/Ferguson project is approximately 90% complete while the Durston Road project is approximately 75% complete. The Cottonwood project is ongoing but will be open for the winter. The Oak & 27th intersection project is ongoing due to a long lead time for signal poles. Baxter/Davis intersection improvements have been completed. The City currently has several design projects as well. A 3 professional services agreement is on the Commission agenda for Griffin Drive, 7th to Rouse and an RFP has been advertised for the intersection of Bridger Drive and Story Mill Road. Jeff Krauss expressed concern related to the variation of speed limits along several corridors and suggested that the meeting schedule for TCC change to allow Mike Hope to attend. He’s newly appointed to the MDT Transportation Commission and their quarterly meetings are held at the same time as the TCC meetings. George Thompson mentioned that the Planning Board is working the Community Plan update. They’ve added a map that shows major transportation routes. Streamline routes are not included but referenced as this is a 10-year plan and these routes will likely change. 4. Bicycle Advisory Board 10:56:58 AM (00:28:21) Candace Mastel gave an updated that the Bicycle Advisory Board is working on a work plan that includes more regular communication with the City Commission, outreach, coordinating info sharing, and more involvement in the City’s development process. 5. Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee 10:58:10 AM (00:29:33) Ralph Zimmer provided an update for the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee (PTS). The PTS has been hosting meet and greets with newly hired positions included the new City of Bozeman Public Works Director, Mitch Reister, Taylor Lonsdale, the City’s new Transportation Engineer, and the new MDT Butte District Administrator Bill Fogarty. They’ve also voted to support applications for TOP funds for portions of the proposed shared use path from Belgrade to Bozeman. They’ve also been discussing specific areas within Bozeman including a section of Garfield where the Gallagator Trail crosses, the intersection of Main and Highland, and the intersection of S. 3rd and Graf (east end). Ralph also spoke about the Valley Center Spur & related concerns about non-motorized travel at this location. The signals at both intersections of the Valley Center Spur have been installed. Ralph was provided information from the Butte District Preconstruction Engineer that the distance between the supporting columns of the underpass are further apart than the construction plans indicate. This allows room for bike and pedestrian traffic. Ralph also shared that the Nelson Meadows Subdivision developer has started construction on the shared use path along the frontage of their property. This is expected to be completed in the next couple weeks. The separated shared used path is included in Bozeman Transportation Master Plan, the Belgrade Long-Range Transportation Plan, the MDT Frontage Road - Belgrade to Bozeman Corridor Study and the City’s PROST Plan. Ralph went on to explain why the installation of the pedestrian/bicycle crossings at the Valley Center Spur signals was delayed. He feels that with the installation of the shared use path on the north side of Frontage Road that those capabilities should now be installed. 4 Ralph then brought up the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) and the plan for the Triangle area. The plan includes comments and policies related to transportation. The triangle area roughly includes Belgrade, Bozeman, and Four Corners. Chris Scott said that he’d ask that one of the members of the PCC attend the next TCC meeting to provide an update. 6. Montana Department of Transportation 11:22:31 AM (00:53:54) Katie Potts responded to Ralph’s concerns about the Valley Center Spur. She will speak with the necessary folks at MDT and ask someone to follow up with Ralph. She mentioned that MDT has initiated a corridor study on US 191 from Four Corners to south of the turnoff to 64. RPA is the consultant on that study. Final striping is being completed for the westside trail crossings project. The Belgrade South project is almost complete. They are working through punchlist items. The Belgrade Slope Flattening project is complete. They will chip seal and epoxy the Baxter/Love Lane roundabout in 2020. The 19th Ave signal was installed and timing issues that were brought up at last meeting have been resolved. The Huffine/Love Lane signal will be striped when the weather allows. The guardrails in Gallatin Canyon will be completed in November. The Valley Center Spur signals will be turned on in November. Box culverts are being installed for the Rouse, Main to Oak project. That is the only work that will be completed this fall. Ralph mentioned that MDT is under obligation to install a path along the frontage of their property on Nelson Road. He asked if Katie knew the timeline of that construction. Katie was unsure but will follow-up with the District. 7. Montana State University 11:35:33 AM (01:06:56) Candace Mastel mentioned that the construction of Romney Gym is ongoing and that Grant Street remains closed for that project. It will likely remain closed until construction has been complete and possibly permanently. New construction projects will start next spring at the Stadium south of Kagy. They are not expected to involve road closures. A new fitness center is under design. 8. Bozeman School District 11:39:25 AM (01:10:48) Todd Swinehart provided an updated for the Bozeman School District. The new sports stadium is open and the roundabout at 15th and Beall has been completed. Two Streamline bus stops were also installed as part of the renovations project at the existing High School. They’ve finalized an interlocal agreement for a potential elementary school site in the Woodland Park subdivision. They’ve also purchased a parcel of land at Baxter & Davis as a potential location for Elementary #9. Design plans and specs are wrapping up for renovations of the existing High School with 5 construction expected to begin next spring or summer. The second high school is nearing 70% completion. Dan Martin spoke about the Streamline bus stop on Main Street in front of the existing high school. The location creates a safety issue by blocking the entrance to the oval. Streamline would have preferred that it be installed after the oval. He hopes that in the future, Streamline and Karst Stage can be involved in the discussion. 9. Other TCC Member/Committee Reports 11:49:18 AM (01:20:41) Chris mentioned the letter from Carol Strizich with MDT regarding the Bozeman 2020 Urban Allocation that was sent out with the TCC agenda. He wanted to make sure everyone received it. David Kack reminded everyone of the ribbon cutting for the Path to the M that is scheduled for this Saturday. The event will include bike maintenance at Story Mill Park and the ribbon cutting will occur at 10:00 am at the bridge. G. OLD BUSINESS None H. NEW BUSINESS None I. PUBLIC COMMENT #2 11:50:59 AM (01:22:22) Marilee Brown has concerns about the intersection of Nelson Road and Frontage Road. She’s concerned about the width of the intersection and would like to know whether a traffic light will be installed or not. Jeff Krauss shared concerns about bicyclists heading east on Oak Street west of 19th. The bike lane ends and bicyclists are forced into traffic. J. UPCOMING MEETING DATES AND ADJOURNMENT January 22, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING April 22, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING July 22, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING October 28, 2020 – 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).