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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-20 Minutes Transportation Coordinating CommitteeBozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee Minutes 10:30 am, Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Commission Room, City Hall, 121 N. Rouse Avenue A. CALL TO ORDER – Introductions & Attendance Committee Vice Chair – City Commission: Vacant Committee Member – Scott MacFarlane, County Commission: Absent Committee Member – George Thompson, City Planning Board: Absent Committee Member – Jeff Boyle, County Planning Board: Present Committee Member – William Fogarty, District Administrator, MDT Butte District: Present Committee Member – Bill Brownell, County Road Department: Present Committee Member – Mitch Reister, City of Bozeman Public Works Director: Present Committee Member – Dennis Taylor, Interim City Manager: Absent Committee Member – Marty Matsen, City of Bozeman Community Development Director: Absent Committee Chair – Christopher Scott, County Planning Department Representative: Absent Committee Chair (Acting) – Ralph Zimmer, Bozeman Area Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Committee: Present Committee Member – Katie Potts, Proxy for Carol Strizich, Chief, Planning & Policy Analysis Bureau, MDT: Present Committee Member – Duane Liebel, MDT Engineering Services Supervisor: Present Committee Member – Dan Martin, City Citizen Representative: Absent 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: Marilee Brown, Safer Bozeman; Scott Randall and Sarah Nicolai, RPA; Lisa Fischer, Josh Springer, HDR; Anita Mathews, WGM Group; Tony Gaddo, Danielle Scharf, Joey Staszuck, Sanderson Stewart; Erik Garberg, DOwl; David Kack, Western Transportation Institute/Montana State University; Levi Ewan, Gallatin County; Joe Walsh, Montana Department of Transportation; Matt Workman, John Van Delinder, Taylor Lonsdale, Shawn Kohtz, 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. 10:46:56 AM (00:16:16) There was no public comment at this time. C. MINUTES – October 23, 2019 10:47:09 AM (00:16:29) Katie Potts moved to approve the minutes as written. Candace Mastel seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Because of a lack of quorum, the approval of the October 2019 minutes was invalid. D. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 10:48:58 AM (00:18:18) Ralph Zimmer, acting as chairperson with the absence of Chris Scott, mentioned to the group that some members of the committee have discussed electing Taylor Lonsdale, the City of Bozeman Transportation Engineer, as the chairperson of the TCC. The bylaws require that officers be voting members of the TCC and at this time, Taylor is not a member. Ralph provided three options that the committee could take to move forward. One option is to ignore the bylaws and the public noticing requirements and to make Taylor a member and the chair at today’s meeting. The second option would be to elect a chairperson to serve for one meeting and then add Taylor to the membership and elect him chairperson at the April meeting. The third option would be to table the election at this point, add Taylor to the membership, and elect officers later in today’s meeting. After further discussion, the committee determined that there wasn’t a quorum of members at today’s meeting and this issue would need to continue at the next meeting. 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 10:59:43 AM (00:29:03) David Kack presented on behalf of the Transit Committee. Bus routes haven’t changed in the last 14 years so Streamline has hired TMD to review the routes. This review will also look at the future of Streamline with the Bozeman area approaching 50,000 people. At the point that Bozeman becomes an MPO, HRDC will no longer be allowed to accept funding from the Montana Department of Transportation. Instead, that funding would go to either the City of Bozeman, Gallatin County, or an urban transportation district. Skyline winter service has begun and is going well. The Yellowstone Club has leased out the Day’s Inn in Bozeman for 300+ employees, increasing ridership on the Skyline service. The Transit Committee is also participating in discussion related to the Bozeman Community Plan and the Bozeman Climate Action Plan. 2. Gallatin County (Commission, Planning Board, Road Department) 11:06:44 AM (00:36:04) Levi Ewan spoke regarding the continued work with the City of Bozeman and the City of Belgrade on the Triangle Community Plan. This work has led to discussions on a trails plan & transportation plan for the Triangle area. The County is reviewing new developments that have been proposed on Baxter Lane and Love Lane, including an expansion of water and sewer in Four Corners, driving improvements to these road corridors. The Planning Department is updating their growth policy and will be holding public hearings for the County Transportation Design Construction Standards. 3. City of Bozeman (Commission, Planning Board, Engineering Department) 11:09:43 AM (00:39:03) Taylor Lonsdale shared updates on behalf of the City. This spring, work will continue on Durston Road from Fowler west to Flanders Mill and on Cottonwood Road between Babcock and Durston. Construction will begin on Manley Road this summer and South 19th will be widened between Stucky and Graf. Bidding for roundabout construction at 3rd and Graf will begin once school is out. Design on Griffin Drive between Rouse & 7th is currently underway and includes the intersection of 7th and Griffin. The City is working with MDT on future improvements to Story Mill & Bridger Drive and Oak has been opened by the new High School. 4. Bicycle Advisory Board 11:13:24 AM (00:42:44) Candace talked about the Bike Board’s development of a work plan that will be adopted at the February meeting. The work plan will include three sections: policies & procedures, programming & projects, and education and outreach. The last meeting of the Bike Board also included a work session with GVLT on connection of westside bike traffic. 5. Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee (PTS) 11:15:58 AM (00:45:18) With Ralph chairing the meeting, he asked Marilee Brown to provide an update for the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee (PTS). The PTS is reviewing various intersections in relation to safety issues and is discussing with Taylor Lonsdale, several standalone projects that need to be completed. Also, after several recent, serious accidents, they are looking at confusion regarding bike laws. 6. Montana Department of Transportation 11:18:23 AM (00:47:43) William Fogarty spoke about MDT’s ongoing and upcoming projects. Projects in the construction phase are currently in winter shutdown. The westside trail crossing and the Belgrade South projects, as well as the Huffine and Love Lane signal have been completed. The roundabout at the Baxter Lane and Love Lane intersection is substantially complete and all that remains to be done for the Valley Center Spur project is final striping. The Rouse, Main Street to Oak Street project will resume when weather allows. The Rainbow Point Turn Lane project, part of the Yellowstone Park Project, has been awarded and will begin in the spring. Projects in the preconstruction phase include the bridge decks on Highway 64 at Big Sky and the turn bay north of Gallatin Gateway. Katie Potts spoke about a corridor study that MDT has initiated on US 191 from Four Corners to Beaver Creek Road. They plan to host two public meetings. Candace thanked MDT for how well the Bridger Canyon guardrail project was completed. Marilee Brown, with Safer Bozeman, provided public comment on the Nelson Road and Frontage Road intersection. She’s getting comments from the public that this is a dangerous intersection and she’d like an update from MDT on what the plan is for this location. She also spoke about the turn lanes that were installed as part of the Slope flattening project. The westbound turn lanes are short and residents are concerned about safety when using those lanes. Dwayne Libel responded that the Nelson Road/Frontage Road intersection was built by the developer and that winter delayed striping. When warranted, the intersection will be signalized. Signal pole have been purchased but lead times are 6-9 months. Flashing lights will be turned on when the power is turned on. MDT will monitor the turn lanes on Frontage that were installed with the slope flattening project. 7. Montana State University 11:27:57 AM (00:57:17) Candace Mastel said that MSU hoped to remove the fence on Grant Street in 2021. At the same time, they may be looking at closing it soon after if they need space for the fitness center. They are looking at the feasibility of closing it permanently to vehicles. 8. Bozeman School District 11:32:08 AM (01:01:28) Todd Swinehart spoke about the Woodland Park property on the west side of town purchased by the District. They are looking at this property for the 9th elementary school but no final decision has been made at this time. Gallatin High School construction is about 79% complete and the district plans to use the summer break to move into the building in time to open in the fall. As mentioned previously, Oak Street has been opened by the school. 9. Other TCC Member/Committee Reports G. OLD BUSINESS none H. NEW BUSINESS none I. PUBLIC COMMENT #2 11:35:45 AM (01:05:05) Marilee Brown, with Safer Bozeman, would like to see the TCC accomplish more than it is. She would like to see more consistency with speed limits and would like annexation of roadways that are critical to adjacent lands. She would also like the committee to invite Senators Daines and Tester to a discussion about funding safety and TA projects. J. UPCOMING MEETING DATES AND ADJOURNMENT April 22, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING July 22, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING October 28, 2020 – REGULAR MEETING January 27, 2021 – 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).