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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-12 Minutes - Transportation Coordinating Committee MINUTES BOZEMAN AREA TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012 These minutes are not word for word and an audio recording of this meeting is NOT available due to technical difficulties. ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE Chair Bob Lashaway called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 in the City Commission Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue, Bozeman, MT and directed members to introduce themselves. Members present: Jeff Ebert, Montana Department of Transportation, Butte District Administrator Carol Strizich, Statewide, Urban Planning, MDT Ralph Zimmer, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee Bob Lashaway, Montana State University Rob Bukvich, Montana Dept. of Transportation, Bozeman Dustin Rouse, Montana Department of Transportation, Butte District Engineering Lee Provance, Gallatin County Road Superintendent Marianne Jackson Amsden, Gallatin County Planning board Kyle DeMars, Montana Department of Transportation, Bozeman Maintenance Chief Dan Martin, Bozeman Citizen Representative Trever McSpadden, City of Bozeman Planning Board Bill Murdock, Gallatin County Commissioner Guests / Staff present: Aimee Brunckhorst, Deputy City Clerk taking minutes John Van Delinder, Bozeman Street Department ITEM 2. PUBLIC COMMENT {Public comment limited to any public matter within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee not on this agenda with a three-minute time limit per speaker.} Chair Bob Lashaway opened public comment. No person commented. Bob Lashaway closed public comment. ITEM 3. MINUTES OF APRIL 25, 2012 Lee Provance will email corrections to the minutes. It was moved by Rob Bukvich, seconded by Marianne Amsden to approve the minutes of April 25, 2012 as amended. Motion and Vote to approve the minutes of April 25, 2012 as amended. The Motion passed unanimously. ITEM 4. TCC COMMITTEE/MEMBER REPORTS Transit Committee Report Lee Provance provided an update regarding County road projects. Rob Bukvich reported that the Montana Department of Transportation received the new 2 year highway bill from the Federal Government and quite a few changes were made. Some of the more significant changes are to the CTEP and Safe Routes to School Program as they have all been rolled into one program. MDT has not digested the changes yet and how they will handle those changes. City of Bozeman (Commission/Planning Board) None. Bike Advisory Board Rebecca Gleason from the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB) reported that BABAB conducted the first ever bicycle counts in Bozeman last year and they have 50 volunteers signed up to do the bike count again this year. To be consistent with a national bike count project, they will take bike counts from September 11-13th. Ms. Gleason also said BABAB submitted an application to the League of American Bicyclists for designation as a Bicycle Friendly city. They should hear back on that application in a few months. Pedestria n and Traffic Safety Committee Ralph Zimmer said the Committee has been discussing the possibility of turning lanes off South 19th to improve safety. Montana Department of Transportation Ralph Zimmer asked about the changes and ramifications of the newly passed Transportation Reauthorization Act, who will make funding decisions and how the public can become involved in those decisions. Rob Bukvich suggested that the Montana Department of Transportation website has an area for comments and MDT pays attention to those comments. The website also includes scheduling information. Jeff Ebert explained that the new bill takes about 60 funding programs and narrows them down to five or six. MDT has set up committees for each program to examine the bill and begin looking at how to implement the programs. The new bill allows for additional flexibility and MDT is very open to input on how things will be funded and implemented. Jeff Ebert, responding to a question from Mr. Zimmer said there was a funding level boost to the Safety Improvement Program and explained that MDT has been attempting to become more proactive than reactive. Dustin Rouse explained the time line for map 21 implementation. July 19 to August 8th : workgroups will conduct review. August 9th: meeting of implementation team. August 20th outreach meeting. MDT will send an email with public meeting dates, times and locations to the TCC secretary for dissemination to all Committee members. Ralph Zimmer relayed that the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee supports funding projects that satisfy as many goals as possible in light of the reduction in funding of CTEP, Safe Routes and Recreational Trails. For example, recreation trails that also serve significant transportation needs. Rob Bukvich said MDT knows that CTEP and Safe Routes has been hugely successful. Funding might change a little, but states will still have the ability to fund at a higher level than is outlined in the bill. Jeff Ebert explained that there is at least one urban area coming online in Montana, meaning that urban funds money will need to be shared with more cities. Federal Highway Administration None. Other TCC Member/Committee Reports None. ITEM 6. OLD BUSINESS None. ITEM 7. NEW BUSINESS None. ITEM 8. PROJECT UPDATES MSU Projects Updates Bob Lashaway said James Goehrung called about the center of the roundabout at 11th and College. The Chamber of Commerce has been talking with President Cruzado about the possibility of installing a sculpture in the center island of the roundabout. CTEP Projects Rob Bukvich said the City of Bozeman is preparing a CTEP application to do multiple sidewalk and ADA fill ins throughout the city. Ralph Zimmer asked about the status of a joint City-County CTEP project along Oak providing improved pedestrian access to the fairgrounds. County Commissioner Bill Murdock reported that the County budget has $40,000 set aside for this project in addition to County CTEP funds and city of Bozeman is matching that number. John VanDelinder said this project starts in front of private property at Kmart and ends on Rouse. Kyle DeMars reported the Bozeman East and Bozeman structures came in over estimate. He also said the west Bozeman Interchange project will happen next season. Jeff Ebert reported that the North Seventh interchange – west Bozeman will be a 2 year phased construction. During the winter they will restore 2 lane traffic in both directions. Jeff Ebert said the Valley Center underpass will be next year and could involve road closures. They also have seismic work to do on the Rouse footing. Intersection Improvement Projects None. I-90 East Belgrade Interchange Report Jeff Ebert reported on the fund plan stakeholders have been working on using a wide variety of sources. The State Transportation Commission are meeting on Thursday in Billings and the Belgrade interchange is on that agenda. The stakeholders will be asking the Commission to help with the one million funding shortfall based on current estimates. The group is also currently discussing how to handle overruns. MDT staff has made a recommendation to the Commission that they do make up the funding shortfall. If the Commission says yes, the next step will be acquisition of right away and negotiating utilities. The Tiger Grant paying for a portion of this project requires obligation of funds prior to the end of Sept. 2013. They will try to obtain right of way by June 1st with a bid opening in July or August. This project will take two years to construct. The total project amount is about 32.5 million, with some of those funds already allocated out for design, etc. The actual construction will cost about 22 million. TSM’s None. Jackrabbit Lane Improvements Rob Bukvich reported that curb and gutter are going down now with chip seal next year. Design is continuing on the next phase of Belgrade South which starts at Hulbert and goes to Frank road. They will enter right of way negotiations this winter or early spring. G. Other John VanDelinder reported retirement party for Debbie Arkell at the Legion at 5 p.m. on September 7th. ITEM 8. 2012 MEETING DATES AND ADJOURNMENT October 24, 2012 January 23, 2013 Bob Lashaway adjourned the meeting at 10:55 p.m. ______________________________________________________ Bob Lashaway, Chairperson Bozeman Area Transportation Coordinating Committee Prepared by: _______________________________ Aimee J. Brunckhorst, Deputy City Clerk Approved on: