M I N U T E S
CITIZENS’ TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD (CTAB)
March 7, 2006
Alamo Corporate Center, 102 S. Tejon Street
First Floor Conference Room
1. CALL TO ORDER/ESTABLISH QUORUM: Chairperson Gary Bradley called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
Members present: Gary Bradley, Dan Cleveland, Jane Dillon, Bob Hartwig, Ann Oatman-Gardner, Brian Risley, Don Schley, Joe Vaccaro and David Whitehead.
Members absent: Gene Bray and Joe Henjum.
Staff present: Bill Healy, Planning and Community Development Director; Ron Mitchell, Public Works Director; Cam McNair, City Engineer; Bruce Thorson, Roadway Design Manager; Robin Kidder, Senior Civil Engineer; Scott Logan, Traffic Engineering Division Manager;Kathie Haire, Senior Traffic Engineer; Craig Blewitt, Transportation Planning Manager; Don Sides, Urban Redevelopment Neighborhood Program Specialist; James Mayerl, Senior Planner; Corinne Donahue, Senior Transit Planner; Mary Scott, City Public Communications; and Gaye Smith, Transportation Planning.
Others present: Lina Biondi and Carla Tong, Roman Villa; Craig Casper, PPACG; Mitch Christiansen, Century Commercial Builders; Greg Danis, Danis Asphalt; Kirby Egan, Dal-Tile; Glenn Frank, Trucking Issues Subcommittee; Michael Hajek, Gerald H. Phipps; Bill Hethcock, Gazette; Mika Hernandez, Señor Manuel’s Mexican Cuisine; Beth Kosley, Downtown Partnership; George Maentz, Mesa Road resident; Dan Meyer, Golden Eagle Enterprises;
Mary and Thomas Murphy, Murphy’s Tavern; Rick Orphan, Fort Carson Department of Public Works; Clyde Pikkaraine, RTA Project Manager; Betty and Dan Romano, I.Z. Design; David and Kate Unruh, The Car Show; Mary Jo Vobejda, CH2M Hill; and Dave Watt, CDOT
Region 2.
2. CITIZEN COMMENT:
· George Maentz wished to bring a public safety and neighborhood issue before the Board. Mesa Road on the west side of town has been classified as a minor arterial because it links the southwest part of town and communities up the pass with Garden of the Gods and points north. He is concerned that traffic volumes and speeding on Mesa Road will get worse with development in the area. Additionally, because Mesa Road is a minor arterial, he has been told that it is not eligible to receive traffic calming. Because Mesa Road is two lanes with narrow pavement widths and has a residential character and right-of-way constrictions, the residents feel Mesa Road meets the criteria for a collector or residential designation rather than its current arterial status. Craig Blewitt noted that the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program addresses cut-through traffic only, and this is a situation that involves an arterial in a residential area. Therefore, he would forward Mr. Maentz’s concern to Traffic Engineering for assistance and a response. Based on the condition of the road, the speed limit will not be raised.
· Beth Kosley reported that the Bijou Street bridge design had been taken to several other boards, and additional changes from what had been discussed at the past CTAB meeting had been requested. She said that CDOT has been “glorious” to work with, and that an updated design will be brought back to the Downtown Partnership Board. The organization has pledged to find funds to landscape the west side of the interstate at the bridge location and she will keep CTAB updated.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the February 7, 2006 Regular Meeting were presented. Bob Hartwig motioned for approval, Dan Cleveland seconded, and the minutes were unanimously approved. The minutes of the February 14, 2006 Special Meeting were then presented. David Whitehead motioned for approval, Ann Oatman-Gardner seconded, and the minutes were unanimously approved. Absent: Henjum and Whitehead.
4. TRUCKING ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT: Bob Hartwig said that the Subcommittee is reviewing a proposal to use roadway classifications of principal arterials and above as a basis for a truck route system. City staff is creating a roadway classifications map that shows all freeways, expressways and principal arterials, along with the present truck route system, overlaid on a Future Land Use map. Subcommittee members are working on developing criteria for potential changes to the City’s truck route system as well as a schedule based on having any recommended and approved changes to the truck route system in place by January 1, 2007. This would coordinate with Traffic Engineering’s plan to provide stakeholders with truck route updates once each year, on January 1. The intent of the Subcommittee is to look at the truck route system as a whole, not street by street.
Bob asked for comments on how Board members thought TISC should handle the public process. Board members suggested that some neighborhood or regional meetings should be held to get input, and then perhaps one city-wide meeting could be held. Chairperson Bradley suggested that perhaps someone on the City Planning Commission should be invited to the Subcommittee meetings, since any proposed changes to the truck route system would be presented to the Planning Commission. Craig Blewitt suggested that perhaps a briefing could be given at the next Informal Planning Commission meeting, scheduled for March 30. Staff will follow up on this.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Transit Update – Corinne Donahue handed out a Transit Services Status Report. The Front Range Express (FREX) ridership continues to reach 12,000 boardings per month, and Corinne was asked if there was any additional information on the future of FREX. Two meetings have been held in Castle Rock with stakeholders along the front range, from Pueblo to Fort Collins. The City of Castle Rock is the only municipality that has offered to help fund FREX thus far, and Transit has also applied for a grant through CDOT for a proposed FREX Sustainability Study. At the moment, FREX received about $600,000 in fares and expenditures for 2006 are expected to be approximately $1,620,000, which leaves an annual shortfall of $1 million. Updated FREX information will be available at www.frontrangeexpress.com so that residents and riders can be kept apprised of the future of FREX.
B. Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Update – Ron Mitchell reported that Council has approved the Silver Key Senior Services and Amblicab funding requests using PPRTA funds through 2006. Ron was asked if the contract would still have to go through PPRTA’s Citizen Advisory Committee, and he responded that under the Intergovernmental Agreement, the City is the only agency that can contract this service out and designate City funds.
6. NEW BUSINESS: Because so many citizens were in attendance for the North Nevada Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan portion of the meeting, Chairperson Bradley moved this item to the first order of New Business, with the concurrence of the presenters of the Fort Carson Transformation Plan and US 24 West Environmental Assessment Update.
C. North Nevada Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan – Craig Blewitt explained that staff is proposing an amendment to the City’s Intermodal Transportation Plan to add the recommendations of the North Nevada Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan. The Board is being asked to recommend approval of the proposed amendment to the Intermodal Transportation Plan to City Council. A corridor improvement plan is an adopted roadway plan that designates access locations and types along a roadway. Goals of the plan are to reduce the potential for traffic accidents and improve traffic flow. For the North Nevada Avenue corridor, from Lilac Street to I-25, access roads are planned to complement the existing roadway network and provide connectivity to businesses. Presently, access is essentially unlimited. Over time, as the access roads develop and properties redevelop along North Nevada Avenue, access points onto North Nevada Avenue will be reduced and/or closed. Parking in the public right-of-way is one issue that the City will work with business owners to resolve, and business driveways will be maintained until that portion of the corridor is improved. As a result of meetings with property owners, ¾ access has been added: right-in and right-out, as well as left-in turning movements are allowed, but no left-out turns will be permitted. This means that truck drivers will have to turn right (south) not left when needing to head north. Truck turning improvements are also needed at the Nevada/Fillmore intersection.
Don Sides explained how the Corridor Improvement Plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s policies and strategies, which include accommodating safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services; providing for all modes of transportation; and being compatible with adjacent land uses. He also described other studies that have been conducted along the corridor, including the 2004 North Nevada Urban Renewal Plan and the North Nevada Reinvestment Study (2002).
Kathie Haire discussed plan solutions and recommendations, which include adding continuous sidewalks, on-street bike lanes, medians that will allow drivers to make U-turns, lighting, streetscape elements, and additional lanes north of Fillmore (six lanes total, based on forecasted traffic volumes). The plan recommends minimizing access points to reduce conflict along the corridor and keeping private business parking on private property only. When asked if it was possible for businesses to receive a waiver for parking requirements or some other accommodation, Kathie said that it might be possible for complimentary land-use businesses to share parking. Craig said that the City will address problems on a case-by-case basis. The plan is a framework for future design and growth of the corridor.
Citizens were invited to provide their comments on the Corridor Improvement Plan:
· Greg Danis, Danis Asphalt, was distressed that he had never been notified of this plan and stated that it appears to significantly impact his business. City staff will meet with Mr. Danis to review the potential impact to his property.
· Mitch Christiansen, adjacent property owner on North Nevada, felt that two bike lanes were not needed and that property owners were not being treated fairly. He cited Comcor reimbursements and negative impacts to properties such as Señor Manuel’s and The Car Show. He believes that the statistics do not warrant “this excessive grandeur” of the plan and expanding North Nevada Avenue to six lanes.
· Mika Hernandez, family owner of Señor Manuel’s, expressed concern that if the parking at the entrance to her restaurant is taken away, she will lose the use of her banquet facility, and if she wishes to sell her business in the future, the access goes away, which will make her property less valuable. Craig responded that although the City does want to reduce access points on North Nevada, by law businesses must be provided with reasonable access.
Board members commented that there appeared to be an adequate process in place to help citizens work with the City on the impacts to their property. David Whitehead had questions about the typical cross sections shown. He suggested that the planned bicycle and pedestrian facilities should be limited in order to reduce the right of way demands, which would help to alleviate the parking problems.
Dan Cleveland moved to approve the staff recommendation to amend the Intermodal Transportation Plan to add the recommendations of the North Nevada Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan. Jane Dillon seconded the motion.
Don Schley asked that the motion be amended to include citizen comments in CTAB’s recommendation that will be forwarded to City Council. Dan Cleveland suggested that rather than amend the motion, a goal statement be included in the Plan. The following goal statement was proposed and agreed upon: “Optimize the viability of the existing businesses along the corridor.” Jane Dillon, who had seconded the motion to approve, concurred.
A vote was then taken, and the motion passed 8 – 1, with Board members Bradley, Cleveland, Dillon, Hartwig, Oatman-Gardner, Risley, Schley, and Vaccaro for, and Whitehead opposed. Absent: Bray and Henjum.
A. Fort Carson Transformation Plan – Rick Orphan, Fort Carson Department of Public Works, gave a presentation on the proposed transportation infrastructure improvements that would support Fort Carson’s expansion. Active duty military population is expected to increase from 15,000 to over 25,000 personnel, and several Fort Carson roads and intersections are already near or at their rated capacity. Rick said that transportation infrastructure improvements will be critical to Fort Carson’s ability to function, and that State Highway 16 is absolutely vital to the base. He described the strategic mobility improvements, which include the construction of a Defense Access Route between Gate 20 and the Colorado Springs Airport, noting that SH 16 would provide a crucial link in the direct Rapid Deployment Route between Gate 20 and the airport. Rick was asked why there was no transit plan. He replied that the scope of his briefing had been limited to infrastructure, but that Fort Carson is very committed to working with Mountain Metro Transit. For example, shuttle schedules have been adjusted to align with the City’s bus schedules.
- - - Board Member Schley leaves - - -
B. US 24 West Environmental Assessment (EA) Update – Dave Watt said that in order for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to widen a highway, it must have environmental clearance. Once that is granted, the project can compete for available funding. The US 24 West project limits are I-25 west to the eastern edge of Manitou Springs. As part of the EA process, six open houses have been held, with attendance ranging from about 60 people to 250 people in January 2006. Last week an open house was held in Woodland Park, with 33 citizens in attendance. Three alternatives are being considered:
1. No Build: Includes already committed projects, minor safety improvements, improvement to bicycle and pedestrian facilities as local grants allow, and no change to existing bus routes.
2. Midland Expressway: Upgraded at-grade intersections at most locations; interchanges at I-25/8th Street, 21st Street and Manitou Avenue; three lanes from 8th Street to Manitou Avenue; 45 mph speed limit; grade-separated pedestrian crossing; transit service package
3. US 24 Freeway: All grade-separated interchanges between I-25 and Manitou Avenue; overpass at 26th and Ridge Road/High Street; three lanes from I-25 to 21st Street; two lanes from 21st Street to Manitou Avenue; 55 mph speed limit; includes transit service package
Dave said that the project team was close to selecting a preferred alternative. Issues include visual concerns and maintaining neighborhood as well as economic viability. Other modes of travel, including transit and trails, will also be addressed. Mary Jo Vobejda explained the criteria to be used. Greater conceptual engineering detail and design refinement will begin once the preferred alternative has been selected. Next steps include detailed environmental studies and agency coordination; then writing the EA and obtaining approval. Craig Blewitt commented that City staff has been pleased with the outreach effort.