M I N U T E S
CITIZENS’ TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD (CTAB)
March 4, 2008
City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue
Suite 102 (Old Council Chambers)
1. CALL TO ORDER/ESTABLISH QUORUM: Chairperson Dan Cleveland called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. The minimum quorum requirement of six members was met, but one Board member needed to be excused early. Therefore, Chairperson Cleveland asked Board members for their agreement to modify the agenda to allow New Business to be heard first, in case the quorum was lost.
Members present: Dan Cleveland, Jane Dillon, Jim Ramsey, Brian Risley, Don Schley and Joe Vaccaro.
Members absent: Alicia Archibald (non-voting alternate), Amber Bowden, Gene Bray,
David Munger, Randy Welsch and David Whitehead.
Staff present: Ron Mitchell, Public Works Director; Cam McNair, City Engineer; Scott Logan, Traffic Engineering Division Manager; Rob Helt, Traffic Operations Center; Dave Menter, Transit Planning Supervisor, Transit Services Division; Tim Mitros, Senior Civil Engineer;
Craig Blewitt, Comprehensive Planning Division Manager; Kristin Bennett, Senior Transportation Planner; Carrie McCausland, Public Communications Specialist; and Gaye Smith, Transportation Planning Analyst.
Others present: Dave Chaffee, Garden Ranch HOA; Caroline Ekberg, URS; Sandra Krueger, Austin Heights HOA; Walter Lawson, citizen; Marla Novak, Housing & Building Association;
Rich O’Connell, CTAB Trucking Issues Subcommittee; Troy Slocum, Wilson & Company;
Gary Erickson and Bob Yoo, Northgate Properties.
2. CITIZEN COMMENT: None.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the February 5, 2008 meeting had not been provided to Board members in advance of the meeting and will therefore be approved at the next regular meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Extension of Powers Blvd from SH 83 to I-25 – Tim Mitros said that CTAB’s support of the extension of Powers from State Highway 83 to I-25 was being requested, along with a recommendation to Council that the extension of Powers Boulevard from SH 83 to I-25 be added to the Pikes Peak Area Council Government (PPACG) list of bulleted priorities. The PPACG’s list of Transportation Projects Priorities within the I-25 and Powers Boulevard State Strategic Corridors was provided as part of the Board members’ meeting packet. Gary Erickson described the project, which will tie the two interchanges on I-25 at Gleneagle together in a configuration similar to the interchange at I-25 and the Park Meadows Mall. The intersection design has been approved by the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Department of Transportation and the City. The project will not be built all at once due to the cost of the ultimate freeway section and interchange; therefore, an interim plan has been developed so that the project can be built in phases. The project should be started in about a year and will probably take 1-½ to 2 years to complete.
Don Schley moved that the Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board support the extension of Powers Boulevard from State Highway 83 to Interstate 25. Jim Ramsey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Absent: Bowden, Bray, Munger, Welsch and Whitehead.
Don Schley moved that the Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board recommend that the extension of Powers Boulevard from State Highway 83 to Interstate 25 be added to the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments’ list of bulleted priorities. Jane Dillon seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Absent: Bowden, Bray, Munger, Welsch and Whitehead.
B. Peer-to-Peer Exchange Study – Signal Improvement Plan – Scott Logan reported on the implementation plan to enhance signal coordination and operations along the City’s most congested roadway corridors, based on the results of the 2007 Peer to Peer Signal Operations Analysis exchange study. To implement the top peer suggestions, staff has developed a work plan that has included intersection/corridor identification, analysis, testing, and implementation phases. Operational plans will be pre-tested by simulation, then tested again by implementing the changes during short trial periods. Staff will monitor the preliminary results, and after full implementation, additional monitoring will be performed, which will include performing travel time surveys and evaluating and responding to public feedback.
The plan will take approximately two years to implement with available resources, including the fabrication and installation of the new controllers and software. Costs for the new controllers will be approximately $1,200 for about 300 units that will be installed at signalized intersections along principal and minor arterials. Staff costs will be absorbed within the City and PPRTA operation budgets without significant impacts.
C. PPACG Call for Projects – Kristin Bennett reported that the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) is issuing a call for projects in the next few weeks seeking federal funding for the Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) and Transportation Enhancements (TE) programs from FFY 2009 and FFY 2010. The call for projects will be to select CMAQ projects for two years and to select TE projects for either two or four years. The PPACG Transportation Enhancements Subcommittee (TES) will be discussing whether the call should be two or four years at its March 7th meeting and will make a recommendation to PPACG staff. PPACG’s website (www.ppacg.org) will include information on the CMAQ and TE call for projects when they are released.
4. TRUCKING ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT: Dan Cleveland noted that Dave Munger did a great job with the TISC presentation to City Council on February 25. Council approved the removal of Nevada Avenue from the truck route network and was supportive of the recommendation to have Nevada Avenue from Cimarron Street to Fillmore Street designated as a restricted route. The recommendations for signage and four-axle restrictions on commercial vehicles were also well received.
Craig Blewitt said that he met with Wynetta Massey, Deputy City Attorney, about the procedure for removing Nevada Avenue from the truck route network. In reviewing the City Code, Ms. Massey determined that the Traffic Engineer has the authority to restrict truck route operations, so no ordinance is required at this time. The Traffic Engineer’s authority is to administer truck route operations, publish the truck route map, and sign the various truck routes. The City Council’s authority is to approve a truck route plan. The truck route plan is a component of the City’s Intermodal Transportation Plan (ITP), which was adopted by ordinance, so any changes to the plan will require an ordinance to amend the ITP. Once the Trucking Issues Subcommittee has completed the truck route review process and any changes have been approved by Council, staff will come back to Council with one ordinance that amends the entire truck route plan.
Chairperson Cleveland noted that another question posed by Council was whether there was representation of the four Council districts on the Subcommittee. Currently TISC is comprised of three members of CTAB plus one alternate, four members of the community at large, one City Planning Commission representative, and three members representing the trucking industry. The Board members are appointed by districts, but Subcommittee members are not. Gaye Smith reviewed the Subcommittee member list and provided Board members with a roster that includes each member’s Council District (attached as part of these meeting minutes). This confirms that at present, at least one member lives in each Council District. Chairperson Cleveland suggested that in the future, as new Subcommittee members are appointed, the Board could review at large positions and insure Council district representation.
Carrie McCausland expressed concern that a Gazette article on TISC’s presentation to Council had reported that a special public meeting on Nevada Avenue would be held. The other opportunity for public input would have been when an ordinance on the changes to Nevada Avenue was presented to Council for approval. Since that will not take place before the changes are implemented, and Councilmembers thought that this would come back to them before implementation, she suggested that a public hearing be scheduled at either a CTAB or TISC meeting. (A public hearing was publicized and held on March 18 as part of the Trucking Issues Subcommittee regular meeting.)
5. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Transit Update – Transit Services provided its monthly update as part of the CTAB meeting packet. Dave Menter noted that there was a 17% increase in Front Range Express ridership over the January 2007 figures. A five-year business plan has been prepared and will be presented to Council for review and action on March 24.
B. Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Report – Cam McNair provided an update on some of the PPRTA projects.
· A design contract will be issued for a new deck on the Nevada Avenue bridge south of Fillmore. The project will also include railings, sidewalks and lighting. Because of the aesthetics involved, there will be a public process.
· The Vincent Drive bridge and extension of Vincent Drive has been moved up on the PPRTA schedule and will start this year.
· Girders have been installed on the Cimarron Street Bridge. The estimated completion date is end of August, but the plan is to open one half of the bridge to two-way traffic in mid-May.
· Installation of girders will begin on the Austin Bluffs Parkway at Union Interchange the week of March 24 and will involve mostly night work.
· The Streets Division has six contractors working on curbs and gutters in preparation for the overlay program.
C. 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update – Craig Blewitt said that the Colorado Springs City Council reviewed and discussed the Draft 2035 Regional Transportation Plan at its February 25 Informal meeting, considered the recommendations made by staff and the CTAB, and will request the following revisions to the Plan:
1) Language needs to be added that provides context to the project to extend Constitution Avenue from Paseo Road to I-25 at Fontanero, as follows:
"The Constitution Avenue corridor from Paseo to I-25 should be preserved for the future transportation needs of the community. If Constitution Avenue is to be extended, it should be no sooner than the 2020 time frame as recommended by City staff. It should be no more than four lanes, and it should include the noise and safety mitigation measures recommended in February 2002 by staff, possible below grade placement, pedestrian crossovers, etc. This project must be based on a thorough corridor study involving affected School District 11 schools and all neighborhoods, churches, etc. along Constitution Avenue."
2) The cost estimate for the Constitution Avenue project should be revised to be at least $100 million.
3) The I-25/Cimarron Interchange project should be advanced to the 2008-2015 time period for construction.
The PPACG Board of Directors will be asked to consider these revisions at the Board’s
March 12, 2008 meeting.
7. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS:
· Joe Vaccaro said that at the last CTAB meeting, Kevin Scott spoke to the Board and expressed his concerns about recent policy changes that have made using the paratransit service difficult. Since then, there has been a meeting with Metro Mobility on this issue, as well as a meeting with the new City Manager. An oversight committee will be formed and will be comprised of riders and other interested parties. The first meeting is scheduled for March 17, at 10:00 a.m. in the Transit Administration Building.
· Craig Blewitt said that staff is working on a Bicycle Friendly Communities application for the City, which is due March 21.
8. NEXT MEETING SCHEDULE: The next CTAB meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, in Suite 102 (Old Council Chambers).
9. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Cleveland adjourned the meeting at 4:37 p.m.
Attachment
CTAB Trucking Issues Subcommittee Member Roster by Council Districts, dated March 4, 2008
Submitted by Gaye Smith
Transportation Planning Analyst
City of Colorado Springs
CTAB Trucking Issues Subcommittee
Member Roster - By Council District
March 4, 2008
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