M I N U T E S

CITIZENS’ TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD (CTAB)

May 1, 2007

City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue

4th Floor Conference Room, Suite 401 Large

1. CALL TO ORDER/ESTABLISH QUORUM: Chairperson Gary Bradley called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.


Members present: Gary Bradley, Gene Bray, Dan Cleveland, Jane Dillon, Chad Hartley (non-voting alternate), Bob Hartwig, Jim Ramsey, Brian Risley, Don Schley and Joe Vaccaro.

Members absent: David Whitehead and Randy Welsch.

Staff present: Cam McNair, City Engineer; Scott Logan, Traffic Engineering Division Manager; Saleem Khattak, Street Division Manager; Sherre Ritenour, Transit Services Division Manager; Carrie McCausland, City Pubic Communications; Kathie Haire, Principal Traffic Engineer; Jude Willcher, Transportation Planning Engineer; Chris Lieber and Jeff Haley, Parks & Recreation Department; Craig Blewitt, Transportation Planning Manager; Kristin Bennett, Senior Transportation Planner; and Gaye Smith, Transportation Planning.
Others present: Richard Hansen, City Planning Commission; Michael King, Wilson & Company; Glenn Messke, Peterson AFB Engineering; David Munger, Old North End Neighborhood (ONEN); Richard O’Connell, CTAB Trucking Issues Subcommittee (TISC); and John O’Donnell, Surface Transportation Advisory Coalition (STAC).

2. CITIZEN COMMENT: None.

3.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the April 3, 2007 Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board meeting were presented. Jane Dillon motioned for approval, Joe Vaccaro seconded, and the minutes were unanimously approved. Absent: Ramsey, Welsch and Whitehead.

4.  TRUCKING ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT:

·  Subcommittee Membership Appointments – Mark Cunningham currently serves as the City Planning Commission representative on the Trucking Issues Subcommittee. Craig Blewitt noted that Mark’s term on the Planning Commission expires on May 3, which requires that a new representative from the Planning Commission be named to replace Mark. Richard Hansen is interested in replacing Mark, and to provide continuity, Mark has offered to continue his participation on the Subcommittee as an at-large member. Chairperson Bradley has also suggested that another CTAB member be appointed as an alternate to the Subcommittee, should one of the regular CTAB members be unable to attend a Subcommittee meeting. Jim Ramsey has expressed interest in serving as CTAB’s alternate representative on the TISC. As part of the resolution that established the Subcommittee, CTAB was given the authority to appoint additional Subcommittee members and alternates, as deemed necessary. These actions will increase the TISC to 11 voting members and one alternate.
Dan Cleveland moved that CTAB appoint Richard Hansen to serve on the Trucking Issues Subcommittee to replace Mark Cunningham on the City Planning Commission; that Mark Cunningham be appointed as an additional at large member to the Subcommittee; and that Jim Ramsey be appointed as an alternate CTAB member on the Subcommittee. Jane Dillon seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Absent: Ramsey, Welsch and Whitehead.

·  TISC Report – The Subcommittee held its regular meeting on April 17. Bob Hartwig noted that several police officers were in attendance due to a citizen’s concern that had been expressed about police officer comments at a previous Subcommittee meeting that the zone concept would be confusing and difficult to enforce. At the April 17 meeting, Gene Bray had motioned that TISC complete the evaluation and review of individual roadways, complete the overall system review, see how the changes recommended on individual routes function as a system, and then move forward with Option A as TISC’s recommendation to the public, CTAB and Council. Option A does not include the concept of a local delivery route.
Since then, members of the Nevada Corridor Work Group have met, and its Chairperson, TISC member Rich O’Connell, reported on the results of that meeting. Rich said that the lack of a clear definition of a local delivery route or zone appears to have been the main problem, as even group members were confused. The group looked at what the local delivery route system would entail, at least as it applies to the Nevada corridor geographic area, within the already-defined truck route system. Another issue is the size of delivery vehicles that would be allowed to use a local delivery zone. The Group is trying to come up with an appropriate length that would keep the trucks smaller but allow the conduct of commerce. David Munger noted that truck size is an important issue for Colorado College, the Downtown Partnership, and the Old North End Neighborhood. Rich said that the group is working with the trucking industry to see what can be agreed to, and he will provide details to TISC at its May 15 meeting. The intent is to come up with an agreement for Nevada Avenue that hopefully could also have a broader application.
Rich was asked if restrictions on hours of truck operations were being considered. Restricting operations has not been an issue; Gary Bradley noted that the Surface Transportation Advisory Coalition had made an offer to restrict hours, but realistically, very little truck traffic is on the roads after 7 p.m. David Munger commented that restricting hours also does not address the safety issue. Bob was asked why TISC has not yet reviewed the rest of the roadways, and he responded that as TISC was getting to that point when the local delivery route concept was introduced, and the Subcommittee wanted to explore that as an option for some of the roadways under consideration. He said that when the Subcommittee hears the report from the Nevada Corridor Work Group on May 15, it will try to come to an agreement at that time, and he will report back to CTAB.

5. OLD BUSINESS:

A.  Transit Update – Sherre Ritenour asked if Board members had any questions regarding the monthly update that had been provided in their meeting packet. She was asked if the delivery of the new buses was on schedule and she said that it was, with the first delivery to take place later this month.

- - Board Member Ramsey arrives - - -

She was also asked what she thought attributed to the downturn in ridership on the Front Range Express. Sherre listed several factors, including weather; the old buses presently in use being uncomfortable for the longer trips on the Interstate; ridership being down at Castle Rock because light rail serve at Lone Tree has started; and the recent fare increase.

B.  Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Report – Cam McNair reported that several capital projects were at or near completion. Milling and overlay work at the Fillmore/Union intersection should take place this weekend, and the project is scheduled to be completed in May. The Fountain/Academy intersection is essentially done. Design work for the Cimarron Bridge is 60% completed, and the cost is more in line with the budget.
Scott Logan said that the Peer-to-Peer Exchange, part of the Greenlight Coordination Project, would start next week, running from May 7 through May 10. Experts from several cities across the country will share best practices with Traffic Engineering, and bus tours of the most congested corridors have been scheduled. Some topics to be presented and discussed include Traffic Signal Philosophies, Arterial Congestion Timing, Diversionary Signal Plans, Applying Innovative and Technology Based Solutions, and public outreach.
Scott was asked if Board members could attend the sessions and he said that they could. Gaye will e-mail details of the sessions to the Board members, and Scott said that he would come back to the Board with a report on the outcome of the Exchange next month.

6. NEW BUSINESS:

A.  Tire Rubber Asphalt Update – Saleem Khattak began by thanking CTAB for the important role it played in ensuring that maintenance funds were included as part of the PPRTA. He said that these funds were especially appreciated with the challenges that the Street Division has faced this past winter. The City of Colorado Springs has over 4,800 lane miles of paved roadways to maintain, and this increases to about 5,000 with paved alleyways. In comparison, Denver’s infrastructure is at 5,500 lane miles. Terminal blend tire rubber asphalt is being considered due to the escalating cost of oil and the possibility that it could provide an extended pavement life. Other potential advantages include a smoother surface, noise reduction, increased safety during rain storms, durability, and possible life cycle cost savings. The breakeven point is reached if rubber asphalt can extend pavement life two extra years. In 2006, the City created four test sections totaling about 4.7 miles, to see how well the rubber asphalt performs in this climate. Approximately 4 miles of Union Boulevard, from Pikes Peak to Austin Bluffs, will be resurfaced with rubber asphalt in 2007.
Saleem was asked if paint adheres better to rubber asphalt, which could be considered an additional cost savings. Saleem noted that this had been a very difficult winter, which made it hard to determine how paint might wear under normal conditions. The first set of data on the test areas is being collected this year, and that information will be shared with the engineering community in Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Saleem will give presentations to City Council and the Board of Directors of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments at their next meetings.

- - Board Member Schley leaves - - -

B.  Pikes Peak Greenway Accessibility Project – Kristin Bennett explained that City staff is requesting that $35,000 from the Bicycle Tax Fund be earmarked to help with the reconstruction of a one-mile section of the Pikes Peak Greenway in the vicinity of Goose Gossage Park and Mark Dabling Boulevard. She explained details of the proposed project, which has a cost estimate of $135,000. In addition to Bicycle Tax Funds, $50,000 will come from the PPRTA Pikes Peak Greenway project (List A), and $50,000 from the Parks Department’s general budget. This item will come before City Council at its May 22 formal meeting, and Kristin asked for the Board’s concurrence.
Dan Cleveland moved to approve the use of $35,000 from the Bicycle Tax Fund for the Pikes Peak Greenway Accessibility Project. Jane Dillon seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Absent: Schley, Welsch and Whitehead.

C.  Roadway Noise Control Plan – Cam McNair provided a final draft of the Roadway Noise Control Plan to Board members, which is also available on line at http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=6415. Cam referred to the public outreach schedule included in the meeting packet, noting that the Roadway Noise Control Plan team will be presenting this draft to various groups. The Plan was developed as a response to increasing concern expressed by citizens. The issue is separate from individual nuisance noises, which is already covered by City Code.
Roadway noise is described as the cumulative effects of many vehicles on the City’s busiest streets, characterized by a constant hum of traffic. The problem has been grouped into three categories that generally represent situations producing adverse roadway noise impacts in residential areas: Noise caused by roadway construction projects, such as the Union/Austin Bluffs Parkway project; private development projects built adjacent to principal arterial streets, expressways and freeways; and roadway noise experienced by existing residential neighborhoods that are adjacent to increasingly busy streets.
At its August 21, 2006 meeting, City Council expressed support for staff to address this problem, and agreed upon a 63-decibel threshold. Staff is now proposing a package of code changes and design guidelines to address the issue. Recommendations include establishing roadway noise impact planning areas and incorporating the Roadway Noise Control Plan into the City Code. The team has developed several implementation tools, which are part of the draft Roadway Noise Control Plan and are intended to avoid future problems while addressing current problems. These include a section to be added in the Public Works Design Manual entitled Noise Reduction Planning Procedures for Roadway Projects; a Roadway Noise Reduction Design Guide to address technical issues for new residences and roadway noise analysis for roadway construction projects; and a Quieting Our Streets handbook and program for established neighborhoods.
Cam noted the financial implications to establishing a consistent City-wide roadway noise standard and policy, which could potentially impact costs of City-managed roadway projects as well as private development projects. Conversely, failure to set a consistent policy could potentially result in time and cost impacts if each construction project team has to work through roadway noise control separately, rather than following noise control guidelines. Retrofitting noise mitigation measures also costs more than planning the measures into projects from the beginning. One question that will be taken to the PPRTA Board is that for projects created by PPRTA capital funds, should maintenance funds be made available for noise mitigation? This item will come back to CTAB in August for a formal recommendation to Council before being presented for adoption at Council’s August 28 meeting.

D.  Marksheffel Road Access Control Plan – Jude Willcher said that the City is working with El Paso County to prepare a corridor preservation plan, an access control plan and roadway designs for Marksheffel Road. Board members were given a copy of the draft corridor study and access control plan. This is a PPRTA project to improve Marksheffel Road from two lanes to a six-lane principal arterial. The project includes future and existing segments of Marksheffel between Black Forest to the north and Peterson Air Force Base’s east gate to the south, and goes in and out of both City and County jurisdictions. As a result, the design standards for the City and County are being blended for Marksheffel, and Jude provided cross section diagrams that have been developed for typical 4 and 6-lane sections. The
4-lane design is the interim improvements in the area of heaviest near-future traffic, between Dublin Boulevard and Constitution Avenue using PPRTA funds; the remainder of the roadway is the responsibility of private developers. Extensive coordination with the developers is taking place to address funding/construction issues. Jude said that the County will be taking the Marksheffel Corridor Study to the Board of County Commissioners, and this will also go before City Council. She would like CTAB to review the document and would like to come back for the Board’s formal recommendation to Council at the June CTAB meeting.
Jude was asked why Marksheffel needed to be built to six lanes with Powers Boulevard and Banning-Lewis Ranch being alternate north-south corridors. She responded that Powers Boulevard will have increasing demands on it in the future, and Marksheffel Road and Banning-Lewis Parkway handle different kinds of trips and serve different functions. Marksheffel is forecast to serve the bulk of residential and local shopping trips in the area, while Banning-Lewis Parkway will serve longer through trips.