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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-11 TAC MINUTES• • City of Englewood, Colorado ENGLEWOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of July 11, 2002 The regular meeting of the Englewood Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Chairperson Anderson at 7:02 p.m. in the City of Englewood Community Room. Members Present: David Anderson Joe Christie Betty Goosman Barbara Hodge Members Absent: Gary Dounay Cinda Losee (Alternate) A quorum was present. Also Present: Ken Ross, Director of Public Works, ex officio Ladd Vostry, Traffic Engineer Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary Wendy Gracy, Traffic Analyst There were no visitors present. Chairperson Anderson asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of May 9, 2002. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed . Under Old Business, Director Ross distributed and reviewed a revised listing of projects for the Transportation Action Plan , which replaced the version contained in the member packets. Mr. Ross reviewed and discussed the revised list, item by item, and, using a drawing of the City of Englewood, showed the location of each proposed Bike/Trail Project. Conveniences for pedestrians and bicyclists, such as detailed signing, detector loops at signalized crossings that will detect cyclists, bike parking/air stations, benches , lighting, bulb-outs, and kiosks are also listed. Committee Member Hodge suggested installing pay phones along the system as a safety amenity. Mr . Ross advised that, after reviewing the costs for the Pedestrian Bridge over US285 at CityCenter, he would like to amend the dollar amount from $1,200,000 to $900,000 . As an alternative to the bridge over US285, Chairperson Anderson suggested that perhaps the trail could be developed along the Jason and Inca Streets roadway, crossing US285 at Inca St. into CityCenter. Proceeding with discussion of the revised Transportation Action Plan listing, Mr. Ross noted that two of the Road Projects listed are actually Colorado Department of Transportation (COOT) projects: 1) widen the 285 underpass at Broadway; 2) provide a grade separated interchange at Santa Fe and Dartmouth. At some point in time, should COOT proceed with these projects, the City will be required to contribute a percentage of the costs. • Regarding the cost of the five traffic items listed on page 5 of the Transportation Action Plan, Traffic Engineer Vostry noted that funding is provided, or partially provided, through the on-going Transportation Improvement Program. Mr. Ross reviewed the listed Traffic Calming Projects . Committee Member Christie observed that the ballpark costs for these projects seem light. Mr. Ross stated he will have those costs reviewed. Director Ross rev iewed the listed Transit Projects. He noted that the Bates LRT Station will be built as a "kiss and ri de " fac ility, as is the Oxford Station. Discussion ensued regarding the undesirable parking situations that could result, as has been the experience at other light rail stations. Dir ector Ro ss advised that the total cost of the transportation improvement items included in the Transportation Action Plan, excluding the two above-mentioned CDOT items, comes to $30,000,000. Mr. Ross stated that, following his presentation of the Plan to Planning and Zoning, he will bring their input, along with suggested funding mechanisms, to ETAC for consideration and ultimate recommendation to City Counc il. The citizens of Englewood will then have the deciding vote on whether or not to accept the proposed funding mechanism. Mr. Ross noted that, if desired, ETAC could also consider paring down the Plan to a more manageable program. There was brief discussion regarding the feasibility of prioritizing the list of proj ects . Chairperson Anderson observed that this list does not include installing traffic calming improvements around the schools, which is included in the Appendix of the Englewood Transportation Study. Director Ross stated he wi ll add this to the list. Under Subcommittee Re ports, Chairperson Anderson distributed copies of, and reviewed , the guidelines estab li shed for the Community Outreach Subcommittee. Following br ief discussion, Chairperson Anderson made a motion , seconded by Committee Member Goosman, to approve the document outlining the organ iz ationa l gu idel ines established by t he ETAC Community Outreach Subcommittee. Motion passed. Under New Business, Director Ross indicated that preparation is underway for the 2003 budget, and inqu ired if ETAC members had any requests to be included in the proposed budget. Brief discussion ensued. Director Ross distributed a flier inviting ETAC members to attend the Boards & Commissions Apprec iation Night on August 26 th . Director Ross advised that City Counc il strives to meet with each individual board and commission on a yearly basis . ETAC has been scheduled to meet with Council in September; staff will advise as soon as the date is known. Under Director's Choice, Mr. Ross reported that the newly installed permit parking on Galapago St. near Cush ing Park appears to be effective. On the day of a recent afternoon Rockies Game, there were only six cars parked on the street while surrounding streets were heavily parked by light rail riders going to the game. Regarding a fatal pedestr ian accident on Tufts Ave . near Clayton Elementary School, Director Ross explained the events lead ing to the accident in which a four year old boy was hit by a vehicle traveling west on Tufts Ave . The investigating police officer determined that speed was not a factor, that it was a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Traffic Engineer Vostry advised that he met with School Safety Committee Chairman , Jonathan Fore , Clayton Elementary Schoo l Pr inc ipal, Shelley Overturf, Police Officers, Nancy Peterson , Er ik Lutz, and John Knoth , and Traffic Analyst Wendy Gracy to discuss possible improvements that could be made to prevent future similar incidents from occurring. The consensus that came from the 2 • • • • meeting was to increase the education process for both parents and students to promote understanding of safe crossing practices. Mr. Vostry stated that, at the beginning of the school year, each student will be required to write an essay on pedestrian safety, and each parent will be required to read and sign their child's essay . Additionally, police officers will visit each school and make an educational safety presentation to the students. Committee Member Hodge inquired about teachers parking, for the workday, in Passenger Loading Only zones adjacent to Bishop Elementary School. The posted zone is intended to allow students to be dropped off at, and picked up from, school, but the zone is blocked by teachers' vehicles. Director Ross advised that, when the school year begins, staff will observe the parking situation, and if necessary, will offer the school the option of observing the signage, or having the signs removed. It was also noted that parents dropping off their children at Charles Hay stop at the school, in the traffic lane, to let their children out of the vehicle. Mr. Vostry stated he will alert police staff of these situations and request enforcement. Traffic Analyst Gracy presented an update on the proposed bike trail improvements throughout the City of Englewood. Using a diagram, Ms. Gracy indicated the locations of existing and proposed bike trails. Ms. Gracy noted that in order to create a connection between the Little Dry Creek trail and Cushing Park, it will be necessary to acquire easements that will allow widening of a section of sidewalk to 10 feet in the vicinity of the Denny's Restaurant along Hampden Ave. Ms. Gracy reiterated the importance that staff will place on installing adequate signage along the bike trails to facilitate bikers and pedestrians in reaching their • destinations. A numbering system on the trails is being developed that will coordinate with the numbering system that was recently implemented in the City of Denver. Ms. Gracy also stated that she has been in • contact with the local bicycle shops and the Denver Bicycle Touring Club to obtain their input on our proposed trail system. Brief discussion ensued regarding bicyclists occupying the roadway. Vice-chair Christie inquired about including a link for the southwest portion of Englewood to connect with the Platte River Trail. Director Ross thanked Mr. Christie for that observation and stated he will look into creating a connection in that area. Br ief discussion ensued regarding possible options that may be available for financing the proposed bike trail improvement plan. Director Ross reported that staff re-striped Dartmouth Avenue approximately three weeks ago following completion of the asphalt overlay. Mr. Ross explained that prior to re-striping, Dartmouth Ave. was striped to accommodate two through lanes of traffic from Santa Fe Dr. to Zuni St. Dartmouth Ave. is listed on the City's designated bike route map, however bicyclists had to ride with traffic on Dartmouth. With re-striping, there are now left turn lanes at South Platte River Drive, Tejon St., and Zuni St., one through traffic lane, and a bicycle lane. This creates a safer means of travel for both motorists and bicyclists. Nonetheless, we have received four complaints regarding the new configuration. Director Ross referred to communications in the packets with regard to a proposed noise ordinance. He explained that, in answer to a number of citizen complaints, the City Attorney's office is redrafting the ordinance to include criteria relating to the audible reverse signal alarms on trash hauling vehicles. The City Attorney requested Mr. Ross' input for possible additional changes to the noise ordinance, to which he 3 responded back to the City Attorney that perhaps provisions shou ld be included regarding motorcycle noise, as w ell as prov ision s to halt co nstruction noise on Sundays . Under Chairperson's Choice, Mr. Anderson inquired within which jurisdiction does Oxford Ave. west of Santa Fe fall . Spec ifically, he is concerned with the striping on that stretch of Oxford Ave . Director Ross advised t hat it falls within the City of Sheridan. Under Committee Members' Choice, Ms. Hodge inquired about the number of stop signs that have been placed at intersections on Eastman Ave. between Fox St. and Broadway. She opined that motorists are no longer t raveling this stretch of Eastman Ave. in order to avoid having to stop at each intersection, and this traffic has now moved to Dartmouth Ave. Traffic Engineer Vostry advised that, over time, these stop signs have been installed in answer to school four-way stop requests, accident histories, and City Council d irectives regarding a fatal accident. There being no further business , the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary 4 • • •