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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-20 MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 5/18/2017 1 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Transportation Commission Community Room April 20, 2017, 6:00 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair LaForce called the meeting to order. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were commissioners Ahler, Brown, Kane, Koester, LaForce, Miranda, Olk, Olson, Richman and Ruthruff. Absent: Commissioner Iyer III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion was made by commissioner Ahler and seconded by commissioner Olson approving the meeting agenda. All voted aye. Motion passed. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion was made by commissioner Richman and seconded by commissioner Miranda approving the Mar. 16, 2017, minutes. All voted aye. Motion carried. V. Community Comments - None VI. Reports/Recommendations A. France Avenue/I-494 Safety Study Recommendations Planner Nolan said he was presenting this study for informational purpose only. He explained that the City of Bloomington started the study because of the number of crashes in the area and included Edina because a portion of the roadway and crashes are in Edina. They identified lane queuing as a primary reason for the crashes, therefore, there are proposing new lane assignments as a short term solution and new signage. On the Edina side, they originally recommended removing one free right turn at Minnesota Drive and France Avenue, and planner Nolan said he advocated to remove all four, and to add a sidewalk on the east side of France Avenue. Construction is scheduled for 2021. Bloomington is applying for federal funds; if not successful, Edina would have to pay its share of the project if it is constructed. B. 2016 Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund Summary Report Planner Nolan said this report is also presented to the City Council annually. He reported that in 2016, 89% of funds were spent on constructing sidewalks and noted the following - three sidewalk grants were received; a couple sidewalks were expensive and bids were higher than estimated; all of 2016 funds were spent; there will be funding for about two miles of sidewalk in 2017. He reviewed the projects planned for 2017 and 2018. During discussion it was noted that most of the funds were spent on sidewalks versus bike lanes and planner Nolan was asked how this was determined. Planner Nolan explained that currently, many sidewalks are built with road reconstruction projects and can be installed a block at a time, whereas bike lanes tend to be planned more methodically or in longer segments. He is open to discussing how to utilize the fund differently for bike facilities. C. Traffic Safety Process Review Update Planner Nolan provided the following update on each recommendation: Recommendation #1. No action taken yet. Recommendation #2. Past ETC commissioners were going to work on an intake tool; the Local Road Research Board is conducting a study on traffic safety processes and planner Nolan is on the committee — this will be Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 5/18/2017 2 helpful to the TSC; Edina is well ahead of other cities with traffic safety processes. Recommendation #3. Not much progress; will continue to use warrants as a basis for safety concerns. Brief discussion ensued on the lack of ability to analyze data. Recommendation #4. Probably requires a fulltime staff; intake data would be helpful. Recommendation #5. The industry standard of 85th percentile speed will still be used with the understanding that there are other factors to consider. Communicating real speed versus perceived speed is important. Recommendation #6. This item can be deleted because it is already integrated. Recommendation #7. Not currently being done; the questions would be too detailed for Quality of Life survey; also concerned that respondents may not objectively respond, especially if their request was denied. Recommendation #8. Currently looking at indirect costs for making the position fulltime. Recommendation #9. Will continue to use the four year exclusion timeline. D. Traffic Safety Report of April 5, 2017 Motion was made by commissioner Olson and seconded by commissioner Ahler to forward the April 5, 2017, TSC report to Council as written. All voted aye. Motion passed. VII. Correspondence And Petitions - None VIII. Chair and Member Comments A. ETC Joint Work Session with City Council: Discussion Chair LaForce explained that they will have 45 minutes with the Council and asked how they should use the time which will go by very fast. He suggested using the entire time for the ETC to advocate for the Community Circulator, including inviting Ms. Courtney Whited with DARTS to be in attendance to answer questions. Commissioner Ahler said the Alliance for Sustainability is inviting people to a planning workshop; and the Edina- Morningside Church is doing a bike ride on Sunday. Commissioner Richman found two businesses to participate in the Bicycle Benefits Program; one is offering a 9% discount and the other 10%. She has two more packets and was looking for two more businesses to participate. She emailed the mayor to see about scheduling a bike ride (in place of a walk) but has not heard back from him. Commissioner Brown said he enjoyed the Comprehensive Plan discussion that took place recently; he said a French manufacturer is making a hydrogen train. Commissioner Miranda said they received six proposals for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. He said based on their rating criteria, they interviewed three firms and selected CDG Consulting who will be teaming with Short Elliot Hendrickson. Planner Nolan said the proposal will go to Council for approval on May 2. He thanked commissioners Miranda for his assistance. Commissioner Miranda reported the Half Mile Bike Ride was a success with 24 adults and kids participating. He thanked planner Nolan and public works for the bike racks, and said Hello Pizza was thrilled. Commissioner Kane asked if it was official that there would be a soccer field in the area of W. 74th Street and Westshore Drive because the neighbors believe it will create noise. Planner Nolan said the plans are proposed at this time. Commissioner Ruthruff asked if there would be a ribbon cutting ceremony or bike ride with the mayor when the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail was completed. Planner Nolan said he would have to check with Three Rivers Park District because the trail is theirs. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 5/18/2017 3 Chair LaForce asked if commissioners planned to attend the Comprehensive Plan kick-off meeting on Saturday. He said he walked the Cornelia Drive sidewalk and it was quite nice; he said he got a chance to see issues in areas he’s not familiar with. IX. Staff Comments • 2017 projects started; Birchcrest A and Countryside G will have a sidewalk on Valley View Road that is over one mile long. Staff is meeting with Oaklawn Avenue residents regarding individual impacts due to the sidewalk. • Five proposals were received for the Passenger Rail Engagement. • Vernon Avenue over Hwy. 100 has lane closures while they repair the concrete pavement; a sidewalk will be installed in front of the funeral home. • Planning for the Nine Mile Creek Trail, a temporary bridge was built in preparation for the pedestrian bridge. • Comprehensive Plan 101 workshop is scheduled for May 3, 7 p.m. at Public Works and Park Maintenance Facility. X. Calendar of Events A. Schedule of Meeting and Events as of Apr. 20, 2017 For information purposes - no discussion. XI. Adjournment at 7:25 p.m. J F M A M J J A S O N D SM # of Mtgs Attendance % Meetings/Work Sessions 1 1 1 1 4 NAME (Date) Ahler, Mindy 1 1 2 100% Bass, Katherine 1 1 2 50% Boettge, Emily 1 1 2 50% Brown, Andy 1 1 1 1 4 100% Iyer, Surya 1 1 1 3 75% LaForce, Tom 1 1 1 1 4 100% Janovy, Jennifer 1 1 2 50% Kane, Bocar 1 1 2 100% Miranda, Lou 1 1 1 1 4 100% Olson, Larry 1 1 1 3 75% Richman, Lori 1 1 2 100% Ruthruff, Erik 1 1 2 100% Koester, David (student) 1 1 1 3 75% Olk, Megan (student) 1 1 2 50% TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE