Meridian Transportation Task Force Meeting Agenda and Packet January 3, 2013 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Community Development Department – Meridian City Hall
1. Old Business/Follow-Up/Announcements a. November Meeting Summary Memo b. Transit Update
2. New(ish) Business a. Transportation Task Force/Commission Merger Update b. Meridian Interchange Elements
3. Future Meeting Topics Staff proposes the following, and requests committee member input: a. Linder RR Crossing Issue – Safety, Congestion, Timing b. Meridian Transit Plan (ongoing)
4. Next Meeting Date The next meeting is scheduled for 7 th , at 3:00pm. The group will meet at Meridian City Hall.
Meridian Transportation Task Force January 3, 2013 1 1a. November Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary Meridian Transportation Task Force November 1, 2012 3:05 PM—4:25 PM
1. Attendance & Agenda Members Present: Councilman David Zaremba, P&Z Commissioner Joe Marshall, , P&Z Commissioner Steven Yearsley, Miguel Legarreta, Bob Bruce, Toni Tisdale, Kenny Bowers, and Caleb Hood Members Absent: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Councilman Keith Bird, David Wynkoop, Larry Gardner, Shawn Martin, Steve Sedlecek, Don Nesbitt, and Scott Colaianni Others Present: Amar Pillai (ACHD), and John Ringert (Kittleson) Meeting agenda topics included: 1) Roundabouts – Preserving Right-of-Way for Intersections, and 2) Transportation Alternative Grant – Rail with Trail
2. Old Business/Follow-up/Announcements - An introduction of Micah Gale, the new TTF Youth Member, was made. Micah is a Junior at Rocky Mountain High School. - A memo was provided in the packet summarizing the September meeting. - A handout, updating the status of the ACHD Community Programs projects in Meridian, was given out. - An announcement was made that Kelli Fairless, the VRT Executive Director, would be discussing transit with the Council during the December workshop.
3. New Discussion Items a. Roundabouts – Preserving ROW and ACHD’s Master Street Map: City Staff presented a high-level summary of the Roundabout project ACHD is performing and introduced Amar Pillai (ACHD) to the group. Amar explained some of the background for the project and what the District was trying to accomplish. He explained that ACHD hired consultants to look into roundabout (RAB) feasibility at intersections. The RAB Map shows the intersections where roundabouts may be constructed, but should at least be preserved for. The map, if adopted, will be incorporated into the ACHD Master Street Map which the City adopted by reference in the Comprehensive Plan. It was noted that ACHD staff will be presenting a map for the ACHD Commission’s consideration in December. The TTF appreciated the District’s effort to proactively look at these intersections and generally supported the idea of preserving for roundabouts, but had some reservations about the current Map. Besides the sheer number and specific locations of the roundabouts, the TTF requested more corridor specific analysis to be done before too much investment is made in preserving for roundabouts – a more in-depth feasibility study needs to be done at each intersection and along corridors. The TTF would also like to see a note or disclaimer put on this map stating that the map is for preliminary purposes to consider RABs. Questions about ACHD’s policy to use RABs as the starting
Meridian Transportation Task Force January 3, 2013 2 point (instead of signals) were raised and a related question about if we (Meridian) even want/like any RABs came up. Questions about how the RAB Map would be used and could be updated on a regular basis arose. Some of the other specific issues with the concept of a RAB Map included: cost-effectiveness of preserving “extra” right-of-way if a RAB isn’t constructed; concern about what happens to the surplus right-of-way if a RAB isn’t constructed; concerns about triple-lane RABs, request to remove the RAB from the map where the existing Lochsa Falls development has a traffic circle; and questioning access impacts to existing businesses and subdivisions (goes to feasibility study issue.) Essentially, the TTF recommended the Council accept and support the RAB Map for now, with the understanding that several more versions will be forthcoming as more data and facts are gathered. b. Transportation Alternatives Grant – Rail with Trail: City Staff mentioned that an application would be submitted to COMPASS for TA grant consideration. The grant would request money for designing part of the 8-mile long portion of the railroad corridor that lies in Meridian. The TTF discussed the scope of the application. Toni T. mentioned that it might be better to apply for design and building one mile instead of just design dollars. It was also discussed about doing a Planning Study through this grant for the RWT, as that would also be an eligible project. It was mentioned that one of the factors considered when picking projects for funding was the amount of support shown from the community. A request was made for letters of support for the RWT grant.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:25 pm.
Meridian Transportation Task Force January 3, 2013 3 2a. Transportation Task Force/Commission Merger
Memo To: Transportation Task Force
From: Caleb Hood, Planning Manager
Date: 12/28/2012
Re: Transportation Task Force/Commission Merger
On August 2nd, the TTF discuss the potential to merge our group with the City’s Traffic Safety Commission and possibly the Chamber’s Transportation Subcommittee. City Staff has been working on this issue and would like to provide an update to the TTF. This topic was discussed with the Traffic Safety Commission on December 18th and will also be discussed with the City Council during their January 8th workshop.
Meridian Transportation Task Force January 3, 2013 4 2b. Meridian Interchange Elements
Memo To: Transportation Task Force
From: Caleb Hood, Planning Manager
Date: 12/28/2012
Re: Meridian Interchange Elements
As mentioned during a previous TTF meeting, the City has established a Meridian Interchange Task Force (TF). This Task Force is made up of business owners/operators, the Chamber, MDC, Parks & Recreation representatives, and other interested parties. The Meridian Interchange TF met on November 8th with representatives from ITD and Connecting Idaho Partners (CIP). The ITD GARVEE Program Manager, Amy Schroeder updated the TF on the status of the IC project and some of the assumptions they are currently working off of from previous analysis. ITD has contracted with RBCI to do the public involvement for this project and Parametrix will do the design.
During the October and December meetings, the Meridian Interchange TF discussed design elements and priorities for this project. There was a general consensus from the TF that this interchange is very important and needs to look as nice, if not nicer than the Ten Mile Interchange. Staff would like to share some potential options for some of the aesthetic elements, a potential theme for the IC with the TTF. Staff will present some general concepts which include landscape and hardscape materials, lighting, concrete coloring/stamping, and railing options.
Meridian Transportation Task Force January 3, 2013 5