Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC MINUTES January 17, 2013 In attendance: Members Staff Guests Ed Koltonowski Ryan Sass, Everett PW Annie Peterson, Sno. Health District Robert Strickland Tim Miller, Everett PW Annalisa McDaniel, Sno. Health Dist Tom Norcott Euneka Richards, Everett PW Sue Strickland, DEA Shawn Smith George Baxter, Everett Transit J.T. Dray Bruce Bosmon, Everett PD Kris Hausmann Ken Dorn, Everett PD Victor Harris Jeffrey Marks, Everett PW Paul Roberts, (liaison) 8:17 a.m. Ed Koltonowski called the meeting to order. Ed congratulated and welcomed J.T. Dray on his appointment to the committee. Ryan Sass introduced Tim Miller, City Traffic Engineer. Annie Peterson introduced Annalisa McDaniel, who will be replacing Annie in representing the Snohomish Health District at future TAC meetings. Announcements  M/S/P approving the November 2012 Meeting Minutes  Requests to add Agenda Items: • Study of transit related pedestrian safety from west of Broadway to Everett Station • Review of new Transit Shelter designs • Speed Limit review of 4th Avenue West from Corbin Drive to City Limits just south of 104th Street Citizen’s Comments  None. Engineering Report  Ryan reported that the Broadway Bridge replacement bid package will be completed within the next few weeks. However, there is still some remaining negotiation with the Railroad, particularly around the issue of right-of-way access. Ryan stated that it is more or less just working out the finer details. The goal is to be underway during the construction season. Neighborhoods will be used for informational outreach as things ramp up.  Ryan reported that an additional block of the Downtown Streetscape project has been selected for grant funding. Design is already at 90%. The project would run from the children’s museum on Hoyt to Pacific. Police Report  Nothing to report. Transit Report  George gave everyone a graph depicting the bus boardings from 2010-2012 for fixed routes. He mentioned there was a 2.5% drop in ridership last year in comparison to the previous year, based on boardings. Para Transit has seen an 8.7% drop, which could be a result of Community Transit 201 servicing the Broadway corridor directly, providing customers without a need for a transfer. Also, DART has started providing services. George stated that an apparent reduction in ridership can be the result of fewer transfers due to these direct access routes provided by other transit carriers.  George notified the committee that the electronic counting process for boarding is still under review, and that the Federal Transit Administration will also need to examine ET’s results of the due diligence. George described the electronic counters as an infrared reader over the doors, counting passengers coming on and stepping off the bus. One of the challenges with the readers is that two people can board together, and due to their closeness, the infrared reader might count them as one person instead of two.  George revealed that Transit will be receiving 5 new Para Transit buses and decommissioning 2 older ones, bringing the Para Transit fleet to 26 buses. The remaining fleet will retain a count of 49 buses, plus spares.  J.T. asked about added Community Transit expenses related to traveling North Broadway. George said that the demand of customers from Marysville and northward wanted direct access to Everett Community College and has not significantly raised operator costs. George announced that an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) has gone out for the design of a new parking garage at Everett Station. Transit has received 7 responses, to which 3 will moved into the interview stage. This RFQ is for design work, for which 30% design is funded. It would be a starting point towards a final design and construction funding. Some talk ensued regarding federally funded grants and how the City matches the funding up to a certain percent. J.T. remarked that it might be a good time for CT to consider extending Swift further north.  George mentioned that the City Council in December approved the upgrade to the radio system. This upgrade is required by the FCC and must be completed by the end of the first quarter.  Transit is getting ready to award a local contractor to build 20 new shelters along the Broadway/Evergreen Way corridor. These shelters will replace older shelters that have disappeared or are in disrepair. The rest of Transit’s service area will be addressed as funds come available. There will also be new benches and trash receptacles installed.  George said the new Para Transit vans are coming in from Kansas and that new Hybrid buses will be delivered for the standard fleet by April. He said the Hybrids have a 30% increase in miles per gallon, which helps reduce annual operating costs. Agenda Items: Item 1: Protected/Permissive Left Turn phasing on Evergreen: 79th to 47th (Informational briefing) Euneka Richards gave a presentation on the possibility of changing up to 6 protected left turn signals into protective/permissive turn signals. This change would introduce a flashing yellow turn indication for the permissive period vs. the current green ball indication used at other protected/permissive locations. Protected/Permissive turn signal operations could be used at certain intersections during non-peak traffic periods along the corridor. She said that policy will still need to be developed to provide guidance as to when the protected/permissive signals would be recommended. Other things to consider were: 1. Viable intersections – based on traffic volumes, time of day planning, geometry, etc. 2. Software needs 3. Hardware needs 4. Funding – each intersection cost could range from $2,500 to $50,000 to upgrade, depending on the hardware needs (electronics, signal poles, etc.) Currently, data is currently being compiled at the 6 intersections being considered. 3 of those 6 have already had some form of data review. Meeting adjourned at 9:35am The Next Scheduled Meeting is Thursday February 21, 2013