Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC MINUTES February 18, 2016 In attendance: Members Staff Guests Shawn Smith Tim Miller, Public Works None Robert Strickland Sabina Popa, Transit Victor Harris Ryan Sass, Public Works T.J. Fournier Jeffrey Marks, Public Works J.T. Dray Scott Bader, City Council Liaison William Weber Dawn Erickson, Transit Kelsie Wiebe, Transit 8:15 a.m. Vice-Chair Shawn Smith called the meeting to order.  M/S/P approving January minutes. Announcements & Requests to Add Agenda Items  J.T. asked for a future agenda item regarding Uber.  Victor raised concern about the completion of sidewalk on California around PUD. Ryan stated that the City was working on a long term plan to improve California from Broadway to Highway 2. Citizen’s Comments  None. Engineering Report  Ryan reported that at the last City Council meeting the Planning Department presented the metropolitan center plan which would cover the area including the CBD and the Everett Station areas combined. He stated that a briefing would be presented later to TAC. J.T. asked if there would be a college planning district. Ryan said that ECC and WSU were working together, and coordinating with our Planning Department.  Ryan reported that some upcoming safety projects were in the works, and was looking forward to awarding bids. He stated that one of the projects was tied to federal safety and reducing collision rates. He also mentioned the Broadway/Pacific safety project. Construction for these projects will begin this summer.  Ryan reported that the Broadway Bridge work resume soon. Decorative lighting, pedestrian railing and throw fence over the BNSF still need to be finished; these are some of the last items remaining on that project.   Victor asked about cross-walk buttons on Broadway at the bridge project, if they were updated as mandated by the ADA. Ryan informed him that, yes, they were updated. Some discussion ensued on how the buttons operate.  Councilmember Scott Bader asked about plans for undoing the detour associated with the Broadway Bridge construction. Ryan stated the contractor will remove them around the end of March. Shawn asked about the new signal at California. Ryan informed him that it was primarily for biking/pedestrian traffic. It detects pedestrians and bikes and assists them in crossing Broadway. Vehicles approaching Broadway typically get a free right turn that does not require stopping mainline traffic on Broadway. Police Report  None Transit Report  Sabina reported there was not much information to report in comparison to last month. She stated another printing of bus schedules was coming on Sunday, with very little to change – nothing of real significance.  Sabina touched upon the August changes. She stated the March meeting will have more information. Transit is still finalizing the proposal, with outreach going to the public at the end of March. She stated there aren’t any plans to cut services. In contrast, some service hours may be added, during midday, mornings, and weekends, but not at peak hours (already at capacity during peak hours). She mentioned Routes 4 & 5 will be changed.  J.T. expressed a hope that the new changes would be more visible than the last time. He showed the previous alterations were presented in a small brochure and requested that they be presented in a larger format, otherwise riders will be likely to miss them. Agenda Items: Item 1: CTR Presentation Dawn Erickson introduced the committee to the Commute Trip Reduction program. She covered that it oversees 26 worksites (with 2 participating voluntarily – Port of Everett and Community Transit). She laid out how the worksites operate to facilitate the program, designating a single onsite representative/liaison. These locations display information about the program and put forth an effort to meet specified goals. She expressed how proactive Boeing is with the program, as they have three full-time liaisons, with other benefits for users. Everett Clinic also provides assistance. She stated that Everett Transit helps guide these companies in implementing the program. Going beyond the CTR will require tweaking, Dawn said. One way to make new goals is the “Everett in Motion” CTR program, which includes a federal grant to provide incentives for people to sign up for the program. Item 2: Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) Implementation Presentation – Tim presented an overview of the flashing yellow arrow for left-turns. One was installed at Pecks/Evergreen. He stated the State allowed us to pursue this in 2011. The flashing yellow signal allows us to vary the signal throughout the day. The current policy is to install for qualifying legs of traffic that have pockets of traffic that would allow for left-turns safely. He stated that left-turn signals will not be installed at double-lane turns, or where there is consistent high traffic or on hill crests. Prioritizing what intersections would receive a flashing yellow turn signal is based on several factors:  Crash history involving left turns  Gap acceptance  Volume  Speed limit  Road characteristics  Cost Adjourned at 9:30 a.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: March 17, 2016