Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC MINUTES February 21, 2019 In attendance: Members Staff Guests T.J. Fournier Ryan Sass, Public Works Aida Urrutia Renee Quistorf Tim Miller, Public Works Jenni Harrington Jennifer Tanner Sabina Popa, Transit Bob Creamer Kimberley Cline Sean Barentine, Police Jonathan Hopkins, Lime Tyler Rourke Maryjane Hacker, Police Richard Smith Kelsey Svaren, Public Works Brett Barrett Al Furiak Meeting called to order at 8:06 a.m. Chaired by Tyler Rourke  M/S/P for January 2019 Minutes. Announcements & Requests to Add Agenda Items  Kimberly asked about public transit serving the new PAE airport. It was pointed out the new Swift line will have stops at Airport Rd & 100th. Tyler suggested PAE traffic be considered for a future TAC topic.  Brett asked a clarifying question regarding how traffic sensors and induction loops respond to bicycles. o Tim responded that several intersections with traffic lights have a pavement marking symbol to show where a bicycle is best able to trigger the signal. He said that citizens are encouraged to contact traffic engineering and let them know if an indicator needs to be placed at an intersection.  Renee asked about the status of the bike rack installation project that was announced during the last meeting. o Ryan stated that crews will work on installation over the course of the next several months. Citizen’s Comments  Bob invited TAC to attend the Senate Transportation Committee that will be held in Olympia the following week. He specifically mentioned that income inequality of the I-405 toll lanes would be a topic of discussion. Engineering Report  Ryan updated the committee regarding Public Work’s response during the heavy snowfall that began in early February. He stated that the crew did a fantastic job clearing streets, responding to service requests, and represented the City very well while doing so.  Ryan announced that the Rucker Streetscape Project and the Annual Pavement Maintenance Overlay project will both go out to bid next month.  There was considerable discussion regarding who is responsible for clearing sidewalks when it snows. Ryan noted that City Code requires the adjoining property owner to clear the sidewalk by their property. There was discussion regarding employing informative campaigns for those who do not know City Code, and enforcement options the City can implement for property owners who do not clear sidewalks.  Tyler expressed interest in finding out if the snowfall created a spike in Transit ridership for those who wanted to avoid driving in the snow. o Sabina stated that she could get those numbers, but there is not usually an increase in ridership because many people will choose to stay home instead of commuting. Police Report  Sean and Maryjane introduced themselves to the committee and asked if there were any questions they could help answer.  Tim asked if there could be a brief update regarding the new parking enforcement technology. o Maryjane noted that, while there are a few kinks to work out, the parking enforcement officers seem to like the new technology and think overall it is a good system. It has been live for less than a week at this point, and is showing to be more efficient and uses less paper.  There was a brief discussion regarding the challenges the Parking Enforcement unit faces. In certain instances, solutions are reached when Parking Enforcement works collaboratively with other units. Transit Report  See Agenda Item 1 Agenda Items: Item 1: – ET March 2019 Service Change Informational Briefing – Sabina Popa  Sabina gave a presentation regarding the 2019 service changes that will take effect on March 31, 2019. These changes are part of the sustainable network identified by the Long Range Plan, which was adopted by City Council in 2018. The main goals of the 2019 Service Changes are: o To reduce costs o Increase efficiency of service  o Implement service consistent with future growth  Everett Transit completed several rounds of public outreach. They received feedback and suggestions, some of which were used while finalizing plans for service changes. Transit will continue with outreach efforts once the changes take effect to get more opinions and ideas regarding routes.  There was a brief discussion regarding pushback from commuters that will be affected by planned route changes/elimination and how Everett Transit is addressing those concerns. Item 2: – Lime-S Scooter Informational Briefing – Johnathan Hopkins of Lime  Johnathan gave a presentation regarding products from Lime, focusing on e-bikes and scooters. He noted that Lime is also looking at the possibility of expanding into car sharing in the future.  A major part of Lime’s goal is to provide citizens of growing urban populations more opportunities for easy and affordable transportation, while also helping to cut down on carbon emissions and congestion caused by personal vehicles.  Jonathan presented statistics regarding Lime programs and feedback from other local communities, such as Tacoma, Spokane, and Portland. He also noted that Lime provides host cities with data they collect regarding usage of the program and areas within the city where infrastructure may need improvement.  There was a question and answer segment in which the following topics were discussed: o Lime’s stance on helmets and safety education o The ease of use/learning curve associated with e-bikes and motorized scooters o Options for low-income users and accessibility o Geo-fencing, which prevents people from locking Lime vehicles in areas that the City does not want them to congregate, such as parks.  Members of TAC expressed interest in learning about more partnership opportunities with Lime. Item 3: – Alverson & W Marine View RRFB Informational Briefing – Tim Miller  Tim showed the committee pictures of the completed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) equipped crosswalk. This system includes three flashing light posts with push buttons at each and an alcove on the south side for pedestrians to stand out of the bike lane. Two of the flashing light posts are solar powered. Item 4: – Snow Management TMC Coordination Informational Briefing – Tim Miller  Tim presented the committee with pictures and video of Public Works crews clearing streets during the heavy snowfall in early February, including using the Transportation Management  Center cameras to assist Streets division. He went into some detail regarding the City’s Ice and Snow Control Plan and talked about the tools and supplies used to implement it. Item 5: – Seaway Transit Center Pedestrians Informational Briefing – Tim Miller  With the addition of the Seaway Transit Center near Boeing, the City is taking a closer look at the crosswalks nearby to make sure that they are taking appropriate pedestrian safety precautions. So far, the crosswalk has been safe when used properly, but the City will continue to evaluate the crossing and take input over time after the Seaway Transit Center opens in March. The newly installed video camera at the intersection of Seaway & 75 th can be used to record pedestrian and traffic flow patterns.  Adjourned at 9:48 am Next Scheduled Meeting: March 21, 2019