Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC MINUTES October 21, 2021 In attendance: Members Staff Guests Hal Gausman Liz Vogeli, City Council Brett Schock Tyler Rourke Michael Schmieder, Transit Bob Creamer Andrea DePaolo Tim Morgan, Police Carl Leighty Michael Thomas Tom Hood, Public Works Ben Davis Gracie Geremia Kathleen Baxter, Public Works Christina Strand Richard Smith Corey Hert, Public Works Dana Oliver Euneka Richards, Public Works Colton Scott Davis Jeffrey Marks, Public Works Brenda White Gerardo Magallanes, Public Works Brock Howell Jeremy Wheeler, Public Works Ed Petersen Christina Curtis, Public Works Suzanne Oversvee Kelly Frazee, Public Works David Popach Meeting called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chair Tyler Rourke. ➢ M/S/P for September 2021 Minutes. Announcements & Requests to Add Agenda Items ➢ Hal requested that when sending out the meeting notification, the MS Teams link be added for easy access. ➢ Tyler encouraged everyone to take the Disability Rights Washington challenge to go a week without driving a car. The challenge goes from October 22nd to the 29th. Public Comments ➢ Carl Leighty felt that a statement used in the last meeting about pedestrian hybrid signals needed clarification. Specifically, that pushing a button placed the safety of the pedestrian in the pedestrian’s hands and Mr. Leighty felt that some onus needed to be placed on drivers. Corey acknowledged the point and stated that the City recognizes the onus does fall on the driver to yield to the pedestrian in most cases and that pedestrian safety is the City’s top priority. 1  ➢ Councilmember Vogeli stated a push-button signal on Airport Road and Holly Drive didn’t look good. Corey reported in the chat that Euneka had contacted Snohomish County about the button and they will be checking it out. ➢ Tyler asked about where people can report push-button problems. Corey reported in chat that people can call Public Works Dispatch at 425-257-8821. 911 or Non- Emergency Police at 425-407-3999 will also relay to Public Works Dispatch. Engineering Report ➢ Tom provided updates regarding the following projects: o Annual Pavement Maintenance Overlay is substantially complete. There may be 4 more days of striping, which will be dependent upon the weather. o Watermain “V” – About another week of work remaining in the Ridgemont Neighborhood. o Watermain work on Pine Street between 25th and Hewitt has been delayed due to gas company efforts going on at the location. Tom projected the work should be finished up by the end of November. o Riverfront – Finishing up a large combined sewer outfall project at Snohomish River Outfall 8 (SRO8). The City had been doing some slip-lining of an old brick pipe that had deteriorated. ➢ Tom reported there was a series of design projects the City is finishing that will begin construction in the Spring. They will include: o Traffic signal safety projects on Everett Mall Way and various other locations. These projects will include upgrades to the telecommunications between signals, pulling fiber optics, installing flashing yellow arrows. o West Marine View Drive and Alverson project will also be getting started in the Spring. It will include a newly paved path in the Legion Park area, as well as safety enhancements at the intersection of 41st and Grand Avenue. o Interurban Trail to the YMCA project will also begin in the Spring. ➢ A couple of longer range projects: o The California Street Bicycle Project – Christina will provide a full briefing (see below). We are still in the concept development phase of the project with public involvement starting later in the week. o US2 and I-5 Interchange Study – We have a fully negotiated scope of service with our consultant and now seeking WSDOT concurrence of that scope. Actual work is projected to most likely begin at the first of the year. The consultant for this project is Parametrix. ➢ Hal had a few questions about the paving of alleys and dust control. Some discussion ensued. Tom responded later in chat that the Streets Department does respond to dust complaints using the same product as we use for de-icer in the winter. It lasts much longer than simply watering. 2 Traffic Engineering Report ➢ Corey provided updates regarding the following projects: o Citywide Guardrail Repair project – Another project in 2022. Already have 4 significant guardrail strikes, including a dramatic handrail damage near Emory’s on Silver Lake. A driver damaged 100 feet of handrail and demolished Emory’s on Silver Lake sign. o The Farmer’s Market will continue on Sundays until the end of the month. o There is a planned closure on Colby, between Hewitt and California on Small Business Saturday, November 27 & 28. The plan is to include a Maker’s Market and tree lighting ceremony. o The Downtown Everett Association has purchased more lighted decorations that will be installed downtown by Public Works under the crosswalk beacons on Colby. o Holiday decorations will be installed downtown on Saturday, November 13th and Saturday November 20th. Public Works will hoist the tree above the quadrangle signal bridge the morning of November 20th, historically starting around 9 a.m. ➢ Corey reminded everyone that positions are open on various boards and commissions for 2022 and encouraged recruitment of civic minded residents. ➢ Next month’s TAC agenda will have upcoming applications for the bicycle and pedestrian program grants. These will be brought before TAC for information and recommendations. The grants are usually awarded during the 2022-2023 legislative session. Tyler asked about Colby bicycle lanes and Corey stated that it will be a part of next month’s presentation. Police Report ➢ Sergeant Morgan provided the following update: o A couple of fatality collisions, both were speed related. One also included impairment. o 2 out 4 motor officers have resigned to pursue other professions. He is looking to get those positions filled. Transit Report ➢ Michael gave a presentation highlighting the October service changes: o Overall service increase of 18% from current service levels o Represents 90% of pre-pandemic service levels o Staffing is 100% of pre-pandemic levels o Ongoing emphasis on the safety of the customer o Attention to customer service and amenities at bus stops ➢ Route 2 / Mall Station to Mariner o Sunday service added 3  o Added an earlier trip at 6:00 a.m. south to Mariner P&R and added and earlier northbound trip to Mall Station at 6:12 a.m. ➢ Route 4 / Everett Station to College Station o Route changed to serve Riverside Business Park o Service Increased from every 60 minutes to every 45 minutes weekdays ➢ Route 6 / Everett Station to Harborfront o Reinstate 7 day a week service o Service every 40 minutes o New route ends at 13th Street – aka Craftsman Way ➢ Route 7 / College Station to Mall Station o Service increased from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ➢ Route 29 / College Station to Mall Station o Service every 30 minutes all day weekdays o Additional later trips on weekday service o Service every 45 minutes on weekends ➢ Michael discussed the roll-out of updates for the ORCA card. The card covers Washington State Ferries, Sound Transit, Link Light Rail, the Sounder, Community Transit, King Country Transit, Kitsap Transit, and of course Everett Transit. Everett, will be rolling out the updates first, acting much as a beta test. Projected start is February 2022, but this could change. More information can be learned at myOrca.org. o Previous ORCA cards will not need to be replaced, but there may be reasons for wanting to get a new card. o Smartphone application for ORCA will roll out later in 2022. ➢ Richard asked about Everett Transit partnerships to help build ridership that would take more vehicles off the street, like an e-scooter for example. Michael referenced the partnership that already exists between Everett Transit and Sound Transit, which includes the Swift line. He thought the scooters were a great option. The challenge with the escooters is that they cannot be accommodated on the buses, as they do not belong to any single individual. o Another option being considered is micro-transit, which would be app-based, where a driver would pick you up and deliver you to the nearest trunk-line location in order to take a bus, or to deliver you home. It is a first and last- mile service. Considerations for this will require looking at staffing needs and addressing any labor questions that may arise surrounding it. ➢ Hal asked how transit is impacted when a new ship enters the Navy base. Michael stated that whenever a ship is in port, there is an uptick in ridership and is spoke positively of the Route 6 returning to service that area. 4 Agenda Items: Item 1: California St Bicycle Corridor: Alternatives- Informational Briefing, Christina Curtis, Public Works ➢ The goal of the project is to improve safety, providing a comfortable bicycle connection between downtown Everett and the US2 bicycle trail. ➢ The project is funded by a grant award from CMAQ through the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2020. o $900,000 award with $200,000 City match o Preliminary and final design engineering o Public outreach ➢ The project selected Transpo Group group as a consultant through the RFP process. Christina introduced Brett Schock who is the project manager for Transpo Group. ➢ Projected timeline: o 2021: Project kickoff; alternatives analysis; public engagement; identify preferred alternative o 2022: Conceptual design; implementation strategy; environmental permitting; preliminary design o 2023-2025: Final design; construction (funding-dependent). ➢ Christina provided screenshots of potential route alternatives to connect to Hewitt on way to US2, which include: o Maple Street o Pine Street o Pine Alleyway ➢ California Street section alternatives included: o Cycle track (north) and back-in angle parking o Cycle track (north) and parallel parking o Cycle track (south) and parallel parking o Buffered bicycle lanes and parallel parking o Traditional bicycle lanes and parallel parking ➢ Preferred alternative selection will be determined by: o Public feedback o Safety considerations o Feasibility o Constructability ➢ Public engagement plan includes: o Online open house o Recorded webinars o In-person outreach and promotion ▪ Farmer’s market ▪ Angel of the Winds ▪ Everett Transit ▪ SnoPUD 5  ➢ Projected timetable for the remainder of 2021: o October: Finalize public engagement materials and website; finalize alternatives o November: Public engagement; engineering analysis; traffic operations analysis; feasibility and constructability review o Decemeber: Review and summarize public feedback; identify a preferred alternative ➢ There was some discussion about safety with the corridor and how the scoring process in determining the alternative selections. ➢ Adjourned at 9:51 a.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: November 18, 2021 6