Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation

Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation July 19, 2018 - 7:00 pm- 10:30 pm Falls Church Community Center Art Room Draft Meeting Minutes Attendance CACT Members Member Present City Staff Andrea Caumont (Chair) Yes 1. Jeffery Sikes 2. Tara Puzin Paul Baldino (Vice-Chair) No Others Present: Phil Duncan Bill Ackerman Yes Doug Devereaux Yes Addison Heard Yes Steve Knight No Dave Gustafson Yes Liaisons Liaison Present David Snyder No (City Council) Melissa Teates No (Planning Commission) Sarah Fong No (Youth Representative) Agenda -Joint meeting with the Human Services Advisory Council (HSAC) on the Issue of “Accessibility.” -CACT Monthly Meeting Agenda Items 1. Public Comment 2. Committee Member Reports 3. Staff Reports 4. Information Item: CACT 2017 Priority Tracking Sheet  5. Action Item: CACT Comments on the Special Exception Application for Founder’s Row (formerly Mason Row) Mixed Use Project 6. Action Item: Letter to City Council on Park Ave Crosswalk Request 7. Discussion Item: Parking Day 2018 (September 21, 2018) Summary of Joint Meeting with HSAC The CACT and the HSAC met briefly to discuss transportation issues in CFC in terms of “Accessibility.” The committees discussed a number of items directly related to walkability while emphasizing the importance of ADA accessibility. Specific topics discussed include the following: • Streetscape • Pedestrian Safety • Parking • Public Transit A brief summary of each topic is presented below: Streetscape The HSAC and CACT mentioned an interest in expanding walkability for the CFC by making areas more pleasant (specifically by adding more lights, bus shelters, water features, plant and flowers, etc.) to help encourage walking. Both committees agree that the city should be walkable and accessible to all residents. The committees also commented that the developers should be focused on these attributes which are important to residents, and streetscape plans should be implemented with pedestrian safety in mind. Pedestrian Safety The HSAC and CACT raised a number concerns regarding pedestrian safety in the CFC and mentioned that the city can be very difficult to navigate with a stroller or wheel chair. Some suggestions from the committees to improve pedestrian safety include installing Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI’s) at crosswalks, making more pedestrian signals automatic, making pedestrian signals audible, adding High-intensity Activated crosswalks (HAWK) signals, adding signage to existing mid-block crosswalks, improving sidewalk connectivity, and continuing to improve sidewalk profiles. Parking The committees briefly discussed the lack of parking around Northside Social. It was mentioned that approximately 25 new public parking spaces were added by CFC in this area to help alleviate the parking issues associated with the new businesses. CACT mentioned that in the commercial development areas (such as Founders Row) the developer is required to provide a Transportation Development Plan (TDP) which includes parking options that encourage multi-modal options over parking (such as walking, biking, bus, shuttle, etc.) to improve walkability and discourage parking by keeping it at a premium cost to the car user.  Public Transit The committees discussed a number of ideas for improving CFC public transit including autonomous shuttles, privately owned shuttles, city provided taxis, on-demand transportation options, and vanpools. Current plans for the upcoming bike share facilities and bus routes were also discussed. CACT Monthly Meeting Agenda Items 1. Public Comment: There was no public comment. 2. Committee Member Reports: • Addison Heard reported that he had been sworn-in for another term on the CACT. • Dave Gustafson reported that he had visited the autonomous shuttle, Olli, at National Harbor. He briefed the committee on his experience including how the autonomous shuttle was made, how it works, and what limitations it currently has. • Dave reported that there has been slow progress installing the additional bike parking at the East Falls Church Metrorail Station. • Andrea Caumont and Dave noted that even though the progress has been slow, there is normally ample bike parking available. • Dave inquired if there were any plans to improve the bike bridge at the City of Falls Church (CFC) and Arlington county line, which is showing wear. Dave to send photos to Paul. 3. Staff Reports: • Jeffery Sikes introduced Tara Puzin, the new Transportation Engineer at the CFC. 4. Information Item: CACT 2017 Priority Tracking Sheet: • Doug Devereaux mentioned that the LED bulbs for street lighting are energy efficient and have many different lighting colors. It seems that municipalities are indicating that dominion would be responsible for the upgrade of the lighting to LEDs. 5. Action Item: CACT Comments on the Special Exception Application for Founder’s Row (formally Mason Row) Mixed Use Project: • The committee reviewed and provided general editorial comments. • Andrea inquired if the pedestrian signals for the Founders Row project will be audible Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) signals.  Language was added to the letter to indicate that APS and LPI were preferred for the project. • The committee discussed whether or not the private shuttle bus proposed by the developer to shuttle residents from the residences to the west Falls Church Metrorail station should be shared by the public. • The committee commented that adequate street lighting should be provided as part of the project as many areas in the project footprint are currently very dark at night. • The committee moved to approve the letter and submit once this information discussed at the meeting was incorporated. 6. Action Item: Letter to City Council on Park Avenue Crosswalk Request: • The committee reviewed and provided general editorial comments. • Andrea mentioned that 322 Park Avenue is currently for sale and inquired if the CFC would consider purchasing the property or working with the new owners to construct sidewalk in front of the property along Park Avenue . • The committee discussed various options for park and parking lot development, including the idea of a multimodal open space with a parking option, if the CFC considered purchasing the property. • The committee discussed the pros and cons of the installation of a mid-block crosswalk as proposed in the letter at Park Avenue. • The committee moved to approve the letter and submit to council. 7. Discussion Item: Parking Day 2018 (September 21, 2018) • Jeffery provided CACT Members with a Parking Day concept plan, a location plan, and the Parking Day Manual for review and discussion. • Andrea, Addison, Doug, and Bill Ackerman volunteered to assist CFC with Parking Day. • Addison inquired as to what the CFC would need for programing and staffing. • Jeffery will talk to Kerri Oddenino about possible grants to provide funds for Parking Day. • Andrea volunteered to ensure that outreach to the businesses near the parklet were informed about the CFC Parking Day plans. • The committee inquired if the CFC could extend the hours of Parking Day so that community members who are at school or work during the scheduled hours would have a chance to enjoy the parklet. • Jeff and Tara to coordinate help with set-up and breakdown though the CFC Department of Public Work (DPW).