Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (CACT) Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams, 7 p.m. MINUTES 1. Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice: This meeting was held via electronic communications using Microsoft Teams. This meeting was held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. Roll Call: ● CACT Members: Dave Gustafson (Chair), Jason Garman (Vice Chair), Arthur Agin, Andrew Olesen, Shaun Dakin ● City Staff: Jeff Sikes (CACT Staff Liaison), Ana Mazidi, Cameron Gahres ● City Council: Councilman David Snyder ● Planning Commission: Melissa Teates ● Student Representative: Annie Moore, Katie Teague ● Public: Adam Schulman, Andrew Painter, Ariel Jarvis, Connor Eggleston, Erin Kampschroer, John Giometti, Kevin Tankersley, Maria Lashinger, Peter Crawford, Scott Freda, Jackson Marsteller 3. Public Comment: Jeff reported that no public comments were received in writing; none were brought forth in the meeting. 4. City Council and PC Liaison Updates: Councilman Snyder discussed the following items: ● Founders Row II: waiting on commercial commitments before proceeding ● Upcoming Council work session: focus on transportation safety Commissioner Teates reviewed the following items from the Planning Commission: ● One City Center work session last week; next session Feb. 2 with vote at public hearing on Feb. 16. ● The Park Avenue Great Streets project will have an upcoming review soon ● Goal of comprehensive parking review this year to better utilize existing parking cooperatively 5. December Meeting Minutes: No comments or changes to meeting minutes. 6. Discussion Item: One City Center: The One City Center Development team presented their latest plans to CACT. The following questions/comments were posed by committee members to the design team: ● Question about a potential pedestrian scramble at the intersection of Broad St. and Washington St. Traffic engineer says they’re willing to study it pending City staff direction but is concerned about vehicle queuing at peak times given the loss of green light time in an all-red phase for pedestrians. ● Comment about ensuring adequate space for the recent increase in food delivery services. ● Question about sidewalk width; response is that it meets City streetscape plan, 16 feet on S. Maple Ave., 18 feet on W. Annandale Rd., and existing 20 feet on W. Broad St. and S. Washington St. Should be room for outdoor seating on Broad and Washington but all would require zoning approval for outdoor restaurant seating. ● Question about the pedestrian connection through the building from S. Maple Ave. to the woonerf, if it could be a more direct connection and to be more open, inviting, with a straight staircase, etc. ● Comment on the 5 percent of parking spaces that will be for EVs, comments that adding infrastructure conduit for future chargers up to 100 percent should be considered.  ● Comment on adding pedestrian LOS to traffic study; traffic engineer comments that it’s not a requirement of the City but is done elsewhere. CACT would like to have such a study. ● Comment/request to design City Center Park in such a way that allows for pedestrians and cyclists to cut the corner from S. Maple Ave. to W. Annandale Rd. along the south edge of the park ● Question about the bus shelter on W. Broad St. and whether it meets requirements of the proposed Route 7 BRT; traffic engineer states that the eastbound stop is to the west of the property to enable the bus to have time to get across W. Broad St. to turn left on N. Washington St. ● Question about employee parking and travel demand; traffic engineer responds that numbers would generally be factored in the parking ratios for the specified uses but will be somewhat dependent on what type of tenants actually fill the space. ● Question about considering towing policy that is not predatory and encourages ability to park and walk elsewhere to accomplish multiple errands in one trip; developer will consider. ● Question about parking entries and to consider signage and wayfinding to determine whether to sign certain uses to certain garage entrances and expressed some concern about driver confusion around the entrance adjacent to the loading dock. ● Question about bike locations and long-term secure locations vs. U-racks; response is that there is long-term storage for residents in the garage ● Request for developer to review the issues with the utility locations at Founders Row I and to cluster or underground utilities as much as possible to avoid disrupting clear pedestrian paths on sidewalks. ● Request to consider distinct pavement on woonerf that encourages drivers to slow down. ● Request to consider a scooter staging area of some sort to consolidate and hopefully avoid scooters scattered on the sidewalks. ● Question about smart parking technologies; developer says it’s under consideration ● Request to consider attractive protective barriers particularly around outdoor seating areas. ● Question about space for carshare services; developer has not studied that yet. ● Question about a right-turn-on-red review at Broad St. and Washington St. Traffic engineer states in this case that only phasing adjustments were required to mitigate development impacts but that further measures could be considered by the City. ● Request to detail stormwater mitigation and potential use of rain gardens at City Center Park 7. Action Item: Election of Chair and Vice Chair: Art motions to nominate Dave, Jason seconds, passes 4- 0. Art motions to nominate Jason, Andrew seconds, passes 4-0. 8. Discussion Item: Maple and Annandale Roundabout: The design team presented the 60% design plans for the proposed roundabout at the intersection of S. Maple Ave. and W. Annandale Rd. The following questions/comments were posed by committee members to the design team and the City: ● Request for more robust bike infrastructure and adherence to the Bicycle Master Plan and its public input requirements. ● Question about the raised curb on the SE corner that is not present on the NW corner. The designer responds that it is intended to channelize cyclists into the flow of traffic to avoid uncertainty with drivers about movements through the roundabout. The NW corner was not included due to potential manhole impacts potentially raising manhole elevation will be further investigated. ● Question about what will go into the inner circle of the roundabout; engineer responds that 60% design does not have that finalized but there are options to consider. ● Question about truck movements to grocery stores (existing and planned), especially given the truck turn restrictions at the intersection of W. Annandale Rd. and W. Broad St.; engineer responds that some movements were tested but others can be as well to understand what restrictions on certain vehicles (if any) may be needed.  ● Question about whether changing speed limit from 25 to 20 impacts design; engineer says tradeoff between controlling speed for passenger vehicles while providing geometry for trucks, but that design speed through roundabout is about 20 mph. ● Question about general decision making factors between upgraded signal and roundabout; engineer responds that the recommendation for a roundabout is generally for safety and lifecycle cost. ● Request to add bicyclist safety as its own evaluation category, separate from vehicles. 9. Action Item: CACT Annual Report to City Council: Dave requests comments for next month; deferred action. 10. Discussion Item: CACT Invitation to Jan. 18 City Council Work Session: Jeff informs the committee that the general agenda is a discussion about traffic safety and sidewalk program. 11. Sidewalk Project Recommendations for City Council: The committee reviewed and edited the priority list of projects. Andrew motioned to approve with editorial edits, Art seconds, passes 4-0. 12. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Updates: Jeff reports continuation of progress on S. Lee St. / S. Oak St. and Greenway Downs; delays in concepts on Greenway Downs. New request for traffic calming on E Columbia St between N Washington St and E Cherry St. 13. Staff Report: Jeff reports on continued progress and changes at La Tingueria to address neighborhood parking concerns. Potential interest from residents in increasing parking restrictions on residential portion. Andrew asks about W&OD trail crossings; Jeff reported that consultant is investigating topography discrepancies and will update further. 14. Member Reports: Andrew presented a letter for potential future action on why Falls Church should prioritize bicycling and micro-mobility infrastructure. 15. Adjourn: Art motions to adjourn at 11:20 p.m., Dave seconds, motion passes 4-0.