Transportation Committee

SUMMARY OF MINUTES TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE June 25, 2020 The meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was called to order by Chairman Ed Poole on June 25, 2020 at 3:05 p.m. by Zoom Meeting Telecommunicating to slow the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 (also called “social distancing”) due to the COVID-19 virus . Present at the meeting were: Ed Poole, David Johnson, Larry Millican, Traci Jacobs, Peggy Zahler, Christopher Sims and Donna Ofsanko Not Present at the meeting were: Evan Watkins and Jean Brown Introduction of Committee Members Ed Poole welcomed all members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and called to order the meeting at 3:05 p.m. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the February 27, 2020 meeting were not completed for review by members of the committee. They will be presented and approved at the next Transportation Committee Meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020. Discussion and Review of Pedestrian Traffic Within League City o Chris researched and explored options on pedestrian traffic within the City. o Chris noted the numbers presented in February 2020 to the committee were for a much bigger time frame. o In 2019, the City had nine accidents which five resulted in fatalities. o Numbers haven’t been collected for 2020 due to the pandemic. Chris believes the numbers will be lower than 2019. o Pedestrian crossings are needed for South Shore Boulevard due to heavy traffic flow. Sidewalks are only on one side of the street and there are limited pedestrian crossings. o Chris has taken the steps to follow speed hump HOA requests for pedestrian crossings to follow. The City Manager has agreed to work with the HOA to partner with them to put in sidewalks limiting the City to not add extra crossings but to add additional sidewalks to the nearest pedestrian crossings. o The City has partnered with HGAC to start subcommittees on the pedestrian and bike pathways. A member was nominated and was selected from the parks department to start their meetings in late July 2020. Chris will get feedback on the bike lanes and traffic discussed at this meeting and their ideas. Once data has been collected he will report back to members of the committee. o Larry Millican stressed his concerns with pedestrian flashings at crossings within the City. Larry indicates this should be the City’s responsibility not the HOA’s responsibility due to the growth of the City’s infrastructure and traffic flow as well as the park trails. o Members of the committee discussed if pedestrian accidents were related to bicycles. Chris indicated that bicycles were not related in the accidents within League City. o Members of the committee indicated if a study should be performed where there are no sidewalks and pedestrian crossings to reduce pedestrian accidents for citizen safety. o Chris indicated that a stop sign analysis is performed with the City on all high traffic areas. If a stop sign is warranted and needs to be installed it is requested by the HOA. Internal neighborhood streets are deferred to the HOA and stop signs are installed but on major arterial roads major studies are needed to not stop or slow traffic flow within the City. o Chris indicated to members of the committee that Rick Brezik, GIS Coordinator, is to compile a map of the City with all pedestrian accidents to be presented to members of the committee for review and discussion at a future meeting. Chris will compile a program for members of the committee to review and discuss. Chris will need three months design a program and find the funding for this program. o David Johnson discussed a project to finish a sidewalk from Clear Lake South to FM518 to Egret Bay. 1  Chris indicated that this is part of the Hike and Bike which is a TxDOT project. Citizen concerns are for a safe path and connectivity. Chris discussed and reviewed with members of the Committee the Transportation and Infrastructure Projects Being Proposed for Fiscal Year 2020: Green Ribbon (FM 518) Project: $500,000: o Renamed in the CIP as “Landscape TxDOT Medians”. o Project scope is unchanged – Design and Installation of Tree, Shrub, grass, and groundcover along FM 518 between I-45 and SH3 and Iowa Avenue to Texas Avenue. o Budget has been fine tuned to $450,000 for planning/design work with potential grants at $4,000,000 to cover construction. o As discussed last time, TxDOT has agreed to add this work to their upcoming FM 518 project. S. Walker Street Extension: FM 646 to I-45 Feeder Road Project: $5,822,853: o Extend Walker Street approximately 1,400 linear feet as a three-lane roadway. Work includes Magnolia Bayou Bridge, Feeder Road Right Turn Lane, and water/sewer extensions. o Project is anticipated to be funded using the remaining funds in the TIRZ#2. Upon completion of the project, the TIRZ will be completed. o Design work moved from a proposed FY2021 start to a FY2022 start, which pushes construction start to FY2024. Link Road Realignment Project: $465,231: o Project will realign the Link Road and SH 96 Intersection by allowing a one lane extension from Westbound SH96 to directly connect with Link Road. o The existing median on SH96 for Link Road drivers turning East onto SH96 will be closed and a new turnaround in the SH96 median will be constructed to allow drivers to go East on SH96. o The current alignment of this area is not efficient, can lead to delays during peak travel times and is confusing to some drivers. CenterPoint TIRZ Drainage Improvement Project: $454,747: o Regrade Detention Pond #1 and add a concrete (or RipRap) pilot channel to allow a clear path for the continual flow of stormwater through the pond and into Interurban Ditch. o Lower the bottom of Detention Pond #2 by approximately eight feet in depth (changes pond from dry to wet), increase the pond footprint by expanding towards the Power Line Easements (this expansion would be dry bottom detention, and add a 10’ trail along Power Line Corridor and behind Animal Shelter (approximately 1,900 linear feet). Southeast Jarbo Bayou Drainage Study: $105,000: o Project remains unchanged from what was submitted to the Committee in the last meeting. o The study takes into account all of the Jarbo Bayou watershed in League City that was not part of the South Shore Developments. Also take into account, some of the “fringe” areas of the watershed to ensure we are capturing all run-off in study. o Reviewed the map layout of the Jarbo Bayou watershed with the City boundaries and related development. Targeted Homeowner Buyout Program: $4,925,000: o This project will look to purchase 2 to 6 homes each year. o Demolition of homes and the regarding of the purchased lots to allow for better connectivity to local drainage ways and/or converted to open space would being in FY2022. 2  o Areas for this program would come from the City’s Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, but engineering costs would cover a consultant helping the City to create this buy-out program and update the program on 3-year cycles. o Program would allow the city the ability to improve drainage within locate watersheds by purchasing homes along drainage channels or in repetive loss areas to provide additional detention. Public Comments o No public comments were noted during the meeting. Committee Member Comments: o Ed Poole asked Mr. Sims to compile a list of projects to send to the members of the committee prior to the meeting scheduled in July for review for approval at the next meeting for presentation to City Council for acceptance and approval. Discuss Purpose and Direction to Staff: A motion was made by Ed Poole and seconded by Larry Millican and all members of the committee to adjourn the meeting at 5:10 p.m.. A motion passed unanimously with a vote of 6-0 with 2 absent. The next Transportation Committee meeting will be scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020 by a Zoom Meeting due to the COVID-19 virus). Minutes were amended and approved by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Traci Jacobs with a unanimous vote of 7-0 at the July 16, 2020 meeting. 3