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Minutes 04-04-07Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, April 4, 2007 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Barbara Kritzman (Chair); Bob Elliott (Vice-Chair); Bob Shotwell; Council Member Sue Sandahl; Maureen Scaglia; Pat Sorensen; Jay Hermann; Jackie Heinen; Martin Kirsch; Sara Nutter; and, Gary Ness. Others in attendance: Mayor Debbie Goettel; Kevin Ness; Sally Carlson-Bancroft of 494 Commuter Services; Larry Wozniczka; and, City Staff: Tom Foley. B. Kritzman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Agenda was approved in a motion moved by B. Elliott; and seconded by J. Hermann Motion to approve March 7, 2007 meeting minutes was made by M. Kirsch, seconded by G. Ness. Motion passed unanimously. Election of New Officers Nomination of B. Elliott for Chair made by J. Hermann. Vote to approve B. Elliott for Commission Chair was passed unanimously. Nomination of M. Kirsch for Vice-Chair made by P. Sorensen. Vote to approve M. Kirsch for Commission Vice-Chair was passed unanimously. Lyndale Avenue 6300 Block T. Foley reviewed the design options for the 6300 Block of Lyndale Avenue and comments received at the March 21st Open House. Issues discussed include: Not having a bike lane on Lyndale The absence of trees in the boulevard was a concern Posting an End of Bikeway sign at 63rd Street Moving apartment driveways off of Lyndale Avenue to 63rd St. to improve safety and putting the new driveways in before work on Lyndale Avenue begins. Adding raised median island and narrowing shoulders for bikers to alternates B and D for further consideration Including the refuge island at 63rd Street Delaying work until 2008 The Commission tabled until next month a recommendation until it could see the median island added to Alternatives B and D. Metro Sanitary Sewer Project and 76th Street Cross Section Study T. Foley reviewed the minutes of the March 5th Sanitary Sewer public information meeting. He noted that the City has six months to decide on a cross-section for 76th Street. Discussion ensued on the 76th Street design. G. Ness asked that the plan take into account any possible storm sewer and utility undergrounding needed prior to rebuilding the street. 494 Transit Study T. Foley reviewed with the Commission the history of transit studies along I-494 from a 1987 494 Corridor Study and a Transit Providers Plan in 1999. Low-density residential development, dispersed employment sites and ample parking led to the following strategy: LRT needed 12,500 riders per day but 494 could only generate 6,000 riders per day. Transit hubs at Highway 13, 82nd St. and north of 62 Crosstown (46th St. transit hub) Express bus service and limited stop bus service including service connecting transit hubs Express reverse commute bus service and local reverse commute bus service Line haul bus service Timed-transfer bus service between east-west routes and north-south routes Extended radial service from further out suburbs to the south and west Bus service on streets parallel to 494, e.g. 76th/77th Streets & American Blvd. Bus service to major employers Ramp meter bypass lanes for buses and carpools Mini-bus, vanpool and carpool service Flexible work hours Preferential parking for carpools & vanpools Employers providing on-site technical support to employees for commuting Travel Demand Management (TDM) plans & city TDM ordinances Travel Management Organizations promoting TDM strategies; and, Land use planning to reduce the impact of traffic congestion. The 1999 Transit Providers plan advocated: Line haul bus service focused on park-n-ride lots along 494 Corridor Express service and limited stop service between transit hubs Minimize transfers Competitive transit speed to single-occupant auto (no more than twice the time of SOV’s) Development of distribution systems at employer end maximizing use of existing employer hubs. Fare advantages, e.g. Metro Pass or discounts for transit riders Seamless service that is apparent to the customer Offer a variety of service products for customer choice. Lyndale Avenue Bridge over I-494 T. Foley reported that Mn/DOT and FHWA indicated verbally that approval of the layout will occur in April 2007. The consultant will need to perform additional work in order to complete the design work. Annual Commission Report to City Council The Commission reviewed the annual report prepared by City staff to present to the City Council on April 10th. Non-motorized Transportation Grant Applications T. Foley reported that the City plans to submit three grant applications, two for the design and construction of Richfield Parkway; and, the third for a new design of sidewalks along arterials. 77th Street Underpass Mayor D. Goettel reported that she spoke with Senator Norm Coleman and Congressman Keith Ellison about requesting federal funds to build the 77th Street Underpass. Both agreed to support the City’s request. 66th St. & Richfield Parkway Roundabout T. Foley reported that the construction contract was awarded. Also, a neighborhood meeting will be held to review landscaping plan; however, no date has been set for the meeting. Personal Rapid Transit Bill James of Jpod will be given thirty minutes to give a presentation to the Commission at a meeting this summer. Other Business Members asked that the agenda packets be three-hole punched. Some members requested three-ring binders in which to file their agendas. Upcoming Meetings Annual Report to City Council, April 10, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers Edina’s West 70th Street Study, April 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Centennial Lakes Park, Centrum Building Topics for Next Meeting Biking in Munster, Germany 76th Street Cross Section Richfield Parkway Cross Section Adjournment Motion to adjourn by G. Ness, second by B. Kritzman, and passed. Meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.