Loading...
2022-07-06 TC Minutes Richfield Transportation Commission Attachment #1 July 6th, 2022 - Meeting Minutes 7:00 p.m. | Bartholomew Room, City Hall Commission members: Husniyah Bradley (Chair), Jim Mahoney, Louis Dzierzak, Kyle Schmidt, Dan Edgerton, David Gepner Commission members not in attendance: Wes Dunser, Mollie O’Howard, Jeff Walz Liaisons: Councilmember Sean Hayford O’leary, Jan Matheus City Staff Liaison/Staff: Ben Manibog, Olivia Wycklendt I. Call meeting to order Chair Bradley called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. II. Approval of Agenda Motion by Commissioner Edgerton to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Dzierzak. Motion carried. III. Review & Approve Minutes for February 2nd, 2022 Meeting Motion by Commissioner Edgerton to approve the April 6th, 2022 meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Schmidt. Motion carried. IV. Speed Limits Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog presented initial insights for a crash study in Richfield. The data yielded by this study compared different measures of vehicular crashes to other cities, as well as by type of crash (if the crash had a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist). Manibog expanded on the next steps following this study which includes but is not limited to looking further into the details of the crash data, such as speeds of crashes and locations where more crashes happen than others. The City is also collecting traffic counts and speeds throughout the City and using that information to gain further insight on which streets see more traffic as well as more accidents overall. V. Safe Routes to School Manibog shared that the City has been working on the Safe Routes to School program through MnDOT’s demonstration tech assistance, which involves MnDOT-led engagement and designs for short-term solutions. Additionally, this tech assistance helps gather data for long-term solutions. Two applications had been submitted, with one already approved for the area surrounding the Richfield Dual Language School and STEM Elementary. This application will provide bollard protected pedestrian safety enhancements surrounding the two schools properties. The second application was for the 73rd St (Centennial Elementary School) has been approved, however Manibog does not anticipate the work occurring this year. VI. Group Bike Ride Planning The Commission collectively decided that the next scheduled Transportation Commission meeting on August 3rd would be replaced with an informal meeting in the form of a bike ride around Richfield. This ride would highlight past and current construction projects that have improved public transportation infrastructure. The minutes from this ride are included with these minutes as a second attachment. VII. Project Updates • 77th St Underpass. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt provided an update to the Commission on the project, stating that grading work within Washington Park continues. Construction crews have been focused on building the four bridges that will make up the underpass. On the east side of the project along 77th St, final curb and gutter has been installed. • 65th St Reconstruction. Wycklendt announced that the project would be starting on July 18th, with the project starting on two separate ends. The first is the southbound lane of Rae Dr between 66th and Rae Dr and Woodlake Dr and 65th St. The second is the entire roadway between Nicollet Ave to Pillsbury Ave on 65th St. • Trunk Highway 77 Resurfacing. Manibog informed the Commission that southbound TH 77 remains closed for the next couple of weeks while MnDOT continues their resurfacing project. Northbound TH 77 would be closed from HWY 62 to I-494 for 3 weeks starting in late July. • I-494: Airport to 169 Update. The City, the County, and MnDOT have been working together the past few months on the construction agreements and request for proposal for the contractor for the project, said Manibog. Details regarding the pedestrian bridge and noise walls are still being discussed between the three agencies. • Bike Friendly Communities Manibog stated that the application for the Bike Friendly Community had opened up recently, and that the deadline was in late September. He told the Commission that he would provide an update at the next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting. • Other Commissions/Bike Advocates. Councilmember Hayford Oleary said that Council has gotten preliminary plans for the new legion site at Vets Park, which will include 200 apartments for the new building, with room on the ground floor for the legion. VIII. Upcoming events/meeting(s) The next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for September 7th, 2022. IX. Adjournment Commissioner Bradley adjourned the meeting at 8:28 pm. Richfield Transportation Commission Attachment #2 August 3rd, 2022 – Group Bike Ride 7:00 p.m. | Throughout Richfield Commission members: Husniyah Bradley (Chair), Jim Mahoney, Louis Dzierzak, Kyle Schmidt, David Gepner, Mollie O’Howard, Commission members not in attendance: Dan Edgerton, Wes Dunser, Jeff Walz Liaisons: Councilmember Sean Hayford O’leary, Michael Divane, Jan Matheus, Will Wlizlo City Staff Liaison/Staff: Ben Manibog, Joe Powers, Olivia Wycklendt I. Group Bike Ride The Transportation Commission was joined by City Staff Ben Manibog and Olivia Wycklendt, as well as Will Wlizlo, Safe Routes to School coordinator, for a group bike ride throughout Richfield. This bike ride included stops at the Dual Language School, Centennial Elementary School, the 77th St Underpass, 77th and 76th St, and the pedestrian bridge that crosses over 35W. The Commission discussed current safety concerns for residents going to and from both Centennial Elementary and the Dual Language School. Wycklendt provided on update on the Underpass project. The Commission discussed the pedestrian bridge that crosses over 35W, and the challenges with its current condition as well as the design and installation of a new pedestrian bridge. Shortly thereafter the Commission returned to City Hall and adjourned the bike ride.