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2022-09-07 TC Minutes Richfield Transportation Commission Attachment #1 September 7th, 2022 - Meeting Minutes 7:00 p.m. | Bartholomew Room, City Hall Commission members: Husniyah Bradley (Chair), Jim Mahoney, Jeff Walz, David Gepner, Mollie O’Howard, Louis Dzierzak Commission members not in attendance: Wes Dunser, Kyle Schmidt, Dan Edgerton 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 7:03 pm. II. Approval of Agenda Motion by Commissioner Mahoney to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Walz. Motion carried. III. Review & Approve Minutes for July 6th, 2022 Meeting Motion by Commissioner Dzierzak to approve the July 6th, 2022 meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner O’Howard. Motion carried. IV. Review & Approve Minutes for August 3rd, 2022 Work Session Motion by Commissioner Dzierzak to approve the August 3rd, 2022 work session minutes. Seconded by Commissioner O’Howard. Motion carried. V. 77th St & Lyndale Ave Signal Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog presented on the redesign of the traffic signal and intersection at 77th St and Lyndale Ave. This new design would remove the eastbound free- right at the southwest corner of the intersection, and extend the curbline into the street. There would also be pedestrian improvements such as new pedestrian ramps and crossings which would be safer and more accessible than what is currently in place. The City requested that the Transportation Commission approve the action to provide the 77th St & Lyndale Avenue Signal Replacement project recommendation to City Council. Motion to recommend the Lyndale Ave & 77th St signal replacement project to City council for approval by Commissioner Mahoney. Seconded by Commissioner O’Howard. Motion carried. VI. Safe Routes to School – RDLS/STEM Elementary Manibog presented a draft concept to the Commission that was shown to the Safe Routes to School committee, with the recommended direction that the Commission provide feedback for the final concept design. This project involves MnDOT-led engagement and designs for short-term solutions, and tech assistance to help gather data for long-term solutions. At RDLS, at Elliot Ave and 70th St, the proposed design involves a median safety island with yellow flex posts on 70th St, that would taper as they get further away from the intersection. This also includes deflecting buffered bike lane to maintain existing lane widths. At STEM Elementary, Manibog presented MnDOT’s design at 12 Ave and 70th St. The proposal involves painted curb extensions with white flex posts on the southeast and southwest corners of the intersection. The commission had concerns regarding parking during school pick up and drop off at Elliot Ave and 70th St. Manibog reassured the commission that the school is involved in this demonstration, so concerns with queuing can be discussed once the design is decided upon. They also expressed concerns and a desire to improve the safety of the routes students to take to schools. Some commission members mentioned that while they would prefer to have their kids walk or bike to school, they feel that currently it is not always safe for them to do so. Manibog stated he would pass these concerns along to MnDOT and other city staff and they would be considered during the current plan reviews. Overall the commission was in support of the demonstration and is looking forward to the results of it. VII. Active Transportation Planning – MnDOT Manibog began the discussion regarding Active Transportation Planning, which is a joint effort between the City, MnDOT, and consultants to establish existing conditions and identify projects and policies within the City that could be improved in the future. This includes a multi-faceted approach, from transportation for pedestrians and bicyclists, to bus rapid transit, and incorporating equity in decisions involving future funding. The review of existing plans includes plans like the Bicycle master Plan, the Safe Routes to School Comprehensive plan, and the City’s 2040 comprehensive plan. The Commission expressed its general support and curiosity of the results on the review. They look forward to future discussions based on the findings of the review. VIII. Project Updates • 77th St Underpass. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt provided an update to the Commission on the project, stating that some design changes had caused a delay in the project. Bridge work continues unimpacted while Washington Park will be open to the public later in the fall. • 65th St Reconstruction. Wycklendt announced that the project is underway, with a current focus on installing stormwater infrastructure on the east side of the project. Pavement removals have occurred on both sides of the project. • Trunk Highway 77 Resurfacing. Manibog informed the Commission that some residual work is still occurring south of I-494 for off-ramps, however no work is occurring in Richfield for now. • I-494: Airport to 169 Update. The environmental documentation has been completed, which includes Federal government approval to move forward with construction from an environmental standpoint. The request for proposal for the project will be released later this September. It’s anticipated that the contract for the project will go out prior to the end of this year. • Bike Friendly Communities Manibog and other City staff are working on the City’s application for designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, with the hope to achieve a silver designation or better. • 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. Jan Matheus announced she will be hosting a Bike Advocates stand at Penn Fest on September 18th. IX. Upcoming events/meeting(s) The next scheduled Transportation Commission meeting will be a Joint City Council and Transportation Commission work session and it is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th, 2022. The next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting is November 2nd, 2022. X. Adjournment Chair Bradley adjourned the meeting at 8:31 pm.