Loading...
2023-05-03 TC Minutes_Final Richfield Transportation Commission Attachment #1 May 3rd, 2023 - Meeting Minutes 7:00 p.m. | Bartholomew Room, City Hall Commission members: Husniyah Bradley (Chair), Jim Mahoney, Jeff Walz, Carl Woetzel, Rory Cook, Michael Kohout, David Gepner Commission members not in attendance: Kyle Schmidt, Louis Dzierzak Liaisons: Councilmember Sean Hayford Oleary, Mike Devain City Staff Liaison/Staff: Matt Hardegger, Olivia Wycklendt I. Call meeting to order Chair Bradley called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. II. Approval of Agenda Motion by Commissioner Walz to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Woetzel. Motion carried. III. Review & Approve Minutes for February 1st, 2023 Joint City Council/Transportation Commission Work Session Motion by Commissioner Walz to approve the February 1st, 2023 Joint City Council/Transportation Commission Work Session minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Woetzel. Motion carried. IV. Review & Approve Minutes for February 1st, 2023 Meeting Motion by Commissioner Woetzel to approve the February 1st, 2023 meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Kohout. Motion carried. V. Review & Approve Commission Bylaws Transportation Engineer Matt Hardegger explained the changes regarding the commission bylaws. One of the most significant changes would include the addition of Richfield Public School Liaison, who would serve as a non-voting liaison to the Transportation Commission and provide additional collaboration between Richfield Public Schools, the City, and the Transportation Commission. Motion by Commissioner Walz to approve the changes to the Commission Bylaws. Seconded by Commissioner Mahoney. Motion carried. VI. Community Development Update Assistant Community Development Director Julie Urban provided an update on projects that have been proposed, are currently in progress or have been recently completed within the City. Many Of these projects include housing developments, such as the Riley Apartments, the Lynvue Apartments, and RYA Apartments. She stated that many of these developments include several affordable-housing units. Of the housing projects that have been proposed, all of them are affordable housing projects. Several of the projects like Aster Commons and will provide housing and other resources to individuals who are neurodivergent or on the autism spectrum. VII. Active Transportation Action Plan Summary Transportation Engineer Hardegger introduced the Active Transportation Action Plan which helps the city prioritize different areas and routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other multi-modal forms of transportation. Hardegger asked the Commission what their thoughts were on the plan summary, and if there are other areas that the City can improve in. Commissioner Kohout “in general” mentioned that incorporating maps and improving wayfinding for streets and bike friendly routes to the public could be beneficial. Commissioner Mahoney emphasized the importance of winter sidewalk maintenance being a consideration during the design process of a reconstruction project. Commissioner Woetzel stated that having bike paths and multimodal trails have a more thoughtful design so that it’s not just a trail abutting a roadway is ideal. He also said that the action plan must have an emphasis on safety for both bicyclists and pedestrians. VIII. Safe Routes to School Pilot Product Update Transportation Engineer Hardegger provided updates regarding a few Safe Routes to School pilot programs. At 70th and 12th Ave, he stated that temporary bump outs were placed at 3 out of four of the corners of the intersection. Additionally, at 70th and 12th Ave, there is a temporary median refuge. He said the impressions on this pilot program so far is that traffic flows better towards STEM elementary and that overall traffic is calmed for drivers going eastbound on 70th St. Hardegger said the next steps for the project are keeping the bump outs in place until Winter, after which staff will decide if a permanent installation is worth pursuing. In regards to 73rd and Bloomington, Hardegger presented the design for the pilot program scheduled for August. The current plan would be in place over winter and would consist of painting bumpouts at the corners and installing bollards along the intersections between Cedar and Bloomington, as well as placing a temporary trail on the south side of 73rd St. IX. Project Updates • 77th St Underpass. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt provided an update on the project, stating that crews were working on the final grade and base of 77th St within the project limits and that sidewalks on the east side of the project had just been poured the past week. • 65th St Reconstruction. Wycklendt is anticipating that this project will be completed by later fall of 2023. Currently crews have been working on setting up temporary water for properties west of Lyndale Ave on 65th St, as well as pavement removals in that area. • I-494: Airport to 169 Update. Transportation Engineer Hardegger mentioned that the impacts of this project will be limited in 2023. He mentioned that the Lyndale on ramp to 494 will likely be closed sometime this summer. • 77th St/Lyndale Ave Signal Project. Hardegger stated that 77th St and Lyndale project will begin after July 4th this summer. The slip right for Eastbound traffic going southbound on 76th St will be going away as a part of this project. The county is currently working on redoing the pedestrian crossings and pedestrian push buttons at 70th and 76th St and Nicollet Ave. Hardegger said that it is anticipated that the project will last for a couple months. • Liaison Updates. Liaison Mike Devain announced that community services is hoping to get approval from the state to instate a temporary city sales tax to help fund projects such as replacing the pool liner. X. Upcoming events/meeting(s) The next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting is Wednesday, June 7th, 2023. XI. Adjournment Chair Bradley adjourned the meeting at 8:57 pm.