HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-25-2012 * �c CITY OF AUBURN
CITY OF * TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT
� AND TRAILS COMMITTEE
* April 25, 2012
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Roger Thordarson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Conference
Room, located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Aubum, Washington.
Committee members present were: �ce Chair John Calnan, Nick Perius, Jim Fietcher and John
Daniels Jr Also present during the meeting were: Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy,
Transportation PlanneNGrants Manager Chris Hankins, TranspoRation Planner Joe Welsh and
Public Works Office Assistant Heather Guiberson.
11. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Vice Chair Calnan seconded by Member Fletcher that the Committee approve
the Public Works Committee minutes for March 28, 2012. Motion carried.
III. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. STEWART ROAD UPDATE (Dowdy)
Director powdy stated that two weeks ago there was a meeting held regarding Stewart Road.
The Mayor of Pacific, Mayor of Aubum and Pierce County Council Member Joyce McDonald
met to discuss how to get Pierce County's support for the bridge crossing for the White River
that Sumner wants to sponsor Sumner has applied for a PSRC grant for that railroad crossing.
l'hey are trying to get Pierce County to write a letter of support although they do not have
money in the budget for next year to match the grant.
Piece County Council member Joyce McDonald is going to write a letter to try to persuade the
other Council Members that they shou�d invest the money to cost share the possible grarrt
option. This is a complicated case because Pierce County staff have convinced themselves that
they can not use county road money to cost share anything that has already been annexed by a
city Chairman Thordarson toid Director powdy to Iet him know rf there was anything that the
Transportation, Transit 8 Trails Committee could do in order to help with the process.
B. C201A, M STREET UNDERPASS PROJECT (Dowdy)
Director powdy stated that currently the contractor is still adjusting signage. M Street, 4�' and 6`"
are now closed. Currently we are trying to get to a point where there are fewer complaints about
detour routes. The City is trying to lieep traffic flowing through the Auburn Way Corridor
Member Perius asked about the traffic signal timing on Auburn Way and Hwy 18. Director
Dowdy stated that the State's main concem is to clear the ramps. The City has been reviewing
the progression of traffic to try to set the lights with not only the State's lights but the detour
routes from M Street.
C. GRANT STATUS UPDATE (Hankins)
Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Hankins stated that the City has been busy this Spring,
there have been a lot of grant programs and opportunities for us to go after At last months
Transportation. Transit. and Trails Committee A�ril 25. 2012
MINUTES
meeting we were in the process of applying for STP/CMAQ funding through PSRC's regional
for the 277"' St Corridor Project. We placed in the top twelve and therefore we are moving
forward in the review process. We are now competing with the other four counties that make up
the Puget Sound Region.
WSDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program awarded the City $400,000 for Cftywide Safety
Improvements to cover mukiple locations. Hankins distributed information showing where the
improvements would be made and described project details.
D CHAMBER PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURE FOR ARTERIAL STREET REPAIRS UPDATE
(Dowdy)
Chairman Thordarson announced that the proposed ballot measure did not pass. Member
Perius stated that people he talked to thought it was a good idea but they believed the money
wouldn't get spent where it should be. Chairtnan Thordarson stated that the Promenade Projed
didn't help the belief of people. Member Fletcher also stated that the Promenade was one of the
biggest criticisms. Director powdy stated that there is very little City funds in the Promenade
and the majority of funding is from a federal grant.
Chairman Thordarson stated that he thinks that if this measure is to go again on the ballot that
they wait till there isn't anything else on the horizon. Director powdy said that one of the
reasons they took it to the ballot in April was to avoid the Vailey Regionai Fire Authority and the
Auburn School DistricYs measures. Dowdy stated that we had to receive at least 40°h of
eiigible voters that voted in the last election, which was met in both counties. Of the 40% that
voted we need 60%to vote in favor of the ballot, which was not met. If we would have had more
time to market the ballot measure we may have been more successful.
E. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
Member Daniels requested a field trip to see where the current City projects are located.
IV ADJOURNAAENT
There being no further business to come before the Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee,
the meeting was adjoumed at 10:06 a.m.
Approved this 23`d day of May, 2012.
C�4���h/� / vr-t �
Roger hordarson He� er Guiberson
Chairman Pubiic Works Depar�ment Office Assistant
Page 2