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Home My WebLink About04-24-2013 � ��—�c , CITY OF AUBURN CITY OF ---�� * TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT AND TRAILS COMMITTEE April 24, 2013 � WASHINGTON MINUTES 1. 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 Aubum Ciry Hall; 25 VVest Main Street, Aubum, Washington. Gommittee members present were: Vce-Chair Nick Peruis, Jim Fletcher, Lonnie Tealer, Michael Pratum and Richard LaBoyne. Also present during the meeGng were: Director Dennis Dowdy, Govemment RelaUOns Manager Carolyn Robertson; Traffic Engineer James Webb, Transportation Manager Pablo Para, Transpoitation Planner Joe Welsh, Office Assistant Molly Hoisington, King Counry MeNo TranspoRation Planner Larry Moore, DART Hopelink Transportation Operations Manager pon Krook, citizen Bilf Balzarini and cRizen Scot Pondelick. II. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It wasmoved by Member Fletcher, seconded by Vice-Chair Perius that the Committee approve the Transportation, Transit and Trails Committee minutes for March 27, 2013. Motion carried. 111. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION A. UPDATE ON POTENTIAL METRO CUTS (Welsh) Transportation Planner Welsh distributed handout which states: "In the first week of April, the Metro transit system released a report that discussed the financial,bind it was facing. Th'e state Legislature previously authorized the Congestion Reduction Charge (CRC)asa temporary solution to transit funding shortfallswhile working on a broader transportation funding package; the CR'C expires in June of 2014. Despite Metro's work to'control costs including cutting 100 staff positions, raising fares four dmes in four straight years(a total 80 percent increase), and digging deeply into its emergency reserves and its capital � progrem fund and its plan#o request another tare increase, if no new funding is approved, Metro faces a $75 million annual gap starting in mid-2014. To close a budget gap of that size, Metro would have to cut as many as 600,000 of the roughly 3.5 million hours of bus service it provides annually—about 17 percent of its service. 65 bus routes—about one-third ofMetro's total—might be discontinued. Servicemight be reduced or revised on another 86 routes. Aubum Routes or000sed to be discontinued under thisscenario include: • Route 152—a peak hour, weekday oommuter route from Aubum to Seattle • Route 910—Auburn's community shuttle to North Aubum, downtown and the Supermall • Route 919—Aubum's community shuttle from southeast Aubum to the Library, Senior Center, and downtown Auburn Routes or000sed to exoerienceservice reductions under this scenario include: • Route 181 a critical 7 day per week route from Federal Way, downtown Aubum and Green River � College. Likely service headway reductions in weekdayoff peak periods and weekends to hourlg service • Route 186 from Aubum to Enumclaw likely reduced in the peak hours° Transoortation. Tra�sit. and Trails Committee Aarii.24. 2013 MINUTES Mr. Balzarini asked who in the Legislature is in charge of the Congestion Reduction Charge in Olympia. Govemment RelationsManager Robertson answered staGng it is current state law and is expected to sunset, it has not been currently asked in any piece of legislation to extend it;so iYs not likely that it will be extended. Mr. Balzarini asked ff we could put a drive on to extend it. Government Relations Manager Robertson stated iYs late in the session to introduce a bill to ask for that. B. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY—TAPPS PARKWAY(Webb) Vice-Chair Perius stated he has a concem for pedestrian safety on Tapps Parkway as the only thing separating pedesVians from cars is the shrubbery which has a potential foc being a hazard. Director powdy stated there is no accident history at this time to support any changes and the clear zone regulations for roadside shoulders would dictate what the City can do for tra�c safety reasons. When the roadway and trail were designed these regulations were fully considered. Transportation Manager Para further explained this loqtion has an existing vertical curb which is a standard design. C. OLYMPIA TRANSPORTATION ACTION (Dowdy) Government Relations Manager Robertson stated there are two discussions in play on the Transportation Budget, Representative Clibborn's Bill 1954 and Senator Eide's Bill 5920. Both bills are proposing a ten cent gas tax over five years. The current proposal is for the increase to take place:in two cent inci�ements during the five yearphase. For the City of Aubum, the advantage in both bills is SR 167; The Gateway Project. This project is immensely supported in both of these groups. OTHER DISCUSSION Mr. Balzarini stated he is here this morning as he is not able to use route 919. This route is rendered uselessto him as the first run of the day allows no deviations. Mr. Balzarini mentioned he is watching the service diminish rather than being able to watch it provide whaYs currently out there. Mr. Balzarini advised he had to walk 12 blocks today to get to route 180, rode route 180 and was allowed the choice to come to Ciry Hall today by getting off 2-3 blocks away. Mr. Balzarini's concern with route 919 is that ft's being changed for reasons that don't service the traveling public. In addition, Mr. Balzarini said he is here on behalf of his 85 year old cousin who he takes care of and that she wouldn't be able to walkl2 blocks to the bus stop. Mr. Balzarini advised sheuses route 919 edery day on a deviation to go to the Senioc Center and also come back and that he uses route 919 and all othefroutes throughout the City. Mr. Balzarini statedhe as a user sees that nobody has addressed the issue af how are you guys going to collectively collaboratiVely put together increased rider participation. Mr. Balzarini stated with the list of elirriinations he has been prodided, he iscontemplating getting work done on'his car to get his car back on the street instead of using public3ransportation. N. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Transportation,TransR, andTrails Gommittee, the meeting was adjoumed at 9:59 a.m. Approved this`Z� day of � � , 2013. - �� -�� Oger hordarson Molly Ho s ngton Chairman Public Works Departrnent Otfice Assistant Page 2