2016-06-14 Mobility Committee Minutes MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MOBILITY COMMITTEE
June 14, 2016
After determining that a quorum of the Mobility Committee of the Denton City Council was
present, the Mobility Committee thereafter convened into an Open Meeting on Tuesday, June 14,
2016 at 10:36 a.m. in the City Hall Conference Room 215 E. McKinney, Denton, Texas.
Present: Council Member Dalton Gregory and Council Member Kevin Roden
Also Present: Howard Martin, ACM; John Cabrales, ACM; Mark Nelson, Director of
Transportation; John Davis, Director of Engineering Services; Tim Fisher,
Assistant Director Water Utilities; Ron Menguita, Long Range Planning Admin;
Noreen Housewright, Senior Engineer; Julie Anderson, Bike Coordinator
Pedestrian Coordinator; John Chapman, CMO Intern; John Polster, ITS; and
Annie Bunger,Administrative Assistant III
1. REGULAR MEETING:
A. MC16-021 Consider approval of the Mobility Committee meeting minutes of April 12,
2016.
Approved as circulated
B. MC16-025 -Receive a status report and hold a discussion regarding the Oak and
Hickory Streets bike accommodations.
Mark Nelson introduced this item and stated that Julie Anderson and Noreen Housewright would
be talking about it. Anderson stated that the 2014-2015 Bike Fund planned projects, $220,000
was allocated for bike accommodations on Oak and Hickory Streets from Bell Avenue to
Avenue C. This will be completed in three different phases. Phase I consisted of sharrows on
Oak from Bell Avenue to Locust, and a contra-flow bike lane on Oakland from Hickory to Oak.
Phase I was completed in February 2016. Phase II is Oak and Hickory, from Locust to Carroll
Boulevard and is a mixture of sharrows and bike lanes. It is set for construction in July 2016.
Phase III is Oak and Hickory Streets from Carroll Blvd. to Ave C and will include bike lanes and
sharrows. Phase III has designs that are 80 percent complete, but has not been scheduled for
construction. There is an existing bike lane on Hickory from Welch to Carroll that was
completed before 2011.
The 2014 Bond Election included funds for reconstruction of Hickory from Bonnie Brae to
Locust. However, funds for the underlying utility work were not included in the scope and
funding of this project. The Street Department has tentatively planned to start the reconstruction
near the end of the Bond Program cycle to better coordinate work with water and wastewater
departments. As neither water nor wastewater has Hickory in either of their CIP lists, each utility
is discussing the option of accelerating project and identifying funding.
Water Department anticipates they could have a schedule for Hickory within six weeks, with
eighteen months to two years for utility construction to be completed for the western section
from Bonnie Brae to North Texas Blvd. Work would start at Bonnie Brae and progress east.
Parking is not a huge issue that is holding this project back. Staff met with Geary Robinson,
UNT Director of Transportation earlier this month. UNT is supportive of the parking being
removed which is about 22 spaces.
Gregory stated that the businesses on the north side of Hickory are few at this time. There
wouldn't be a better time to remove the parking. Gregory them asked if there is a timeline in
place for removing the parking. Anderson answered it would depend on if staff moves forward
with stripping.
Roden thought that when the prioritization of the street projects came together, one of the factors
that determined what was placed on the list to begin with was coordination with other utility
projects. Looks like Hickory has been approved for reconstruction without any utility work
which was known to be needing replaced. Davis answered this is correct but engineering and
transportation is not involved in that. What has happened Streets initially scheduled Hickory for
later in the bond programs and water and wastewater was in later CIP projects as well. In asking
to move Hickory forward, they are scrambling to adjust the budgets currently for this change.
Martin stated that it will be more than six weeks. Staff is trying to get all the parties together and
put together a realistic schedule of how to move forward. The geotechnical work on Oak points
to a complete reconstruction from Carroll Blvd to Fulton, obviously Hickory Street has needed to
be reconstructed for many years. Oak is not in the bond funds. The Hickory Street section
through UNT has a variety of different challenges, one is utilities. Staff has been talking to UNT
about the systematic abandonment of streets internal to UNT. What this really means is having
to finding a different metering methodology to meter water into the campus from the perimeter.
It is common knowledge that the line size will have to be increased from what is currently is.
Along Hickory that water line is an eight inch line and will have to go to a twelve inch line.
Roden stated that he thinks no matter when you take parking it will be a painful thing to the
businesses.
Anderson went on to say that Hickory is in bad shape and there are options for doing bike
accommodations on Hickory based on what will happen once the road is reconstructed. Staff
could move forward with striping Hickory before reconstruction and use thermoplastic. This
will not last its normal life cycle because of the bad road conditions. Paint could also be used
instead of the thermoplastic which would last six to eight months. An option is to leave the
street as it is and wait to strip after the reconstruction. Another option would be to go ahead with
Oak since there are no work scheduled for that street and wait for Hickory. The cost difference
between paint and thermoplastic isn't much but the life cycle is different. Since the bike fund is
paying for striping, if it is done now, it would have to be re-done and paid for after
reconstruction. Gregory remembers that any CIP project would pay for striping of bike lanes.
Anderson answered that is only if the markings are existing. Roden remembered the same as
Gregory. Roden asked for clarification on this point.
Martin added that a key issue that needs to be brought up that staff is struggling with has to do
with when the streets are re-done curb, gutter and sidewalk will be looked at as well. Since part
of this is in the historic area and part of the sidewalks have the old WPA stamp, they feel
compelled to keep that even though it is crumbling. It does not generally meet any of the ADA
compliance. There will be some resistance in the historical district as to how this is completed.
Martin hopes to solve and get some clarity on the approach before any construction is started.
Roden asked what staff is recommending. Anderson answered she would stripe Oak and leave
Hickory until the road reconstruction. Davis added that in the mean time staff could be holding
meetings with the businesses for removal of parking. This would also be a good time to meet
with the Historical Commission about removing parking and going through Traffic Safety
Commission and then go to Council. It will take an ordinance from Council for the `no parking'
along this area.
Gregory asked when the utility construction for Hickory would began. Fisher answered this fall
starting from Bonnie Brae to North Texas Blvd. Gregory asked about the portion of Hickory
from Aveue C to Carroll Blvd. Fisher answered it would probably not begin for a year or so,
there isn't a defined phasing plan or defined schedule currently.
Gregory asked for the paint that is currently in place to be refreshed on Hickory. The 22 parking
spaces to be removed as soon as necessary for the construction. Regarding Oak, suggest
measuring and getting block by block explanations. There may not be any need to reduce
parking on Oak Street. If there is a lot of explanations to the citizens in that area the bike lanes
should be welcomed instead of resisted.
Roden stated that he is encouraged by the plan that is moving forward. Once the timeline is
established make sure this is communicated to media outlets for citizens.
A schedule will be brought back as an update to the next meeting.
C. MC16-028 -Receive a report and hold a discussion on sidewalk priority projects.
Julie Anderson talked about this item stating that part of the budget process last year was to survey
gaps in sidewalks. About thirty projects were realized at that time. This list was given to
Engineering to add to the bond sidewalk program or separate funding. Engineering also has a list
of projects for the $2 million bond.
The downtown list was combined with the Engineering list and cost estimates were given for the
top five downtown projects. An authorization of$75,000 from the $2,000,000 bond was made
for the downtown projects. The top two project has been funded. Those are on Oakland to
coordinate with the crossing on McKinney Street. The other is on Hickory Street on Exposition
where the new rail yard project is. Transportation also submitted a budget submittal to fund the
remaining three projects which is $352,000. Those projects are: South side of McKinney St. at
City Hall West between Elm St. and Cedar St., Austin Street - McKinney to Oak, and McKinney
Street - Oakland to Austin.
Roden asked the basis of the prioritization for the list that was included. Davis answered staff
looked at sidewalks that had ADA requests in the areas, schools were looked at next parks and
shopping areas. Also areas that didn't have sidewalks but there were walking paths in the area.
Gregory stated that there is a work session later for full Council regarding the budget and
potential priorities. Is the $352,000 in the $6,000,000 that is listed as other potential priorities.
Cabrales answered it is in the list, staff is looking at the subliminal package request that came in
from all different departments and Council. It is in that list will not be discussed at the Council
meeting today but will be in the near future.
Anderson lastly added that existing sidewalks are managed thought the streets department, they
are repaired or replaced with street projects. Additionally$1,000,000 is set aside in the operating
budget to deal with sidewalk issues.
Roden stated that he still believes that there needs to be a comprehensive sense of what is
needed. Roden asked if there anything in motion to make this happen. Cabrales answered
currently under the Mayor's summary job program there is an intern that will be helping
Anderson catalog some of the locations where there are gaps and put together the needs list.
There will need to be a discussion for a prioritizing sequence of the many projects.
Davis added that the sidewalk inventory list has been started through the street inventory
process, the sidewalks on city streets. Anderson's program will inventory those along TxDOT
roadways. When the list and map is brought together staff will know the missing links. The
easier sidewalks have been installed. The more costly ones are left(i.e. drainage issues).
Roden wants to develop a more mechanical process of prioritizing sidewalks. He then asked if
there is any data to be able to add cost for the budget cycle. Martin added it will take longer than
this budget cycle. Cabrales answered there will not be comprehensive data, but there is some
data available.
Roden added that figuring out the priority list will be key. Complaint driven is very hard to
justify. A better program and more funding is needed.
D. MC16-027 -Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding Texas Department of
Transportation On-System projects in the Denton area to include the 35Express Project.
John Polster talked about this item.
FM2181 —East West- complete July 3.
FM2181 —North South—Design complete March 2017
FM2499— Section 5 —complete November 2017
Gregory asked about the signage off of I-35.
US377/Fort Worth Drive—Plans 100 percent September 2016
US380/Urban—Complete September 2016
US380/In town—Complete January 2017
Sidewalks Carroll Blvd to Hinkle on University North side have ROW issues.
Continue to work to get that accomplished.
FM426—waiting on acceptance to take off system.
Loop 288 West—New
I-35 East—95 percent plans for the ramps (Mayhill, Brinker and Loop 288)
Dallas Drive being re-constructed at AGL cost,beams not set properly.
Open end of August/first of September.
E. MC16-024 - Staff Reports:
1. DCTA Service Enhancements
2. DISC Site Locations
3. Matrix
Add sidewalk around courthouse
2. CONCLUDING ITEMS
A. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the
Committee on the Environment or the public with specific factual information or recitation of
policy, or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting AND
Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, provide reports about items of
community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to include: expressions of thanks,
congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary
recognition of a public official, public employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming
event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial,
or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was
attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or
employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an imminent threat to the public
health and safety of people in the municipality that has arisen after the posting of the agenda.
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11:45 a.m.