2017-03-21 Mobility Committee Minutes MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MOBILITY COMMITTEE
March 21, 2017
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 Monday, March
21, 2017 at 1:36 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room 215 E. McKinney, Denton, Texas.
Present: Council Member Dalton Gregory, Council Member Kevin Roden and Council
Member Keely Briggs
Also Present: Jon Fortune, ACM; Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation; John Cabrales,
Director of Community Affairs; Galen Gillum, Interim Director of Capital
Projects; John Davis, Engineering Services Division Manager; Pritam Deshmukh,
Traffic Engineer; Julie Anderson, Bike Coordinator Pedestrian Coordinator; John
Polster, ITS; and Kim Mankin,Administrative Supervisor
1. REGULAR MEETING:
A. MC17-007 - Consider approval of the Mobility Committee meeting minutes of February 14,
2017.
Approved as circulated
B. MC17-008 -Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding Texas Department of
Transportation On-System projects in the Denton area to include the 35Express Project.
This item was presented after item MCI 7-010.
John Polster gave this update.
FM 2181 —Project has an August let date, all utilities scheduled to be complete before May.
Upper Trinity wants all utilities out of the right of way area. They do not have any easements
acquired they are not providing any schedule or timeline. The County will try and get this
information improved from Upper Trinity. Polster added anything the City can do to help would
be great.
Gregory stated that we have a staff member Tim Fisher that is on the Upper Trinity Board.
Nelson added that he will reach out to him. Polster added that they have refused to pot hole their
own facilities to see the conflict.
Roden asked what can the City do to help. Polster answered that City staff can contact Upper
Trinity and let them know the importance of this project and keeping to the schedule.
Gregory asked if a resolution from Council would be beneficial. Roden will suggest at the
Council meeting later today in the new business section, to ask staff for options and what
approach would be best.
Nelson stated in the meantime, get Bryan Langley call Tom Taylor with Upper Trinity or John
Cabrales reach out and advocate the project and a letter is forthcoming.
Polster added that Denton County will do their part.
FM 2499, Section 5 - schedule to complete November 2017.
US377 Ft Worth Drive—Let date has changed from August to June 2017. Utilities to be
complete by May. Final plans were turned in February.
US380 Urban—complete from construction standpoint, a speed study will be conducted. The
interlocal agreement for the signal is on Council agenda March 21 and the County March 28.
US380 In town—Construction completion date unsure. TxDOT is currently working on a
revised completion schedule.
FM 426—The request for funds was made in February. Staff is working on a firm for design
build. Begin construction early 2019 and complete June 2020. John Davis added that the RFQ
responses from the design criteria consultants are due March 30. After a consultant is selected a
contract will be taken to the Council for approval.
Gregory asked if the sidewalk be constructed before road because of the Ryan High School
students and other pedestrians. Davis answered that is one of the items that can be requested
from the design criteria for safety. Nelson added there was a similar question from the Traffic
Safety Commission as well.
IH-35N—The region did not choose to fund this area, the Texas Transportation Commission had
stated they wanted I-35 six lanes from the Rio to the Red. Polster is confident they will use their
Cat 12 funding. Environmental approval by December 2018.
IH-35E/Loop 288Brinker/Mayhill 288— Started charging time on March 6, there will be more
information on the next report.
FM 1515—RFQ is currently out for quotes, there is a lot of interest.
Chang Patel is on contract for the entire corridor from 1-35 to I-35W. In the northern section
HDR will be designing the connection of 1-35 and Loop 288 on the east side as a direct
connection. Chang Patel will be doing a tie in of a direct connect for their job. On I-35W
segment Chang Patel will design the interchange at I-35W and 2449/Vintage. There is a policy
question, Loop 288 will be brought to 1-35W and have direct connects from the west. In the past
there has been a question if Vintage needs to be a continuation of the Loop for more of a
localized street. The question for the City is should Vintage tie into a box (signals), or mirror the
west section with the direct connects. There were maps and drawings shown. Deshmukh talked
about the pros and cons of the options. There was considerable discussion regarding this
configuration.
Gregory asked when the developer came in to build the homes on the south side of Vintage,
the City required them to provide enough right of way for what type of facility. Davis
answered primary arterial, six lanes divided. The Mobility Plan has shown Vintage from 1-35W
all the way to US377 to be primary arterial for several years. Gregory then asked the TxDOT
plan for US377 in that particular area. Davis answered TxDOT has completed their
preliminary design schematics and environmental study for US377 to be a five lane section, four
lanes with a center turn lane, from FM1830 to north of Roanoak.
Roden asked about the mobility component. If the talk is regarding the impact on a
neighborhood, my guess is that in 20 years a big traffic jam down Vintage would be more of a
complaint. The other side is there are the big direct connects in their back yard. What is staff
anticipating this will do from a mobility perspective. John Cabrales answered from a
recreational standpoint. The City of Denton owns 200 acres south of the Vintage area which will
be the next big park project (shown on a map). This will be the next major facility for recreation
similar to North Lakes Park area and is proposed as having aquatic amenities and athletic fields.
Gregory asked if the Fire Training Center was still in the area of Fire Station #7. Cabrales
answered it is, and west of that fire station is a proposed Service Center Annex to provide relief
to the existing Service Center.
Polster added that our Engineering Department is currently working on Bonnie Brae from I-35 to
Vintage over to I-35W to extend and better alignment.
Gregory stated the entire Council needs to weigh in on this. Briggs is concerned about the high
speed that may be associated with the direct connect roads. Polster showed a map of the direct
connects in Lewisville at I-35N and Hwy 121 where there are many businesses.
The Committee recommended going ahead and environmentally clearing both sides and
take to the full Council at a Work Session in the future.
C. MC17-010 -Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide direction regarding Oak Phase
III-A bike accommodations, from Carroll Boulevard to Bonnie Brae.
Julie Anderson gave the final update of this item with a short presentation that continued from
the last meeting accommodating changes that were suggested. There is about a tenth of a mile
on the stretch that will be an urban shoulder because of the lane constraints.
Gregory clarified all bike lanes will be on the north side and no more parking will be
removed, Housewright confirmed. Roden stated he is appreciative of the extra work that
went into this and looking at other possibilities, and he is comfortable with this design.
Briggs added that it addresses parking issues,bike lanes and buses. Gregory stated he is
grateful for this better plan.
Gregory suggested that we send out letters to residents with specific information
highlighting that there would be no additional parking removed and that this may slow
traffic. Nelson suggested that John Cabrales, which heads up public communication activities,
to identify a process to get the information out to neighborhood.
Gregory also suggested looking ahead at the 32 foot lane and see what it would take to
widen that stretch to a 34 foot lane.
Briggs will share on social medial blog.
Nelson will also add information to the Friday Reading file for all Council Members.
Gregory motioned to move this design forward and make appropriate notifications to
Council and the residents on Oak Street,with a second from Briggs. Vote 3-0 approved.
D. MC 17-009 -
ACM Update:
1. Matrix.
Remove#5 - Oak/Hickory Phase III Update (Bike Plan)
Revise #11 —Oakland road diet—Withers to Carroll
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 12:45 p.m.
Approved on 4/11/17