2018-07-18 Mobility Committee Minutes City of Denton
MINUTES City Hall
41-111"A�m215 E.McKinney Street
DENTON MOBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING Denton,Texas
OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL www.cityofdenton.com
Wednesday,July 18, 2018 11:30am City Council Work Session Room
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 Wednesday, July 18,2018 at 11:32 a.m.
in the City Council Work Session Room 215 E. McKinney, Denton, Texas.
Committee Members: Council Member Keely Briggs, Council Member Meltzer, and Council Member
John Ryan
Staff Present: Mario Canizares, Assistant City Manager, Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation; Todd
Estes, CIP Director/City Engineer; Trey Lansford, Attorney; Pritam Deshmukh, Program
Engineer; Kim Mankin, Administrative Manager
Others Present: John Polster, ITS
1. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
A. MC18-032 -Receive nominations and election a Chair and Vice-Chair for the Denton City Council
Mobility Committee.
Committee Member Briggs nominated Committee Member Meltzer for Chair and Committee
Member Ryan for Vice Chair. Committee Member Ryan seconded,Vote 3-0 approved.
B. MC18-026 - Consider approval of the Mobility Committee meeting minutes of April 18, 2018.
Approved as circulated.
C. MC18-029 -Receive a report from Denton County Transportation Authority(DCTA) staff to include
State of the Agency,passenger enhancements, bus operations and DCTA capital projects, and provide
direction regarding strategic initiatives in the Denton County Transportation Authority's service plan.
Council Member Briggs recused herself from this item.
Mark Nelson introduced Jim Cline, President—DCTA who gave presentation starting with the
mission, vision and values.
Agency background
- Established under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 460
- Supported by'/2 cent sales tax from Denton, Highland Village and Lewisville
- DCTA began bus service October 2005 and A-train began revenue service June 2011
- 14 Member Board of Directors that are appointed
Agency facts that include services, ridership, innovations and leadership were shared.
Sources of funds was shown on a graph with the five year trend.
Financial Transparency includes many items that are on the agency's website for public viewing that
is not limited to the complete budget, check register, comprehensive annual financial report and debt
information.
Financial Responsibility, one of DCTA's Core Values is Accountability, where the DCTA Board and
employees hold themselves accountable to their constituents and are committed to being exemplary
steward of public resources.
System Ridership by Fiscal Year was shown on a graph.
Peer Comparison includes DCTA being cost efficient. Cost per mile and hour are reasonable and
often better than peers. DCTA could improve its cost effectiveness. Cline noted that cost per
passenger are higher than many peers except for bus. Building ridership is key.
Regional Comparison that includes bus, demand response and hybrid trail were explained in detail.
Building Ridership/Service Enhancements
- University A-train fare promotion
- Local fare promotion/regional fare increase offset
- Station Development/Parking
- Timing of train trips
- Southern Extension in Mobility 2045 Plan
- Dispatch improvements in ACCESS service
- Denton Airport Area Service Demand Response Pilot
Meltzer asked what is used that lets you know what the obstacles are in ridership. Cline answered
there is a nationwide trend in overall drop in ridership. The best information they have received is a
combination of a few things including less expensive gas,unemployment being down, IH-35E being
near complete. Cline stated DCTA is competing with convenience. Surveys are also looked at for
both (current)riders and non-riders. The Committee had additional discussion regarding the ridership.
Airport zone this fall will have service changes to include partnerships with Transit Network
Companies (Uber/Lyft) to provide service similar to demand response.
Economic Development
The A-train has encouraged a pipeline of new transit oriented development throughout the corridor,
including $345 million of new real estate investment.
- East End Lofts
- Huffines 121 Station
- Direct Impacts
Agency Recognition/Engagement
Cline stated DCTA is proud of the recognition of our business efforts and the engagement of our staff
within the region and industry.
Cost saving and funding opportunities included cost sharing initiatives, savings and Federal Funding.
Other updates that Cline talked about included Positive Train Control (PTC). These are federally
mandated safety improvements that prevents over speed, train to train collisions, misaligned switches,
and work zone incidents. The key deadline for the revenue service demonstration is December 31,
2018. DCTA is in the top third in the country in terms of implementing the federally mandated PTC
safety measures. Currently DCTA is in dynamic testing. Also included is the rail to trail, the last
section cleared final hurdle with TxDOT for letting. DDTC to Hebron complete in 2019. Lastly non-
profit ticket sales that include an increased discount from 25-percent to 50-percent (made available for
non-profit agencies to provide passes to economically disadvantaged riders).
Meltzer asked about a bus stop at Monsignor King Outreach Center, Cline stated there is one on each
side about a half mile away. It is difficult for the bus to turn around down where this is located.
DCTA is continuing to work on a solution to this request.
Innovation—Focus on Mobility
-Incorporation of Transportation Network Companies in Service
-Taxicabs
-More effective use of DCTA—owned vehicles
-UNT Service Contract Approach
-Cost Sharing with Trinity Metro on North Texas Express
-Collaboration with Alliance Link
-Transportation Management Association Engagement (public—private collaboration)
Autonomous vehicles—self driving vehicle
-Official launch and announcement May 7, 2018 (Frisco pilot)
-Public demonstration and automated vehicle symposium May 10, 2018
-Beta testing with partners (Hillwood- Frisco Station, HallGroup, City of Frisco and Drive.ai) May-
July 2018-Vehicles go live—July 2018
A map of the passenger amenities; existing and planned were included.
Meltzer asked if all the stops would have shelters. Cline answered no, criteria has to be met. First
there has to be space (in the right-of-way), and second high ridership locations.
There was a completed list and a list of shelters under review. Photos were shown.
Metzler asked about the labor situation with the bus drivers. Cline answered they are working through
it and is confident it will work out.
D. MC18-030 -Receive a report and hold a discussion on the status of the Loop 288 project and make a
recommendation to Denton City Council recommending project sequencing of Loop 288 project
components.
Mark Nelson talked about this item stating they are at a point on the schematic design that staff needs
to communicate with TxDOT how we would like the project sequenced. This will be securing right of
way where the Loop will go and construct a phased approach. The frontage road either north or south
bound will be first, then when funding is available the remainder will be constructed.
Staff is looking to advance to TxDOT a recommendation to construct the north bound frontage first.
The description was shown on a map.
John Polster stated the project is anticipated to be environmentally cleared next year which will allow
the project to start acquiring right-of-way. The total project cost is around $260 million. The portion
of north bound frontage road is about$40 million. The reasoning for the northbound first was
explained in detail.
Council Member Briggs asked about Vintage Road. Polster answered that there will be no changes on
the Vintage side (no direct connects to Vintage based on past direction by Mobility Committee).
Council Member Ryan knows the service road is in the 2045 plan. Polster agreed, answering the
(Loop 288) frontage roads are funded in the 2045 plan.
Polster also talked about the regulatory compliance issues associated with this project as well as other
TxDOT projects.
Recommendation is northbound frontage first. Todd Estes spoke about why northbound is the best
option.
Briggs asked if property owners know this is coming. Polster answered there have been multiple
public meetings. As part of the public hearings, all affected property owners will be notified.
There was a consensus to move forward with the northbound recommendation.
E. MC18-031 -Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide direction regarding the University of
North Texas's Bike Share Pilot Proposal and consider the recommendation of an ordinance amending
Ordinance 2018-903 related to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Denton and The
University of North Texas
This item was talked about after item C. Mark Nelson started the discussion and introduced Dr. Allen
Clark from UNT who gave a presentation.
About bike share
- Self-service bike stations that are application driven
- Method of transit ideal for short distance, point to point trips
- Appearing in more urban area and universities across the country
Evolution of bike share
- Venture capital funding focused on bottom line, not bikes and there is a constant shift in
investments.
- Start-up companies are beholden to the tides of the trends
- Cities/Universities that have legal and logistic issues that turn out to be bike litter in many cases
- Started with bikes, then electric assist and motorized scooters
About VeoRide
- They are not sponsored by a venture capital company
- Bikes are constructed in-house by their own partner
- Partnerships are tailored to address the unique transportation needs of each community and
campus
- Bikes remain their primary focus
- This is a one-year pilot
- There was a photo shown of the bike with definition
Timeline and Implementation
- August 6, 2018
UNT branded bike baskets. Initial pilot fleet. Marketing campaign established.
- Mid-fall
UNT Green branded bikes. Additions to fleet.
- Spring 2019
ADA compatible bikes, electric assist bikes may be considered.
Briggs stated that there are 1,200 less parking spaces at UNT. Clark agreed, due to construction.
Clark added that there is a new parking lot being built with 550 spaces.
Recommendation to Council to remove any reference to Spin on the ordinance.
Briggs motioned to amend the agreement, Meltzer seconded the motion. Vote 3-0 approved.
F. MC18-027 -Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide direction regarding Texas Department of
Transportation On-System projects in the Denton area to include the 35Express Project.
John Polster gave information for this item, explaining the report and acronyms.
FM2181 NS—this project is 100-percent funded. Construction complete February 2020. MCM
Contractors received the contract. Moving forward reasonably. There was a question and discussion
regarding the traffic signals around DISD.
US377/Fort Worth Drive—Project let July 10. Construction begin October 2018. Polster explained
this project is A+B and outlined how A+B contracts work. Final plans were submitted to Austin on
May 17, 2018. There will be a pre-construction meeting set.
Committee Member Ryan asked for a drawing of this project. Staff will email Ryan a pdf.
I-35E/Mayhill Improvements—Ready to let December 2019. This is to reconstruct the interchange
at Mayhill and IH-35E and existing four lane frontage roads.
I-35E/Loop 288 /Brinker/Mayhill—Construct grade separation along IH-35E at Brinker and
intersection improvements at Mayhill and South Loop 288. Construction substantially complete
December 2018.
I-35 North—This project is to widen existing freeway from four lanes to six lanes with continuous
frontage roads. ROW acquisition complete December 2020.
I-35 W Main Lanes—This project is to widen the four lane rural to six lane urban freeway with ramp
relocation.
US380/Loop 288—Improve northbound Loop 288 exit ramps to US 380.
Complete August 2018
US380 East—Widen existing roadway from four to six lane divided with intersection improvements.
There are two segments to this project. The one closest to City of Denton is being designed in-house
by TxDOT. Ready to let May 2021, fully funded.
Loop 288 W—Discussed earlier.
FM1515 —Widen existing two land rural section to a six lane divided urban roadway.
Environmentally clear June 2020. This roadway will be turned over to City of Denton after
constructed by TxDOT.
FM1830—shoulder improvement, complete August 2018.
FM1173 —Feasibility study to widen to 4/6 lane divided urban road.
G. MC18-033 - Identify and discuss meeting times and dates for future Mobility Committee Meetings.
There was discussion regarding dates and times. The decision was made to have the next meeting on
August 15th at 10:30am and repost to talk about at that time.
H. MC18-028 - Staff Reports:
1. Scooter Share
2. Irving Transportation Summit
3. Matrix
Scooter share to Council for discussion
CONCLUDING ITEMS
Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the Public
Utilities Board 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
Ryan— no turn on red at Robinson and FM2499
Ryan— on Bernard between Acme and the service road investigate prohibit parking on south side.
Ryan—Friday `City Street Report' be in the agenda to discuss items.
Briggs—Downtown Wainwright parking.
Briggs -Fry Street/Hickory bike rack-broken bikes
Briggs -List of the roads and what it means that TxDOT wants to give them back
Meltzer—Off ramp that goes into Denia close to Apogee Stadium—too fast
Meltzer-Matrix clean-up
Adjournment: 1:02pm
Approved 9/11/18