Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee Minutes

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:30 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.

ZOOM Webinar

Voting members present:

• Mirtha Becerra, City Council (vice-chair),
• John Engen, Mayor,
• Don MacArthur, MUTD,
• Josh Slotnick, Missoula Co. Commissioner,
• Dave Strohmaier, Missoula Co. Commissioner (chair),
• and Bob Vosen, MDT-Missoula

Voting member(s) absent:

• Lucia Olivera

Non-Voter(s) absent:

• Debbie Johnston, MCCHD

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1.

Roll Call and Introduction of Audience

Dave Strohmaier called the meeting to order at 1:31 pm.

2.

Approval of Minutes

​​​​​​​​The minutes were approved as submitted.

3.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

4.

New Business

4.1

Review and approval of Amendment #5 to the 2016 Long Range Transportation Plan (Jon Sand)

Jon Sand gave a presentation on amendment #5 to the 2016 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). For details please find the presentation online.
The amendment is regarding the intersection between Mary Jane Boulevard and Broadway. Funding for the project will be provided through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Missoula City, and Missoula County are collaborating to complete the project. The scope of the project includes installation of a signal on Broadway and Mary Jane Boulevard as well as reconfiguration of the existing intersection at Broadway and Flynn Lane to limit access to right-in right-out.
Mr. Sand mentioned that originally a roundabout was suggested but due to time and funding constraints, a signal is the more attainable option.
Mr. Sand provided explanation regarding constrain on the use of HSIP funds. Both BUILD Grant and HSIP are federally funded but the different requirements for each program prevents the use of HSIP in combination with the BUILD grant for this project. The administrative hurdles for MDT prevents transferring HSIP to BUILD grants. The roundabout is considerably more costly. A roundabout would be $1.7 million versus $500,000 to $600, 00 for the signal upgrade. It is also more challenging to phase before the expected traffic starts.
Aaron Wilson, Infrastructure and Mobility Planning Manager provided clarification that this amendment will allow HSIP signal as an independent project not as part of the BUILD grant.
A committee member pointed out that MDT wanted to incorporate HSIP into the BUILD project so that both projects can be done simultaneously, however the differences between program requirements made that difficult to accomplish within the time constraints of the project. HSIP will fund the project at 100%. The total cost of the project is closer to seven hundred thousand. The signal, performs better than roundabout in terms of traffic operations and will provide good safety improvements over what currently exists. It will also restrict movements on Flynn Lane to prevent left turn westbound on Broadway Street.

• Moved by: Don MacArthur
  Seconded by: Bob Vosen

   Approve Amendment #5 to the 2016 LRTP as proposed.

  Vote results: Approved

4.2

Review and approval of Amendment #2 to the 2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (Jon Sand)

Jon Sand, transportation planner for the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization, presented on Amendment Number 2 to the 2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program. For details please find documents available online. The amendment number 2 is also for the project to complete a signal project at the intersection of Mary Jane Boulevard and Broadway.

• Moved by: Don MacArthur
  Seconded by: Mirtha Becerra

   Approve Amendment # 2 to the 2020-2024 TIP as proposed.

  Vote results: Approved

4.3

Presentation and review of DRAFT preferred alternative for the East Missoula/Hwy 200 Corridor Plan (Aaron Wilson/Kate Dinsmore, WGM)

Aaron Wilson, Infrastructure and Mobility Planning Manager, and Kate Dinsmore, landscape architect for WGM Group Inc., presented a review of draft preferred alternative for the East Missoula/ Hwy 200 Corridor Plan. For details please find the presentation online. Mr. Wilson noted that the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been working on this project for about a year. They wrapped up the public engagement on the corridor plan over the last month.
Ms. Dinsmore mentioned, they have received positive public comments so far. She added, based on public comments received, that a shared use-path was the most popular. There was also comments to include bike lane.
Ms. Dinsmore provided information on why a bike lane is also needed when there is a shared-use- path along East Broadway. She added, this is a unique area and there is a need to have a bike lane as well as the shared-use- path. The way the land use is generating activities around the area increases the need for the bike lane to accommodate people commuting via bike to and from East Missoula. The shared-use path means people will not have to cross the road to get to the bike lane and then cross the road again to get to the university. Currently, people are using the sidewalk as a shared use path.
A committee member raised concern on Sha-Ron area building a remote parking lot that is close to the river and asked if parking on the side of the road was a better option. A Committee member added, the recreational parking issue is acute. The solution, a wider road with a side walk seems like a good option. Adjacent property owners do not like vehicles parked in front of their properties. Also, it is possible to do a parking resolution, a path, and a fence.
Mr. Wilson answered that comments received were not supportive of the parallel parking along the side of the Highway. It will be more expensive to build curb and gutter on the Highway as opposed to the proposed design, also there is safety concerns in terms of how people would exit the parallel parking. It is not common to have parallel parking near a high-speed highway.
Ms. Dinsmore clarified that plans were selected based on input from public comments and how the plans meet safety and other goals.

4.4

Presentation on the 2020 Pavement Condition Assessment survey and report (David Gray/Aaron Wilson)

Aaron Wilson, Infrastructure and Mobility Planning Manager, gave a presentation on the 2020 Pavement Condition Assessment Survey and report. For details please find the presentation online.
Mr. Wilson mentioned that the MPO partnered with the City of Missoula and Missoula County to provide data that provides the basis for a pavement management assessment throughout the City and the County. The data can be used in other asset management. The project is close to completion and ready for use.
Mr. Wilson clarified that the data gathered is not enough to show how fast the roads are deteriorating. A committee member pointed out that the models are great tool but environment, and vehicle size, has a huge impact on pavement deterioration. Member suggested considering the cost as the model is being refined in the future.

5.

Old Business

Nothing to report.

6.

Announcements and Closing Comments

Nothing to report.

7.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3:03 pm.