M I N U T E S

TRUCKING ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE

of the

Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB)

March 18, 2008

City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue

Suite 102 (Old Council Chambers)

1. CALL TO ORDER/ESTABLISH QUORUM: The meeting was called to order at 3:04 p.m. by Chairperson David Munger.

In Attendance

CTAB: David Munger, Chairperson; Gene Bray, Don Schley

At Large Members: Jan Doran

Trucking Industry Members: Rich O’Connell, Rick Wright

City Planning Commission: Dick Hansen

City Staff: Robert Mack, Senior Attorney
Gaye Smith, Transportation Planning Analyst

Others: Al Brody, Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition
Joe Gonzales, citizen
John O’Donnell, Surface Transportation Advisory Coalition (STAC)
George Sugars, El Paso County Department of Transportation
Citizen (did not sign in)
Reporter and cameraman from Channel 5, KOAA TV

Absent TISC members: Jim Ramsey, non-voting CTAB alternate; Scott Arnold, Mark Cunningham, Glenn Frank, At Large; Mike Smith, Trucking Industry

2. PUBLIC HEARING ON NORTH NEVADA AVENUE DESIGNATION AS A RESTRICTED TRUCK ROUTE: Chairperson Munger explained TISC’s guiding objectives: Safety, neighborhood protection, efficient movement of freight, and planning for growth. He then outlined the Subcommittee’s recommendation to remove Nevada Avenue from Fillmore to Cimarron Street from the City’s truck route network, and to limit the use of that segment of Nevada to smaller trucks making deliveries or pickups along the corridor. Initially the recommendation on truck size was based on a vehicle length of 48 feet, or pulling a trailer smaller than 40 feet in length. Discussions with the Police Department and Attorney’s Office regarding enforceability have led to recommending an easily viewed limitation of four axles as a reasonable way of implementing the length restriction. Whether this four-axle limitation will be sufficiently accurate to accomplish the length restriction will be determined during the review period.
Examples of proposed street signage were shown. The changes will be implemented when the Cimarron Street Bridge opens to traffic, currently scheduled for May 15. In order to ensure that the desired objective of limiting through truck traffic on Nevada and restricting its use to smaller commercial vehicles conducting business along the corridor, the Subcommittee has recommended that a review be conducted in six to 12 months.
Chairperson Munger asked if citizens had any questions or comments, and received none. Comment cards were also made available.

3. ETHICS TRAINING: Senior Attorney Robert Mack provided Ethics training. Although Subcommittee members were not appointed by City Council, they are covered as being volunteers to the City, so the City’s Code of Ethics applies to them. Several questions regarding conflicts of interest were raised and discussed. Mr. Mack was also asked about the open meetings law and rules that apply when more than two Subcommittee members meet. Several Subcommittee members are also Council of Neighbors & Organizations (CONO) members. He responded that if the meeting is to discuss Subcommittee business, then it must comply with the Open Meetings Law and notice be posted at least 24 hours in advance. If members are at a CONO meeting, then Subcommittee members could report on the activities of the Subcommittee but could not act as a member of the Subcommittee. Subcommittee members should also avoid any appearance of impropriety by meeting informally and discussing Subcommittee business. Mr. Mack also recommended that Subcommittee business communication be conducted through the Subcommittee’s secretary.

- - - Subcommittee Member Doran is excused - - -

4. COUNCIL RESPONSE TO TISC’s PROPOSED APPROACH FOR PROCEEDING WITH TRUCKING ISSUES: David Munger presented an update on the work of the Subcommittee and CTAB’s recommendations regarding Nevada Avenue at the February 25 Council Informal meeting. He said that Council’s response was positive and that Councilmembers supported the Board’s recommendation. One comment received was that the Subcommittee should ensure that as it reviews gaps and redundancies in the truck route network that the system as a whole is considered. Concern was also expressed that all four Council districts should have representation on the Subcommittee. Currently, the selection of Subcommittee members has not been based on District representation. However, a review of the membership has revealed that there is at least one Subcommittee member in each of the districts. This is a consideration that will be given in future appointments.

5. REVIEW STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES: Chairperson Munger had asked Subcommittee members to work on a concise statement of TISC’s objectives that could be adopted at the meeting. Suggestions were to be forwarded to Gaye Smith, who compiled the statements and provided them as part of the meeting packet.
Don Schley moved that Gene Bray’s statement of objectives be adopted. Dick Hansen seconded the motion. The statement reads, “The City of Colorado Springs experienced substantial growth over the past decade. The City’s truck route system and truck management approach requires review to determine if changes are required to support existing and future growth. Changes resulting from the review, if any, must ensure safety, protect neighborhoods, provide for efficient movement of freight, and anticipate and allow for future growth.” The motion was unanimously approved. Absent: Arnold, Cunningham, Doran, Frank, Smith.

6. IDENTIFY REDUNDANCIES AND GAPS IN THE SYSTEM: David Munger noted that one of TISC’s objectives is to look at the system in terms of future growth. A broad view of the present truck route network shows a substantial gap on the east side of the City, with no north-south route east of Marksheffel; there are no substantial north-south truck routes west of I-25; no substantial east-west routes north of Woodmen, and no east-west south of Bradley Road. He noted that there are reasons for some of these gaps, but in a theoretical sense, these are some substantial gaps that could provide some parameters for review. Rick Wright suggested a systematic approach to identifying the gaps and redundancies by looking at the gaps first, from north to south, and then east to west. Redundancies would then be identified, again from north to south and then east to west. Dave Munger noted that in looking at the truck route system, roadways appear to be between 1 ¾ to 2 miles apart for the north to south routes, which the Subcommittee members agreed seems to work well. This spacing could provide a framework for gaps and redundancies for the east/west corridors, keeping in mind TISC’s four objectives. Subcommittee members then began considering roadways to be further discussed and reviewed at the next Subcommittee meeting.

Chairperson Munger stressed that these are only the initial identifications of system gaps and that TISC is not recommending that these roadways are necessarily the way to fill those gaps. TISC will measure against its objectives of safety, neighborhood protection, efficient movement of freight, and planning for growth and then decide which roadways to take to citizens and stakeholders for discussion.

Below are the details of gap/redundancy identification and discussion:

7. ADJOURNMENT: Dick Hansen asked to be excused due to another meeting commitment.
The quorum was lost, and Chairperson Munger adjourned the meeting at 4:48 p.m. with no further business being discussed.

8. NEXT MEETING SCHEDULE: The next meeting of the Trucking Issues Subcommittee will
be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the City Administration Building,
30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 401 (Conference Room 401 Large).

Submitted by Gaye Smith

Transportation Planning Analyst

City of Colorado Springs

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