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Minutes - 06/07/1999 Workshop COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES June 7,1999 TAPE READING 0001 DA TE. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CITY OF WOODBURN, COUNTY OF MARION, STATE OF OREGON, JUNE 7, 1999. CONVENED. The workshop convened at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Jennings presiding. 0003 ROLL CALL. Mayor Counci lor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Jennings Bjelland Chadwick Fig]ey Kilmurray Pugh Sifuentez Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: City Administrator Brown, Public Works Director Tiwari, Public Works Manager Rohman, Community Development Director Goeckritz, City Recorder Tennant Planning Commission members present: Frank Lonergan, Claudio Lima, Rob Mill, Eileen Bandelow, James Cox 0025 Mayor Jennings stated that this Council/Planning Commission workshop had been called for the purpose of receiving the consultants initial report on the Highway 214 Alternatives Analysis study. Public Works Manager Rohman briefly reviewed the agenda for this workshop and introduced Alan Danaher, consultant for Kitt]eson & Associates and presentor for this workshop, who was a member of the consulting team on this project. It was noted that this study involved the development of a refined set of alternatives that would be further evaluated as a part of an on-going environmental study. To date, input has been received from the Technical Advisory Committee, staff, general public, CH2M Hill, and Kittleson & Associates. Alan Danaher stated that the study involved a 2 mile corridor between 1-5 and Park Avenue. He provided a brief overview of the project which initially began in ]991 by CH2M Hill but not completed at that time. In ]995, the Woodburn Transportation Plan was adopted which reaffirmed the need for a 4-lane roadway on Highway 214 even if a south by-pass was constructed. In 1998, the City sponsored an Alternatives Analysis Study to advance the planning process by refining alternatives and obtaining information for an environmental study. He stated that the City is in the first stage of a 5-step process Page I - Council Workshop Minutes. June 7, 1999 T ..-. . '"'">~.. "., _.-..--_..__..._----,...........-,-,..~_. ... ~ COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES June 7, 1999 TAPE READING that being the Alternatives Analysis study. The next stage is an environmental study, followed by a preliminary/final design, right-of-way acquisition, and lastly project construction. In all, it could be up to 10 years, depending upon funding, before construction is completed. He reviewed the existing traffic conditions on Highway 214 and stated that the west end of the highway near 1-5 receives as many as 25,000 vehicles per day whereas the east end of the Highway receives 20,000 vehicles per day. Under state guidelines, traffic warrant needs are approximately 15,000 vehicles per day. He also reviewed average daily traffic volumes of 1998 to the projected volumes in the year 2020 under the scenario of no buildout, with the second by-pass, and with a second interchange and second by-pass. It was noted that the estimated number of vehicles per day in 2020 will be 35,000 at the west end and 30,000 at the east end. He briefly reviewed statistics relating to accidents from the period of 1993 to 1998 and, compared to the state-wide average, the accident experience on the west end near 1-5 was 2.5 to 3 times greater than the avcrage. The area between 1-5 and Oregon Way also has driveway spacing between 120 feet and 190 feet whereas the State's access spacing standard is 300 feet. He briefly descri bed a1ternati ves evaluated which included 2 lanes with raised median and left turn lanes, 5 lanes with center left turn lane, 4 lanes with raised median and left turn lanes, and 4 lanes without a median and with a left turn lane. Based on a traffic operations standpoint, the alternative to putting in a raised median between 1-5 and Oregon Way were more positive however, a raised median may have more of an impact on businesses as opposed to a center turn lane. Improvements to the section of the corridor from Oregon Way east to Boones Ferry Road involve a centerline widening with two-way left turn lanc. and the section of the corridor from Boones Ferry Rd. east to Park Avenue would involve centerline widening with a painted median. He also reviewed potential design criteria which includes width of travel lanes, turn lanes or median, bike lanes, sidewalks, right-of-way requirements, and speed designations. He reviewed various maps and drawings designed to provide a visual layout of how each roadway would look based on the alternatives evaluated. Side B In regards to noise walls, this issue will be addressed as part of the final environmental study. He also reviewed cost estimates for each alternative which, in worse case, total $] 5 million in current dollar values. Steps to be taken following this alternative analysis study include identifying alternatives for further study in an environmental study, preliminary scoping of the environmental study, preparation of the final Alternative Analysis study, and the City working with ODOT to secure funding for an environmental study. Public Works Manager Rohman stated that focus group meetings were held in December 1998 and May 1999. Focus groups consisted of local businesses, school representatives, and the gcneral public. Issues brought up the most were I) roadway congestion which increases side street traffic and 2) resistance by local businesses of the placement of a Page 2 - Council Workshop Minutes, June 7,1999 1'" -,r--,........,_._.. ,___ 4_._.".._,_.. _..'_,...____,_'__._._____~_ COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES June 7, 1999 TAPE READING median. Other areas of concern were noise problems experienced by residents living adjacent to Highway 214, pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the high school, lack of sidewalks and crossing areas, and a walkway tunnel in the Senior Estates area. Dan Frickey, representing Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), provided a brief overview of the Statewide Transportation Plan (STIP) which identifies projects and funding for road improvements throughout the State. He stated that the Highway 214 widening project being discussed at this workshop is not in the STIP but it is classed as a high priority project. If HB2082 is passed by the House and Senate, it will dedicate $.02 per gallon fuel tax toward debt service requirements for a $600,000,000 bond issue for highway related projects. The preliminary list of projects for Region II would include the Highway 214 improvement project. Gerry Juster, ODOT, gave a presentation on access management issues. He stated that a primary concern is safety of pedestrians and motorists and the efficient flow of traffic. It was noted that highway shoulders have a dual use in that bicyclists are allowed to ride on highway shoulders. The purpose of a highway shoulder is primarily there for a safety purpose for stalled vehicles, for vehicles pulling off the roadway into a driveway, and for bicyclists. Brief discussion was held regarding the need for a signal at Front Street and Highway 214 along with a designated crosswalk. Alan Danaher stated that discussion with the School District also included modifications to the west driveway exit onto Highway 214 and a crosswalk in that area. Also considered was a pedestrian overpass which would cost in excess of $1 million and the School District is more interested in a crosswalk. Lengthy discussion was held on the issue of raised medians. Local businesses object to the medians since it reduces access to their businesses. Dan Frickey stated that no payment is owing to a business in the event an access is closed provided that there is at least one access available even though it may be off of a side street. Gerry Juster stated that access management forces the use of secondary entrances into businesses. It also requires more signage and the City would need to develop a circulation plan. Brief discussion was held regarding the number of accidents on Highway 214 in the area west of Oregon Way and it was noted there were 22 accidents between 1-5 and Lawson A ve. over a period of 5 years (1993-1998). It was also noted that the traffic count 10 years ago was 15,000 vehicles per day. Discussion was held regarding design standards set by the State to complement future need based on volume. There is a design exception process that can be pursued which would allow deviation from the standard. Concern was expressed by members of the Council and Planning Commission regarding ODOT's proposal for a median. Page 3 - Council Workshop Minutes, June 7,1999 T'- "_"""_"U~.~'__'"_.~"'__'_'~""'__' .,._w."......__._~.~_~_ COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES June 7,1999 TAPE READING Gary LaPointe, local businessman, stated that he also has a business in the Tualatin area and traffic accidents are not a problem in this area which has a higher traffic volume than Woodburn. He also felt that more input needed to be obtained from those local businesses in the affected area prior to the final report being submitted to the Council. Alan Danaher stated that this study is just a starting point in the whole process. The environmental impact study will provide more in depth research before any design is finalized. He also stated that they have taken a preliminary look at driveway consolidation irrespective of whether or not a median is installed. Other members of the public speaking in opposition to the median strip were Bob Barnham (owner of Chevron station) and Tom Mann (Concerned Business Owners 214 representative). Mick DeSantis, owner of the office building locate at Cascade and Highway 214, expressed concern if the roadway design encroaches much closer than it is currently to his building. He also suggested that a sharper curve in that particular area will also slow the traffic down before they reach a more congested area. Lucien Klien expressed concern regarding the response time an emergency vehicle would have if it has to drive over a raised median. He also questioned the projections used in determining traffic volumes based on a south by-pass or second interchange. Alan Danaher stated that the traffic projections came out of the transportation system model which was developed for the City's Transportation Plan in 1995 and has been updated to 2020. It was also noted that the traffic volume projections do include through traffic increases which will be generated when the Oregon Gardens is open to the public. The workshop concluded at 9:23 p.m.. ( ATTEST /l(JiI~ Mary Ten nt, Recorder City of Woodburn, Oregon Page 4 - Council Workshop Minutes, June 7, 1999 ,