HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/2008 04B-1 Minutes 03-19-2008 Council Transportation and Transit Committee ® Minutes of
Yakima City Council Transportation and Transit Committee
City of Yakima Council Chambers
Yakima City Hall, 129 North 2 "d Street, Yakima, WA 98901
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
4:00 - 5:30 pm
City Council Members Staff Other
Micah Cawley Dave Zabell, Asst. City Manager Gary Forrest
Rick Ensey Chris Waarvick, Dir. Of Public Works Lynn Kittelson
Neil McClure Michael Morales, Dep. Dir. CED
Paul Overby, Selah City Council Ken Mehin, Transit Manager
Brett Sheffield, Chief Engineer
Bob Desgrosellier, Senior Engineer
Jeff Cutter, Assistant City Attorney
Joan Davenport, Supr. Traffic Engineer
Karen Allen, Transit Marketing Program Administrator
Councilmember Micah Cawley called the meeting to order at 4:05. Neil McClure arrived at
4:15. Chris Waarvick opened the Transit matters on the agenda beginning with a discussion
of the City of Union Gap recent call for Request for Proposals for transit services. Yakima
0 Transit will submit a letter indicating the existing contract for services with Union Gap
represents the City of Yakima's proposal.
The citizen request for Sunday transit services was discussed. It was noted that services are
limited by available funding. The priority for Yakima Transit, should additional revenues
become available, is to extend daily weekday service hours.
The concept of paid advertisements within the Bus Book was discussed as a means to defray .
production costs. Staff indicated they would research the legality of this proposal. If allowed,
the Council Committee members endorsed the idea.
Regarding other transit items, an update on rider -ship and vanpools was presented. Karen
Allen reported on the status and success of the vanpool program.
Chris Waarvick presented the next item from the "Transportation" agenda as a summary of
the 40 Avenue Corridor study. Specifically, a request was received for a center turn lane
between Englewood and Kern Road on North 40 Avenue. The corridor study is on the
existing 6 -year plan. It was noted that the intent has always been to implement corridor
projects incrementally, so this request is consistent. Staff was directed to prepare a Request
for Proposals and present to this committee, then the full council.
Brett Sheffield gave a summary of the status of the Coolidge Road project (80 Avenue to
88 Avenue). The project was initiated by Yakima County and upon annexation became a
0 City of Yakima responsibility. Sheffield reviewed the existing and potential revenue sources
for the project. He indicated staff will apply for additional funds to the Conference of
Governments for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.
4110
Joan Davenport gave an update of the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program as it relates to
the Barge- Chestnut Neighborhood Area (BCNA) Petition, as requested by this committee at
their February meeting. She explained the differences between the existing program and the
recommended changes, as well as how the BCNA petition would be reviewed under each.
Mr. Gary Forrest, representing the BCNA felt their petition should proceed under the
administrative policy that was in place in May 2007. The Council committee indicated they
felt no additional education or enforcement phase was necessary for this area, since the
BCNA petitioners have been working on this project for some time. Staff was directed to
prepare a Request for Proposal to hire a professional firm to conduct a technical review of the
traffic calming devices requested by the BCNA petition.
Michael Morales provided an update of the Grade Separation Project, including the feedback
from the legislative trip to Washington DC, as well as the Freight Mobility Board update.. He
described the phasing of implementation and status of the funding.
Next regularly s eduled meeti 2 is April 16, 2008 at 4:00 PM.
Approved by: It