URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (UTC) TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2020 – 5:00 PM TOWN LAKE CENTER ROOM 130 721 BARTON SPRINGS RD AUSTIN, TEXAS MEETING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER CITIZENS COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 4 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: FEBRUARY 11, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 2. NEW BUSINESS A. Transit speed and reliability projects update – Briefing Staff: Caitlin D’Alton, Transit Program Manager, Austin Transportation B. Taxicab Franchise update, including review of a new Taxicab Franchise Application for Longhorn Taxicab Company – Discussion and Possible Action Staff: Jacob Culberson, Mobility Services Division Manager, Austin Transportation C. Project Connect update – Discussion and Possible Action Staff: Dave Couch, Project Connect Program Officer, Capital Metro Sponsor: Commissioner Champion Co-sponsor: Commissioner Alvarado 3. OLD BUSINESS Discussion and Possible Action Sponsor: Commissioner Somers 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT A. Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2045 Transportation Plan – Co-sponsor: Commissioner Davis Note: These topics will NOT be discussed by the commission as part of this agenda A. Urban Trails Plan and Sidewalk/ADA Transition Plan Updates (Staff; April) is committed The City of Austin to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Emily Smith at the Austin Transportatio n Department, at 512-974-2358 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Urban Transportation Commission please contact Emily Smith at 512-974-2358 or at emily.smith@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20200310-03A: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2045 Transportation Plan WHEREAS, The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan calls for Austin to reach a goal of 50% of Austinites commuting by walking, biking, transit, or any other non-drive-alone mode by 2039, from today’s current 24% of Austinites using non-drive-alone modes; and WHEREAS, The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan further reaffirms the Vision Zero goal the City of Austin set in 2016, to reach zero traffic fatalities by 2025; and WHEREAS, Texas Transportation Commission has set a goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2050 and cutting deaths in half by 2035; and WHEREAS, Our current climate crisis calls for us to make changes to the way we live and plan our cities, and our pattern of continued sprawl and road construction is neither safe nor sustainable; and WHEREAS, Our continued patterns of sprawl and road construction are also not sustainable from a fiscal standpoint, as the TxDOT and federal highway budget crises continues to deepen; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin is in the process of revising our Land Development Code to allow more dense and equitable housing; and WHEREAS, Capitol Metropolitan Transit Authority, through its Project Connect planning process is on the verge of approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that represents a generational, comprehensive transit plan; and WHEREAS, The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is in the process of creating its federally mandated 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); and WHEREAS, Over the years CAMPO has consistently underestimated urban housing and job growth and overestimated suburban housing and job growth; and WHEREAS, The road construction dictated in CAMPO’s 2040 RTP feeds into the 2045 modeling, predicting increased sprawl and exurban traffic, creating a negative feedback loop; and WHEREAS, Williamson County has successfully lobbied to have additional people and jobs in their jurisdiction added into the 2045 RTP model; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission urges CAMPO to: ● Adopt a Vision Zero goal to end regional traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2045; ● Ensure that the Project Connect Locally Preferred Alternative is included in the RTP; ● Plan for most of our region’s job and people growth to occur within the City of Austin, and in consideration of the new Land Development Code and its willingness to accommodate Williamson County, adjust their model to add additional jobs and people in dense, …
City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission Project Connect Update MARCH 9, 2020 1 1 • PROJECT CONNECT RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN AGENDA • PROGRESS RECAP • IMAGINING THE FUTURE • FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE • NEXT STEPS 2 PROJECT TIMELINE APR 2019 OCT 2019 JAN 2020 MAR 2020 MAY 2020 NOV 2020 2021 – Beyond Project Connect Plan Alternatives Analysis Begins October 30 Joint Work Session January 14 Joint Work Session Investment Program Recommendation Potential Investment Program Approval Potential Transit Referendum It’s Go Time! Community Engagement Ongoing 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MAR-APR 2020 Community education campaign, district meetings, neighborhood meetings, customer surveys and virtual feedback opportunity. Over 40,000 engaged to date MAY-NOV 2020 Community education campaign continues, event activations and presentations 2021 – Beyond Continued community engagement, business outreach on project corridors Upcoming District Public Input Meetings April 8 April 13 April 14 April 20 April 22 April 27 April 28 April 29 April 29 April 30 Fiesta Gardens Building Central Library Webb Middle School South Austin Senior Activity Center Oak Hill Community Center Norris Conference Center Dittmar Rec Center St. Alberts Catholic Church Parish Activity Hall Spicewood Springs Library Carver Museum 4 PROJECT CONNECT RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN 55 5 READY FOR GROWTH By 2040, daily ridership on Orange and Blue Lines is expected to reach over 68,000. Choosing the proper vehicle and frequency determines our best investment for future proofing and growth. VEHICLE TYPE Daily Capacity REQUIRES TUNNEL REQUIRES TUNNEL 6 DOWNTOWN TRANSIT TUNNEL BENEFITS Fast, Safe & Reliable A downtown tunnel benefits the entire network—transit and traffic Travel Time Savings Placemaking Partnership Opportunities Safer for Everyone Reduces Conflicts with Other Road Users and 20% of the Traffic Signals Expanding Transit Footprint Futureproofing 7 PROJEC T CONNEC T | SYSTEM PLAN RECOMMENDATION Light Rail Transit in Dedicated Transitways for both Orange and Blue Lines. - 30 Miles, 32 Stations incl. Downtown Transit Tunnel Station and Operational Improvements. New Commuter Rail Service to Connect Downtown to Colony Park with potential extension to Manor and Elgin. Bus Rapid Transit in Dedicated Transitway. Potential to convert to LRT. - 6 Miles, 10 Stations High Frequency Bus with Priority Treatments. 7 New Routes - ~100 Miles, 200 Stations 8 New Routes - 5 outside service area 24 New Park & Rides - 10 outside the service area. Better bus service and stop amenities Enhanced demand response service Zero Emissions Improved Customer Tech New Circulator Zones (Pickup) …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20200310-03A: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2045 Transportation Plan WHEREAS, The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan calls for Austin to reach a goal of 50% of Austinites commuting by walking, biking, transit, or any other non-drive-alone mode by 2039, from today’s current 24% of Austinites using non-drive-alone modes; and WHEREAS, The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan further reaffirms the Vision Zero goal the City of Austin set in 2016, to reach zero traffic fatalities by 2025; and WHEREAS, Texas Transportation Commission has set a goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2050 and cutting deaths in half by 2035; and WHEREAS, Our current climate crisis calls for us to make changes to the way we live and plan our cities, and our pattern of continued sprawl and road construction is neither safe nor sustainable; and WHEREAS, Continued patterns of sprawl and road construction are also not sustainable from a fiscal standpoint, as the TxDOT and federal highway budget crises continues to deepen; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin is in the process of revising our Land Development Code to allow more dense and equitable housing; and WHEREAS, Capitol Metropolitan Transit Authority, through its Project Connect planning process is on the verge of approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that represents a generational, comprehensive transit plan; and WHEREAS, The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is in the process of creating its federally mandated 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); and WHEREAS, Over the years CAMPO has consistently underestimated urban housing and job growth and overestimated suburban housing and job growth; and WHEREAS, The road construction dictated in CAMPO’s 2040 RTP feeds into the 2045 modeling, predicting increased sprawl and exurban traffic, creating a negative feedback loop; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission urges CAMPO to: ● Adopt a regional Vision Zero goal to end regional traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2045; ● Ensure that the Project Connect Locally Preferred Alternative is included in the RTP; ● Plan for most of our region’s job and people growth to occur within the City of Austin, and in consideration of the new Land Development Code adjust their model to add additional jobs and people in dense, walkable urban spaces. Date of Approval: March 10, 2020 Record of the vote: 7-0 with Hennessey, Runas, Somers, and Wilfley absent Attest: Emily Smith, Staff Liaison
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20200310-02C: Complete Access to Project Connect WHEREAS, Capital Metro, City of Austin staff, and citizens of Austin have worked toward a comprehensive high-capacity transit vision and plan, known as Project Connect; WHEREAS, Project Connect and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan envision a “comprehensive multimodal transportation plan” in which people on foot, in strollers, on bikes, scooters, and wheelchairs are treated equally, to create a system in which a full 50% of mobility does not occur in single-occupancy vehicles; WHEREAS, A high-capacity system is a network which is entered by people not in cars, and therefore must have access which is amenable and useful access for people not in cars, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends City Council adopt the Project Connect preferred plan with the following advice: 1. Include as an additional referendum item, or as part of a single referendum, funding for historic investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to enable all-age and all-ability access to Project Connect’s assets. 2. Create policies and funding to preserve land for below-market housing preservation and development near stations and along primary transit corridors at densities which will support high-capacity transit. 3. Create and adopt a Comprehensive Tree and Shade Master Plan which encourages people to use transit, including development of humane bus stops, shaded and safe pedestrian, bike, wheelchair and micro-mobility access to high-capacity transit. Date of Approval: March 10, 2020 Record of the vote: 7-0 with Hennessey, Runas, Somers, and Wilfley absent Attest: Emily Smith, Staff Liaison
Item 2B - Longhorn Taxicab Company taxicab franchise application • Item objective: Provide a recommendation on a new application to operate a taxicab franchise for “Longhorn Taxicab Company.” • Presenters: Jacob Culberson, Mobility Services Division Manager, ATD and Innocent Njoku, Longhorn Taxicab Company General Manager • Details: The Mobility Services Division of the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) regulates taxicab franchises under chapter 13-2 of City Code. Currently, there are three taxicab franchises operating a total of 545 taxicabs, 33 of which are Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) taxicabs. All three current taxicab franchises (ATX Co-Op Taxi, Yellow Cab, and Lone Star Cab) have franchise expirations occurring in August of 2020. On October 8, 2019, ATD recommended granting five-year taxicab franchise renewals to all current taxicab service providers and the UTC voted unanimously in support. Additionally, Central City Taxi filed an Application for New Taxicab Franchise with the Office of the City Clerk on June 25, 2019. ATD presented the option of approving Central City Taxi for a taxicab franchise on October 8, 2019 the UTC voted unanimously in support. On October 29, 2019, ATD received a second Application for New Taxicab Franchise filed by Longhorn Taxicab Company. As with the last applicant for taxicab franchise, ATD recommends approval in order to offer the people of Austin more City-wide transportation options, a higher number of wheelchair accessible taxicabs, and to meet current public demand. Additionally, ATD believes the addition of another taxicab franchise has the potential to bring a fresh perspective to the taxicab industry, inspire innovation, and enhance response times for both the central and outer areas of Austin. City Charter requires a new or renewing taxicab franchise to be granted by ordinance and read at three regular City Council meetings. The third reading may not occur until at least 30 days after the first reading. Following is ATD’s schedule for the first, second, and third readings: o 1st reading on April 9, 2020 o 2nd reading on April 23, 2020 o 3rd reading on May 21, 2020
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20200310-02C: Complete Access to Project Connect WHEREAS, Capital Metro, City of Austin staff, and citizens of Austin have worked toward a comprehensive high-capacity transit vision and plan, known as Project Connect; WHEREAS, Project Connect and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan envision a “comprehensive multimodal transportation plan” in which people on foot, in strollers, on bikes, scooters, and wheelchairs are treated equally, to create a system in which a full 50% of mobility does not occur in single-occupancy vehicles; WHEREAS, A high-capacity system is a network which is entered by people not in cars, and therefore must have access which is amenable and useful access for people not in cars, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends City Council adopt the Project Connect preferred plan with the following advice: 1. Include as an additional referendum item, or as part of a single referendum, funding for historic investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to enable all-age and all-ability access to Project Connect’s assets. 2. Create policies and funding to preserve land for below-market housing preservation and development near stations and along primary transit corridors at densities which will support high-capacity transit. 3. Create and adopt a Comprehensive Tree and Shade Master Plan which encourages people to use transit, including development of humane bus stops, shaded and safe pedestrian, bike, wheelchair and micro-mobility access to high-capacity transit. Date of Approval: Record of the vote: Attest:
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20200310-02C: Project Connect WHEREAS, Capital Metro, City of Austin staff, and citizens of Austin have worked toward a comprehensive high-capacity transit vision and plan, known as Project Connect; WHEREAS, Project Connect, should it be successful in the election, will guide our high-capacity development efforts for years to come. Therefore the window to set priorities is now; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends City Council adopt the Project Connect preferred plan with the following advice: 1. Adopt and communicate a policy for acquiring and dedicating right of way which upgrades car-only lanes into dedicated pathways suitable for high-capacity Bus or Rail vehicles. 2. Ensure that CapMetro commits to immediately undertake MetroRapid and MetroBus bus improvements, as soon as practical after a funding measure is passed, because it is important to show the citizens that progress is possible. 3. Formalize the Orange Line as the first light rail project and Blue line as the second. 4. Seek funding and development of the full Orange line in the initial November referendum. 5. Work to find more appropriate State, Regional and Public-Private partnerships for funding and developing the Green Line. Date of Approval: Record of the vote: Attest:
Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting 10 March 2020 The Urban Transportation Commission convened in a meeting on March 10, 2020 at 721 Barton Springs Road (Town Lake Center Room 130) in Austin, Texas. Mario Champion Kelly Davis Commission Members in Attendance: Daniel Alvarado Kelly Blume Commission Members Absent: Daniel Hennessey CALL TO ORDER Chair Mario Champion called the commission meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Samuel Franco Alex Reyna Susan Somers Allie Runas CITIZENS COMMUNICATION: GENERAL One person addressed the commission regarding items not on the agenda: Carlos León. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: FEBRUARY 11, 2020 REGULAR MEETING Cynthia Weatherby Michael Wilfley The February 11, 2020 minutes were approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Hennessey, Runas, Somers, and Wilfley absent. 2. NEW BUSINESS A. Transit speed and reliability projects update – Briefing This item was postponed indefinitely by the chair. B. Taxicab Franchise update, including review of a new Taxicab Franchise Application for Longhorn Taxicab Company – Discussion and Possible Action A presentation was made by Jacob Culberson, Mobility Services Division Manager, Austin Transportation. A motion to recommend City Council approval of the Longhorn Taxicab Company's franchise application was approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Hennessey, Runas, Somers, and Wilfley absent. C. Project Connect update – Discussion and Possible Action A presentation was made by Jacob Calhoun, Senior Planner and deputy program officer for Project Connect, Capital Metro. Commissioner Champion presented draft recommendation language which, after debate and amendment, read as follows: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends City Council adopt the Project Connect preferred plan with the following advice: 1. Include as an additional referendum item, or as part of a single referendum, funding for historic investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to enable all-age and all-ability access to Project Connect’s assets. 2. Create policies and funding to preserve land for below-market housing preservation and development near stations and along primary transit corridors at densities which will support high-capacity transit. 3. Create and adopt a Comprehensive Tree and Shade Master Plan which encourages people to use transit, including development of humane bus stops, shaded and safe pedestrian, bike, wheelchair and micro-mobility access to high-capacity transit. A motion to approve the recommendation was adopted on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Hennessey, Runas, Somers, and Wilfley absent. 3. NEW BUSINESS Possible Action A. Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2045 Transportation …
