REGULAR MEETING of the URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2024, at 5:00pm PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER ROOM 1405 6310 Wilhemina Delco Drive AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Urban Transportation Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please call or email the staff liaison in advance at (512)-974-3428 or natalie.leone@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Monday November 11, 2024 with the following information: name, item number(s) to speak on, telephone number, and email address. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Melissa Ortiz-(District 2) Arlin Alvarez-(District 3) Susan Somers, Chair-(District 4) Daniel Kavelman-(District 5) Edward Smith- (District 6) Diana Wheeler- (District 7) Justin Jacobson- (District 8) Spencer Schumacher- (District 9) Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair-(District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on October 1, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion on the cost of motor vehicle crashes to Austin taxpayers Presenter: Bill McCamley & Abigail Jackson, Transit Forward 3. Discussion and recommendation on Parking Code Amendments to 12-3 & 12-5 4. Establish a Working Group to provide a recommendation to the Bond Election Advisory DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presenter: Joseph Al-Hajeri Facilitator: Spencer Schumacher Task Force Facilitator: Spencer Schumacher COMMITTEE UPDATES 5. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Downtown Commission regarding actions taken at the October 16, 2024 meeting 6. Update from Commissioner Wheeler from the Joint Sustainability Commission regarding actions taken at the October 23, 2024 meeting 7. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Bicycle Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the October 15, 2024 meeting 8. Update from Commissioner Kavelman from the Pedestrian Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the October 7, 2024 meeting 9. Update from Chair Somers from the City Council Mobility Committee regarding actions taken at the October 17, 2024 meeting 10. …
Estimating crash costs to Austin taxpayers Abigail Jackson UT Austin Community & Regional Planning Research Fellow, Transit Forward Background ● Austin’s Strategic Mobility Plan (2019) sought to expand transit usage in order to address multiple challenges facing the city, including the high societal and economic costs of motor vehicle crashes (MVC) ● MVC was top cause of death in 2020 for those 15-24 and in the top four for those 25-44 according to TX Dept of State Health Services ● Estimated to cost Austin’s economy between $350 million to $500 million in 2019 When assessing the costs and benefits of implementing Project Connect and striving for 50/50 mode share, Taxpayers should be aware of the potential for savings through reduced motor vehicle crash costs Crash Costs Estimation Process National Highway Traffic Safety Administration framework 1. Understand crash counts per year, categorized by injury type 2. Calculate per-crash costs in 10 cost categories–e.g. Medical, EMS, private and public property damage 3. Adjust per-crash costs to fit Austin economic context and adjust for inflation 4. Calculate total costs by payee (e.g. public vs. individual costs), 5. Divide government payment by number of ATX households And pulse check along the way. E.g. estimate shows damage to public property such as medians and guardrails in 2022 cost around $845,372.09. We know for a fact in 2023 we spent $470,000.00 on knockdowns of traffic poles alone, so that number sounds logical or too low Crash Cost Estimates 2019-2022: Large variations Year Total State/Local Cost of Austin Crashes Total State/Local Cost of Austin Crashes (2022 dollars) Cost per Austin HH (2022 dollars) Total savings at 50/50 mode share (x 24%) Total savings per Austin HH 2019 $31,900,597.29 $35,242,365.03 $92.65 $8,458,167.61 $22.24 2020 $26,631,715.82 $28,994,175.95 $73.35 $6,958,602.23 $17.60 2021 $31,647,249.33 $34,114,444.61 $84.42 $8,187,466.71 $20.26 2022 $36,199,324.52 $36,199,324.52 $85.56 $8,687,837.89 $20.53 Real (inflation-adjusted) annual growth of: 1% 2019-2022 6% 2021-2022 2040 Projected Costs Austin population projections predict an annual growth rate around 1.3%, so 423,079 households in 2022 may grow to 533,815 in 2040 Say motor vehicle crash costs grow just 3.5% YoY, Austin may be spending $67,239,854.18 total ($88.19/HH in 2022 dollars) that year in MVC costs At 50/50 mode share, savings of $16,137,565.00 total ($21.16/HH in 2022 dollars) Austin taxpayers should see their tax dollars shift from MVC costs towards programs making Austin a better place once overall count of crashes is reduced. Approaching 50/50 mode …
URBAN TRANSPORATION COMMISSION PARKING ORDINANCE MODERNIZATION (Resulting from Resolution No. 20240404-040) Joseph Al-hajeri, Parking Enterprise Manager Lewis Leff, Acting Assistant Director, Transportation Operations November 12, 2024 MEETING AGENDA • The Parking Enterprise Division • Regulatory Modernization Background • Regulatory Modernization Key Principles • Support For Regulatory Modernization • Ordinance Updates/ Concepts: • §12-3 METERED AND PAY STATION PARKING • §12-5 STOPPING, STANDING, AND PARKING 2 THE PARKING ENTERPRISE DIVISION Richard Mendoza P.E. Director PARKING ENTERPRISE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Jim Dale P.E. Deputy Director Lewis Leff Acting Assistant Director Transportation Operations Joseph Al-hajeri Parking Enterprise Manager • Curbside Parking Management • Off-Street Parking Management • Mobility Enforcement • Mobility Services Licensing/ Permitting • Shared Mobility Management MISSION ALIGNMENT The Parking Enterprise Division carries out the mission of TPW by prioritizing accessibility through safe, reliable parking and mobility services for all members of the community. VISION ALIGNMENT The Parking Enterprise Division aligns to the vision of TPW by cultivating a safe environment that supports the overall transportation system, contributing to a model city where parking and mobility is accessible and well managed for all. 3 REGULATORY MODERNIZATON BACKGROUND Parking Policy Modernization + Supporting Parking and Mobility Studies 2011 - 2022 Bike Lane Enforcement Council Resolution (Included direction for code changes) April 2024 City Council consideration of proposed code changes Jan. 2025 Summer 2023 Bike Lane Enforcement BAC, PAC, and UTC Recommendations (Included desired code changes) Oct./Nov. 2024 Oct. 17 Mobility Committee Update on Council Resolution 20240404-040, Nov. 12 UTC update on proposed code changes 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF CODE MODERNIZATION Objectives Strategies Outcomes Equity Mode shift support Reduce carbon emissions User-friendly Adaptable Foundations, operations, and policy Data-Driven Decision Making User experience and transparency User-Centric Design Innovation and testing Encourage the Right Behaviors 5 SUPPORT FOR MODERNIZATION With Council direction to add language to better manage bike lane mobility, staff will also bring forward a comprehensive modernization of the parking ordinances to make progress towards Austin’s mobility, parking, and climate goals. • Current codes/ regulations are outdated with minimal updates past 2009. • Reflect policy goals and recommendations from prior plans. • Begin to address vulnerable road users through enhanced regulation. • Reduce conflicts with enforcement and outdated language. • Streamlined terminology. • Focus on accommodating future technology. • Enhanced violation language. • Updates to fine amounts. 6 § 12-3 HIGHLIGHTS Regulates the designation of metered parking spaces, the usage of metered parking technology …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20241112-003: Bikeway Parking Prohibition and Parking Modernization Ordinance WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan includes action items to "reduce the number of conflicts between parking and bicycle lanes" and "prevent parking in bicycle facilities,"; WHEREAS, the 2023 Bicycle Plan recommends "a city-wide ordinance that prohibits parking in all bicycle lanes," noting that it "will reduce parking signage needs and sign clutter and make educating the public easier, and behavior more consistent”; WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission in Recommendation 20220607-002E and Recommendation 20230711-004 proposed altering “any relevant ordinances requiring a posted sign explicitly making parking in the bike lane a citable offense, and instead to create as a default the reverse position of sanctioned parking in a bike lane only where it is explicitly posted as allowed;” WHEREAS, City Council Resolution 20240404-40 directed the City Manager to “initiate amendments to City Code Title 12 (Traffic Regulations) and any other necessary Code or Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) sections to prohibit motor vehicle parking in bicycle lanes and offstreet bikeways, by default; ” WHEREAS, on October 17th, 2024, Transportation and Public Works (TPW) Staff presented potential code changes to the City Council Mobility Committee that stated “a motor vehicle operator shall not stop, stand, or park in a lane or pathway that has been designated by official markings or signage for the specific use of bicycles” with potential exceptions and other modernizations to the parking regulations under Title 12; WHEREAS, TPW staff presented the proposed changes to the Urban Transportation Commission on November 12th, 2024; and WHEREAS, the 2023 Bicycle Plan speaks to the problem of vehicular parking in bike lanes, stating, "when a vehicle parks in a bicycle lane, it creates a dangerous situation requiring people on bicycles to merge into a traffic lane to get around the vehicle. Therefore, parking shall not be permitted in bicycle lanes;” NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends city staff approach code changes regarding parking in the bike lane with a public safety perspective, understanding that any vehicle parked in the bike lane creates an inherent safety risk for bicyclists and thereby: ● Limit exemptions to situations where a motor vehicle needs to park in the bike lane for the safety of all road users; and ● Limit the scope of exemptions to ensure widespread knowledge that parking in the bike lane is illegal …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20241112-003: Bikeway Parking Prohibition and Parking Modernization Ordinance WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan includes action items to "reduce the number of conflicts between parking and bicycle lanes" and "prevent parking in bicycle facilities,"; WHEREAS, the 2023 Bicycle Plan recommends "a city-wide ordinance that prohibits parking in all bicycle lanes," noting that it "will reduce parking signage needs and sign clutter and make educating the public easier, and behavior more consistent”; WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission in Recommendation 20220607-002E and Recommendation 20230711-004 proposed altering “any relevant ordinances requiring a posted sign explicitly making parking in the bike lane a citable offense, and instead to create as a default the reverse position of sanctioned parking in a bike lane only where it is explicitly posted as allowed;” WHEREAS, City Council Resolution 20240404-40 directed the City Manager to “initiate amendments to City Code Title 12 (Traffic Regulations) and any other necessary Code or Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) sections to prohibit motor vehicle parking in bicycle lanes and offstreet bikeways, by default; ” WHEREAS, on October 17th, 2024, Transportation and Public Works (TPW) Staff presented potential code changes to the City Council Mobility Committee that stated “a motor vehicle operator shall not stop, stand, or park in a lane or pathway that has been designated by official markings or signage for the specific use of bicycles” with potential exceptions and other modernizations to the parking regulations under Title 12; WHEREAS, TPW staff presented the proposed changes to the Urban Transportation Commission on November 12th, 2024; and WHEREAS, the 2023 Bicycle Plan speaks to the problem of vehicular parking in bike lanes, stating, "when a vehicle parks in a bicycle lane, it creates a dangerous situation requiring people on bicycles to merge into a traffic lane to get around the vehicle. Therefore, parking shall not be permitted in bicycle lanes;” NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends city staff approach code changes regarding parking in the bike lane with a public safety perspective, understanding that any vehicle parked in the bike lane creates an inherent safety risk for bicyclists and thereby: ● Limit exemptions to situations where a motor vehicle needs to park in the bike lane for the safety of all road users; and ● Limit the scope of exemptions to ensure widespread knowledge that parking in the bike lane is illegal …
