HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBMinutes_2008_08_19Transportation Board
Brookings, South Dakota
August 19, 2008
OFFICIAL MINUTES
The Brookings Transportation Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff
Weldon on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the City Hall meeting room.
Members present were Michael Forgy, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Rob Jones, Dean
Kattelmann, Robb Rasmussen, Terrell Spence, Tyler Luckhurst, Dennis Falken, City
Engineer Jackie Lanning, and Weldon. Art Conners, Roger DeGroot, Teresa
McKnight, Jerry Raabe, and Shari Thornes were absent. Charlene Carothers - Easy
Cab and Frank Kurtenbach were also present.
Item #2 – (Spence/Forgy) Motion to approve the minutes from the July 17, 2008,
meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Forgy/Falken) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Outline for final report – Weldon asked board members to review the
outline for the board’s final report to the City Council. He added that the two NDSU
reports should be used as tools only, and the final report should be an analysis of the
services provided and show opportunities for change.
Weldon asked Rasmussen if he had heard anything regarding the grant
application. Rasmussen said no. Weldon will call the State for information.
Rasmussen said the grand request was for $165,000. He assumed there would be
guidelines from the State on how to allocate the dollars received.
Weldon asked for support in putting together the final report. Forgy said he
would assist. Rasmussen also volunteered. The report will be presented to the City
Council in late fall or mid winter.
Item #6 – Bike route designation system - Weldon asked for a subcommittee of the
Transportation Board to look at bike routes. Luckhurst and Rasmussen volunteered.
They will look for possible bike route designations through the city. Maps are
available from the Engineering Office.
Rasmussen said Trek is sponsoring projects. The Thunderhead Alliance would
come to South Dakota to conduct a three day seminar teaching bicycle training.
Weldon asked Rasmussen to get information on what could be an annual seminar.
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(Rasmussen/Luckhurst) Motion to request Thunderhead Alliance come to
Brookings to teach a bicycle training seminar. All present voted aye. MOTION
CARRIED.
City Engineer Jackie Lanning was asked about the South Dakota Department
of Transportation bike trail. She said there were numerous items that caused the
project slow-down. They included the asphalt shortage, easements that needed to
be secured, and a wetlands issue. Weldon said the route has been pre-approved by
DOT, and they have toured it. It is in the design phase now. A City Council member
did not like the course of the route because it was too close to Interstate 29.
Rasmussen said that could be revisited. Weldon said no as said too much progress
has been made to do that. Kattelmann said there is also a striping issue and that
causes complications with parking.
Rasmussen explained the bicycle exchange program. He said the program is
sweeping the country. He added that SDSU students should help to make any
decisions about it in Brookings as they would be the majority that would probably
use the program. Weldon asked about the rental rate. Rasmussen said in most cities,
an ID card costs $45/year. Bicycles are locked in a rack. The card is swiped, and the
bicycle is free to use for three hours. It is to be returned to any designated cycle
station. There is a locater chip in each bicycle. If the bicycle is not returned, the user
is responsible for the cost of the bike. Rasmussen said the bike industry is funding
much of this program now. The striping was discussed and is illegible under the safe
routes to school grant. Rasmussen and Luckhurst will get more information and
report at the next meeting.
Falken wanted to get back to the discussion on the bike trail. He said he
represents the rural areas and wants it to be known that there is work going on to
aide those communities also. He referred to the Easter Seals seminar he attended in
Washington, DC. Weldon said a chapter in the final report for the City Council
should include the rural areas.
Lanning said the DOT project will be bid early in the spring of 2009, but first,
easements and the wetland clearances must be acquired. She said that asphalt
projects are very difficult to bid now. Lanning added that there are also difficult
scenarios with the bridge work requiring extra dollars. However, the grant and the
match are still in place. Bridge funding can also be requested from the city and from
SDSU. Falken asked if there could just be a path across the Interstate and no bridge if
there are so many difficulties. Weldon answered that it would depend on the
viability and how often it is used as an alternative to vehicular traffic. Frank
Kurtenbach, representing Daktronics, said he would hope it would be used by at
least 10% of his employees. Rasmussen said he would guess it to be much higher.
Kurtenbach said he wants more of his employees to have the opportunity to bicycle
to work. Weldon said the planned crossing now is south of 3M by the Interstate and
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the railroad tracks. The crossing would be on the north side of the tracks by the
abutment. Weldon said he is hoping that the bicycle path would be used not only
for recreation but also to aide people in getting to work. He said the removal of
parking is a difficult issue, but it may be needed and be necessary.
Kurtenbach asked Lanning about where the bike trail will tie in on 17th Avenue
South. He said he has built a home in that area and needs the grades so he can
finish dirt work on his property. He said a realtor promised that this would be
completed. Weldon stated that it would be a good improvement for the area, but
people that sell property can not make promises for the city.
Weldon invited the Board to attend the September 9 meeting of the City
Council at 5:00 PM. At that time, HDR will give a presentation on the 34th
Avenue/20th Street Overpass Project. Anyone with interest in the project is invited to
attend.
Item #5 – Way-finding signage – Weldon asked if the Board thought there could be
better informational signs in Brookings that would aide visitors in finding places in the
community. Kattelmann added that it is a difficult situation on 6th Street as it is a
state highway. Lanning said there had been some sign updates two years ago with
Downtown Business Inc. Weldon said he has seen some communities where
informational signs are tan and blue and identify community facilities. Rasmussen
said he will check the DBI records to get the specifics on what was done two years
ago. Lanning said she will get the regulations from the DOT.
Item #7 – Other items – Kattelmann asked Weldon when he felt the first fixed route
would be in place. Weldon said hopefully, by 2009. Weldon added that he would
like to see it run for 6 – 12 months on a trial and error basis. He said there should be
stops on campus and in the community. Falken felt it should start slow.
Item #8 – The next meeting – The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16 at
2:00 in the City Hall meeting room.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeffrey Weldon, Chairperson