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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Community Meeting Summary February 2018 Community Meeting Summary On February 1, 2018, the Transportation Commission hosted a Community Meeting at the Ashland Community Center. Thirty-three people signed in and divided into 6 groups to list concerns and ideas about transportation. This is a summary of comments received during the meeting and of written comments received. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Existing Transit Service Improvements • Feasibility study good idea • More frequent service • Longer hours of service • Workers and OSF patrons need evening service • Weekend service • Bus stop amenities • Real-time arrival signs • Transit options not obvious to newcomers • Other amenities • Pavement or other ADA compliant surfaces at all bus stops • SR99 north of Ashland, near Lithia Motors and Wellsprings, particularly poor. Difficult to access businesses, especially for people with disabilities • Bus stops too far apart, especially for walkers or wheelchair users • SR99 north of Ashland area in particular • More efficient service for Valley Lift patrons; follows existing service route; takes one hour to get to OLLI classes from nearby locations • Give transit red-light override capability • Affordable housing creates transportation needs Additional Service Routes • Residential circulator • Include hilly areas such as those above library, downtown • E. Main Street area needs service to provide access to • Science Works • Farmers Market • City Council chambers: public meetings • Ashland needs an electric shuttle/trolley • Could connect downtown to remote parking • “Off Bardway” trolley route to connect Jackson Wellsprings, the hospital, downtown, Mountain Meadows and points south. Transit Vehicles • Electric shuttle/trolley • Renewable energy vehicles • Replace existing buses with electric buses on in-town routes • Buses don’t have to all be large; use right size for the task • Get rid of diesel buses, including school buses • Consider combining school bus and city bus service • Better regulation of bus temperatures in passenger area; currently overheated in winter and over cooled in summer, which wastes fuel and makes passengers uncomfortable Other Public Transportation • Carpooling assisted by social media and/or apps • Co-op car sharing: joint, shared ownership • Self-drive cars • Uber, Lyft ride services • Handicap scooter rentals for visitors • Encourage riding school bus instead of driving • Encourage fleet of small electric jitneys to ferry people Butler Ford to Ashland Hills - I-5 BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Pedestrian facilities were discussed in conjunction with transit and accessibility issues. One group stated facilities need to be age friendly because 56.5% of Ashlanders are over 50. Groups also noted many areas in Ashland lack Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compatible facilities. Intersections • Intersections dark and unsafe • Potholes in crosswalk area create problems • Misplaced ramps, curb cuts at crosswalks • No marked crosswalks on N. Main • Need more curb cuts • Improve wheelchair ramps • Need more audible signals • Tolman Creek at Siskiyou Blvd: need marked crossings on north end of intersection so visually impaired pedestrians do not have to cross 3 streets. • Provide bike boxes • Provide signs and education for SOU crosswalks Railroad Crossings • Wheelchairs, strollers get stuck in poor crossings • Too few places to cross tracks legally, even as a pedestrian • Provide crossing at 4th street, either pedestrians/bikes only, or also vehicles • Oak and N. Mountain crossing Sidewalks • Sidewalks dangerous: uneven and broken • Downtown • Other areas • Especially difficult for users of wheelchairs • No sidewalks on Wimer: lower speed limit • Bushes block sidewalks • Map sidewalk gaps; repair and complete sidewalk network • Can be very difficult for disabled person to get from car to business when facilities are lacking • Educate bicyclists not to ride on sidewalk • Lithia Park edges and transitions too big In-street bike lanes • Connect downtown from Plaza to library • Implement downtown sharrow plan from Helman to library • Provide bike boxes at intersections • Improve bicycle signage and marking for bike safety • Improve bicycle infrastructure all over City • Safe access to plaza from southeast: bike lane across Main at Oak, then on Oak adjacent to sidewalk • Implement plan presented to Down Parking and Circulation Committee Multi-use bike/ped off-road paths/trails • Implement bike pedestrian connectivity plan • Continue Central Bike Path past 4th Street • Continue Bear Creek Greenway • Be aware of Trails Master Plan Construction Sites • Reconstruction damages streets and creates issues for those with mobility impairments • Obstructions and poor site control create safety issues • Visually impaired people need tactile hazard barriers; tape does not help • Passage thru site needs to be free of equipment, holes or other hazards • Training needed Lighting • Improve street lighting for bike/ped visibility • Especially Siskiyou Blvd from Walker to Tolman Creek, north side of street • Inadequate crosswalk lighting at Siskiyou and Harmony • Light Central Bike Path and Bear Creek Trail Behavioral Issues • Low number of bicycle commuters • Perceived lack of bicycle safety • Lots of bicyclists violating laws • Safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists • Educate walkers and bicyclists re light/neon clothing • Signs in school drop off zones to discourage poor behavior STREETS • Install roundabout at Oak Knoll/East Main • Pave dirt intersections to reduce dust • Upper Alta • Almond-Manzanita/Pine • Speed limits • Enforce • Lower to 20 mph in neighborhoods • Blinking yellow light and pedestrian zone signs downtown • CAB Flooding at Mountain Avenue • Hersey Street needs signal at Oak • Median landscaping creates visual obstructions • Road diet is a great success • Fewer cars downtown • Install sheer wall at N. Mountain/I-5 bridge for earthquake protection • Blinking light at Van Ness • E. Nevada Street area • Verde Village created more traffic and safety issues • Speed bumps on E. Nevada to dog park • Speeds too high near Helman School • Traffic calming E. Nevada to Laurel by Verde Village; increased traffic an issue • Fair Oaks and Mountain: sight lines for vehicles • A St. can only handle 1 lane of traffic and no more parking; limit development uses • Slower speeds downtown • Merge sign for top lane south bound on Ashland St. at 1-5 • Car-free downtown; too crowded now • Big trucks unloading downtown create problems • Close streets more often for events like First Friday • Address difficulty turning either way onto N Main St from W Hersey/Wimer • Speeding on E Hersey between Oak St and N Mountain Ave creates access difficulties • Install speed control devices on E Hersey between Oak St and N Mountain Ave. PARKING • Implement Downtown Parking Plan • Charge for parking via Smart Phones • Require paid parking downtown • Make curbside parking flex zones that allow different uses at different times of day • Provide parking ticket appeal process • Southern Oregon University/City parking collaboration • Provide reserve parking chargers for hybrids/electric cars • Provide off-site parking with shuttle service • Modify or eliminate strict parking space rules for the “small houses” • Need more bicycle parking downtown • Community plan for parking • Park and Ride FUNDING • Focus on real long term costs by considering environmental and health impacts • Money priorities: • Short term: electric transportation, security • Long term: health, environmental (pollution) • Require paid parking • Resources should be aimed at promoting more non-motorized transportation • Would like some ODOT tax revenues for local use • California has 1/4% gas tax dedicated to community transit • Volkswagon Settlement funds could be used for transit • T.O.T. ADMINISTRATION • Identify city contact for transportation issues and coordination • Process for residents to communicate safety issues • SOU Capstone project instead of consultant • Use best management practices • No response from Planning Dept. for sidewalk problems in build. • Coordinate communication: Public Works, Planning, Transportation Commission • Improve interaction between Planning and Transportation Commissions • Climate Energy Action Plan guiding vision for transportation decisions • Reduce green-house gases • Awareness of Climate Action Committee (CEAP) • Transportation Commission liaison on CEAP Ad Hoc Committee • Safe Routes to School • Need bicycle subcommittee • We plan, but don’t implement • Make it easier to ask for traffic counts, speeds • Use forward looking transportation strategies • What works for other cities our size and characteristics? • Respond to changing technology in autos and mass transit • Establish Commission on Aging • Communication concerns regarding safe streets, code enforcement • Code enforcement officer • Plan 20 Minute Villages: shops and services within walking distance • Modal inequity: car centric • Safe Routes to School Program Questions posed by participants • What is the utility bill street usage fee for? • Why does it take so long to fix streets? • Where does our money go? • How are all the studies and data used?