HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20081028MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: John D. Krueger, Director of Transportation
RE: Power Plant Road & Cemetery Lane PM Peak Left Turn Restriction Trial
DATE: Thursday, October 22, 2008
MEETING DATE: October 28, 2008
SUMMARY AND REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL:
Staff is requesting direction and funding from Council to conduct a trial program to restrict left
turn movements from Power Plant Road onto Cemetery Lane during the afternoon peak period.
Staff recommends conducting the trial during the summer of 2009 from 3-6pm on weekdays. If
positive direction is given to staff to conduct the trial, funding in the amount of $22,000 will
need to be included in the 2009 Transportation budget.
Overall, staff suggests three historical policy underpinnings to help keep this traffic deterrence
request in context:
1. "Do no harm." Traffic mitigation measures should not exacerbate the already-heavy
congestion on Main Street and SH82 during peak season peak periods.
2. Use the street grid to help balance traffic flow and avoid closing city streets.
3. Continue to aggressively pursue transit mode-share and mobility improvements to the
Entrance to Aspen segment of SH82 in order to minimize the perceived need to use
residential streets during peak periods.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
This exact trial has not been approved or conducted previously. But, similar trials and traffic
studies were conducted during the spring and summer of 2005 as part of the S-Curves Task
Force study.
BACKGROUND:
Due to the heavier than normal afternoon peak traffic congestion and turning movements out of
the Power Plant Road intersection onto Cemetery Lane during the summer, I have asked
,Schmueser Gordon Meyer (SGM) to retrieve information from Traffic Studies conducted for the
City of Aspen from 2003-2007 pertaining to the S-Curves. During these efforts the traffic
engineers focused on the traffic patterns and activities on SH 82 but also examined the behaviors
on Cemetery Lane. Restricting the left turn movements from Power Plant Road onto Cemetery
Lane could have an effect on the cut-through traffic in the West End.
From the previous studies, Cemetery/Power Plant intersection was analyzed with two potential
solutions from a simpler plan of the installation of ground signs, to programmable blackout signs
timed to illuminate during restriction periods. Both of these would be associated with increased
enforcement measures for abreak-in period and periodically thereafter. To measure the
effectiveness of the implementation of this restriction a trial period should be put in place for at
least three weeks and measured to evaluate its impact on the Cemetery/SH 82 intersection.
DISCUSSION:
The high traffic volumes in Aspen during the summer and the lack of capacity of the S-turns
have resulted in congestion and slow moving traffic on Main Street during the afernoon peak
period. When Main Street is congested, some of the traffic diverts through the West End
Neighborhood to bypass Main Street and use Power Plant Road as an alternate route out of town.
This occurs mainly during the afternoon peak commute period. The residents of the West End
are very concerned about the amount of traffic diverting through the neighborhood. The
residents suggested that restricting left turns from Power Plant Road onto Cemetery Lane may
reduce some of the traffic in the neighborhood during this peak period
Staff is suggesting that a trial should be conducted to collect data and measure the results of the
turn restriction on the amount of traffic diverting through the West End. There may be other
consequences from the trial as well and staff recommends that the data and observations of these
consequences be reported back to Council for consideration. Council could then make a
decision based on these results and analyses about whether to continue the restrictions on a
seasonal basis.
Below is a brief description of an implementation plan using signage and enforcement as detailed
on the following Figure 1.
• Signs and Cones -The less costly of the two solutions, the attached Figure 1 of the
intersection shows the proposed sign locations.
• Additional Traffic Counts - To augment the counts that aze already taken on Cemetery
Lane and SH 82 in this vicinity, additional counts will need to be taken on Power Plant
and Cemetery Lane north of the Power Plant intersection. With these additional counts
both before and during the restriction trial period, there will be data to help gauge the
effectiveness of the turn restrictions.
• Engineering Analysis - SGM would take the data from the baseline counts as well as the
trial period and produce findings and recommendations based on the turn restriction and
present them to the City.
• Police Enforcement - In on-going discussions with the Police Department, this
commitment of Transportation funds would help offset additional costs in hiring a CSO
position, specifically for transit lane and traffic enforcement.
• Public Information - To advertise the "Turn Restriction Trial Period" both outreach in
the papers as well as spots on the radio would be necessary to inform the traveling public.
Fliers would also be necessary to send to adjacent neighborhoods to ensure full
awazeness of the test period and its intent.
2
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE TRIAL
The following possible positive and negative consequences could result from the turn restriction
trial:
POSSIBLE POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES:
• May help decrease the amount of traffic in the West End leaving town in the afternoon.
• May help improve traffic flow on Main Street / SH 82 by eliminating some of the traffic
accessing and interrupting SH 82 at the Cemetery Lane intersection.
• May help RFTA bus travel times on Main Street /SH 82 by reducing merging traffic at
the Cemetery Lane Intersection
POSSIBLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES:
• May increase the amount of traffic on Cemetery Lane in the afternoon
• May increase the amount of traffic turning right from 8`s Street onto the highway
• May increase the amount of traffic turning right at 6"' Street onto Main Street at the
merge point for cazs and buses on Main Street
• May create enforcement issues and/or unsafe movements on Cemetery Lane by vehicles
turning right and then making an illegal u-turn on Cemetery Lane to get back to SH 82
• Residents living in the West End neighborhood will have to go back to Main Street or use
8`" Street to get onto SH 82 to go west
• May hinder RFTA buses on Main Street with more vehicles trying to merge from side
streets into traffic on Main Street through the bus lane
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS:
The total estimated cost of this turn restriction trial would be $22,000 to conduct the trial and
evaluate its effectiveness. Funding for this project is currently not available in the 2008 or 2009
budget. If Council directs staff to proceed with the trial, staff will come back with a
supplemental request in the amount of $22,000 for the program. The approximate costs for the
program are as follows:
• Signs and Cones - $ 500
• Additional Traffic Counts - $1,000
• Engineering Analysis - $3,000
• Police Enforcement- $15,000
• Public Information - $2,500
Total Cost $22,000
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
If traffic congestion is reduced in the West End and traffic flow is improved on the highway
from the turn restriction trial an improved environment may result from less stop and go traffic.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct staff to conduct the Power Plant Road & Cemetery Lane PM Peak Left Turn Restriction
Trial during the summer of 2009 and approve the associated funding in the amount of $22,000 to
conduct the trial.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could decide to not to conduct the trial or approve the funding.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
MEMORANDUM
TO: City of Aspen Mayor and City Council
FROM: Don Taylor, Director of Finance and Administrative Services
DATE: October 24, 2008
RE: Recommended 2009 Non-Profit Grant Funding
Summary
This memo provides information on the recommendations of the City of Aspen Grant Review
Committee for 2009. The committee was very aware of the budget constraints faced by the
City and worked hard to keep the recommended grant amounts within the amount budgeted.
In many cases, agencies were recommended for funding in the same amount as last year.
The committee thanks the Council for allowing them to be a part of this important process.
The City received 2009 grant funding requests from forty-two Community Non-Profit,
eighteen Arts Non-Profit, and twenty two Health and Human Services Non-Profit
organizations, totaling $1,254,329 cash requests, and $81,800 in in-kind requests (see
Attachments). In addition to the amount recommended for Community Non-Profits, the
committee recommended that $10,000 be transferred for construction of the gymnastic pits.
This amount is within the total amount allocated for Community Non-Profits.
The City's grant review committee reviewed all applications, and interviewed the applicants
from Arts and Community Non-Profit organizations. The committee's recommendations are
summarized on Attachments A and B, and total $400,000 for Arts, $195,749 for Community
Non-Profits respectively, in addition to $71,800 in in-kind funding. Attachment B also provides
Environmental Non-Profit recommendations of $35,730.
Health and Human Services grant applications were reviewed by the Finance Director in
conjunction with the Pitkin County Grant Review Committee. Recommended funding for
Health and Human Services agencies totals $389,056, a 1 % increase.
In total, recommended grant funding for all Arts, Non-Profits, and Health and Human Services
organizations comes to $1,020,535, a 2% increase over 2008 funding levels. The proposed
2009 budget includes sufficient funding authority to provide this level of total contributions.
Non-Profit Fundinst Cates~orv 2008 2009 % Chance
Arts Non-Profits (Att. A) $385,100 $400,000 3%
Community Non-Profits (Att. B) $203,200 $195,749 -3%
Environmental Non-Profits (Att. B) $26,500 $35,730 35%
Health & Human Svcs Non-Profits (Att. C) $385,200 $389,056 1%
Attachment B also provides recommended in-kind funding for Aspen Junior Hockey, the
Aspen Skating Club, and the Aspen Swim Club. The committee recommends funding the
same number of hours of ice time for Aspen Junior Hockey (three weekends of hockey for
Fall Faceoff), with an increase to Aspen Skating Club from $19,000 in 2008 to $20,500 in
2009, and in-kind funding for Aspen Swim Club in the amount of $15,000.
Other contribution amounts, in addition to those summarized above, that are provided in the
recommended 2009 budget include:
Gymnastics Equipment
Aspen Skiing Co: Winter X Games
ACRA Contract for Event and Information Services
Healthy Mountain Communities
Senior Services Contract Grant
Sister Cities
World Cup
Grassroots Television (estimated franchise fee payment)
KAJX (estimated franchise fee payment)
Kids First Child Care Grants and Tuition Assistance
Total Other Contributions:
$ 10,000
$ 100,000
$ 265,440
$ 12,000
$ 38,160
$ 17,640
$ 10,000
$ 115,320
$ 91,320
$1,004,960
$1,664,840
Inclusive of these amounts, the total recommended contributions budget for 2009 equals
$2,685,375.
2009 RECOMMENDED CONTRIBUTION FUNDING, $2,685,375
Kids First
1,004,960
Healthy Mtn
Communities
Grassroots
Television
115,320
KA1X
91,320
3%
Arts Non-Profits
400,000
1S%
Environmental Non-
Profits
L 35,730
^- 1°.6
Health & Human
Services
389,056
15°~
CommunityNon-
Profits
195,749
7°X+
' "- Equipment
Senior5ervices 17,640
38,160 1% 10,000
1°~ 0.5%
Specific information by grant award type includes:
Attachment A. Arts Non-Profits
Total funding requests of $484,000 were 26% higher than funds granted in 2008
The Arts Non-Profits are funded from $100,000 out of the WRETT fund, and from certain
non-RETT revenues in the Wheeler Opera House fund. For 2009, this amount was
determined to be $400,000. The amounts recommended are shown in Attachment A.
Jazz Aspen included aone- time request for $25,000 to fund the free music stage on the
Cooper Street mall. This request has been incorporated into the 2009 grant program per
Council's request.
Attachment B: Community Non-Profits
There are currently eight community non-profits with 2007-2009 partnerships with the City,
and one community non-profit with a 2008-2010 partnership with the City. The Grant Review
Committee is not recommending any new partnerships for the 2009 grant program.
Grassroots Television requested aone-time grant of $30,000 to complete a remodel, in
addition to their annual franchise fee payment from the City. Due to the recent upgrades of
the filming equipment in Council Chambers, which cost approximately $50,000, the
committee is recommending a reduced amount of $5,000 for the one-time funding. KAJX
Radio did not submit a 2009 grant application for funds other than their contracted annual
receipt of total franchise fees. Both organizations receive percentages of the annual
franchise fees, with the initial $24,000 paid to Grassroots for televising Council meetings, and
the remaining balance paid 50% to each organization. The estimated 2009 franchise fee
amount is $206,640, which may change based on 2008 actual collections.
The committee is recommending two of the three in-kind grant requests. The one not
recommended is Aspen Historical Society for $10,000 to pay utilities. The City currently does
provide ongoing in-kind funding for Aspen Historical Society's annual mowing and
landscaping maintenance in the amount of $21,000. Aspen Historical Society was
recommended for an operational grant in the amount of $22,000.
Of the total funding for Community non-profits, the committee recommends one-time grants
of $14,500, as described in Attachment B.
Rocky Mountain Rail Authority is included in the Community Non-Profit funding
recommendations in the amount of $5,000. Council directed the organization to apply directly
through the grant program for 2009. The grant committee's understanding is that 2009
should be the final year of City funding for this program.
Attachment B taa4e 2). Environmental Non-Profits:
These organizations are funded from the City's Parks and Open Space fund. Total funding of
$35,730 represents a 35% increase over 2008 funding levels. The percentage increase is
due to an increase in funding to Roaring Fork Conservancy. They received $1,300 in 2008,
and the grant committee is recommending $10,000 for 2009.
The Parks Department recommended the increase in funding for Roaring Fork Conservancy,
and the other organizations, due to their close partnerships with the City administering
environmental programs.
There are currently five non-profits funded, with two non-profits currently having partnerships
through 2009: Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), and Roaring Fork Outdoor
Volunteers, and one non-profit currently having a partnership through 2010: Wilderness
Workshop.
Attachment C: Health and Human Services Non-Profits:
The Finance Director worked with the County's Grant Review committee in evaluating
applications for funding from Health and Human Services organizations.
The Health and Human Services component of the City's Grant funding program includes
more partnership grant recommendations than the Arts or Community Non-profits. This is
due primarily to the established services of these organizations and their stable operating
relationships with both the City and Pitkin County to address the public health needs of the
City and County. The City closely follows the Pitkin County Grant Review Committee's
recommendations.
The Substance Abuse Initiative was originally funded as a three year partnership with an
additional $50,000 in 2007, 2008 and 2009 with $25,000 to Right Door, and $25,000 to Valley
Partnership on an annual basis. Valley Partnership did not comply with their grant obligations
in 2008, and the additional $25,000 was withheld from their 2008 grant funding. Due to
changes within the organization, the $25,000 to Valley Partnership will be funded in 2009.
There are currently twelve Health & Human Services partnerships, including:
Aspen Counseling Center
Aspen Youth Center
Buddy Program
Catholic Charities
Community Health
Family Visitor program
Mountain Valley Developmental Services
RESPONSE
The Right Door
Roaring Fork Family Resource Center
Roaring Fork Hospice
Youthzone
The one new 2009 grant request is Community Health Initiatives, Inc., which was funded in
the amount of $24,556.
The 2009 budget includes a recommended funding level of $38,160, a 1 % increase from
2008, for Pitkin County Senior Services, as provided by a letter of agreement for funding of
this agency between the City and County.
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