MINUTES
TRUCKING ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE
of the
Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB)
February 17, 2009
City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue
4th Floor Conference Room, Suite 401 Large
1. CALL TO ORDER/ESTABLISH QUORUM: The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by
Chairperson David Munger, who noted that Subcommittee members Mark Cunningham (at large)
and Mike Smith (trucking industry representative) resigned from TISC in January. Both cited
business pressures.
In Attendance
CTAB:
David Munger, Chairperson; Gene Bray, Jim Ramsey and
Jane Dillon (alternate)
At Large Members:
Jan Doran, John Nuwer
Trucking Industry Members:
Kris Kaltenbacher, Don Schley
City Planning Commission:
Dick Hansen
City Staff:
Craig Blewitt, Comprehensive Planning Division Manager
Dave Krauth, Principal Traffic Engineer
Gary Herbst, Traffic Engineering Technician
Robin Kidder, Roadway Engineering Manager
Officer Chris McCleary, CSPD
Carrie McCausland, Public Communications Specialist
Gaye Smith, Transportation Planning Analyst
County Staff:
Victoria Chavez, El Paso County Dept of Transportation
Historic Platte Avenue
Neighborhood Association:
Blake Keller, Kathy Farrell, Nan Stilwagon, Tammy Whalen,
Michael Whitright, Kay Williams
Others:
David Chaffee, Old Garden Ranch HOA
Jim Ciletti, Union Boulevard neighborhood
Ron Doak, Colorado Springs Christian School
Gary Reynolds, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Judith von Ahlefeldt, Black Forest Transportation Committee
Absent TISC members:
Rick Hoover, At Large
2. CITIZEN COMMENT: Citizen comment is for items not on the agenda. Citizens attending
the meeting to address Platte Avenue issues were invited to speak during Agenda Item #5,
Roadway Review Discussion. Judith von Ahlefeldt referred to a handout she had provided
TISC members that addressed concerns resulting from TISC’s January 7 public meeting. A
draft map that had been displayed does not accurately reflect the County’s truck route plan.
The map was intended only to address City routes, and staff will be coordinating with the
County before a final map is published and TISC’s recommendations are made.
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3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the November 18, 2008 meeting were presented.
John Nuwer moved to approve the meeting minutes. Jan Doran seconded the motion,
and the minutes were unanimously approved.
Absent: Hoover and Schley.
4. REVIEW OF PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS: Dave Munger noted that quite a few meetings have
been held to get public input on changes to the truck route network. Jan Doran said that she had
facilitated three meetings with Austin Bluffs area residents, which were very well attended.
- - - Subcommittee Member Schley arrives - - John Nuwer commented that a separate meeting was held for residents along Union Boulevard.
They felt that Circle Drive should be a truck route rather than Union. Jim Ciletti questioned why
Circle Drive should be removed from the truck route network when Union had more schools, Circle
had more business versus residential areas compared to Union, and Union has fire stations, which
could be a safety hazard if fire trucks have to contend with additional truck traffic. He stated that
he was not opposed to trucks, but desired parity. If Nevada and Circle remained open to trucks,
then keeping trucks on Union would be acceptable. His concerns were foremost for safety, and
Jim also noted that the rubberized asphalt has not worked as a noise mitigation effort. He felt that
the size of the asphalt grains was too large. Robin Kidder responded that staff was seeing a
degradation in sound mitigation. Durability and safety are also being tested, especially with splash
back in wet weather. Noise mitigation is not the only consideration.
5. ROADWAY REVIEW DISCUSSION: Dave Munger said that the truck traffic modeling study will
help give effective guidance to the Subcommittee, so discussions on certain roadways will
continue. Dave Krauth said that the City had received a federal grant to address safety issues on
Platte Avenue from Hancock to Union, which has a high accident rate. A working group of 20
people are developing a preferred alternative to address accidents.
Blake Keller, Vice-President of the Historic Platte Avenue Neighborhood Association,
addressed the Subcommittee. His comments are attached as part of these meeting minutes.
David Munger said that TISC appreciates the citizens’ concerns and hopes that the modeling
effort will help to address those concerns.
Don Schley suggested that the model address a Pikes Peak Avenue connection to Powers and
an interchange at that location. Another issue that the modeling should address is the impact
of removing Austin Bluffs Parkway from Barnes Road north to Woodmen Road. One of TISC’s
original recommendations was to retain Research Parkway east of its junction with Austin
Bluffs, and Austin Bluffs north of its junction with Woodmen Road because a bridge was
being built over Cottonwood Creek and the roadway will be built out to four lanes. Scope
might also look at truck volume impacts to Las Vegas Street if Las Vegas Street is designated
a truck route from Nevada to US 85.
Kris Kaltenbacher moved that there be no further discussion until modeling is
completed and presented to the Subcommittee. Don Schley seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
Absent: Hoover.
6. MITIGATION OF TRUCK TRAFFIC: Tabled.
7. TRUCK ROUTE SUBSIDENCE AND SAFETY: The Subcommittee addressed the concerns
about possible subsidence on North Circle Drive near the Country Club area, as old mines are
located in the vicinity. Robin Kidder said that there has been no anecdotal concern about the
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collapse of roads due to truck traffic, noting that the mines have been there for 100 years. Dave
Munger asked if that meant that TISC could reconsider the segment of Circle Drive to
Fillmore/Union as a possible truck route. Robin said that the route of Circle Drive runs along the
edge of the mines, and there has been no evidence of problems in the last 25 years. Jan Doran
said that there had been a collapse of a roadway at the Lutheran Church on Union just north of
Fillmore. Gene Bray asked if it was possible to get an overlay of City streets and where mineshafts
are located, along with some generalized information regarding subsidence risk.
- - - Subcommittee Member Schley is excused - - 8. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES: To facilitate discussion of this item,
Chairperson Munger handed out a suggested enforcement process he drafted for taking truck
routes off the system and noted that he had discussed this with Lt. Niski of the Colorado Springs
Police Department. The handout is included as part of these meeting minutes. Gene Bray
commented that the draft appears to include everything that has been discussed by the
Subcommittee.
- - - Subcommittee Member Ramsey is excused - - Officer McCleary was asked for his input and he agreed that the process was similar to what has
been discussed. He thought that a one-month grace period before enforcement seems
reasonable. Dave Munger will confirm this with Dave Krauth, the City Traffic Engineer.
Gene Bray moved that TISC recommend adoption of the Commercial Vehicle
Enforcement Process as presented. John Nuwer seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Absent: Hoover, Ramsey, Schley.
9. REVIEW OF PROPOSED CITY CODE CHANGES: Tabled.
10. TESTING FINAL TRUCK ROUTE SYSTEM PROPOSED BY MODEL: Chairperson Munger has
received two bids to perform truck route modeling services. He said that Assistant City Manager
Johnson has indicated that she prefers that the City pay for the service, if funds can be found.
The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments has no funds or staff to do this work.
11. STAFF AND SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: None.
12. NEXT MEETING SCHEDULE AND TOPICS: The next meeting of the Trucking Issues
Subcommittee will held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at the City Administration
Building, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 401 (Conference Room 401 Large).
13. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Munger adjourned the meeting at 4:57 p.m.
Attachments
Comments by Blake Keller, Vice-President, Historic Platte Avenue Neighborhood Association
Memo to TISC dated February 17, 2009, Subject: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Issues
Submitted by Gaye Smith
Transportation Planning Analyst
City of Colorado Springs
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TISC – 02/17/09
February 17, 2009
Historic Platte Ave. Neighborhood Assoc
TO: Trucking Issues Subcommittee
Thank you for this opportunity address to this committee. I’m here as a representative of two
organizations. First, The Platte Avenue Safety Project, another working group similar to your own
that is addressing a narrow section of Platte that is plagued by a higher than average number of
accidents. I am also here as member of the Historic Platte Avenue Neighborhood Association - A
group comprised of citizens who are taking action to protect its neighbors, streets and historic
culture. The HPANA is gathering signatures on a petition asking CTAB for the removal of Platte
Ave from the proposed trucking route from Union to Wasatch as it negatively effects the safety of
our neighborhood. Currently, the HPANA has nearly 200 signatures from the effected area and
anticipate having many more by the CTAB meeting on March 3.
There are several negatives of a Platte only route that must be acknowledged . Platte is a narrow
road without turning lanes, or protected intersections; Platte has a higher than average accident
rate already; and Platte has drainage humps that make truck access even more difficult.
In order for Platte to be a feasible option, the existing bridge would have to be removed and a new
one constructed. The building of a new bridge would be very costly and extremely unpopular and
wasteful. Homeowners are going to lose access to their homes, property and home values will be
negatively affected, and it needlessly places school children directly in the line of trucks. The
retention of other routes such as Pikes Peak and the removal of Platte from Union to Wasatch
would greater serve the safety of the community at large.
This section of Platte currently carries approx 25,000 vehicles per day with approx 425 vehicles
being trucks. That is equal to one truck every 3.3 minutes. The 25 year projection calls for 36,000
vehicles per day of which 612 are trucks or 1 truck every 2.5 minutes. It is also important to note
that these figures do the include additional trucks relocated from lost routes. Further
complicating this Platte route is the proximity to nearly 170 residential homes and Palmer High
School. In a phone call this morning, to Principal Tom Kelly of Palmer High School, he stated
that he was unaware that this issue had been revived and is absolutely opposed to the plan to bring
more truck traffic by Palmer High School.
Platte when compared to an alternate route like it fails. Pikes Peak has two lanes for both east and
west bound traffic, turning and parking lanes, and a bridge through what is primarily a
commercial area. Platte only has two east and west bound lanes, and in the concerned safety area,
no parking or turning lanes. On Pikes Peak there are only 17 homes from Union to Wasatch that
would be effected compared to nearly 170 on Platte. The Pikes Peak bridge and street have a very
natural flow from east to west and easily puts thru traffic on to HWY 24, I-25, Academy, Union,
Circle other eastern portions of Platte.
If Platte is designated as the sole truck route a new bridge will need to replace the 14.5’ high
bridge now in operation. The Platte bridge’s low height restriction reduces access by trucks over
15’ tall and the narrow width forces trucks to drive in both lanes. Rebuilding this bridge would be
a huge waste of tax payer’s money and resources, especially when another viable option already
exists just a few blocks away.
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TISC – 02/17/09
To state the point more simply, a Platte only truck route will be more costly to the citizens of
Colorado Springs, will further increase accidents along Platte, endanger our families, and will
depreciate the value of this uniquely historic neighborhood. The retention of other routes and
removal of Platte from Union to Wasatch would greater serve the safety the community at large.
Again, Platte Avenue has almost 170 homes that are directly effected by this change while other
streets have only 17.
Blake Keller
Vice-President
Historic Platte Ave. Neighborhood Assoc.
719-302-1681
www.historicplatte.com
blake@historicplatte.com
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TISC – 02/17/09
February 17, 2009
TO:
Trucking Issues Subcommittee
FROM:
Dave Munger, Chairperson, TISC
SUBJECT:
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Issues
Commercial vehicle enforcement issues will be discussed under Agenda Item 8 of the February
17, 2009 Trucking Issues Subcommittee meeting. To facilitate the discussion, I have drafted a
suggested enforcement process for taking routes off the system.
When a truck route is eliminated or "restricted" in some way, as approved by Council:
1. Notification to MacVan for inclusion in the next publication (approximately each January)
should be done by early fall
2. Trucking community is notified
3. Affected neighborhood and immediate business community notified
4. Change posted on appropriate City maps on website
5. Signs posted at entries to and intersections with closed/restricted route, prior to closure
(how much before?)
6. Police conduct training on enforcement for special unit (such as motorcycle officers) and
for police divisions in whose jurisdiction the truck route falls
7. Grace period implemented before enforcement (1 month?) [such a grace period would
not excuse significant violations, subject to officer's discretion]
8. Neighborhood encouraged to report violations [CSPD will develop a formal process for
such reporting]
9. Violations communicated to trucking community (company, Surface Transportation
Advisory Coalition, etc.) by TISC/CTAB to encourage compliance
10. Special enforcement implemented with support from police division with jurisdiction (1-2
months? ) [traffic enforcement subject to officer availability]
11. Standard police enforcement procedures apply [traffic enforcement subject to officer
availability]
12. Neighborhood informed of any change in violation reporting process. CSPD issues press
release; TISC informs neighborhoods and individuals known to have special interest.
13. TISC/CTAB hears report on status (about 2-3 months after implementation of change in
route)
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