Transportation Commission - May 15, 2025

Hi there. This is Chair Miller and I'd
like to formally call the meeting to
order. Welcome to city staff,
transportation commissioners, and the
public to the May 15th transportation
commission meeting. Meetings are held in
person, televised on coxcable channel
11, and streamed online at
scottsdaleaz.gov for the public to
listen and view the meeting in progress.
I'd like to ask for a roll call vote to
begin this evening's meeting.
Chair Miller here. Thank you. Vice Chair
Wiloxen here. Thank you. Commissioner
Marman here. Thank you. Commissioner
Pankeritz here. Thank you. Commissioner
Kofile here. Thank you. Commissioner
Cardella here. Thank you. Commissioner
Davis here.
Thank you. Spoken comment is being
accepted for agendaized and
non-aggendaized items. The request to
speak forms must be submitted no later
than 30 minutes before the start of this
meeting. Are there any spoken comments
request forms? Chair Miller, we have no
comments. Thank you. And written
comments are being accepted for
agendaized and non-aggendaized items and
should be submitted electronically at
least 90 minutes before the start of
this meeting. These comments are also
emailed to the transportation commission
and posted online. Are there any chair
Miller? We do not have any. Great. So
that leads us to the agenda and the
first item on the agenda agenda agenda
is the approval of the meeting minutes
of the um actually the April 17th
meeting,
right? Yes. Um are there any comments on
the meetings or motion?
Uh, I have no comments, but I would uh
move that we accept the uh minutes as
presented.
Thank you, Vice Chair. Is there a
second? Uh, Chair Miller, I have one
corre correction. Commissioner Davis,
um, on the first page under the staff
section, um, Kyle Lofrren is still
listed, uh, as in attendance, so that
should be
removed. in our hearts.
He's in attendance in our hearts. That's
what I was going to say. Always in our
hearts and our mind. If if Kyle is
listening in
um so with that amendment, I would
second um the commissioner's motion. So
we have a motion and um a second with a
change, a correction. I'm sorry. Who who
made the motion in the second? Vice
Chair Wiloxen made the motion. Second by
Commissioner
Davis. Any other comments on the
minutes? Can we have a vote? All right.
Thank you. Chair Miller, approved. Thank
you. Vice Chair Will Coxson approved.
Thank you. Commissioner Marman, approve.
Thank you. Commissioner Pankeritz.
Yes. Thank you. Commissioner Kofile
approves. Thank you. Commissioner
Cardella. Yes. Thank you. And
Commissioner Davis, yes. Approved as
amended.
Thank you very much. And before we move
on, I just want to make a comment um to
the minutes. It talked about um having a
uh presentation on the transportation
safety plan at this m meeting. Um you
may notice that it is not on the agenda.
um a working group of stakeholders
internal and external is has been
created so that uh we could have
additional outreach as we move forward
with the safety plan which is wonderful.
So we'll get an update uh next month to
see whether we need to change the
schedule as planned for that safety
plan.
And with that, let's talk about
um I guess there is
some looking at the thing. Um department
reorganization.
Uh good evening, chair, vice chair,
commissioners. My name is Allison Timku.
I'm the senior director uh city engineer
over transportation and infrastructure.
So previously um a little bit about
myself um I've worked for the city for
since 1998. Um I've my spent my entire
career at the city within the capital
project management division. I started
as a civil engineer and then moved on to
be a project manager, a senior project
manager and then most recently city
engineer and then with the
reorganization
um it was a combination of two
departments. So we combined capital
project management with the
transportation and streets department.
So I'm just going to kind of quickly go
through uh that new structure with you.
So next slide
please. So um transportation and streets
department um is responsible for
transportation planning, transit
operations, emergency responses, asphalt
maintenance, grading and drainage,
traffic engineering, intelligent
transportation and signing and striping.
Next slide please.
And then capital project management um
is was responsible for real estate
management and then capital project
management. Um we also have an in-house
design group that would do some of our
in-house um engineering plans. An an
estimator that would help estimate with
project budgets. Um basically our
project managers uh would administer
contracts from design through
construction. Um next slide please.
And the combination of the two
departments was um to better align
resources and that would make the
oversight delivery of transportation
system operations and capital projects.
Um the city engineer I report directly
to the city manager and the city manager
prefers that structure to have a little
bit more handson um participation into
the operations of the department. And
then under me there is uh five
divisions. There's five senior managers
and then our business operations staff.
Next slide, please. So, first we have
street operations department. They do
the day-to-day operations, pothole
repair, street resurfacing, street
sweeping, um overall street maintenance,
and then our weather related
emergencies. And then our project
engineering staff is um what we call our
project management team. And uh they are
responsible for the delivery of our
capital improvement projects. Um they
again administer the design and
construction contracts. So they're
monitoring contractor performance,
quality control, procurement of
contracts. Um as well as we have our own
construction and inspection services
staff and then design, engineering and
real estate. This is again our in-house
engineering design staff. Um they do
design review project estimates and then
we have our right of way and real estate
um acquisition team. Next slide please.
And then um our traffic uh engineering
and operations department uh primarily
responsible for transportation impact
mitigation analysis, neighborhood
traffic management program,
comprehensive traffic engineering
studies, innovative state safety design,
intelligent transportation systems, um
infrastructure operations and
maintenance, work zones and special
events and development review. Our
transportation planning group does
strategic plans, coordinates with
regional agencies,
um does project priorit prioritization
and project development. Each year when
we go through our uh CIP process,
they're identifying new projects for the
next year. Um but our business operation
team that uh they're going to be
responsible for managing our financial
five-year budgeting as well as um our
information technology staff and then
our community um engagement staff. Next
slide, please. And that is just a basic
overview of what the new department
looks like. And I'm happy to answer any
questions.
Thank you so much. It uh sounds like a
large department. Um, congratulations
for putting that all together. Um, I
have a question to start it off. Um, how
is your staffing? Are you fully staffed?
Are you looking for more people in key
positions? Um, chair chair, no, we're
we're currently not fully staffed. Um,
so with the development of the fine five
senior manager positions, we um have all
we have four of them filled. The one
over street operations um that one is
not filled. We need to actually go out
and recruit for that. um our pavement
manager, our prior pavement manager uh
left the city in April, so that position
is vacant. We do have somebody filling
it in an intern position and we are
recruiting for that position as well. We
do have um uh a few other uh positions
within transportation planning and
traffic engineering that need to be
filled. Um and then we do our C on our
project management side, we do have some
budget packages in this year in the
proposed budget for some new positions.
Um namely uh two new project management
positions, a project coordinator
position, um an information techn
information technology position and a
budget analyst position.
Thank you. Are there questions from the
commission? Commissioner Cardella, were
any positions eliminated other than the
director of transportation? Were there
any positions eliminated? And if so,
were they filled with people or just
empty positions? Um, Commissioner
Cardell, no, no additional positions
have been eliminated, and there's no
plans for that. Thank you.
Questions?
No. Thank you very much. We appreciate
you coming and we look forward to
working with you. Thanks. Me, too. Um,
and actually I meant to mention that
this is actually my first transportation
commission meeting, even though I
started working at the city in 1998.
I've been to several other uh commission
meetings, but never transportation. So
happy to be here. You've been missing
out. So, well, we hope to see you again.
Next on the agenda, electric bicycles
and shared use path speed limit study.
Susan
Conclu Good
evening. So, there's a note that says
the arrow keys will advance. There we
go. Uh some of this is review from what
we've uh discussed previously, but our
multi-use path system. The goal is to
provide a safe uh network for family use
along this system to accommodate users
including people walking, running,
riding bikes, and using other no
mobility devices.
The city's path has been designed for
recreational use, including bike riding,
but it is also used as a transportation
uh network. Typically, recreational bike
users tend to avoid uh roadways and
prefer to be away from traffic. And our
paths accommodate a wide range of skill
levels from people who are the least
skilled, including young children or
people that are learning to ride or
relearning to ride while still being of
interest to the most
skilled. Typically, the paths have
striping to indicate it's two-way
traffic. Especially on our most heavily
used areas of paths, there is signage
with destination, directional, path
identity, and safety information along
the main spine of our path network. And
it is shared use. You may hear multi-use
and shared use. They basically mean the
same thing, but uh it means bicycle
riders must yield to people walking and
pass on the left with users needing to
stay to the right half. That doesn't
always happen, but we we keep trying to
reinforce that message. And then there's
a standard width to accommodate all
users. The standard used to be 8 feet
wide. Now it's uh 10 to
12. In the last few years, there uh
growing types of motorized devices have
been noticed around the the city and the
region. That includes gas powered
bicycles, electric scooters, uh three
types, uh three classes of electric
bicycles, segways, motorized
skateboards, sometimes they're called
one wheels, um electric
unicycles, uh also more of a dirt bike
looking device that is also electric. A
lot of things fall under motorized play
vehicles. I think that's a little bit of
a catch-all. And then the types and
numbers of devices are increasing all
the time. U and this is also including
the maximum speed they can go. And this
isn't even really getting into uh DIY
kits that people could take a regular
bicycle and somehow retrofit that to
have some kind of
[Music]
motor within the city's code that was
approved by city council in in uh
November 2018. uh a
class we we match the state's definition
but a class one electric bicycle is
motor assist only meaning when the user
stops pedaling the helper motor stops
engaging. Uh it
also max it maxes out at 20 miles per
hour and it's less than a 750 watt
motor. A class two bicycle is similar um
similar type of ebike but it's called
throttle on demand meaning the rider can
pedal if they want and they can also not
pedal and still get um power from the
motor. Class 3 electric bicycles are
motor assist with or without pedaling
and this goes faster. This m the maximum
speed that that uh helper motor can give
is 28 miles per hour. an ebicycle that
exceeds 28 or um is a bigger wattage
than
750. You know, we're seeing that those
are prohibited on the path. They can
only be used on roadways and bike lanes.
The class one and two are allowed on our
paths and
sidewalks. Then we have other things
that are allowed on the path, but they
don't have functioning pedals. So, this
would
include what we call brandwise a segue,
but it's electric personal assistance
mobility device. That's why I kind of
like the brand name better. It has one
wheel or two non-tandem wheels, meaning
they could be side by side, but not um
in line with each other. It's
selfbalancing and is designed to only
carry one person. So, you can see those
two top photos. Um it shows what what
those can look like. and an electric
standup mini scooter in the photo on the
bottom has a floorboard and handlebars
may or may not have a seat and maximum
speed is 20 miles per
hour. These are other devices without
functioning pedals that are prohibited
on our pave pass system. So this
motordriven motorcycle looking device um
we do hear that and see that people do
use these um all different places in the
city. It does not fit the definition of
a moped or an electric scooter or
bicycle, which is important to note. And
then an electric motorcycle looks
exactly like that. It's a motorcycle. Um
I'm seeing more and more of those out on
the roads and uh it's just like a
regular heavy duty motorcycle. Those
that um requires a license and
registration by state requirements. The
others cannot um be required to have
that. Uh, so a city can't put that kind
of requirement in place per Arizona
state statutes. Um, these can only be
used on roadways as I
said. So this is just a quick look at
our network.
Um, so they are allowed on the path
system shown in
green and not allowed uh in the preserve
shown in red, red or brown. Also not on
the canal system. That's private
property. That creates a little bit of a
challenge with communicating the
regulations to the public. But where
they are allowed, class one and two
electric bikes and the standup electric
mini scooters, they are allowed on
sidewalks. They are allowed on the other
multi-use paved paths that are not canal
paths. Um side paths, which a side path
by definition is almost the same as a
shared use path. It's just typically um
sometimes attached to the curb and only
eight feet wide. but it functions
otherwise as a path and on the rest of
the street
network. So steps that we've been taking
to improve the path system. Again, this
just reiterates the language from the
code from November 13, 2018 that put
these requirements um and regulations
into place. Previously, the state of
Arizona had already allowed um defined
the the three classes of electric bikes
and allowed them on path systems and
then made it possible for municipalities
to put their own restrictions in place,
which is what uh city of Scottsdale did
at that
time.
Our on street network it bike network is
the key to al alleviating some of these
issues uh and conflicts between bike
riders and people walking on our paths
and sidewalks. The streets allow for a
more direct route. You can go typically
a person can go faster and not have to
slow down when passing especially when
you consider our paths when they're 8 to
10 feet wide. They are two-way traffic
and it's not uncommon in busy areas to
have both directions right close to each
other while someone's trying to pass
both of those directions uh of travel
close together. So people with more
experience, people that want to ride
faster and not have to slow down, the
speed, convenience, and directness are
important factors in people choosing to
use the on street routes. And
um typically when the
cities construct
seamless continuous street networks for
bike riders um these faster riders will
use them because they won't have to have
gaps in the in their routes. And
additionally this network helps connect
people to and from the paths. So they
still need to be seen both networks need
to be seamless and they need to link
together. Our pathway finding and
regulatory signage that uh the first
phase that was completed about a year
ago included uh seven miles of paths
from Indian Ben Road down to Thomas Road
on the Indian Ben Wash path. That was
over 200 signs. Um, this included green
signage with directions, mileage, but
then the image at the bottom has the
yellow and black regulatory information
with reminders like bikes yield to
pedestrians, keep right, except to pass,
as well as the information about the
what type of motorized devices are
allowed. We're currently working on the
next phase which will be on the Arizona
and crosscut canals as well as the Puma
path south of Indian Ben Road. We're
doing a small stretch first on Arizona
Canal between Camelback and Chapperel as
well. And then in the future, we'll
extend this um project north of Indian
Ben Road up to Westworld
area. Path widening projects are another
effort that we've been doing. The the
images you see here was our first
section from Camelback to Glen Rosa on
the west side of Hayden just north of
Indian School Park. Um, we've been
prioritizing which segments of the
40year-old path uh need the most help by
condition level and we're replacing them
with our current standards. So 10 to 12
feet wide because all these old sections
are 8 feet. Also, we are phasing these
in. It's not going to be, you know, one
segment after another continuously.
We're we're going in different areas
including up in McCormack Ranch area
based on that concrete condition. The
segment that's underway right now is
between Earl Drive and Third Street and
outside of both ends of that are already
wider new sections. So this will be uh
close to Osborne Road.
ongoing outreach that sorry for the
transportation and streets. Uh it's
still in our hearts. Transportation and
infrastructure staff are conducting
continual outreach to inform the public
about these regulations and laws on the
paths, but also inform people of where
alternate routes are along streets for
anybody that would prefer to go at a
faster speed. We also uh are work with
the police bike unit and park rangers on
these efforts and uh have a recently
produced bike safety brochure as well as
this um the system map that we that's
online as well as hard copy and there's
some new resources and information that
are going up on the website. When
working with the Scottsdale Police
Department, uh we've we've worked with
them throughout as we get more feedback
and inquiries from the public about what
they're seeing about people's behavior
and speeds on the path system. Uh we've
worked with them on several occasions,
including the slowdown Scottdale safety
video series that's available on the
social media and the city's website.
again, uh they helped with our photo
shoot for the uh discovering
Scottsdale's urban oasis multi-use
paths. Um so you it's just to help give
a a face to the different staff that
work on these things. They've assisted
us at the tour to Scottsdale staff table
at the expo and also assisted on bike to
work day and um as well as all the
school events that we help with. And we
are thinking and talking about a
follow-up path safety video focused on
ebike
users. And I think there have been some
more recent social media posts from the
police department on that front. Also,
the new bike safety brochure. This uh
brochure was recently produced and given
to bike shops, bike rental companies as
well as the city's community centers. It
promotes the bike network. um mentions
our affiliation with the League of
American Bicyclists and then gives
information about riding ebikes in the
city on um where can you use this type,
where can you not and then a reminder of
um rules and
regulations. So now getting on to the
biggest topic uh the newest uh part of
this is the speed limit study on Indian
Ben wash path. Uh on average looking at
typical path users and the speeds they
go class one and two ebikes they do top
out at 20 miles per hour but depending
on the battery life a person could just
sustain that for longer periods than
than a average adult on a manual bicycle
unless uh unless it's Greg Davies who
can easily do well be above that and I
can't even reach 12 miles per hour
anymore unless it's downhill uh an
inline skater on average can go about 10
miles per hour. Children, I'm laughing
because 7.9 miles per hour is about my
normal speed. So, I can kind of keep up
with kids. And then runners, some
runners on average can go six and a half
miles per hour. Pedestrians are about
3.4. Again, there's um in, you know,
above and below that. But the study we
are proposing would uh would really look
at what speeds are people going out
there just like what we do with traffic
studies. Here's some possibilities. Uh
this is just looking at what a speed
limit sign could look like on the left
on a path compared to the path etiquette
signage that we're already that we
already have installed and that we're in
adding more. Some municipalities include
the words courtesy speed limit above
that for the
path and looking at is 5 10 15
appropriate. Next steps for this is a
study uh a pilot location and to do the
study. So staff will conduct this study
and look at Indian Ben Wash between
Chapperel Road and Indian School Road
and using
the methodology that we would evaluate
for a possible speed limit which is to
look at path design and geometry,
traffic volume characteristics,
surrounding environment, the safety
history if possible to be able to
collect that. Sometimes that is a
challenge if there's not a collision, a
crash report and the existing speeds. We
already have some good counts in
different areas, but we want to be
consistent with what we do on our roads
and this is the methodology for
that. With that, I have questions and
then um a request for action.
Thank you, commissioners. Any questions?
Vice Chair Wiloxen.
Thank you, uh, Chair Miller, and thanks,
Susan, for the update on that. Um, you
kind of got to the last in the last part
of your slide, you sort of addressed my
my concern, and maybe this will be u
this will
be something the study uh produces, but
um we've had electric bikes, we had them
in Phoenix, we have them all over the
state. Um, and the problem always is how
do you get data that's reliable on not
only the crashes,
uh, but how do you get data on
enforcement efforts, um, you know, what
is happening around the valley, how are
other police agencies, uh, dealing with
this? And all of that kind of goes to
the maybe the larger question of whether
or not this is actually a problem. Um, I
I I I know that when I'm on a bike path
or when I'm on a trail, either walking
or biking, and a motorized bike of any
class buzzes by me, it kind of scares
me. But I don't necessarily
um I know you can't
really can't
really solve a feeling,
um, but you can solve documented
problems that have data. And I'm just
kind of wondering
um if we move forward with this, are the
police going to be committed to
collecting crash data? Are they going to
be committed to uh collecting or
enforcing speed data? Um and what is
their anticipated involvement on this uh
moving forward?
Thank you. I'll let Nathan do jump in.
Chair Miller and Vice Chair Wil Coxin.
Uh thank you for the question. Um the
question about speed limits on the
multis path came from a meeting that we
had with PD. So they are invested in at
least exploring this uh this pilot that
we will try and and and operate and see
its effectiveness. So doing the study
will will include PD where they have
said they will go and collect the speed
data and then through the course of this
we will continue to talk to them about
their capabilities and interest in
enforcing the speed limit because I
think you're right if if we put out the
signs but there's no active level of
enforcement of them then it's going to
be very limited in its effectiveness and
then we can just go back to Susan if you
can go back a couple slides. Um, which
one? The two right there. So, you know,
out of these two types of of decisions,
right, we have put out the etiquette
signs of be courteous, uh, watch out for
pedestrians, um, yield to pedestrians.
And so, that is that's the way we've
approached it so far. That's the way a
lot of communities approach it. And then
if we elevate that to the speed limit,
um, whichever speed limit we come with,
that's going to need some level of of
attentiveness by PD. but also like you
said addressing a real concern. So I
think we need to evaluate that in the
study and then um see their level of
commitment.
Thank you Susan and Nathan. I I did have
the other another question though. The
other other thing that obviously is
different about um these ebikes is they
their extended range. So, somebody can
live in Phoenix and motor on down to uh
Scottsdale uh without any problem at
all. Um people on bike can do that, I
guess, too. But
um has the city been operating or been
trying to coordinate with the rest of
the Maricopa region? Because again, I
know this was a problem in Phoenix. I
suspect it's a problem in other valley
cities as well. And it would be sure
nice to have a
consistent messaging across uh the
entire bike system or canal system.
Chair Miller, Vice Chair Will Cox. And
yes, we we do coordinate. We have a
monthly meeting with our counterparts. U
that's a regional micromobility meeting.
Uh sometimes it's just to say what's
happening in your community, what are
your regulations, do you have any
changes coming up, are you what issues
are you dealing with? Uh and any any of
the cities are welcome to join. We have
some people who come to the meeting that
they don't allow that in their city yet.
They don't originally it started out
related to scooter share companies but
it's evolved and some of the
participants just want to know what's
happening in case uh those companies end
up in their community but it it does
deal with this topic as well. So we're
not really um I don't think anyone's
really there yet. It's been moving fast
in a lot of ways. that I did reach out
to the region as well as some other
cities outside of Arizona to see what
they're what are they doing. Do they
have any type of a speed limit um just
to start collecting some best practices
as we move toward the study
and chair Miller and Vice Chair Coxin
and Tempy just rolled out a speed limit
on their multise path at 20 miles an
hour I believe. So I think talking to
them and
seeing why they came up with that speed
limit um what have they done and and how
effective has it been will be key to
that. Obviously seeing as our multise
path connects directly to theirs um
it'll be essential coordination with us
directly with them to see why they
decided to make that decision and how is
this going for them.
Thank you both. Thank you.
Any other questions? Commissioner
Marman,
thank you. Good presentation. I I agree
with Commissioner Wis will cox in that.
It's it's scary sometimes walking in
Indian bed wash and you're getting
buzzed.
Um it's also all over the city. You see
you see the electric vehicles
everywhere weaving in and out of
traffic. So I think education is
probably your biggest weapon doing it.
But is it possible in your highest
trafficked areas like Indian Medatch to
put in a soft walking trail next to the
concrete trail, get the pedestrians off
of it and put them on
a a separate trail next to it that's
that's soft but not conducive to
bicycles or motorized vehicles.
Uh, Chair Miller, Commissioner Marman,
we've we've looked at that type of
concept over the years. The only
location I recall that may end up with
that was the previous uh master plan for
Indian Ben Wash from Thomas to McKelps.
There was not that people couldn't use
the paved shared use path, but there was
going to be also a
meandering walking path or trail in that
project. That's probably changing in the
future based on their bigger master plan
effort that the parks and recreation
group did. Um I do know that as we've
had those questions over the years, some
cities that do have a separate biking
and a separate walking or running path,
people tend to mix at times. And um I
don't know if that's the best answer
versus having a wider path with more
education, more signage and and
enforcement, but it um we could look at
that. It's just we are space challenged
in some of the areas on top of that. So,
thank you. Thank you, Chair Miller and
uh Commissioner Marman. Let me have a
clarification on that. We we do have
some segments that do have that that
type of facility, but it's adjacent to
the shared use path and and those
locations are in Camelback Park from
Camelback Road to Chapperel. If you go
in that park, there is a
unpaved surface on both sides. And then
from Chaparel to Jack Rabbit, there is
about a three-foot unpaved area
that people can use to walk or run. So
we do we don't have a lot of locations,
but those are two locations that we do
do that. And Susan said, you know, if
we're constrained with rideaway, it is
an issue. And then I want to just talk
about what Commissioner Will Coxin
brought up about crash data. Very
esoteric. It's hard to grab data off a
pass
system. I don't even know if we have
crash data on on that other than when we
litigate cases from geometrics because
the path curve or something like that or
somebody runs into a wall and they sue
the city or they litigate the
city. Just like yesterday I I came upon
a crash on Indian Ben path at
Roosevelt. A bike bicyclist went down.
It was real quick. Uh she got up and she
had a conversations with the pedestrian
who was in the way on the wrong side and
then she went on her on her way. She was
okay but it was a crash. So yeah, it's
really hard
to gather that. I don't that data even
is out there unless it's
reported. That's just my thoughts on the
crash data.
Thanks for the clarification. and it's
not reported at least not to ADOT.
Commissioner Kafta,
thank
you. Um, so I had a couple of questions
or had a few questions. Uh, the first
one is because you were mentioning the
uh ebike ordinance that was adopted in
2018. We we had an update to it right in
2023, I think. Was that included in the
new one, right? Didn't we have a slight
update to better reflect kind of the
changing uh types of vehicles? Chair
Miller, Commissioner Kofile, uh we we
proposed an update to the ordinance and
I I want to say it was January
2021 that that was taken to city council
and they did not want those changes at
that time. They said that we should go
back and look at it come back sometime
in the future if there was a problem.
Um, so there were no updates after the
2018
regulations went into place. Oh, we're
still going with those. I thought there
was one adopted by the council la uh by
the last council. I thought there was
something because I thought we did we I
thought we updated maybe not. Okay. I
thought we had something um the because
I there was something about scooters,
wasn't there, in that we updated to or
um I don't recall. Well, we did talk in
the past when we came um to
transportation commission about maybe
taking a small update in in you know
undetermined future to update some of
the language to match the the name like
instead of standup electric mini scooter
it would be probably electric scooter
but I there was not a proposal at that
time to make other changes to the code
for this. Okay. That but I can check
just in case. Yeah. I thought we did
some kind of update because scooters
weren't like allowed in the bike lanes
or something like that and now but the
scooters themselves say like you can't
ride on the sidewalk. So Oh, uh that was
part of those proposed updates in 2021,
but those did not happen. That a big
part of that was that it would have said
um sidewalks in the transportation
safety zone would mean no bicycle
riding, no ebike riding, no scooter
riding. um that did not end up u moving
forward. There are some private side or
excuse me, there are some sidewalks in
Oldtown where riding is not allowed, but
that was um that's an older regulation.
Okay. Um I was trying to parse
out the information like for the
electric motorcycles or electric dirt
bike type of looking things and some of
the DIYs. Uh because I know some of
those vehicles and even those um those
electric unicycles and things like that,
they can reach they can reach speeds of
over 60 miles an hour. Um, are
they I guess I guess we don't really
have anything that kind of addresses
them, but I'm just wondering if we can
look at maybe because like you know like
like you were saying like a acoustic
bike rider doesn't go anywhere near 30
miles an hour normally unless they're
going downhill and those th those things
routinely get that fast. And so, uh, the
the kind of concerns you hear about that
maybe I was wondering if the city has
any intention or has been looked at
maybe saying anything that goes over a
certain speed limit should stay out of
both, you know, paths trails and and the
uh and the bike lanes. So, I was just
wondering if the city's looking at
anything like that.
Um, Chair Miller, Commissioner Kofile,
what I mean by definition, those would
not be allowed anyway on the path, but
the con the difficult part is some of
those devices don't go that fast. So, a
person could say, "Oh, well, I'm just
not going that fast on the path right
now. How do we know what um what a
person is doing?" I think that would
have to also fall to education so people
can know what what can and can't be
there. And then how
How effective is it? I I was thinking
more along the bike lanes like if they
see somebody on one of those electric
bicycles that are doing is doing like 45
miles an hour or something like that. If
there's any enforcement by uh if there's
any kind of enforcement or talk about
enforcement for PD or the city or
whatever uh for for those type of
vehicles when when they are going that
fast in those in in those like bike
lanes. So, okay, Chair Miller and and
Commissioner Kofile, that conversation
is happening right now about expanding
that. Uh, our talks with PD was looking
at that concern. I I don't think they've
settled on on anything, but that that
concern of those really fastm moving
hybrid ebikes that aren't really ebikes
are between a
electric motorcycle and an ebike that
the young kids are on. Um, that was a
part of the conversation and looking for
ways
to address that concern. I don't think
we've settled on anything yet, but
that's definitely been part of the
conversation is those in any part of the
city, whether it's on the streets or
whether the multiase paths right here
when we're talking about the speed
limit, right? We're talking about the
ones that are allowed on the path. And
then we definitely have this this
problem of these new emerging
technologies that go very very fast and
are are going everywhere. I've seen them
on Shay as well. Um, so so they're
looking to do an ordinance update
to try and mitigate that. I don't think
anything has been settled yet, so I
don't think I can speak clearly to what
they're trying to do, but they've seen
that problem. They're looking to address
it. Perfect. Thank Thank you. Um, the
bicycle safety brochure, I I saw that at
the path and trails. It's a Is it
available online anywhere? I I only I
was only able to find it as as a
physical object and I was just I would
like to be able to share that a little
little more because it it really breaks
down because when I talk to people they
do have a lot of questions about what's
allowed where and so if they're this is
a well-designed piece of m of
information that I'd like to be able to
share with more people if that's
available somewhere. Chair Miller,
Commissioner Coftile. Um, we are getting
ready to take most of that content. It's
it's not going to look just like the
brochure that you saw on the slide, but
a lot of that information is being
posted on the website soon. If uh if
there's anything else to add, I think
that's everything. It looks great. We
just saw it earlier today. So, but it's
uh stays with that theme from the from
the map as well as the brochure. So,
stay tuned.
Um, as far as the speed limits on there,
like uh you were speaking about your
your speed and I couldn't help but think
about my speed and you know I ride
mostly an acoustic bike and my speed is
typically around 15 to 19 miles an hour.
And so uh you know I I don't you know I
try you know I slow down and blah blah
blah, right? I'm a perfect rider unlike
everybody else on the road. But uh so
yeah, I would just want to uh that that
average, that national average. I would
just want that because I know plenty of
people that ride a little faster than me
and they ride acoustic and people who
ride slower obviously. So just some
leeway in those speed limits when when
you're looking at that. Um and also uh
because a lot of my bikes or several of
my bikes have uh internal hubs instead
of a standard uh chain and and uh
derailer. And so a lot of people mistake
uh mistake my bikes for ebikes because
they see that big the internal hub. I
don't know if you've anybody's seen
that, but it's like a big circle that
looks like an ebike ebike motor at the
back, but it that just has all the
gearing built into the back of the wheel
instead of having gears on the outside
of the wheel. So I would just if if the
people who are if we do end up with
enforcement I would want that to be kept
in mind uh that make sure they can tell
the difference between an ebike and a
bike with like internal gears or
something like that.
Thank you. And then uh couple of
questions on how the how the study would
work. I
um I guess one one of the things like
right now like like you mentioned
there's the path widening going on. at
at Earl and Third. And so it's
completely closed down that part of the
trail. And then I'm looking at where the
pilot study is. And that's that's like
half a mile from from there. And so I
would think that would uh that might
impact some of the or maybe it's just
maybe it's a mile, but that might impact
some of the traffic volumes. And so when
when the pilot study is done, would you
be looking at the timing between when
uh when when the um the improvements are
going to be done and when you're going
to be doing the pilot just because that
could that could impact volumes as well.
At least I know I'm using the roads more
now when I go north. Uh you know, and I
just stay on the roads instead of
getting back to the green green belt
because it's just easier. And so, uh, if
you were doing that today, you know, you
wouldn't pick me up as as one of the
people who are using that. So, um,
uh, Chair Miller, uh, Commissioner
Katile, thank you for the question.
That's a good point. Um, we're also
coming up on the summer months, which
obviously alter our data for all types
of transportation in the city of
Scottsdale. So, we might have to uh look
at doing some evaluations in the fall
when it's cooler, when we got more
traffic and a more reasonable sample
size for both speeds and volumes. So
maybe we reconvene this and do the pilot
do what we can with uh the geometries of
the the paths and the the part of the
study during the summer and then when
the temperatures drop and that the path
is reconstructed we come back for the
volumes and speed data in the fall.
And uh I just curious about like how
would the study work? Uh, like would you
just have somebody standing there just
counting counting bikes at certain spot
or counting bikes and pedestrians and
miscellaneous at certain times or I
didn't really see on the slide exactly
how how it would work, how how the how
the study would work. It'll be magic.
Okay.
No, you go ahead. Sorry.
talking about the volumes portion of the
the study with the speed or uh I mean I
I know for the volumes you've got those
magic uh poles that that we have we have
the magic poles we also have the mag the
magic mobile uh poles that we can put
out too. So, um, we also have magical
cameras that can identify that we can
put out there and and identify and then
somebody could count. So, we can we can
ask our traffic engineering department
if if we can use those for a time. And
then for the speed uh study, PD has said
they will conduct a speed evaluation or
go out there with their radar and and
determine speeds through that corridor.
So, that's that's how we would approach
collecting the volumes and speed data.
Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I was mostly thinking
about the speed data because I know
we've got other ways to track volume,
but uh speed it's I wasn't sure how how
we were going to be doing that. As as
far as the safety history, um as we've
as we've said from uh Vice Chair Will
Coxinson's questions and Greg, that's
going to be a uh limited sample size of
of of actual crashes crashes. So, I
think we're going to have to work off of
easy complaints, um, other complaints,
and then kind of try and work backwards
to make that a a type
of credible,
uh, evaluation of how we're seeing the
safety impacts of ebikes on the path.
And we
can present that again to this this body
and show what we've seen for that. But
so easy complaints and and the
complaints that we're finding on the
path might be the only way we can
evaluate safety concerns. I know that
that's more perceived safety concerns
and near misses, but we'll we'll work
with what we have. Okay. Yeah. I just
wanted to Yeah. So that that's all the
questions. I just wanted to echo uh comm
uh vice chair Coxson's point about de
data versus feelings because I talk to a
lot of people or I hear from a lot of
people and everybody complains about
ebikes and then when I'm on the path I
don't I every once in a while you see
people going crazy on ebikes but it
doesn't seem it doesn't seem like it's a
constant thing that that that people are
concerned about. So I just would want to
find that information out or make sure
the city's working on that. So, thank
you. And Chair Miller, uh, Commissioner
Kofau, I do want to express that we do
want to make this a pilot program, but
we don't want to just implement this. We
want to see what happens, uh, after the
before and after of of if we if we even
get past the study and go to the pilot
and, uh, what kind of effects it has
before we just start rolling out this
thing the whole way. We've seen some
cities that have put speed limits on
multi paths and pulled them back. So, we
want to kind of figure out why they
decided to do that as well as why people
are implementing it. We want to want to
come in with a lot of information before
we make something as drastic as speed
limits on a multi-use path.
Thank you,
Commissioner. Excuse me. Go
ahead. Thank you for that presentation.
Um, I have a couple of questions. So,
this item is listed for action. You're
looking um my question is you right now
you're looking for an action from the
um the this group on approving
uh study on ebike usage and speed limits
along the Indian ben wash between the
locations that you
mentioned.
Okay. Then
um my other question is
how how long will this study last? I
know that the summer months are coming
so this probably won't happen until the
fall but you go there on weekdays,
weekends, and like how how long is that
period? And then if police is going to
be there,
um I would assume they can have some
observations as to whether they can
discern what kind of bikes they are just
by looking at them. But they're also
going to collect speed
data. Um but how long would that process
be? Um I believe we'd want a couple days
of weekend activity, a couple days of
weekday activity. So maybe a couple
weeks worth of of data. Certainly not a
couple weeks worth of speed data. I
don't think we'd want to put the PD out
there for that long, but I'm talking
volumes. We'd want a couple sample sizes
of that's how we've done our our pilot
program for protected bike lanes, too.
We got a couple weekday and a couple
weekend datas to kind of show uh that
kind of volumes both through the weekend
and the weekdays. And then I think we'd
want some speed uh data for sure on the
weekends as well as a weekday to do a
comparison as well as the counts for the
ebikes. So I would say that collecting
the data would take a matter of a couple
weeks and then and then us evaluating
and and determining based on the
geometry as well as the environmental
conditions of the the path.
Thank you.
And then I guess my question well a
comment related to that that ties to my
question is how would PD like let's say
we do this study and we find out a speed
limit that works. How exactly would PD
enforce on this? Like if someone and
um I'm a user of the path I seldom see
people that zoom by me. I can understand
it can be a scary feeling. My biggest
concern are people that are getting run
over on a 45 mile per hour street um
because the likelihood of death is much
much greater. But how would police like
how much how often where and exactly in
what methodology and with what city code
would police enforce speed? Is it just
based on a speed? Is it based on uh
writing in a way that is unsafe to
others? I
almost would want to know these things
before um we go further because it
seems I often leave my house, especially
when I go on a bike ride on the path
without my driver's license. So, how
would PD know who I am?
Um all these things, right? How do they
exactly capture my speed? make me stop
or pull me over. These are all valid
questions that I I guess
I'm the path is meant to be safer both
for writers and for people walking. And
I I like it that way, but I also I'm
having a hard time understanding how
after a study we would move forward if
it's just no more than a design
recommendation
um rather than a speed recommendation,
if that makes sense. And I'm wondering,
and I'm just putting it out there, if we
could have PD here to talk to us about
some of the anecdotal things or how they
could do this kind of study and follow
up on it
before we vote on it. But if it is an
in-house study, you know, that that's
fine. There's a lot of useful
observations that we can make. But since
this will happen in the fall, I'm
wondering if there is any room for us to
talk to PD ahead of time on all these
things. Thank you, Chair Miller and
Commissioner Pinkitz. So, the multiple
questions I would say this action is for
us to conduct the study. We're not
rolling out any of the speed limit signs
after this. So, we can come back to this
body after we conduct the study. So this
action is for us to
just collect the data uh determine the
data come up with a report and then we
can present it back to this body and
then we can vote on a moving forward
with the pilot program before anything
happens at that time we can bring PD
back but your first question of how
they're going to enforce it. I think
that's a wonderful question. I have that
question as well. So the meeting we had
with them they showed interest in this
but I think we can ask a lot more
questions as to how they intend to
enforce it. We had uh our lawyers at
that meeting and they were talking about
um our legal stance on putting a speed
limit on the multi path. We do have
legal standing to at least put a speed
limit, you know, the state code to um
enact speed limits that are safe and
prudent that's still enforceable on a
multi path as well as a road. So, we
have at least legal standing to put it
there. Then your question is very valid
as to how we're going to enforce it. So
I would say this action is for us to go
out there, collect the data, um, analyze
the path and then come in with a
recommendation of a speed limit that we
would like to introduce into a pilot
program. When we introduce that, we can
bring PD and and have a full discussion
as to how they plan to enforce that,
answer the questions of are they
planning to how are they planning to
identify people, how are they planning
to pull people over and and talk about
that length of safety concerns. if that
is acceptable, that would be how I would
say we can approach it. But we
definitely want to ask PD a lot of those
questions as well.
Thank you. And and just to add to that,
I guess I would rather have PD enforcing
on people speeding or 60 miles an hour
on a road than someone going 25.
Granted, I understand it's not safe on a
on a walking path, but um yeah, no, I
they they do have their their bike um uh
patrol unit. Okay. And uh so it's not
taking anybody away from the streets and
also I guess that that patrol unit is
looking into getting ebikes themselves.
So they should uh adhere to their speed
limit the same as as all of us when they
when they get their own ebikes. So, I
guess we'll all be uh trying to be as
cordial as possible and and it does
bring up the legitimate conversation as
to are the etiqu the etiquette signs
that we already have up are they doing a
sufficient job in and of themselves and
should we just introduce more of those
or should we go down the path of of the
speed limits? So, thank you. Um, Chair
Miller, Commissioner
Pangawitch. Um, I would like to also add
that if there's issue with
enforcement, the speed limit, we can do
some sort of like a warning, yellow
background
warning versus the enforcable I Yeah, I
I think um you have a good valid point
about the priority, right? you prefer to
have somebody enforce it on the 45 miles
per hour versus the multi-use path. So
that is another option that we were
thinking of a warning speed posted speed
limit versus a regulatory sign.
Thank
you, Commissioner Davis. Uh Susan, would
you mind uh putting up the slide that
showed the uh study location?
So, this is a uh this is an interesting
part of the wash in that you have
multi-use paths on both sides of Hayden.
In my experience um because I bike this
area fairly often is that you tend to
have people who are are walking um on
the east side of Hayden and people who
are biking on the west. Um I also know
that from at least Camelback to
Chaparel, it's a really wide path on the
west side. And I wonder if if that would
influence, you know, us to see higher
speeds than you might find of of uh of
bicyclists or ebikes on the rest of the
path, areas that might be 10 ft wide,
but there's only one path and there's a
lot of foot traffic and that natively
would slow tend to slow people down. So,
I guess were there other areas that were
being considered or should we consider
expanding the study to
a an additional location?
uh Chair Miller and Commissioner Davis,
those were the exact reasons why we
chose this location. We thought um the
combination of the pedestrian activity
on the one side and then the
um definitely more prominent bike riders
on the west side could give us a good
comparison as to the
uh how pedestrians interact with the
like how the inter how pedestrians
interact with the bikes and how that
caters to them slowing down and then
comparing that to the one that's
primarily biking. So, those were kind of
the reasons why we thought this was a
good way to get a full evaluation of all
kinds of different scenarios on the path
system that we had a a location that had
kind of the two different
uh situations that we see on the paths
throughout whether it's through our
parks or whether it's through those long
stretches that are primarily used by
bikes. Other places that were suggested
and we could certainly add that to the
action with if you want to see it in a
different pilot place was McCormack
Ranch um between Vinda and the loop 101
was another one of the suggested areas
um and I'm blinking on the other one but
that was for sure um another suggestion
of a place where there was high traffic
of both types of users as well as just
high volumes in general and if any of
the other places on the Indian would be
of interest to the to the commission. We
can certainly add that to the
conversation. Yeah, thank you. Um I was
going to suggest uh that that Parliament
McCormack Ranch area. My fear would just
be that that that people who might tend
to go at higher speeds um would would
just be sticking on the on the uh on the
west side anyway and and would be
avoiding interaction with with
pedestrians. So I um you if we make a
motion, I probably might be in favor of
adding that second location. Um the
other question I had, how much
enforcement do we do at the moment
of the the these these devices where
which are which are not authorized like
gas powered? I
mean do we do we have the bike units out
there right now enforcing that?
Uh they are out there enforcing. They
have the bike unit that's that's trying
to enforce um like Susan said in her
presentation, everything exceeding the
class 2 ebike. So um they are limited in
their staffing and the scope that they
can cross. there's about five or
six bike units uh police officers and so
they I don't know what their other uh
responsibilities are, but they have said
that they're out there and they've they
have stopped some of the kids on the um
exaggerative uh speeded uh ebikes. So,
they have said that they've started to
crack down on the the ones that are
going 28 plus and and
really going quite fast. So, if you have
and I'll I'll just add um some of the
feedback that PD has given us is in our
conversations about the canal use um
since that's
a overlapping but separate issue since
motorized devices are not allowed on the
canals and we're we're trying to get the
word out more on that. But that was some
of the locations where they were doing a
lot of observations and sometimes making
contact, you know, going and watching,
seeing how much it's happening, but also
reaching out to people. Um, sometimes
kids think they're going to be in
trouble and they want to take off. So,
that's also a factor in the in the
situation. I don't believe adults have
been doing that. Um, and a lot of the
conversation is, hey, if someone's
riding an ebike, reasonable speed on the
canal, is that as big of a problem as
um the other things we're seeing like
the speed, it still has the potential to
go fast, but that was a lot of why we
were talking to them and why they were
going out and observing those areas. And
a lot of that was based on public
feedback telling us where they were
seeing a lot of problems like that.
Thank you. Yeah. My I guess my final
comment is, you know, I I probably
question the need for a speed limit.
Um I wonder if that if if if the intent
of that is already covered by by having
these restrictions on on on on the
vehicles, which I think are primarily
the ones that are exceeding what I would
consider a safe speed. Um and then you
add on the fact that there would be
concerns about obviously staffing and
and enforcing it. Um I am in favor
though of getting more data and and
getting the study. I think it's
important to know how our users are
using the the pass and at what speeds.
So, um, you know, I'd be in favor of
that again potentially with that extra
area. Thank you. Thank you,
Commissioner Cardell. I I just have one
question, Susan. Um, you said that class
one and class two bikes are allowed on
city sidewalks. That's correct. But
the
the little flyer here says ebike 20 mile
per hour and max speed limit pedal
assist and throttle operations has a big
X for city sidewalk. I'll have to check
the ordinance then I since it's been a
while I can't
remember. I know they're not allowed on
unpaved
paths, including the any that are
outside the preserve, but I felt like it
um felt like it was okay on sidewalks.
Okay. So, I'll check. Thank you. Um and
would you bring back up the slide that
with the recommendation?
Sorry. Thank you.
Um, is there a motion? Commissioner W,
Vice Chair Wil Cox.
Um, yes. Thank uh thank you um Chair
Miller. I uh move that we uh adopt the
uh recommendation for action to
recommend to staff to conduct a study of
ebike usage and speed limits along
Indian bin Wash path between Indian
School Road and Chapel Road.
Thank you. Is there a second? I got uh
did we want to include uh Commissioner
Davis's recommendation for a second
location as well?
Did you want to make that
recommendation? We'll change the motion.
process.
Uh, chair, if I like to make a second or
amended motion, uh, recommend staff to
conduct a study on ebike usage and speed
limits along Indian Ben Wash path
between Indian School Road and Chapper
Royal Road um, and Via Linda, Indian Ben
Wash path between Via Linda and the
101 overpass.
I have a question on that. So what would
be the added cost to expanding that
or what would be the impact? Our time.
We're fine. We can we can you we can do
that. It'd be no problem.
Vice chair. Do you accept that
amendment? I do. Yes. Okay. So we have a
motion on the floor and a second. Um
Susan, do you did you catch all of that?
So ex uh uh a motion to accept this
recommendation
plus uh conduct the study between
via Linda and the 101. And is that to
add as a second location? I just want to
clarify. Okay. Second location. I got
that. That's an amended amendment to the
motion. Correct. Right. So then we will
vote on the amended motion. Okay. Thank
you. Uh Chair Miller. Um, approved.
Thank you. Vice Chair Wil Coxson,
approved. Thank you, Commissioner
Marman. Approved. Thank you.
Commissioner Pankowitz,
yes. Thank you. Commissioner Kofile,
approved. Thank you. Commissioner
Cardella, yes. Thank you. And
Commissioner Davis, yes. Thank you. All
right. Motion is approved.
Thank you all for the information. Thank
you for the presentation. And with that,
we will hear about projects and programs
updates. Mr. Dome,
should we come back up there for these
slides? Yeah. Sorry. We're going to
start with Susan. Uh then Greg will give
an update on his trail program for the
last uh several months and then I'll
give an update on everything else that's
happening around the city.
Thank
you. April was bike month in the
valley. Currently May is bike month
everywhere else outside of the valley.
Um we we kicked it off with the Arizona
Bicycling Summit and it was held in Mesa
at the beginning of April. It seems like
a long time ago. There were some really
great sessions that day. A a good
turnout. um a lot of things that are to
show everyone what's happening all over
Arizona, not just here in the valley.
Cycle the arts was Sunday, April 4th. We
had a great turnout. We probably had
about 50 55 riders in uh three groups
and I think we've got a I've got a
second slide if I can recall. And then
staff assisted at the expo for the tour
to Scottsdale April 12th. And we even
included the um virtual reality
experience, biking experience for the
safety plan. So we got the word out to
people about that. And bike to work day
was April 16th. We continued with five
stops again this year and had I want to
say probably about 50 60 people rolled
through all of these spots. For the
first time, we gave out all of our
shirts except for probably six t-shirts.
That's never happened before. Um, so we
we can always uh update people as we go
into next year, but um I'll show you
real quick for what cycle the arts had
nine stops featuring 10 art
installations on an 11 mile route. Um
that upper one there was um it's a SRP
pipe at about 82nd Street and Thomas
Road. The artist that did that mural,
it'll be up for two years. She also
designed the stickers and the t-shirts.
Um, her name's Sheila Yu, goes by Shell
Shaker. Um, it was really neat to have
her as a speaker there so people could
talk to the artist about how she worked
on what she how she came up with the
idea for the mural and how she did it.
Um, also we will add the self-guided map
and information online soon. It's
interactive. We've had good success with
that since 2020. Um, this year we didn't
spend a lot of time within Oldtown. We
really focused on the path and areas
south of Oldtown and we focused on
temporary pieces that won't be there by
next year. And um, we think that's a
great way to introduce people to the
artwork, whether they've come to the
event in the past or if they're new. And
then next year, just as a teaser, is the
20-y year anniversary. So, we're already
planning what we think we want to do for
that, but we'd like to do something
really special even though every year is
special at Cycle of the Arts and Bike to
Work or wherever day. Again, that was um
it was great. We have so we couldn't do
either of these events without our
partners and volunteers. U they help
with planning and also help with
implementing and holding the event. But,
um we have have five different stops. We
really pick where we think people are
already riding instead of telling you
come here. We we want to catch you where
you're already riding your bike that
day. And same thing, we give out
breakfast snacks, stickers, t-shirts,
and talk to people. And a lot of times
it's a great way for us to get feedback
from people that are already out that
ride. And Greg has some trail
updates. Some great trail updates. Thank
you.
Yes. Good evening, Chair Miller, members
of the transportation commission. Greg
Davies and transportation planner. I'll
give you a overview of the projects
we've did this fiscal year. We've had a
successful trail building and rehab
season. Uh when I show you these these
locations, the total was just over about
three miles and that kind of meets our
performance
measure. And the I'll give you some
costs at the very end, but this first
trail is Losatoto's trail. This was a
request from a resident uh in that
neighborhood and this trail was built on
a city of Scottsdale parcel. So the city
owns the the land here. Uh it's not a
very long trail but it provides a great
access to the Puma path which is on the
east side of Puma as you can see in that
graphic uh the the red line. So we
connected right to the path. Uh the
residents were thrilled. I spoke with
the resident that requested that and she
was delighted. It is signed. All the
trails we do do, we do sign them and
that
trail was rec recently completed in
March. This trail uh it was the the
Joeax trail and it's uh from Puma to the
Pinnacle Peak trail head. Uh, this trail
actually existed back in 2005, but it
kind of went away. Obviously, if you
don't use trails, they they kind of
disappear and the trail was there. So,
with that knowledge, we just
reconstructed the trail. As you can see
in those photos, the the uh the before,
see, it was just like a shoulder and
then the after is an actually a real
existing trail. And the trails that that
you're going to see uh in this these
updates are uh trails that are
stabilized. We're moving into that that
direction of of building trails that uh
have at least a 4ft tread and are
stabilized with a specific product that
really make the trail stay intact. So
they're durable. They're durable trails
just not we just don't blade. We we have
done that in the past, but this fiscal
year we we did kind of an upgrade in our
trail
construction. This trail uh is used uh
significantly by residents in the
neighborhood. They're usually coming
from the west and they're going to
Pinnacle Peak Park and I have spoken to
several residents that use that and they
were delighted that you know they they
don't have to walk in the road and they
just they're on the trail
now. Uh this trail uh was a desire line
that was
uh existed uh and in the past trail
subcommittee has requested that uh this
trail become a real trail. It is from
Westworld
uh location where there's a path that a
cement path that ends and it continues
on through Riata Wash. That's Riata
Wash. Uh so essentially we just kind of
upgraded the single track that goes from
the the pave path to bell highly used by
mountain bikers and hikers. Uh more of a
narrow we call single track but very uh
efficient connection to to Bell.
Eventually the the RIT watch riato wash
drainage project will will go into
construction in about four years and
then we'll have it'll be you know a lot
different than it looks and then we'll
have a a trail and a shared use path but
for the meantime that that
exists. This is a little short
connection that's uh up off Scott Road
just south Alma. This was a resident
request because right where the right
turn lane is uh in this area here, they
had to walk out into the right turn
lane. So, we built this little segment
within the rideway to allow uh users to
be off the road and uh feel a little bit
safer. We also corrected uh the location
here where there was a drainage culvert.
We kind of flattened it out. So,
uh the residents were happy. And it's uh
Scott Road's tricky right there. That's
where we definitely need to do some
improvements along Scott Road, which we
will with our arterial life cycle
program. We'll you know integrate new
trails and paths, but
it's there is a trail on the on the east
side which is it's separated which is
useful. So we're just trying to do
improvements that not only under
resident request but provide a little
safer
access. This is Aster Hills trail. This
is up uh just north of Lone Mountain. Uh
this is a Pinnacle Peak Ranchos
neighborhood. This is a very uh intact
system that uh is along Puma and then
this was a east west trail very highly
used by equestrians and mountain bikers.
This trail had to be a little bit
realigned because the property to the
south is uh in going to be subdivided
and the uh property own it it kind of
drip uh dipped down onto that property.
So I wanted to realign it uh to get it
off that property. You can see we kind
of just made a little bit straighter uh
so there won't be any conflicts when if
that property owner puts up a fence.
That's the last thing I want to have is
a fence right across the trail. And that
you know that has happened
for let's
see next slide Sam. Oh there we go. So
this is a trail along Pinnacle Peak uh
from Hayden to 78 Street. This was also
a resident request. We built a trail on
the south side of Puma uh last f two
fiscal years ago uh that allowed people
to get off the road because they were
walking on the shoulder. Pinnacle Peak,
Pinnacle Peak Road uh from Scottsdale to
Puma is another road that will
eventually be improved in our arterial
life cycle program which as you are
aware we just improved Puma Road from
Pinnacle Peak to Happy Valley and maybe
a a lot of you have seen that
improvement. Uh that's what our new
crosssections look like. I mean, this
one will be a four-lane facility, but
this trail existed, uh, but we just kind
of upgraded it to clean up some wash
crossings and, uh, another stabilized
trail as you can see on the bottom. Came
out pretty
good. This is our biggest project and
this project was presented to you in the
past regarding uh, approval for to move
forward. This is the Desert
Foothills trail improvement uh program
or project. Uh part of the trails
program. It's 1.5 miles of trails. You
can see uh there is many segments that
were built within the neighborhood. Uh
those kind of fuchsia lines uh a lot of
outreach to uh the residents that we did
on extensive outreach. Uh it came out as
a very successful project. As you can
see the photos that that segment there
is right off of Cavdale. It's not a
road. It's just a a general land office
patism that we use which is essentially
a flavor rideway. And you can see the
photo on the left. There was really
nothing there. Now Insta Trail. So it
doesn't take long to build the trail. Uh
but that project was completed in early
April. And the last thing I want to I'm
going to do there is is sign the trail.
So, I'm just going to go out there and
we're going to put some signage up
there. Again, a very successful
project that at some intervals in the
project, there was a lot of public
concern, but we uh when we went out
there and started to construct, they
were there really uh glad that, you
know, that product that that we ended up
with and pretty happy with
that. I think that
is
keyboard. Let me advance the slide if
there's a slide. Sam,
please went too far. I think that's it
on trails. So, uh, any questions? Let me
just summarize on the cost. So, it was
over three miles of trails. The total
cost to build all those trails or some
rehab was about
$420,000. uh that comes out of the trail
improvement program which is a capital
project that happens every year. We're
allocated certain amount of funds and in
those past skiers it was 200,000 per
year. So a successful trail building
year and we kind of want to continue
that
on that concludes
that it's Nathan's turn.
So, I'll finish up with some of our
other uh planning and uh projects that
are going on in the city right now. So,
77th Street Emergency Access, you can
see a rendering right now of a pretty
wide multi-use path. The purpose of this
is to create a secondary access for the
neighborhoods just um to the left of the
screen. um they have one access point on
Roosevelt and the Indian wash. It floods
and they are trapped in their
neighborhood. This will provide that
secondary access as well as provide for
the majority of the time a multi-use
connection through our Indian wash park
ser uh network. this uh um there is a
public meeting happening right now uh
for the community to uh introduce this
improvement that they've been looking
forward to. It's a federal project and
we're starting uh design now and going
through the federal process to get this
constructed. So, that's now being kicked
off as we speak and then we'll we'll
continue on and get it constructed for
that neighborhood as well as for the
overall community. uh for the indie
men for ALCP update of all of our
projects. We have preliminary design for
uh Puma Dixellet to
Carefree and
um sorry Scottsdale Dixleta to Carefree
and Puma from Dynamite to Cave Creek. So
flip those two streets and say the ones
at the very top section of the map are
in preliminary design with our
consultants looking at the alternatives
that they can provide. They'll provide
those alternatives in the fall and then
we'll continue on the way of of getting
those constructed. The Puma side is
getting widened to four lanes and the
Scottsdale section is getting improved
for just capacity improvements as well
as a better connection to Carefree off
of Scottsdale Road. So wrapping up the
final last couple projects that we have
for the ALCP prop 400 section finishing
design is Carefree Highway that will
will comply with the federal obligations
of that project and and move forward
into construction hopefully by the start
of next year um or the middle of next
year. And then that will that will also
widen to four lanes. Uh kind of take out
the dips of the road, improve the storm
water, and make a
a connection similar to what's west of
Cave Creek on that road. So several
widenings happening to the north. Then
we have under construction currently uh
Puma from V Linda to Mcdal that is well
underway. If anybody drives that
corridor, you'll see half of the road is
dug up. that is widening out the four
lanes and going to emulate or look like
the section just next to the the uh
baseball stadium right there. So,
finally finishing out that quarter and
widening it out to the four lanes. It's
been intended to be for quite a while
now. So, that's that's going to wrap up
in the next year and a half and then
finally have that that major quarter.
We're working with MRC uh SRPMIC on that
one. they are they are leading that
project but we are definitely heavily
involved in that as it's a important
quarter for both of the communities uh
loop 101 princess to puma I mean
princess puma to that is well along its
way we've been coordinating with ADOT
pretty extensively for the past year
it's on schedule to finish up uh at the
end of this
year and we'll finally have the widening
of the the roadway plus our our
interchanges that of that have an
improvement the last little choke point
on the loop 101 finished by the end of
this year. And then starting out in
October, we will start implementing into
the CIP all the lines that are in in
blue starting with phase one um as we
are working with MAG to identify which
ones. But the the lines in blue are Prop
479. Those have just been passed and
we're looking to we will incorporate it
coming in this next CIP list to start
widening out those east west connections
up north as well as improvements to the
uh the corridors down to the
south. Pavement overlay has had an
extensive increase to its budget in this
last budget cycle. The total project uh
is now up to hund00 million over five
years and $42 million in this next
fiscal year to make a pretty sizable
uh improvement to the the pavement
condition throughout the
city. I'll go through a couple uh
things. We just had our five-year
pavement
um uh our PCI uh evaluation done. The
city came out to be a 63 for PCI, 61 on
the local roads, 66 on our major roads.
And the transportation action plan's
goal is a 70. So that increase the
funding is looking to uh implement
several pavement improvements and and
get the PCI up
to start increasing the level of the
PCI. Our distribution on that was mo the
majority being in a fair to and second
being in satisfactory. So looking to how
we can can use certain uh pavement
treatments to uh bump that up. So we
have all of the the categories of each
type of of pavement condition and we
have certain pavement treatments that
are associated with those pavement
conditions. So talking about in those
good and satisfactory categories, how we
can do some slurry seals, some fog
seals, some coatings on the top to
improve that condition of those those in
good conditions. And then as we go into
the fair and pour, it moves to a more of
an mill and overlay and then a full
depth reconstruction um as we get
further down. So we've we've identified
the improvements that are needed based
on how they scored and looking to
increase that
PCI. This is the mapping out of how we
try to maintain the PCI at a certain
level that you can see on this chart.
This the the line is the deterioration
of pavement and then you can see the
different types of conditions and the
types of layers and improvements that
are needed as you dip down your PCI. So
pavement preservation, your slurry
seals, your micro seals, your fog seals
are looking to catch it before it drops
down below that 65, bump it back up and
extend its life so that you can preserve
that, improve the ones that that need to
to get up all the way up to those that
good condition, but preserve the ones
that are are still in good condition,
but just need that regular maintenance.
So, something we're looking to
accomplish over the time is is keep the
ones that are in good condition staying
good by keeping that that minor
maintenance improvements
going. Um, lastly, talking about the ADA
transition plan, the city manager's
office is conducting the new ADA
transition plan um with their ADA
coordinator. We are uh very
um interested in this plan obviously as
we have the majority of our work
involves ADA curb ramps or ADA
improvements along our sidewalks. So so
we're going to be a very active partner
with the ADA coordinator in in reviewing
all of the ADA ramps throughout the city
and and how they adopt and implement
this plan. So, they've asked us what
we'd like to see and we'd like to see a
a
um they've they've gotten a consultant
on board that can and we would like to
see them um do a a survey of all of the
ramps throughout the city, which ones
are in compliance with ADA, which ones
are not, and then coming out with a a
prioritization or transition plan for
how we can tackle and and convert all of
the non-compliant ADA ramps to
compliance. So very excited about the
effort here and this is just kicking off
but hopefully the next year to year and
a half we can have a transition plan
that that will help us um identify those
ramps that need
improvement. Um any event wash path
renovations this is underway as we
talked about for the speed limits. So,
we have just now uh closed off the path
between um Thomas and Second Street um
over not the Osborne Bridge that's now
getting constructed, but on both sides
of that and looking to widen that path
um to 10 ft. Um update the curb ramps
along the path. It's going to be
approximately two months to complete.
Then we'll have a nice wide path similar
to the ones that we see just north of
Indian School and just south of
Camelback. So the next phase of our path
renovation widening is well underway and
should be completed as soon as we
can. So with that, any questions or
discussion for any of the three topics?
Commissioner Pankitz,
I have a question about the ADA
transition plan. What does it entail? Is
it just ramps? Are you looking at
signals and audible signals? It's going
to include that as well. Um, and it's
not even just including transportation
ADA focus, but buildings um compliance
with with meeting laws. So it that's why
it's not under our department but under
the city managers it's a fully
comprehensive ADA map but we have a
pretty sign significant portion of that
that thing which would be the physical
element of the street environment.
How is uh the city addressing
RFPs and that audible aspect of them
as well as incorporating that into every
one of the RFPs? Yes.
Um John, do you have a answer to that?
So the um audible push buttons right now
we're doing it based on request.
Um is that what you're asking? The it's
just a challenging condition because an
RFB is still the
the rectangular Yeah. flashing beacons.
Yes. And all of those are going through
a study process. If there's a request,
we're going to look into it and then
staff's going to look and evaluate if
there's um if it's going to meet
warrants to have something like that.
Okay. Thank you. My last question is,
are you looking at sidewalk condition? I
know you we pay a lot of attention at
our pavement condition, but as part of
this ADA plan, is there a look at
sidewalk conditions
uh or is that on a case-byase basis?
Also, they've asked us for what we would
like to look at so we can see if that's
something they're capable of doing. So
we can talk to the consultant, see if
they can look at pavement condition or
uh sorry concrete condition or or
obstacles on the sidewalks as well. And
I have one uh request too is with uh
tree limbs in the right of way and the
height of them for uh people who you are
challenged with their vision. That can
become a hazard if the limbs are not
trimmed properly. in a lot of
uh developments put in multi- trunk
trees that grow lower than I I I really
can't recall the the height clearance
that you would want, but I think that's
also important to look at.
We have in development right now a shade
and tree plan as well as this. I can
make a note and make sure that we have
reference to height
um requirements for cutting back um that
we have that in the DSMP already
especially with uh our unpaved trails
but also our sidewalks. So that is a
standard we already have but making note
of that as a goal to make sure
that we adhere to that that standard is
certainly a good thing to put in our
plans. I agree with you that we need to
make sure that we don't let them fall
too low. Thank you, Chair Miller. Uh,
Commissioner Pangawitch, the uh,
guidelines for the trees within the
rightway is minimum to be trimmed up
minimum 7 ft and shrubs to be less than
three feet within the rightway to
minimize the sight
visibility constraint
for for the unpaved trail. Uh, we have
it at 12 feet for equestrian use too. So
So absolutely right about that. And then
we have it even higher because we want
our unpaved trails used by by
equestrians and certainly want to give
that height for the horses and their
riders.
10 to 12 feet.
Questions.
Commissioner Kofa.
Um, since since you're up here, I just
had a couple of questions about the the
77th
uh street emergency access. That's uh
slide 12 is I'm I'm trying to because I
use that's my route I use to go to work
and I'm trying
to mainly the the thought the question I
have when I'm looking at that is uh
there are a couple of disc golf baskets
and there's some fairly older large
trees there. Are they all going to be
preserved? Is it going I'm trying to
remember when when you originally
brought this to us and showed us kind of
what it was looking like. I'm not quite
remembering how how it was looking. I'm
just wondering how it's going to impact
what's currently there.
Certainly. Um I don't remember any disc
baskets being in the location, but we
can identify that. I don't really
remember too many trees in the way
either. I think we were pretty clear.
We're trying to stay out of the flood
zone as much as possible. Okay. The
original request was for a two-lane road
and that just wasn't physically possible
in that environment to add sidewalks as
well. So, so we adjusted it to be a
multi-use path. We found that was uh
acceptable in a lot of different
conditions. One being in the park system
itself to
um achieving the ultimate the overall
goal that when the primary route is
closed off due to flooding, we can open
this up as an accessory secondary access
place for vehicles, but then also having
the multi path and the backside of those
those houses was much more acceptable
than a two-lane road right in their
backyard. All of that is being
presented to them tonight. So, I will
see what the feedback is from from our
other senior transportation planner of
of how they receive this transition to
this. But that was overall an attempt to
stay out of the flood plane, minimize
the impact. So, let me look into what
trees and and and and removal is
required for this. But certainly if
there's anything like the disc baskets
that are being removed, we will
certainly try to relocate them in the
park system and work with the parks
department to keep that going. The trees
will might like might have to go there.
Not going to be native and we're not
going to replace
them. Um and then I just had a question
about the AL ALCP update for all the all
the things you're doing there. Are is
this the project that
uh because of the um the intersection at
uh at
Dynamite and or Dynamite and Scottsdale
Road, right, when it got changed from uh
from a roundabout to a signalized are
are these projects the ones that are
going to be impacted by that where we're
looking to move funding around? uh
carefree highway would be the one that
is uh a part of that that swap. Um so it
it shouldn't have any impacts uh except
for just having its funding uh changed
to a different type of funding. Did we
get approved for that funding is kind of
the question I'm I'm or do we not know
yet? We don't know yet. We have to wait
till October to um apply for that. Okay.
What will will you be giving us an
update in October then I guess would be
my question. I'll be happy to give an
update on how that goes. Uh it'll be
late October. Uh we'll know from MAG I
think it's around October 22nd uh when
the final approval of that is happening.
So certainly the the next transportation
commission meeting we can give an update
on it. And then just a just a quick
question for uh Greg on the Joeax trail.
I I believe it's slide six.
Um, it looks like when you rebuilt it,
there's actually more uh when I'm
looking at that after picture, there's
more paved uh shoulder there as well.
Where did was that part of the trail
build? Was kind of moved the move the
dirt and and the soil kind of back a
little bit because it had gone over.
Chair Miller and Commissioner Kofile. So
the bottom photo the after. So you're
saying so the trail is on the in that
photo it's on the left
obviously. So you're saying we did
elevate the trail a little bit for
guarding because there's a lot of
drainage along
Joeax. So I'm not sure your question is
is I'm just it's more of just a I'm just
curious if like when you built it
elevated it did that uncover some some
pavement. I was just curious about that.
Well, that
actually no, that that picture is
probably not in the exact location as
the other one. So, there might be, you
know, a little bit. It's it's not the
exact location. It's probably what
you're seeing. Okay. We did do some
pavement uh improvements right there.
That is a pavement improvement, but no,
it didn't we didn't uncover any
additional or put any additional asphalt
down. Okay. I was just curious. Thank
you. Yeah.
Any other questions, comments? No. Thank
you. Thank you so much for the update.
Thanks for to staff for tag teaming. And
with that takes us to the fi final item
on our agenda to appoint a pass and
trails subcommittee vice chair. Um there
are two members of this commission that
serve on the pass and trails committee.
Um, currently Commissioner Kof Kofile is
chairing that subcommittee. Um, Vice
Chair Wilcox's term is up. So, we have
an opening to appoint. Is anyone
interested in
serving? Commissioner Marman has
indicated that he is interested in
serving in that position. Is there
anyone else who is
[Music]
interested? With that, I'll take a
motion.
I move that we appoint Commissioner
Marman to the chair or the role of vice
chair of the path and trail committee.
Second. We have a motion by Vice Chair
Wilcox, second by Commissioner Cardella.
Will you please take the vote? Thank
you, Chair Miller. Approved. Thank you,
Vice Chair Wiloxen. Approved. Thank you,
Commissioner Marman. Approve. Thank you,
Commissioner Pankerowitz. Yes. Thank
you, Commissioner Kofile. Approved.
Thank you, Commissioner Cardella. Yes.
Thank you, Commissioner Davis. Yes. All
right. Approved.
Thank you very much. And with that, we I
will take a motion to adjourn.
Uh, Chair Miller. So moved. Motion by
Commissioner Davis. Is there a second?
Second. Second by Commissioner Kofile. I
think we can take this by voice vote.
All those in favor say I. I. Any
opposed? We will see you all in June.