HomeMy Public PortalAboutStakeholder Meeting Minutes 031807
DRAFT
SR 89 MOUSEHOLE STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE MEETING
March 18, 2008 MEETING MINUTES
4:30 p.m.
Truckee Town Hall
Council Chambers
Present:
Carolyn Wallace Dee, Truckee Town Council
Josh Susman, Truckee Town Council
David Yardas, Truckee Trails Foundation
Ron Treabess, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association
Becky Bucar, Town of Truckee Assistant Engineer
Dan Wilkins, Public Works Director/Town Engineer
Bob Bell, Truckee Donner Historical Society/Legacy Trail Foundation/Truckee Donner Railroad
Society
Denny Dickinson, Truckee Stakeholder
Meeting Started at 4:40 p.m.
1. Introductions
2. Interim Improvement: Pedestrian Signal:
a. Dan Wilkins discussed meeting with Josh Susman, Carolyn Dee, and Jody Jones
(Caltrans District 3 Director) to request that Caltrans consider a pedestrian signal. Town
followed up with a letter documenting this request. Caltrans has indicated they will begin
reviewing the opportunity to install a pedestrian signal.
b. Caltrans has indicated that they will need assistance in funding the signal and asked that
the Town explore funding opportunities for which Caltrans is not eligible. Town has
applied for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and will be applying for the
Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program in the next funding cycle.
c. Will Kempton will be visiting the area March 27 and the Mousehole project will be
discussed.
3. Long Term Improvement: New Railroad Undercrossing
a. Group discussed the preliminary results from the Value Analysis. The Value Analysis is
something that is required for all projects that cost over $25 million on the National
Highway System. The purpose of the Value Analysis is to test assumptions used in the
technical studies to date, as well as determine whether there are additional alternatives
that should be pursued. The preliminary results of the analysis suggest that a new
method for constructing a new tunnel may be recommended for further review, as well as
the reconsideration of top-down construction. A draft Value Analysis report would be
complete within the next week. The final would be completed once all design team
members review and approve. This may take a month.
b. On February 7, 2008 Town Council approved a coop amendment with Caltrans for a total
funding amount of $1,920,000 for completion of PAED. However, this coop amendment
has not been executed due to the uncertainty of what the Value Analysis will ultimately
recommend. Most work on the Mousehole has been stopped (except for baseline
environmental studies) until such as time that we can determine whether the new Tunnel
alternative needs to be further pursued.
c. Town staff has been discussing the need to analyze more than one alternative in an
environmental document with Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAPF). MAPF
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Town of Truckee
March 18, 2008 Mousehole Stakeholder Committee Meeting Minutes
Page 1
Board discussed the issue on March 18.
d. Carolyn discussed the Trades Corridors Improvement Fund (TCIF) Program, from which
UPRR has request $43 million to install new tracks and improve tunnels over Donner
Summit (see NCTC newsletter article). The Town has been a supporter of the railroad in
this endeavor, which includes increased passenger service. Town hopes that this support
will assist in future negotiations with the railroad regarding the Mousehole. Josh S,
Carolyn D, and Dan W were to meet with railroad staff on March 20 to discuss both the
Railyard Master Plan project and the Mousehole project.
4. Discussion of Truckee Trails Foundation (TTF) Letter/Requests
a. David Yardas of TTF provided suggested trail/bike connections through and near the
Mousehole. These are generally consistent with the current plans and so they should be
accommodated.
b. TTF provided the following recommendations for interim improvements to the Mousehole:
?
South Portal Entry (looking north)
1. Move 40 MPH sign, replace with SLOW THRU TUNNEL sign?
2. Move Deerfield Drive signal warning sign/flashing lights to North Portal
exit
3. Move/enlarge/rename PEDS IN TUNNEL sign/flashing light (see
examples)
?
North Portal Entry (looking south)
1. Relocate TAHOE CITY - S. LAKE TAHOE - MEYERS sign to South
Portal exit
2. Move/enlarge/rename PEDS IN TUNNEL sign/flashing light (see
examples)
3. Add SLOW THRU TUNNEL sign?
?
Both Portals/Tunnel
1. Install new interior lights -- always on? ped-actuated prior to entry?
2. Complete traffic studies, install ped-actuated signal lights OR ped-
actuated flashing lights (as appropriate)
3. Initiate planning for guard rail modifications (i.e., “safe havens” on
entry/exit)
?
Other
1. Stakeholder Committee site tour ASAP
2. Develop/confirm “most likely” future plan for trails & bikeways thru “hub”
Community Forum?
3. Funding?
Town staff agreed to pursue some of the interim improvements TTF has suggested with
Caltrans maintenance staff. However, there was some concern that making any formal
requests to Caltrans design staff would take away from their current efforts on the
pedestrian signal. Therefore, these suggested interim improvements will not be
forwarded to Caltrans design staff at this time.
c. Group discussed that a site visit would be useful after the Value Analysis is complete.
5. Group will try to meet again when Value Analysis is substantially complete.
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Town of Truckee
March 18, 2008 Mousehole Stakeholder Committee Meeting Minutes
Page 2