2022-01-03 Minute BookMeeting Minutes
Meridian Transportation Commission
January 3, 2022
Council Chambers – Meridian City Hall 33 East Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho
Virtual Meeting Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83136458810
Or join by phone: Dial 669-900-6833 and enter Webinar ID: 831 3645 8810
Roll Call
(Meeting called to order at 3:32 p.m.; YouTube started and roll taken)
x David Ballard x Stephen Lewis x Shawn Martin (ex-officio-
ACHD)
x Zachary Shoemaker x Jared Smith (zoom) x Toni Tisdale (ex-officio-
COMPASS) (zoom)
x Ryan Lancaster x Tom LeClaire x RD Huntley (ex-officio-WASD)
x Walter Steed x Joseph Leckie x Stephen Hunt (ex-officio-VRT)
(zoom)
x Tracy Hopkins
(zoom)
x Luke Cavener (ex-officio-
City Council)
x Justin Price (ex-officio-ITD)
(zoom)
Others Present: Ted Baird and Miranda Carson
Adoption of the Agenda
Chairman Steed called for a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Lewis motioned to
adopt; second by Commissioner Hopkins - all-ayes – motion carried.
Election of the Officers
Commissioner Ballard nominated Walter Steed for a second term as Chair. Commissioner
Lancaster motioned for Chairman Steed to remain as Chair; second by Commissioner Hopkins
– all ayes – motion carried.
Commissioner Lewis nominated Jared Smith for a second term as Vice Chair. Commissioner
Ballard motioned for Commissioner Smith to remain as Vice Chair; second by Commissioner
Lewis – all ayes – motion carried.
1. Approval of December 6th, 2021 meeting minutes.
Commissioner Ballard motioned to approve the meeting minutes with the no changes; second
by Commissioner LeClaire – all ayes - motion carried.
Old Business Items
2. Transportation Projects Update (M. Carson)
Ms. Carson noted that new updates are in bold and she will highlight a few of the items from the
Memo in the packet, but not all. If the Commission has questions regarding any of the information
in the packet Ms. Carson will stand for questions at the end of the update.
Ms. Carson began on page 6 with the ACHD Integrated Five-Year Work Plan and highlighted that
the City was invited to participate in a workgroup evaluating and updating the prioritization
methodology.
The next item Ms. Carson noted was the Linder, Overland to Franklin project and that the design
consultant was selected.
Ms. Carson continued to page 7 with an update that the Locust Grove Road, Victory to Overland
and roundabout at Victory project will be signed at 35 MPH with virtually no traffic calming
included in the design. It was also noted that the hawk signal will be moved to half-way between
Mastiff and Puffin, and there is not a pedestrian refuge island currently planned.
Ms. Carson concluded her review on page 8; noting that the Residential Capital Maintenance
projects are now included in the memo.
Ms. Carson stood for questions; there was some discussion. Shawn Martin also spoke on the
topic to further explain the prioritization methodology workgroup.
New Business Items
3. Meridian Police Department Update (J. Dance)
This item was moved to after item 4. Sgt Dance provided an update that MPD was approved by
ITD for a grant to participate in multiple mobilizations of officers working overtime to enforce
drunk and/or aggressive driving particularly around Holidays.
Chair Steed requested an update on the impact of the work from the grant.
Sgt Dance stood for questions; there were some questions and discussion.
4. North Records Way at Bri Development (Jon Wheeler)
Councilman Luke Cavener explained the public forum process at City Council meetings. Jon
Wheeler had brought forth a traffic concern on North Records Way to Council during that
forum, and he was directed by Council and Mayor to take the item to the Transportation
Commission.
Mr. Wheeler presented on the concerns of the Bri Village Traffic Safety Group. Two other
community members voiced concerns: Dave Dahl and John Swarz. The Commission discussed
the issue, and Shawn Martin, ACHD spoke on the issue as well.
Commission Lancaster motioned to request ACHD do a speed study, crosswalk evaluation, and
evaluation of a need for a feedback speed limit sign; second by Commissioner Hopkins – all ayes
- motion carried.
5. Valley Regional Transit Connected Meridian (Stephen Hunt)
Mr. Hunt provided VRT ridership updates. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant drop in
ridership from pre-pandemic levels nationwide. Overall fixed route ridership for Valley Regional
Transit closely mirrors the nationwide reduction since the start of the pandemic. Before the
pandemic began, monthly fixed route ridership was between 100,000 and 130,000 riders.
Ridership dropped in March 2020, and has been slowly recovering. In November 2021, total
monthly ridership was 69,834; ridership exceeds previous November’s ridership, first time since
the start of the pandemic that ridership is higher than the same month the previous year.
Mr. Hunt also introduced the Connected Meridian survey seeking public input on services in
Meridian.
Mr. Hunt stood for questions; there were none.
6. Staff Communications (M. Carson)
Ms. Carson will highlight a few of the items in the Memo that starts on page 20 and will stand
for questions at the end of the update.
Ms. Carson noted that COMPASS held an I-84 Corridor Operations Plan stakeholders meeting.
Some in depth notes came out of that, and link to those is provided in the packet.
Ms. Carson noted that ACHD has invited the City to participate in a concept study for a
bikeway that goes from Locust Grove Rd to Entertainment Ave.
Ms. Carson highlighted that is an update on I-84 Eastbound off-ramp at Eagle included in the
packet, and the item will be discussed further at a future meeting.
Lastly, it was noted that the City’s response to ACHD’s Master Street Map updates are
included in the packet.
Ms. Carson concluded and stood for any additional questions; there was some discussion.
Councilman Luke Cavener notified the Commission that he would no longer be serving as the
Council Ex-Officio, and he was not aware of who his replacement would be. Chairman Steed
thanked him for his service on the Commission.
Future Meeting Topics
Chairman Steed reviewed the Future Meeting Topics and asked for any additional items or any
needed changes to the list. Items 11-13 were added. There was also a request for future MPD
update to include as warranted: handsfree legislation effectiveness; alleys and parking; and
airbrake updates.
7. Ustick Road Corridor Median Improvements (February)
8. Fields Subarea Plan (February)
9. I-84, Eastbound Off-ramp at Eagle Road
10. Field Trip 2022
11. Harvest Transit and VA Ridership Updates
12. New Council Liaison
13. Downtown Street Cleanings
Next Meeting Date: February 7, 2022
Adjourn
A motion by Commissioner Ballard to adjourn; second Commissioner Lewis – all ayes -
motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
(AUDIO RECORDING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)
APPROVED:
_______________________ _______________
WALTER STEED, CHAIR DATE
ATTEST:
________________________ _______________
CHRIS JOHNSON (City Clerk) DATE
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING
City Council Chambers, 33 East Broadway Avenue Meridian, Idaho
Monday, January 03, 2022 at 3:30 PM
All materials presented at public meetings become property of the City of Meridian. Anyone desiring accommodation
for disabilities should contact the City Clerk's Office at 208-888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Agenda
VIRTUAL MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
To join the meeting online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83136458810
Or join by phone: 1-669-900-6833
Webinar ID: 831 3645 8810
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
_____ David Ballard _____ Luke Cavener, Ex-Officio - City Council
_____ Zachary Shoemaker _____ Shawn Martin, Ex-Officio - ACHD
_____ Ryan Lancaster _____ Toni Tisdale, Ex-Officio - COMPASS
_____ Walter Steed _____ RD Huntley, Ex-Officio - WASD
_____ Tracy Hopkins _____ Alissa Taysom, Ex-Officio - VRT
_____ Stephen Lewis _____ Justin Price, Ex-Officio - ITD
_____ Jared Smith
_____ Tom LeClaire
_____ Joseph Leckie
ADOPTION OF AGENDA [ACTION ITEM]
ELECTION OF OFFICERS [ACTION ITEM]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES [ACTION ITEM]
1. December 6, 2021
OLD BUSINESS [ACTION ITEM]
2. Transportation Projects Update
NEW BUSINESS [ACTION ITEM]
3. Meridian Police Department Update - J. Dance
4. North Records Way at Bri Development - Jon Wheeler
5. Valley Regional Transit Connected Meridian - Alissa Taysom
6. Staff Communications - M. Carson
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
7. Ustick Road Corridor Median Improvements (February)
8. Fields Subarea Plan (February)
9. I-84, Eastbound Off-ramp at Eagle Road
10. Field Trip 2022
NEXT MEETING - February 7, 2022
ADJOURNMENT