Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee

City of Mountain View Minutes Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee Wednesday, June 30, 2021 6:30 PM Video Conference with No Physical Meeting Location SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH PALO ALTO PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE This meeting was conducted in accordance with State of California Executive Orders N-29-20 and N-08-21, dated March 17, 2020 and June 11, 2021, respectively. All members of the Mountain View Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (B/PAC) and the Palo Alto Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) participated in the meeting by video conference, with no physical meeting location. 1. CALL TO ORDER Lada Adamic called the joint B/PAC and PABAC meetings to order at 6:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL / ESTABLISH QUORUM Present 5- Committee Member Terry Barton, Committee Member James Kuszmaul, Committee Member Kalyanaraman Shankari, Vice Chair Valerie Fenwick, and Chair Lada Adamic 2.1 Mountain View B/PAC Staff members present: Assistant Public Works Director Damian Skinner, Transportation Manager Ria Hutabarat Lo, Transportation Planner Aruna Bodduna, and Active Transportation Planner Brandon Whyte. 2.2 Palo Alto PABAC Members present: Ken Joye (Chair), Art Leiberman (Vice-chair), Alan Wachtel, Bill Courington, Bill Zaumen, Bruce Arthur, Cedric de la Beaujardiere, Eric Nordman, Penny Ellson, Robert Neff, and Steve Rock. City of Palo Alto staff present: Senior Transportation Planner Joanna Chan and Transportation Manager Sylvia Star-Lack. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Seven members of the public were present. Bruce England requested that problems with car and bike interactions be looked at along Moffett Boulevard. England expressed concern that the redevelopment project at 1265 Montecito may create traffic problems and he would like that considered. City of Mountain View Page 1 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes June 30, 2021 Committee Lastly, England stated there were large amounts of debris in the bike lanes on N. Whisman Road near the Municipal Operations Center, and he would like for City trucks to secure their loads and that the City conduct more frequent street cleaning. 4. MINUTES APPROVAL 4.1 Minutes Approval Approve the B/PAC meeting minutes for April 28, 2021. Yes: 5- Committee Member Barton, Committee Member Kuszmaul, Committee Member Shankari, Vice Chair Fenwick, and Chair Adamic 4.2 Minutes Approval No action. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Orientation to Mountain View B/PAC and Palo Alto PABAC Staff provided an orientation to the B/PAC and PABAC. 6.2 Pedestrian and Bicycle Issues that Cross City Borders Whyte provided a presentation on cross-city issues, including El Camino Real and San Antonio Road corridors. Public comments: • Greg Unangst supported the El Camino Real plan. He noted that San Antonio Road is a poor connection and barrier between Mountain View and Palo Alto. He was concerned about right-hooks at El Camino Real and San Antonio Road, a lack of bike provisions across the Caltrain/expressway, a lack of wayfinding to the Mayfield under-crossing, and the bike lane disappearing at Old Middlefield. • Bruce England commented that there is an overlap between Ellen Fletcher and Park Boulevard routes. He also supported prioritizing the California Street complete streets pilot project, Middlefield Road/SR85 sidewalk feasibility study, and the Ellen Fletcher Bicycle Boulevard. Committee comments: • All Mountain View B/PAC members expressed support for parking conversion to facilitate bikeway development. • Adamic expressed that there are destinations along El Camino Real, and therefore, bikeways along a parallel route are not enough. However, she was curious about alternative through routes. For San Antonio Road, she was curious about the alternate City of Mountain View Page 2 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes June 30, 2021 Committee routes. She stated she appreciates the tunnel, the Mayfield Undercrossing under Caltrain, and requests the City seek opportunities to negotiate and obtain direct public access to Del Medio. • Fenwick wanted to see driveways and curb-cuts along El Camino Real reduced as much as possible. Regarding San Antonio Road, she would like to see more improvements, including signage. • Kuszmaul encouraged bus improvements along El Camino Real to minimize bus and bike conflicts. Regarding San Antonio Road, he supported aggressive measures such as a road diet, reduced speed limits, and improved crossings. He emphasized the importance of providing good bikeways along our straight corridors. • Shankari encouraged staff to find ways to complete the trail connection between Cesano Ct to Del Medio Ave rather than requiring users to bike on El Camino Real. She also pointed out that El Camino Real is not just a thoroughfare but also a commercial destination. • Wachtel supported removing a few parking spaces in Palo Alto [along El Camino Real] but would prefer not to have a barrier-separated bikeway. Wachtel believed that barrier-protected bikeways on El Camino Real could make things less safe. • Rock noted that Evelyn and California in Mountain View could be used as alternate routes to El Camino Real. He did not believe El Camino could be made safe enough but was in favor of eliminating parking on the Palo Alto side of El Camino Real, making it safer for movements. However, Rock wanted to encourage other parallel routes for through traffic rather than El Camino Real. He stated he wants El Camino Real to be safer for local traffic and discourage through traffic; overall, he supported converting on-street parking to protected bikeways. • Joye indicated he would like to see the intersection of Charleston and San Antonio improved. Joye was also concerned about the issues of crossing El Camino Real. Finally, Joye noted that there are plenty of off-street parking spaces available along El Camino Real. • Ellson supported wayfinding signage to better connect El Camino to Park Boulevard in Palo Alto. Ellson also stated that the crossings along El Camino Real and San Antonio are difficult. She noted a need for signal adjustment on weekends, more wayfinding signage near the San Antonio train station, and more bike parking. Ellison commented that San Antonio needs complete streets improvements. She felt an opportunity was lost with development at San Antonio, but there is an opportunity to create a connection to Latham and Church and create a parallel route to El Camino Real. • de la Beaujardiere noted a need for improved facilities along El Camino Real, and bike riders still ride there. He indicated a desire to connect to Del Medio and have bike lanes from Miller Ave to El Camino Real. He stated that bus stop islands should be used on El Camino Real. For San Antonio Road, he supported improvements over Highway 101 or directing people to Adobe Creek Bridge. • Neff supported bikeways and parking removal along El Camino Real in Palo Alto to Arastradero. Regarding San Antonio Road, he disliked sharrows, stating they are not reasonable for San Antonio. For San Antonio Road, Neff would like parking converted to provide a bikeway or off-street bikeways be provided. He also supported bus islands along City of Mountain View Page 3 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes June 30, 2021 Committee El Camino Real to avoid conflicts with bikes. • Nordman agreed with the idea of parking removal to provide protected bikeways in the Palo Alto section. He preferred merging bikeways with turn lanes when safe and turning from as far right as possible. • Liberman stated his concern about community outreach bias toward strong and fearless bikers in Mountain View. However, he does support the elimination of parking for bikeways in Palo Alto as very few cars park there. • Courington encouraged Mountain View to establish criteria for evaluating the success of roadway design changes be proposed. 6.3 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Update Adamic and Neff provided an update on the VTA BPAC. • The June meeting was canceled. There were updates on the Safe and Seamless Quick Strikes program at the May meeting, including Mountain View’s Stierlin corridor project and Measure B 2021-22 planning projects. Finally, there was an update on the bicycle superhighway project with El Camino as a preferred route for the Central Bikeway to provide a continuous route throughout the county. No public comment Committee comment: • Kuszmaul stated that VTA would be coming out with their business plan soon, and he would like to review that. 7. COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1 Mountain View Staff Comments Staff provided information on: • Bike to Wherever Week • AccessMV Final Report approval • Stierlin Quick Strikes Funding Award • Measure B funding to extend service hours for the Mountain View Community Shuttle • Extension of the Castro StrEATS program to January 3, 2022 • AskMV Reports 7.2 Palo Alto Staff Comments Staff provided information on: • Palo Alto recertification as a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community • Palo Alto adaptive bicycle program for special needs children through their Safe Routes to School Program 7.3 Mountain View B/PAC Comments City of Mountain View Page 4 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes June 30, 2021 Committee • Fenwick reported on a Personal Delivery Device blocking her access at Shoreline/Villa. • Barton requested that cities not make wood bridges for bikes. • Kuszmaul applauded expansion of Mountain View Community Shuttle service. • Adamic requested joint bike rides or walks with commentary on history, infrastructure or wayfinding along the way 7.4 Palo Alto PABAC Comments • Ellson supported the idea of a joint bike ride event that could help people learn to move between towns. 8. SET DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING Next Mountain View B/PAC meeting August 25, 2021. 9. CALENDAR 10. ADJOURNMENT Adamic adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m City of Mountain View Page 5