Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee

City of Mountain View Minutes Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee Wednesday, September 28, 2022 6:30 PM Video Conference with No Physical Meeting Location 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Fenwick called the meeting of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to order at 6:32 p.m. She also expressed sadness about the collision at the Library last week and hoped that those hit were recovering well. 2. ROLL CALL Staff members present: Active Transportation Planner Brandon Whyte, Transportation Manager Ria Hutabarat Lo, Crime Analyst Kelly McKeel, Lieutenant Dan Frohlich, Associate Civil Engineer Kathryn Robertson, Principal Civil Engineer Robert Gonzales, Transportation Planner Aruna Bodduna, TDM Analyst Ben Pacho, Assistant Public Works Director Damian Skinner, Assistant Public Works Director Ed Arango, and Public Works Director Dawn Cameron. Consultants present: Sofie Kvist, Project Manager – Gehl Studio, James Lightbody, Consultant Project Manager. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Seventeen members of the public were present. Christine Case Lo and Girl Scout Troop 61511 members Moya, Kate, Lia and Morgan, provided a presentation on their traffic safety survey and their efforts to slow traffic, including slow-down signs. April Webster thanked the girl scouts and noted the website Kidical Mass. Silja Paymer thanked the City for providing a stop sign at Barbara/Montalto; she also suggested signs to encourage alternative transportation as well as slow signs. Bruce England raised concerns about biking and walking on Dana Street between Calderon and Moorpark. He suggested lowering the speed limit below 35 mph in this area and facilitating crossings that were occurring near Landels Elementary. Eric Armstrong requested the separation of bikes from motor vehicles on Dana Street, particularly at the crest of the hill. He also suggested a raised mid-block crosswalk to the school. 4. MINUTES APPROVAL 4.1 Approve Meeting Minutes MOTION: Approve the BPAC meeting minutes of August 22, 2022. City of Mountain View Page 1 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes September 28, 2022 Committee Kuszmaul/Barton – 4/0/1 - passed - Shankari abstained Yes: 4- Committee Member Adamic, Committee Member Barton, Vice Chair Kuszmaul, and Chair Fenwick Abstain: 1- Committee Member Shankari 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Active Transportation Collision and Theft Report McKeel provided a presentation on pedestrian/bicycle collisions as well as new data on bicycle theft. Public comment: None. Committee comments: Kuszmaul and Fenwick expressed their appreciation for the report. Kuszmaul asked if a joint meeting could be held with the Public Safety Committee. Fenwick shared her experience retrieving her stolen bicycle by partnering with the Police Department; she stated the importance of having your bicycle’s serial number. 6.2 Shoreline Boulevard Pathway Improvements, Project 21-37 Robertson provided a presentation on the project. Public comment: April Webster expressed excitement about the project. She requested tree canopy plantings next to the pathway to encourage walking, urban cooling, and mental wellness. Silja Paymer appreciated the project and noted that it would make the path more accessible for people with. She also appreciated the official connection to Jackson. She requested plantings and suggested that staff seek grants. Albert Jeans asked if guard rails were needed along the pathway. Robertson indicated that rails were included wherever there is a retaining wall. Mary Dateo noted that repaving is sorely needed in this location. She asked for information on tree removal and requested the planting of native trees as well as pedestrian seating. She also asked about natural drainage options. Committee comment: Shankari and Adamic expressed support for a bikeway along the center median of Shoreline. City of Mountain View Page 2 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes September 28, 2022 Committee Kuszmaul supported the City taking advantage of OBAG 2 funding and appreciated the improvements for persons with disabilities. Shankari expressed appreciation for the current minutes format for BPAC meetings. She indicated her attendance at the 2015 BPAC meeting [where this item was previously discussed] and recalled support for the stairs and bike channel. She also stated her gratitude for this project as it provides an alternative to riding along Shoreline or traversing a steep path. She requested improvements at the Wright/Shoreline intersection, which students from Stevenson school use. Lastly, she expressed concern about a new conflict point on the Shoreline Bridge when Evelyn will be connected to the Shoreline. Adamic noted that this project would help small children to get up the pathway. However, she felt the path was too narrow and requested that future facilities separate bicyclists and pedestrians. She also noted that native trees such as oaks would bring squirrels and suggested non-native drought-tolerant trees. Barton noted the car-centric design of Shoreline and hoped that future infrastructure would consider all users. He also stated that Shoreline had been repaved twice since it was built, while the trail has not been repaved. He requested that trails be repaved on a similar schedule to roadways. Finally, he requested a ramp be provided to Jackson. Fenwick noted that trees in this area uplift the path and drop pine needles. She requested that the path remain shaded and asked for information on tree removal and lighting. She noted that people using wheelchairs or walkers also have difficulty with substantial increases in walking distance. She, therefore, requested that the design minimize distance as much as possible and add benches. Lastly, she expressed her belief that pedestrians will continue to walk straight and in the dirt across the Central Expressway on-ramp rather than take the paved path because it curves so much. 6.3 Castro Street Pedestrian Mall Bodduna and Kvist provided a presentation on the Castro Pedestrian Mall. Public comment: April Webster appreciated the vibrancy of Castro Street and the inclusion of green infrastructure in the long-term vision. She requested that bicycle access be addressed in the interim and long-term plan. She asked if the project would be brought to the Visual Arts and Performing Arts Committees and requested public pianos be considered. She also requested a shared eating space and felt the request for uniform furniture to be unnecessary and detracting from the character of the street. Silja Paymer advocated for having slow-speed bikes in the roadway and coexistence in the space. She noted that riding down Hope with children was not a comfortable experience. Jenn Bernat requested that bike racks be provided at both project ends. She stated her appreciation for the bike racks outside East West Books and Ava’s market. Committee comment: Shankari, Adamic, and Fenwick did not support allowing bicycles through the middle of the Castro Pedestrian Mall; they felt it created too much conflict with pedestrians and City of Mountain View Page 3 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes September 28, 2022 Committee changed the character of the pedestrian mall. Barton and Kuszmaul supported allowing bicycles in the Pedestrian Mall so long as they could be slowed down, noting that good parallel options do not exist, and people currently ride through now even though it is prohibited. Shankari, Kuszmaul, and Adamic requested better bicycle facilities for the parallel streets to Castro. Kuszmaul and Fenwick requested that the crossings be signalized if there is a high volume of both pedestrians and motor vehicles. Fenwick stated that a stop-controlled crossing would be very dangerous. Barton also expressed his concern about how the cross-street crossings are designed. Shankari and Adamic supported public seating. Adamic and Fenwick supported the continued use of tents, requested public bathrooms and felt Castro does not have cheap food options. Adamic suggested creating a space for food trucks, stands, or street food. She also felt that the City should not require uniform furniture. Nor did she support the City asking for [sidewalk] fees for something the community wants to encourage, like outdoor dining. Kuszmaul commented on the need for bike racks to be evenly distributed around the downtown. He supported addressing the California/Castro intersection as a separate project. Finally, he expressed concern regarding bicycle movements around the project and how bus access to the downtown transit center will be addressed. Shankari suggested keeping sidewalks open for the pedestrian mall so those getting to the [transit] station are not impeded by those on the street. Shankari did not support allowing bicycles on the street because Mountain View City Code allows riding on sidewalks except for Castro Street. To be consistent with that law, she suggested an age limit. She also supported the functional plan with social eddies Barton stated his concern regarding the effects of [Castro/Caltrain] underpass and the downtown attractions creating demand for walking and biking and how the plan will accommodate this demand; he encouraged experimentation. He had safety concerns about using bollards within the line of bicycle travel and forcing bikes to the center of the travel lane. Finally, he was concerned that the loading zones were not wide enough. Fenwick appreciated the long-term plans for leveling out the street. She also requested that sidewalk café fees be reasonable and provide a discount for spaces immediately in front of a restaurant. Fenwick also requested secure bike racks at entrances. Finally, she stated she was excited by the overall design. 6.4 BPAC Fiscal Year 2022-23 Work Plan Fenwick proposed item 6.4 be postponed until the next meeting; there was support from all members. 6.5 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Update Adamic provided an update on VTA BPAC, including OBAG 3 funding recommendations City of Mountain View Page 4 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes September 28, 2022 Committee that included all four of the Mountain View applications. She also reported that VTA and Santa Clara County are updating their transportation plans. 7. COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Staff Comments Whyte provided information on Monster Bash Bike Circus to be held at Rengstorff Park on October 29, including bike skills circus and free bike tune-ups. He also noted that the Active Transportation Plan has started, and Safe Routes to School has completed fall trainings for 3,200 students. He also provided an update on AskMV items, including requests for bike parking, near miss crash reports, including Montalto/Barbara, where a stop sign was since provided. Finally, he demonstrated how to report your bicycle’s theft via the Police Department’s website. Public comment: None. Committee comment: None. 7.2. Committee Comments Fenwick thanked staff for the red curb on Montecito near Rengstorff. Kuszmaul appreciated the Community Shuttle allowing him to reach appointments while not being able to ride his bike. Shankari noted that there were many bike rodeos to teach children to ride safely. Given the collision at the Library, she recommended training for drivers to learn to drive safely. Public comment: None. 8. SET DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: 9. CALENDAR 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m. Submitted for approval by Brandon Whyte. City of Mountain View Page 5