Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee

City of Mountain View Minutes Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee Wednesday, November 29, 2023 6:30 PM Plaza Conference Room and Video Conference, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, CA 94041 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair James Kuszmaul called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Staff members present: Principal Civil Engineer Robert Gonzales, Assistant Public Works Director Ed Arango, Active Transportation Planner Brandon Whyte, Transportation Manager Ria Hutabarat Lo. Four members of the public were present including one in person and three online. Present 5 - Committee Member Lada Adamic, Committee Member Lada Adamic, Committee Member Terry Barton, Committee Member Valerie Fenwick, and Chair James Kuszmaul Absent 1 - Vice Chair John Stone 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (00:00:52) Bruce England suggested that people listen to the Council Transportation Committee meeting on AB 43. He also noted that there are missing sidewalks at Moffett Boulevard and SR 85 and suggested that this gap be addressed in the Active Transportation or Moffett Boulevard Precise Plan. 4. MINUTES APPROVAL 4.1 Approve Meeting Minutes October 25, 2023 MOTION (00:02:55): Approve the BPAC meeting minutes from October 25, 2023. Fenwick/Barton - 4/0/0 (Stone absent) - passed Yes: 4 - Committee Member Adamic, Committee Member Barton, Committee Member Fenwick, and Chair Kuszmaul 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Pavement Management Plan (00:03:37) Gonzales provided an update on the pavement management program including the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and the City Manager’s Office ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, including sidewalk conditions. Public comment: (00:52:02) City of Mountain View Page 1 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes November 29, 2023 Committee Bruce England noted that the condition of bikeways is distinct from the respective roadway in places like Whisman Road. He also noted that trail conditions are different from roadways. He commented on poor conditions in the Sylvan area and requested vertical curbs and directional pedestrian ramps rather than diagonal pedestrian ramps. Committee comment: (00:55:18) Adamic appreciated the update and indicated a desire to measure human injuries and prioritize people, not just maintenance costs. She noted the Swedish practice of clearing snow from sidewalks before clearing snow from roadways. Likewise she suggested that the pavement program prioritize injuries to pedestrians and cyclists above property damage to vehicles, and prioritize analysis and repair of sidewalk conditions over roadways. Adamic also noted that trails are more susceptible to truck travel, and she suggested the prioritizing of people who walk and bike over those who store vehicles on public streets. Fenwick reiterated concerns about truck effects on trails. She noted that her request for sidewalk uplift repairs have been addressed quickly including following up with non-City entities. She appreciated the coordination between projects and use of AskMV for identifying problems. She suggested directional curb cuts so that people with disabilities are directed in the correct direction. She also supported reductions to intersection corner turning radii as part of repaving. Barton asked that trails, bikeways, sidewalks, and gutter pans be analyzed and brought to the same PCI goal as roadways. He suggested consideration of strategies to extend the life of trails such as stronger bases. Kuszmaul supported delivering improvements with repaving and suggested a presentation from Community Services staff on trail maintenance. 6.2 Transportation Legislative Updates (01:05:55) Lo provided a presentation on new state legislation. No public comments. Committee comments: (01:23:19) Committee members expressed appreciation for update. Fenwick indicated that she supported the speed camera and micromobility laws. She noted that, based on staff comments at the Council Transportation Committee meeting on November 28, 2023, speed limits in Palo Alto had simply been reduced. Barton commented that the weight study was motivated by reduced gas tax revenue from electric vehicles. 6.3 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Update (01:26:40) Adamic provided updates on the VTA BPAC. No public comments. City of Mountain View Page 2 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes November 29, 2023 Committee Committee comments: (01:29:58) Members thanked Adamic for the update. 6.4 BPAC Fiscal Year 2023-24 Work Plan (01:30:31) Whyte provided information on the Work Plan and Tentative Agenda List. No public comments. No committee comments. 6.5 Election Process for 2024 Chair and Vice Chair (01:33:35) Kuszmaul proposed that elections be postponed since Vice Chair Stone is absent. MOTION (01:37:31): Postpone election until January meeting. Kuszmaul/Fenwick – 4/0/0 (Stone absent) – passed Yes: 4 - Committee Member Adamic, Committee Member Barton, Committee Member Fenwick, and Chair Kuszmaul 7. COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Staff Comments (01:39:00) Whyte provided information on the Eagle Scout paw print project on suggested safe routes to Landels Elementary School. He provided updates on other events including Monster Bash, state legislators’ meeting on Caltrans’ El Camino Real project, and Stone’s newborn baby. Upcoming events include a donation ride, downtown bike route listening session, Valley Transportation Plan community meeting, and holiday ride. Staff also asked if members would be interested in moving meetings to 6 p.m. Gonzales provided an update on Castro Street Pedestrian Mall interim improvements including a Koat Seal, touch up work, installation of outdoor dining barriers, a central walkway, and future artistic elements to be considered by the Visual Arts Committee. No public comments. Committee comments: (01:52:19) Adamic and Fenwick appreciated having time to eat before the meeting. Adamic also liked the consistent meeting time with VTA BPAC and the ability to pick up children from extra-curricular events. Kuszmaul had a very slight preference for an earlier time. Barton did not have a preference. Members agreed to maintain the current time with the option of reconsidering this issue later. 7.2. Committee Comments (01:52:19) City of Mountain View Page 3 Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Minutes November 29, 2023 Committee Adamic congratulated Barton on getting bike parking at Costco. Barton indicated that he worked with City staff who followed up with Costco. Fenwick shared that Waikiki has paved trails on the beach and pedestrian scrambles at intersections with high pedestrian volumes. She also mentioned an AskMV ticket on a construction project affecting pedestrian amenity in her neighborhood. Barton indicated that he had previously tripped on an unmarked steel plate. Staff indicated that comments on these issues can be submitted via AskMV and/or the grievance process on the website. 8. SET DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: Next meeting: January 31, 2024 9. CALENDAR 10. ADJOURNMENT Kuszmaul adjourned the meeting at 8:28 p.m. Submitted for approval by Ashley Winsor. Approved on January 31, 2024. City of Mountain View Page 4