Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Thursday, October 15, 2020 6:30 PM Telepresence Meeting: City Web Stream CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order N-29-20, issued by Governor Newsom on March 17, 2020, the meeting was conducted telephonically. Chair Mehlinger called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m. via teleconference. ROLL CALL Present 7 - Chair Richard Mehlinger Vice Chair Leia Mehlman Commissioner John Cordes Commissioner Arwen Davé Commissioner Dan Hafeman Commissioner Timothy Oey Commissioner Scott Swail Nancy Smith, Council Liaison, Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager, and Ralph Garcia, Senior Transportation Engineer attended via teleconference. PRESENTATION A 20-0890 Vision Zero Plan Progress Update Ralph Garcia, Senior Transportation Engineer, presented on the Vision Zero Plan Progress Update. Mr. Garcia highlighted the following: - Sunnyvale Vision Zero Plan Development - What is Vision Zero - Citywide Collisions between 2012-2016 - Elements of the Vision Zero Plan - Vision Statement - Guiding Principles City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission - Accomplishments and Achievements - Completed Projects - Near-term Projects - Active Transportation Plan - Roadway Safety Plan - Collision Trends - Future Projects Chair Mehlinger asked Mr. Garcia to explain why it's called "Vision Zero". Mr. Garcia explained that the goal is to have zero traffic related fatalities. Commissioner Oey commented and asked about the following: - Measure B Mr. Garcia addressed the comments. Vice Chair Mehlman commented and asked about the following: - Measure B - Online first person point of view video courses - Traffic data Mr. Garcia addressed the comments. Commissioner Hafeman commented and asked about the following: - How are projects prioritized during the year - Safety over efficiency meaning Mr. Garcia addressed the comments. Commissioner Cordes commented and asked about the following: - Dedicated funding source for Vision Zero - Funding for El Camino/Henderson improvements - Contact person for more funding for DPS Pedestrian Decoy Operations Mr. Garcia addressed the comments. Chair Mehlinger commented and asked about the following: - Additional collision analysis - KSI trends and course of action City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Mr. Garcia addressed the comments. Commissioner Davé commented and asked about the following: - Access to records of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Mr. Garcia addressed the comment. Commissioner Oey commented on the following: - Bicycle skills program offered by Wheel Kids - Online courses by Cycling Savvy - In person courses where people are learning on the bike Vice Chair Mehlman commented and asked about the following: - Mary Avenue Crossing Project Mr. Garcia addressed the comment. Commissioner Swail commented and asked about the following: - Clarification on the recent Tasman incident Vice Chair Mehlman and Chair Mehlinger addressed the comment. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. CONSENT CALENDAR Commissioner Hafeman moved and Commissioner Mehlinger seconded to approve amended item 1.A. The amendments were made by Commissioner Hafeman who stated on page 7 that Commissioner Davé commented that she is concerned about removing too much parking that is needed on that corridor. Commissioner Hafeman requested to rephrase the statement to say "Commissioner Davé is concerned about removing too much parking that is needed on that corridor near the soccer field at Challenger School." The second amendment Commissioner Hafeman requested to change was his comment on page 10 that states "Lowered speed limit on El Camino Real". City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Commissioner Hafeman requested to change the statement to say "Lowered speed limit on El Camino Real is a good thing". The motion carried the following vote: Yes 7 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Mehlman Commissioner Cordes Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Swail No 0 1A. 20-0883 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2020. Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2020 as amended. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 20-0889 Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting Dave Simons, VTA BPAC Representative, gave the meeting summary reports regarding the following topics: - VTA selection of BPAC Chair and Vice Chair - Level of Service (LOS) VS Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) - Virtual Central Bikeway Studies Outreach Meetings on October 28 & October 29. These meetings can be found on the VTA website. - Measure B update - Board Enhancement Committee recommendations - Capital Projects spending Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Commissioner Cordes and Chair Mehlinger thanked Mr. Simons for all his years of service representing Sunnyvale on the VTA BPAC. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES 3 20-0891 Sidewalk and Bike Lane Creation on Tasman Drive from Fair Oaks to Lawrence Expwy (Potential Study Issue) Ralph Garcia, Senior Transportation Engineer stated that a vote could be taken by the BPAC to make the potential study issue a proposed study issue which would then go on proposed study issue list. Mr. Garcia stated that tonight's BPAC meeting is the last night to vote for sponsorship of a study issue for the next year. Vice Chair Mehlman explained the Sidewalk and Bike Lane Creation on Tasman Drive that she proposed as a Potential Study Issue. Vice Chair Mehlman provided the history behind the Potential Study Issue on Tasman Drive. Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Dave Simons, member of the public, stated that there are VTA staff currently working on the Tasman Drive Complete Streets Corridor Study. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. Commissioner Oey asked if a multi-use path is a possibility. Vice Chair Mehlman stated anything that would allow pedestrians to have safe access for the length of the block should be considered. Commissioner Cordes asked if a Class I route was possible instead of a Class IIB route. Vice Chair Mehlman said she would support a Class I route. Chair Mehlinger stated he would consider swapping the sidewalk and the bike lane which would allow protective bike lanes without a lot of space dedicated to buffered bike lanes. MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Commissioner Cordes seconded to put the Potential Study Issue on the Proposed Study Issue list. Commissioner Oey commented on the following: - The neighborhood on Tasman Drive needs excellent bike and pedestrian and City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission access - Very strongly in favor of this potential study issue FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Vice Chair Mehlman proposed a friendly amendment to rephrase the title and content of the Potential Study Issue from "Sidewalk and Bike Lane Creation on Tasman Drive" to "Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Creation on Tasman Drive" so that the study is not limited to bike lanes and can include bike paths. Commissioner Oey and Commissioner Cordes accept the friendly amendment. Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following: - Concerns of traffic congestion on Tasman Drive Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following: - Staff comments on the removal of the Heritage trees is not a consideration. If it was a consideration could there be a bike lane/pedestrian sidewalk without taking out a traffic lane. Vice Chair Mehlman stated it could be possible. FORMAL AMENDMENT: Commissioner Hafeman proposed a formal amendment that the Heritage trees could be considered for removal as part of this Potential Study Issue. The motion fails due to a lack of a second. Commissioner Cordes commented on the following: - Tasman Corridor Study by VTA FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Cordes proposed to change item 1 to say "Implement traffic calming measures to achieve a vehicle speed reduction to lower than 30 miles per hour on average with speed enforcement indicators". Commissioner Oey accepted the friendly amendment. Chair Mehlinger commented on the following: - Supports the Potential Study Issue - Tasman Drive extremely unsafe road - Very valuable and long overdue study issue - Emphasize the "and" in Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Commissioner Oey commented on the following: - Supports the Potential Study Issue - Tasman Drive needs much better access - Need travel mode shift - Need to decrease Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Commissioner Swail stated he is in support of the Potential Study Issue. Commissioner Cordes commented on the following: - Agreed with Commissioner Oey in that Tasman Drive is dangerous - Tasman Drive needs to be a high priority to fix Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following: - Agreed with everybody else and is in favor of the Potential Study Issue - Safety more important than efficiency The amendment carried the following vote: Yes 7 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Mehlman Commissioner Cordes Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Swail No 0 4 20-0892 BPAC 2020 Study Issue Sponsorship (Scenario 2) MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Chair Mehlinger seconded to put the Potential Study Issue on the Sponsored list as a Study Issue. Commissioner Oey commented on the following: - Re-route on Elko Road perfect for cars - Lane reduction is very fair and just The motion carried the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 7 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Yes 7 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Mehlman Commissioner Cordes Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Swail No 0 5 20-0893 BPAC 2020 Sponsored Study Issues (Scenario 1) Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger called for a recess at 8:41 p.m. Chair Mehlinger reconvened the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Chair Mehlinger commented on the following: - Community driven ATP proposal Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following: - Hollenbeck bike lane not on ATP Mr. Garcia addressed the comment. Vice Chair Mehlman asked about the following: - Time line for the study issue with the community driven ATP amendment process Mr. Garcia addressed the comment. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Cordes commented on the following: - Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is doing a forum on their network priority tool on Monday, October 19 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. -Staff Comments City of Sunnyvale Page 8 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission Ralph Garcia, Senior Transportation Engineer commented on the following: - Bicycle Friendly Community Application was submitted on Sept 30, 2020. The application is included in the Info Only Items in the agenda packet. - VTA Sunnyvale BPAC Appointment will be brought to City Council for appointment on Oct 27, 2020. If approved, VTA will forward our appointment to their Governance & Audit Committee for ratification. - VTA Measure B Bike & Pedestrian Education & Encouragement Program. A list of projects and goals for measuring metrics were submitted for VTA to review. Coordinating with VTA to finalize the list and will share the list when it’s available. - There will be a joint BPAC Meeting with the City of Mountain View BPAC regarding the Bernardo Undercrossing tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, December 2 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. - Mountain View will host the meeting and it will be prior to the regularly scheduled Mountain View BPAC meeting at 6:30 p.m. - No formal vote will be needed at this meeting. This is considered a special meeting to introduce the project concepts and obtain initial feedback. - A follow-up email will be sent to the Sunnyvale BPAC to confirm availability so that a quorum is present. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 20-0894 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission 2020 Annual Work Plan Vice Chair Mehlman commented on the following: - Phase II Fair Oaks Avenue Bike Lanes and Streetscape Mr. Garcia addressed the comment. 20-0895 Active Items List - October 2020 Chair Mehlinger commented and asked about the following: - Update on the Caltrain Grade Separation. - Online survey on the Mary Avenue Freeway OverCrossing Mr. Garcia and Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager, addressed the comments. Vice Chair Mehlman commented on the following: - Online survey on the Mary Avenue Freeway OverCrossing City of Sunnyvale Page 9 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final October 15, 2020 Commission 20-0896 Bicycle Friendly Community Designation Application ADJOURNMENT Chair Mehlinger adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 10