Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Thursday, August 19, 2021 6:30 PM Telepresence Meeting: City Web Stream CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order N-29-20 (March 17, 2020) and Section 42 of Executive Order N-08-21 (June 11, 2021) issued by Governor Newsom, the meeting was conducted telephonically. Chair Mehlinger called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. via teleconference. ROLL CALL Present 6 - Chair Richard Mehlinger Vice Chair Leia Mehlman Commissioner Arwen Davé Commissioner Dan Hafeman Commissioner Timothy Oey Commissioner Mihir Paradkar Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager, Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer and Nabilah Deen, Transportation Engineer attended via teleconference. Council Liaison Klein (present). PRESENTATION A 21-0845 Active Transportation Plan Progress Update Nabilah Deen, Transportation Engineer, gave a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan Progress Update. Highlighting the following: - Active Transportation Plan Background - Vision Statement - Goals City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission - Completed Bicycle Improvement Projects - Class I Multi-Use Trail on Moffett Park Drive - In-Progress Bicycle Improvement Projects - Future Bicycle Improvement Projects - Manila Avenue/Moffett Park Drive Class I Multi-use Trail - Active Transportation Plan Bikeway Mileage - Completed Pedestrian Improvement Projects - In-Progress Pedestrian Improvement Projects - Mathilda Avenue/Maude Avenue & Homestead Road/Mary Avenue - Future Pedestrian Improvement Projects - Future Stevens Creek Trail - Safe Routes to School Improvement Projects - In-Progress Safe Routes to School Improvement Projects - Future Safe Routes to School Improvement Projects - Next Steps More information can be found at www.sunnyvale.ca.gov by searching "Transportation and Traffic Safety". Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. Commissioner Oey asked about the following: - Plans on achieving the mode split increase by 10% by 2030 - Current mode split - Would like to see mode split data measured annually - Programs that the City would participate in to get people to mode shift - City's position on SB 9 & 10 - Land Use - Measurement of streets that should have a bikeway that don't currently have a bikeway - Measurement of walkways that should have a walkway that don't currently have a walkway Commissioner Davé commented on the following: - Appreciated the Moffett Field adjacent improvements to bicycle facilities to encourage bicyclists City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following: - Difference between a street that has sharrows and a street that is a bicycle boulevard - Consider speed bumps for bicycle boulevards - Whether the Homestead Bike Lane Project is considered as being part of the Homestead Safe Routes to School Program - Disappointed that there isn't a schedule for the Homestead Bike Lane Project Chair Mehlinger commented and asked about the following: - Buffered bike lanes on Borregas Avenue - When will the City get more Class IV bike lanes - Short staffing issues Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager, Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer and Mayor Klein addressed the questions. Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Lauren Ledbedder, member of the public commented on the following: - In full support of the Safe Routes to School Project to put bike lanes on Sunnyvale Avenue near Bishop Elementary School - Improves opportunities for pedestrians along the corridor - Add in striping and quick build improvements to make it easier for pedestrians to cross at Hazelton Avenue where there is an uncontrolled crosswalk Alon Golong, member of the public commented on the following: - In full support of bridging the gap on Sunnyvale Avenue - Supports giving higher priority for Homestead Road as a permanent bike lane and a protective bike lane - Need to build facilities so parents will feel that it is safe for their children to bike or walk to school - Micro Mobility Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Klein gave an update on the upcoming City Council Meeting on August 31 at 7:00 p.m. The agenda will include the following: City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission - Review Data Collected for the Temporary Eastbound Tasman Drive Lane Closure During COVID-19 Pandemic and Consider Whether to Extend the Lane Closure as Employees Begin to Return to Workplace - Remove On-Street Parking for the Northbound Direction on Willow Avenue between Reed Avenue and Aster Avenue and to Install Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane on Both Sides of the Street Per the Active Transportation Plan Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Erik Brewster, member of the public commented on the following: - Concerned about traffic safety at Morse Avenue and Duane Avenue Valerie Suarez, member of the public commented on the following: - Safer route to school for students to travel between Columbia and Bishop Schools - Extremely concerned about traffic safety on Borregas Avenue, Morse Avenue and Duane Avenue - On behalf of the entire SNAIL neighborhood, begging the City to make these street safer by adding speed bumps or some kind of calming method Chair Melhinger closed for Public Comment. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 21-0819 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of July 15, 2021. Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of July 15, 2021 as submitted. Commissioner Hafeman moved and Vice Chair Mehlman seconded to approve item 1.A. The motion carried the following vote: Yes 6 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Mehlman Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Paradkar No 0 City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 21-0846 Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting Commissioner Oey, VTA BPAC Sunnyvale Representative, gave the meeting summary report regarding the following topics: - Foothill and El Monte update picking Alternative 2 - Wide Stripe Striping - County is in the process of creating their Bicycle Plan - VTA's recommendations on Tasman Drive and Bascom Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Study - Update on the Community Design and Transportation Manual - Viva Calle SJ - September 19 - Silicon Valley Bikes (Fundraiser for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition) September 19 Chair Mehlinger opened for Public Comment. Chair Mehlinger closed for Public Comment. Commissioner Hafeman asked how many of those people that objected to reducing the lanes on Tasman Avenue actually live along the corridor as opposed to how many people commute through the corridor? Commissioner Oey stated he does not have that information. Vice Chair Mehlman commented on the following: - Reasons why people might oppose reducing lanes on Tasman Avenue Chair Mehlinger asked if there was an update on when the light rail service might be expected to resume? Commissioner Oey stated it might be a month or two. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Oey commented and asked about the following: - Viva Calle SJ - September 19, great opportunity to experience open streets - Silicon Valley Bikes (Fundraiser for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition) - City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission September 19. There will be a 40 mile, 20 mile and 10 mile ride - Will there be a BPAC hearing on the Sunnyvale Avenue bike lanes? Ms. Tsang stated it is tentatively scheduled for next month Commissioner Hafeman asked if the City is looking at intersection improvements at Washington Avenue and Mathilda Avenue? Ms. Tsang stated currently there are no planned projects for this particular location. Commissioner Oey commented on the following: - Thanked City Council for having the ordinance in Sunnyvale to prohibit harassment against bicyclists Chair Mehlinger asked about the following: - Why can't the BPAC weigh in on the Tasman temporary lane closure before going to City Council? Mr. Ng stated that it was an operation decision that was initiated by City Council. - Update on the traffic accident that occurred in August - What can be done to address the SNAIL's traffic issues? Mayor Klein stated it is a regional issue, and Public Safety is working with other agencies to address this. Chair Mehlinger asked from an Engineering perspective what can be done to discourage that behavior? Mr. Ng stated that from an Engineering perspective it is being approached regionally. Talking with other agencies and manufacturers to come up with the best solution. -Staff Comments Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, commented on the following: - Lawrence Station Plan updates will be brought to the Planning Commission for consideration to make a recommendation to City Council on Monday, August 23 and City Council will be hearing this item on Tuesday, September 14 Mr. Ng stated that staff is preparing a project to go to construction for upgrading our lighted crosswalks around the City. It will be a safety improvement that will upgrade some of these uncontrolled crosswalks. Going under construction by the end of this year. Mayor Klein asked if in street flashing lights will be replaced with raised beacons? Mr. Ng stated some flashing lights on the roadway will be replaced with RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons on the side of the roadway). Some flashing lights will still be in the roadway due to the width of the street in addition to the City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2021 Commission flashing lights on the side of the road. In the long run more HAWKS will be built. Chair Mehlinger stated if the BPAC has ideas for TDA Article 3 funding for next year to send an email to Ms. Tsang. Staff will keep a running list. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 21-0847 BPAC 2021 Annual Work Plan 21-0848 Active Items List August 2021 21-0849 2022 Proposed Study Issues 21-0850 2021 Deferred Study Issues ADJOURNMENT Chair Mehlinger adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 7