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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2020-04-07 Agenda PacketAGENDA Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the Committee less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall be available for inspection online. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing Lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BPAC) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 AT 6:00 P.M. VIRTUAL MEETING Watch Online: https://tinyurl.com/BPAC-2021-04-07 Telephone: (669) 900-9128 ID: 873-5858-9818# 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of meeting minutes Approval of BPAC Meeting Minutes of February 3, 2021 Recommended Action: Approve as submitted 3. Public Comments for Items not on Agenda: 2-minutes each 4. Remembering Jimmy Geraghty, Memorial attached 5. North-South Greenway, Materials attached and presentation by Patrick Seidler and Warren Wells This item is about a gap closure in the North-South Greenway from Los Ranchitos to the top of the Puerto Suello pathway Recommended Action: 1. Members to vote on submitting a letter of support to City Council, DRAFT letter attached 6. San Rafael Transit Center, Brief update from City staff Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District (GGBHTD) is completing an analysis of three alternative locations of the Transit Center. The alternatives can be found here: https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/6/srtc-community-meeting-presentation-november-19- 2020.pdf Recommended Action: 1. Members to provide input on the bicycle and pedestrian access to each alternative 2. Members to vote on submitting a letter encouraging City Council to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle access to the relocated Transit Center, DRAFT letter attached 7. Possible Future Agenda Items a. BPAC Work Plan https://storage.googleapis.com/proudcity/sanrafaelca/uploads/2019/12/Bicycle- and-Pedestrian-Advisory-Committee.pdf 8. Adjournment in Honor of Jimmy Geraghty City of San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Wednesday February 3, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Minutes Present: Chair Powers Member Allison Member Solomon Member Mooney Member Bergman Member Hagerty Member Coyne, Alternate Member Geraghty, Alternate Youth Member Nielsen Call to Order Chair Powers called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm. 1. Public Comments for Items not on Agenda Craig Murray: Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), Safe Routes to School efforts, US 101 Undercrossing Jean Severinghaus: Kudos for Second Street to Rice Drive Multi-Use Path (MUP) and for Quick Build at Francisco Boulevard East/Grange Avenue Patrick Seidler: Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has money they could put towards the North-South Greenway Warren Wells: New Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) Policy and Program Director. Sunny Lee: Requests a study be done on the traffic impacts of the Francisco Blvd West one-way circulation on northbound Lincoln Avenue 2. Committee Housekeeping Staff announced that the City is not currently seeking replacements for former Member Belletto or Youth Member Harlem’s vacancies. Members of the committee requested the City consider recruiting for the second youth member position 3. Approval of meeting minutes Minutes for regular December 2, 2020 meeting approved. 4. Third Street/Lindaro Street Intersection Improvements Staff provided a report prior to the meeting and presented at the meeting the alternatives for the design of the Third Street and Lindaro Street intersection. The alternatives are: close the driveway (north leg) to Walgreens or make the driveway (north leg) one-way southbound. Comments from committee members: Member Solomon asked how far the driveway is from the nearest intersection (Lootens Street) Alternate Member Geraghty mentioned the conflict between southbound vehicles making a right turn and not looking for bicycle traffic Member Allison asked about the collision history and the back-up in lane #3 Youth Member Nielsen asked if improvements can be made to the Lindaro Street driveway Member Mooney asked about the bike lanes on Lindaro that BioMarin was supposed to install Alternate Coyne asked the city to look at the design of the exit only to make sure cars can’t turn right into driveway from 3rd Street. Member Hagerty asked to review letters provided by the public prior to the meeting Member Mooney asked staff to clarify when vehicle counts were collected Speakers: Don Magdenz, Lisa Merigan, Dave Rhoads, Jean Severinghaus, Sunny Lee, Lori S, Jonathan Toste There being no further comment, Chair Powers closed the public comment Member Allison expressed that the exit only is a great compromise as far as circulation and helps reduce the pedestrian conflict and considers the vehicle throughput Member Mooney expressed the need to design for the future and consider BioMarin and Senior Housing going in Youth Member Nielsen suggested staff consider redesigning the Walgreens driveway Member Bergman mentioned the parking lot can be challenging to drive through and visibility should be checked. If these are looked into, then it should alleviate some of the concerns for pedestrians at the exit. Chair Powers asked what the City was satisfied with and indicated she was appreciative of the public process that this project has gone through. Asked if the exit only provides one lane or two lanes. City staff commented that both alternatives were presented because city staff is comfortable with both alternatives. Members Allison and Hagerty expressed support for the one-way exit only alternative. Member Solomon initially supported the closure, however after public comment and staff presentations, he expressed support for the Exit only option in the spirit of community cooperation. Member Mooney and Alternate Members Geraghty and Coyne expressed support for the closed alternative. 5. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Staff presented how the CIP is created, how projects make it into the CIP, and how the projects are ranked Alternate Member Geraghty asked if the City monitors e-bike sales Youth Member Nielsen asked how projects can get added mid-cycle Speakers: Patrick Seidler, Craig Murray, Sunny Lee, Dave Rhoads, Lori S, Jean Severinghaus Member Mooney asked about planning for the increase in e-bikes Chair Powers requested that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP) be revisited regularly to reprioritize projects Member Bergman requested MTC’s regional bike and pedestrian plan. He also thinks it would be helpful to have detailed breakdown of funding and the limitations of different funding sources. Youth Member Nielsen requested the process be refined There being no further comment, Chair Powers closed the public comment 6. Request for Future Agenda Items Committee members requested the funding opportunities for the North-South Greenway be discussed 7. Adjournment Chair Powers adjourned the meeting at 8:05 pm Approved this ____ day of ____ 2021 _________________________________ Lauren Davini, Staff Liaison Remembering Jimmy Geraghty The City would like to thank Jimmy for his many years of contributions to San Rafael. He will be missed. Jim grew up on the East Coast before moving to Marin in 1988, settling in the Canal District so he could be close to his boat. By 2003, he had become a stalwart activist known throughout the county. Garbed in his signature overalls, bandana, and clogs, Jim was a prominent fixture at countless political, environmental, and social justice events over the past two decades. Named one of the "Heroes of Marin" by the Pacific Sun in 2018, he never took credit for his impact on the community. "I surround myself with people smarter than me, connecting with others and working for change," Jim is quoted as saying. "That's when the real magic happens." -Community Media Center of Marin Geraghty identifies the three biggest problems facing Marin as housing, traffic and racial disparity. The good news is he sees plenty of solutions for all of these problems. His advice: Get involved. “Find a group working on your passion or concern. Become aware.” – Pacific Sun “Heroes of Marin” SMART San Rafael Connection w8 End of freeway pathEnd of SMART pathN San Pedro/101 UndercrossingLincoln Ave Park & Ridew1w7 w5 Merrydale RoadSteep Grade(>9% at points)No Bike LanesNo SidewalksLimited ROWHigh‐Stress Intersection w/ N San Pedro Road Los Rachitos RoadSlope Higher than ADA Limit(6%)Min. Width Bike LanesNo ROW for both Sidewalk and Bike Lanes Photo #1 Photo #1Photo #2 Photo #1Photo #2Photo #3 Photo #1Photo #2Photo #3Photo #4 Caltrans ParcelSMART Parcels Benefits vs. Drawbacks•Safer and separated from traffic•All ages and abilities•Allows all users, not just bicycles•Higher cost•Requires environmental clearance Comparing the AlternativesRoute Length Elev. Gain Max Grade Bikes PedestriansMerrydale Road 2,590’ 139’9.4%No NoLos Ranchitos Road 2,140’ 118’6.6%Yes NoSMART San Rafael Connection3,200’ 120’ 5% Yes Yes What the San Rafael BPAC can doDraft and submit resolution to San Rafael City Council stating that:•The ‘SMART San Rafael Connection’ should be the preferred route from Puerto Suello Hill to N San Pedro Road•Merrydale Road and Los Ranchitos Road cannot serve as ‘all ages and abilities’ bicycle/pedestrian routes•The City should request that SMART:•Environmentally clear this alignment, both through CEQA and NEPA•Develop 30% engineering alternatives for the complete segment•Obtain all necessary permits•Fund and seek necessary matching funding for construction of segment Questions? San Rafael Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee April 8, 2021 San Rafael City Council 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Re: Recommendation for City Council advocacy for SMART Multiuse Path Gap Closure in North San Rafael Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: We encourage the Council to act immediately to urge SMART’s Board of Directors to include full funding, or seek grants for the full funding, for the environmental review, permitting and full construction of the segment of the Multiuse Path (MUP) from Puerto Suello Hill to North San Pedro Road in North San Rafael. The SMART Board is currently planning Capital Projects, which include construction and expansion of pathway systems, as part of its goal-setting and budgeting process for 2021. This gap closure in North San Rafael’s portion of the North-South Greenway is an important link to meet the goal of providing safe and comfortable access along the full length of the Greenway for all ages and abilities. It is an important link in the County’s and the region’s bicycle and pedestrian transportation network. The current alternative routes do not meet the needs of most abilities of bicyclists (1) because there is constrained space and visibility around curves along Los Ranchitos with no room for expansion due to slopes on either side of the roadway, and (2) because an uncomfortably steep slope exists on Merrydale heading down from Puerto Suello Hill toward Point San Pedro Road. In our advisory capacity, we urge you to use this opportunity, while SMART funding is available, to move environmental review and time-sensitive construction preparation forward in a cost effective and timely way. Thank you for your consideration, San Rafael BPAC Members San Rafael Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee April 8, 2021 San Rafael City Council 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Re: Recommendations regarding Site Alternatives for San Rafael Transit Center’s Relocation Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: San Rafael completed and adopted its most recent update of San Rafael’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP) in 2018. During that planning process, the City considered hundreds of comments through its survey and public outreach efforts. The relocation of San Rafael’s Transit Center creates an important opportunity for the City to address the top two goals in the 2018 BPMP update: 1) safety and 2) connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians. According to the BPMP, between 2009 and 2016, 65% of all pedestrian-involved collisions (averaging 36/year) occured downtown. The corridors with the greatest occurrence of both bicycle and pedestrian-involved collisions per mile were along Second, Third, and Fourth Streets and collisions were particularly high at intersections with Hetherton Street and Tamalpais Avenue. As these intersections are within the footprints of the alternatives being considered for the relocation of the Transit Center, this is a critical time to prioritize and invest in safety countermeasures at pedestrian crossings and bicycle intersections such as those listed in the BPMP and to work with the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD) to do so. The BPMP recognizes that tracking progress towards its goals is crucial to its success. One of the first strategies in prioritizing and implementing the safety improvements in the plan was to adopt a “Vision Zero” policy for eliminating all bicycle- and pedestrian-involved severe injuries and fatalities and establish a baseline for comparison by 2020. As this milestone has not yet been accomplished, now would be a good time to prioritize them especially in this area. According to the 2018 BPMP, the most heavily used bus routes are in the Canal neighborhood and include Marin Transit Routes 20 and 35. Creating direct bike and pedestrian routes to stops along those routes, including at the Transit Center, will help improve access for high-frequency bus system users. Part of prioritizing safety could be to develop a “Safe Routes to Transit” approach for all ages and abilities to the new Transit Center location. In its very first BPMP, adopted in 2001, the City identified the need for N-S bicycle routes. The 2011 BPMP update called for a series of projects identifying the need for the North-South Greenway through San Rafael. The 2018 BPMP identified gaps that exist in the bike network downtown and at connections to the existing Transit Center and rated the segment between Second Street and Mission Avenue along West Tamalpais one of its highest priority projects. That is to say that over the past 20 years, completion of a North-South Greenway through downtown has been a priority in all BPMP plans. Significant segments towards this goal have been completed, the most recent being the multiuse path along West Francisco from Irwin to Second. The Transit Center relocation creates an opportunity for ultimately completing the connection from Second Street to Mission Avenue. Improving regional bicycle and pedestrian networks is included in the first policy in San Rafael’s Draft 2040 General Plan update Mobility Element. In our advisory capacity, we urge you to use this opportunity to work with GGBHTD to create a safer and more connected downtown, identifying safe pathways to transit for all users, prioritizing safe intersections, and completing the North South Greenway from Second Street to Mission Avenue, through downtown. Thank you for your consideration, San Rafael BPAC Members