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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2020-08-04 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, AUGUST 4, 2021 AT 6:00 P.M. VIRTUAL MEETING Watch Online: https://tinyurl.com/2021-08-04-BPAC Telephone: (669) 900-9128 ID: 865 2507 8241# 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of meeting minutes from regular June 2, 2021 meeting Recommended Action: Approve as submitted 3. Public Comments for Items not on Agenda: 2-minutes each 4. Ad -hoc Committee Updates North-South Greenway Vision Zero 5. Bike Share, Presentation by Scott McDonald (TAM) Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA), Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and cities along the SMART corridor are partnering to deploy a bikeshare system in Marin and Sonoma counties. Recommended Action: Members to accept informational report 6. Parks and Rec Master Plan, Presentation by Susan Andrade-Wax, Library and Recreation Director The City of San Rafael is pursuing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. There will be a 15- person steering committee and one person from BPAC will represent this group’s interest. Recommended Action: Members to nominate and vote for one representative and one alternate 7. Grand Avenue Cycle Track, Presentation by April Miller and Lauren Davini, City Staff The City has applied for two different sources of grant funding to design and construct the Grand Avenue cycle track from Second Street to Fourth Street. Recommended Action: Members to provide feedback on the design 8. Possible Future Agenda Items 9. Adjournment City of San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Wednesday June 2, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Minutes Present: Chair Powers Member Bergman Member Hagerty Member Mooney Member Solomon Member Coyne, Alternate Youth Member Nielsen Absent: Member Allison 1. Call to Order Chair Powers called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm. 2. Approval of meeting minutes Minutes for regular April 4, 2021 meeting approved. 3. Public Comments for Items not on Agenda Sunny Lee: Concerned about how comments from the public are documented in the minutes. Wants to form another committee with the Traffic Division. 4. North-South Greenway Update Patrick Seidler, Transportation Alternatives for Marin (TAM) presented a status update of the gap closure in the North-South Greenway from Los Ranchitos to the top of the Puerto Suello pathway. Warren and Patrick responded to questions from Committee members. Chair Powers invited public comment. Speakers: Warren Wells An Ad-hoc committee was formed with Members Coyne, Mooney, and Nielsen. 5. Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Lauren Davini, Traffic Engineer, presented on what the City is doing to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, including an updated the uncontrolled crossing project, the traffic signal performance measures and detection downtown, and how funding works. Members requested more of an effort with traffic calming and asked how it would be possible to be more proactive. Chair Powers invited public comment. Speakers: Warren Wells, Sunny Lee, Jean Severinghaus 6. BPAC Work Plan Chair Powers reviewed the “tracking progress” section of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP), which includes action items for the goals of: safety, connectivity, coordination, universal design, and programs. Members requested the City pursue Vision Zero, dedicate more time to pedestrians in these meetings, discuss safety. Chair Powers invited public comment. Speakers: Sunny Lee, Lori Schifrin An Ad-hoc committee was formed with Members Bergman, Hagerty, and Chair Powers. 7. Possible future agenda items It was requested that Bike Share be discussed. 8. Adjournment Vice Chair Hagerty adjourned the meeting at 8:10 pm. Approved this 4th day of August 2021 _________________________________ Lauren Davini, Staff Liaison Marin-Sonoma Bike Share Pilot Program City of San Rafael BPAC August 4, 2021 •Support transit ridership by providing new first and last mile option from SMART stations and major bus hubs •Support VMT and GHG reduction goals •Support economic development •Provide additional low-cost transportation option for the public •Support reduced automobile dependency and healthy lifestyles Bike Share Pilot Program Goals •Joint Marin (TAM) and Sonoma (SCTA) program oversight •Focused around SMART stations and key destinations, including downtowns, employment centers •7 cities along the SMART Corridor included in the grant program •Participating agencies include Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Larkspur, SMART, Golden Gate Transit, and may expand to include additional partners •Network established through technical analysis, input from Working Group and public engagement Program Framework •Bolt Mobility, LLC •300 e-bikes •3-year pilot program •Station-based system •Modular bike racks and virtual parking hubs (bollards and pavement decals) •Smart bicycles –locate with app •Unlock with smartphone or RFID card •Members can link Clipper® card to ride profile to unlock •Pricing and memberships include •Pay as you go •Monthly •Bulk purchase •Student •Bolt Equity Program Pilot Program Specifics 5 •Distributed through email, newsletters, and social media platforms •505 individual survey submissions •1141 geolocation submissions Public Survey Public Survey Geolocations North San Rafael Sites Under Consideration Central/East San Rafael Sites Under Consideration City of Richmond Bike Share Program 10 •Execution of Coordination Agreement •Participating Agencies obtain approval for operations •Confirm zones of interest for hub locations and bicycle distribution •In-field site planning and permitting •Locate local warehouse space, begin local hiring process •Push website live, implement marketing campaign •Install station equipment, prepare bicycles for service, activate customer service support •Hold launch events Summary of Next Steps Thank You Scott McDonald TAM Senior Transportation Planner BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT August 4, 2021 Item # 6 TITLE: SELECTION OF ONE (1) COMMITTEE MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE AND ONE (1) COMMITTEE MEMBER TO SERVE AS THE ALTERNATE SUMMARY: The City of San Rafael is about to begin the process of developing a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan that will inventory the City’s current facilities and programs; and identify what parks and recreational facilities and funding mechanisms will be needed over the next ten (10) years. Over the past few years, the City has developed a model for using “ad-hoc” and/or “steering” committees to achieve desired outcomes; recent examples include the General Plan 2040, Downtown Precise Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Climate Change Action Plan, Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan, and Library and Community Center Conceptual Design Plan. This model of City and public collaboration has served well to address the issues in a timely manner while allowing for a participatory community process. At its regular meeting on July 6, 2021, the City Council approved the formation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee to assist with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process. RECOMMENDATION: That the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee select one (1) Committee member to serve on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee and one (1) Committee Member to serve as the Alternate. Page 2 of 5 BACKGROUND: There has been a significant growth in the demand for recreation services and facilities that is requiring a thorough assessment. In addition, the scope of recreational programming has been changing such that it is now defined not so much in terms of specific leisure activities, but in terms of meaningful experiences that contrast with work and school obligations, enhance personal skills and increase an awareness of the larger community. To address this situation, the City Council’s Goals and Objectives and Measure A Work Plan includes a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This plan will provide a foundation for the future development and maintenance of parks, facilities, and amenities. Specifically, the Master Plan will analyze the use of existing facilities, assess their condition, gather community input, provide recommendations for improvement, and suggest funding/implementation strategies. The Master Plan will be based upon the 2040 General Plan which set forth specific actions to help implement public facilities and community programs, objectives and policies. This process shall meet the City’s goal to provide a diverse and inclusive process. After significant collaboration between the consultant, City staff, Parks & Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee, and the community, the Master Plan will be a valuable strategic guide and create a roadmap for both current and future development. ANALYSIS: Over the past few years, the City has developed a model for using “ad-hoc” and/or “steering” committees to achieve desired outcomes; recent examples include the General Plan 2040, Downtown Precise Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Climate Change Action Plan, Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan, and Library and Community Center Conceptual Design Plan. This model of City and public collaboration has served well to address the issues in a timely manner while allowing for a participatory community process. DISCUSSION: Steering Committee The 15-person Steering Committee will be instrumental in guiding the project team regarding engaging the community and reviewing content before releasing the Master Plan to a broader audience. The project team will meet with this group 5-7 times throughout the process. Each meeting will focus on presenting the project team’s research, exploring the City’s history of parks/recreation, and strategizing on how to engage the community during workshops most effectively. The Steering Committee includes individuals who come from diverse backgrounds to get input and feedback from the broadest cross-section. Throughout the process, the Steering Committee will be the project team’s primary support in spreading the word about engagement and answering questions about local knowledge and City culture. Page 3 of 5 • One (1) Park and Recreation Commissioner • One (1) Pickleweed Advisory Committee Member (Non-P & R Commissioner) • One (1) Library Board of Trustees Member • One (1) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Member • One (1) Age-Friendly Task Force Board Member • One (1) ADA Advisory Committee Member or Marin Center for Independent Living • Two (2) Youth Sports Organizations Board Members (1 Field Based Youth Sport & 1 Non-Field Based Youth Sport) • One (1) Local Non-Profit Recreation Service Provider Representative • One (1) Local Non-Profit Multi-Cultural Social Service Provider • One (1) Artworks Downtown Representative • One (1) Marin Conversation League Representative (Open Space) • One (1) SRCS District Representative • One (1) Marin County Parks Representative • One (1) Chamber of Commerce Representative The Park and Recreation Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Pickleweed Advisory Committee, Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Age-Friendly Task Force representatives will be selected from their respective memberships. The other advisory groups and/or organizations will each select a representative. Committee Roles and Expectations To assure a successful and timely process, it is important to define the role of the Committee. Similar to other recently formed committees, staff have identified the following roles and responsibilities: • Be informed, collaborative and solution oriented. Be committed to attending meetings, reviewing relevant information and being prepared to balance individual and special interests for the overall good of the community. • Provide a forum for community discussion. Actively engage the community in a constructive dialogue about the options for future services and facilities. Be open to varied comment and viewpoints. • Provide input on draft products. Review and provide input on draft documents as requested by staff. • Keep their respective commission, committee and/or agency informed and up to date regarding Committee activity. Keeping the lines of communication open at their commission, committee or agency assures that there is collective collaboration throughout the process which helps lead to a successful conclusion. • Provide recommendations as requested by City staff. Providing recommendations to the City Council and/or commissions is important to assure they receive guidance prior to making decisions needed to formally adopt the Master Plan. Page 4 of 5 COMMUNITY OUTREACH OF MASTER PLAN PROCESS: Community Engagement Process Creating a shared vision for San Rafael’s diverse population means creating a multi- pronged community outreach plan. To ensure the project team receives the most feedback from the broadest cross-section of the City, the process will solicit input through community meetings, surveys, and interviews with community stakeholders. The purpose is to collect as much information as possible to create a complete understanding of how San Rafael’s current park and the recreational system is meeting or failing to meet community needs. Stakeholder Interviews Interviews with selected stakeholders such as key City personnel and community leaders to gain valuable perspective regarding needs, expectations, and current conditions. Focus Groups Focus Groups are a critical tool for understanding the community’s concerns, opportunities, values, and needs. Focus Group meetings would provide an in-depth discussion with a select group of experts and constituents on specific topics. This will allow the project team to leverage the community’s existing knowledge to collect as much pertinent information as possible in a comfortable, open forum. Participants will represent a myriad of community partners, non-profits, activists, volunteers, and employees. Community Workshops Community workshops will be held to get feedback from a larger group of San Rafael residents. Workshops will be held during weekday evenings in different areas of the City to make it more convenient for people to attend. Statistically Valid Survey & Open Participation Survey/Questionnaires The purpose of this survey is to receive an objective, unbiased response from constituents. Surveys will be made available in both English and Spanish. These surveys will be in addition to the community workshops, series of focus groups, and advisory committee meetings that involved a broad spectrum of stakeholders. City Website All meeting information and materials will be available on the City’s website and City staff will encourage participants to provide the City with their e-mail addresses in order to keep them informed of the processes progress and upcoming meetings and events. FISCAL IMPACT: Although there are no costs associated with the review of this item, the City has allocated $250,000 in Measure A funding for the development of the City-wide Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The project has been programmed into the City’s FY 2021- 2022 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget and Measure A – Work Plan. Page 5 of 5 ALTERNATIVE ACTION: Any other action as determined by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Submitted by: Susan Andrade-Wax, Library and Recreation Director BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT August 4, 2021 Item # 7 TOPIC: GRAND AVENUE PROTECTED TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON THE PROPOSED PROTECTED TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON GRAND AVENUE BETWEEN SECOND STREET AND FOURTH STREET EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Department of Public Works is proposing to add a two-way protected cycle track and sidewalk on the east side of Grand Avenue from Fourth Street to Second Street, meeting goals outlined in many plans, including the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP). This project brings many benefits to bicyclists and pedestrians traveling through the area and maintains vehicle travel lanes, but it would impact some on-street parking and existing driveways. BACKGROUND: The Grand Avenue protected two-way cyc le track is ranked third in Group F, Canal Connections of the BPMP. The City has been proactive and successful in applying for and receiving grant funding to improve the multimodal connections between the Canal neighborhood and Central San Rafael. The Francisco Boulevard East Sidewalk Widening, funded by the Active Transportation Program (ATP), is currently under construction, widening the sidewalk to eight feet to allow for more room for pedestrians and bicyclists. North of the sidewalk widening the Grand Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian bridge was completed in 2019. The protected two-way cycle track and sidewalk improvements on Grand Avenue up to Fourth Street will meet the goal of the San Francisco Bay Trail of connecting to Third Street and also get bicyclists and pedestrians to Fourth Street, where they may go west to the downtown or east to San Rafael High School. Construction for this project is expected to be coordinated with the Third Street Rehabilitation project. ANALYSIS: This project would add a bicycle facility on the east side of Grand Avenue between Fourth Street and Second Street. The vehicle travel lanes and turn pockets would remain, but there would be an impact to on-street parking and one existing driveway. Currently, Grand Avenue between Fourth Street and Third Street is one travel lane in each direction with some driveways and on-street parking on both sides. The on-street parking would remain in the southbound direction, but six on-street spaces would be eliminated in the northbound direction. Grand Avenue between Third Street and Second Street is one travel lane with a turn pocket and on-street parking southbound and two travel lanes northbound, separated by a concrete median. There is also a driveway just north of Second Street that provides access to the gas station on the northeast corner of Second Street/Grand Avenue. The gas station currently has five driveways: one on Grand Avenue, two on Second Street, and two on Third Street. The Page 2 of 3 existing median would be removed, and the travel lanes would all be shifted to the west. The driveway access on Grand Avenue would be eliminated as part of the cycle track improvements to eliminate a conflict point close to an intersection. The images below show the two-way cycle track to be added (green) and the parking spaces (red circles) and driveway to be eliminated (red X). Figure 1 - Grand Ave between Fourth and Third Page 3 of 3 Figure 2 Grand Avenue between Third and Second OUTREACH PLAN: The Department of Public Works will notify property owners along the corridor later this summer to address any issues with the modifications on the east side of Grand Avenue. This project will go to City Council in fall 2021. POLICY IMPACTS: The project supports goals to reduce county and local greenhouse gas emissions, encourage mode shift, and increase public health within the community. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: The total project cost is expected to be $1,100,000 for construction. The City requested $225,000 through San Francisco Bay Trail Funding (Prop 68) and $335,000 through Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Transportation for Clean Air (TFCA) funding. The City has set aside the remaining amount in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The City will continue to apply for grant funding if we hear of any other relevant sources. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept the informational report and provide feedback on the design. ATTACHMENTS: Grand Avenue Vicinity Map Grand Avenue plans (DRAFT) Union StF r anci sc o Bl vd E James B Davidson Middle School Laurel Dell Elementary School Bahia Vista Elementary School San Pedro Elementary School San Rafael High School Madrone High School 4th Street An d e r s e n D r i v e A n d e r s e n D r i v e Fra n c i s c o B l v d E Fr a n c i s c o B l v d W Canal Str e e t Canal S t r e e t Bellam Bl v d Kerner BlvdK e r n e r B l v dMedway RdVivian StreetIrwin StGrand AveMission Ave 3rd Street Project Location Albert Park Baseball Field Harbor StPickleweed Park Albert J. Boro Community Center Pickleweed Children's Center San Rafael Transit Center SMART StationKaiser Permanente Marin Health & Wellness Campus Marin Community Clinic Montecito Plaza San Francisco Bay Trail Grand Avenue Class IV Cycle Track City of San Rafael LEGEND City of San Rafael Project Limits Existing Bicycle Routes Parks Bay Trail (Proposed) Bay Trail (Off Street) Freeways (Major Barriers) School PACI FI C OCE ANPROJECT SITE: SAN RAFAEL San Francisco MARIN COUNTY 0.14 miles00.07 Francisco Blvd E Sidewalk Improvements 3rd St Safety Project Future Downtown East–West Connection Class I Pathway San Rafael High School Grand Avenue Active Transportation Bridge Equity Priority Community (Highest) Census Tract 1122.02 Equity Priority Community (Highest) Census Tract 1122.01 Rail Transit Train Health Center FOR REVIEW ONLYMARCH 202130% DESIGN GRAND AVEGRAND AVE4TH ST 3RD STSS-01SHEET 3 OF 65'5' 10' 3' 11'Striped buffer with bollards RECOMMENDED REVISIONSJULY 26, 202110'Maintain existing strip-ing for SB direction (typ)Per previous City comment, only install green paint in conflict zones FOR REVIEW ONLYMARCH 202130% DESIGN SS-02SHEET 4 OF 6GRAND AVE2ND ST3RD ST 3'Striped buffer with bollards12'RECOMMENDED REVISIONSJULY 26, 2021Maintain existing striping (typ)Maintain existing striping (typ)Per previous City comment, only install green paint in conflict zones