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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2019-08-07 MinutesSan Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting Notes – August 7, 2019 In Attendance: City Staff: Cory Bytof, Lauren Davini, Dave Nicholson, Hunter Young BPAC: Jerry Belletto, Kevin Hagerty, Shoshana Harlem, Phil Mooney, Tyler Nielsen, Kate Powers, Marc Solomon Members of the Public: Steve Lamb, Craig K. Murray, Lori Schifrin, Jean Severinghaus 1) Call to Order 2) Public Comments for Items NOT on the Agenda Craig Murray’s comments: • BPAC should consider reviewing projects that are being developed and their contribution to bike/ped improvements. Committee should be better connected to Design Review and Planning Commission. It would elevate the status of BPAC and BPAC would provide much needed input. Craig referred to 350 Merrydale project and path on south side of SMART station. BPAC discussion: now that Masterplan Update is approved, it would be good to keep track of developments that are coming, proactively look at transportation aspects of projects and how they may impact bike/ped access, comfort and safety. • It’s important that North Merrydale Rd connects the Promenade to Civic Center SMART station. • On the North-South Greenway heading north down steep hill of N. Merrydale, the intersection at North San Pedro Road, bicycles won’t trigger light. Bicyclists have to dismount and cross as pedestrians. It’s dangerous. • SF Bay Trail across Richmond/San Rafael Bridge – access on the Richmond side bike/ped improvements will be completed by November 9, 2019. San Rafael side is under construction. OC Jones is contractor. Not widening sidewalk all the way to Grange Way. Jean Severinghaus asked if parking could be taken away temporarily for the duration of the project construction because it’s dangerous passage now for bikes. Tyler (BPAC) asked whether path between Salvador Way and Los Gamos could be maintained. It’s overgrown and currently impassable. Jean Severinghaus reported on 580/Sir Francis Drake flyover connecting from Grange to Richmond/San Rafael Bridge path to Andersen. Caltrans has expedited permits, TAM is waiting for funding. Cory announced TAM and the City are co-sponsoring a Bike to the Ballpark on Sunday with free bike parking by MCBC. 3) Francisco Boulevard East Sidewalk Project Update Dave Nicholson reported that the Grand Avenue bridge is completed and is located at the terminus of the last segment of the E. Francisco sidewalk widening project that extends to Vivian Way. The segment will be 8 feet wide. Existing utilities (light poles and fire hydrants), street trees and street signs will remain. Segment lies completely in City’s right of way. The driveway approaches to businesses are part of the pathway. Craig suggested colorized box or markings on street to alert drivers coming out of driveways that they will be crossing bike/ped path. Stop signs at driveways are not planned. Construction is expected to begin Spring 2020 and will be completed in segments. Caltrans is administering the federal funding. Resurfacing of the road will follow, and drainage in area will be upgraded. Parking at Vivian and Midway will change. 4) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 9 --Third Street intersection improvements update Project is divided into two projects to separate work being funded from two sources. Hunter Young reported on the $4M project from Grand Avenue to Lindaro Street funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which is administered by Caltrans. (The other project is the $12M project from Lindaro Street to Miracle Mile funded through Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM). DPW will do environmental review for the whole stretch from Miracle Mile to Grand together.) Craig Murray asked “Conceptually, how do bicycles get East-West across San Rafael?” He said that In Richmond an East-West Greenway was created. And then major corridors for trucks and heavier traffic were delineated separately. Lauren replied East-West bicycle route is not delineated on Second and Third, no definitive determination on where yet. Hunter presented conceptual designs of five intersections along Third Street from Lindaro/Lootens to Grand, consisting mostly of traffic signal pole upgrades, pedestrian push buttons and crosswalk improvements, drainage improvements, and new ADA ramps. Biggest concern is that Third Street looks seamless. Hunter is hoping summer of 2021 for construction of project. • At Lindaro/Lootens block, DPW is proposing to close driveway at Walgreens on Third to reduce hazards from cars pulling out. Also under consideration is removing WB left-turn pocket at Lindaro and replacing with bulb-out. • The intersection at Lincoln will have new traffic signals on mast arms to increase visibility. It’s been a challenge to locate new signals because PG&E utility lines are underground in the area. Marc mentioned some cities are putting art in crosswalks. (One crosswalk was designed as piano keys.) The creative improvements were found to slow traffic, however they can be expensive. • Regarding the north-south crosswalk on the east side of intersection with Tamalpais, Jean asked that in light of the number of accidents at that intersection and the location of the SMART and future transit stations, would DPW consider tripling width of crosswalk for greater visibility and to accommodate higher pedestrian volumes. She also asked whether push buttons at signals could also be designed to accommodate bicyclists at the Tamalpais intersection since it currently serves as the North-South Greenway. Lights at that intersection are already timed with leading pedestrian intervals. (Pedestrians have 3 seconds before light for traffic in same direction turns green.) • Irwin intersection will receive similar treatments. • The intersection at Grand has traffic congestion and many types of users. DPW is proposing to redo entire intersection, removing existing sidewalk from Grand to Irwin, installing new bulb-outs on west side of Grand intersection. Work would include new sidewalk, street trees, grading and replacing asphalt where road is sloped possibly due to bay mud underneath. • There are high pedestrian volumes and traffic when high school lets out. Could the traffic signals be changed during those periods to accommodate higher ped volume? All lights are sequenced on Third so it would impact many signals along Third. • Since Grand Street Bridge provides crossing for bicycles, could project funds be used to also make bike improvements on Grand to 4th or 5th where East-West bike travel is encouraged? Pros and cons of removing N-S crosswalk on west side of Grand was discussed. Patterns of getting to new transit center (depending on its location) will impact car and ped/bike volumes at intersection. • Regarding proposed bulb-out, concerns of traveling south on Grand to Grand Avenue Bridge. Jean asked if a protected turn signal could be installed at intersection, but staff said it would affect lane storage capacity especially between Second and Third and have ripple effects. Phil stated all the projects on Francisco and Grand are important for bikes to get north and south. If there’s space for bulb-outs, is there space for a 4-foot green bikeway instead? • There are two gas stations at intersection where cars are pulling in and out. Intersection has flooding during King Tides. Storm drainpipes are close to Canal and are flat. Bioretention zones are being considered. 5) Update of City projects San Rafael is submitting two projects for TAM’s Safe Pathways funds. One is a hybrid beacon signal with a pedestrian refuge on the island of Third Street between San Rafael High School athletic fields and the Credit Union near the east end of Montecito Shopping Center. The project is led by the school district and endorsed by Safe Routes to School. As part of the uncontrolled crosswalk project in San Rafael, maintenance crews are adding Yield to Pedestrians signs, extra red curbs, and “sharks teeth” markings at the uncontrolled crossings. The next step is to build bulb- outs and high visibility “Continental” style crosswalks. San Rafael Is requesting funds for bulb-outs in four priority areas close to schools: two on Mission with bulb-outs where possible and flashing beacons, one at Fifth Ave and River Oaks, and one at Knight and Ashwood in Glenwood. San Rafael has hired a new Honorary Dean Allison Intern. Lauren’s plan is to have her help build out bike and ped projects and asked for BPAC’s support. She hopes more BPAC subcommittees will be formed to work on outreach and individual projects downtown as well as the Grand Avenue bridge connection to Fourth Street. Craig requested that the intersection at N. Merrydale and North San Pedro be added. Other projects will include First Street from Albert Park to Miracle Mile, Tamalpais Ave., and the main East-West route through downtown (Will it be Fourth or Fifth?). 6) Bike Racks Downtown Lauren sent out document “Essentials of Bike Parking” published by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. Phil Mooney and Marc Soloman volunteered for ad hoc subcommittee that will recommend standards for bike racks in downtown and will get quotes. Bike racks that connect in two places are recommended. New downtown outdoor dining projects require bike parking as part of their projects. 7) BPAC Positions a) Openings b) Terms expiring - Some BPAC members have terms that are expiring. 8) Request for Future Agenda Items and Final Thoughts Lauren and Rafat Raie (DPW) would like BPAC to form subcommittees to start hammering away on bike/ped facilities looking at top priorities for neighborhoods, also where there are current development projects under review promoting Updated Bike/Ped Masterplan projects and priorities. Northgate Walk was mentioned as an example, where bike path dead-ends near creek and bike connections to site are questionable. While projects are under City review would be the appropriate time for BPAC to voice its priorities. Seagate project on Third which fronts on Tamalpais Ave. was also mentioned. It was suggested that BPAC also identify gaps in the bike/ ped network that potential development projects could be asked to contribute to. Kevin suggested that BPAC determine a process by which a BPAC subcommittee track project applications that will impact circulation or are in areas in need and are identified as Bike/Ped Masterplan priority projects to bring those to BPAC in a timely way. Developers could be asked to contribute to the quality of life in the City, providing funds for priority bike/ped projects. Kate Powers, Tyler Nielsen, and Jerry Belleto agreed to be on the subcommittee. Cory suggested that there may be a more active way to get knowledge about development projects than by searching for them online. While San Rafael posts applications for projects before they go to Design Review or Planning, there may be a mechanism to notify the subcommittee when projects come in. Cory will check. Also, Cory is working on a Development Checklist of requirements and recommendations that are in the Climate Action Plan, that every development application larger than a remodel of home will receive. He will add that applicants should check the Bike/Ped Master Plan to make sure projects are in alignment to the Checklist. Tyler reported a bush that needs trimming near a park on Las Gallinas that blocks view for crossing intersection. Cory suggested he report it on the City’s website cityofsanrafael.org. There’s a “Report a Problem” link on the home page where a photo can be uploaded. Phil shared a kudos to Lauren. He uploaded photos of 27 faded sharrows and DPW said they would replace them with thermoplastic within two weeks.