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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-20 Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Final Minutes Page 1 of 6 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE / PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 GoToMeeting Teleconference South San Francisco 6:00 pm Natalie Gore Chair Amir Thagavis Vice-Chair Dan Sherman Committee Member Frank McAuley Committee Member Kristina Anderson Committee Member Tommy Chheng Committee Member VACANT Committee Member Christopher Espiritu Secretary Ines Isassi Mendez Clerk COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Present: Natalie Gore, Chair Amir Thagavis, Vice Chair (Absent) Frank McAuley Dan Sherman Kristine Anderson Tommy Chheng STAFF PRESENT: Planning: Sailesh Mehra Christopher Espiritu Engineering: Bianca Liu, Jason Hallare Economic Development: Nell Selander Ines Isassi Mendez PROCEEDINGS: Call to Order: 6:01 by Chair Natalie Gore Chair Comments: None. Agenda Review: None Public Participation: None Public Comments: Sandhya Laddha, from Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Approval of Minutes: Approved (May 6, 2020), as written DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48 Page 2 of 6 1. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS Presentation on shared street concepts to accommodate social distancing, by Christopher Espiritu, Transportation Planner, Planning Division Mr. Espiritu gave a presentation to the Committee in how other Cities have gone about their program for Shared Streets concepts. He talked about the cities of Redwood City and City of San Mateo and their programs. Redwood City: Redwood City approved a, or launched a pilot program back in May first, which identified about 10 streets or so. And approximately about five miles of streets within Redwood City that would essentially be modified to temporarily restrict, through traffic, through their streets, with physical barriers and signage. Essentially, in those streets, given that there won't be any vehicles, would then allow a lot more space for bicycles and pedestrians and anyone else that wants to use the street as long as you're not in a vehicle. There will not any permanent changes or modifications to the public right of way, so it's something that can be implemented at minimum cost to a city, and essentially. Slow streets implementation, it can be moving fairly quickly. San Mateo: Launched their Safe Streets pilot program back in April, in which they did the same thing for a few streets. In the city, especially, the streets hugging the Bay Meadows, that essentially would be open to bicycles pedestrians, and even to the point where pedestrian signal adjustments were made on certain streets to accommodate for, or additional foot traffic. And, and vehicle traffic was rerouted to other nearby streets. City of Palo Alto: They enacted a shared streets pilot program, which launched in May; and they identified several, at least, 3 specific corridors where they wanted to promote this program. At the same thing was done, they closed the road vehicles, providing bicycle and pedestrian access only. Given these corridors did not prohibit cross traffic from passing through, so essentially did not lead to severe congestion given that there wasn't much congestion anyways; and at the same time, it didn't result in a lot of rerouting for local businesses or residents that live in these areas. Foster City: Further down, we know of the friendliest streets pilot in in Foster City, which dedicated about 1.75 miles of Road, which fit more to their geographic considerations. Because they will they essentially opened up the street right next to the bay trail and just expanded the use of that trail on the Blvd. right next to it. So, traffic was essentially unimpeded. City of Oakland: The program was launched back in April, and since launching the pilot program, they have installed approximately about 20 miles of slow streets corridors, which addressed a lot of their DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48 Page 3 of 6 resident’s needs, and especially those that did not have direct or easy access to parks or open spaces. What Oakland made sure to do was essentially that while these, the streets were close to the traffic, local traffic, emergency vehicles and bus routes, which were pretty much all over the city of Oakland was not affected by these closures. And they seem to have pretty good results from that program so far. He spoke about the different benefits of getting this program of shared street for South San Francisco; and has come tonight to request input form Committee about this new program to the city, which will be going to City Council on early June. Planning will receive guidance as to what is the best way for this program and Planning will bring the new plan to follow for the Shared Street Program to the next BPAC Meeting for further feedback. Ctte. Comments: • Any ideas about closing portions of Grand and or portions of linden? o Christopher Espiritu (CE): this will be discussed later on • Will restaurant be allowed to open much quicker? o Sailesh Mehra (SM): restaurants are open, and we (Planning) are presenting a whole range of options to City Council; our endeavor is to create enough options for the businesses to be more viable. o SM: all restaurant are open now for takeout only; with this program will allow businesses to have an extra option • Is this program design for the business corridor or will include the residential areas? to give more room for residents to walk their neighborhoods? o SM; mostly design for downtown o SM: this discussion can happen in the near future to discuss about street closures for neighborhoods • This is a great idea!!; but for families with small kids gets very risky … like the idea but has to be implemented taking into considerations all risks involved • For the downtown corridor, how would be the disruption of the bus routes accommodated?; there is a lot of residents that use the buses for working and traveling outside the City o CE: this is a very important factor in this plan and will be discussed in our option proposal to Council, thanks • Are the business in favor of this program? o This is being surveyed right now through the Chamber of commerce, and we will have a results to share with City Council; but I believe the businesses are in support of this program. • Are the businesses in support of looking the street parking? o CE: can’t officially comment on this at this time o SM: This idea will be another option for City Council to decide in their City Council Meeting • This idea is great, and it might more supportive for more outdoor dining on Grand Av. DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48 Page 4 of 6 Planning Manager, Sailesh Mehra , invited all BPAC members to attend the June 10th, 2020, Study Session, when this item will be heard, and Planning will share with BPAC the results of the Study Session. Chair, Gore requested item to be brought back to BPAC for further discussion about Shared Streets Program and also to discuss about best use of our streets. For the Share Streets Program for residential (if options is accepted) Committee Comments: • How would the streets be chosen for this program • Can a neighborhood choose the street to be open? • Can Chose Street be closed for a whole week? • Can a neighborhood be designated a pedestrian only Comments from Public: Ms. Sandhya Laddha, SVBC, There is a survey already done, as to what street would like to be nominated. This survey can be shared with staff, on their request. 2. Emails from the public: Deputy Director of ECD, Nell Selander presented two emails from the public to share with the Committee. • Email from resident sharing support for the Shared street Program; along with this email there is as attached a letter addressed to Mayor Garbarino, and City Council in support of this program. • Second email from resident: thanking the City for Bikes sharing markers painted on Hillside. Committee comments: • I would like to request that staff reach out to the resident who wrote about the markers painted on Hillside and inquire about any more ideas in how to improve streets in our neighborhoods. • NS: will reaching out to resident (painted markers on Hillside) and get back to committee, next meeting. COMMITTEE COMMENTS • Cttee. Member, would like to ask about Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, where are we in the process? o Nell Selander, Alta Planning is in the process of integrating all the feedback collected and creating a draft of the plan to be presented to BPAC, Planning Commission, and City Council. DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48 Page 5 of 6 STAFF COMMENTS Sailesh Mehra, Planning Manager , as part of the new process of merging of the Commissions, we would like to see if the BPAC Meeting can be moved to the second Tuesday of each month; if your schedules permits. The reason for this change is because the other two commissions have a resolution that binds them to meet on Tuesday (second Tuesday of each month). We will of course like to hear your feedback as for the change of day for your meeting; and of course if it is not possible we will try to consider moving the other two commissions to the first Wednesday of each month. Natalie Gore, Chair, What is the reason for the three commission to meet all together in one day? Sailesh Mehra, we feel that these three commissions hare a symbiotic relationship among these three board and commissions; they all work discussing traffic, transportation, parking, pedestrian and bike traffic. Dan Sherman, what will be the schedule for these meetings: Sailesh Mehra, 4 PM – Parking Commission 5 PM – Traffic Safety 6 PM - BPAC Chair, Gore, we will take a formal vote in our next meeting. Meeting adjourned: 6:46 PM DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48 Page 6 of 6 Committee Comments No comments from Committee Staff Comments: Senior Engineer Jason Hallare made a presentation to the Committee regarding the construction of the North Access Road, located between Costco and SFO and the storm drain covers that were being selected for that section of roadway. Committee member comments on the proposed project: 1. Will this box be sturdy enough to support the weight of bikes? (There is a metal crossbar underneath that makes be very strong and supportive of the weight.) 2. Good measure to make this box more durable and strong for the roads; also the new model will prevent tires getting trap in this drain box. 3. Will there be some signage to alert bicyclist about this box? – like for example “rough terrain ahead”; or to paint it in different color? Secretary Selander introduced Senior Planner Christopher Espiritu, who will take over the BPAC Secretary role. Senior Planner Espiritu comes from the City of San Francisco and has great experience in transportation planning. Chief Planner Sailesh Mehra explained new changes to several City boards and commissions. The Planning Division will now manage BPAC, in addition to the Traffic and Safety Commission and the Parking Place Commission. Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM. _____________________________ _____________________________ Christopher Espiritu Natalie Gore BPAC Secretary BPAC Chairperson DocuSign Envelope ID: B28CE60E-1154-4BC7-B01A-6429AEE63D48