HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-21 Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Final MinutesPage 1 of 3
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
BICYCLE / PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Zoom Teleconference
South San Francisco
6:00 pm
Natalie Gore
Chair
Amir Thagavis
Vice-Chair
Frank McAuley
Committee
Member
Tommy Cheng
Committee
Member
Megan
Woodrich
Committee
Member
Reno Bowen
Committee
Member
Vacant
Committee
Member
Christopher
Espiritu
Secretary
Jennifer
Rosas
Clerk
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Present: Natalie Gore, Chair
Amir Thagavis, Vice Chair
Frank McAuley
Tommy Chheng
Megan Woodrich
Absent: Reno Bowen
STAFF PRESENT:
Planning: Christopher Espiritu, Secretary to BPAC
Economic Development: Jennifer Rosas, Clerk to BPAC
PROCEEDINGS:
Call to Order: 6:03PM by Chair Natalie Gore
Chair Comments: None
Agenda Review: None
Public Participation: None
Public Comments: None
Approval of Minutes: Approved 5-0-0 (December 2, 2020)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 1AFBFCD4-0D73-4C0B-BFFB-7F3307D4D3E8
Page 2 of 3
1. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
1)Annual Election of new Chair and Vice Chair
Committee member McAuley nominated Committee member Thagavis for Chair. Committee member Gore 2nd the motion.
Committee member Gore nominated Committee member McAuley for Vice Chair. Committee member Thagavis 2nd the
motion.
ACTION: Vote for new Chair nominee Thagavis – Approved 4-0-1
Vote for new Vice Chair nominee McAuley – Approved 4-0-1
2)South Airport Blvd & Belle Aire Rd Public Access Improvements Project
Jason Hallare, Senior Engineer with the Engineering Division, displayed a power point on the zoom call and discussed the
project as related to the Bay Conservation Development Committee (BCDC). BCDC permits are required for portions of the
project. Plans were previously brought to BPAC but BCDC requires a formal letter from BPAC confirming support for the project approach. The letter of support would approve some BCDC recommendations for the project to include changes to
improve access to the Bay Trail and some adjustments to the recommendations made by BCDC. The improvements
include bike lanes, high visibility crosswalks, removal of a u-turn lane, curb-out line extensions, bike boxes, and some new
crosswalks which all improve safety and access to the Bay Trail for bikes and pedestrians.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS
•Committee members expressed concern about bike box – want to ensure ample signage to keep cars from
stopping in the bike box. Coming to the bike box at the Belle Aire intersection, the right turn on red for vehicles is blocked by the bikes in the bike box – could the box be kept only on the left turn lane and none painted on the
right lane? Staff noted that this is a two-lane road and left turn bicyclists will line up to the left out of the way
while bicyclists turning right will turn out of the way ahead of the cars. Also, the cyclists need the full two lanes
for the bike box to move from the bike lane along the right side of Belle Aire Rd across the right lane to get into
the left lane. Staff will implement ample signage and will send info letter with communications office to educate
the public about the bike boxes.
•Committee member asked about the curb outs on Belle Aire intersection. There is one being implemented on
one side but not the other. Staff noted this is because there are many large trucks that use this intersection to get
to Costco and from the side with no curb out there is only one turn lane so the trucks’ sweep requires enough
width that limits the possibility of extending the curb out on that side but staff will re-examine to see if there is
any room to adjust the curb further out for pedestrians.
•Committee member asked about the high visibility cross walks, will they be auto-flashing lights? Staff noted that
they will be a push button, similar to what we have on Grand Ave.
•Staff requested vote from BPAC in support of the letter to be drafted from BPAC to BCDC with confirmation of
approval of the recommended changes and adjustments to the BCDC permit from staff.
ACTION: Approved 5-0-0
3)Emails from the public
No emails have been received from the public.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS
•Committee member recommended a book to the committee Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of
Pedestrian Deaths in America by Angie Schmitt which gives a great overview of many topics related to bicyclists
and pedestrian issues that the committee often discusses
•Committee members brought up the new bike lane on El Camino Real near Kaiser – noted that the traffic on that
section is very fast, many busses pass, the bike lane is only painted and not protected so the area does not feel
bike friendly or safe from a user perspective. Can anything more be done for the safety of cyclists? At the time it
was not even painted green, it was just a white line. Committee members thought it should have at least a rough
line divider or additional protections especially because of the problem of cars frequently exceeding the speed
limit there. Staff noted that this was part of the Grand Blvd initiative and that there may still be more
plans/changes being implement but also that El Camino Real is under CalTrans jurisdiction so there may be
some limits to City implementations. Staff will follow up to check on plans and if there are additional
improvements coming or more changes can be requested/made.
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•Committee member wanted to reiterate past comment about Spruce and Canal Street – it is very narrow and notfriendly to bikes and pedestrians as well as it does not seem ADA friendly especially at the small bridge there.
The sidewalk is broken, not easily walkable and should be redone. Staff will check in with Public Works and
follow up.
•Committee member also brought up Linden Ave – there are a lot of large trucks double parking on Linden which
causes cars to go over yellow line and not enough room for bikes to pass through. Staff noted this is an issue of
parking enforcement and the need for proper loading zones for vehicles but we are looking into ways we can
alleviate the problem.
•Committee member mentioned new housing development at S. Airport and San Mateo Ave and that there was a
study session about using the underground tunnel near there for bikes and pedestrians but the access there is
difficult, seems unsafe and should be studied further before it progresses. Staff confirmed that there are many
considerations being made but agrees that the ped/bike access has been noted as not having enough width in
that tunnel. It is not going to progress further without more studies and considerations – it is being looked at
with the new General Plan and will be brought back to BPAC before any actions are made further in the review
process.
STAFF COMMENTS
•Chris Espiritu, Secretary to the committee, noted BPAC will take time in the next meeting to review 2020 actions and take a look forward for 2021. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and patience throughout the last year in our
transition/changes to the online meeting forum.
•Jennifer Rosas, Clerk, noted that she is stepping down due to school obligations and a new Clerk will begin at the
next meeting – it will be one of the admins from the Engineering Division.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 6:49 PM
__________________________________________________________Christopher Espiritu Natalie GoreBPAC Secretary BPAC Chairperson
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