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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2013.11.141 The City of Burlingame CALIFORNIA 94010-3997 www.burlingame.org TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, November 14, 2013 Commissioners Present: Nicklas Akers, Chair Caroline Serrato, Vice-Chair Jeff Londer Howard Wettan Commissioners Absent: Mark Noworolski Staff Present: Augustine Chou, Engineering Program Manager Andrew Wong, Transportation Engineer Sergeant Jay Kiely, Police Department Joanne Louie, Administrative Secretary Visitors: William Jorajuric Pat Giorni Drew Dara-Abrams Ann Wallach Mark Haberecht Chris Bush John Martos Anthony Azzollini Steve Pariani 1. CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. 3. ROLL CALL. 4 of 5 Commissioners present. Commissioner Noworolski absent. 4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4.1 Commissioner Caroline Serrato – End of Term & Resignation Chair Akers presented a proclamation to Vice Chair Serrato and thanked her for serving on this Commission and her years of service to the community. Chair Akers also acknowledged the presence of Captain Wollman and Officer Kempel from the Police Department, and Planning Commissioner Nirmala Bandrapalli in the audience. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Motion: To accept the minutes of October 10, 2013 as submitted. M/S/C: Londer/Serrato; 4/0/0 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS Drew Abrams explained that he was a recent Burlingame resident and wanted to speak about the need to improve bicycle routes as well as pedestrian safety improvements in the downtown area. Pat Giorni spoke and addressed Mr. Abrams concerns regarding the City’s bicycle map. Ms. Giorni said that the maps were printed in 2002; and, that more bike lanes will be installed within the next year. Ms. Giorni also commented that getting to the Millbrae Caltrain/BART station on California Drive has been much improved. She also wanted to encourage people to attend the Caltrans meeting next Tuesday in the Lane Room to discuss El Camino Real and Floribunda Avenue intersection. Manito Velasco commented that he still struggles while travelling on California Drive. He is concerned for safety and shared photos of four intersections with left-turn pockets where he says drivers are swerving over those left-turn pocket lanes. Mr. Velasco stated that he believes it is a design issue and questions the value of these left-turn pockets. He also posed a question about what might happen if they were removed. 7. CURRENT BUSINESS 7.1 Balboa Avenue – 1400 & 1500 Block Traffic Concerns Chair Akers and Commissioner Wettan recused themselves from this discussion. Vice Chair Serrato opened the floor for public comments. Mark Haberecht provided a recap of the traffic, speeding, safety and parking issues on these blocks of Balboa Avenue. He also did not feel the radar trailer was placed at an optimal location. Mr. Haberecht also spoke on behalf of Samantha MacPhail who suggests a stop sign. Ann Wallach was present to speak and concurred with Mr. Haberecht. Pat Giorni stated that she agreed that these blocks on Balboa Avenue are a problem, although she did not feel the conditions would meet the stop sign warrants. Ms. Giorni expressed the need to look at permitted parking for these blocks. 3 Public comment period was closed. Mr. Chou stated that staff has been addressing this issue on an on-going basis; and, that staff has also working with the Lincoln School administration regarding the traffic situation on Balboa near the school. Mr. Wong reported that stop sign warrant studies were currently being completed, but that the accident history conditions did not meet warrants requirements. He added that the collection of traffic volume conditions data was still pending. Mr. Wong commented that another option to address the concerns on these blocks might be to have residents volunteer for the Neighborhood Speed Watch Program. It was recommended that interested residents should contact Mr. Chou for further information. Vice-Chair Serrato asked the staff to provide follow-up with updates on the matter of a radar volunteer program and a residential permit program. 7.2 Ray Drive/El Camino Real Intersection Safety – Discussion Steve Pariani stated that this intersection wa s dangerous due in part to the high speed of vehicles from Trousdale Drive. Mr. Pariani said he would like to see a crossing guard at this intersection because of the number of children from Burlingame Intermediate School and Lincoln School. Tony Azzollini commented that he was concerned about how the traffic moves from Balboa Avenue and Ray Avenue because there are all the “facets of cars” merging together to get to the signal light at Ray and El Camino. Mr. Azzollini stated that he is very interested in the Neighborhood Speed watch volunteer program and stated that he knows 20 other dads who would volunteer. Pat Giorni commented that the traffic signal light timing needed to be changed. She said there was not enough time to safely cross for bicyclists and strollers. Ms. Giorni stated that there was a need to time the signal for a 5-lane crossing. Mr. Wong reported that the traffic signal at Ray Drive and El Camino Real is a Caltrans maintained signal; and, that Caltrans has added some additional “green time”; however, the all-red signal indication was not within their policy. He said that Caltrans would continue to look at other options. Mr. Chou stated that crossing guard locations are determined by the Burlingame School District; and, that funding may be limited. Mr. Chou said that he would inform the school district of this matter. He also added that another resource in the school district might be Mr. Rusty Hopewell, who is the coordinator for Safe Routes to Schools program. Ms. Giorni commented that she recalled the Safe Routes to Schools program being tried two years ago, but that she has not seen any progress from this program. Ms. Giorni suggested that the Department of Education be contacted to learn what the current program entails and how it could be instituted in this city. Mr. Wong sated that he would continue to work with the School District and Caltrans on these matters, and report back what criteria might be required by Caltrans for them to consider an all-red signal phase. Mr. Wong also noted that the Safe Route to Schools is a grant program. 7.3 TSPC Areas of Emphasis for 2013 – Discussion 7.3.1 Municipal Code Review and Update • BMC Chapters 13.36 – Discussion Discussion occurred regarding Chapter 13.36 with the following items possibly needing further attention: - 13.36.010 No parking at any time. - 13.36.030 One-hour parking. - 13.36.043 Ten-hour parking. - 13.36.045 Angle parking. - 13.36.047 Limited height parking zones. - 13.36.049 Moving vehicles in public parking lots or facilities and use of public parking lots or facilities for storage of vehicles. - 13.36.065 Parking of commercial vehicles prohibited in residential districts. - 13.36.070 Preferential parking zones. 7.3.2 Parking Policy Review No report. 7.3.3 Traffic Studies and Collision Data • Accident and Citation Data – Discussion Sergeant Kiely and Officer Kempel presented a recently compiled map of collisions involving injuries. The map indicated the “W here, When and Who” (bicyclist, pedestrian, vehicle, fatality, DUI) of collisions. They reported that this mapping system would allow traffic enforcement to focus in areas accordingly. A member of the public offered to provide information on UC Berkeley SafeTREC, a transportation injury mapping system, if relevant. Sergeant Kiely informed the Commission that City’s six checkpoints are currently funded through a grant from UC Berkeley SafeTREC. 7.3.4 Pedestrian Corridors Mr. Chou reported that the City’s grant application for funding the El Camino Real 5 sidewalk/pedestrian walkway (near the Mills/Peninsula Hospital and Ray Drive) was evaluated but did not make the funding list. 7.4 Outreach Events – Discussion Commissioner Londer sought input on the Commission’s continued participation in the Farmers Market events. It was agreed that it serves as a great outreach event and Commissioner Londer would follow-up with the City Clerk for dates. Commissioner Londer stated that he would also like to have a future discussion about having biking, pedestrian, and traffic safety workshops; possibly partnering with other agencies, such as Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance or Parks and Recreation. 8. Information/Discussion Items from Commission and Staff 8.1 Engineering Division Reports – Reports and/or updates on Public Works project and activities 8.1.1 Requests/comments/responses to public traffic concerns (stop signs, crosswalks, speed control, parking) • Electronic speed feedback display signs Mr. Wong reported that the electronic speed feedback signs would be dynamic and provide feedback at two locations each, on Trousdale Drive and California Drive. He reported that the contractor has currently applied for an encroachment permit with the City to do the final installation work. • Non-standard stop signs along Trousdale Drive Mr. Wong reported that the accident history data at intersections at Loyola Drive, Marco Polo Way, Ogden Avenue and Toledo Avenue did meet stop sign warrants; but, that staff is now examining the traffic volume conditions as a next step in the process. • Burlingame Avenue traffic/pedestrian safety concerns Mr. Wong reported that at the September meeting, there was a request by a resident regarding changing the speed limit on Burlingame Avenue from the prima facie limit of 25 mph to 15 mph. Mr. Wong said that this consideration would be deferred until the completion of the streetscape project so that staff could do a comprehensive evaluation. Mr. Wong reported that the crosswalk at Chapin Avenue and Primrose Road will be repaved and repainted along with a high-visibility pedestrian sign. • Streetline’s “Parker” App for Burlingame Parking Lots Mr. Wong reported that the “Parker” Streetline smartphone app is now active for all Android phones. 8.1.2 Construction and Design projects • Burlingame Avenue Streetscape Project Mr. Wong reported that the project is 40% complete. The 1300 block will be completed by Thanksgiving and the entire street will be open during the holidays. • Bike Route Improvement Project Mr. Wong reported that the striping work for the East/W est bike project is now underway. Contractor, Chrisp Company, has laid out a number of locations where the sharrows will be. • El Camino Real/Floribunda Avenue Traffic Concerns The Caltrans meeting on this topic will be on next Tuesday, at the Lane Room. 8.1.3 School Traffic Issues No report. 8.2 Police Department Reports – Reports and/or updates on Police Department program and activities 8.2.1 General/Selective Traffic Enforcement Report Sergeant Kiely reported that the OTS county-wide grant event was kicked-off last month. He stated that it was very productive and received great media coverage. Sergeant Kiely also reported that another grant was submitted last month to State Farm Insurance to equip the City’s speed trailer with fire and police dispatching capability. Lastly, Sergeant Kiely reported that the Police staff did data mining for the STEP program. They were only able to sample 2012 Burlingame and San Bruno data and found a 10% reduction in injury collisions since the start of the STEP program. 8.3 Commissioners’ Comments and Concerns None. 7 9. COMMUNICATIONS 9.1 Manito Velasco • Bike Safety Concern on California Drive • Webinar on Urban Street Design Guide 9.2 Adam Arenstein • Adding Bike Lanes on Bayshore Highway 9.3 Other Communications None. 10. COMMISSION & COMMITTEE REPORTS 10.1 Burlingame Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory committee (B/PAC) Mr. Wong reported that the committee discussed the El Camino Real/Floribunda Avenue issue. He also reported that the group discussed a grant application for new bicycle racks; and, that the B/PAC members needed to help staff determine the number and locations for these racks. 11. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 11.1 Howard Avenue Long-term and Short-term Parking (1400 block) 11.2 Burlingame Downtown Parking Structure Discussion 11.3 Electric Charging Stations Chair Akers stated that as is not uncommon, and with his fellow Commissioners’ concurrence, the December meeting would be cancelled unless the Commission members believed that a need might arise. 12. ADJOURNMENT 9:10 p.m.