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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2019.01.101 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Approved Minutes Regular Meeting of Thursday, January 10, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 3. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Bush, Israelit, Londer, Martos, Wettan MEMBERS ABSENT: 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) December 13, 2018 Meeting Minutes Motion: To approve the minutes of December 13, 2018 with the following edits: • Update the title with the correct date of December 13, 2018; and • Clarify the motion related to the parking restriction on North Carolan Avenue. M/S/C: Londer/Wettan; 5/0/0 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS – NON-AGENDA No initial public comments received. Chair Bush reopened public comment after item 6a. Maria Realyvasquez of 260 Crescent Drive requested two additional residential parking passes to accommodate four registered vehicles. 6. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS a) Community B/PAC Update (Informational Only) Ms. Beatty provided an update regarding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan efforts. She indicated the kick-off meeting is scheduled for next month with the project consultant to begin discussions. In preparation for the kick-off meeting, Commissioner Wettan inquired 2 about the guidance B/PAC plans to provide to the consultant. Ms. Beatty indicated that bicycle and pedestrian needs will be addressed, in addition to focusing on accessibility for all and ensuring the plan promotes durability and evolve as needs change. B/PAC will also plan to attend the subsequent TSPC meeting following the kick-off meeting. b) California Drive Complete Streets Enforcement Mr. Wong stated the intent of the discussion was not to tell the Police Department how to enforce the California Vehicle Code, but to look at options to educate the public and consider additional measures, such as an electronic message board. Chair Bush opened public comment. Ms. Beatty inquired if the City has a process to determine if new facilities are being used as intended as changes to the infrastructure requires changes in previous behaviors. She encouraged a police presence in order to determine so. Arvind Raghavan inquired if there was a way to officially report the incident that recently occurred on California Drive where a bicyclist was clipped by a vehicle. Mr. Wong indicated an over-the-counter report was taken and the driver was identified and educated by BPD staff. Sergeant Terada confirmed that unless the violation is observed by BPD, they cannot issue a citation. Commissioner Wettan inquired whether any patterns of concern have been identified as he did not feel they were tackling a specific problem. As a result, Ms. Beatty shared the following: • Cars frequently go over the double-yellow line to get around an obstruction as you approach the Broadway intersection, which is forcing cars into the bike lane; and • The backup becomes bad southbound leading cars to speed down Laguna as a cut through. Arvind Raghavan stated cars encroach into the bike lanes when they shouldn’t be. Mr. Velasco stated by design, certain locations do not allow for the three-foot buffer. He encouraged the City look at the location north of Dufferin and reallocate the space to allow for adequate buffers. Chair Bush closed public comment. Commissioner Londer acknowledged there are locations along California Drive that do not physically provide enough space to follow the three-foot buffer rule. He stated cars will have to follow bicyclists until there is an appropriate space to pass. He suggested using educational videos as a means to inform the general public. 3 Commissioner Martos requested that Mr. Wong generate a list to identify all “pinch points” to determine if any measures, such as restriping could be implemented. He also requested Mr. Wong elaborate on the idea of using changeable message signs. Mr. Wong explained an electronic sign could be used further north on California to read “Three foot clearance is the law” or something along those lines. In addition, Mr. Wong suggested using eNews to educate the public. Commissioner Martos suggested consideration of signs near the pinch points. Commissioner Wettan acknowledged the concern surrounding the circumstances approaching the Broadway intersection where northbound vehicles are encroaching into the dedicated bike lane. He felt this was the most concerning situation identified and suggested it be tackled first. Commissioner Wettan suggested restriping the roadway as drivers approach the Broadway intersection, but also stated the heavily traveled intersection may just be a “dicey” location for bicyclists considering the amount of congestion. He also suggested narrowing the lanes earlier northbound on California Drive to create additional space for bicyclists. In closing, he stated they should do as much enforcement and education as options to modify the roadway are limited. Vice-Chair Israelit felt with the current congestion, there is much temptation for drivers to use the bike lane to bypass the line of cars traveling straight through the intersection at Broadway. She felt there have been some unintended consequences surrounding the California Drive Complete Streets Project and the City should consider reevaluating the configuration. She also agreed that it is a very “dicey” location for bicyclists. In terms of education, Vice-Chair Israelit was in favor of using electronic roadway signs, in addition to using the City’s newsletter with illustrations. Commissioner Londer suggested selective enforcement at this troublesome location. He felt a police presence may deter drivers from unsafe driving patterns. Overall, he stated the three E’s was the ideal approach – Engineering, Education and Enforcement. Commissioner Wettan suggested fixed signs at select locations stating something such as “passing bicyclists within three feet is illegal and subject to fines.” Mr. Wong commented about the option to use NextDoor for more educational outlets. In addition, the idea to utilize the Police Department’s media outlets for education was agreed upon. Mr. Wong stated the signal timing at Broadway and California could be a mitigation measure to help with the cars backing up in the southbound direction. Chair Bush inquired about using a barrier (plastic pylons) on the double yellow lines to prohibit illegal driving movements to which Mr. Wong said he would explore the idea. In closing, Chair Bush stated the broader perspective begs the question of moving to a Class I facility considering the number of complexities and unintended consequences of the current facility. 4 c) 2019 TSPC Priority List The Commissioners went through an iterative process to prioritize their efforts for 2019 and yielded the following results: Rank Topic 1 Downtown Parking and Access 2 Bike\Ped Plan Update: fwd to BPAC 3 School Traffic and Safety Issues 4 Neighborhood Traffic Calming 5 Citywide Transportation Alternatives 6 Electric Vehicles 7 Broadway Parking 8 Bike Share Feedback 9 Parking and traffic considerations w/ Planning 10 Joint meeting with City Council 11 Halloween Traffic Impacts (July) 7. INFORMATION ITEMS a) Engineering Division Reports Mr. Wong provided an update on the following Engineering activities: • California Drive Roundabout – Stage 3 is underway and the overall project is on schedule for completion in January 2019, weather permitting. The majority of the electrical system has been installed. The Contractor is completing irrigation and landscaping work for the remainder of December. Residents can find additional information on the project website: http://www.burlingame.org/roundabout. • Lime Bike – November data attached. • Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan Update – City Council has approved the agreement with Alta Planning + Design for the project. The project will involve community meetings and will include the TSPC and Community B/PAC. • McKinley School Turn Restriction – Working with BSD staff and McKinley staff to notice and implement improvements beginning next year. • TSPC Priority List (Updated December 2018): TSPC Led Effort 1 Downtown Parking Strategies 3/8/18: Item 6b 5 2 Downtown Modal Access 3 Grant Opportunities 7/12/18: Item 6b 4 Bike\Ped Plan Update: fwd. to BPAC 12/13/18: Item 7a 5 SR2S Review 7/12/18: Item 6b 6 School Traffic Issues 12/13/18: Item 7a 7 California Complete Streets 9/13/18: Item 7a 8 Neighborhood Traffic Calming 9 Broadway Parking 9/13/18: Item 6c 10 Public Shuttles/Transit 5/10/18: Item 6c 11 ECR Corridor (ECR Task Force) 12 Bay Trail 13 Intro to Paving 5/10/18: Item 6b 14 Halloween Traffic Impacts (July) 10/11/18: Item 7a 15 Parking and traffic considerations w/ Planning Staff Update via Report 1 Caltrans’ ECR/Floribunda 2 Hoover School Update 9/13/18: Item 6b 3 Downtown Parking Strategies 9/13/18: Item 7a 4 City Hall Traffic Calming/Floribunda 5 California Roundabout 9/13/18: Item 7a 6 General Plan – Circulation Element 7 Bike\Ped Plan Update: fwd. to BPAC 12/13/18: Item 7a 8 Rec Center Parking 9 Carolan Complete Streets Update 3/8/18: Item 7a 10 Grant Opportunities 7/12/18: Item 6b 11 Grade Separation 9/13/18: Item 7a 12 San Mateo's Peninsula Ave OC 13 School Speed Limit Updates 7/12/18: Item 6c 14 Burlingame Point - Bay Trail 15 School Safety Improvements 7/12/18: Item 6b 16 California Complete Streets 9/13/18: Item 7a 2018 Agenda Item Action Status 1 Chap. 13.52 of BMC Adopted 2 Council Direction Regarding Improving Short-Term Parking in the Burlingame Avenue Downtown Area Staff working with PEO staff to notice and implement changes 3 Citywide Parking Restrictions (BMC 13.36.020) Adopted 6 4 TSPC’s Lot N Parking Structure Recommendation TSPC recommendation included as part of December 10th Planning Commission Meeting 5 School Speed Reductions Staff working with BPD and school staff to notice and implement changes b) Police Department Reports Sergeant Laura Terada reported 27 vehicle accidents during the month of December. Of those 27 accidents, she indicated 9 were classified as minor injury accidents and no major injuries. She stated the primary collision factor for the reporting period was unsafe backing or starting. c) Farmer’s Market Commissioner Londer indicated TSPC has the green light to attend the Farmer’s Market on January 27, 2019. He stated he would send an email reminder as the date approaches to determine interest. Commissioner Wettan and Commissioner Martos committed to attend during the morning hours. d) TSPC Chair/Commissioner’s Communications Commissioner Wettan noted the “insane hot-roding” on Burlingame Avenue on more than one occasion. He expressed his concern regarding safety and noise generated by it. 7. COMMISSION & SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS a) Downtown Parking (Martos & Wettan) Commissioner Martos indicated he and Commissioner Wettan have brainstormed parking strategies for approximately three years and have implemented almost all of them. Commissioner Martos went on to explain that there is a lot of unused spaces in the private lots and thought the merchants may have an interest to provide some of those spaces for public parking at a profit. Commissioner Martos shared that the private merchants were unwilling to consider opening their private lots. Commissioner Martos said his contact at Citifyd suggested looking at the issue holistically by meeting with the downtown merchants. The meeting would be a discussion on how to alleviate parking concerns in the downtown area as private merchants indicated that small profits were not enough incentive to turn over their spaces. Commissioner Wettan stated when Lots F and N are offline, the City parking capacity will be greatly impacted. He suggested going back to the stakeholders given the upcoming construction to Lots F and N in an effort to inquire about other ideas to collectively tackle the parking inventory concerns. 7 Commissioner Martos inquired about the parking garage at the newly construction building at 225 California. He also explained that Citifyd agreed to conduct a Beta test in that particular parking garage for free. Mr. Wong agreed to obtain the capacity of the parking garage at 225 California Drive. Commissioner Martos stated the City will need to decide if the parking will be free or at a cost. The Commissioners appeared to be in agreeance that other strategies can be deployed in an effort to encourage people to use alternative modes of transportation to the downtown area. Chair Bush inquired about next steps to which Commissioner Wettan suggested the TSPC approach the Mayor to ensure she is on board with TSPC approaching the merchants holistically. Chair Bush indicated he would email the Mayor. b) Broadway Parking (Bush & Israelit) No update. c) School Traffic (Israelit & Londer) No update. d) Citywide Transportation Alternatives (Londer & Wettan) No update. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan 9. ADJOURNMENT 9:51 p.m.