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The Regular Meeting of the Valley Transportation Authoritys (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was called to order at 6:25 p.m. by Chairperson Simons in Room B-104, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present
Eric Anderson
Cedric de La Beaujardiere
Bob Eltgroth
Mahmoud Kamangar
David Kobayashi
William F. (Bill) Manry
Rob Means
Curt Riffle
Jim Stallman
David Simons, Chairperson
Al Slechta
John Sullivan, Vice Chairperson
Bart Thielges
Joe Walton

Members Absent
Steven Aufdermauer
Marc Jensen

A quorum was present.

There were no Public Presentations

M/S/C (Stallman/Thielges) to approve the Minutes of March 12, 2003, with the following corrections: Page 2, Paragraph 5, change Middy to Mitty, Page 2, Paragraph 6, add the language LRT after Capitol Corridor, Page 3, Paragraph 3, change motion language to reflect that VTA investigate opportunities to move the Bernardo Undercrossing Project forward before Measure B funds run out, and Page 2, Paragraph 4, note that Member Kobayashi also made the request for discussion regarding the Traffic Control Plan.

There was no report from staff.

There was no report from the Chairperson.

Dawn Cameron, County Consultant Transportation Planner and Dan Collin, Project Manager, provided an overview of the Comprehensive County Expressway Study - Draft Implementation Plan Bicycle and Pedestrian Elements.   Ms. Cameron reported that the County Board of Supervisors released the Draft Plan on March 25, 2003, for public review and comment.  Ms. Cameron announced an Open House scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2003, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Bracher Elementary School, 2700 Chromite Drive, Santa Clara and urged all to attend.  She noted that the comment period ends on May 14, 2003.  Ms. Cameron provided a brief overview on the Pedestrian, Maintenance and Bicycle Elements of the Draft Plan.

Committee discussion ensued and the following input was provided:

  1. Noted inconsistency in the map key coloring.

  2.  Expressed concern regarding the lack of bicycle/pedestrian lanes on the bridge that crosses Foothill Expressway in Palo Alto.

  3.  Expressed concern regarding delineation/designation and a preference for the use of signage was noted.

  4.  Suggested that finding a funding source for safe routes to schools may be helpful.

  5.  Page 2, Item #6, should call out maintenance of vegetation as well. In addition, maintenance of clear shoulder areas in expressways should be part of the Maintenance Element. 

  6.  Pedestrian Element, Table 1, Sidewalks, Lawrence Section, the improvements listed should be Tasman to Palomos on the east side; Tasman to Moffett Park Drive on the East Side; Lakebird to Lakehaven on west side. 

  7.  Pedestrian Element, Table 2, Mary and Central crossing should be added to this list. The southeast corner crossing has a free right turn onto eastbound Central. Visibility crossing the turn lane is very limited and should be improved. 

  8.  Page 1, Bicycle Element, suggested the wording be changed to "the expressways should not be used by children or novice bicyclists" or "inexperienced bicyclists should not be encouraged to use the expressways". 

  9.  Page 2, Objective #2, should also be listed in the Pedestrian Element. 

10.  Page 2, Guideline 3, this item would be helpful for on ramp entrances, but it wouldn't be helpful for expressway off ramps. The requirement for off-ramps should include placement of the R 4-4 "begin right turn, yield to bikes" sign. 

11.       Noted that bicycle space on Lawrence Expressway from Kifer to El Camino Real is very limited. The Bike Element does not show any plans to improve that. 

The Committee expressed appreciation for the comprehensive report.

Ms. Cameron advised the Committee that the complete Draft Implementation Plan is available on the Studys web site: www.expressways.info.   Comments may be submitted through the web site or by calling the Studys hotline at 408-544-2476, extension 333.

On order of Chairperson Simons, there being no objection, the Comprehensive County Expressway Study - Draft Implementation Plan Bicycle and Pedestrian Elements, was received and filed. 

Members Walton, Anderson, and Eltgroth volunteered to serve on the Nominating Committee to prepare a slate of candidates for BPAC Chairperson and
Vice-Chairperson for 2003- 2004.

Casey Emoto, Senior Transportation Engineer, reported that the statewide Congestion Management Agency (CMA) legislation requires that a uniform method be used to evaluate LOS on each element (i.e., urban arterials, freeways and rural highways) of CMA roadways.   The use of uniform methods to evaluate LOS provides the CMA and local jurisdictions with a common basis to make capital improvement, land development, and transportation planning decisions for CMA roadway facilities.  Staff recommends the purchase of a software upgrade to TRAFFIX 7.6 the latest version of the software currently being used.

Upon query by Member Thielges, Mr. Emoto responded that Bicycle LOS could be added.

M/S/C (Walton/Thielges) to approve the Update of Traffic Level of Services (LOS) Analysis Guidelines with the caveat that the mitigation of motor vehicle LOS include a policy of not negatively impacting other modes of traffic.

The Agenda was taken out of Order.

David Sausjord, Revenue Services Manager, reported on the current fare change process to address a piece of VTAs financial shortfall.  Mr. Sousjord reported that modifications were made to Senior/Disabled Fares after extensive review and input from the VTA Board of Directors, Committees and Public Outreach.  Mr. Sausjord distributed a document entitled Northern California Transit Operator Fare Comparison and provided a brief overview.

On order of Chairperson Simons, there being no objection, the Proposed Transit and ADA Paratransit Fare Modifications for Implementation
August 1, 2003 was received and filed.

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner, reported that 70 percent of the annual allocation received by TDA is guaranteed to Member Agencies based on population and may be used for eligible projects, 30 percent is dedicated to projects in the Countywide Tier 1 Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP).   TDA Article 3 allocations expire after two fiscal years, plus the year in which they are programmed.  If an Agency is unable to complete a Guarantee project within that period, the Agency may rescind the project and reallocate the funds to another project.  Staff recommends $293,000 in TDA funds from the BEP Tier 1 to Palo Alto for the Homer Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project.

M/S/C (Stallman/Walton) Project Priorities for the 2003/04 Countywide Transportation Development Act (TDA Article 3) Program was received and filed. 

Jerry Rosenquist, Fiscal Resources Deputy Director, distributed a document entitled VTA FY 2003/04 & 2004/05 Budget Information and provided an overview of the four page report.  He noted that economic recovery has not materialized.

Committee discussion ensued relative to service reduction, Ad-Hoc Financial Stability Committee recommendations, debt issuance, the negative response to a payroll tax, negative investment and advertising earnings, and the possibility of using VTAs reserves to avoid service reductions while immediately moving to implement a payroll tax was observed as a possible solution.

On order of Chairperson Simons, there being no objection, the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Years 2003-04 and 2004-05 received and filed.

Chairperson Simons noted that on Page 5 of 5, City of Sunnyvale, Danbury Place, VTA Response, eighth bullet, 12-foot wide combined parking and bicycle travel lanes may not be adequate and should be updated.

On order of Chairperson Simons, there being no objection, the Proactive Congestion Management Program (CMP) Reviewed and Approved Projects Monthly Status Report was received and filed.

Carolyn Gonot, Congestion Management Deputy Director, announced the cancellation of the June 11, 2003 BPAC Meeting.

Member Walton announced that the Mary Avenue Bridge Overcrossing contract has been awarded to Biggs Cordosa.  He further announced that Bike-to-Work-Week raffle tickets are available and on Bike-to-Work-Day coffee and cake will be served at the community center.

Member Means announced that Palo Alto conducted a survey at Stanford Research Park to gather data on how many people would use mass transit if it were readily available, out of sixty employees surveyed eighty percent indicated that they would use an alternate mode of travel if it were readily available.

On order of Chairperson Simons, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.