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CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairperson Sullivan in Room B-104, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present
Eric Anderson
Cedir de La Beaujardiere
Bob Eltgroth
Marc Jensen, Vice Chairperson
David Kobayashi
William F. (Bill) Manry
Bill Reisinger
David Simons
Jim Stallman
John Sullivan, Chairperson
Bart Thielges
Herman Wadler

Members Absent
Mahmoud Kamagar
Curt Riffle

A quorum was present.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of November 12, 2003

Member Anderson stated that with regard to Page 3, Agenda Item #7, last paragraph, a minimum of 15 minute headways should be replaced with 15 minutes or more frequency.

Member Stallman stated that with regard to Page 4, Agenda Item #9, fourth paragraph, the word donor be placed in after anonymous.

M/S/C (Stallman/Eltgroth) on a vote of 12 ayes, 0 noes and 1 abstention to approve the Minutes of November 12, 2003, as amended.  Chairperson Sullivan abstained.

Committee Staff Report

Celia Chung, Transportation Planner III and Staff Liaison, announced that Michael P. Evanhoe, Chief Development Officer, retired December 2003, and Carolyn Gonot has been promoted to VTAs new Chief Development Officer.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the Committee Staff Report was received.

Chairpersons Report

There was no report from the Chairperson.

Amendment to Tier 1 Project River Oaks Bridge

Ms. Chung introduced Staff Member Amin Surani, Senior Transportation Engineer and Project Manager for the River Oaks Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project. 

Ms. Chung reported that one of Tier 1 Bicycle Projects is to construct a bridge over the Guadalupe River at the end of River Oaks Parkway to provide access to the Light Rail Station from the City of Santa Clara.  The approximate total cost of the Project is estimated to be $2.2 million of which $250,000 was allocated from BEP, $400,000 from the City of San Jose, $560,000 from the City of Santa Clara, and $1 million from the Federal Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) grant through Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and through the City of San Jose's efforts. 

The Project has gone through document design and construction, and construction of the Project is anticipated to commence summer of 2004.  Construction of the bridge will be somewhat more complicated than originally thought because the crane will be going into the creek bed and because the TLC funds are federal funds, it could trigger more of an environmental impact requirement, which could push out the Project commencement date to summer 2005.  Because of these two issues, it is necessary to request approval to increase the BEP allocation from $250,000 to $700,000.

Mr. Surani stated that he original plan was to place the cranes at the River Oaks cul-de-sac.  However, because of the span of the bridge, a crane could not be obtained which could be placed on the pre-fabricated bridge.  Therefore, the crane has to be placed between the levees at the lower service path and would require additional environmental work and permits.  A letter was received from Sonoma State advising that this area may have Indian Heritage and Section 106 of the environmental process is required.  Permits from the Fish and Game Agency will also be required.

Upon query of Member Jensen, Mr. Surani replied that the length of the bridge is 230 feet.

Member Simons took his seat at 6:12 p.m.

Upon query of Chairperson Sullivan, Mr. Surani noted that the pile driving operations will only disturb the original ground.

M/S/C (Walton/Thielges) to recommend the Board of Directors approve an increase of Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) allocation to the River Oaks Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge (Tier 1 Bicycle Project) from $250,000 to $700,000.

Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for October-December 2003

Mr. Surani directed the Members to look at a document entitled Progress Summary Sheet Funding Expiring on 2004 and explained that under Category, green means that projects are progressing smoothing, yellow means projects may need some extra attention or will risk running into difficulties, and red means projects are in risk of losing funds due to delivery difficulties.

Mr. Surani stated that fortunately for 2004 all projects are in the green category except the River Oaks Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project, which is in the yellow category.   Staff is confident that that the environmental document will be signed off before expiration of the Plan and funds will be secured so funding will not be lost.  Although the funding can be secured this year, there is still a possibility that commencement of construction may slip from 2004 to 2005.

Mr. Surani also reported that the projects under the green Category are doing fine and will be ready for delivery in a timely manner, but statewide if the funding is not available, then these projects will just have to wait until the funding becomes.

Member de La Beaujardiere referred to Project 9 of 13, Page 22 of 51, Develop and Implement a traveler-focused web page and queried if it could be integrated with 511, transit information.   Mr. Surani advised that this project is independent of 511.   Member de La Beaujardiere recommended that this project be integrated with 511 from the commencement of the project.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for October-December 2003 was received and filed.

Announcements

Vice Chairperson Jensen, Town of Los Gatos, reported that California Watch will have its annual meeting January 24, 2004.

Member Anderson reported that the City of Mountain View's BPAC is continuing study of a bicycle boulevard, connectivity through the Bryant Street bicycle boulevard, as well as various other activities.  Mr. Anderson stated that he will provide updates to the VTA BPAC.

Member de la Beaujardiere reported that the City of Palo of Alto is starting to plan some of their bicycle boulevards, the Master Bicycle Plan has been approved, and Council wants the bicycle boulevard implementation to be a high priority.

Member Eltgroth reported that the City of Morgan Hill has moved their meeting location from Morgan Hill City Hall to the Public Works Department.   The City of Gilroy has formed a committee to produce a trails master plan, which covers both pedestrian and bicycle issues in the City. 

Member Kobayashi reported that the County of Santa Clara has a policy to remove the pedestrian prohibited signs on the expressways and a report will be provided instructing how removal can be achieved as agencies along the corridor have their own ordinances and are not fully consistent.

Member Walton, City of Cupertino, reported that the Mary Avenue Bridge is at design engineering and Biggs Cardoza was awarded that contract.  Completion of that design is anticipated by the end of 2004 and will be ready to move forward with construction.  Funding was received from Caltrans from the Byron Sher grant for $500,000.  Santa Clara County Water District has an initiative to provide about 70 miles of hiking trails along their creeks and will provide some funding for that project.  The City of Cupertino will be using a little creek that runs behind City Hall as a demonstration.

Member Wadler reported that it has been quiet in the City of Campbell but will meet in two weeks.   Mr. Wadler also reported that at their last meeting, John Brazil, City of San Jose, requested that on future projects that affect multiple cities where city lines will be crossed, that the cities cooperate with one another.

Member Thielges reported that with regard to the City of San Jose, the attempt to turn San Fernando Street to Downtown San Jose into an east/west bike corridor is meeting with some opposition from the City of San Jose and there is some opposition from the Airport.

Member Stallman, City of Saratoga, reported that he enjoyed his ride on Lawrence Expressway where the lines got moved and shifted left as much as possible to make ride able shoulder.   With regard to the Lawrence Expressway Caltrain Station, they are finishing the concrete pass, that is grade separated under crossing for bike users of stations.  The stairs are supposed to have stair channel rails that will allow a rider to take bikes upstairs or downstairs.  With regard to the Diridon Station, he reported that the palm trees have been removed which improved the view to Downtown San Jose and there is a continuous walkway/promenade with lighting and landscaping from the San Fernando LRT Station east of Los Gatos Creek to the Diridon Station west of Cahill Street.

Member Eltroth further reported that he and John Brazil are teaching Bike Ed Classes on January 30 and 31, 2004 in the City of San Jose and February 2004 in the City of Morgan Hill. 

Chairperson Sullivan reported that with regard to the City of Santa Clara, their BAC will be meeting January 28, 2004.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan,there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

NOTE:   M/S/C MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.