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The Regular Meeting of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was called to order at 6:17 p.m. by
Chairperson Sullivan in Room B-104, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present
John Carpenter
Scott Chan
Bob Eltgroth
Marc Jensen
David Kobayashi
William F. Manry
Thomas Muniz
David Simons
Jim Stallman
John Sullivan
Bart Thielges
Herman H. Wadler
Joseph Walton

Members Absent
Bill Reisinger
Richard Swent

A quorum was present.

There were no Public Presentations.

Member Kobayashi requested that on Agenda Item # 9., 2004 Tier 1 Bicycle Projects Biennial Review, pages 5 and 6 of 7, Mr. Yu be replaced with Mr. Jue.

Member Stallman requested that on Agenda Item #5., Chairperson’s Report, Page 2 of 7, Chairperson Stallman be changed to Chairperson Sullivan.

Member Sullivan requested that on Agenda Item # 10., Announcements, Page 6 of 7, under his announcement “male page” should be replaced “main page”.

M/S/C (Stallman/Manry) on a vote of 11 ayes, 0 noes, and 2 abstentions, to approve the Minutes of October 13, 2004 as amended.   Members Thielges and Eltgroth abstained. 

Celia Chung, Senior Transportation Planner and Staff Liaison, reported that applications for the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program are due Friday, November 12, 2004, at  5:00 p.m.   Ms. Chung noted that there has been a lot of interest from local jurisdictions regarding applying for projects. 

Ms. Chung stated that a scoring committee has been formed and BPAC Members Swent and Walton will be part of that committee, as well as staff members the Cities of San Jose and Los Gatos.

Ms. Chung stated that a list of prioritized projects that were submitted will be presented to the BPAC at the December 2004 meeting and forward to MTC for regional evaluation in January 2005.

Ms. Chung noted that the scoring committee will be deciding whether a cap should be set because there will be $8 million available for the entire Bay Area. 

Member Stallman queried if the funding would cover a three-year period and Ms. Chung responded that the funding is over two-years but in 2006 there will be a call for projects for the County of Santa Clara’s share of the funds.   Ms. Chung stated that if a project is submitted through the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program and not accepted then the project can be resubmitted the application through the County of Santa Clara.

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

Chairperson Sullivan reported that he met with Board of Supervisors Chair Pete McHugh, his transportation staff, Michael Murtder, County Roads and Airport, and a representative from the Modern Transit Society on November 10, 2004, to discuss pedestrian use of the expressways.

Chairperson Sullivan stated that the two issues discussed are the continued use of pedestrian prohibition signs where not needed, such as Foothill Expressway and expressways which do not prohibit pedestrian usage, such as Montague Expressway, which are more dangerous to pedestrians.

Member Chan introduced himself as the newly-appointed member representing the  City of Los Altos.  Mr. Chan queried as to the issue on Foothill Expressway regarding the pedestrian prohibition signs.  Chairperson Sullivan explained that the legal opinion of County Counsel is that if the expressways are within a city boundary the cities will have jurisdiction for all traffic enforcement issues and counties will have jurisdiction over parking and stopping and to date the City of Los Altos has not removed the prohibition signs.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the Chairperson’s Report was received.

Paul Pascoal, Santa Clara County Roads & Airport Department BPAC Liaison, reported that the County of Santa Clara applied for Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) funding for the number one project of the Project Priority List and are still waiting for approval of the funding.

Mr. Pascoal outlined the ten projects in Proposed 2005-2006 TDA Article 3 Project Priority List: 

10)        Bicycle shoulder widening on Junipero Serra Boulevard at  West Campus Drive

Funding for this project is expensive so the City of San Jose is considering alternatives such as widening the path. 

Funding request for this project is $443,000.

9)         Pedestrian path along both sides of Hyland Avenue between St. John Vianey School and White Road

There is a concrete sidewalk, which a homeowner may have put in, degraded asphalt and areas where the path is dirt and gravel which needs to be replaced. 

Funding request for this project is $350,000.

8)         Replacement of modified signs and addition of signs on expressways

Street signs on various areas of the expressways need to be brought up to standard.   The expressways included in this project are Foothill Expressway, Central Expressway, Montague Expressway, Almaden Expressway and parts of Capital Expressway.

Funding request for this project is $58,000.

7)        Pedestrian path along westerly side of Alum Rock Avenue between Miguelito Creek Bridge and Ridgeview Avenue

The westerly side of Alum Rock Avenue between Miguelito Creek Bridge and Ridgeview Avenue has a connectivity issue because there is no sidewalk.

Funding request for this project is   $200,000.

   6)       Pedestrian path on westerly side of Almaden Expressway between Rajkovich Way and Casual Way.  

The soundwall along the frontage road has a hole, which needs to be patched up.

Funding request for this project is $83,000.

   5)       Pedestrian path on westerly side of Almaden Expressway at Camden Avenue

There is a whole in the wall, the path going along the frontage road is worn which need to be fixed, and people are walking along the frontage of the expressway to access bus stops.

The funding request for this project is $55,000.

   4)       Pedestrian path along north side of Downing Avenue at Thorton

This area is dirt along a pedestrian path adjacent to Highway 17 and over Highway 17 on a pedestrian crossing.   The dirt area will be replaced with concrete sidewalk.

Funding request for this project is $50,000.

   3)      Pedestrian path along easterly side of McKee Road between White Road and Staples Avenue

This area has been neglected for 30 years and has some old decayed asphalt; sidewalks need to be put in.

Funding request for this project is $165,000

   2)       Pedestrian path along westerly side of McKee Road between White Road and Staples Avenue

Funding request for this project is $150,000.

   1)       Bicycle shoulder delineation along expressways 

The thin stripes will be replaced with six-inch stripes per the Bicycle Guidelines.

The expressways involved are San Tomas Expressway, Almaden Expressway from Curtner Avenue to SR 87, Almaden Expressway from Branham Avenue to Foxworthy Avenue, part of Central Expressway, and the majority of Foothill Expressway. 

Funding request for this project is $125,000

Aida Rivera, County of Santa Clara Roads & Airport Department, introduced herself.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the TDA Article 3 Project Priority List for FY 2005-2006 Guarantee Funds was received and filed.

Chris Augenstein, Principal Transportation Planner, advised BPAC Members that the VTP 2030 is in draft form and is being presented to the Committee for comments.

Mr. Augenstein reported that the VTP 2030 is a plan intended to provide a planning and policy framework for VTA to move projects forward into the future.   The VTP 2030 will identify sources and amounts of funding that will become available during the life of the Plan.   The estimates for funding are based on projections developed by Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) so it will include local, state, and federal sources.  The Plan also outlines the programs and projects the Board of Directors would like to see implemented during the timeframe of the Plan.  The Plan is not a programming document so project priority lists and project schedules will not be included.

Mr. Augenstein reported that VTP 2030 is an update of the VTP 2020.   The VTP 2020 called for a number for a number of studies to be developed over the interim between VTP 2020 adoption and the current update.   Corridor and gateway studies have been accomplished and new programs have been developed and fed into VTP 2030. 

The results of the studies were provided to the Board of Directors and in January 2004. In April 2004 staff presented the program allocations and project lists for their approval. 

Mr. Augenstein noted that there are ten program areas:   Highways, Expressways, Local Streets and County Roads, Pavement Management, Sound Mitigation, Landscape Restoration, Graffiti Removal, Transit, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)/Transportation Systems Operations and Management (SOM), Bicycle Program, and Livable Communities of Pedestrian Program.   The programs not listed in VTP 2020 are Local Streets and County Roads, Bicycle Program.

Mr. Augenstein stated that Tier 1 and Tier 2 lists are now called the Bicycle Project List and the update has been reflected in the Draft VTP 2030.

Member Muniz referenced Page 137, Bicycle Projects and queried if staff will be updating the costs to 2004 figures.   Mr. Augenstein responded that staff would not be updating the costs because the 2004 figures are what the Board of Directors approved in April 2004.   Mr. Augenstein stated he could provide the escalation factor to enable Member Muniz to update the 2004 figures.

Member Walton referenced Page 137, Bicycle Projects, B10 – Bollinger Road bicycle facility improvement and queried as amount of the cost.   Ms. Chung responded that the amount on the Draft Plan was a typographical error and should be $.44 million.

Mr. Augenstein requested BPAC Members forward any further comments or recommendations to Ms. Chung and she would forward to him.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection the Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030) was reviewed and commented on.

Ms. Chung stated that this item was presented to the BPAC at their October 2004 Meeting for discussion regarding changing policies for the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) and is once again being presented to the BPAC, as well as the other Advisory Committees, with the addition of the policy change with regard to Off-year Amendment for review and comment.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the Bicycle Expenditure Program: Proposed Policy Changes were received and commented on.

Ms. Chung stated that this item is once again being presented to the BPAC, as well as the other Advisory Committees.   The Project List is the same as the one presented to the BPAC at their October 2004 Meeting.

Member Simmons noted a typographical error on Attachment A: Recommended Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) funding for Tier 1 Projects – City of Sunnyvale Bernard Avenue Caltrain Undercrossing, under additional new request, $5,148,000.

M/S/C (Simons/Eltgroth) to recommend adoption of the revised Tier 1 Bicycle Projects and Schedules.

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner II, stated the report shows two projects, which have funds expiring in 2004, River Oak Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge and San Fernando Light Rail Station Plaza Improvement Project.   Both projects are ready to begin construction.

Member Carpenter queried with regard to Page 30 of 53, City of Sunnyvale   Evelyn Avenue Class II Bike Lane, construction start date.   Mr. Sighamony responded that the date was a typographical error and would be fixed.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for July-December 2004 was received and filed.

Member Simons requested staff consider increasing the bicycle parking per student ratio when next updating the Bicycle Technical Guidelines.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan, there being no objection, the Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Projects Quarterly Status Report was received and filed.

Member Carpenter, City of Mountain View, stated the City is moving forward on a developer funded bicycle/pedestrian bridge along Permanente Bridge over  Highway 101.

Member Wadler, City of Campbell, reported that projects are almost completed in the Westmont High School area with bicycle lanes painted in soon.

Member Manry, City of Monte Sereno, reported that citizen activity on Highway 9 Improvements Fund is moving along.

Member Thielges, City of San Jose, reported that the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation formulated a new policy with regard to automobile Level of Service (LOS) mitigation and is waiting for Council approval.

Member Walton, City of Cupertino, reported that the City of Cupertino has acquired the Street Smarts Program.   Mr. Walton also reported that a picture of the cable-stay bridge can be found of the City of Cupertino’s website.

Member Stallman, City of Saratoga, reported that three and a half years Caltrans did some remedial paving on Big Basin Way, which made the shoulder unrideable and repaving has now been added to a Caltrans’ list of fix-it items.

Member Chan, City of Los Altos, reported the City of Los Altos does not have any projects to recommend or submit for the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program.   The budgeting process is just commencing on Stevens Creek Feasibility Study.   The City of Los Altos compiled statistics for the International Bike and Walk to School Day.

Chairperson Sullivan, City of Santa Clara, reported that the City of Santa Clara is continuing to find replacements for a couple of vacancies on their Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Member Eltgroth, City of Morgan Hill, reported that the City of Morgan Hill received an MTC grant for on-street connectivity from the end of the Coyote Creek Trail into Downtown Morgan Hill and an MTC grant from the Capital Improvement Funds for upgrading Depot Street, which will also include additional bicycle facilities, bicycle lanes, and bicycle racks. 

Member Muniz, City of Gilroy, stated that progress is moving along on the Trails Master Plan and the City of Gilroy Police Department shared some incident data with regard to accidents involving accidents to their BPAC.

Member Eltgroth stated the City of Morgan Hill is considering a new bicycle park facility and a survey can be found on the City’s website for residents’ comments.

On order of Chairperson Sullivan,there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,   

Gilda M. Grozdanich, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors