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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 6:12 p.m. by
Vice Chairperson Thielges in Room B-104, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present                      Members Present
John Carpenter                             David Simons
Scott Chan                                    Jim Stallman
Bob Eltgroth                                  John Sullivan, Chairperson                             
David Kobayashi                          Richard Swent
William F. Manry                           Bart Thielges                      
Thomas Muniz                               Herman H. Wadler
Bill Reisinger                                Joseph Walton  

Members Absent 
Marc Jensen, Chairperson 

A quorum was present.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of March 9, 2005

Member Swent requested under Agenda Item #11., Presentation on Borregas Avenue Bridges Project:   Design Options for Bridge over SR-237, Cossil be replaced with Coggil.

Member Walton requested on Page 9 of 9, Member Walton be replaced with Member Wadler.

Member Eltgroth requested on Page 6 of 9, Seventh Paragraph, Mr. Ristow’s response be changed to this is a freeway project so bicycles are not considered.   Mr. Eltgroth requested the following be added:   “if bikes aren’t included, what is reasonable, safe, and convenient alternative route?”  Mr. Ristow responded that bicycles are not considered in this project”. Mr. Elgroth noted he quoted Streets and Highways Code 888.   Mr. Eltgroth stated he asked queried with regard to bicycles on Highway 101 south of SR-25 and pointed out both times that those areas currently accommodate bicycles.  Mr. Eltgroth requested inclusion of his question: “Does VTA follow the California Vehicle Code, California Streets and Highways Code and Deputy Directive 64 of Projects and Mr. Augenstein’s comment to close the discussion because it was an antagonistic question”.

Member Carpenter requested on Page 7 of 9, Sixth Paragraph, “will not” be replaced with “should not.”

Member Kobayashi requested on Item #10., Implementation Plan for VTP 2030 Highway Projects, his comment “make sure that Deputy Directive 64 is in compliance” and examples he provided be added to the Minutes of March 9, 2005.

Member Muniz requested, on Agenda Item #10., Implementation Plan for VTP 2030 Highway Projects, First Paragraph, US-101 be placed before traffic impacts.  Member Muniz requested on Item 14., Announcements, Page 9 of 9, “approval” be added before session.

Member Simons noted the Minutes do not reflect when he returned to his seat.

Member Reisinger requested on Page 5 of 9, Fifth Paragraph, Member Walton be replaced with Member Wadler.

M/S/C (Walton/Sullivan)  to approve the Minutes of March 9, 2005, with amendments.

Committee Staff Report

Chris Augenstein, Transportation Planning Manager and Staff Liaison, stated rumors regarding Celia Chung are not true and can forward to whomever is interested, an e-mail from Ms. Chung stating why she left VTA.

Mr. Augenstein advised that there are two candidates for Bicycle Pedestrian Planner and should extend an offer to one the week of April 18, 2005.

Mr. Augenstein informed the Members the Proposed Service Plan, Proposed FY 2006 and FY 2007 Budget, and Draft Long-Term Transit Capital Investment Program will be discussed at the April 22, 2005 Board of Directors’ Workshop Meeting.

Mr. Augenstein referenced items discussed at the March 9, 2005 Meeting:   Senate Bill 1233, Transportation, and letter from Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, in response to Member Swent’s comments regarding Highway 152/156 Improvement Projects stating the items could either be discussed today or agendized for the May 11, 2005 BPAC Meeting.

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

Chairperson’s Report

Vice Chairperson Thielges stated he and Mr. Augenstein discussed possible measures to streamline BPAC meetings, such as removal or deferral of non-bicycle related items and if they cannot be removed from the agenda, there be an agreement amongst the BPAC Members at what level they want to discuss the items.   Vice Chairperson Thiegles stressed that it is important to keep on top of the items and defer any discussion if not controversial to bicycle and pedestrian issues and if they are, agendize for future discussion.

Vice Chairperson Thielges stated Senate Bill 1233 will be discussed under Agenda Item #9., Announcements.

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

The Agenda was taken out of order.

Service Management Plan, Fiscal Year 2006/2007

William Capps, Service Planning Manager, reported that the Service Management Plan was first approved in December 2003, which outlined a methodology for VTA to categorize and evaluate services, set measurements and standards for services, and outlined the methodology for service improvements either through marketing, modify routes or other means to bring ridership levels up.

Mr. Capps stated that in 2001, VTA experienced an all-time high in ridership and since then the local economy has declined with ridership on both light rail and bus, thus the decline in revenues.   Mr. Capps also stated that overall ridership is still declining and VTA is considering different ways to entice more people to use our system. 

Mr. Capps said that the Service Management Plan will explore new opportunities for new types of service and staff will conduct a Comprehensive Operational Analysis for the system which will consist of surveying of riders to help determine what is more important to them and what would encourage them to continue using VTA; and to non riders determine what it would take to try transit or an alternative mode other than the automobile.

Mr. Capps noted that the recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2006 and 2007 Service Management are:

Underutilized Bus and Shuttle Service – a number of routes have been identified for corrective action including marketing activities, route modifications, reducing frequencies, and eliminating routes.

Bus/Rail Integration – due to the opening of the Vasona Light Rail Project in late summer, modifications will be made to the bus routes that interact with the line.

Community Bus – two shuttles will connect to the Winchester Light Rail Station from Los Gatos via different paths.   The buses are not the standard 40-foot buses but rather special vehicles and will have a community-oriented identity to them.   VTA is considering expanding the Community Bus concept to other communities in Santa Clara County.

Paratransit – recommendations to make changes to the trip-by-trip eligibility, curb-to-curb service, paratransit fixed-route feeder service and South County surcharge have been deferred to Fiscal Year 2007 based on the need to conduct additional analysis and review alternatives.

Enhanced Bus Line 522 – is a new service, which will replace Limited Stop Line 300 and supplement Line 22.   The line will take advantage of new signal priority technology. 

Member Eltgroth queried and Mr. Capps responded that Line 522 will have bicycle racks.

Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) – will be conducted to determine the most cost-effective and cost-efficient approach to improving and expanding public transit service in Santa Clara County.

Member Muniz referenced Page 24, Express Route Productivity, stating that  Line 121, Gilroy Transit Center to Lockheed Martin Moffett Park, and queried if VTA is considering adding more lines.   Mr. Capps responded that no new lines will be added.  Mr. Muniz noted that he sees an opportunity for additional transit lines. 

Member Stallman queried the number of staff needed to operate VTA.   Mr. Capps stated the Agency consists of approximately 1,000 operators between bus and light rail, approximately 450 mechanics, and approximately 200 support staff.   Mr. Capps clarified those numbers were his estimation.

Member Muniz referenced Page 30, Table 3-3, Feeder Route Evaluation, Lines 17 and 19 and queried if under the Sunday service would be evaluated for service deletion line by line individually each line or more global.   Mr. Capps responded that they will be evaluated line by line.   Member Muniz stated there are large segments of neighborhood communities that are not being served as well as gaps in service to some of the neighborhoods.

On order of Vice Chairperson Thielges, there being no objection, the Service Management Plan, Fiscal Years 2006/2007 were received and filed.

FY 2005-06 Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program Manager Fund Program

Jane Shinn, Management Analyst, advised that after the call for projects closed, the City of Milpitas requested to cancel a project and to move the remaining funds to an existing project.   This did not change any of the cost-effectiveness Ms. Shinn reported.

Ms. Shinn stated that for Fiscal-Year 2004/05 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) decided to do away with the aggregate cost effectiveness, making each project reach cost effectiveness of $90,000 per ton of reduced emissions. 

Ms. Shinn reported there has been some discussion at the BAAQMD and there is a study regarding the effectiveness of completed pedestrian and bicycle programs. 

Ms. Shinn stated that staff is recommending swapping Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program Manager (TFCA 40%) funds with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to be used to fund the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) projects.

Vice Chairperson Thielges requested clarification that funds will be swapped out of a Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Vehicle Buy Back Program into the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP).   Ms. Shinn clarified that MTC Vehicle Buy Back Program is partly being funded with CMAQ funds.   Since CMAQ funds do not cover BEP Projects, TFCA 40% funds will be swapped with CMAQ funds, the TFCA 40% funds will fund the Vehicle Buy Back Program and the CMAQ will cover all of the BEP.             

M/S/C (Walton/Carpenter) on a vote of 12 ayes, 1 noes and 0 abstention to review and recommend that the VTA Board of Directors approve the programming of FY2005-06 Transportation Fund for clean Air Program Manager (TFCA 40%) funds to projects and further approve a fund exchange with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) whereby VTA would exchange TFCA 40% funds for Congestion Management Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to be used to fund the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) projects and to recommend that the BAAQMD modify their criteria for their formula to exclude bicycle and pedestrian projects from the cap.  Member Stallman opposed.

Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report from January through March 2005

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner II, reported that projects for which funds will be expiring June 30, 2005 are Page Mill Road Rehabilitation in the City of Los Altos Hill, Montague Expressway Rehabilitation Phase I & II in the County of Santa Clara, and Almaden Expressway Pedestrian Overcrossing in the City of San Jose. 

Member Stallman recommended inviting the County of Santa Clara staff on a regular basis to report to the BPAC status of their projects.   Member Carpenter recommended a workshop, which would only pertain to status of the County of Santa Clara projects. 

On order of Vice Chairperson Thielges, there being no objection, the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report from January through March 2005 was received and filed.

Announcements

Discussion ensued whether it is in the interest of the BPAC to review items that are not specifically focused on bicycle and pedestrian issues.   Staff advised the item would have to be agendized for a future meeting and the Committee agreed.

Discussion ensued regarding Senate Bill 1233.   Staff advised the item would have to be agendized for a future meeting and the Committee agreed.

Member Eltgroth, City of Morgan Hill, requested a copy of the South County Transportation Study for his review. 

Member Reisinger, City of Milpitas, stated the pedestrian overcrossing was removed from the from the TFCA 40% Program List because the City of Milpitas was not able afford it after it went to $5.5 million and instead the funding will be allocated trails along Coyote Creek.

Member Kobayashi, County of Santa Clara, stated if there are any trees overgrown onto the streets to contact him and he will get them removed.

Member Eltgroth, City of Morgan Hill, requested the correct answer regarding Highway 101 south of SR-25.

Member Walton, City of Cupertino, reported they are moving forward with the  Mary Avenue Bridge Project. 

Member Wadler, City of Campbell, reported that the Vasona Trail project is on schedule and will be completed summer 2005. 

Member Swent, City of Palo Alto, stated he was happy to receive a letter from  Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, in response to his comments regarding Highway 152/156 Improvement Projects. 

Member Sullivan, City of Santa Clara, San Tomas Aquino Group Trail between Agnew Road and Scott Boulevard has been completed.

Member Simons, City of Sunnyvale, reported the City of Sunnyvale has positions open on the Bicycle Advisory Committee and recommended that members who have termed out continue on in bicycle policy in potentially different areas.

Member Muniz, City of Gilroy, reported that the next Gilroy BPAC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.   

ADJOURNMENT           

On order of Vice Chairperson Thielges,there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 

Gilda M. Gozdanich, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors