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The Regular Meeting of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Vice Chairperson Wadler, Valley Transportation Authority, Auditorium, Building A, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL 

A quorum was present.

There were no Public Presentations.

Committee Staff Report

• Project Design Review

Vice Chairperson Wadler expressed concern regarding the following:   1) Senate Bill 681 (Simitian) Transportation: Pedestrian Access - requested VTA add it to their legislative watch list; 2) closure of the path along the Highway 87/Airport section of the bicycle path by the City of San Jose – requested VTA be more proactive with issues;  3) problem with North San Jose Freeway Bicycle Path;  4) the closed fence along Guadalupe River crossing bicycle path that needs to be opened, 5) bicycle path from Zanker Road to McCarthy needs to be fixed; 6)  DeLaCruz/101 Interchange is missing a sidewalk – VTA BPAC insisted on the connection as part of the County Roads Central to Highway 101 make-over project - will Caltrans fix; 7)ADA compliance at the San Jose Airport; 8) pedestrian access to the Airport; and, 9) County of Santa Clara older business parks have no sidewalks – can there be a study done. 

Members Simons, Muniz, Chan and Sullivan took their seats at 6:08 p.m.

Chris Augenstein, Transportation Planning Manager – CMP and Staff Liaison, requested Vice Chairperson Wadler e-mail the list of his requests/comments to him.

CONSENT AGENDA

M/S/C (Walton/Simons) on a vote of 12 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 abstention to approve the Minutes of December 7, 2006.   Member Reisinger abstained.

Approve Minutes of January 11, 2006.

Review the Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Projects Quarterly Status Report – October through December 2005.

REGULAR AGENDA

Member Carpenter referenced Agenda Item # 7., Recommended VTA Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario, Page 9 of 12, fourth paragraph from the bottom, requesting a change in the working from “widening Highway 101 to four lanes to south of the City of Gilroy” to “three lanes each way.”

Member Carpenter referenced Page 11 of 12, requesting a comment he recalled making be added after the fourth paragraph that if BART was phased it would significantly   reduce the need to purchase first generation BART rolling stock because second generation BART rolling stock would be manufactured within a decade or two. 

Member Carpenter referenced Page 11 of 12, requesting the following omitted comment he made added after the six paragraph of the Minutes “there were advances in locomotion technology like fuel cell technology for light rail and hybrid technology for commuter trains.” 

Member Muniz referenced page 4 of 12, fifth paragraph, requesting the addition of the wording “ADA compliance” in front of the word “drop-off.”

Member Muniz referenced page 9 of 12, fourth paragraph, requesting the word “center” be replaced with “southern.”

Member Carpenter referenced page 11 of 12 stating that his comment regarding the Airport People Mover being funded by the Airport Improvement Program Resources was omitted and requested it be added to the Minutes.

M/S/C (Walton/Thielges) on a vote of 12 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 abstention, to approve the Minutes of January 11, 2006, as amended.    Member Simons abstained.

Member Kobayahsi referenced Page 11 of 14, Cadence Building 10, stating that if any modifications will be made to the expressway, reference of it should be made in the Bicycle Accommodation Guidelines for the County of Santa Clara. 

Member Kobayashi referenced one of the items on Page 12 of 14, stating it should also be referenced in the Bicycle Accommodation Guidelines.

Member Muniz referenced Page 1 of 1, City/County Responses Quarterly Report, Item #5 under City of Gilroy’s Responses, Bicycle Lanes and Bicycle Parking, stating that a Bikeways Master Plan exists for the City of Gilroy and should be included because it is relevant given the location of where the development will be.  

Member Simons referenced Page 1 of 14, High Speed Rail, stating that in choosing Pacheco Pass Alignment it will pay for the electrification of Peninsula Caltrain Line simultaneously if chosen. 

Member Carpenter stated high speed rail using the Pacheco Pass Alignment should be considered because it is located between Northern and Southern California. When discussing regionally and the Central Valley what is missing in that discussion is a second level of rail service.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection, the Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Projects Quarterly Status Report – October through December 2005 was reviewed.

Jim Lawson, Government Affairs Manager, stated the Orientation provided by VTA staff on VTA as an organization will provide BPAC with an opportunity to meet and interact with the Chiefs of the different Divisions that comprise the VTA. 

Mr. Lawson reported that VTA is an organization consisting of a transit element, construction element, and a planning and funding element.   Mr. Lawson explained that ten years ago the citizens of Santa Clara County felt that it was important to link transportation planning for highways, light rail, and land use development together in one organization.   VTA is governed by the Board of Directors which is comprised of representatives from the cities and County of Santa Clara. 

Mr. Lawson stated Michael T. Burns is VTA’s new General Manager, hired by the Board of Directors, and most recently from San Francisco where he ran San Francisco Muni. 

Mr. Lawson informed the BPAC that the General Manager’s Office consists of Board support provided by the Board Secretary, Maria Marinos, and eight Board Assistants as well as operation of a Copy Center which runs 24 hours per day with six employees and a document control operation.

The General Manager’s Office is responsible for policy development, strategic planning and intergovernmental and business relations. 

Mr. Lawson explained that the goals of the General Manager’s Office are to: 1) increase ridership; 2) improve the financial stability of the VTA as an organization; 3) improve relationships within VTA’s own advisory committees, as well as well the local government and stakeholders in transportation; and, 4) to deliver the capital programs promised to the voters.

Mr. Lawson noted staff of the General Manager’s Office consists of approximately 36-full-time employees.

Suzanne Gifford, General Council, reported that she is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and works with the General Manager and staff.

Ms. Gifford noted her department consists of seven attorneys, including herself, one legal secretary and one clerk.

Ms. Gifford outlined the areas of expertise of VTA’s legal staff practices from Federal Grants to Environmental Law.

Mr. Lawson reported that the Operations Division, headed by Matt Tucker, is responsible for:   1) operating and maintaining all of the bus and light rail service facilities; 2) provide shuttle services from ACE and Caltrain operations and Community Bus Operations in the Town of Los Gatos; 3) managing the paratransit services, partner with Caltrain, ACE, Highway 17, and Dumbarton Bridge Services; 4) planning and scheduling bus and light rail services; 5) engineering solutions to bus and rail equipment; and,  6) facilitating problems and warranties. 

Mr. Lawson noted that the Operations Division is also responsible for security services contracting with the Sheriff’s Department and a private security company.

Jack J. Collins, Chief Construction Officer, reported that the Construction Division manages rail projects, locally funded highway projects, facility projects located at VTA’s light rail division, and maintaining the facilities at the bus yards.

Mr. Collins reported the Construction Division has 110 employees consisting of architects and engineers representing half of the Department and the remaining 50 percent is comprised of construction inspectors, administrative and support staff.

Mr. Collins noted the Construction Division’s recent accomplishments:   1) completion of the Vasona Light Rail Project in October 2005 which extends light rail from Downtown San Jose to the City of Campbell; 2) return of approximately $25 million to the County Measure B Program to fund other highway and rail projects Program;     3) completion of the Highway 880 widening landscaping in December 2005; 4) opening of the Highway 152 widening of Llagas Creek Bridge in the City of Gilroy February 2006; 5) completion of  State Route 85 Noise Mitigation by micro-grinding approximately 11 miles of State Route  85 in the Cities of San Jose, Saratoga, and Cupertino; and, 6) opening of State Route 85/101 Interchange on February 3, 2006.  

Mr. Collins advised that the Division’s goals for 2006 are: 1) opening of the River Oaks Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge in March 2006 which will connect the City of San Jose to the City of Santa Clara across the Guadalupe Bridge; 2) opening of the Coleman/880 Interchange Project and open by Summer 2006; 3) completing the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) direct connectors by May 2006; 4) adding auxiliary lanes from Hamilton Avenue to Camden Avenue on State Route 17; 5) adding a lane on Route 87 North HOV in each direction and median of State Route 87 from Julian south through to State Route 85 for an additional lane plus an auxiliary lane from I-280 southbound close to Curtner Avenue to help with the merge of traffic from I-280 down to Route 87; 6) conducting Preliminary Engineering (PE) for the BART extension to Silicon Valley to be completed by Fall 2006; 7)   conducting PE for the Capitol Light Rail Project to be completed  April 2006 with final design on the extension of Light Rail to the East Shopping Mall in the City of San Jose; 8) working on getting the documents ready for the 152/156 Interchange project, advertise the project Fall 2006, and commence construction in 2007, in the City of Gilroy.

Roger Contreras, Chief Financial Officer, reported that the Fiscal Resources Division is comprised of Accounting and Compliance Review Department, Disbursement and Revenue Service, and Treasury and Fiscal Planning. 

Mr. Contreras provided a brief summary as to the responsibility of each Department.

Mr. Contreras highlighted the Division’s accomplishments as follows: 1) active in the financing arena; 2) two major sublease transactions of 50 old light rail vehicles and lease to service for low floor light rail vehicles which netted VTA approximately $39 million; 3) refund of the 2001 bonds with a consequent savings of $17 million; and,  4) implementation of first biennial budget.

Mr. Contreras noted the Division’s goals for 2006 as follows:   1) continue to be active in the financing arena, remarket Measure A bonds October 2006; consider fund accounting conversion; and 3) host an annual vendor fair. 

Mr. Contreras stated that at this time the Division is automating VTA’s budget system and need to develop VTA’s Annual Compliance Plan.

George Barlow, Chief Technology Officer, reported that the Technology Division is responsible for providing technology assistance to all division departments to enable them to perform their functions in a more efficient and cost-effective manner to the user of technology.   The Division has approximately 52 employees and is separated into the following specific areas:   1) Chief Technology Officer which is comprised of administrative, clerical, program management, and payroll staffs; 2) Infrastructure Section which is responsible for the desk top functions, networking, and making sure that VTA computers, desk tops, printers continue to operate and trouble shoot for use; 3) Application and Support which consist of running a number of applications, programmers and program analyst and other analyst who work with the programs, and consult and provide assistance to the Divisions throughout VTA; 4) Communications Section which works with the microwave system and telephone systems, responsible for pagers, cell phones, as well as Advanced Communication System (ACS) working with Operations Divisions and other users.

Mr. Barlow provided a brief summary of the responsibilities of each Department

Mr. Barlow noted that the Technology Division’s accomplishments for 2005 are as follows:   1) implementation of a Technology Strategic Plan; 2) installation of cameras on Light Rail Vehicles; and, 3)   reduction of technology service delivery costs with the reduction of employees from 76 to 52.

Mr. Barlow reported that the Technology Department’s goals for 2006 are as follows:  1) SAP hardware change-out; 2) running SAP on a windows platform versus a Unix platform implementation of a new budgeting system; 3) implementation of the real time passenger information system; 4) upgrading the cameras on the bus system; and,   5) implementation of the TransLink System.  

Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, reported that the Development and Congestion Management has four areas:   Marketing, Planning Activities, Programming and Project Development Activities, and Commercial Development Program, established one and half years ago.

Mr. Lawson advised that the Chief Administrative Officer position has been vacant since the retirement of Kaye Eveleth.   When that individual is hired, the New Chief Administration Officer will provide a presentation to the BPAC outlining the Division’s accomplishments and goals. 

Mr. Lawson reported that the Administrative Services Division consists of Employee Services, Risk Management and Employee Relations.

Mr. Lawson concluded by thanking the BPAC Members for their patience and stated that VTA staff will be conducting tours throughout VTA’s facilities and urged the BPAC Members to attend the tours if possible.   

Member Stallman directed his query to Mr. Collins regarding the light rail going to Eastridge and if it will be built without a new tax.   Mr. Collins responded the project is a 2000 Measure A project.

Member Stallman wished Mr. Contreras luck in his job.

Member Stallman recommended peer-to-peer communication amongst the Operators.

Member Stallman stated he appreciates the effort made with the South 85/101 Project in providing escorts for bicyclists on the Coyote Creek Trail.

Member Stallman stated it is important to think regionally and recognize that Caltrain is the backbone of the system and it is important to do everything possible to keep it on the front burner.

Member Stallman stated that putting bicycle racks at some of the major bus stops suggests to people that they can ride their bicycle to get to the bus that brings transit within reach of a lot more people. 

Member Muniz queried as to the long-term goal for circulation for the southern part of the County of Santa Clara.   Ms. Gonot responded currently there are two studies going on.

Vice Chairperson Wadler requested Caltrans communicate with BPAC early in a project and communicate often to enable BPAC to provide input regarding bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Member Carpenter stated the best way to keep highway projects from being completed is to never improve the highways to a point that developers want to “stuff them” with vehicles. Member Carpenter advised the best way improve road performances with regard to freeways is adding auxiliary lanes instead of adding a lane, which a developer will stuff with vehicles.   Member Carpenter recommended road improvements on non-freeways to resist the temptation of building a freeway like an interchange and instead put in a roundabout freeway type of interchange. 

Member Simons queried as to VTA’s decision to support or not support Central Valley’s discussion of an extra freeway over Hamilton Range.   Ms. Gonot responded that VTA has not been involved in the discussions to date.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection, the Orientation Presentation from VTA Staff was received.

Mr. Lawson referenced VTA Board Chairperson Cindy Chavez’ memo which outlines her platform for this upcoming year.   The results of that platform will be to seek to improve how the VTA conducts its business. 

Chairperson Chavez’ initiatives are divided into the Financial and Organizational Assessment, Advisory Committee and Board Relationship, and Legislative Advocacy.

Financial Assessment

Chairperson Chavez has recommended bringing in an outside consultant to look at VTA’s business methods and forms of reporting, as well as evaluate business practices and staffing levels, look at Industry best practices, and give advice as to how these will best apply to the VTA.   The purpose of this will be to maximize VTA’s ability to provide service to the VTA communities.

Advisory Committee and Board Relationship

The presentation provided by the Department Chiefs is part of a program to ensure that the Advisory Committees have all the information and the opportunity to participate fully.   Chairperson Chavez values the relationship between the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee, and Chairperson Chavez wants to find ways to foster its development.   Chairperson Chavez is requesting that each of the Advisory Committees evaluate their communication experience and provide feedback as to how to improve it.

Legislative Advocacy

Chairperson Chavez created an Infrastructure Bond Committee composed of nine members, VTA Board Members Gage, Campos and Kerr; three members of staff, Michael T. Burns, General Manager, Kurt Evans, Government Affairs Manager,   and Ms.  Gonot; and three members from the community, Bill Wagner representing Society of Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors, Bob Brownstein representing Working Partnerships USA, and Carl Guardino representing Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The Committee was created in light of discussion in Sacramento regarding a major bond to be placed before the voters to provide significant funding for infrastructure improvements in the State of California.   

Mr. Lawson concluded that Chairperson Chavez is very excited about the opportunity to work with the Advisory Committees and looks for their assistance and input in pursuing her policy of Full Participation and Full Information.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection, an overview of the Full Participation, Full Information was received.

Vice Chairperson Wadler advised that Agenda Item #10., Update of the 2000 Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan is an information item and will be brought back to the March 8, 2006 BPAC Meeting for full discussion. 

Mr. Augenstein informed the BPAC that they need to start thinking about the Bicycle Plan and requested the BPAC Members to come to the March 2006 BPAC Meeting with ideas and to be prepared for a long discussion.

Ms. DeRobertis stated the current Bicycle Plan was developed in 2000 and there is a need to review the eight chapters and update the Plan so it will identify new projects and add new sections. 

Ms. DeRobertis requested input from the BPAC regarding the composition of a Project Study Advisory Committee (PSAC), which should include BPAC, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members, and a member of Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC).

With regard to the PSAC, Vice Chairperson Wadler recommended having as open a committee as possible.

Member Simons recommended having bicyclists who commute on a regular basis be part of the PSAC.

Mr. Augenstein stated it is staff’s hope to keep the PSAC down to six or eight members.

Member Chan recommended having a member of the Technical Advisory Committee on the PSAC.

Member Carpenter recommended having a member from the SVBC be on the PSAC. 

Member Stallman recommended inviting staff from the City of San Jose Planning Department to be on the Project Study Advisory Committee.

Vice Chairperson Wadler recommended inviting a member who is a League (of American Bicyclists) Cycling Instructor (LCI) to be on the Project Study Advisory Committee to provide input regarding safety. 

Mr. Augenstein requested input as to how often the Committee should meet and how the PSAC will provide input to the BPAC.

Member Simons queried if the new bicycle plan’s emphasis will be on the changes to the previous Bicycle Plan or on differences between the existing Bicycle Plan and the new bicycle plan.

Mr. Augenstein responded the existing Bicycle Plan will be used as the basis and the new plan will be an update or refinement of the existing Bicycle Plan. 

Member Muniz requested the BPAC be provided with copies of the current  2000 Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan.   Staff responded the Plan is available on VTA’s webpage at www.vta.org.  The Plan will be provided at the March BPAC Meeting and will be mailed to the Members along with the packet for the March 2006 BPAC Meeting.

Mr. Augenstein referenced the process for public input and requested the BPAC Members thoughts as to how they will want to gather public input.   Mr. Augenstein queried if there is a need to have general public input in the early formulation stages.

Vice Chairperson Wadler stated he is considering putting e-mail out to Western Wheelers, Almaden Cyclist Touring Club (ACTC) and SVBC and request they contact him with their comments.   Vice Chairperson Wadler stated that with the assistance of SVBC, VTA will publicize the revisions and additions to the Bicycle Plan and receive public response that will be funneled down to the BPAC.   Mr. Augenstein advised the information will be posted on the website.

Member Walton recommended public input be provided later and in a different format. 

Member Swent stated it is important to have public meetings where all segments of the public can attend as well as holding public meetings in several locations in Santa Clara County.   Member Swent recommended holding public meetings as early as possible to allow the public to provide input before the plan is pretty much developed. 

Member Simons recommended meetings early on with SVBC to discuss items associated with a Bicycle Plan would be appropriate.   Member Simons stated that instead of have a public meeting to discuss the general bicycle plan, it might be a good idea for the meetings to target different areas of the interest the public will be interested in.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection, the 2006 Update of the 2000 Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan was reviewed.

Mr. Augenstein stated the Update Bicycle Technical Guidelines will be brought back to the March 8, 2006 BPAC Meeting for discussion.

Mr. Augenstein requested the BPAC review the Board Memo and if there is anything they want to add for discussion for the March 2006 Agenda to e-mail the information, or call him or Ms. DeRobertis before Tuesday, February 14, 2006.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection the 2006 Update of the Bicycle Technical Guidelines was reviewed.

The Agenda was taken out of order.

Paul Pascoal, County of Santa Clara, Santa Clara County Roads and Airports BPAC Liaison, reported Senator Simitian is being pushed to holster SB 681, Transportation: Pedestrian Access (Simitian), and it appears he is positioning himself to retract the proposed Bill.

Member Swent advised that SB 681 is dead for this year, and Senator Simitian has decided not to pursue it. 

Mr. Pascoal announced the Expressway Planning Study will be updated and revised in 2006 with the process commencing in January 2006.   The Study includes a Bicycle and Pedestrian Section, which requires input from the VTA BPAC Members with regard to enhancing the language in the Study.

Committee Staff Report (continued)

• Project Design Review

Mr. Augenstein announced that there may be a problem with the links on VTA’s website. He will be sending the BPAC Members e-mail that has direct links to the FTP site for the Bicycle Plan and the Bicycle Technical Guidelines.

Member Reisinger, City of Milpitas, reported that on February 21, 2006, the Tour of California, comprised of 16 international teams, will race from the City of Martinez up Sierra Road and down Calaveras Road in the City of Milpitas and on to the big finish in Downtown San Jose.   The time trials will be held on February 22, 2006.

Member Carpenter, City of Mountain View, reported that the City of Mountain View is finding ways of routing bicycles so they will not have to involve the major city arterials as much. 

Member Thielges, City of San Jose, requested agendizing discussion of dedicating the River Oaks Bridge in memory of Bicycle Advocate and past VTA BPAC Member,  Bill Bliss, who died in a collision in 2005, and forwarding a memorandum to the Board of Directors regarding the dedication.     

Member Simons, City of Sunnyvale, announced the City of Sunnyvale Bicycle Map has been redone.

Member Chan, City of Los Altos, reported that discussion is ongoing with regard to the Stevens Creek Trail Study.    Mr. Chan stated there will be right-of-way issues with a creek alignment in the City of Los Altos because the property owners own the property all the way to the creek.

Member Chan advised that the City of Los Altos BAC is also considering dedicating Class 1 Bicycle Paths, which will be an expensive bond-funded type of issue.           

Mr. Chan announced that he will be stepping down from the BPAC and introduced the nominee, Carl Hagenmaier.

Member Walton, City of Cupertino, reported that Phase 1 of the Mary Avenue Bridge has been completed and the actual construction of the bridge will commence Summer 2006.

Member Swent, City of Palo Alto, reported that the City of Palo is going to begin a fairly ambitious two-year trial project commencing in the Summer 2006 on the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor from Louis Road to Foothill Expressway.   It is anticipated that the project will be completed one week prior to school commencing for Fall 2006. 

Member Stallman, City of Saratoga, reported the City Council approved the contract for the EIR on the deAnza Trail Project.

Member Muniz, City of Gilroy, reported Santa Teresa Road is being expanded from two to four lanes and will include Class 1 Bicycle Routes on both sides.   Member Muniz stated that construction issues have delayed completion of the project.

Mr. Muniz noted the City of Gilroy is in the process of planning a site design of the second high school in the City of Gilroy.   The high school will be located off of San Teresa Road on the northwest side of the City.

Member Sullivan, City of Santa Clara, reported that City of Santa Clara Public Works staff has begun a campaign to try to create term limits for the Bicycle Advisory Committee Members.   The proposed policy was rejected at the October 2005 Meeting and approved at the January 2006 Meeting.

Vice Chairperson Wadler, City of Campbell, reported that after discussion regarding the locations of the sharrows, the City of Campbell BPAC’s decision was to proceed slowly and not to use them as a substitute for bicycle lanes.

Stephen Flynn, Senior Management Analyst reminded the BPAC Members that their terms expire in June 2006 and letters have been forwarded to City Managers and City Staff.  Mr. Flynn requested that BPAC Members remind city staff to get the process started.

On order of Vice Chairperson Wadler, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,