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The Regular Meeting of the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board (PAB) was called to order at 3:15 p.m. by Vice Chairperson Chavez, Lower Level Conference Room, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present                                        Members Absent
Blanca Alvarado, Chairperson                     None
Nora Campos, Vice Chairperson
Cindy Chavez
David Cortese
Pete McHugh

A quorum was present.

There were no Public Presentation.

M/S/C (McHugh/Campos) to approve the Minutes of March 4, 2004.

Julie Render, Principal Transportation Planner and Staff Liaison, stated that staff will provide a brief update on the Capitol Expressway Environmental Process, Preliminary Engineering (PE) process, and public involvement that have been completed.

Ms. Render introduced Tom Fitzwater, Environmental Planning Manager, to provide an update on the environmental process. 

Ms. Render noted that a Citizens Guide was prepared for the Capitol Expressway Project, which is a summary produced for the environmental document. 

Vice Chairperson Chavez commended staff on the Citizens Guide.

Mr. Fitzwater reported that the draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), which contains information regarding a variety of topics, was circulated for public review commencing April 28, 2004.   Mr. Fitzwater noted that a CD version is available and has been popular with most public agencies.

Mr. Fitzwater advised the PAB that The Mercury News published the availability of the document, as did a number of other local newspapers.   A flyer was mailed to 7,300 members of the public notifying them of the document and its availability as well.   VTA did a mailing of 140 to various state, federal, local agencies, and interested parties.  Staff conducted extensive outreach to advise of the documents availability.  Staff will host a public hearing on May 27, 2004, at the Hank Lopez Community Center, 1694 Adrian Way, San Jose, CA, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  A presentation on the project will be provided to the public and staff will receive comments from the public on the environmental document.  The review period ends on June 21, 2004, and staff will be providing a presentation on the finding of the documents and critical concerns addressing the document at the PAB meeting of June 3, 2004.

Ms. Render introduced Ken Ronsse, Transportation Engineering Manager and Project Manager for Capitol Expressway Design.   Mr. Ronsse noted that in response to the Board of Directors January 2004 approval of $11 million for PE for the Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project a solicitation process for a General Design Consultant has begun for light rail design that includes the Alum Rock Station down to Eastridge.  The $11 million is for support survey work for the segment down to Eastridge.  Proposals for the General Design Consultant are expected in mid-May 2004, interviews in early June 2004, contract negotiations finalized to take to the Board of Directors for approval on August 2004.  Mr. Ronsse advised that the PE is scheduled to commence August 2004. 

Mr. Ronsse advised that staff is proposing a budget amendment for $5 million to include the PE down to the Nieman Station, under consideration for the June 2004 Board of Directors Meeting and after approval, will be included in staffs proposal and award process for PE.

Chairperson Alvarado queried how staff decided on the $5 million recommendation for the PE of light rail from the Eastridge Station.  Mr. Ronsse responded it was part of a review effort and staff determined it was worth recommending to the Board of Directors for consideration. The future Nieman Station and its attractiveness to the future development are part of the reason for the recommendation by staff.   Chairperson Alvarado commented that it is a good recommendation.

Ms. Render introduced Steven Fisher, Senior Transportation Planner, to provide a report on public involvement.   Ms. Render noted that preliminary staff recommendations were presented in March 2004, and there has been public outreach to receive input from community on the recommendations.

Mr. Fisher reported that during the month of March 2004, staff met with community groups in the affected area to review and comment on staff recommendations.  Mr. Fisher reported that the public is quite excited about having transportation improvement that encompasses light rail, transit buses, and boulevard landscaping treatment associated with the project.   Some of the public expressed concern about specific aspects of the preliminary staff recommendation.  Staff met with the Lyndale Neighborhood Association to discuss staffs recommendation for an aerial structure over the Alum Rock Station into Capitol Expressway and Story Road.  The reaction from the public was more supportive than anticipated and Lyndale Neighborhood Association did vote for the aerial structure once staff explained why the aerial structure was a preferred alternative.

Mr. Fisher further reported that the East Valley/I-680 Strong Neighborhood Initiative (SNI) expressed concern regarding the need for noisewalls being associated with the project, specifically in the area just south of the Story Road Station on the east side of the Corridor due to current noise levels from traffic.   Mr. Fisher noted that the environmental document did address the issue of noise studies and once all input is received from the environmental document and the public, staff will present the information to the PAB and the Board of Directors with a recommendation in August 2004.

Vice Chairperson Chavez queried if noisewalls are being considered for a specific section along Capitol Expressway.   Mr. Fisher responded that the noisewalls will be the entire length of the Corridor from Alum Rock down to Route 87.

Chairperson Alvarado expressed concern that neighborhoods are already subjected to a lot of noise from airport traffic and the increase of traffic will subject the residents to an increase in noise.

Mr. Fisher noted that with regard to the recommendation for the Ocala Station to be in the middle of Capitol Expressway, the community who lives in the immediate vicinity of Ocala requested the station be moved closer to their neighborhood.

Mr. Fisher reported that the West Evergreen SNI was quite supportive of the Nieman Station location and excited about the station being incorporated as part of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which would be associated with the Arcadia site.

Chairperson Alvarado recommended inclusion of design elements be included to help minimize the impact of the soundwalls.

Member Campos queried if in the various community meetings regarding the soundwalls, the public provided recommendations regarding the appearance of the soundwalls or did they leave it up to staff.   Mr. Fisher responded that the Community stated there has been a pre-existing commitment to soundwalls being incorporated into this particular project and at this level did not discuss specific design features.

Chairperson Alvarado recommended that when considering public art pieces for the project that public art for the soundwalls should be considered as well to help minimize the visual impact of the soundwalls.   Chairperson Alvarado expressed concern regarding funding for the soundwalls.

Ms. Render clarified that soundwalls that are mitigation for the project as required under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are included in the budget.

Vice Chairperson Chavez expressed concern that one of the biggest challenges on the Corridor is the landscaping around all of the cement.   Vice Chairperson Chavez expressed concern regarding budget for landscaping.   Vice Chairperson Chavez recommended creating a strategy that prevents certain elements of the project, landscaping for example, from being left out of the project.  Ms. Render advised that the Community Oriented Design Enhancement Program (CODE) is an established mechanism that ensures that art features are incorporated into the project.

Ms. Render noted that with regard to the status of Capitol Expressway Project, the environmental document is being circulated and that a public hearing is scheduled for May 27, 2004. Ms. Render encouraged the Members or their staff to attend the public hearing.   A more detailed presentation on the environmental impacts and the reaction from the Community at the public hearing will be presented to the Members at the PAB meeting scheduled for June 3, 2004.   Ms. Render noted that staff recommendations will be presented to the City of San Joses Building Better Transportation Committee (BBT) in June 2004, VTAs final recommendations will be presented again to the PAB in August 2004, and to the VTA Board of Directors in November 2004.

Member Cortese stated that the presentation the Capitol Expressway environmental document was not on the BBTs workplan.   Mr. Cortese recommended the presentation of the Capitol Expressway environmental document to the BBT be scheduled for June 2004 due to time constraints. 

Ms. Render noted that public review for the Santa Clara Alum Rock Corridor environmental document is currently scheduled for September 2004.

Ms. Render advised that there is nothing new to report on the Monterey Highway Bus Rapid Transit.

Member Campos noted the discrepancy in the figures in the Memorandum to the PAB Committee and VTA Board of Directors.   Ms. Render explained that the $11 million in the PAB memo is the budgeted amount for PE, which was approved by the Board of Directors January 2004.   The $25 million in the Board of Directors memo concerns the bonding and is not directly attached to any project with specific amounts.   Ms. Render noted that the $25 million is not a hard and fast number and there is some flexibility.   Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, clarified the $550 million bonding proceeds and $25 million for DTEV PE.

On order of Chairperson Alvarado, there being no objection, the Downtown East Valley Quarterly Status Report was received and filed.

Ms. Render reported that in 2003 there was a study process for Santa Clara Alum Rock Corridor and that culminated with the VTA Board action in May 2004 to put two separate alternatives in the Environmental Impact Statement for Santa Clara Alum Rock with neither one identified as the preferred alternative in the document.   That was done to allow the benefits and the environmental impact of each alternative to be fully evaluated before that project level decision was made on the preferred mode.   The six-month study process has been completed; there were a number of PAB hosted workshop and a number of meetings in the community from which staff gathered technical information. The Environmental Impact Report was not available and the two alternatives are covered in the EIS that is being prepared.  Once the decision is made on enhanced bus or single car light rail, the benefit of the environmental impact will also be of that decision.

The technical environmental studies are almost completed, the administrative draft document is well underway, and circulation is anticipated for September 2004. 

Chairperson Alvarado queried why circulation is anticipated for September 2004.  Mr. Fitzwater explained that there was a bit of a glitch in one of the technical studies due to a larger number cultural resources or historic building downtown along Santa Clara Street than was originally anticipated.   Mr. Fitzwater noted that the federal process mandates documentation as to the source of the value for the historical building.   Mr. Fitzwater explained that the form identifies when the structure was built, what features of that structure have historic value, and how that structure has been modified over the years.

Ms. Render noted the document was circulated for a minimum of 45-days before the comment period formally closed and will not identify a preferred alternative but the final EIS must identify a preferred alternative that the final EIS must identify. 

Ms. Render referenced the attachment to the memo entitled Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor Decision-Making/Public Involvement Process for the Draft EIS/EIS Draft Framework, a draft frame work of how staff would come to that decision using a public process. 

1.             Initiate Public Involvement    June-July 2004
The newsletters with the project have been translated into three languages and will be circulated within the community.   Staff will advise the businesses located along the corridor of the availability of the environmental document. 

2.          Preliminary VTA Staff Recommendations    August- September 2004
Staff will present the preliminary recommendations report to the Members.   The community input on staff recommendations will be solicited.   Staff will use homeowners associations, other interest groups, and business associations along the corridor to receive input.  This will be accomplished before the environmental document is circulated.

3.          Circulate Draft EIS/EIR    September November 2004
Staff will use the first five or six weeks of the circulation period to do an educational process. Environmental documents are very long, involved, and difficult for the community to understand the technical information and will broken down the information so the community does understand the document.   A citizens guide will be prepared for this Corridor and will be used to educate the community and the business groups

4.          San Jose BBT Recommendation    November 2004
Staff would like to allow a step for the San Jose BBT Committee to review the recommendation.   A placeholder has been added for November 2004.

5.          Final Staff Recommendations to DTEV PAB    December 2004

6.          Circulate Final EIS/EIR    April 2005
If a decision is brought to the PAB in December 2004 the final EIS will be forwarded to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in January 2005.   With the processing requirement it will be April 2005 before the final EIS is approved by FTA and released for circulation.

7.          VTA Board Considers Certification of EIS/EIR    June 2005
There is a possibility that the Board of Directors may be able to take action in May 2005.

Vice Chairperson Chavez queried how the environmental document deals with the construction of BART, if at all.   Mr. Fitzwater responded that at the present time the document addresses worse case, such as construction impacts.   Ms. Render noted that there will be a cost savings if the projects are built concurrently but there might be timing issues with the projects. 

Member Cortese queried if both projects are built concurrently what will be the impact with regard to traffic and open space environmental consideration.   Chairperson Alvarado noted that it is very important to know that answer, in particular how it will affect the people in Alum Rock/Santa Clara.   Mr. Fitzwater responded there is a section in the EIS/EIR which is required by State Law, deals with cumulative impacts that might influence or effect the two projects. 

Vice Chairperson Chavez expressed concern that if light rail and BART are not built concurrently there will be an inconvenience to having the street torn up twice.   Vice Chairperson Chavez queried what would happen if both projects were not ready to be built at the same time.   Ms. Render responded that the environmental document considers worse case.  Ms. Render noted that staff has always considered the impact on Santa Clara Street if the projects were not built concurrently.  Staff has concluded that the impacts would be viewed as maybe lesser related strictly to light rail if they were done concurrently.  Ms. Render noted that there will be a cost savings between the two projects but the with environmental documents staff cannot be too speculative of the environmental document and the impacts it will disclose. Chairperson Chavez requested staff provide information regarding the cumulative impacts as it relates to the BART Project if not built concurrently with the light rail system.

Vice Chairperson Chavez queried how far up light rail could go before being affected by BART construction activity.   Mr. Fitzwater advised that it would be 11^th Street and Capitol Avenue but would provide her a more concrete answer.

On order of Chairperson Alvarado, there being no objection, the Downtown East Valley PAB Committee discussed the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor Draft Framework for the Design-making/Public Involvement Process for the Draft EIS/EIR.

Ms. Render introduced Jim Adams, Roma Design Group, to present the Corridor Streetscape Plan.

Chairperson Alvarado queried if the species to be used for the landscaping have been identified in the Streetscape Plan and recommended.   Chairperson Alvarado recommended that bougainvilleas be used in the landscaping. 

Mr. Adams stated that the Urban Design and Streetscape Design has been an intrical part of conceptual engineering process right from the very beginning.   There is a struggle with the dimensions and trying getting enough room for landscaping and still achieving the engineering objective.

Mr. Adams reported that from the onset, the goal of the Capitol Expressway Project has been to transform the highway environment into a multi-modal boulevard which can support transit goals and maintain the vehicular capacity of the roadway not only at its current level but also provide continuous bicycle circulation along the entire length and pedestrian enhancements to the expressway.   Mr. Adams noted that working with the local neighborhoods enhances the environment and hopes to achieve some of the specific objectives of the neighborhoods.   Mr. Adams also noted that some of the key design aspects of the project have been in reorganization and restructuring the right-of-way on the Capitol Expressway.  The challenge has been to create a multi-modal boulevard while maintaining the vehicular capacity of the street.  Light Rail, along most of the sections is running at the median with continuous multi-purpose bicycle and pedestrian pathways along the east edge of the roadway and in some portions it will run both sides.  Another aspect of the project is to introduce major landscaping that will reduce the scale of the roadway.  Mr. Adams stated that it is necessary to create a pedestrian-environmental that will make the pedestrians feel comfortable to use.

Member McHugh queried as to the status of handing the Expressway to the City of San Jose.   Mr. Fisher responded that staff is working with both County and City staffs on the process.  Chairperson Alvarado requested a status report regarding the process for the transfer of the Expressway to the City of San Jose from the County of Santa Clara.  Mr. Adams noted that is one of the parameters they have been working with the City and County.  

Mr. Adams stated that the landscaping is a very important element to reduce to scale and the concept for the landscaping at this stage is to introduce columnar trees which will be along both sides of the light rail median in alternating fashion so as the patrons are moving in a transit vehicle it will be a very powerful and dynamic component of the roadway.   Along the edges of the roadway it is be proposed to use broadly canopied trees that will provide shade and protection for pedestrians along the sidewalks and within the bike paths.

Member Adams stated that a continuous bicycle path and a multi-purpose path has been planned to allow linkages and connectivity to some of the existing, as well as proposed trail system that have been planned.   Mr. Adams reported that Capitol Expressway is co-existent with the Thompson Creek Trail so with the bike trail that is being created the trail will connect to that overall trail system.  There has been discussion with the West Evergreen SNI regarding an east/west trail that will ultimately connect Silver Creek Trail with the Thompson Creek Trail and the Coyote Creek Trail in the center of the City of San Jose.  The SNI also wanted a pedestrian crossing along with the pathways.  They are not a part of the project but could be accommodated by the project. 

Mr. Adams stated that each of the four stations are very unique and require unique design responses. The Story Road station, which will be an elevated station, and the design of the station, will be a primary focal point of that neighborhood.   The sequence of the structure and bridges is a critical factor and it will be important for staff to work closely with the SNI.

Mr. Adams stated that the Eastridge Station is very important to the whole system because it is the location of the transfer station.   The designs have created a plaza area with strong pedestrian linkages into the Eastridge Mall. 

Chairperson Alvarado commended Mr. Adams for the design work and stated that it will be quite magnificent.

Vice Chairperson Chavez stated she would like to review the plans when soundwalls start being incorporated and that it is important to make sure the soundwalls are softened.

On order of Chairperson Alvarado, there being no objection, the Capitol Expressway Corridor Urban Design Plan was received.

M/S/C (Alvarado/McHugh) to approve the election of Cindy Chavez as Chairperson and Nora Campos as Vice Chairperson of the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board.

On order of Chairperson Alvarado, there being no objection, the meeting adjourned at 4:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gilda M. Grozdanich, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors