The Regular Meeting of the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board (PAB) was called to order at 3:08 p.m. by Chairperson Chavez, Lower Level Conference Room,  70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, California.

Members Present                                                     Members Absent
Blanca Alvarado                                                          Dave Cortese 
Nora Campos, Vice Chairperson 
Cindy Chavez, Chairperson
Pete McHugh

A quorum was present

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentation.

Minutes of April 7, 2005

M/S/C (Campos/McHugh) to approve the Minutes of April 7, 2005.

Downtown East Valley Quarterly Status Report

Steven Fisher, Senior Transportation Planner, stated that in May 2005 the Board of Directors approved the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project.   The Project is a two-phase project; Phase 1A will go to Eastridge and Phase 1B will continue one station beyond to Nieman Boulevard.

Mr. Fisher noted that staff has been having meetings with stakeholders and the community which are involved along Capitol Expressway.

Mr. Fisher stated that staff will be meeting with Pleasant Hills Neighborhood on  June 6, 2005, at August Boeger Junior High School.   Staff has held meetings with Eastridge staff, with the representatives of the Vietnamese Community and will be scheduling a meeting with Beshoff Motors to explain design options and to receive feedback. 

In response to Member Cortese’s request regarding the US-101 Central Corridor Study, the Study has taken into account the Capitol Expressway project when doing improvements on some portions of Capitol Expressway in the vicinity of US-101.    Staff did assume the same configuration of Capitol Expressway, six lanes including the light rail project.   They did not do a lot of detail traffic modeling in the northern portion of Capitol Expressway where VTA’s project therefore information is not available with regard to how much it would reduce the level of traffic on Capitol Expressway once the US-101 Project was completed.

Mr. Fisher stated that staff is providing comments to the City of San Jose regarding Plan Development Zoning Application for Evergreen Sites.

Mr. Fisher advised that San Jose Planning staff has been asked to attend a future DTEV PAB Meeting to report on provide progress with the Evergreen Planning effort.

Mr. Fisher reported that staff is responding to FTA’s comment made on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to air quality construction mitigation measures.   Staff has accepted EPA’s recommendation to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in construction equipment and is negotiating idling time of construction equipment and restricting operating no more than two pieces of equipment at the same time.    Before accepting these terms staff has to figure out how their requirements affect cost and construction of the projects.  FTA is currently reviewing VTA’s counter proposal on their recommendations.

Vice Chairperson Campos queried if the Citizen’s Guide, will come to the PAB before going out to the public.   Mr. Fisher responded staff plans to provide a power point presentation to the PAB that will preview the Guide before it is released.

Mr. Fisher stated that with regard to Monterey Highway, VTA has been developing a program to deal with Bus Rapid Transit. Staff is proposing to use the committee structure of the VTA Policy Advisory Committee and VTA Technical Advisory Committee as the projects are developed.   Staff is also proposing to commence reporting on the Monterey Highway as the project into the realm of the regular VTA Committees with the PAB Member’s approval.

Chairperson Chavez stated that it is important to report out on Monterey Highway because the alignment issues at least to Alum Rock have not been finished and it could have an impact on Monterey Highway as it relates to the use of Bus Rapid Transit.   Chairperson Chavez stated it is important that it be discussed as a network.

Chairperson Chavez queried as to the funding source for the Monterey Highway project.   Kevin Connolly, Transportation Planning Manager and Staff Liaison responded that the funding source is the 2000 Measure A. 

Member Alvarado expressed concern regarding moving the Bus Rapid Transit Project on Monterey Highway out of Downtown East Valley Light Rail Project and requested the project remain on the back burner. 

Chairperson Chavez requested staff provide a separate report on the Monterey Highway Bus Rapid Transit once concerns over Santa Clara/Alum Rock have been addressed.

Chairperson Chavez queried as to the possibilities around Transit Oriented Development as it relates to densities, which are different than light rail. Chairperson Chavez stated it would be helpful because of the fairgrounds and properties in that area.   Mr. Connolly advised discussion will take place within the confines of the Transit Capital Expansion Policy and the new corridor study. 

Member Alvarado requested discussion as to why the decision for Bus Rapid Transit on Monterey Highway, discussion regarding its merits, what it will provide, and most importantly, the funding source.

Member McHugh requested staff provide a report or overview regarding Bus Rapid Transit and Monterey Highway at a future meeting.

Chairperson Chavez requested the report address timing issues and the PAB’s    expectation around Bus Rapid Transit and the limitations. 

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

Capitol Expressway Project Value Engineering

Ken Ronsse, Design and Construction Manager, reported that the lanes are set, the pathways established, the landscaping areas are defined, and staff is able to start refining the alignment and evaluate the various environmental impacts that were in the report, particularly with the real estate and right-of-way.

The good news to date is that the right-of-way impacts with refined alignment have been minimized, particularly with the full phase. 

With regard to the architectural urban design, architects are in the process of developing potential concepts for City of San Jose and VTA’s evaluation.   Staff is hoping to provide the PAB with staff’s vision might be for the Corridor at the PAB’s meeting of  August 4, 2005.

Keith Meyer, Rajappan & Meyer, provided a power point presentation on the Value Engineering (VE) Alternatives of the Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project.

Mr. Meyer stated the objective is to present findings of value engineering studies to date and to seek input from the PAB for further development of Preliminary Engineering (PE) design.

The Design element reviewed to date is guideway location and elevation and station layouts and access.   The results desired are to reduce right-of-way acquisition, improve ease of construction, reduce construction costs and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Mr. Meyer reported that the approved project for Phase 1A is:   1) elevated guideway over Capitol and Story Roads, 2) elevated Story Road Station and Pedestrian Overcrossings (POC’s) north and south of Story Road, 3) at-grade guideway crossing at Ocala and Cunningham Avenue, and 4) at-grade Ocala Station midway between Ocala and Cunningham with POC’s east and west of guideway.   The approved project for Phase 1B is: 1) cut and cover guideway under Tully Road, 2) at-grade Eastridge Station, 3) cut and cover guideway under Eastridge access and Quimby Road, and 4) at-grade Nieman station.

Mr. Meyer stated that the VE recommendations are for Phase 1A:   1) shift elevated guideway over Capitol Avenue and Capitol Expressway to avoid full house takes,  2) construct Story Road Station POC’s only south of side of Story Road; 3) shift Ocala Station northerly to Ocala.  Station access from signalized crosswalks at Ocala and Cunningham No POC’s to station, 4) construct elevated guideway over Tully Road, and 5) shift at-grade Eastridge Station. The VE recommendation for Phase 1B is construct elevated guideway over Eastridge Access and Quimby Road.   Mr. Meyer reported the savings for Phase 1A will be $34.2 million and for Phase 1B will be $19.3 million for a total savings of $53.5 million.

Mr. Ronsse reported that the next steps with regard to Engineering are:  proceed with PE for VE alternatives and complete PE in early 2006.    The next steps with Meetings are: community meetings, meetings with San Jose staff, meetings with Eastridge Mall, meetings with Reid Hillview Airport staff, meetings with Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and meetings with Beschoff Motors.  The next step with regards to environmental is to conduct supplemental studies after PE phase.

Member McHugh advised that $34.2 million in savings should really be $33.2 million in savings.     Mr. McHugh commended staff on the savings.

Vice Chairperson Campos queried if staff has considered the costs for enhancing the area and the different amenities that would be needed.    Mr. Meyer responded that the cost has been allowed for in the savings.

Vice Chairperson Campos requested staff provide a list of groups they have and will be meeting with.

Member Alvarado stressed the importance that public art be looked at in combination with engineering because they may come out with something architecturally, culturally and esthetically beneficial and much more meaningful in defining symbolic points of such areas as Story Road, Capitol Avenue and Eastridge, which people could really be proud of.   Member Alvarado requested staff to take into account the culture of the area and history, which should be applicable in the kind of enhancement treatment given.

Chairperson Chavez expressed concern that the funding saved will wind up in another project.   Chairperson Chavez requested an explanation of the opportunities and limitations with the funding and why they are as they are. 

Member Alvarado recommended that when meeting with the public, be honest with them as to how things are going to function and that the intent is to make it as much a compatible structure and fixture in their neighborhood.

M/S/C (Chavez/Campos) to support the Value Engineering Alternatives with the Community Outreach coming back in the future after the community has the opportunity to review.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Chairperson Chavez, there being no objection, the meeting adjourned  at 4:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

Gilda M. Grozdanich, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors