HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-16-2014 BAC Agenda Packet
MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is to provide oversight and policy
direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling
outside the City.
ROLL CALL: Jim Woolf (Chair), Howard Weisenthal (Vice Chair), Lea Brooks, Chris Black, Peter Deragon,
Catherine Machado, and Arlene Winn.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
At this time, the public is invited to address the Committee concerning items not on the agenda but are
of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly
respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff to follow up on such issues.
MINUTES: November 21, 2013 (Attachment 1)
PRESENTATION ITEMS:
1. Measure Y (Public Works Director, Daryl Grigsby)
ACTION ITEMS:
2. Airport Area Specific Plan Amendments – Chevron, applicant (Attachment 2)
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
3. Committee Items
• Way Finding Signage Sub-Committee Report
• Bicycle Mode Share Sub-Committee Report (Attachment 3)
4. Staff Items
• New BAC agenda template
• Railroad Safety Trail and Bob Jones Trail Updates
• Tribune article on SLO City bicycle/motorist collision rate
• Advisory Body Recruitment
• SLOCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Requests (Attachment 4)
ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting will be held March 20, 2014
Agenda
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Thursday, January 16, 2014 – 7:00 pm
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and
activities. Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance.
PRESENTATION ITEM:
Agenda Item #1: Measure Y
Daryl Grigsby, Director of Public Works, will give a presentation on Measure Y; the 2006 voter approved
general half-cent sales tax.
ACTION ITEMS:
Agenda Item #2: Airport Area Specific Plan Amendments (Chevron, applicant)
Background
On July 18, 2013, the Bicycle Advisory Committee reviewed the Draft EIR associated with the project
proposal from Chevron to amend the Airport Area Specific Plan (AASP). The project includes plans to
remediate and develop portions of the property surrounding Tank Farm Road leaving the remainder in
open space (Attachment 2, pg.1). 250 acres would be placed in open space and may ultimately be
deeded to the City with a restrictive covenant limiting future uses. Approximately 82 acres would be
utilized for infrastructure improvements, parkland, and commercial development. Should annexation
into the City not be successful, Chevron is also seeking entitlements to develop the property similar to
the City application.
Amendments to the AASP include changes to the bicycle transportation network, primarily because of
changes and upgrades to the road network and as a result of land use amendments proposed by
Chevron. When the AASP and the Bicycle Transportation Plan were adopted, detailed environmental
information about the property was not available. The EIR has provided substantial information to help
identify the best locations for bicycle connections.
Attachment 2, pg. 2 illustrates bike paths proposed in the AASP, while Attachment 2, pg. 3 illustrates
bike paths that are proposed as part of the development and remediation project.
The AASP identifies the following within the project site:
1. A Class 1 bike path parallel to, and on the south side of, Tank Farm Road.
2. A Class 1 bike path extending southward at the southwesterly boundary of the Chevron property.
3. A Class 1 bike path adjacent to (outside of) the easterly boundary of the property along Santa Fe
Road and along the edge of the creek.
4. Class 2 paths are identified along the northwest boundary of the property in alignment with the
planned Unocal Collector road.
5. Class 2 paths are identified along Tank Farm Road through the project site
6. Class 2 paths are identified along the extension of Santa Fe Road northward to the future extension
of Prado Road.
The Project proposes the following: (Attachment 2, pgs. 4, 5)
1. Relocation of the Class 1 bike path adjacent to Tank Farm Road from the south to the north side of
the road.
2. Consolidation of the two Class 1 bike paths that extend south of Tank Farm Road (one is currently
identified on the westerly boundary of the Chevron property and the other along Hoover/Santa Fe
Road adjacent to the creek). The new route would bisect the Chevron property and extend
southward to the Avila Ranch property. The planned route along the creek near Hoover Road would
remain on the plan but would not be constructed with this project.
3. On the north side of the property, the planned Unocal collector road is proposed for elimination.
Instead, a Class 1 bike path and a utilities easement are proposed to replace the roadway, linking
bicyclists from Tank Farm to Prado Road.
4. A Class 1 Bike path is proposed linking Tank Farm Road/Santa Fe Road with properties to the east
and to Damon Garcia Sports Fields.
5. Buffered Class 2 bike paths are proposed along Tank Farm Road.
Final Environmental Impact Report
MRS Environmental Services has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which includes
responses to all of the comments received during the draft EIR period. Many of the comments received
on the draft EIR were associated with traffic and circulation, including the planned roundabout for Tank
Farm and Santa Fe Roads. The Final EIR has now been released and is scheduled to be reviewed by the
Planning Commission and City Council between February and March of this year.
The Final EIR provides a mitigation measure (Mitigation Measure T-3a) that requires the applicants to
construct some of the proposed bike paths noted above in the project proposal, at phase one of the
project. These paths include the Class 1 bike path on the north side of Tank Farm Road, Class 2 bike
paths on both sides of Tank Farm Road and a Class 1 multi-use path south of Tank Farm Road that will
link with properties to the South. The final location of this southerly bike path has not yet been
determined, however the conceptual location has been chosen to avoid conflicts with habitat areas. All
other bike paths would be constructed in accordance with the project description.
Comments from July 18, 2013 BAC hearing
At the hearing on July 18th, the BAC provided the following comments on the Draft EIR. These comments
were documented in the Final EIR and responses were provided. Each comment is in italics followed by
the final EIR response.
1. Timing for installation of bike paths: Install all required paths prior to occupancy of Phase 1
development; ensure that bike routes are not interrupted during remediation and install continuous
class 2 paths along Tank Farm road upon completion of remediation.
Final EIR Response: Mitigation T-3a requires the installation of bike paths prior to occupancy
of Phase 1 development. Mitigation T-4 ensures that the duration of construction and
associated disruptions is minimized.
2. Maintain a north/south class 1 pathway to connect to southerly property consistent with intent of
bike plan. Conceptual central location on property appears ok.
Final EIR Response: Mitigation T-3a specifies the installation of a north/south Class I path.
3. Maintain planned path alignment along fork of San Luis Creek on Airport/County property - BAC
acknowledged this path would not be built with project.
Final EIR Response: Mitigation T-3a specifies the installation of Class I paths in accordance
with the AASP and Bicycle Transportation Plan.
4. Ensure all Class 1 and Class 2 paths link and integrate and appropriately transition with off-site
locations (i.e. Damon Garcia, Prado Road, east and west ends of Tank Farm Road)
Final EIR Response: Mitigation T-3a specifies the installation of Class I paths in accordance
with the AASP and Bicycle Transportation Plan, including connectivity to other facilities and
destinations. Instead of a typical Class 2 path on Tank Farm Road, buffered Class 2 paths
are now being proposed to provide better separation between bicycle and vehicular traffic.
Details regarding the transitions of these connections are still being planned and will be
finalized when public improvement plans are developed for the project.
Summary
The comments from the Bicycle Advisory Committee have been incorporated into the project and
environmental review document. The Committee should provide final comments on the project. These
comments will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council for final action.
Staff Recommendation: By motion, the BAC should endorse the proposed area bicycle plan and
recommend the Planning Commission forward this recommendation to City Council.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Agenda Item #3: Committee Items
• Way Finding Signage sub-committee report
Sub-committee members Brooks and Woolf
• Bicycle Mode Share sub-committee report (Attachment 3)
Sub-committee members Brooks and Weisenthal
Agenda Item #4: Staff Items
• New BAC agenda template
• Railroad Safety Trail and Bob Jones Trail updates
• Tribune article on SLO City bicycle/motorist collision rate
• Advisory Body Recruitment
• SLOCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Requests (Attachment 4)
• Items for next meeting:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The next meeting will be held: March 20, 2014
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Minutes of the November 21, 2013 BAC meeting
2. Chevron Tank Farm exhibits
3. San Jose Mercury news piece on Palo Alto modal split survey
4. SLOCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Requests Notice
G:\Transportation-Data\_Unsorted Stuff\Transportation\Transportation Committees\Bike Committee\BACAgendas\2014
Draft Minutes 1
Regular meeting of the 2 SAN LUIS OBISPO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 3
Council Hearing Room, City Hall 4
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo 5
6
November 21, 2013 Thursday 7 p.m. 7
8
MISSION: 9
The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is to provide oversight and policy 10
direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to 11
bicycling outside the City. 12
13
ROLL CALL: 14
Present: Jim Woolf (Chair), Howard Weisenthal (Vice Chair), Lea Brooks, Catherine Machado, 15
and Arlene Winn. 16
Ab sent: Chris Black and Peter Deragon 17
Staff Members: Peggy Mandeville and Kevin Christian 18
19
20
PUBLIC COMMENT: 21
22
There was no public comment. 23
24
25
MINUTES: September 19, 2013 26
27
Staff noted that the minutes should have reflected that members Woolf, Black, and Machado 28
were absent, not “present.” 29
30
Action: CM Weisenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. CM Brooks seconded 31
the motion. The motion passed, with CM Woolf abstaining as he was not present at the past 32
meeting. 33
34
35
AC TION ITEMS: 36
37
There were no action items. 38
39
40
DISCUSSION ITEMS: 41
42
Agenda Item # 3: Committee Items 43
44
1. Bicycle Transportation Plan follow up items 45
46
• Sharrows 47
48
CM Woolf discussed whether there was need for further policy or direction concerning 49
the use of Shared Lane marking legends (Sharrows). 50
51
Attachment 1 - 1
Staff noted the current Bicycle Transportation Plan policy criteria and discussed the 1
history of the policy, along with development of installed locations within the City to date. 2
3
Myron Amerine (public) noted that Sharrows allow cyclists to feel confident about 4
positioning themselves in the center of narrow lanes with on-street parking. He 5
suggested their use be considered to aide road users at intersections lacking bike lanes, 6
specifically mentioning Foothill/California northbound. He also felt appropriate signage 7
was necessary to educate and clarify the use of Sharrows. 8
9
CM Brooks requested that signage accompanying Sharrows be updated to the current 10
Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) recommendation, “Bicycles May 11
Use Full Lane” (R4-11) version. 12
13
CM Machado suggested that the existing signage (Share the Road) accompanying 14
currently installed sharrows, be switched out at the time of next sharrow installation 15
project so that signage is consistent throughout the City. 16
17
The Committee agreed. 18
19
20
• Way-finding bicycle route signage 21
22
CM Woolf discussed the omission of bicycle route way-finding signage in the City way-23
finding signage project. He suggested the creation of through routes and known bicycle 24
routes for incorporation in City way-finding signage. e.g. Pacific Coast Trail, crosstown 25
route, main arterial bike routes, etc. 26
27
Staff suggested a subcommittee be created for the purpose of researching and 28
recommending way-finding signage options. 29
30
Action: CM Brooks moved to create a subcommittee to explore way-finding signage 31
options. CM Machado seconded the motion. 32
33
The motion passed unanimously naming CM Brooks and CM Woolf as sub-committee 34
members. 35
36
2. Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) Discussion follow up 37
38
CM Brooks discussed forming a bicycle mode-share subcommittee in order to more 39
accurately assess current bicycle mode-share and the impact of future bicycling facilities 40
on ridership. She suggested the possibility of creating an annual report for City Council 41
that outlined the number of trips made on bicycles. 42
43
Staff discussed previous efforts to calculate mode share information and cited the need 44
for consistent data gathering, suggesting that research of other communities may 45
identify a better way of gathering information. 46
47
Action: CM Machado moved to create a subcommittee dedicated to researching 48
current SLO City bicycle mode share data, and possible methods to update it. CM 49
Brooks seconded the motion. 50
51
The motion passed unanimously naming CM Brooks and CM Wiesenthal as sub-52
committee members. 53
Attachment 1 - 2
1
3. CM Brooks reported that Wingate Homes on Orcutt Road was creating a packet for 2
project distribution that will promote both recreational and transportation bike riding in 3
the area. 4
5
6
Agenda Item # 4: Staff Items 7
8
Staff noted that a roundabout workshop was being held on December 9, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at 9
the SLO City library. 10
11
12
ADJOURN 13
14
Action: CM Winn moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. to the next regular meeting of 15
January 16, 2014. CM Weisenthal seconded the motion. 16
17
The motion passed unanimously. 18
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21
Respectfully submitted, 22
23
Lisa Woske 24
Recording Secretary 25
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G:\Transportation-Data\_Unsorted Stuff\Transportation\Transportation Committees\Bike Committee\BACminutes\2013 50
Attachment 1 - 3
Project Site Plan
Attachment 2 - 1
Bike Paths Envisioned in City Bicycle Transportation Plan
Attachment 2 - 2
Bike Paths proposed with Original Chevron project
Attachment 2 - 3
Bike Paths Currently Proposed
Attachment 2 - 4
Tank Farm Road Proposed Cross Section
Example of Buffered Class 2 Bikeway
Attachment 2 - 5
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24667647/palo-alto-releases-results-first-ever-transportation-study?source=email#
Page 1 of 2 Jan 06, 2014 12:23:37PM MST
Palo Alto releases results of first-ever transportation study
By Jason Green Daily News Staff Writer San Jose Mercury News
Posted:MercuryNews.com
One-fifth of Palo Alto households have switched to alternative fuel vehicles and more than 50 percent own
four or more bicycles, according to the results of the city's first-ever transportation survey.
Intended to shed light on travel patterns within Palo Alto, the survey was circulated online and in hardcopy
format from March 11 to May 5. Of the 3,707 responses the city received, 77 percent were from residents.
The rest were from people who commute to the city for work.
The results of the survey will be used to guide transportation policy decisions at a time when traffic
congestion and parking shortages have climbed to the top of the public agenda.
Residents and outside commuters were given different questionnaires to complete. Of the 2,855 residents
who responded, 44 percent said they work outside of the city, with Mountain View and San Jose being the
two main destinations. Solo driving was the travel mode of choice.
The same held true for outside commuters, who mostly hailed from San Jose and cities to the north of
Palo Alto. Respondents said they need their cars to run errands and drop children off at school. They also
pointed to a lack of viable alternative transportation options and irregular work schedules.
A majority of outside commuters noted that their employers offer on-site parking or permits as well as
incentives to use alternative transportation, including discount passes and carpool matching.
Residents said they prefer to bike and walk when they don't have to drive, followed by riding Caltrain and
carpooling. Outside commuters, meanwhile, ranked Caltrain and carpooling as their top alternatives.
Confirming a long-held belief that the city is a leader in the use of alternative fuel vehicles, 20 percent of
residents who responded to the survey said they own a hybrid or a car that is powered by electricity or
compressed natural gas. Slightly more than half of Palo Alto households -- 55 percent -- own two cars and
just 5 percent claim more than four.
Bicycle ownership is high in the city, with a whopping 93 percent of respondents reporting one in their
household. And 53 percent said they owned four or more bicycles. Those numbers jibe with reports of
increased bicycle parking at local schools, according to the report.
A report summarizing the results of the transportation survey noted that residents who responded hailed
from all parts of the city. The highest-responding neighborhoods were Crescent Park, Downtown North
and Downtown South with 25 percent. Midtown followed with 24 percent, South Palo Alto with 13 percent
and Barron Park with 11 percent.
"Strong participation around the city indicates that additional questions in the survey generally represent
the values and practices of the community," the report said.
To view the full results of Palo Alto's first-ever transportation survey, visit
.http://tinyurl.com/paloaltotransportation
Attachment 3 - 1
Attachment 4 - 1