Sunnyvale

A recent paving project on Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road prompted raising of an issue regarding appropriate construction zone signs for paving projects. Staff seeks BPAC input on appropriate warning schemes for newly paved roads with bike lanes.

The construction zone SOP for bikes calls for advance signs (Bike Lane Closed, Watch for Bikes), a cone pattern around the work area, and maximizing remaining roadway space. In the case of a project to repave a bike lane, the work zone encompasses not only the bike space, but the entire roadway. During the preparation phase of the Sunnyvale-Saratoga project, advance warning signs were placed, but no cone pattern. In essence, signs were intended to warn cyclists of construction conditions ahead. The bike lane was completely obliterated.

Subsequent to the laying of new asphalt, a period of time passed during which no striping was present on the roadway, and utility covers/manholes/etc. were unpatched (large holes in the road/bike space). Advance warning signs were left in place, as an intended warning of construction conditions ahead. For a short period of time prior to patching of utility holes and temporary delineation of the bike space, the signs were removed.

City staff received requests from cyclists both to remove the advance warning signs after the new pavement was placed, and to replace the advance warning signs until the roadway construction was totally complete. The citizen complaining about the presence of the signs was concerned that the signs sent the message that the road was closed to bike traffic, when it appeared rideable. He also believed that more warning was needed at the specific locations where there were hazards, rather than at the outer limits of the project area only. The citizen that complained that there were no signs present felt that some warning was essential for cyclists of the dangerous conditions.

Staff believes that the warning signs as placed were appropriate, but that the message of the signs may be misleading. A "bike lane ends" message would be less offensive in this case, but the "bike lane closed" signs are more multi- purpose and asking contractors to carry a multitude of signs may be problematic.

Staff seeks BPAC input on possible methods for construction zone warnings in roadway repaving situations.

Bike to Work Day Planning
Staff attended the February meeting of the Bike to Work Day 2004 Technical Advisory Committee. Sponsorships for the energizer stations were discussed. Bags, energy bars and sunblock will be provided for energizer stations in the San Francisco region. A local company is donating some bottled water; staff is awaiting information regarding how many bottles will be available for Sunnyvale’s energizer stations. Safeway, Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee and Tea management have instructed individual store managers to respond to requests for donations for BTWD at the store level. BTWD organizers are working with Trader Joe’s on a similar donation program. Staff provided the name of Walt’s Cycle to the regional BTWD coordinator to contact for BTWD discounts.

Staff has begun to coordinate with Jennifer Paedon of MPBTA. They will be hosting two energizer stations: Baylands Park and the NASA light rail station. Jennifer has requested that we coordinate our energizer station planning and donated items. She has volunteered to request coffee from Starbucks for the five energizer stations. In addition, she is interested in organizing another lunch time bike ride this year. She is looking for a company to host it and has requested that City Council members and/or staff participate.

MTC’s consultant for BTWD, Fleishman-Hiller and Swirl (FSH), is working on an advertising campaign with the new tagline "shift gears." There will be a tabloid-sized insert in the May 14 San Francisco Chronicle on BTWD. Staff is investigating the possibility of installing lamppost banners for BTWD along El Camino Real.

Staff recommends the Committee discuss the planning efforts conducted thus far, review donation requests, and brainstorm for participants in the lunch time bike ride.
Health and Safety Fair
At its February 2004 meeting, three BPAC members volunteered for shifts at the Bike Rodeo, which is part of the Health and Safety Fair event, held on May 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Since this discussion, staff has obtained additional information on the event from the event coordinator. The helmet fitting will occur in two settings at the Bike Rodeo. There will be a helmet fitting station (located adjacent to the bike safety inspection station) where children can bring helmets that they already own for a proper fitting. Set-up for this station should begin at 10:30 a.m.; information on BPAC and other bicycling safety information may be given away. There will be no helmet giveaways at this station, and two people staffing the station should be sufficient. Children who do not own a helmet can obtain a free helmet by attending a helmet safety class, which will occur from 11:30 to 1:00 and again from 1:00 to 2:30. After the class volunteers will assist with helmet fittings for the class attendees.

Staff recommends that BPAC members consider the various time and setting opportunities to volunteer at this event, and confirm your volunteer commitments.
Utility Bill Stuffer Draft
At its February 2004 meeting, BPAC discussed concepts for the utility bill stuffer space that is reserved for the May/June cycle. The Committee decided to focus on pedestrian safety on one side of the insert and school safety on the other, with integrated Spanish text. Please see Attachment 3 to review the draft text and graphics for the insert. Staff will submit this draft to the Communications Division within the Office of the City Manager by the March 16 deadline. OCM staff will assist with the insert design.

Staff recommends BPAC review the draft and provide comment on any significant issues.
Coordination with Planning Commission for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety/Access During Project Construction Phase
At its February 2004 meeting, BPAC requested that staff schedule a Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission to discuss education and solutions for bicycle and pedestrian issues in construction zones. Staff met with Planning staff to discuss this request. Planning staff consulted with the Planning Commission Chair. The Planning Commission’s schedule is very full, and such a meeting could not occur until this fall. The Planning Commission Chair thinks a joint meeting to educate each other of roles/responsibilities and issues could be valuable. Planning and Transportation staff note that a Joint Study Session may not be the best method for addressing this issue. The Planning Commission does not review construction-phase plans and documents; this is conducted by the Building Division and its Building Inspectors for private projects or Public Works Inspectors for public projects. However, the planning permits reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission may include Conditions of Approval that relate to the future construction-zone issues. Therefore, BPAC may wish to draft a standard Condition of Approval relating to bicycle and pedestrian issues during the construction phase of a project to be included with projects that go through the Planning Commission. Staff recommends that BPAC discuss the options for addressing this issue and asks BPAC to provide direction to staff.
TDA Article 3 Grant Program

Staff has received a call for projects for the 2004/2005 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 grants. These funds are available for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The attached Memorandum from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) (Attachment 4) details information on the program.

Consistent with City policy to seek outside funding for projects in the City’s capital budget as a first priority, staff is currently proposing to submit the Mary Avenue Bicycle/Pedestrian Over-Crossing project. Staff recommends that the Committee support staff’s recommendation.
Countywide Bike Plan Tier 2 Bicycle Project List

By March 17, staff will submit an application for funds from the Tier 2 Bicycle Project List administered by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). An estimated $5 million may be available to Sunnyvale over the more than 20-year life of the Tier 2 program. Based on this target, staff recommends the following project priorities:

Sunnyvale Train Station North Side Access

This project, which creates a bicycle and pedestrian crossing to access the north side of the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station, is currently on the Tier 2 Bicycle Project List. However, all projects that are on the list need to be resubmitted in order to sustain status on the list.

Sunnyvale East Drainage Trail (Hetch-Hetchy Bike Path to Tasman)

This project is currently on the Tier 3 Bicycle Project List.

Borregas Avenue Bicycle Lane

This project involves parking removal and restriping, and is currently the highest unfunded Bike CIP project.

Duane Avenue Bicycle Lane (Fair Oaks to Lawrence)

This project involves lane removal and striping, and is currently the next highest unfunded Bike CIP project.

Staff recommends that BPAC review and comment on VTA Tier 2 project priorities.

Information Only Items

Approved (with Exception of 1^st Page) January 15, 2003 Meeting Minutes

Attached (Attachment 5).
BPAC Active Items Report

Attached (Attachment 6).
BPAC Email

Attached (Attachment 7).
2004 BPAC Calendar

Attached (Attachment 8).
Traffic Accidents Involving Pedestrians Report

There were no collision reports involving pedestrians during the period between 2/9/04 and 3/10/04.
Traffic Accidents Involving Bicycles Report

Attached (Attachment 9).
City Council Review and Prioritization of City Services

On February 3, 2004, the City Council adopted a new approach to review, provide initial policy direction, and approve the City’s annual budget and long-term financial plan. This new approach includes the following new steps in the budget preparation process:

Prioritizing all City services as the recommended budget is being developed, rather than after the recommended budget has been presented to Council in May.
Presenting an unbalanced budget in April, which will allow Council to provide preliminary policy direction on the options that City staff will examine and potentially use to prepare a balanced, recommended annual budget and long-term financial plan.
Adding four Council meetings to the budget calendar to allow more and earlier Council involvement in the budget process.
Providing public hearings at these additional budget meetings to encourage more public involvement and participation in the budget process.

The Council will review City services during two scheduled meetings in March; City services within the Department of Public Works will be reviewed at the scheduled March 20, 2004 meeting. BPAC members are invited to attend and provide comment.

Service review worksheets for City services are being developed. The service review worksheets that pertain to City services related to the work of BPAC will be delivered to BPAC members as soon as possible. In addition, staff will direct BPAC members to all of the City’s service review worksheets when they are available. At the Council meeting on March 20, the Council will review these worksheets and assign the service to a service ranking level. The Council will then identify service levels for existing City services that should be adjusted, for any new services that should be offered beginning next fiscal year, or for any existing services that should be examined for deletion next fiscal year. Public comment on the proposed service category assignments and on Council's discussion regarding changes to services or service levels will follow.

The service review worksheets contain the following information:

A brief description of the service,
Budgeted costs and revenues (if appropriate) that are associated with the service, and information comparing the cost of providing the service with the amount of revenues or fees generated from customers using the service,
Information describing the type of customer(s) and the size of the customer group(s) that the service is offered to, and
A suggested assignment of the service by staff to one of five categories.

The five categories are described below:

Legally mandated service or required by contract: this category should be used for services that the City is legally required to make available by another governmental agency, by City Charter, or by ordinance. It should also be used for services that the City has a contract obligation to make available.

Core external service: this category should be used for services that are considered to be the minimal, essential services that would be made available to City residents, businesses, or other customer groups even if the City was facing a financial bankruptcy.

Core internal service: this category should be used for services that are considered to be the minimal, essential internal support services that are required by City employees to deliver services. These services are required even if the City was facing a financial bankruptcy. These services are essential for the effective and efficient operation of the City organization.

Expected/traditional service: this category should be used for services that Sunnyvale residents, businesses, and other customer groups have come to expect Sunnyvale to provide or make available to them. Other cities would also be expected to provide these services to their residents, businesses, and other customer groups. This category can also be used for services called for by the General Plan or a sub-element of the General Plan. Or, this category can be used for services that address the health or safety of the public, or for services that are provided to maintain minor City infrastructure systems. Finally, this category can also be used for services that contribute to the quality of life, or that support service delivery that is designed to maintain or improve the quality of life in Sunnyvale.

Optional service: this category should be used for services that contribute to Sunnyvale's reputation as one of the best-managed cities in the country. These services go beyond the expectations of residents and businesses in other cities, and the internal support provided by internal support departments in other cities. However, in Sunnyvale, residents, businesses, and other customer groups expect the City to make these services available to them. These services, and the quality or the level of service that they are provided at, contribute to the City's continued high results in customer satisfaction, and financial and operational performance. Currently, these services may be provided or made available at higher levels of service than expected.

Following this meeting, on April 10^th and April 17^th, the Council will discuss its vision for the community, staff will present the preliminary, unbalanced annual budget and long-term financial plan, and Council will provide policy direction on methods for balancing the annual budget.

8. Safe Routes to School Grant Program Submittal

On February 27, staff submitted an application for funds from the Safe Routes to School grant program administered by Caltrans District 4 Office of Local Assistance. The application includes pedestrian improvements and outreach at the Cherry Chase Elementary School consistent with recommendations from BPAC members raised at its December 2003 meeting. The pedestrian improvements described in the application include the installation of sidewalk ramps at intersections along Grape Avenue between Parkington Avenue and Knickerbocker Drive and the installation of high-visibility ladder crosswalk pavement markings at the intersections along Bernardo and Grape Avenues between Parkington Avenue and Knickerbocker Drive. In addition to these construction projects, the grant application requested funds for public outreach to cover education and enforcement at the school site following the installation of the pedestrian improvements.

9. SNAIL Involvement in Borregas Avenue Bridges Project

At the February BPAC meeting, Mayor Howe relayed neighborhood concerns over the Borregas Avenue Bridges project that were raised at a recent meeting of the Sunnyvale Neighbors of Arbor, Including LaLinda (SNAIL) Neighborhood Association. BPAC expressed interest in contacting SNAIL in order to discuss their concerns and try to establish some resolutions.

The Borregas Avenue Bridges project will undergo environmental review subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Public outreach is a major component of the environmental review process, and all public comment is carefully documented and considered in the review of the project. Staff believes that SNAIL will be provided with opportunity to comment on their concerns and participate in the project review through the formal environmental review process and that a better exchange of information will occur in the context of environmental review. Staff is currently working to solidify the funding program for the project. Staff anticipates the environmental review to take place over the next year.

10. Letter to the County Roads Department Regarding Signage Prohibiting Pedestrians on the Central Expressway

Attached (Attachment 10).

11. Preliminary Engineering Study for the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-Crossing Project

On March 23, 2004, the City Council will provide direction to staff on the advancement of the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-Crossing Preliminary Engineering Study. This study will require $260,000 in City funds, and the project, although listed on the VTA Countywide Bicycle Plan Tier 1 list of bicycle projects, does not have guaranteed funding from the VTA. The Council will consider whether to proceed with the study or to place it on hold until the VTA funding situation improves. A preferred consultant has been identified and staff is prepared to move forward expediently upon Council’s affirmation. The draft Report to Council is attached (Attachment 11).

12. Memo to Mayor Howe Regarding Off-Street Parking Analysis Along the Wolfe Road Bike Route

At the BPAC meeting, staff will provide the Committee with a copy of a memo that was directed to Mayor Howe from staff. This memo discusses an analysis of off-street parking along the Wolfe Road Bike Route.

13. General Requirements for Encroachment Permits

In response to an email request from Jackson, the General Requirements listed on the Permit for Encroachment are attached (Attachment 12). Requirement #6 addresses construction zone safety for bicyclists.