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Jack Witthaus, Transportation and Traffic Manager, presented the staff report and clarified that this issue is pertinent only to a pedestrian access pathway at the intersection of Hendy and Frances Streets.
Councilmember Moylan asked if citizens are able to get to the northbound platform without crossing the tracks. Manager Witthaus stated the current access is from Evelyn Avenue through the Caltrain station using the protected crossings from the south platform to the north platform.
Councilmember Howe asked how a 4-way stop sign is justified as the traffic at that location is not significant enough to warrant a stop sign. Manager Witthaus stated there are special conditions within the federal regulations which allow for a stop sign, such as a high number of pedestrians or when visibility issues exist. Staff believes all these conditions exist at this location.
Councilmember Howe asked how the trash will get picked up and Manager Witthaus stated it will be picked up on the same day as the neighborhood collection.
Councilmember Spitaleri asked how many of the community members who attended the meeting regarding this issue were not from the immediate area. Manager Witthaus stated more than one-third of those in attendance were not from the neighborhood.
Councilmember Spitaleri asked what type of pedestrian traffic occurs in this area during the evenings and weekends. Manager Witthaus stated staff has not done any formal counts, but they anticipate there is demand during weekends.
Councilmember Spitaleri asked how parking will be addressed for those who drive to this location for commuting. Manager Witthaus stated parking in the area has a seven-hour limit which addresses the commuter. He stated there is some unrestricted parking along Hendy Avenue and that Council could recommend that staff look into this issue.
Councilmember Chu asked if the intersection corners of Frances and Hendy will be made compliant per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Manager Witthaus stated staff would replace two existing ramps on the south side of the street to accomplish compliance.
Councilmember Chu asked how the access point will be funded. Manager Witthaus explained the specific funding source has not been confirmed, but that the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) staff stated there is a station improvement budget for Caltrain that would be used for the construction of this project. In addition, the City has an existing grant to do design work through the VTA’s Community Design and Transportation Fund.
Councilmember Chu asked what the time table would be for installation of the access point, should the project be approved. Manager Witthaus stated the project would have to be designed, but was confident that it could be completed in six months or less.
Mayor Swegles opened the Public Hearing at 8:03 p.m.
Jim Lawson, Government Affairs Manager with the VTA, stated they are happy to assist the City with this project, but they do not have any money identified for this project.
Tom Mayer, Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), stated the committee strongly supports the staff recommendation, and urges Council to direct staff to investigate a northwest opening along with the northeast opening.
Melinda and Gerry Cook, residents on Frances street, spoke against the north side access due to the negative effects on the neighborhood, and would like the access closed permanently.
Dave Whittum spoke in favor of the staff recommendation.
Chuck Nolan spoke in favor of the upgrade to the crossing, but opposed the 4-way stop sign.
Tom Carrig, President of the Heritage District Neighborhood Association, spoke in favor of the proposed crossing. He stated the parking structure is not used due to the distance from the station and would like Council to direct staff to investigate a northwest opening along with the northeast opening. Councilmember Moylan asked Mr. Carrig if he has a suggestion as to how to mitigate the parking concerns of the neighborhood near the station versus the non-use of the parking structure. Mr. Carrig stated the neighborhood parking could be corrected if the parking structure next to the train were changed to a free parking area.
Dave Wurfer (on behalf of his grandmother), Suzan Brumm, Arthur Schwartz, Hawk, Anuj Aggarwal, and Dick Oliver spoke in favor of the proposed access point.
Armando Gonzalez expressed concerns about the shuttle bus which races down the street, and stated the bus should be PUC regulated and the driver should have a special license. He asked that Public Safety regulates the shuttle’s hours of operation and would also like a sign identifying residential permit parking be placed in the neighborhood.
Tom Keegan stated Council should direct the VTA to reopen the access that was in place until the new access can be constructed and also would like to see a stop sign added. He stated the poll that staff took was poorly constructed, and that Council should disregard the poll. Mr. Keegan stated that trash is an issue and he would like to see the City put in trash cans along the street along with “no littering” signs.
Mike Lindsay stated there are four sets of tracks in Sunnyvale which makes crossing even more difficult.
Jakob Trconic stated his concerns about trash in the area, excessive parking on the neighborhood streets, and requested parking permit signs.
Robert Snell stated the parking garage for Caltrain has been empty since the three-hour limit was imposed, and asked Council to open the lot up for commuters.
No one else wished to speak and Mayor Swegles closed the Public Hearing at
8:41 p.m.
Councilmember Howe asked if six months was a realistic time frame for this access to open and questioned who will be funding this access. Manager Witthaus stated although a specific source of money has not been identified, the indications from VTA staff are that potential funds may be available for this small project. He stated another opportunity (which the VTA has agreed to) would be to take the grant received for design and planning and covert a portion of it for capital construction. Councilmember Howe confirmed with Manager Witthaus that if funding was identified within the next thirty days, then the timing for the opening of the access would be six months or less.
City Manager Chan stated the Chief Operating Officer from Caltrain who is in attendance would be able to give a more accurate account of the timing. Mayor Swegles invited the Chief Operation Officer from Caltrain, Mr. Harvey, to speak on this issue. Mr. Harvey stated that Caltrain does support the opening of this access, but stated the funding dilemma does need to be solved and that Caltrain does not have any money in their current capital budget to fund this project. He stated that local station improvements are funded by the authority of that member agency in that county and they have been speaking with the VTA about funding for this improvement. Mr. Harvey also stated the area previously used as an access point, will not be reopened until the improvement is rebuilt, because it was never a formal opening and an ADA claim has been filed.
Councilmember Chu inquired about the average usage of the mutli-modal garage, and Mr. Harvey stated it is at 80 to 84% usage with about 80 spots available.
Councilmember Howe stated the BPAC recommendation was to approve two openings, and asked if Council were to recommend opening both accesses, would one delay the installation of the other. Marvin Rose, Director of Public Works, stated that adding the additional opening requested by BPAC could slow down the process.
Councilmember Chu moved and Councilmember Moylan seconded to approve Alternatives Nos. 1 and 2: Council supports construction of a walkway from Hendy Avenue to the Sunnyvale Caltrain station north platform, subject to negotiation and formalization of any required cooperative agreements, permits, funding or other arrangements between the City, Caltrain, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and directs staff to transmit this position to Caltrain, and authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute any required agreements to facilitate construction of this access -
With the following additions:
Direct staff to install an all-way stop sign at Hendy Avenue and Frances Street coincident with construction of a walkway and to monitor the parking situation in the immediate area and determine if additional parking restrictions are needed; report back to Council within six months after the opening occurs, and forward a letter to Caltrain Joint Powers Board stating the City’s position.
Motion carried 6-0 by roll call with (Vice Mayor Lee teleconferenced and Councilmember Hamilton absent).
Mayor Swegles called for a five-minute recess. Mayor Swegles reconvened the meeting.
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