BICYCLE AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMISSION Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 Minutes Approved as Submitted Date: 8/10/17 Initials: EC BICYCLE AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMISSION Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017 The Bicycle and Trails Advisory Commission was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chair Sill in the City Hall Committee Room, located at 955 School Street. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call: Commission Members Present: Jean Hasser, Jimmy Kawalek (Vice Chair), Joel King, Damian May, Jeremy Sill (Chair), and Mark Lucas (Parks and Recreation Commission Representative) Commission Members Absent:. Staff Present: Eric Whan, Deputy Public Works Director Engineering; Lorien Clark, Transportation Planner; Ed Moore, Engineering Assistant; John Ferons, Senior Civil Engineer; Mike Socorro, Assistant Engineer; and Elizabeth Clark, Public Works Secretary Public Present: Patrick Band, Napa County Bicycle Coalition, and Diana Meehan, Napa Valley Transportation Authority 2. Agenda Review and Supplemental Reports:. 3. Public Comment: Patrick Band provided photos and discussed the recently completed pavement delineation at Whitehall Lane and State Route 29 which uses green lanes to identify the bicycle bypass near the railroad tracks. It was noted that this is the first time Caltrans has done a green lane project. He also passed around an Implementation Plan from the City of San Diego for their recently revised bike plan. 4. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting on February 9, 2017, were reviewed by the Commissioners prior to the meeting. Commission Hasser requested the following language be added on page 3

2 Page 2 of 5 regarding CN-1.i: There was discussion about pursuing a design exception for First Street over Highway 29 to continue the Class II connection. Action: Moved, seconded and carried (Hasser/May) that the minutes of the regular meeting on February 9, 2017 be approved as amended. 5. Presentations:. 6. Administrative Reports: a. Sierra Avenue Extension Project Senior Civil Engineer John Ferons explained that the Sierra Avenue extension is a connection identified in the General Plan to connect the east end of Sierra Avenue to the north end of Villa Lane. The project will include sidewalks, 5 bike lanes, 10 travel lanes, parking lane on the north side, and bio-retention planting strips. The Austin Miller Memorial Bike Path will be retained and reconstructed as a Class I Bike Path parallel to the new Sierra Avenue extension alignment. The Master Plan for Garfield Park just north of the extension has also been initiated by the City s Parks and Recreation Department. A community open house regarding the Sierra Avenue Extension Project was held on May 23, 2017, to discuss the project and gather input from residents. Traffic calming is proposed to include a bulb-out and crosswalk with rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the west end of the project. City staff is also looking at other traffic calming improvements along Villa Lane from the proposed extension to Trancas based on input from the community meeting. Additional items discussed included Class II bike lanes ending near the bulb-out, striping of Class II bike lanes around the curve connection with Villa Lane, adding a multi-use path north of the Sierra Avenue extension to Vintage High School, location of parking lot for Garfield Park, and parking limits on Sierra Avenue extension. Deputy Public Works Director Eric Whan discussed the current status of this project. Public input and comments from the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Commission will be addressed and a concept plan will be taken to the City Council. The Commissioners provided the following comments: Vice Chair Kawalek brought up concerns about adequate parking on the Sierra extension for the new park and community garden. Staff explained that there is parking proposed on the north side of the Sierra Avenue extension, as well as existing parking on both sides of Villa Lane.

3 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Hasser requested that the bike lanes be striped through the curve and also brought up concerns about the bike lanes near the bulb-out. Staff explained that additional treatments could be investigated so bicyclists could ride over or through the bulb-out. Commissioner King also had concerns about the current bulb-out configuration. He also asked about traveling from the Austin Miller Bike Path to southbound on Villa Lane. Commissioner Lucas suggested extending the Class I Bike Path down to the intersection of Sierra and Villa Lane. Commissioner May asked if a pass-thru on a bulb-out would conflict with pedestrians crossing the street. Staff stated that the volume of pedestrians would be reviewed. He also had questions about the Austin Miller Bike Path, and it was explained that it is an existing Class I multi-use path which has potential future connections to the high school and Salvador Creek. Chair Sill asked about the use of rapid flashing beacons on a short crossing. Action: Moved, seconded and carried (King/Hasser) that the following comments for the Sierra Avenue Extension project be addressed by staff: Look at striping for roadway and bike lanes at the bulb at Sierra/Villa Look at the geometry of the western crossing for Class I and Class II bike lanes Look at parking in terms of time limits, access to park, etc. Look at continuing Class II bike lanes on Villa, as well as traffic calming on Villa south of Firefly b. City of Napa Bike Plan Update Transportation Planner Clark briefly discussed the Napa Valley Transportation Authority process for updating the Countywide Bike Plan, and a presentation of this process will be provided at the August 2017 meeting. The Commissioners then reviewed the summary of the Commission recommendations for the Bike Plan update from the October 2016, December 2016 and February 2017 meetings. Beginning at Objective 5.0, the recommendations which had not been approved previously by the Commissioners were reviewed, and the following modifications were suggested: CN-1.i: Add additional sentence as follows: Further pursue a design exception or other solution to complete Class II bike lanes over the First Street overcrossing. CN-5.f: Modify wording for a new program to read: The City of Napa shall work with the Wine Train to improve and update railroad crossings within the City. Action: Moved, seconded and carried (King/Kawalek) that the BTAC Recommendations from the February 2017 meeting be approved as amended.

4 Page 4 of 5 c. Project Updates Transportation Planner Clark reviewed the status updates from the Agenda Report on the following bicycle-related projects: State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Five-Way Intersection Vine Trail (Third Street Vallejo Street) Trancas Crossing Park River Trail d. Caltrans D4 Bicycle Plan Transportation Planner Clark explained that Caltrans is in the process of developing a bicycle plan for the State transportation network in District 4. They had three community meetings in May 2017 as well as an on-line survey to obtain input from the public. Additional public outreach meetings will be held once they release the draft document which is scheduled for fall e. California Transportation Foundation Transportation Award Transportation Planner Clark reported that the Napa Vine Trail - Oak Knoll Segment project was awarded the California Transportation Foundation award for Pedestrian/Bicycle Project of the Year. This segment connects Redwood Road in the City of Napa to California Drive in the Town of Yountvillle, and runs through three jurisdictions (City of Napa, County of Napa, and Town of Yountville). The Napa Valley Transportation Authority, the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, the City of Napa, the Town of Yountville, and the County of Napa were joined by their construction and engineering partners in receiving the award in Sacramento. There was additional discussion regarding the traffic signals for the Vine Trail, and the steps being taken to improve their functionality. Another topic brought up was signage on the Vine Trail which is being handled by the Vine Trail Coalition. f. Bike to Work Day Recap Transportation Planner Clark reported that Bike to Work Day was held on May 11, 2017, and there were energizer stations set up across Napa County. The City sponsored their first energizer station at the corner of First and Seminary Streets in front of the Community Services Building. The bicyclist count was 54 with many stopping at the station. Overall, there was a 10% increase in participation Countywide over last year s event. Patrick Band also noted that the Napa County Bicycle Coalition coordinated with the Napa County Office of Education to hold Bike to School Day on the same day. They had the largest turnout ever with students from each participating school riding their bikes.

5 Page 5 of 5 g. Agenda Items for Next Meeting The following agenda items were requested by the Commissioners for the August 2017 and future meetings: Vine Trail art, maintenance and signage Commuter Bike Path maintenance Countywide Bike Plan Update Project Updates Development Project Updates 10-Mile Street Repaving Plan Implementation Plan for Bicycle Plan Draft Measure T Work Plan 7. Comments by Commissioners and Staff Transportation Planner Clark gave an update on the Stanley Lane project which is being handled by the Parks and Recreation Department. It consists of adding to the Bay Trail from the end of Stanley Lane to connect to the Napa River. A consultant has been hired for the design, but there are permitting issues because of a drainage ditch that is a wetland. Vice Chair Kawalek spoke about trash being left on the Bay Trail near Foster Road and Golden Gate Drive which is in the County and street sweeping issues. Commissioner Hasser mentioned the positive bicycle news at this meeting, such as, discussion of new bicycle facilities and approved funding for bicycle-related projects. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:34 p.m.