CITY OF ALBANY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COMMISSION

Transcription

1 CITY OF ALBANY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COMMISSION City Hall - Council Chambers 1000 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, CA Monday, April 30, 2018, 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chair McCroskey 2. ROLL CALL Present: Staff Present: Justin Fried, Transportation Planner Jeff Bond, Community Development Director 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Minutes for the Regular Meeting of March 22, 2018 Motion Javandel/Reeves: Moved to approve the minutes of the March 22, 2018 meeting, as submitted. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT The following PUBLIC COMMENTS were offered by Sue Douglass, Bryan Martin, Celine Wallace, Ariel Lustig. Traffic controls at the intersections of Marin and Cornell and Marin and Talbot are needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the street. An inquiry regarding opportunities for the public to address safety on the Ohlone Greenway. Anticipation for working with the community to address safety and security on the Ohlone Greenway. New fiber optic cables interfering with visibility of traffic lights on Buchanan at Jackson. Bond noted correspondence from a business that addressed the Commission in March had been provided to the Commission. 5. PRESENTATION 6. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: 6-1. Update on School Crossing Guard Program Staff will give a presentation on the school crossing guard program, outlining challenges with administering the program and presenting possible strategies for addressing current challenges. Staff is preparing a recommendation to City Council to maintain current staffing allocation of six crossing guards for the upcoming school year. Police Chief Mike McQuiston reported the Albany Police Department administers the elementary school crossing guard program. The primary objective of the program is to reduce the frequency and the severity of traffic accidents involving elementary school children traveling to or from schools across specified intersections near schools. Crossing guards must attend their posts no matter the weather and must be available for most of the day even though

2 they are paid for only 4 1/2 hours. Crossing guards receive low pay and virtually no benefits and are laid off during the summer months. Other Police Department staff members fill in for absent crossing guards, which is disruptive to the Police Department. Over the years, the number of crossing guards, locations, and times of attendance have changed in response to school site usage, bell schedules, school closure or relocation, labor agreements, and City fiscal conditions. The Police Department has attempted to make the program more efficient and less onerous to administer. Until 2009, the Police Department provided four crossing guards for Cornell and Marin schools; UC Village was responsible for crossing guards near Oceanview. In 2009, the Albany Unified School District (AUSD) would not agree to fund crossing guards. Over the years, there had been no interest in utilizing volunteers, school staff, or PTA members to fill absences. Also in 2009, Chief McQuiston agreed to a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UC Village for the Police Department to provide crossing guards for Oceanview and UC Village to pay for the guards. The amount of UC Village's payments to the City funded approximately 54% of the crossing guard program. The City and UC Village agreed to extend the MOU to June At the end of the school year, UC Village notified the City of its termination of the MOU effective July 1, 2017 due to fiscal constraints. As a result, Chief McQuiston proposed reducing the number of crossing guards at each school from two to one. A meeting with UC Village and AUSD resulted in no additional funding and no solutions. In July 2017, he proposed a trial program to the City Council, and the City Council authorized interim funding for the program through the end of the 2017 calendar year. UC Village and AUSD agreed to provide one-time supplemental funding for six school guards through June 15, He planned to recommend the City Council fully fund the crossing guard program through the school year to allow the Police Department time to prepare alternative solutions. He requested the Commission provide feedback that he would utilize in preparing his presentation to the City Council. A possible solution is a warrant process that more closely followed standards of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). He investigated a contract program for crossing guards and learned the cost would be approximately 80% more than the amount budgeted for the program, but the vendor offered a significant wage increase for crossing guards. After considering all aspects of employing crossing guards, he felt a contract program may be a good alternative. Members of the public have suggested utilizing revenue from the sugarsweetened beverage tax for the school guard program. Bond advised that the General Plan included consideration of Safe Routes to School for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motor vehicle pickup and drop-off. With planned school rehabilitation and expansion over the next few years, this would be a good time to assess the location of the greatest risks, prioritize hazards, and develop priority projects to address risks. The assessment could include crossing guards as a way to improve safety for children. Chief McQuiston indicated other departments were more skilled at determining safe routes to school than the Police Department. Also, gathering data on school crossings was problematic for the Police Department. A request for the cost of the crossing guard program. As of June 30, 2017, the amount budgeted for crossing guard salaries and benefits was approximately $73,000 a year. The amount of funding Chief McQuiston would request for the next year. He would request slightly more than $73,000 to cover pay increases. The Council's determination of programs which revenues from the soda tax would fund. Bond was not aware of a final decision regarding expenditure of soda tax revenues. Consideration of joining with other small cities to contract a crossing guard program or to fund a regional crossing guard program. An economy of scale could be achieved by joining with other cities in a contract program, but cities would probably not be interested in a regional program. Other cities' use of volunteer crossing guards. Other cities utilize volunteers or teachers and staff as crossing guards. A request for details of a warrant-based program. The MUTCD contains criteria for the use of adult crossing guards. Other cities use warrants to determine the locations where crossing guards are needed. The following PUBLIC COMMENTS were offered by Sarah Palmer DeFrank, Megan Gadsby, Barrie Quan, Kim Trutane, Suzanne Zalev, Rachel Sarah, Ariel Lustig, Nadia Targulian, Ben Hensler, Brian Parsley, Maya Watts, Dale Middleswart, Sue Douglass, Rachel Anderson.

3 The City rather than UC Village should provide crossing guards for Oceanview; visual observation should be sufficient to demonstrate the challenges of crossing San Pablo. Support for a crossing guard at the intersection of Solano and Jackson. Most children are not tall enough for drivers to see them. AUSD is facing a $2 million budget reduction; a number of cities in Alameda County utilize All City Management to outsource crossing guard programs. A suggestion to include near misses in data. Support for the City funding the crossing guard program for another year. Volunteer crossing guards are not practical. Outsourcing the crossing guard program will probably be the most effective solution, and citizens may support a tax to pay for the program. Parent drivers are part of the bad driving problem. Cars roll through the stop sign at Jackson and Solano; parents will not allow their children to walk to school if there are no crossing guards. A suggestion to survey Cornell parents to determine the number of parents who do not allow their children to walk to school because of safety concerns. Support for more than six crossing guards; outsourced crossing guards should have a tie to the Albany community. Chief McQuiston understood the close relationship between students and crossing guards. Crossing guards are a represented labor group, and much more discussion will be needed before outsourcing can be considered. Should outsourcing occur, current crossing guards should have an opportunity for jobs with the contractor. No one has applied for the crossing guard position at Solano and Jackson since the position was posted in November. He determined no guard would be placed at Solano and Jackson because there is a four-way traffic control of the intersection. Two guards worked the intersection of Santa Fe and Marin because it is larger with more traffic. The Commission made the following comments: If selected, warrants could hopefully aid prioritization of crossing guard locations as resources are limited. Parent drivers contribute to dangerous driving behaviors. If outsourcing is chosen, the contract could state a preference for local hires. Data supports the rationale for two crossing guards at a large intersection with traffic lights. The need for enforcement and education to reduce bad driving behaviors. The need for complete financial data to determine the feasibility of outsourcing the crossing guard program. The need for reliable crossing guards so that parents will support their children walking to school daily. Support for funding the program with $250,000 annually. Motion Javandel/Reeves: Moved to inform the City Council that the Traffic and Safety Commission supports the Police Department's recommendation for full staffing of the crossing guard program and recommends the City Council consider a ballot measure to fund $250,000 annually for the program Discussion of Trends in Traffic Violation Enforcement and Collisions on City Streets Staff will present the police report and discuss policing and how it relates to the safety data presented in the report. Bond reported one pedestrian and one bicycle collision occurred in March. The decline in noninjury collisions continues, while the number of injury collisions remains level. The trends for citations and DUI arrests remain stable. Chief McQuiston advised that DUI arrests peaked in California approximately 10 years ago. The number of citations are declining likely because of the loss of grant funding, staff vacancies, and changes in staffing. Traffic citations

4 can be issued for dangerous behaviors such as ignoring traffic controls and speeding and for administrative infractions such as taillights or headlights being out. Citations for dangerous behaviors and administrative infractions cannot be separated. The data was not a large component of performance measurement. Approximately two-thirds of traffic stops result in warnings and one-third result in citations. Parking enforcement is not included in the monthly statistics. The availability of data from other agencies. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has provided an annual comprehensive DUI arrest report. The source of grants for enforcement activities. The City received grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). Number of Police Department staff. The sworn staff totals 27; the Department currently has vacancies for three officers, three parking enforcement technicians, and a crossing guard Vehicles in Driveways Blocking Sidewalks Report on direction from the City Council to begin a public information campaign to inform that Police Department will begin to enforce against vehicles parking in driveways in a manner that block sidewalks. Chief McQuiston reported the City Council recently directed the Police Department to enforce the prohibition for vehicles blocking sidewalks while parked in a driveway. The Police Department plans to initiate enforcement with an outreach phase, followed by a warning phase, and ending with a citation phase. Given the long history of not citing vehicles, he anticipated pushback from the community. Because of the varying sidewalk widths and obstructions and street widths, enforcement may be difficult. Amount of the sidewalk that has to be blocked for a citation to be issued. A member of the public has suggested a minimum clearance of 4 feet, but the Police Department has not declared a prescribed distance. Whether enforcement is based on complaint or observation. The Police Department will begin proactive enforcement. Legality of a resident parking in the street and blocking the driveway to his home. The Vehicle Code prohibits the blocking of a driveway, but the Police Department does not enforce it precisely. The Council can create a procedure to grant a permit for a resident to block the driveway to his own home. The following PUBLIC COMMENTS were offered by Adam Gratz. Signage prohibiting right turns from Marin onto Kains is needed. The Commission made the following comments: The approach to enforcement, as described by Chief McQuiston, is rational. To avoid citations, more cars will be parked on the street. Education could include tips or tricks for residents to park in driveways without blocking the sidewalk. [The Commission proceeded to Item 6-5 prior to Item 6-4.] 6.4. State of California Active Transportation Program Cycle 4 Grant Applications Staff is preparing two applications for this grant program. One application is for traffic signal upgrades and related intersection improvements at Masonic/Marin and Masonic/Solano. The other is for implementation of San Pablo Avenue and Buchanan Complete Streets. Fried reported the State Active Transportation Program is expected to adopt guidelines and an official program for Cycle 4 grants soon and the following day release a call for projects. The $440 million program includes a regional component handled by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and a statewide component. The deadline for applications is expected to be July 31. The City's recently approved Capital Improvement Program (CIP) noted projects for San Pablo/Buchanan Complete Streets and Masonic/Marin intersection improvements would

5 be funded with this grant program. Staff recommends grant applications for the two projects be prepared and submitted. Bond noted Commissioners had received Preston Jordan's recommending an application be submitted for the project to complete the gap in the cycle track. Staff has not identified a source of funding for this project. Inclusion of a bulb-out at the southeast corner of Marin and Masonic. Staff will present concepts for the project to the Commission for review. The impact of including the cycle track extension in the current grant cycle. Efficiently managing resources and the flow of projects will not allow this project to be moved forward to the current cycle. The Commission made the following comments: Improvements to Masonic/Marin should be prioritized because children utilize the Ohlone Greenway to reach schools. Motion Javandel/Reeves: Moved to recommend the City Council authorize staff to submit a grant application to the State of California Active Transportation Plan Cycle 4 program Signage for Masonic Intersections at Solano and Marin Staff will present signage to improve compliance with the striping for right-turn only lanes on Masonic at Solano and Marin. Fried reported the MUTCD recommends a sign at the start of the right-turn lane, a "yield to bikes" sign, and a "must turn right" sign for a right-turn bay with a bicycle facility. The existing configuration is different in that it has a smaller pocket with a dashed line indicating travel for bicycles rather than a bicycle lane. A "right lane must turn right" sign could be modified to add "except bicycle." Signs at the start of the lane and closer to pavement striping may not be visible because of the short distance. In addition, the signage conflicts with signage at the Ohlone Greenway. The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) recommends signs be located to warn northbound traffic at the right turn. The Commission previously reviewed "yield to bike and pedestrian" signage and discussed locating it at the "share the road" sign and having the reverse on the opposite side. Staff recommends a sign with the same information but with more standardization. On the south side of Marin, a "right lane must turn right" sign could replace the "no parking" sign, and yield signage could replace the "share the road" sign at the corner. On the north side of Marin, the "no parking" sign could be replaced with a "right lane must turn right" sign. On the south side of Solano, a new "right lane must turn right" sign could be installed and perhaps a yield sign close to the corner. Recommendation for "begin right turn lane, yield to bikes" signage. Staff does not recommend use of this sign. Signage at the Ohlone Greenway for southbound left-turning vehicles. Staff recommends placing a "yield to bike and pedestrian" sign near the traffic light pole where the existing share the road sign is located. Staff's recommendation for one sign or two for northbound traffic approaching Solano. Staff recommends one sign for "right lane must turn right" and a new yield sign and post. Staff's recommendation for southbound traffic approaching Solano. Staff recommends no treatment until improvements are made. Rationale for not recommending a visual representation of the "right lane must turn right" sign. A visual representation could be confusing for bike and vehicle traffic and would not be standard signage. The possibility of having signage with the same markings as the pavement. There is no standard signage for that.

6 The Commission made the following comments: Install consistent signage for the left turn yield at Solano and Marin. The Solano sign might not be effective because of its greater distance to the corner. Support for yield signs for turning vehicles at both intersections. A custom sign reflecting the pavement markings may not be worthwhile for only a short time, but it would be easier to comprehend. Motion McCroskey/Javandel: Moved to direct staff to install a "turning vehicle yield to bicycle and pedestrian" sign facing both north and south at the southeast corner of the Marin/Masonic and Solano/Masonic intersections. Motion Javandel/del Rosario: Moved to direct staff to design graphic signage representing the lane striping with the addition of the word "only" for the right turn lane arrow and to implement the signs at the three intersection approaches where the lane striping is installed. Motion Chomsky/del Rosario: Moved to extend the meeting to 10:30 p.m. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMUNICATION 7.1. Update on Gig Car Share Launch City staff will give a brief update on the initial program rollout. Fried reported Gig provided data for the first two weeks of the program. Seventeen Albany residents have joined Gig. Gig members have made 314 trips from Albany. Because the City has issued about a dozen citations for Gig cars left in 90-minute zones, Gig is educating Albany members regarding traffic rules. Gig plans to promote its services in the coming months to gain additional members. Restrictions to prevent vehicles being left in 90-minute parking zones. The app does not appear to be refined sufficiently to prevent this. Ability to return vehicles at UC Village. No issues have been reported with UC Village. A consistent number of cars available for Albany members' use. Gig is maintaining cars in the service area. Receipt of complaints from residents. When asked, the Chief of Police was not aware of any complaints Schedule for Solano Avenue Complete Streets Initial Workshop City staff will provide the dates of the initial workshop activities planned for Solano Avenue Complete Streets. Fried advised that Staff is planning workshops for the week of May 29. Initial activities will probably be scheduled for the evening of May 30.

7 7.3. Future Agenda items Staff will provide update on expected future agenda items. Bond indicated future agenda items include the electric vehicle program; revisions to traffic calming criteria and approval process, the Central Avenue corridor project, the San Gabriel campus traffic management plan, a pavement slurry seal project, modernizing the Municipal Code, design of the San Pablo and Buchanan Complete Streets project, planning for the Solano Avenue Complete Streets, and review of the LimeBike program. Chair McCroskey noted bike lanes had been completed on Marin from Cornell to San Pablo. Activities are planned during May for Bike Month. ADJOURNMENT Next regular meeting: May 24, 2018 The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:25 P.M.