BPC 06-18-08MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION
June 18, 2008
CUPERTINO
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Armstrong, Paulsen, Walton, Wiant, l~oski arrived at 7:09 p.m.
Absent: None
Staff: David Stillman, Senior Civil Engineer, absent, does not attend alternate month meetings
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Anne Ng discussed her concerns about a misleading traffic signal at the Bollinger bridge construction
site. The sign is supposed to direct cyclists to use the sidewalk to cross the bridge, and asks cyclists to
walk their bikes, but it can easily be misinterpreted to direct cyclists down Alderbrook Lane. Ms. Ng
suggested that the sign be modified to "Bicyclists may use sidewalk" and that "Walk your bike" be
omitted from the sign. The detour area is about 2/10 of a mile, and it is uncommon for a cyclist to
encounter a pedestrian in this area. Discussion follo~a~ed about cycling in the construction zone.
Commissioner Wiant mentioned that staff liaison is. interested in getting a list of cycling issues within
the city in the near future.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Chairperson Paulsen noted that a written communication has been received from the Apple
Transportation Manager regarding crosswalks at Bandley Drive near Lazaneo Drive and De Anza
Blvd. at Mariam Avenue. This communication will be discussed by the commission at the July
meeting when staff liaison Stillman is in attendance. Commissioner Wiant mentioned that the
Apple Transportation Manager would also like a crosswalk along Bubb Road near the Apple
buildings. Mr. Stillman has sent Apple an explanation of the restrictions for crosswalk construction.
Chairperson Paulsen received a written announcement from Will Kempton, Director of Caltrans
about a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the San Jose City Council Chambers.
The subject is "Our Bicycle Safety Crisis". Members of the commission were invited to attend.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. The Commission approved the May 21, 2008 minutes as amended. In Future Agenda Items section,
` 16 July' changed to ` 16 July meeting' .
OLD BUSINESS
4. Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge Update -Presentation by Terry Greene
Cupertino city architect Terry Greene presented an informative slide show and detailed report on the
status of the Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge. Good progress is being made on the cable-stay
bicycle/pedestrian bridge project with no major delays. General contractor for the project is Golden
State Bridge, Inc. The steel components of they bridge aze being fabricated by Oregon Ironworks.
The carbon footprint of steel is about 1/3 that of Portland cement, and the bridge steel is 100%
recyclable. Total span of the bridge is 501 feet from abutment to abutment, and the cleaz span
between towers is 325 feet. The bridge is designed to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake without
any major failure, and can also withstand the failure of 1-2 cables without problems.
The steel towers are approximately 90' long anti 12' wide. The towers will be shipped down from
Oregon via flatbed truck after they are painted. Most of the steel portion of the bridge is being pre-
assembled in Oregon/Washington, so welds and tolerances can be tested before being shipped. Then
the steel structures will be disassembled, painted off-white, and shipped to Cupertino.
The cross members (floor beams) support the pre-cast concrete decking panels. There will be about
40 concrete decking panels, built in Benecia, CA. The concrete is poured into a steel form with a
rubber form liner that has a broom finish to create arideable/walkable surface. The stainless steel
cables are coming from Germany. Each steel cable stay has a loop at each end, with a clevis
connection and a collaz to anchor it to a tower edge girder. A clevis is like a pin system, which
transfers a linear force into a horizontal force, so in this case the force is transferred into the tower.
The tower foundations (four of them) are 91' deep, and the two bridge abutment foundations are 3'
in diameter and 65' deep. Anchor bolts for tower base plates are 2 '/2" in diameter and 11 '/2 feet
long. Additional art (steel birds, etc.) will not bey placed on the bridge due to concerns about induced
flutter. The bridge itself will be the art, and additional public artwork will be located on the bridge
approach on Mary Avenue. The north tower is scheduled to be installed on July 12, 2008 (beginning
the night of July 11) and the second tower is ;scheduled to be installed on July 19, 2008. Some
90,000 pedestrian and bicycle trips per yeaz are forecast when the bridge is complete.
Mr. Greene will return to a future meeting to 4;ive an update on the improvements to Blackberry
Farm and the Stevens Creek Trail in Cupertino.
3. Bicycle Transportation Plan Update
Chairperson Paulsen distributed the updated version of Chapter 2 of the update to the Bicycle
Transportation Plan. Commissioner Paulsen's ;strategy for the update was to update the maps for
each project, omit projects from the existing; Bicycle Transportation Plan which have been
completed, and double the estimated price of e~ich project to allow for inflation. The commission
reviewed the various projects for correctness az~d current completion status. Commissioner Wiant
suggested that we note common segments in different projects, giving those projects high priority
and focusing on them initially. New developme-nt projects in Cupertino include the Apple Campus
expansion, North Vallco project, and improvements to Cupertino Square (formerly Vallco mall).
Specific comments and changes to the routes follow:
Route 1: Foothill Blvd./Stevens Canyon Road
• Location and Status: Most of what Cupertino can do within the city limits has been
done.
• Long-term improvements: done.
• Cost: revision needed, as portions are complete.
• Bicycle Friendly Features: warning signs at freeway ramps would be useful.
Route 2: Mira Vista/Palm Ave/Janice Ave
• Implementation Measures, Location and Status: Signing is still needed to mark as a
Class 3 bike route.
Route 3: Orange Ave./Fort Baker Dr./Santa Teresa Blvd.
• Location and Status: Sometimes the Lincoln staff parking lot gate is locked
(weekends/holidays) and cyclists need to ride through the playground when this occurs.
Investigate if change to the gate locking policy is possible.
Route 4: Mary AvenueBubb Road
• Discussion occurred, as commissioners feel that current situation along the route is
dangerous. Commissioners Paulson and Walton will brainstorm alternatives such as
riding through De Anza College. Commissioner Walton proposed using VTA guidelines
to when looking into issues around free right turn from Stevens Creek Blvd. onto Highway
85.
Route 5: Stelling Road
• Implementation Measures: Implementation #1 is complete. Continue to promote
Implementation #2 traffic circle, and traffic circles where appropriate in the city.
Route 6: Valley Green Dr.Bandley Dr./Lazaneo Dr.Nista Dr./Torre Ave
• Implementation Measures: Implementation #1 is mostly complete (specify what still
needs to be done to complete signage 1.
• Priority: Change to Medium priority from Low.
Route 7: De Anza Blvd.
• Location and Status: Item #1 is complete. Item#2 is not complete beyond Highway 85,
which is responsibility of city of San ,Jose.
Route 8: Blaney Avenue
• No changes suggested to the updated version of this route.
• Discussion occurred about bike loop detectors vs. use of video to activate stop lights.
Route 9: Portal Road
• Implementation Measures: Most of signing is complete, with a few corrections needed.
• Route contains a sign to direct cyclistts to turn right on Price, but a sign is also needed to
let them know the route also continues straight to continue south. [Anne/Geoff please
check my directions...I may have this; wrong! May)
Route 10: Miller Avenue/Wolfe Road
• Commissioner Paulsen has grave co~icerns regarding cyclist safety at the Highway 280
interchange, as well as the area frorri Calle de Barcelona to Stevens Creek Blvd. Note
that this is a Class 3 Bike Route, not << Class 2 Bike Lane.
• Recommend compliance with VTA guidelines along this Class 2 Bike Lane and
associated freeway interchange.
• Suggested change from four to two traffic lanes is unlikely, but could be left open for
consideration. In area around Calle cie Barcelona, medians could be removed to increase
room for bike lanes and/or parking.
• Route striping is complete, but it is vc;ry difficult and dangerous to ride.
Route 11: Tantau Ave./Barnhart/San Tomas Aquino Trail on Street Route
• Implementation Measures, Location and Status: Implementation is done (confirm with
David Stillman). Route signs are posted along Tantau Ave. and Barnhart Ave.
Route 12: De Anza National Historic Trail
• Route name typo...route was listed as Tantau/Barnhart/San Tomas Aquino Trail on Street
Route during initial update.
• Location and Status: At this time, project is not in process of development
• Implementation Measures, Long-terns Improvements: Project needs explanation that this
property is owned by Union Pacific Railroad who intends to use it for about 20 more
years. They do not want to give the ~:ity right-of--way at this point for a trail. BPC could
work on a realistic timetable based on UP plans for the property. Feasibility study may
not be needed for several years at lea:;t.
• Cost: Question re: $6.8 million cost
• Priority: Questions on priority. Benefit to residents would be high, but the property will
be in use by UP for a number of year:;.
Route 13: Stevens Creek Recreational Trail
• Location and Status: Reach 1 is complete, to the locked gate at Union Pacific property.
Reach 2 through Blackberry Farm is in progress
• Implementation Measures: Details needed about what portion still needs feasibility
study
• Cost: consider $6 million figure; p;~rt is complete, part is already funded and under
construction.
Route 21: Homestead Road -please make sure that map and route information is correct (part was
from route 13)
• Implementation Measures: check for completeness.
Route 22: Greenleaf Dr./Mariani Ave./Menitt Dr. -please make sure that map and route
information is correct and consistent (also check route 21)
• Implementation Measures: Geoff believes that the implementation is complete, but will
confirm with David Stillman.
Route 23: Alves Dr./Bandley Dr./Lazaneo Dr./Forest Dr./Pathway/Amherst/Vallco Parkway
• Location and Status: Correct Vallco Fashion Park to Cupertino Square.
• If possible, add Alves portion of route; to the map (it's not on the old map either).
• Provide information about how to ~;et to Mary Avenue footbridge from this Bicycle
Boulevard.
• Opening gate at Cupertino Square (Implementation measure #6) would be a big help to
cyclists, but may still create neighborhood concerns.
Route 24: Stevens Creek Boulevard
• Complete
Route 25: Peppertree Ln./Rodrigues Ave./W:ilson Park/Vicksburg Dr./Creekside Park/Phil Ln./
Barnhart Ave.
• Implementation Measures: OK to ride through Wilson Park. Peppertree Ln. is a signed
Bike Route, but the portion east of Portal still needs to be signed.
• Cost: probably needs update, unless zidditional path construction occurs. Traffic circle at
Rodrigues Ave./Torre Ave. was tried awhile ago, but it did not work out well.
• Priority: Should change to High, so that signing is completed ASAP. This is the best
East/West route through Cupertino.
Route 26: McClellan Road/Pacifica
• Implementation Measures: Discussion of using "sharrows" on McClellan instead of the
"Share the Road" signs currently in place, since many drivers misinterpret the right of
cyclists to occupy the road when there is no room for a bike lane. Discussion about the
large pine tree and lack of sidewalk along McClellan near De Anza Blvd., but probably
will wait until a future change of ownership or remodeling project.
• Correct spelling of McClellan where needed
• Discussion of narrow portion of McClellan near McClellan Ranch Park.
Route 27: Bollinger RoadlKim St./Kirwin Ln.
• Implementation Measures: Done, other than the bridge across Calabazas Creek should be
done by the end of 2008.
Route 28: Rainbow Drive
• Implementation Measures: Suggest rising "sharrows" instead of "Share the Road" signs
along Rainbow. .
Route 29: Prospect Road
• Implementation Measures: Not on update list, as implementation is done.
4. Cupertino Health & Safety Fair
Commissioner Wiant reported that the Health 1~ Safety Fair will be integrated into the city's Fall
Festival on September 13 & 14, 2008, probably zit Memorial Park. State Farm and the Optimist Club
will be in charge of the Bike Rodeo. Commissioners are invited to join the distribution list for this
event, organized by the Public Safety Commission, headed by Fari Aberg.
NEW BUSINESS
5. TSCN (Traffic Safe Communities Network) Safe Routes to School project
Brief discussion occurred regarding this project, which is primarily focused on walking. We are too
late to participate in the official Walk to School. event in October that county public health dept. is
organizing. Another project, the Safe Routes to School project is also being funded by the county
public health department. Funding is available for mini-grants of $1400-$1600 to be used for
education, signs, etc., primarily for walking to school education and events. The project starts in
Fall 2008 and runs for six to eight months. Committees of schools and neighborhoods could get
organized and apply for amini-grant. TCSN is looking for proposals.
Originally, TSCN was looking for 25 schools i:o participate in the walk to school project. Mayor
Sandoval asked how the she can support our participation in the project. Commissioner Walton
suggested that we send a letter to local schools with the mini-grant information, as well as walking
school bus and carpool suggestions. Commissioner Walton feels that on a local level, we can
communicate with schools and encourage them to participate in the October "Walk to School" day.
Commissioner Walton will draft a letter to have approved by CUSD, and then we'll send it on to the
schools. Commissioner Koski volunteered to assist him. The commission is interested in learning
when local schools have walk to school weeks/d;~ys scheduled for the 2008-09 school year.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS (these are from prior meetings, no new agenda items)
1. Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Application Status
2. Bicycle Transportation Plan
3. Mary Avenue Footbridge Project
4. TCSN Safe Routes to School Project
5. Cupertino Health & Safety Fair
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Wiant moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Koski. The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m. by a unanimous vote.
SUBMITTED BY:
May I~.esk-r ommissioner