CC 07-09-2024 Item No. 4 Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project_Staff PresentationCC 07-09-2024
#4
Lawson Middle School
Bikeway Project
Presentation
A Recommended School Walk Audit Project
Lawson Middle School
Bikeway Project
Transportation Manager
David Stillman
CC 07-02-2024 Item No. 4
Project Background
•2016-2017: A citywide school walk audit project
identified possible bike-ped safety improvement
projects for all fourteen Cupertino schools
•2018-2022: Conditions and options explored by
City / School / District / PTA / Parents
•2022: The City contracted Hexagon
Transportation Consultants to perform a
feasibility study and reexamine existing
conditions
Project Description
Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project
Intent: Keep all roadway users safe by providing
students with a safe route to access the campus
bike cages while also minimizing impacts to the
neighborhood.
Project Location
Community Outreach
Multiple community meetings were held to
receive feedback on three alternatives.
•Nov ‘22: Community meeting #1
•March ‘23: Community meeting #2
•April ’23: Community meeting #3
•May ‘23: Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
Discussion of
Alternatives
Design alternatives
include:
1.A bike boulevard*
2.A multi-use trail
3.An on-street two-
way separated
bikeway
*Concept
dropped after the
second
community
meeting
Three Alternatives
3 Alternatives Presented to Community:
•Alternative 1 -not favored by the community
-Removed as an option
•Alternative 2 –Cost $1.15M +/-
-Keeps most On-Street Parking
-Removes 25-30 Trees
•Alternative 3 –Cost $120,000 +/-
-Removes 50 On-Street Parking Spaces
-No Tree Removals
Alternative 2: Two-Way Mixed-Use Trail
Description:
•Construct a two-way mixed-use trail on the west side of Vista Drive (Merritt
Drive to Forest Ave) and the north side of Forest Ave.
•A typical width is 10 feet with 2-foot shoulders, but due to utility constraints,
the trail would be 8 feet in width (with 2-foot shoulders) from north of the
Vista bike cage to Merritt Drive.
Estimated Cost:
•$1.15 million
Benefits:
•Preserves on-street parking.
Impacts:
•Relocation of minor utilities
•Removal of trees (19 small, 9 mature)
•Removal and replacement of curb and gutter
Alternative 2: Two-Way Mixed-Use Trail
Alternative 3: On-Street Two-Way Class IV Bike Facility
Description:
•Construct a two-way bike facility on the west side of Vista Drive and the
north side of Forest Avenue.
•8 feet wide (4 feet in each direction) with a 3-foot buffer.
Estimated Cost:
• $115,000
Benefits:
•No removal of trees or utility relocations are needed.
Impacts:
•Removal of ~50 on-street parking spaces Vista Drive
•Potential overflow of parking into the CUSD lot and neighboring streets
during events.
Alternative 3: On-Street Two-Way Class IV Bike Facility
Feasibility Study - Parking and Traffic Analysis
Approach:
•Measured intersection volumes and on-street parking utilization to identify
potential safety issues and existing parking demand.
Locations Studied:
•5 Intersections: Including Blaney Ave, Merritt Dr, Vista Dr, and several cross
streets.
•5 School Driveways
Methodology:
•Counted vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian movements during peak hours.
•Conducted parking utilization counts on typical weekdays and weekends.
•Field observations to understand behaviors and identify conflicts.
o Weekday: School operations (7 AM-10 AM, 2 PM-5 PM) and residential
usage (8 PM-12 AM).
o Weekend: Residential usage (7 AM-12 AM).
Locations of Impacted Parking Spaces
Parking Removal:
•Approximately 50 spaces on Vista Drive
•Parking currently prohibited on Forest Ave
Locations of Impacted Parking Spaces
Existing On-Street Conditions Along Vista Dr:
•Parking will be preserved on the east side of the street (right side of images)
•Each Property has its own driveway and garage for off street parking
North of Forest Ave Midblock on Vista Dr South of Merritt Dr
Alternatives Comparison
Alternative 2 Alternative 3
Addresses Bike/Pedestrian/Vehicle Conflicts Yes Yes
Remove Trees 28 None
Remove On-Street Parking Spaces None 50
Cost to Implement ~$1,150,000 ~$115,00
Notes:
•Starting at the BPC Hearing, Alternative 2 is renamed to Alternative A, and
Alternative 3 is renamed to Alternative B during public meetings.
Community Survey Results
In-Meeting Poll Results Online Survey Results
Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 2 Alternative 3
Preferred
Alternative 37%63%7%87%
Oppose the
Alternative 52%34%80%7%
Notes:
•Starting at the BPC Hearing, Alternative 2 is renamed to Alternative A, and
Alternative 3 is renamed to Alternative B during public meetings.
•Online Survey Results also allowed participants to choose the "No Change"
Alternative.
Design Example – Palo Alto
1.Authorize the implementation of an on-street two-way
Class IV bikeway on the west side of Vista Drive
between Forest Avenue and Merritt Drive and the
north side of Forest Avenue between Vista Drive
(west) and Vista Drive (east) and proceed with
preparation of final design.
2.Conduct the first reading of Ordinance 24-XXX; “An
Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
amending Table 11.24.150 of the Cupertino Municipal
Code Related to Prohibition of Parking Along Certain
Streets.”
Recommended Actions
Questions?
Feasibility Study - Parking Utilization
Time of Day Vista Drive
Parking Utilization
Merritt Drive & Apple Tree Lane
Parking Utilization
8 AM - 2:59 PM 20 to 30 vehicles parked Similar pattern to Vista Drive
3 PM
75 vehicles parked on
both sides of street
(Peak)
Similar pattern to Vista Drive but
peak demand did not exceed 60%
After 4 PM 10 vehicles or less Similar pattern to Vista Drive
Weekend Low throughout the day Similar pattern to Vista Drive
Existing Parking Demand
Parking Utilization and Trends:
•Alternative 3 would require the removal of approximately 50 on-street
parking spaces.
•On-street parking in front of the school is heavily utilized during school hours.
•There are after-school sports activities that occur 3-4 times a week, ending
between 5 PM and 6 PM.
•There are approximately 12 evening school-wide events within a school
year.
•These evening school-wide events, as well as some after-school sports
events, could also attract a considerable amount of on-street parking
demand.
Existing Parking Demand
Parking Supply Estimate:
•There are approximately 500 on-street
parking spaces within a 5-minute walk
of the school.
•It is anticipated that existing on-street
parking demand related to the
school will disperse into the CUSD
parking lot as well as neighboring
streets.
•While the CUSD parking lot is not a
public parking lot, CUSD staff has
indicated that they are willing to
allow parents to park in the lot during
after-school events.