CC 07-09-2024 Item No. 4 Lawson Bikeway Project_Supplemental Report
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
SUPPLEMENTAL 1
Meeting: July 9, 2024
Agenda Item #4
Subject
Implementation of an on-street two-way Class IV bike lane on Vista Drive and Forest
Avenue (Alternative 3) along the Lawson Middle School frontage and prohibition of
parking along the west side of Vista Drive between Forest Avenue and Merritt Drive
for the accommodation of Class IV bicycle lanes and adoption of an Ordinance
Municipal Code Table 11.24.150, relating to prohibition of parking along certain
streets.
Recommended Action
(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 Relating to Prohibition of Parking along certain streets.”
Background:
Staff’s responses to questions received from councilmember are shown in
italics.
Q1: It seems odd to cater bikepath to the location of bike care. One common
question people ask: "Has alternative location for the bike cage been
considered? Where?" (Chao)
Staff response: The City has no jurisdiction over school district property or the
location of the bike racks. Concerns were raised during the study that relocation of the
bike racks would increase the likelihood of thefts and reduce the usage due to racks
potentially being further from the classrooms. Additionally, the school district was not
amenable to relocating the bike racks at this time.
Q2: Staff report states: "The Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project (Project)
was initiated as a result of the School Walk Audit Implementation Project."
Could you clarify when the Walk Audit was done? Where one can find the
Walk Aduit for Lawson Bikeway and the original plan proposed at the time?
This way one can look at the project with the context of other improvements
already done for Lawson Bikepath. (Chao)
Staff response: The original walk audits were done in 2016/17. The bikeway was not
included at that time. The walk audit project list was revisited and amended in 2019,
and an on-site bikeway was included. Following this, options were explored by City
staff, Lawson School representatives, CUSD, and the Parent Teacher Association, and
an off-campus alignment was recommended. The walk audit can be found here:
https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation-
mobility/safe-routes-2-school/walk-audit-reports
Q3: Could you please include a link to the Safe Pedestrian/Bike Routes to
Lawson? How would the new bike path fit into the Safe /Pedestrian Bike
Routes? (Chao)
Staff response: The Suggested Route to School map can be found here:
https://www.cupertino.org/home/showpublisheddocument/34485/6384653709605700
00. The bikeway is consistent with this map.
Q4: Is there any suggested drop-off/pick-up routes for Lawson? Any change to
the suggested drop-off/pick-up routes with the proposed bikeway? (Chao
Staff response: The drop-off map can be found
here: https://www.cupertino.org/home/showpublisheddocument/15187/63637973825
5100000. No changes are proposed.
Q5: It seems the last Community Meeting on the project April 2023, over a
year ago. Have the Lawsom familiies been notified of the 7/9 Council meeting
to consider the proposed bikepath? Through which method? Could you
include a copy of the communication to ensure that the people who will be
impacted by the project are well informed of the proposed bikeway? (Chao)
Staff response: Letters were mailed to all residents and owners within several blocks of
the proposed project. A copy of the letter is included as Attachment D.
Q6: What improvements are planned or already implemented for the
intersections in the north and south entracees to the two-way bikewayto guide
bikes from normal one-way bikepath to the 2-way bikeway on Vista? (Chao)
Staff response: Improvements would be implemented with the project and include
enhanced green bike crossing markings and signage.
Q7:
Q7A: There are driveways along the two-way bikeway. What safety measures
are there so the bikes will slow down approaching driveways? (Chao)
Staff response: The driveway crossings will be highlighted with green bikeway
markings and warning signage will be provided to drivers exiting the
driveways. Additional signage or striping can be added if needed.
Q7B: Due to the wider width of the two-way driveway, would the visibility of
drivers be impacted? (I suppose not, since the width is about the same as
parked cars. I'd like to double check.) (Chao)
Staff response: Visibility will not be impacted; as you note, visibility should be
improved due to elimination of parked cars.
Q8: This project was considered by the SR2S group before an item appeared
on the Council agenda in 2021 or 2022(?). Earlier iteration appeared in one of
the SR2S newsletter include improvements to the intersections. I am curious
how come the involvement of SR2S group is not mentioned in the staff report?
Has the SR2S group provided input? (Chao)
Staff response: Project updates were provided at the SR2S Working Group but deeper
conversations into alternatives or input into the project were reserved for the noticed
community meetings. No substantive discussion occurred at the SR2S Working
Group meetings and so the SR2S Working Group was not mentioned in the staff
report.
Q9: CUSD could configure a safe entrance route pathway on their property to
the existing bicycle storage area, apparently this concept was discussed with
some officials at CUSD. When did these discussions take place and did, or
why did CUSD object to the concept? What reason(s) did CUSD provide?
(Moore)
Staff response: These discussions took place in 2019-2020. This was not pursued due
to space constraints along the sport track, and the undesirability of bicycle usage on
the track itself.
Q10: CUSD could move the east bike storage area near the track to a safer
location for the students’ use, did CUSD object to moving the bike storage area
and if so, what reason(s) did CUSD provide? (Moore)
Staff response: Relocating of bike racks was considered but eliminated due to concerns
about bike theft, and concerns that having the bike racks further from classrooms
would discourage their use.
Q11: What other CUSD schools in Cupertino have had a bike path created
eliminating a row of parking spaces similar to the proposed plan? (Moore)
Staff response: No other school areas have been impacted by the loss of parking due to
bike lane installation. The bike lanes installed near the tri-school area (Monta Vista
HS, Kennedy MS, and Lincoln ES), as well of those along the frontage of Homestead
HS were installed in areas where parking was already prohibited.
Q12: How many students travel north on Vista to the bike cages from
Forest/Lozaneo during peak hours (am and pm)? (Moore)
Staff response: Approximately 30 bicyclists during the morning peak and 31 bicyclists
during the afternoon peak.
Q13: Have there been accidents around this school since returning in person, if
yes, where and when were they and what was the nature of them? (Moore)
Staff response: There have been no reported accidents.
Q14: This is a question that many community members have in mind. Why
put the Lawson bikeway on a special meeting agenda in the middle July when
school families are likely on vacation, when the Lawson bikeway project was
approved by the Bike Ped Commission over one year ago in May 2023? The
staff report states "The results of the study were presented to the BPC at the May 17,
2023, meeting. The Commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Ganga abstaining, to
recommend that..." (Chao)
Staff response: This project is ready to move forward and is being brought to City
Council now in an attempt to complete construction of the improvements in this fiscal
year.
Attachments Provided with Original Staff Report:
A. Draft Ordinance
B. On-Street Two-Way Class IV Bike Lane Concept
C. Lawson Middle School bikeway Feasibility Study
Attachments Provided with Supplemental 1:
D. Letter to Residents dated June 6, 2024