City of Mountain View

Minutes

Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

6:30 PM

Plaza Conference Room and Video Conference,

500 Castro St., Mountain View, CA 94041

CALL TO ORDER

Chair James Kuszmaul called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Staff members present: Principal Civil Engineer Robert Gonzales, Assistant Public Works Director Ed

Arango, Active Transportation Planner Brandon Whyte, Transportation Manager Ria Hutabarat Lo.

Four members of the public were present including one in person and three online.

5 -

Present

Committee Member Lada Adamic, Committee Member Lada Adamic, Committee Member Terry

Barton, Committee Member Valerie Fenwick, and Chair James Kuszmaul

1 - Vice Chair John Stone

Absent

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

(00:00:52)

Bruce England suggested that people listen to the Council Transportation Committee meeting on AB 43. He

also noted that there are missing sidewalks at Moffett Boulevard and SR 85 and suggested that this gap be

addressed in the Active Transportation or Moffett Boulevard Precise Plan.

MINUTES APPROVAL

Approve Meeting Minutes October 25, 2023

4.1

MOTION (00:02:55): Approve the BPAC meeting minutes from October 25, 2023.

Fenwick/Barton - 4/0/0 (Stone absent) - passed

Yes:

4 -

Committee Member Adamic, Committee Member Barton, Committee Member Fenwick, and

Chair Kuszmaul

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

Pavement Management Plan

(00:03:37)

6.1

Gonzales provided an update on the pavement management program including the Pavement Condition Index

(PCI) and the City Manager’s Office ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, including sidewalk conditions.

Public comment: (00:52:02)

Bruce England noted that the condition of bikeways is distinct from the respective roadway in places like

Whisman Road. He also noted that trail conditions are different from roadways. He commented on poor

conditions in the Sylvan area and requested vertical curbs and directional pedestrian ramps rather than

diagonal pedestrian ramps.

Committee comment: (00:55:18)

Adamic appreciated the update and indicated a desire to measure human injuries and prioritize people, not

just maintenance costs. She noted the Swedish practice of clearing snow from sidewalks before clearing

snow from roadways. Likewise she suggested that the pavement program prioritize injuries to pedestrians

and cyclists above property damage to vehicles, and prioritize analysis and repair of sidewalk conditions over

roadways. Adamic also noted that trails are more susceptible to truck travel, and she suggested the

prioritizing of people who walk and bike over those who store vehicles on public streets.

Fenwick reiterated concerns about truck effects on trails. She noted that her request for sidewalk uplift

repairs have been addressed quickly including following up with non-City entities. She appreciated the

coordination between projects and use of AskMV for identifying problems. She suggested directional curb

cuts so that people with disabilities are directed in the correct direction. She also supported reductions to

intersection corner turning radii as part of repaving.

Barton asked that trails, bikeways, sidewalks, and gutter pans be analyzed and brought to the same PCI

goal as roadways. He suggested consideration of strategies to extend the life of trails such as stronger

bases.

Kuszmaul supported delivering improvements with repaving and suggested a presentation from Community

Services staff on trail maintenance.

Transportation Legislative Updates

(01:05:55)

6.2

Lo provided a presentation on new state legislation.

No public comments.

Committee comments: (01:23:19)

Committee members expressed appreciation for update.

Fenwick indicated that she supported the speed camera and micromobility laws. She noted that, based on

staff comments at the Council Transportation Committee meeting on November 28, 2023, speed limits in

Palo Alto had simply been reduced.

Barton commented that the weight study was motivated by reduced gas tax revenue from electric vehicles.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory

Committee (BPAC) Update

6.3

(01:26:40)

Adamic provided updates on the VTA BPAC.

No public comments.

Committee comments: (01:29:58)

Members thanked Adamic for the update.

BPAC Fiscal Year 2023-24 Work Plan

(01:30:31)

6.4

Whyte provided information on the Work Plan and Tentative Agenda List.

No public comments.

No committee comments.

Election Process for 2024 Chair and Vice Chair

(01:33:35)

6.5

Kuszmaul proposed that elections be postponed since Vice Chair Stone is absent.

MOTION (01:37:31): Postpone election until January meeting.

Kuszmaul/Fenwick – 4/0/0 (Stone absent) – passed

Yes:

4 -

Committee Member Adamic, Committee Member Barton, Committee Member Fenwick, and

Chair Kuszmaul

COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

7.1. Staff Comments

(01:39:00)

Whyte provided information on the Eagle Scout paw print project on suggested safe routes to Landels

Elementary School. He provided updates on other events including Monster Bash, state legislators’ meeting

on Caltrans’ El Camino Real project, and Stone’s newborn baby. Upcoming events include a donation ride,

downtown bike route listening session, Valley Transportation Plan community meeting, and holiday ride.

Staff also asked if members would be interested in moving meetings to 6 p.m.

Gonzales provided an update on Castro Street Pedestrian Mall interim improvements including a Koat Seal,

touch up work, installation of outdoor dining barriers, a central walkway, and future artistic elements to be

considered by the Visual Arts Committee.

No public comments.

Committee comments: (01:52:19)

Adamic and Fenwick appreciated having time to eat before the meeting. Adamic also liked the consistent

meeting time with VTA BPAC and the ability to pick up children from extra-curricular events. Kuszmaul had a

very slight preference for an earlier time. Barton did not have a preference. Members agreed to maintain the

current time with the option of reconsidering this issue later.

7.2. Committee Comments

(01:52:19)

Adamic congratulated Barton on getting bike parking at Costco. Barton indicated that he worked with City

staff who followed up with Costco.

Fenwick shared that Waikiki has paved trails on the beach and pedestrian scrambles at intersections with

high pedestrian volumes. She also mentioned an AskMV ticket on a construction project affecting pedestrian

amenity in her neighborhood.