Title
Approve Meeting Minutes - October 20, 2022 (Action Item)
Body
Draft Minutes
Transportation Commission Meeting
Special Meeting
Wednesday, October 20, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 codified at Government Code Section 54953, Transportation Commissioners can attend the meeting via teleconference. The City allows public participation via Zoom.
Zoom Attendees: 29
Legistar Link:
https://alameda.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1003553&GUID=EBA9CD3D-D474-492E-913A-D415593E4AD9&Options=info|&Search=
1. Roll Call
Present: Chair Soules, Vice Chair Yuen and Commissioners Kohlstrand, Johnson, Suthanthira and Nachtigall.
Absent: Commissioner Scott Weitze
2. Agenda Changes
Chair Samantha Soules made a motion to pull item 6B Street Classifications from the Regular Agenda for more discussion. Commissioner Rebecca Kohlstrand seconded the motion. A vote was taken by a raise of hands and the motion passed 6-0.
3. Staff Communications are as shown in the web link here:
https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5866792&GUID=598717B8-EC1D-45F4-9862-1EB810F43355&FullText=1
4. Announcements / Public Comments
Commissioner Kohlstrand asked for a background on the Encinal Project.
Lisa Foster, Senior Transportation Coordinator, gave a brief explanation of the project.
Chair Soules talked about the great turnout for Walk and Roll School day.
Jim Strehlow discussed the lack of a bike lane at Sherman St. He discussed the difficulties for bikes at Atlantic and Sherman. He also gave suggestions of where a traffic circle could work.
5. Consent Calendar
None
6. Regular Agenda Items
6A. Review and Comment on the Draft Alameda Active Transportation Plan
(Discussion Item)
Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Transportation Coordinator, introduced this item and gave a presentation. The staff report and attachments can be found at: https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5866790&GUID=61427331-10D5-4E2B-8C29-822CF1877112&FullText=1.
Michael Hintze, Toole Design, also presented.
Commissioner Clarifying Questions for #6A
Commissioner Geoffrey Johnson discussed getting to attend the Open House at the Library and the comments he heard. He gave suggestions on how the make the map on page 25 “Pedestrians High Injury Corridors” could be clearer.
Chair Soules concurred with that suggestion.
Vice Chair Tina Yuen gave notes and comments on the High Injury Corridor and other maps. She gave suggestions on what colors should be used to make the information clearer.
Commissioner Kohlstrand thought this was a great plan overall. She discussed her concerns about integrating the two plans. She wanted more consideration to what they can accomplish at the “gateways” in Alameda since they are very congested. She pointed out key areas that still needed resolutions, she then gave specific examples.
Chair Soules also discussed the importance of modal equity and those highly congested areas.
Commissioner Alysha Nachtigall echoed the comments about the colorization of the maps. She then discussed her concerns about having enough low stress North/South connections especially with all the new proposed housing.
Commissioner Saravana Suthanthira discussed big picture items and how those could be achieved.
Public Comment for #6A
Denyse Trepanier, Board President for Bike Walk Alameda, expressed thanks to staff and the consultant team. She then discussed a letter the group sent that gave suggestions on neighborhood greenways, safety treatments that could be implemented quickly, where bike lanes were still needed and the street classifications.
Travis Morgan thought this was an excellent plan and as a resident of Gibbons he wanted to see it as a neighborhood greenway.
Jim Strehlow discussed city wide improvements he wanted to see addressed in plan. He thought the plan relied too much on engineering changes and not behavioral education. He was against Gibbons becoming a neighborhood greenway.
Commissioner Comments and Discussions for #6A
Vice Chair Yuen questioned Table 1 “Pedestrian Design Matrix”, she wanted to know how the city was going to use this table. She also asked about increased North/South bike network access.
Staff Member Wheeler gave clarification on table and discussed when this table would be used. She gave examples of projects and how this table would be beneficial.
There was a brief discussion on the Grand Ave Resurfacing project.
Andrew Thomas, Planning Building & Transportation Director, gave a brief description on where that project was.
Commissioner Kohlstrand discussed her concerns for the two main streets, Webster and Park, to accommodate all modes of transportation. She also gave her thoughts on the conditions at Bay Farm.
Chair Soules discussed geographical equity and how that applied to Bay Farm and safety for the whole island. She wanted to see a prioritization for maintenance and improvements. She was very proud of the amount of capital improvements the city did and acknowledged it was a lot to bring forward in 8 years.
Commissioner Suthanthira agreed about changing the colors on the list. She then gave suggestions and comments on areas that needed attention.
Staff Member Wheeler clarified the suggestions.
Vice Chair Yuen went into detail about the feasibility of this plan and what aggressive action they could take. She gives very specific details about the plan. She asks for more information on the greenways.
Speaker Hintze gives detail and clarification about the greenways and what goals they will achieve.
Staff Member Wheeler offer information on bike routes and street classifications.
There was a further discussion on greenways and bike routes.
Chair Soules discussed what information she wanted to see. Mainly trips on and off the island and how those would increase as the density of the island increased. She wanted to see information in a whole “holistic” approach.
6B. Discuss and comment on Street Classification Mobility Element
Appendix (Discussion Item)
This item was tabled until a future meeting.
7. Announcements / Public Comments
Jim Strehlow wanted to know how many people were at this Zoom meeting.
Chair Soules said they would have the minutes reflect the Zoom attendance. She then reminded everyone to be safe and aware of trick or treaters out on Halloween.
8. Adjournment
Chair Soules adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.