Title
Approve Draft Minutes of the January 28, 2026, Transportation Commission Meeting (Action)
Body
Transportation Commission
Draft Meeting minutes 1-28-26
Zoom Attendees: 6
Legistar Link (Agenda and Video)
<https://alameda.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1376852&GUID=7D5D55B3-B5AB-4BD8-88A5-D5991DB640EE&Options=info|&Search=>.
1. Roll Call
Present: Chair Weitze and Vice Chair Suthanthira; Commissioners Dara Abrams*, Kim, Gloyne, Johnson, and Nachtigall.
Absent: None
*Commissioner Dara-Abrams joined after the meeting started (he arrived at 6:45pm)
2. Agenda Changes
None
3. 2026-5719 Staff Communications (Discussion)
Lisa Foster, Transportation Planning Manager, provided (*0:48) several updates.
Updates can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7826310&GUID=C1E4D053-3D9B-4721-A4C9-27964A622C09&FullText=1>.
4. Non-Agenda Public Comment
Jeff Knoth (*5:05), who lives at Lincoln and Walnut, discussed the need for more speed enforcement across the island. He also discussed the need for more speed humps especially in small streets.
Jim Strehlow (*6:47) discussed his ongoing concerns on the lighting for the traffic circles on Central Ave. He also was frustrated at the lack of lighting at the parking meters, and he discussed why the roadway was not open at the end of Clement.
Jay Garfinkle, via Zoom (*8:44) shared his concerns for the Mecartney Project and felt that the city missed the point that the transportation commission dropped the ball and just accepts whatever the city says. He felt there was no public engagement and that city doesn’t care what is good for the city.
5. Consent Calendar
5-A 2026-5720 - Approve Draft Minutes of the December 17, 2025, Transportation Commission Special Meeting (Action)
Minutes can be found: <https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7826311&GUID=E490392A-8495-4EB2-9A6B-DA4F2F91758B&FullText=1>.
Commissioner Nachtigall made a motion (*11:45) to approve the Consent Calendar and Commissioner Kim seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken, and the motion passed 6-0, Commissioner Dara-Abrams was absent.
6. Regular Agenda Items
6-A 2026-5721- AC Transit Update on Park Street Transit Signal Priority and Signal Optimization Project (Discussion)
Representatives from AC Transit. Maria Henderson, and Kimly Horn, Ryan Doll introduced this item and gave a presentation (*12:28). The presentation can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7769616&GUID=EBFC4869-C6EB-4C76-9C70-980ECD4779D1&FullText=1>.
Commissioner Dara-Abrams arrived during the presentation.
Clarifying questions start at the 27:58-minute mark.
Public Comment for 6-A
Jim Strehlow (*37:45) discussed his experience riding his buses and felt that due to the Oakland Alameda Access project there will be more detours. These improvements were important, and in the future, there should be more access.
Christy Cannon (*39:06) with CASA and was for anything that improved public transit. She brought up questions about corridors in other cities and what those issues might be. She also had concerns about scheduling.
Jay Garfinkle, via Zoom (*41:06) said he felt like a second-class citizen since he drove a car and discussed all the barriers he was experiencing. He also said he was not aware of this and said there was no public outreach. He wanted to know if emergency responders had priority and was confused how the timing would be fair.
Action taken for 6-A
Commissioner discussion started at the 44:14-minute mark in the video.
This was a discussion item; no formal action was taken.
6-B 2026-5722 - Review and Discuss Proposed Quick-Build Improvements to the Lincoln/Walnut Intersection (Discussion)
Scot Wikstrom, City Engineer, introduced (*1:01:25) this item and gave a presentation. The presentation and Staff Report can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7826313&GUID=3984DA46-1EAA-443B-A0CE-7293CA719688&FullText=1>.
Clarifying questions start at the 1:20:12-minute mark.
Chair Weitze clarified (*1:20:51) that this was no longer a discussion item, there would be a vote on endorsement.
Commissioner Kim recused (*1:21:12) himself due to his proximity to the project.
Public Comment for Item 6-B
Bill Wiland (*1:27:44) shared a letter he had written. He asked the commission to approve this proposed project. He discussed his experience living near this intersection and all the schools that were nearby. He discussed an accident that killed a pedestrian at this location. His letter in its entirety has been uploaded as an attachment to this meeting item.
Jeff Knoth (1:31:09) said how much he appreciated what the city was doing and he was there to advocate for this diverter. He discussed how dangerous this intersection was and that he even had property damage. He felt this was an experience that needed to be tested, anything to make this area safer for all. He wanted to see this done.
Jim Strehlow (*1:33:22) was unsurprised by the statistics and that the city doesn’t get it. He felt this plan punished good drivers for bad drivers and that people cause these accidents. He discussed what other cities have done and wanted to see punishments for bad drivers. He was mad at Vision Zero and that you can’t engineer away bad behavior.
Jay Garfinkle, via Zoom (1:36:39) seconded what Speaker Strehlow had said that people walk in black at night and that parents walk with kids without looking. He felt that pedestrians needed to be more responsible. He wanted to know more about what qualifications intersections needed for certain treatments.
Christian Kazakoff, via Zoom (*1:40:26) who lives near this intersection discussed all the bad accidents he had seen and that he own home was hit. He liked the idea of this experiment and wanted to see more visibility. He said how speed and pedestrian safety were both important factors.
Tyler Yeager, (*1:41:46) discussed how important this issue was. He gave a suggestion of adding speed bumps and rumble strips.
Action taken for 6-B
Commissioner discussion started at the 1:43:45-minute mark in the video.
Chair Weitze made a motion to move to endorse (*2:38:14) the proposed Quick-Build Improvements to the Lincoln/Walnut Intersection with data with traffic diversion rates and accidents to be returned to the Transportation Commission in 6 months after completion of project and Vice Chair Suthanthira seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner Kim abstaining due to his closeness to the project.
There was a discussion n (*2:40:03) on what is the best time frame to have data returned to the commission.
7. Commission Communications
Vice Chair Suthanthira discussed (*2:43:23) her concerns about signal functioning on High Street.
Commissioner Dara-Abrams shared (*2:44:47) his concerns and some slides about Otis Elementary School and how those students will be attending a temporary campus for 2 years. Slides can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7863736&GUID=00CC41B8-F2FC-4769-BA03-69DAC95F8606>.
Commissioner Nachtigall shared (*2:52:49) that the Otis School issue is a reason why she was constantly asking about the Cross Alameda Trail.
Chair Weitze commended (*2:53:38) his wife, Hillary, for getting him to the meeting tonight from the airport.
8. Adjournment
Chair Weitze adjourned at 9:34 PM.