Transportation Committee Meeting notes
18 Nov 2015
Construction Update- Phase 9a residential under construction (Zach Scott to Simond)
- Start 9b (Simond to Philomena) - full buildout of Berkman - start next 60 days. Will also build Vaughan up to HEB
- Finish Berkman late 2016
- Ongoing work in Town Center continues. Roads around future theater will open in 30 days or so, but there may be intermittent closures due to adjacent building construction
- Aldrich to 51st, Mueller to Philomena - finish about Spring 2016
- Zach Scott extension to Manor is probably 2018 completion
Berkman Traffic Data Collection- Oct 2015 data compared to Dec 2013
—- volumes increased from ~5000 to ~8500
—- speed - <20% of people are complying with speed limit (30 mph), even on the southbound section south of Zach Scott where the roadside is fully developed.
- 85% speed running about 35mph but no plans to change speed limit
- Catellus not drawing final conclusions yet, still monitoring and using this data to anticipate what the needs might be in the future
- Will continue working with group to see how to address issues
- Northbound exhibiting more variation in the speeds, due in part perhaps to the interim conditions on the east side of Berkman
Berkman Working group meeting highlights- Talked about doing license plate studies to help discern origin/destination
- Look at expanding use of bulbout islands (cycle track cuts through). Perhaps these could be rain gardens.
- Concerns about exiting parked cars on Berkman - feels too close to traffic.
- City may pilot the use of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks - could be considered at select locations. (See
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/resources/techsum/fhwasa09009/ for more info)
- Dynamic speed display signs (also collects data) - “Permanent installations” also may be piloted by the City. Idea is that the community pays fee to City and covers maintenance first two years. City maintains for years 2-3. If speeds aren’t dropping as a result of the installation, City may remove the sign. Pilot will help show whether these are effective when installed on a long-term basis.
- Warrants for stop signs and signals were discussed at the Berkman meeting
- Roundabouts - not off the table. Discussion about why not to do earlier? Catellus still thinks it’s premature. Girard wants to keep them on the table, but doesn’t want to preclude the possibility of rail going through it in the future. We’d lose the cycle track through the intersection if roundabouts are installed, but cyclists could merge with vehicular traffic or utilize the sidewalk - their choice.
- Discussed other traffic calming tools that may be explored.
- Anticipate keeping the working group in place for several years, as road evolves and conditions change.
- Use of higher visibility crosswalk markings across Berkman was suggested.
- Discussed whether cycle track could be extended southbound from Antone to Tom Miller? No… bike lane should be observed more after development goes in adjacent to Pecan Street office and on-street parking is utilized. The road narrows before Tom Miller and Catellus doesn’t believe there’s room for a cycle track.
Other items of discussionAldrich roundabout - City looked at Catellus’ plans and says the money isn’t available to construct the design that was developed. They propose to make some interim improvements using striping and bumps to better channelize traffic. May allow parking along right curb on Aldrich as you enter Mueller to make the approach single lane. They’ll develop some drawings to review next meeting.
Extending Lancaster bike lane - some previous opposition to getting rid of the parking. Public process would be required. Those parking spaces were counted in the number of spaces needed for the retail businesses, so Amica will talk to Nathan again to see whether removing them would even be possible. If it’s possible, suggestion to have public input process to consider removing parking and extending bike lanes.
Signal going in on Barbara Jordan at Home Depot - poles up now and should be active within a few months.
