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City and County of San Francisco
 Municipal Transportation Agency
Citizens’ Advisory Council
Thursday, January 6, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Room 3074
San Francisco, California
MINUTES
- Call to Order:
Chairman Murphy called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
- Roll Call:
SFMTA CAC members present at Roll Call: Mary Burns, Joan Downey, Steve Ferrario, Daniel Murphy, Cesar Perez, Janel Sterbentz, Susan Vaughan, Dorris Vincent, Dan Weaver, Ruth Wheeler
SFMTA CAC members absent at Roll Call: Greg Riessen
SFMTA CAC members absent: Art Cimento, Griffith Humphrey, and Wieser
- Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting.
The CAC Secretary made the announcement.
On motion to approve the minutes of October 7, 2010: Adopted
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen, and Wieser
- Report of the Chair (For discussion only):
Chairman Murphy mentioned that Ruth Wheeler would be leaving the Council, effective January 8, 2011. Council members also inquired and were updated about Griffith Humphrey’s condition.
Andy Chow, Friends of Caltrain, stated that the SFMTA is a funding partner of Caltrain. Friends of Caltrain are worried about Caltrain funding. Mr. Chow stated that the Friends of Caltrain are planning a summit on January 29, 2011 to encourage people to find solutions to save Caltrain.
Greg Riessen arrived at 5:37 p.m.
- Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the elements of the Service Restoration Plan. (John Haley, Director of Transit Services, Transit Services)
John Haley discussed the Service Restoration Plan. Mr. Haley stated that he was unsure about the status of the plan with a new mayor and new Board of Supervisors. Mr. Haley stated there are challenges in implementing some of the changes. There aren’t enough rail cars nor staff at the moment. The SFMTA stopped hiring 15 months ago and they are short
120 operators. There is extraordinary pressure on Human Resources to recruit and on the Training Department to train operators.
Council member Vaughan inquired if staff was keeping track of non-functioning Clipper card readers. Mr. Haley stated that there is a report for both vehicles and faregates and that he would forward the latest report to the Council. Mr. Haley was asked if operators are required to report non-functioning Clipper card readers. He replied that operators either call Central Control or document the malfunction when they pull their vehicle in.
Mr. Haley expressed concern that bus stop consolidation may not save real travel time for passengers. He stated that committees for the Service Restoration Task Force need to look at what would make the system faster. Council member Downey mentioned that during peak hours, the N-Judah is at capacity by the Carl and Cole stop and suggested an express N-Judah bus for the inner Sunset area to alleviate overcrowding. Mr. Haley stated that this idea was recently discussed.
Council member Ferrario inquired if TEP passenger count numbers were accurate because the Automatic Passenger Counter (APC) on LRVs do not count passengers when trains are in the subway. When an LRV is in the subway and the stairs are raised, the APC is blocked by the raised stairs.
Public comment:
David Pilpel mentioned that in addition to the Service Restoration Plan, that there is a draft from the Mayor’s Financial Committee regarding the plan. Mr. Pilpel also mentioned reducing bus wait times during minimum service frequency. The N-Judah should run every ten minutes and trains should leave from the Embarcadero to Carl and Cole every five minutes. Mr. Pilpel believes Mr. Haley is doing a great job, but does not have the parts and people in terms of quantity and quality.
Motion 110106.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends adoption of some of the action and strategies to reduce travel time on the system as described in the Service Restoration Task Force draft dated October 12, 2010. A review of additional possible traffic engineering improvement including spot improvements, hence bottlenecks; review rail system practices to eliminate unnecessary slow down areas; double berthing on subway platforms; and moving towards system-wide POP all-door boarding in conjunction with improving Clipper system reliability.
On motion to approve Motion 110106.01: The motion was adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
- Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the SFMTA bicycle and pedestrian master plan. (Darton Ito, Manager, Long Range & Capital Planning, Transportation Planning/Sustainable Streets)
Darton Ito stated since the bicycle injunction was lifted, staff has added 11 miles of bike lanes and has paved 33 miles of bike paths. The next bicycle improvement will be future bike lanes and placing bulbouts on Market Street. Mr. Ito stated that staff is currently identifying where to make improvements. Mr. Ito stated that staff is developing a climate action strategy, completing a street strategy including balancing a bicycle/pedestrian travel analysis, a demand analysis and cycle tracks.
There are a number of bicycle improvements, such as the WalkFirst project, which will take the “Better Streets Plan” and will prioritize the comfort and safety of pedestrians, key streets, and what types of improvements are needed. Up to five corridors will become a pilot test area. Mr. Ito stated that the team has been providing monthly updates to the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Mr. Ito was asked if there is a bicycle/pedestrian map and he responded that there may be a rough map in terms of pedestrian efforts, but he is unsure if that is available.
Public comment:
David Pilpel stated if there was a map available, it would be helpful to show future bike project either those under construction or potential construction.
9. Discussion and possible action regarding recommendations from the Engineering, Maintenance and Safety Committee (EMSC).
Motion 101104.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that given increasing Muni Metro service demands, the J-Church line be equipped with low-floor streetcars so it can operate on Market Street. This will free up 20% of the tunnel capacity. This tunnel capacity can be utilized for increased service on the N-Judah and other lines as required. This idea should be studied as part of the current Better Market Street Study. In addition, the J-Church can terminate at a number of alternate locations, including Transbay Terminal and Caltrain.
On motion to adopt Motion 101104.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101104.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that given increasing Muni Metro service demands, the J-Church line be equipped with low-floor streetcars so it can operate on Market Street. This will provide Breda cars to the rest of the lines, which are short of vehicles. Additionally, this will free up 20% of the tunnel capacity, which can be utilized for increased service on the N-Judah and other lines as required. This idea should be studied as part of the current Better Market Street Study. In addition, the J-Church can terminate at a number of alternate locations, including Transbay Terminal and Caltrain.
On motion to approve Motion 101104.01 as amended. The motion was adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
Public Comment:
David Pilpel doesn’t think it’s quite 20%. He has no objection to the study, but it may raise problems and concerns at Church and Market. The downtown terminal is not clear. He would like to have a transfer station at Church and Market. He feels if MUNI frees up subway capacity, it may double rail service on Market Street, which may cause further delays. The overhead lines, signals and tracks on Church and Market are not designed for pantograph operation.
Oliver Graves remembered when the J-Church line used to travel along Market Street.
Motion 101117.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that after the bus operations are relocated from the Kirkland Yard, that new facilities be built on that site to accommodate the F and E Line Streetcars. This new building should be large enough to store the entire historic rail vehicle fleet, as well as providing light maintenance shops and a possible public display area. This new structure will result in considerable cost reductions in operations and maintenance, as well as increasing the vehicle’s life, as pull-in and pull-out mileages are significantly reduced.
On motion to approve Motion 101117.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101117.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that after the bus operations are relocated from the Kirkland Yard, new facilities be built on that site to accommodate the F and E Line Streetcars. This new building should be large enough to store the entire historic rail vehicle fleet, as well as providing light maintenance shops and a possible public display area. This new structure will result in considerable cost reductions in operations and maintenance, as well as increasing the vehicle’s life, as pull-in and pull-out mileages are significantly reduced.
On motion to approve Motion 101117.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101117.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that after the bus operations are relocated from the Kirkland Yard, that new facilities be built on that site to accommodate the F and E Line Streetcars. This new building should be large enough to store the entire historic rail vehicle fleet, as well as providing light maintenance shops and a possible public display area. This new structure will result in considerable cost reductions in operations and maintenance, as well as increasing the vehicles’ life, as pull-in and pull-out mileages are significantly reduced.
On motion to approve Motion 101117.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101117.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that after the bus operations are relocated from the Kirkland Yard, that new facilities be built on that site to accommodate the F and E Line Streetcars. This new building should be large enough to store the entire historic rail vehicle fleet, as well as providing light maintenance shops and a possible public display area. This new structure will result in considerable cost reductions in operations and maintenance, as well as increasing vehicles’ life, as pull-in and pull-out mileages are significantly reduced.
On motion to approve Motion 101117.01: Adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
Public Comment:
David Pilpel would like the Council to make a formal request to staff to ask what the current plan and status is for the Kirkland facility. He believes the PUC declared this property surplus in the 1980s. He thinks that there were issues with the tanks.
- Discussion and possible action regarding recommendations from the Operations and Customer Service Committee (OCSC).
Motion 101109.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that specific addresses not be asked of callers when an intersection is sufficient to service the call, and that specific addresses of city-run parking facilities not be asked of callers when the facility can be identified from an intersection alone, as such addresses are frequently not posted or not obvious at such facilities. The SFMTA CAC further recommends that, whereas PCOs should ticket all illegal parking at a reported location, dispatch of a PCO never be made contingent on the caller providing the make, model, color, description, or license plate number of the illegally parked vehicle except with regard to blocked driveway calls.
On motion to approve Motion 101109.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101109.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that when members of the public call DPT or 311, specific addresses not be asked of callers when an intersection is sufficient to service the call, and that specific addresses of city-run parking facilities not be asked of callers when the facility can be identified from an intersection alone, as such addresses are frequently not posted or not obvious at such facilities. The SFMTA CAC further recommends that, whereas PCOs should ticket all illegal parking at a reported location, dispatch of a PCO never be made contingent on the caller providing the make, model, color, description, or license plate number of the illegally parked vehicle except with regard to blocked driveway calls.
On motion to approve Motion 101109.01: Adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
Motion 101109.02
The SFMTA CAC recommends that, when valet parking services or automotive service businesses park cars illegally, that the agency work with the San Francisco Police Department to make an effort to identify and fine the valet service or automotive service business as opposed to the business’s customers.
On motion to approve Motion 101109.02: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101109.02
The SFMTA CAC recommends that, when valet parking services or automotive service businesses park cars illegally, that the SFMTA work with the San Francisco Police Department to make an effort to identify and fine the valet service or automotive service business as opposed to the business’s customers.
On motion to approve Motion 101109.02: Adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wheeler
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
Motion 101109.03
The SFMTA CAC encourages the SFMTA to increase the staffing levels of PCOs up to the 2008 staffing level.
On motion to adopt Motion 100713.01: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Weaver, Wheeler, and Wieser
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101109.03
The SFMTA CAC encourages the SFMTA to increase the staffing levels of PCOs at least up to the 2008 staffing level.
On motion to approve Motion 101109.02: Amended.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Weaver, Wheeler, and Wieser
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 101109.03
The SFMTA CAC encourages the SFMTA to increase the staffing levels of PCOs up to the 2008 staffing level. With the additional staffing being directed toward parking enforcement.
On motion to adopt Motion 101109.03: Adopted.
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Weaver, Wheeler, and Wieser
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
- Discussion and possible approving the 2011 meeting schedule.
The 2011 meeting dates was provided to Council.
On motion to approve the 2011 schedule: Adopted
Ayes – Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Riessen, Sterbentz, Vaughan, Weaver, Wheeler, and Wieser
Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, and Wieser
- Committee Member requests for information: (For discussion only)
- Sue Vaughan requested an answer on the 38-Geary stop button at Fort Miley. The button hasn’t worked for the past year.
- Greg Riessen noticed that the SFMTA has recently installed a sign on Valencia Street that advises 13 miles an hour. He inquired why the sign was installed on the sidewalk instead of at a post where a rider can see it. He would like the sign to be more prominent. The sign is on Valencia (southbound) either between 16th and 17th or between 17th and 18th mid-block.
- Schedule upcoming calendar items: (For discussion only)
Next regular meeting: Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3074
ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Yvette Torres
SFMTA CAC - Secretary
Accessible meeting policy – One South Van Ness Avenue
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