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City and County of San Francisco
Minutes RevisedMunicipal Transportation Agency
Citizens’ Advisory Council

Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Room 3074
San Francisco, California

MINUTES

1. Call to Order:
Chairman Murphy called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 

2. Roll Call:

SFMTA CAC members present at Roll Call:  Mary Burns, Joan Downey, Katie Haverkamp, Daniel Murphy, Greg Riessen, Susan Vaughan, Dorris Vincent, Dan Weaver, and Jamison Wieser

SFMTA CAC members absent at Roll Call:  None

SFMTA CAC members absent:  Art Cimento, Steve Ferrario, and Griffith Humphrey

3. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting.

The CAC Secretary made the announcement.

4. Approval of Minutes: 

On motion to approve the minutes of April 7, 2011:

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wieser
Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Public Comment:

None

5. Report of the Chair (For discussion only):

Chairman Murphy informed the Council that he would be traveling on business for two weeks and may be hard to reach.  He stated he would do his best to keep up on his e-mail, but then after that, business as usual and his apologies in advance.

Chairman Murphy also informed the Council that Griffith Humphrey was back in the hospital and hopes Mr. Humphrey gets well soon.

6. Public Comment: 

None

7. Discussion and possible action regarding recommendations from the Taxi Committee.

Motion 110228.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that curb access within the bicycle lanes, be allowed for vehicles in order to load and unload passengers.  This is especially important as it pertains to taxi cabs and other ADA-related vehicles.

Council Member Mary Burns stated that a taxi driver was given a ticket at a bicycle lane while dropping off a passenger.  Ms. Burns stated that taxi drivers are allowed to go between bollards, but Parking Control Officers (PCOs) are not aware of this.

Jarvis Murphy, Taxi Services, stated that staff is currently working on training PCOs about what the policy is.  Mr. Murphy stated staff will also be providing outreach to paratransit agencies about the policy.

Ms. Burns recommended this motion be continued.

On motion to continue Motion 110228.01:  Continue

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent, Weaver, and Wieser

Nayes - None          

Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Public Comment:

      None

8. Discussion and possible action regarding recommendations from the Operations and Customer Service Committee (OCSC).

Motion 110510.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that when switchbacks involve vehicles next to each other that the vehicle with the fewest passengers be switched back in order to inconvenience the smallest number of passengers.

Council Member Joan Downey stated this recommendation was brought up with John Haley and passengers having to disembark overcrowded trains.  Ms. Downey stated that usually when this happens that the train behind is less crowded.  Council Member Jamison Wieser stated that the train operator does not know the amount of passengers on a second-car train and would like to know who would decide which vehicle should be switchbacked.  Mr. Wieser states this solution does not address the issue and in order for the system to be usable it has to be predictable.  Council Member Susan Vaughan would like to add “when possible” at the end of the motion.

Public Comment:

None

On motion to approve Motion 110510.01: Amend

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver

Nayes - Wieser        

Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Motion 110510.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that when switchbacks involve vehicles next to each other that the vehicle with the fewest passengers be switched back in order to inconvenience the smallest number of passengers when possible.

On motion to approve amended Motion 110510.01: Approved

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver

Nayes - Wieser        

Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Public Comment:

None

            Motion 110510.02

The SFMTA CAC recommends that when ATCS is upgraded, the Agency consider adding destination announcements to the recorded voice announcements and platform signs in order to better alert passengers of upcoming switchbacks—for example, "N-Judah to Sunset Boulevard" instead of "N-Judah."

Council Member Dorris Vincent stated she thought the voice announcements announced already did this.  Chairman Murphy responded that they do, but the announcement only announces upcoming destination stop.  Council Member Jamison Wieser stated that operators should be able to change curtain signs manually.

On motion to approve Motion 110510.01: Amend

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver

      Nayes - Wieser        

            Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Public Comment:

None

     Motion 110510.02

The SFMTA CAC recommends that when ATCS is upgraded, the Agency consider adding destination announcements to the recorded voice announcements and platform signs in order to better alert passengers of upcoming switchbacks—for example, "N-Judah to Sunset Boulevard" instead of "N-Judah."  The SFMTA CAC further recommends that the digital and curtain signs on vehicles show the accurate final destination of the vehicle.  The SFMTA CAC further recommends that the digital signs be programmed with all possible switchback points, if they haven’t already been programmed for this, and that operators be required to set the signs accurately.

On motion to approve amended Motion 110510.01: Approved

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Vincent,  Weaver, and Wieser

Nayes - None

Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Public Comment:

None

            Motion 110510.03

The SFMTA CAC recommends that the Daily Operations Report include the following items which were previously part of the report:

- lines affected by not-outs;

- percent of operator absenteeism;

- times that each Muni revenue service vehicle arrived at each time point.

This item was presented to SFMTA and responded to.  Chairman Murphy stated that John Haley, Director, Transit Services, will sit down with the OCSC members and go over the daily report data with them.

9. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the Nx Judah Express. (Davide Puglisi, Senior Operations Manager, Transit Services)

Davide Puglisi gave an overview of the N Judah line.  He stated that the N Judah currently operates at seven minutes headway during peak hours and that it is the heaviest commuted line and has a shortage of personnel.  The operating environment of the line involves a range of mixed traffic in residential neighborhoods to raised dedicated right-of-ways to tunnels.  A combination of traffic signals, combined with congestion in the subway would make it difficult to add additional trains to the N line.

Mr. Puglisi stated the line was at a saturation point and that the Nx Judah Express is a pilot to take stress off of the line and to serve the added demand on the N line for six months starting on June 13.  The existing N Judah will be supplemented by the Nx Judah Express during peak periods to reduce overcrowding.  Mr. Puglisi brought handouts for the Nx Judah Express and stated that this will be a dedicated fleet with a different paint scheme and have colored lights on the front of the vehicle.  This six-month pilot program is not a replacement, just supplemental to service. 

Councilmember Wieser inquired why not incorporate short trains into the schedule.  Mr. Puglisi replied there is difficulty in changing the different pattern of train service and that staff wanted to do something immediately that would not impact negative service.

Chairman Murphy would like to continue this item to November 2011.

      Public Comment:

      None

10. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding ParkMerced. (Peter Albert, Urban Streets)

Peter Albert discussed the ParkMerced project, located in the San Francisco State University area and managed by the Planning Department, along with Environmental Planning.  This project will create a transit-oriented neighborhood and will provide for a diverse community on renter and ownership in the residential area.  Mr. Albert discussed the fiscal benefits and the economic impacts for the City.

Mr. Albert discussed the facilitation of the project which has been ongoing since 2008 and that staff has been working with City and other outside agencies (i.e. Caltrans, Bart, and MTC).  In 2009 and 2010, proposers met with City agencies (i.e. Mayors, Police, etc.) to receive proposals on safety, rail right-of-way, and bicycle networks.  In February 2010, the EIR was certified by the Planning Commission.

Mr. Albert discussed the parking plans, carsharing pods, shuttle system and bike sharing program proposed for the project.  A fiscal benefit of this project is the provision to buy a new vehicle plus allocated costs.  On June 21, 2010, the CEQA findings, development agreement, transportation plan, design studies and guidelines, fiscal analysis, will be presented to the SFMTA Board of Directors to adopt.

MOTION 110602.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA Board of Directors approve the transportation plan and development agreement, including the realignment of the M-Oceanview line, for ParkMerced, as presented to the SFMTA CAC on June 2, 2011.

On motion to approve Motion 110602.01: Approved

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, Murphy, Riessen, Vincent, Weaver, and Wieser

Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, and Humphrey

Nayes - Vaughan

Public Comment:

None

            MOTION 110602.02

The SFMTA CAC urges the SFMTA Board of Directors to pursue an agreement with the ParkMerced developer that reduces the maximum ratio of parking spaces to housing units below 1-to-1.

On motion to approve Motion 110602.02: The motion failed adoption

            Ayes – Murphy, Riessen, Vaughan, Weaver, and Wieser

            Absent – Cimento, Ferrario, Humphrey

            Nayes – Burns, Downey, Haverkamp, and Vincent

      Public Comment:

      None

 11. Discussion and possible action regarding the CAC Taxi Committee.

Chairman Murphy stated he received proposal by Taxi committee members and their idea instead of having a Taxi committee of their own, that interested members join the SFMTA Taxi Advisory Council, which has four seats available.  Chairman Murphy stated he is unsure if the seats available are voting seats.  Interested members would bring Taxi-relate items to the CAC’s attention and still provide recommendation to the Taxi Advisory Council.  This will decrease committee meetings and staff duplication.

Chairman Murphy stated that Steve Ferrario resigned as Chairman of the Taxi Committee and appointed Mary Burns as the Chairman.  Chairman Murphy also stated he will do his best to attend the next Taxi Committee meeting if Griffith Humphrey would not be available.  Chairman Murphy would like to continue this item to the next CAC meeting.

Public Comment:

None

12. Committee Members’ requests for information.  (For discussion only)

    • Joan Downey stated the 37-Corbett was re-routed and normally a year later, the SFMTA reviews changes.  She would like to know SFMTA standard operating procedure to evaluating or making a permanent change.
    • Dan Weaver stated a couple of months ago he was driving on West Portal Avenue and noticed that it was 45 minutes into street cleaning and there were a number of cars parked after street cleaning truck passed by.  He would like to know if a Parking Control Officer (PCO) can ticket parked vehicles after the streetcleaning truck has passed.
    • Katie Haverkamp stated on May 12th at Taraval & 19th Avenue, someone hit her and she would like to know what pedestrian safety measures are in place for passengers boarding and exiting LRVs when there are no boarding islands.  She would like to know how many people have been hurt there.
    • Sue Vaughan would like to know about bike racks and stated that the bike rack systems are starting to break down.  She would like to know the maintenance and replacement plan for them.
    • 13. Schedule upcoming calendar items.  (For discussion only)
      Next regular meeting:  Thursday,  July 7, 2011, at 5:30 p.m.
      1 South Van Ness Avenue, 3rd Floor, Conference Room 3074

Accessible meeting policy – One South Van Ness Avenue

ADJOURN:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:
Yvette Torres
SFMTA CAC - Secretary

 

 

Accessible meeting policy – One South Van Ness Avenue

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