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Minutes 

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

Engineering, Maintenance and Safety Committee

Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 4:00 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3075
San Francisco, California

MINUTES

  • Call to Order
    Chairman Daniel Weaver called the meeting to order at 4:14 p.m. 
  • Roll Call

EMSC Members present at Roll Call:  Steve Ferrario and Daniel Weaver

EMSC Members absent:  Greg Riessen and Jamison Wieser

CAC members, not on this committee, but also present:  Joan Downey and Susan Vaughan. Chairman Weaver appointed Susan Vaughan to serve as Pro Tem.

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

The CAC Secretary made the announcement.

  • Approval of Minutes

On motion to approve the minutes of February 23, 2011: Adopted
Ayes – Ferrario, Vaughan, and Weaver

      Absent – Riessen and Wieser

  • Report of the Chairman (For discussion only): 

Chairman Weaver postponed the visit to the St. Francis Circle project.

  • Public Comment: 

Roland Wong suggested a discussion of low-floor vehicles.

  • Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding plans for the radio system upgrade. (Ayn Antonio, Transportation Manager, Kirkland, Transit Services)

Ayn Antonio stated that a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued for the radio system project and two companies, GE and Harris, submitted proposals.  Recently, GE withdrew their proposal.  The radio technical committee will meet with Harris prior to contract negotiations.  Ms. Antonio stated that Muni’s current radio system is antiquated and uses analog communication. 

 Public comment:

None

  • Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding platform convertibility from high-floor to low-floor for the Central Subway. (Ayn Antonio, Transportation Manager, Kirkland, Transit Services)

Ayn Antonio stated that it is possible to convert from high to low floor and that all Metro subway stations are high platform. 

Public comment:

Roland Wong commented that there are limited stops for wheelchair users along the   surface lines.  He stated that wheelchair users are inconvenienced and that many   handicapped boarding stops are separated by as much as five or more stops (i.e. 9th and Judah to 19th and Judah).

  • Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a surface loop for the J Church and N Judah lines.  (Ayn Antonio, Transportation Manager, Kirkland, Transit Services)

Ayn Antonio stated that more rail cars would be needed.  Muni is averaging 107 cars for service each day.  Between six and eight cars fail daily.

Chairman Weaver suggested that Muni should borrow a vehicle from another transit agency to see if their vehicle would have the capability to operate on the surface lines.

Public comment:

None

  • Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the Eureka Portal. (Ayn Antonio, Transportation Manager, Kirkland, Transit Services)

Ayn Antonio stated that the portal is being inspected. 

Chairman Weaver mentioned a story reported in the San Francisco Examiner a few weeks ago about safety in the tunnel.  The story made it sound like the tunnel could collapse in an earthquake.  Chairman Weaver stated there hasn’t been a seismic inspection.

Public comment:

None

  • Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding bicycle facilities for the Central Subway project.

Chairman Weaver recommended the following motion:

Motion 110323.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA Board of Directors develop a Central Subway plan that promotes bicycle usage.

The SFMTA CAC further recommends that ample bicycle parking be located inside all Central Subway stations and that a plan to provide securing of all stored bicycles and the monitoring of all bicycle storage areas.

The SFMTA CAC further recommends that some platform space at all stations be dedicated to secure bicycle parking and that grooves designed for bicycle wheels be installed along stairwells (like the ones at the 16th and Mission BART station) and that every effort be made to prepare stations for bicycle-ready light rail vehicles.

On motion to approve Motion: The motion failed adoption.

      Ayes – Vaughan and Weaver

      Nayes – Ferrario

      Absent – Riessen

Committee member Ferrario offered an amendment to the motion to replace the word “platform” with “mezzanine” because some of the Central Subway platforms are too small.

Motion 110323.01

The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA Board of Directors develop a Central Subway plan that promotes bicycle usage.

The SFMTA CAC further recommends that ample bicycle parking be located inside all Central Subway stations and that a plan to provide securing of all stored bicycles and the monitoring of all bicycle storage areas.

The SFMTA CAC further recommends that some mezzanine space at all stations be dedicated to secure bicycle parking and that grooves designed for bicycle wheels be installed along stairwells (like the ones at the 16th and Mission BART station) and that every effort be made to prepare stations for bicycle-ready light rail vehicles.

On motion to approve Motion 110323.01: Adopted

      Ayes – Vaughan and Weaver

      Nayes – Ferrario

      Absent – Riessen

Public comment:

None

  • Committee Members’ requests for information (For discussion only) 
  • Dan Weaver would like to know why a new radio system is needed and what it will achieve. 
  • Dan Weaver stated that he had heard the money to build the new Central Control had been spent elsewhere and that there were no plans to build a new one.
  • Schedule upcoming calendar items (For discussion only)

Next regular meeting:  April 27, 2011, at 4 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3075

  • Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:
Yvette Torres
SFMTA CAC - Secretary

 

 

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