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City and County of San Francisco
Municipal Transportation Agency
Citizens’ Advisory Council
Thursday, September 1, 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 5:42 p.m.
2. Roll Call:
SFMTA CAC members present at Roll Call: Mark Ballew, Mary Burns, Joan Downey, Steve Ferrario, Katie Haverkamp, Daniel Murphy, Marc Salomon, Susan Vaughan, Dorris Vincent, and Dan Weaver
SFMTA CAC members absent at Roll Call: None
SFMTA CAC members absent: Art Cimento, Greg Riessen, and Jamison Wieser
3. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting.
The CAC Secretary made the announcement.
4. Approval of Minutes:
Council member Downey clarified her request for information in item #14 to read as follows: Would like to know if outbound N Judah information can be added to the NextBus sign at Carl and Cole, on the northeast side, at the 37 Corbett and 43 Masonic stop.
Council member Salomon asked that the minutes be amended for item #11 to add the annual cost savings to the SFMTA.
On motion to approve the minutes of July 7, 2011: Approved as amended:
Ayes – Ballew, Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
Chairman Murphy continued approval of the June 7, 2011 minutes to the next meeting.
Public Comment:
None
5.Report of the Chair (For discussion only):
Chairman Murphy discussed the passing of Council member Griffith Humphrey and reviewed his years of service. Chairman Murphy proposed that the CAC’s meeting be adjourned in his memory.
Chairman Murphy discussed budget issues. He would like feedback from the Council as to what information they would like to be included in the presentation of the FY13 and FY14 budget.
Public Comment:
None
6. Public Comment:
Roland Wong stated that the elevators at the Civic Center and Castro Street stations are not working.
7. Continue discussion and possible action regarding recommendations from the Taxi Committee. (This item was continued from the July 7, 2011 meeting.)
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.
Kate Toran, Paratransit Manager, Administration, Taxis and Accessible Services, stated that this issue has been discussed. Paratransit service is curb-to-curb and bicycle lanes on Market Street are next to the curb. Taxi cabs could be carrying or picking up a paratransit rider who would need to have curb access.
Ms. Toran stated that staff has been meeting with bike planners, enforcement and the city attorney to discuss the vehicle code and regulations of the ADA. Staff is in the process of developing tools, such as decals and/or bumper stickers to aid bicyclists, taxi drivers, and paratransit operators. Staff is also in the process of developing a defensive driving strategy for bicyclists and taxi drivers. In addition, curriculum will be added to bike safety courses, defining what paratransit is and to alert them to passengers who may be loading or unloading at the curb within a bike lane.
Council member Ferrario stated that curbside bike lanes on Market Street can be problematic because the dividers prevent vehicles from pulling over toward the curb.
On the bike side, if a vehicle is in a bike lane, the bicyclist has to drive around through the dividers. He stated that bike lanes are fine, but the dividers are not. Council member Ferrario stated that he has heard there is serious discussion among the ADA community to file a federal lawsuit, which would stall the bike lane installation for years.
Public Comment:
Roland Wong stated that he has used paratransit vans and taxis and that when he boards a taxi, it is usually through the rear door, not the side door, and he has had to face the decision of being dropped off at a street corner. He stated that boarding through the rear cab doors can be hazardous for wheelchair users and hopes that taxis invest in side-boarding vehicles.
Athen Reblos, Yellow Cab, stated that flexibility is the key. The streetscape is very dense with mixed use in the communities. Transit operates both under and on the street level, and there are bike lanes. The problem is that the bike lane is a flexible space that cars and people can go on to, including emergency and delivery vehicles. It is unrealistic for bicyclists to expect that people are not going to cross the bike lane to get to the curb.
Neal Patel, Bike Coalition, stated that sidewalks are used for pedestrians and that the Bike Coalition wants to make sure everyone gets around safely. Mr. Patel stated that people with disabilities and seniors cross bike lanes.
Council member Haverkamp asked that the motion be amended to include “to load and unload disabled and mobility-impaired”.
Motion 110228.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that curb access within the bicycle lanes be allowed for vehicles in order to load and unload disabled and mobility-impaired passengers. The SFMTA CAC encourages the agency to continue exploring ways to safely separate modes of transit.
On motion to amend the Motion 110228.01: Approved.
Ayes – Ballew, Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
Council member Vaughan moved to amend the motion to include “the agency is encouraged to continue exploring ways to have safer bicycle lanes”.
Motion 110228.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that curb access within the bicycle lanes be allowed for vehicles in order to load and unload disabled and mobility-impaired passengers. The SFMTA CAC encourages the agency to continue exploring ways to safely separate modes of transit.
On motion to amend the amended Motion 110228.01: Approved:
Ayes – Ballew, Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
Chairman Murphy moved to amend the motion to include “The SFMTA CAC urges the agency to develop procedures to prevent abuse of this policy”.
Motion 110228.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that curb access within the bicycle lanes be allowed for vehicles in order to load and unload disabled and mobility-impaired passengers. The SFMTA CAC encourages the agency to continue exploring ways to safely separate modes of transit. The SFMTA CAC urges the agency to develop procedures to prevent abuse of this policy.
On motion to amend the amended Motion 110228.01: As amended: Approved
Ayes – Ballew, Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
The motion as amended reads as follows:
Motion 110228.01
The SFMTA CAC recommends that curb access within the bicycle lanes be allowed for vehicles in order to load and unload disabled and mobility-impaired passengers. The SFMTA CAC encourages the agency to continue exploring ways to safely separate modes of transit. The SFMTA CAC urges the agency to develop procedures to prevent abuse of this policy.
On motion to approve Motion 110228.01 as amended: The motion was adopted
Ayes – Ballew, Burns, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
Public Comment:
None
8. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the audit of the Sustainable Streets Division. (Bond Yee, Director, Sustainable Streets)
Bond Yee discussed the audit. The purpose was to look at management and policies.
Mr. Yee stated that there is not a lot off-the-shelf software available to keep track of traffic calming measures, but staff is working with the Capital Programs & Construction Division to evaluate different types of software. Staff found there was a good synergy between the DPW paint program and the Sustainable Streets paint shop. When DPW repaves the streets, the SFMTA marks the streets.
Mr. Yee stated that traffic signs are replaced every 12 years. He stated that the U.S. Department of Transportation reduced the reflectivity standards for traffic signs from 60 standards to 12 standards that are vital for safety, since a lot of agency traffic signs are not compatible. Unfortunately, the software that staff uses is not capable of doing more detailing to traffic signs; keeps track of the age of the sign; when to replace the signs, and inventory control. He stated that staff needs to upgrade the software.
Mr. Yee stated that off-street parking is a controversial issue. The audit found that the operation of garages is unique. The audit recommended: cutting out duplication; streamlining the operation; and reducing operating costs.
Public Comment:
None
- 9. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding SFMTA Bonds. (Sonali Bose, Director, Finance and Information Technology)
Sonali Bose discussed the proposal to issue bonds to alleviate outstanding debts. Bond proceeds will be used to finance various capital improvements, such as: parking garage capital improvements; rail vehicle repair and restoration; track rehabilitation and replacement; signal and communications upgrade; and overhead wire repair and restoration.
Ms. Bose stated that the Controller must certify that the SFMTA has the ability to incur the debt and pay the annual debt service. Two rating agencies will evaluate the creditworthiness of the SFMTA by assigning a rating to the debt before the SFMTA issues the debt.
Ms. Bose stated that approximately $108M in revenue bonds are proposed to be issued to generate $100M in net proceeds for new projects. $50M in refunding bonds will be issued to refinance outstanding debt for debt service savings and to streamline outstanding indentures. Ms. Bose will send a list of new projects to the Council.
Public Comment:
None
Motion 110901.02
The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA proceed with the plan presented by staff on September 1, 2011 to exercise the agency’s authority to issue bonds to retire existing debt and use the remainder to rebuild, replace, and repair existing agency capital assets. The SFMTA CAC further recommends that such bond debt not be issued for the purpose of funding the construction or acquisition of assets related to the Central Subway project. The SFMTA CAC requests that the final list of projects be presented to the SFMTA CAC for review before the agency commits to that list.
On motion to approve Motion 110901.02: Approved
Ayes – Ballew, Downey, Ferrario, Haverkamp, Murphy, Salomon, Vaughan, Vincent, and Weaver
Nayes – None
Absent – Burns, Cimento, Riessen, and Wieser
Public Comment:
None
10. Continue discussion and possible action regarding the CAC Taxi Committee. (This item was continued from the July 7, 2011 meeting.)
Chairman Murphy continued this item to the next meeting.
11. Committee Members’ requests for information. (For discussion only)
- Marc Salomon stated that at the 16th Street BART station there are casino buses blocking or parking at Muni bus stops, with their engines idling, and would like to know if they are charged a fee to park.
- Dorris Vincent stated that a trash container on the platform stop at 3rd & Palou was removed because it caught on fire and would like to know when it will be replaced.
- Dorris Vincent would like to know when the passenger seating will be replaced at the 3rd Street LaSalle & McKinnon stop.
- Katie Haverkamp stated that signage on back doors of Muni vehicles are placed too high. She would like to see more user-friendly signs where all passengers can see.
- Susan Vaughan would like to know about the proposal to move the inbound 29 Sunset bus stop at 19th Avenue & Lincoln. She would like to know if outreach has been done in the community that may be affected by this change.
- Mark Ballew would like updates on the Geary and Van Ness BRT.
- Chairman Murphy stated that the TA did a report on private commuter buses that were assigned certain passes to the community. The 24th & Church Street, buses had to go into curb space onto the sidewalk to allow the back of the bus to meet the curb. He would like to know the SFMTA’s response to the report.
- 12. Schedule upcoming calendar items. (For discussion only)
Next regular meeting: Thursday, October 6, 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 8:41 p.m. in memory of Griffith Humphrey.
Respectfully submitted by:
Yvette Torres
SFMTA CAC - Secretary
Accessible meeting policy – One South Van Ness Avenue
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