Mountain View Council Transportation Committee Meeting - September 2, 2025
Mountain View Council Transportation Committee Meeting - September 2, 2025
The Council Transportation Committee met on September 2, 2025, to review and recommend actions on three major transportation projects: the Miramonte Avenue Complete Streets Study, the El Monte Corridor Improvements, and cost-reduction measures for the Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation Project. The committee also approved meeting minutes and received a staff update on Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee recruitment.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The committee unanimously approved the minutes of the April 1, 2025 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Miramonte Avenue Complete Streets Study: Four virtual speakers expressed strong support for the project, citing improved safety and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians. Speakers requested additional greening/trees, a 25 mph speed limit throughout, raised crosswalks, and attention to the El Camino intersection crossing. One speaker noted that 55% of survey respondents supported the plan.
- El Monte Corridor Improvements: Four virtual speakers supported the project, emphasizing safety improvements, protected bike lanes, and elimination of free right-turn slip lanes. They advocated for a pedestrian-bicycle scramble cycle at El Camino/Escuela, greening of the former slip lane area, and a roundabout at J Street. One speaker noted that bike counts are low because people avoid unsafe conditions.
- Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation: No public comments.
Discussion Items
Miramonte Avenue Complete Streets Study (Project 23-31)
- Staff presented the preferred concept plan for Segment A (El Camino Real to Castro Street/Marilyn Street), featuring protected bike lanes, lane reduction from two to one, parking removal on the west side, mid-block crossings with RRFBs, and high-visibility crosswalks. Over 400 survey responses were received, with 55% support.
- The committee discussed the potential for greening (trees) in the future, noting that the current project is tied to pavement rehabilitation and does not include landscaping funding. Committee members requested that staff review the Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan and bring greening options to the City Council.
- Committee Member Hicks and Kamei expressed support, with emphasis on exploring greening opportunities. Chair McAlister recused himself due to proximity of his business.
- Motion: To recommend the preferred alternative concept plan to City Council. Passed 2-0 (McAlister recused).
El Monte Corridor Improvements (Project 21-38)
- Staff presented the preliminary design for improvements along El Monte Avenue from El Camino Real to the city limits, including a road diet (four lanes to three), protected bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, removal of the right-turn slip lane at El Camino/El Monte, and signal upgrades for protected left turns at key intersections.
- Committee discussed costs, bike usage, and potential greening. Member Hicks noted the importance of pedestrian safety at the El Camino/Escuela intersection, where a fatality occurred in April 2025. Member Kamei expressed concerns about cost escalation and low bike ridership, but supported moving forward with federal funding attached.
- Public comments emphasized safety and asked for a scramble phase. Committee added special consideration for the El Camino/Escuela intersection and incorporation of pedestrian/bicycle elements in the former slip lane area.
- Motion: To approve the preliminary design and direct staff to advance into final design, with special consideration for pedestrian/bicyclist safety at El Camino Real/Escuela Avenue intersection. Passed 2-1 (McAlister dissenting, citing cost and scope concerns).
Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation Project—Cost-Reduction Measures
- Staff reported updated cost estimates: total project cost increased from $325 million to $453 million, creating a $159 million shortfall. Cost-reduction strategies were presented, including construction methods ($14 million in savings), design modifications (retaining walls replaced with sloped embankments, saving $4.8 million), and elimination/deferral of elements (e.g., gas station retaining wall, pedestrian bridge) totaling $1.3 million. Staff did not recommend deferring the bicycle/pedestrian bridge due to community benefit. Additional savings from reduced construction duration and adjusted contingencies ($38 million) brought the total project cost to $395 million, leaving a $99 million shortfall.
- The committee discussed right-of-way acquisitions, cost escalation risks, and the need for aggressive cost control. Member Kamei supported the recommendations, emphasizing the need to proceed to 65% design to refine costs. Chair McAlister voted against the staff recommendation, seeking more aggressive cost reduction and funding certainty, but affirmed support for the project overall.
- Motion: To approve staff recommendations for cost-reduction measures. Passed 2-1 (McAlister dissenting).
Key Outcomes
- Miramonte Avenue Complete Streets Study: Recommended alternative to City Council; staff to explore greening options.
- El Monte Corridor Improvements: Preliminary design approved; project to advance to final design with enhanced safety focus at El Camino/Escuela intersection.
- Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation: Cost-reduction measures approved; staff to proceed to 65% design and pursue early work and funding.
- Staff Announcements: Recruitment notice for Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee.
- Committee Comments: Member Hicks requested a status update on the Ameswell Bridge (under construction).
Meeting Transcript
No, we can't help. John, are you up there? One last call to John. Hand went down. Okay, so then we will go on to Matt. If we get back to him later, we'll try. We'll close public comment, oral communication, and move on to item number four. Consent 4.1 approved media meeting minutes. The minutes for April 1st, 2025 meetings are present for butt approval tonight. Would any member of the public join us virtually or in person like to provide comment on the minutes? If so, please click the raised hand button and zoom or approach the electron. We will take in-person speakers first. Each speaker will have three minutes. Anyone in the audience here would like to uh comment on the minutes. Okay. Anyone virtually would like to talk on the minutes. Okay, seeing no comments, thank you. I will now bring the item back for committee deliberation to action. Are there any corrections or comments on the minutes? Fellow members. No, no. Do I hear a motion? Motion. Second. So moved. Uh roll call, please. Oh. Are we voting by raising? Well, because we're doing virtual, right? So we have to. Otherwise, I say it was unanimous and move left. Sorry, I missed what you said. Okay. Since we're going virtual, I thought we'd have to raise do a rule call. Oh, okay. Are you looking for me to do that? Um I can do it. No, yeah, you're independent. I hope you're on it. So would you please take a roll call vote? Am I correct, Mayor? You can do, I think either, but it's usually the director that does the uh am I calling individual names or it's all in favor of reasons. Okay. Um Chairman Allister. Yeah, um, I vote in favor of the motion. Uh committee members come on. Yes. And committee member Hicks. Yes. Okay, three yeses.
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