Active Transportation Commission Meeting - November 21, 2019

The Active Transportation Commission met on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. The commission approved consent items, received a staff report on shared rideables enforcement, discussed the draft Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines, and heard presentations on the Broadway Complete Streets and Central City Mobility projects. No votes on the two mobility projects were required as they were information items.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting minutes of October 17, 2019 and the Active Transportation Commission Log. Three commissioners abstained because they were not present at the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dan Allison, a member of the public, commented on the draft Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines. He expressed general support for the document but raised concerns about undefined terms such as "infeasible," "outcome of traffic investigation," and "prohibited pedestrian crossings." He warned that "infeasible" could be misused by engineers and referenced research by Zegeer indicating that crosswalk removal is rarely justified. He also recommended adding raised intersections, protected intersections, and exclusive pedestrian phases to the treatment application guide.

Discussion Items

Staff Report (Item 3)

• Staff provided updates on shared rideables enforcement. Enforcement began Tuesday, with citations issued for sidewalk riding and for devices obstructing pedestrian paths. Over 20 parking obstruction citations were issued at $27.50 each; the sidewalk riding citation is $207. Over 1,600 calls to 311 regarding shared rideables were received in the past month. Staff encouraged operators to educate users and noted the goal is behavior change, not citations.

Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines (Item 4)

• David Edrosolan, Interim City Traffic Engineer, presented the draft Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines and Treatment Application Guide. The documents were developed to address Vision Zero Action Plan Item 5.2 and incorporate best practices from NACTO, FHWA, NCHRP, peer agencies, and a stakeholder group including the Vision Zero Task Force. The guidelines cover evaluating crossing locations, selecting treatments, existing crosswalk evaluations, and removal processes.
• Commissioner discussion included questions about the meaning of "infeasible," the use of systemic safety analysis, equity implications, crosswalk spacing criteria, art crosswalks, and the process for updating the document.
• Commissioner Haupt moved to forward a recommendation to City Council for approval of the Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines with the addition of a means for amending/updating the document. The motion passed unanimously.

Broadway Complete Streets Project (Item 5)

• Megan Johnson, Senior Engineer, presented the Broadway Complete Streets Project, covering approximately two miles of Broadway. The project proposes reducing travel lanes from four to two, adding a two-way left-turn lane, buffered bike lanes, intersection improvements, and pedestrian safety enhancements. It also includes circulation changes: converting one block of 16th Street from one-way to two-way, constructing a one-block segment of 29th Street, and eliminating slip lanes. Construction funding is partially secured through ATP Cycle 3 and Cycle 4 grants, with construction targeted for 2022.
• Commissioners asked about coordination with the Broadway Bridge project, outreach to residents on W and X streets, impacts on transit ridership, and business community support. They expressed strong support for the project and requested ongoing engagement.

Central City Mobility Project (Item 6)

• Megan Johnson also presented the Central City Mobility Project, expanding protected bikeways on 9th/10th Streets to Broadway, P and Q Streets from 15th to 21st, and 19th/21st Streets to Broadway. The project includes two-way conversions on 5th and I Streets, reduced travel lanes on a segment of I Street, and new protected bikeway features such as left-side alignment, widened buffers for residential bin/leaf placement, bend-in intersections, and protected corners. Funding is from SB1, Valley Rail, and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grants.
• Commissioners expressed enthusiasm and asked about bin pick-up logistics, resident education, and route integration. No formal action was required.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar items (minutes and log) with three abstentions.
• Adopted a motion recommending City Council approval of the Pedestrian Crossing Guidelines with an added provision for future amendments/updates.
• Received and commented on the Broadway Complete Streets and Central City Mobility projects; both are information items with no formal vote.
• Identified follow-up items: request a presentation on citywide traffic signal timing/controller changes; continue outreach on bike parking map; and arrange a future update on the tree planting along the Sacramento Northern Bike Trail.
• The next meeting is scheduled for December 19, 2019.