pages: TransportationCommission/2006-09-27.pdf, 6
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TransportationCommission | 2006-09-27 | 6 | Staff Garrison noted that an issue raised in the EIR was traffic trying to exit onto Shoreline to make a left turn. There are a couple of options. One is to put in that left turn lane and the other to make it an all way stop. Chair Knox White stated that the main pedestrian path is along Whitehall Street, adjacent to the proposed Target. He recommended that the sidewalks be extra wide, and commented that currently pedestrians are required to cross many driveways. Chair Knox White applied the seven TC-approved guidelines for reviewing EIRs to this project: 1. Not widening roadways in response to new development. That mitigation needs to come from somewhere else than pumping more traffic through the city. 2. Widening of intersections. - not an issue for this project 3. Speed limits should be 25 mph. - not an issue for this project. 4. The effects of bike, pedestrian and transit environment outside of the project site itself has not been analyzed in a meaningful way. 5. EIRs would not proposed mitigation significantly degrade the pedestrian and bike environment - he stated that the three proposed mitigations don't. 6. New stop signs do not qualify as TDM. He suggested Trader Joes needs a stoplight because it there are major pedestrian bicycling issue getting into the center from Otis from that intersection. 7. This would require additional analysis. Commissioner Knoth expressed concern that Whitehall Place is the major entry to the parking garage to Target, and must accommodate a bus route, vehicle traffic, a bike lane and the main pedestrian path. He also stated that there is a ten-foot bike path connects here as well. He asked if a 15-foot bicycle and pedestrian path could be installed at the Office Max driveway to divert people off Whitehall. Staff Garrison responded that this could be looked at, but there are feasibility concerns due to proximity to Office Max and the required realignment of the existing traffic signal. Also, there are neighboring properties with different owners that could impact this. Commissioner Knoth said that the parking lots at Safeway and Trader Joes are difficult to walk through. He asked if more frequent walkways through the parking lot could be added, although this may require a reduction in parking. Commissioner Krueger suggested improving the pedestrian and access at the expense of slightly reducing parking or creating more spaces in a parking structure. He recommended some type of sidewalk on both sides of all internal roadways. He asked if raised sidewalks could be used instead of speed bumps to enhance pedestrian access and slow traffic, as in the Wind River parking lot. Chair Knox White suggested that the TC provide guidance to the Planning Board and possibly ask staff to put together some suggested methodologies regarding reducing the amount of Transportation Commission Page 6 of 12 9/27/06 Meeting Minutes | TransportationCommission/2006-09-27.pdf |