pages: TransportationCommission/2012-11-28.pdf, 3
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TransportationCommission | 2012-11-28 | 3 | 5. New Business 5A. Shore Line Drive/Westline Drive Proposed Bikeway Project Staff Payne presented the staff report. Commissioner Vargas opened the floor to public comment. David Duffin, 30-year Alameda resident, felt City staff did an incredible job to develop the project. Although the overall impact certainly satisfies a need for more bicycle access, there are thousands of people in the area who have no idea about this project. He has spoken to many people in the area and they have no idea about the project's concept. Alternatively, he proposed that the City leave the area as is or double the pedestrian path within the area to take bicycles off the road and put them within a safe space. Carol Gottstein grew up near Shore Line Drive and she felt the comparisons presented in the study are invalid because they compare Alameda to large cities such as San Francisco, Long Beach and Seattle. She felt the project would not work on a narrow and short street and she felt the new infrastructure would create an enormous amount of clutter and future dependency and funds to maintain. Jeanne Lahaie, member of Team Alameda and Bike Alameda, spoke before the Commission independently. She went to three of the meetings and applauded staff Payne and her team for their thorough outreach. She lives at Broadway and Shoreline Drive and brought a few outcomes from the breakout sessions. First, there are no curb ramps on the sidewalks from the crosswalks. So, it is difficult for individuals with disabilities residing around the area to travel safely. Furthermore, she would like to see the bikeway extended to Washington Park. She mentioned the City adopted that idea under the long-term plan and with community support and volunteers the start up costs should be small. She highlighted that bicyclists become confused about where to go at the corner of Broadway and Shore Line Drive, and signs should be posted to address it. She is in favor of the plan, but she would like to see two motor vehicle travel lanes so as not to create more congestion. Bruce Kibby, resident of Santa Clara Avenue, believed the process and project design was great and he supported the project wholeheartedly. He knew that many people had input on the Shore Line Drive bikeway. He urged the Commission to review the priorities of the proposed project that show the proposed bikeway meets them such as improves resident access to apartment/condos, reduced conflicts on path, improves safety and maintains bay views. Randy Rentschler, 20-year resident of Alameda, works in the field of transportation for 20 years. He felt City staff worked hard on the project to create an effective plan, which he fully supported. He pointed out that new Bay Area communities such as Danville have installed bikeways on many of their streets. Currently, new collector streets only would be built with a bikeway. The Commission and the community should support this project and similar actions on other streets in the future. Page 3 of 15 | TransportationCommission/2012-11-28.pdf |