pages: TransportationCommission/2012-11-28.pdf, 9
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TransportationCommission | 2012-11-28 | 9 | Warren Vegas replied that there is some concern for reduced parking, but the only concern brought up by the traffic team was that it allowed kids crossing at Versailles Avenue to be more visible to motorists. Gayle Ewe, Marina Drive resident, supported the project as proposed. She walked her children to Edison Elementary School for 11 years and was almost hit by a truck as they entered the crosswalk. She believed that the entire proposal would increase safety and visibility of pedestrians by motorists. Dorothy Owens, Versailles Avenue resident, explained that her area contains a lot of cars parked all the time. At one point, she asked the employees of the insurance company nearby to park on the other side of Versailles Avenue or Fernside Boulevard, close to the empty lot. In the future, she believed that as development increased, so would the demand for parking. She wondered if the new beacon could go on the insurance company side to keep the parking space. Jim Strehlow, Gibbons Drive resident, explained that when he gets off at Gibbons Drive and eventually onto Fernside Boulevard going north he really enjoyed the double dashed center merged lanes that are along Fernside Boulevard whether in the car or the bicycle. While cycling on Harvard Drive or Fremont Drive, he has the opportunity to turn safely into the center lane because he could see traffic each way. He heard mention of medians, but he really liked the buffer area on Fernside Boulevard as a bicyclist or motorist. Regarding the Fernside presentation, there is a solid white line separation on Fernside Boulevard - when coming from Tilden Way onto Fernside Boulevard near Pearl Street - he wished it were a dashed line. Jon Spangler supported the project and he is familiar with this neighborhood. He has been on buses that seem to go well over 25 mph heading towards the Fruitvale BART station and he has driven and cycled in the area. He wanted the area to mimic the other part of Fernside Boulevard along the Estuary towards Doolittle Drive. He questioned whether the striping in Phase II and III could be combined or could jump to Phase III to save some money on the project. Commissioner Wong wanted to know if the Rapid Fire Beacon would be active all day and whether pedestrian pavement signals could be placed at this location similar to Encinal Avenue near Franklin School. Staff Naclerio replied that In-Pavement Crosswalk Lights are not as effective as the Rapid Fire Beacons at having motorists yield to pedestrians. He noted that 80 percent of motorists yield to Rapid Fire Beacons, which catch their attention and are activated by pedestrian push button. Commissioner Schatmeier stated that a pedestrian button activates the beacon. He felt it may cause motorists to only look for the light and not the pedestrian who crosses without having activated the light. Staff Naclerio replied that he does not have the statistics to that statement, but the intention is to train pedestrians and especially school children to press the push button to activate the light. Commissioner Wong stated that pedestrians step on a pad at Washington Park to activate the Page 9 of 15 | TransportationCommission/2012-11-28.pdf |