pages: TransportationCommission/2014-03-26.pdf, 6
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TransportationCommission | 2014-03-26 | 6 | Page 6 of 12 David Burton of the Planning Board spoke before the Commission as a local resident and architect. He thanked staff for the public process, but was not completely happy with the design. The Buena Vista Avenue intersection is an improvement and created pedestrian access. The biggest concern is at the Lincoln Avenue and Tilden Way intersection. Although it is a modest improvement, the design does not go far enough to create a pedestrian friendly environment. The Planning Board rezoned the area north of Lincoln Avenue with the intent to revitalize the area and make it a pedestrian friendly environment. The intersection was crucial to making a successful bridge with the southern stretch of Park Street and the northern stretch. The alternatives studied were much more favorable because they narrowed the intersections and slowed traffic. Moreover, he referred to the General Plan, which states that biking and transit have priority over vehicles and this design ignores the directive. He encouraged the Commission to approve a plan that is consistent with the General Plan and that this intersection needs further development. Commissioner Vargas asked David Burton which area he wanted to narrow. David Burton replied all four sides of the intersection specifically travelling along the Park Street direction because it is not a comfortable environment for pedestrians. Lucy Gigli, President of BikeWalk Alameda, thanked staff for working diligently on the project and organizing the outreach meetings. The proposal indicated that it would be the final part of the Park Street Streetscape Plan, which confused her because she thought they would continue to improve the streetscape north of Lincoln Boulevard. The changes at Buena Vista Avenue and Pacific Avenue are good because the intersection reduced the crossing distances. She is disappointed with the north end of Lincoln Avenue because of the lack of improvements. She also explained that the Walgreens and the Marketplace area will have a new parking lot and that parking lot should be shared by all modes of travel. The Mayor recently stated that the City needs to make bold and daring decisions, which is not shown here with the Lincoln Avenue/Park Street proposal. Audrey Lord-Hausman, pedestrian advocate and member of the Commission on Disability Issues, said overall there are a lot of good concepts in the project. She also felt the Walgreens and Marketplace parking lot works well for those who need to make multiple trips to different stores in the area. She has been working with Staff Patel on placing the light signal push buttons in an accessible place for elderly and disabled pedestrians on Webster Street, which also is needed here on Park Street. Additionally, she suggested having upright flashing lights placed at the pedestrian crossings for motorists to see pedestrians and not the recommended in-pavement lights as recommended at Park Street/Pacific Avenue. Commissioner Miley asked staff about the funding source and time constraints for the funds. Staff Patel replied that the funding was part of the transportation, community, safety and preservation funds. He also explained that staff started the process in 2012 and when staff received the funding for the preliminary engineering they have two years to complete the project. Page 6 of 12 | TransportationCommission/2014-03-26.pdf |