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18650 | Staff Wheeler replied the surfaces of the sidewalk and the protected bike lane would be different (concrete and asphalt, respectively), but they would be at the same grade without a vertical separation. She also noted that there would be striping along the protected bike lane, so pedestrians and bicyclists could visually see the difference. Commissioner Vargas asked Staff Wheeler about the vast difference between the mid-block crossing cost that was estimated a year ago and the cost estimated now. Staff Wheeler explained that, last year, the project without the mid-block crossing was estimated at $200,000 to $400,000. She said the project's current cost, based on a more detailed design, is approximately $1 million and the mid-block crossing would cost approximately $150,000. Commissioner Bertken asked Staff Wheeler about the left turn movement on Constitution Way heading south, to eastbound Atlantic Avenue. He said there is a two-lane left turn pocket and the design concept appears to show an elimination of one of the two lanes on Atlantic Avenue. The result of widening the curb at Atlantic Avenue, which took out a traffic lane, would create a two- lane turn pocket that merges into one lane. Staff Wheeler replied staff would look into this further. Commissioner Bertken said he travels that way often and if he has to merge in the middle of the intersection that will be difficult. He also asked Staff Wheeler if a sign would be installed at the corner to alert cars to give way to bicyclists traveling behind them. However, he explained the underlying issue would be that motorists do not see bicyclists because they are moving behind them. So, he wondered if staff could address that by alerting bicyclists that cars are turning at this southwest corner of Constitution and Atlantic. Staff Wheeler said she could include these ideas in the design concept. Commissioner Bellows opened the floor to public comment. Jim Strehlow stated that the Commission spoke about the Cross Alameda Trail design two years ago. He said he argued against that design because it did not include the bus stop. He said the Commission approved that design and he was not quite sure how that was going to work out. He pointed out that he was relatively happy with the current design with one exception. He felt bicyclists would not need separated bicycle lanes. He stated that many bicyclists ride on the sidewalks without protected bicycle lanes, sharing the space with pedestrians along Webster by the College of Alameda. He stated that he did not understand why bicycle lanes were needed on this one block of Atlantic Avenue, especially when he only sees one bicyclist and maybe five or six pedestrians every half hour. He said the design on this one segment does not warrant taking away a traffic lane from Atlantic Avenue, especially a right-hand turn lane. He said as the cars move from two lanes into one lane, the staff report indicated that motorists would incur 1 to 7.5 seconds of delay at the intersection. However, he believed that was wrong and there will be over 2 minutes of delay because cars that want to make a right-hand turn onto Constitution Way would be prevented Page 3 of 14 |