San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Moving the City

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AGENDA

PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Rescheduled Meeting Notice

Date: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Location: Room 250, City Hall

Commissioners: Dufty (Chair), Peskin (Vice-Chair), Alioto-Pier, Daly, Maxwell, and McGoldrick (Ex-Officio)

CLERK: Pooja Jhunjhunwala

1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes of the September 13, 2005 Meeting – ACTION* (attachment 1)

3. Citizens Advisory Committee Report – INFORMATION* (attachment 2)

4. Recommend the Replacement of Three Members to the Geary BRT Study CAC, the Addition of Two to Four Permanent Seats on the GCAC, and the Elimination of the Alternate Seats – ACTION* (attachment 3)

In September 2003, the Authority Board approved the Geary BRT Study Citizens Advisory Committee structure, comprised of 11 members and 5 alternates, in Resolution 04-24. Subsequently, the Authority Board appointed an additional 4 members in Resolution 04-50, bringing the total membership to 15 members and 5 alternates. In June 2005, the Authority Board appointed 2 new members and 3 new alternates to replace 3 members who had resigned due to scheduling constraints (Resolution 05-64). Since June, 2 additional members and 2 alternates have resigned; the GCAC currently consists of 12 members and 4 alternates. Both members and alternates have participated actively in GCAC meetings; attaining quorum has not been a problem. Therefore, we recommend that the Board eliminate the alternate seats on the GCAC and add 2 to 4 permanent seats. Staff publicized a call for new members interested in serving on the GCAC in September 2005. As of the September 30 deadline, we received 5 new applications. In addition, we are resubmitting 49 previous applications, including 4 applications from current alternates. The Plans and Programs Committee will recommend GCAC member appointments at its October 25 meeting, to be confirmed by the Authority Board at its October 25 meeting. The recommendation is to replace three members, to add two to four permanent seats on the GCAC and to eliminate the alternate seats.

5. Recommend Allocation of $160,000 in Prop K Funds with Conditions to the Department of Parking and Traffic for the Pedestrian Master Plan, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, with a Commitment to Allocate $160,000 in Prop K Funds in Fiscal Year FY 2006/07 to Fully Fund Plan Development – ACTION* (attachment 4)

DPT has developed a proposed scope and initiated preliminary work on the City's first Pedestrian Master Plan (PMP). The PMP will provide a comprehensive framework for improving pedestrian safety, mobility, and walkability. This, in turn, should improve air quality, the efficiency of the overall transportation system, the health of citizens, the vitality of the city's streetscapes, and the attractiveness of San Francisco as an international destination. The PMP will be a unifying pedestrian reference document that pulls together key existing policies and programs, demonstrates ongoing progress, and prioritizes potential improvements. The scope, outline, and approach have been drafted, with public and agency input, through the proposed scope still provides opportunities for further refinement. Plan development will primarily be the responsibility of MTA/DPT planning staff, under the general direction of a steering committee containing representatives from relevant agencies and key stakeholder groups. The Planning Department will have a special role in shaping and obtaining approval for the PMP, given the obvious linkages to the City's General Plan. Specialized tasks will be done by various City agencies, and specialized consultants will be hired for public outreach, document production and review, and best practices advice. The total budget is $510,000, which includes $320,000 in Prop K funds, $100,000 from the Mayor's Office on Disability related to coordination with the City's ADA Transition Plan, and $90,000 in other MTA funds. We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $160,000 in Prop K funds with conditions to DPT for the Pedestrian Master Plan, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule , with a commitment to allocate $160,000 in Prop K funds in Fiscal Year 2006/07 to fully fund plan development.

6. Recommend Allocation of $153,670 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, to the Department of Parking and Traffic to Construct Curb Bulbs at the Intersections of 14 th and Market Streets and 18 th and Mission Streets, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule – ACTION* (attachment 5)

Curb bulbs are designed to decrease crossing distances, enhance pedestrian visibility, reduce vehicular speed, make it easier to provide ADA curb ramps to standard, and discourage drivers from parking vehicles in or near crosswalks. Through approval of Resolution 04-70, the Authority allocated $53,000 to DPT to plan and design corner curb bulbs at four intersections on PedSafe corridors, which are identified as among the highest pedestrian-injury areas in San Francisco . With design essentially completed, DPT is requesting $153,670 in Prop K funds to construct one corner bulb on the northeast corner of 14 th and Market Street and two corner bulbs on the northwest and southeast corners of Mission and 18 th Streets. Both requests are time sensitive in nature due to DPT's desire to coordinate them with other projects. We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $153,670 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to DPT to construct curb bulbs at the intersections of 14th and Market Streets and 18th and Mission Streets, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule .

7 Recommend Allocation of $2,455,500 in Prop K Funds to the Department of Parking and Traffic to Upgrade Traffic Signals on Mission Street from 14 th Street to 26 th Street, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule – ACTION * (attachment 6)

In fiscal year 2003/04, the Authority allocated $342,000 in sales tax funds to DPT to design traffic signal upgrades on Mission Street between 14 th Street and 26 th Streets. Design is nearly complete; consequently, DPT is requesting $2,455,500 in Prop K funds to upgrade traffic signals at 13 intersections on Mission Street . The project includes mast arm mounted traffic signals to provide better signal visibility; pedestrian signals with countdown features; new curb ramps; 2070 signal controller assemblies, which support SFgo; and new electrical service. In addition, the project includes two pedestrian corner bulbouts at 18 th and Mission Streets. DPT has requested Prop K funding for the bulbouts from the Pedestrian Circulation and Safety category, which will be considered under a separate agenda item at the October 25 Plans and Programs Committee meeting. We are seeking a recommendation for the a llocation of $2,455,500 in Prop K Funds to DPT to upgrade traffic signals on Mission Street from 14 th Street to 26 th Street , subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution schedule.

8. Recommend Allocation of $368,000 in Prop K Funds, with conditions, to the Department of Parking and Traffic to Implement the Traffic Sign Graffiti Program, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule – ACTION * (attachment 7)

DPT currently maintains approximately 217,000 traffic signs citywide. In November 2004, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance requiring DPT to replace all existing parking and traffic control signs defaced by graffiti with new signs treated with graffiti-resistant sheeting. The ordinance also requires that all new parking and traffic control signs be treated with graffiti-resistant sheeting. DPT is requesting $368,000 in Prop K funds to implement the Traffic Sign Graffiti Program. The requested funds will allow DPT to replace approximately 3,600 signs with graffiti-resistant signs and to raise about 1,200 existing signs currently lower than seven feet to a height of seven feet as a means of deterring vandalism. Initial work will be focused in the Mission (District 9) and Haight/Ashbury (District 5) neighborhoods, where DPT has identified the greatest need. We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $368,000 in Prop K Funds, with conditions, to DPT to implement the Traffic Sign Graffiti Program, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule.

9. Recommend Allocation of $130,000 in Prop K Funds to BART for the BART-MUNI Direct Platform Connection at Civic Center Station Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule – ACTION * (attachment 8)

The Embarcadero and Civic Center BART/MUNI Metro stations are the first/last points where the systems meet in downtown San Francisco and account for nearly all of the two systems' inter-transit transfers. In order to transfer from one operator to the other, patrons currently are required to ascend one to two levels to the concourse level, proceed through two sets of faregates, and then descend again to access BART or MUNI. This system of transferring between BART and MUNI Metro hinders inter-transit transfers at these locally and regionally significant transit transfer points. The BART/MUNI Metro Direct Platform Connection project facilitates multi-modal transit travel within San Francisco and for transbay trips by providing a direct connection from BART platforms on the lower level to MUNI Metro platforms on the mid-level without requiring passengers to ascend to the concourse level. This was identified as one of the early action projects in the Prop K Expenditure Plan. The current request is for purchase of one accessible fare gate and design of a demonstration project at Civic Center Station to improve the cross platform transfer via the elevator. BART will seek funds later this year for a companion demonstration project that will support the cross platform transfer via the stairways . We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $130,000 in Prop K funds to BART for the BART-MUNI Direct Platform Connection at Civic Center Station project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule .

10. Recommend Approval of the Final Draft Northeast Waterfront SAR – ACTION* (attachment 9)

San Francisco 's Northeast Waterfront has been experiencing significant changes, including the transformation that came with the demolition of the Embarcadero Freeway and subsequent major improvements in transit, bicycling, pedestrian safety and urban design. These investments benefit the overall livability and economic vitality of the area. The new open space and attractive facilities also create demand for new development, including a number of waterfront and area projects that are proposed by the Port and other project sponsors. This SAR examines the likely transportation effects of five proposed development projects on the future performance of the multimodal network in the section of the waterfront between Fort Mason and Market Street. The report analyzes existing and future conditions and finds that additional transit capacity, traffic management and mitigation, and area-wide parking management programs are needed to support anticipated future development on the waterfront. The study identifies recommendations and next steps for consideration by community stakeholders, planners and decision-makers . We are seeking a recommendation for the approval of the final draft Northeast Waterfront SAR.

11. Status Report on the Third Street Light Rail Project – INFORMATION* (attachment 10)

This is a status report on the Third Street Light Rail Project. Construction activities are currently focused on segments A, C, and J. As of August 31, 2005, the project has spent approximately 67.9% of the total budget, including soft costs. With construction 61% complete, various contracts are approaching completion. Although most contracts are currently within budget, and scheduled to be completed in time to support the start of revenue service in June 2006, there are issues with Segments A, C, and J. Segment A, the Fourth Street Bridge, which had until recently been on the critical path of the project, has made significant progress in recent weeks and now appears on target to complete in December 2005, as scheduled. Segments C and J continue to experience delays and, according to the contractors' schedule updates, they are going to complete after Segment A, placing them on the critical path. MUNI is working with the contractors to ensure that revenue service is not delayed. Segments C and J also have the potential to go over budget. The contractor for the MME has mobilized and is proceeding in earnest trying to make as much progress as possible before the rainy season begins. Efforts continue to address environmental concerns along Third Street ; during the month of August 22 air samples were taken, all of them within acceptable limits. MUNI stopped air monitoring at the end of May on all segments except Segment C, because the type of work being performed no longer warrants it. This is an information item.

12. Introduction of New Items – INFORMATION

13. Public Comment

14. Adjournment

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