by Tracy | Jun 17, 2014 | Bike lanes, CIP, City Council, Trails
Tonight, the Mountain View City Council adopted the FY2014-15 Budget and Capital Improvement Program. In addition to the projects underway, the budget includes several projects aimed at improving the bicycle and pedestrian experience. Great Streets Mountain View met with City staff and City Councilmembers and, spoke at City Council, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Environmental Planning Commission meetings to push for bike and pedestrian projects. Thanks to all of you who also spoke or emailed and lent your support! Please see the list of projects funded for the coming year.
Mobility Coordinator Position
Funding: $150,000
Provides funding for a new Mobility Coordinator position. This is intended to be a two-year, limited-term position to focus on furthering the Council goal of Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility. This new position would provide expertise in developing policies, guidelines, and projects; support the B/PAC; and provide input on private development projects. It will also free up some staff resources in Traffic Engineering and Transportation to focus on other priorities.
Associate Civil Engineer—Traffic
Funding: $110,500
Provides funding for an Associate Civil Engineer position to support the increased workload in the Traffic Section due to the high levels of private development activity.
Permanente Creek Trail, Rock Street to West Middlefield Road, Design
Funding: $370,000
Extension of the Permanente Creek Trail from its terminus at Rock Street to West Middlefield Road.
Permanente Creek Trail Extension – West Middlefield Rd to McKelvey Park, Feasibility Study
Funding: $55,000
Feasibility study to extend the Permanente Creek Trail from West Middlefield Road to McKelvey Park.
Permanente Creek Trail – Amphitheatre Parkway Crossing, Construction
Funding: $1,265,000
Construct improvements to the existing Trail under-crossing at Amphitheatre Parkway.
Modifications to Grant/Phyllis/Martens Intersection
Funding: $897,000
Pedestrian improvements including shortened pedestrian crossing distances, elimination of free right-turn lanes to reduce vehicle speeds, and replacement of an aging traffic signal with a new signal with a dedicated left-turn movement.
Shoreline Boulevard Pathway (Villa St to Wright Ave), Design
Funding: $280,000
Design of pathway and connection improvements for bicycles and pedestrians along Shoreline Boulevard between Villa Street and Wright Avenue.
Green Bike Lane Pilot Project
Funding: $65,000
This pilot project will improve bike safety through the application of green paint to bike lanes in select areas to be determined.
Dana Street Reconstruction
Funding: $374,000
Additional funding for the existing West Dana Street reconstruction project to provide a safe pedestrian route to Mariposa Park from the adjacent neighborhood. Additional outside design services are required.
Additional projects to be undertaken by the Mountain View City Staff
- Feasibility study for safer bike lanes on Shoreline Blvd from El Camino Real to Wright Ave with the possibility of reducing lanes from six to four to improve the bicyclist and pedestrian experience
- Feasibility study of an east-west trail with the first option to be studied being the Caltrain Corridor
- Study greater access to bulk transit passes for residents
- Study a city-wide community shuttle
- Library Bike Stop, including a bike fix-it service station
by Tracy | Apr 4, 2014 | Bicycle Transportation Plan, California Street, Castro Street, CIP, Escuela Avenue, Shoreline Boulevard
This week we met with Jacqueline Solomon, Mountain View’s Deputy Public Works Director, and got an update on the bicycle and pedestrian related projects that were approved in the 2013-2014 Capital Improvement Program. To keep up with the progress on these projects as well as future projects, please sign-up for the GSMV Newsletter or Like our Facebook Page.
California Street / Escuela Avenue Study
Funding: $250,000
The study of California Street and Escuela Avenue will focus on improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian environment across and along California Street, including elimination or narrowing of vehicle lanes, increased areas for bicyclists, curb bulbs to reduce crossing width for pedestrians, and improved lighting and signage. The City is in the process of selecting a consultant for the project and they expect the study to begin in June and will span 12-18 months. They plan to conduct community meetings to gather input.
Shoreline Boulevard Crosswalk Improvements
Funding: $150,000
The City plans to install flashing beacon lights on South Shoreline at High School Way, Mercy Street, and Dana Street. Plans will be presented to the City Council for review on May 20th.
Downtown Bike Racks
Funding: $50,000
The City has sent the project out for bids and is expecting the bike racks to be installed in May or June. GSMV’s Wendee Crofoot has been the driving force on this project and we’re expecting her to make great use of these when they appear.
Castro Street Modifications by Graham Middle School
Funding: $950,000
The modification to Castro Street will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety by reducing vehicle lanes from two to one in each direction, add bicycle lanes, install curb bulb-outs at intersections, add high-visibility crosswalks with in-roadway warning lights at two crosswalks, and eliminate the free right turn from Castro Street to Miramonte Avenue. This project was funded in part by a $840,000 grant from VERBS (Vehicle Emissions Reductions By Schools). The City will be planning a community meeting in the summer or fall to get feedback on the plans and will seek approval from the City Council later this year. If approved, the City expects to build the project in the summer of 2015.
Bicycle Transportation Plan
Funding: $200,000
The Bicycle Transportation Plan will set forth a coordinated plan for bicycle transportation in Mountain View (including existence and location of bike boulevards, protected or buffered bike lanes, and green bike lanes). The planning process kicked off last week and it is being headed up by Linda Forsberg, Transportation and Business Manager. The City will have a website to invite online feedback and will be conducting several community meetings.
by wendeeswonderings | Oct 14, 2013 | Council Meeting, El Camino Real
It may be hard to imagine El Camino Real as a Great Street, but the City of Mountain View has begun work on a focused plan for El Camino Real to address housing, land use, mobility, and design options. Known as a “precise plan,” city officials and council will work over the next twelve months to identify opportunities and refine alternatives for the future of El Camino.
One of the first public meetings is a city council study session on Tuesday, October 15 at 6PM at City Hall, where high level strategies will be discussed to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and access both on El Camino and from the surrounding neighborhoods. No decisions are made at Study Sessions but public input is taken and considered by City Council.
The plan area encompasses 222 acres and runs the entire 3.9-mile length of the El Camino Real corridor in Mountain View. The plan area includes the majority of parcels fronting El Camino Real plus additional parcels adjacent to the corridor.
El Camino Real is currently outside the boundaries of the Great Streets focus area, but the El Camino Real Precise Plan is an opportunity to build on the pedestrian, bike, and people-friendly streets central to the Great Streets vision and we’re interested in taking a closer look at some of the opportunities for the corridor, especially for biking. We’ve identified some of the issues below, but would love to hear your ideas in the comments and hope you share them with city council.
BIKING
The recently adopted city-wide planning blueprint, known as the General Plan, envisions El Camino Real as a “vibrant transit and pedestrian corridor” and bicycling is deemphasized since the street has heavy, fast-moving traffic, with many trucks. Only the fearless confidently pedal El Camino Real, but others ride the sidewalks since there’s often no other route, which endangers pedestrians and complicates bike trips. However, with new development slated for El Camino, and numerous existing retail destinations, strong bike access could play an important role on the street. Alternatively, parallel neighborhood streets such as Latham/Church could prioritize bicycling, but some destinations on El Camino would still be difficult to reach.
WALKING
While bicycle improvements are debated, the need for better pedestrian access is undisputed. Pedestrian crossings on El Camino are few and far between, with a half mile between some crossings. Crosswalks can feel dangerous with drivers not stopping for pedestrians and the walk sign set for only the healthiest and fastest walkers. Additionally, sidewalks are narrow, with poor lighting and the concrete is marred by years of neglect. The Precise Plan will set standards that increase the sidewalk width, but there may be additional elements to improve pedestrian safety and access.
TRANSIT
“Improved transit performance,” was identified by the city as a key goal for El Camino, but with the numerous barriers to biking and walking on El Camino Real complicates transit use before you even reach the bus stop. While larger projects such as VTA’s Bus Rapid Transit Project will be debated in the future, transit use in general will be suppressed without safe, direct, and attractive walking and biking routes to transit.
Let’s discuss what bicycle and pedestrian improvements could make El Camino a Great Street. Leave a comment below or send a note to council! You can also get in touch with lead city officials for this project here.
by jarkatmu | Jul 3, 2013 | California Street, City Council, Council Meeting, Escuela Avenue
On Tuesday, June 18, City Council formally approved the 2013-2014 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list including $250,000 for the California Street and Escuela Avenue study!
Green light for bicycle and pedestrian friendly streets! Image: Flickr user The Scooter Guy.
The CIP is funded as a part of the FY 2013-14 budget and the decision on May 21 maintained the proposed bicycle and pedestrian CIP projects.
With the hard work of the Great Streets Rengstoff Park neighborhood coalition, including letters and emails sent to council, and seventeen people attending the CIP study Session May 21st, we have taken one step closer to neighborhood streets that are great places and safe for everyone.
We want to especially thank city council and city staff for their work to bring these ideas to the table. By prioritizing investment in safer, more beautiful streets, we all benefit from an asset that touches every person who lives, works, or travels in our city.
We are researching next steps for the California Street and Escuela Avenue study with city staff. We do know there will be many opportunities for public input, so start thinking about what you, your family, and neighbors might like to see on a livable California Street.
The asphalt canvas is yours. What would you like to see? More street trees? wider sidewalks? protected bike lanes? Let us know in the comments and for the latest information don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.
by jarkatmu | May 30, 2013 | California Street, Council Meeting, Escuela Avenue, Esculea Avenue
Good news! At the May 21 City Council Meeting, nearly twenty people spoke in support of the many bicycle and pedestrian safety and livability projects proposed for the city’s Capital Improvement Program. Council elected to move all projects forward as proposed, including the California Street and Escuela Avenue study.
If you were able to attend the meeting or write a letter to council prior to the meeting, thank you! It’s important that our elected officials hear the policies changes that people want to see in their neighborhood. Without your support, the progress we’ve achieved thus far would not have been possible. Thank you.
If you were you here last week or you wrote a letter, thank you!
Council will make the final funding decision on the Capital Improvement Program on June 18th as part of a larger budget package. Due in large part to the feedback at last week’s meeting, we believe the projects will move forward as proposed. If you missed the meeting or weren’t able to send an e-mail, there is still time! Let council know that you support safe, beautiful, and livable streets here.
Once Council votes “yes” on the funding package on June 18, Expect a several month gap between funding and the study kick-off, but once a city planning consultant is selected, prepare for a series of interactive workshops. You can build the type of street you want to see with technical assistance from designers and planners– know of a place where you always wanted a tree or a crosswalk safe enough for your family? This is the place to do it! Unlike the council meetings, these events are informal and can even be really fun! Unleash your creativity.
Ideally, workshops are interactive and organized ways to provide input. We may even see Legos, like at this planning workshop in San Luis Obispo! Source: Robert E. Kennedy Library
When the study concludes, the planners will create and present alternatives. Council will ultimately pick an alternative, but your voices can dramatically affect which option is chosen. Obtaining funding and constructing the project is the final step, but California and Escuela are well positioned to receive funding since both streets connect schools, housing, and services.
The entire California/Escuela study process may take two years. Two years may seem like a long time, but keep in mind many roads remain unchanged for decades, just like California Street and Escuela Avenue which were built in the 1950’s. In the context of the city and change, two years is a short wait for great, safe streets that will endure for future generations.
While the combined study and construction are several years out at best we will be watching and will continue to need your support to ensure that our call for safer more beautiful streets for all residents of Mountain View, from the eight year old on her way to school to her 80 year old grandmother, is heard.
by jarkatmu | May 20, 2013 | California Street, City Council, Council Meeting, Escuela Avenue, Events
On Tuesday, May 21 at 5PM, Mountain View City Council will discuss the future of street safety in Mountain View. If you’ve ever travelled down a street in the Rengstorff Park area of Mountain View and thought that it could be more beautiful, livable, and safer, Tuesday evening is your opportunity to take action and make a difference!
Opportunity beckons .
Come to City Hall at 500 Castro Street at 5PM. The meeting will be in the council chambers which are on the second floor of City Hall- it’s well marked, you can’t miss it. Council will be discussing the Capital Improvement Program and a number of projects are included in the staff report that will improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, including the California Street and Escuela Avenue study which will analyze beautification and safety improvement measures on both streets.
After discussion, the floor is open for public comment! Now’s the time to speak for safer streets. Please tell council that you support the street safety and beautification projects in the Capital Improvement Program and particularly support the California Street and Escuela Avenue Study with the road diet alternative.
We believe the road diet alternative is one of the best potential interventions for reducing crashes and making the street more livable while not seriously impacting drivers. If you would like more information on the road diet, please read our earlier post here.
Hope to see you there! Bring a friend! Once again, the date is this Tuesday, May 21 at 5PM at City Hall, 500 Castro Street. The Capital Improvement Program is the first item on the agenda, so discussion shouldn’t go past 6:30PM. If you can’t make it, please send the Council an e-mail expressing support.
by jarkatmu | May 5, 2013 | California Street, City Council, Council Meeting, Escuela Avenue, Events
The time has come! On Tuesday, May 21 at City Hall, Council will be voting on funding for improving safety on two streets in the Rengstorff Park area and we need you to be there!
Like safer streets? This is the place to be on the evening of Tuesday May 21!
That evening, City Council will be voting on a number of projects as part of the Capital Improvement Program List. This list is only chosen every two years and typically includes projects that are over $50,000 and are upgrades of city infrastructure. Included are a handful of projects that will elevate street safety in the Rengstorff Park neighborhood and other parts of the city. Together with projects such as the Castro Street road diet, Council will be considering a project labeled as the California Street/Escuela Avenue Improvement Study.
This study is the first step towards a safer, more beautiful California Street and Escuela Avenue– and the first step towards great streets in the Rengstorff Park neighborhood! Here’s the project description– it reflects a lot of the ideas put forth by Great Streets Rengstorff Park.
California Street/Escuela Avenue Improvement Study: This project would study options to improve the bicycling and pedestrian environment along and across California Street. Improvements would be explored with and without reducing a travel lane in each direction. Examples of possible improvements include elimination or narrowing of vehicle lanes, increased area for bicyclists, curb bulbs to reduce crossing width for pedestrians, and improved lighting and signage. An analysis of the traffic impacts associated with lane reduction (road diet) will be included. The study would also consider pedestrian and bicycle activity to facilities on Escuela Avenue (e.g., Castro Elementary School, Senior Center, Teen Center).
City Council have made street safety efforts a high priority as part of their 2013 goal-setting initiative but, we must demonstrate that there’s strong support from those who live near and use these streets everyday.
Please join us on May 21 and voice support for the California Street/Escuela Avenue Improvement Study. Specifically, show support for analyzing the California Street road diet as part of the study. We’re confident that it can work, and would welcome the more detailed analysis that comes with the traffic study, but Council could choose to eliminate it from the study during the May 21 meeting.
The road diet has the strongest potential to reduce crashes and make the street a more inviting place, and we hope that you will join us in voicing support for the study and the road diet.
The date and time once again– Tuesday, May 21; Approximately 5:30PM; 500 Castro Street, Downtown Mountain View
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If you can’t make the meeting, please send council an e-mail expressing support for the California Street/Escuela Avenue study, including the California Street road diet alternative.
As always, sign up for our Newsletter for the latest information.
by jarkatmu | Mar 16, 2013 | California Street, City Council, Events, Press
We hope you joined us on March 2nd for GSRP’s first ever bike tour of our area! More than 40 community members attended including councilmembers Ronit Bryant and Margaret Abe-Koga, Environmental Planning Commissioner Margaret Capriles, and Community Development Director Randy Tsuda. I could tell you all about it but we received three write-ups in local papers. Check out the articles and take a gander at the tour brochure to get a sense of the ride if you could not join us. If you did join us, you might want to read articles from the Mountain View Voice and the San Jose Mercury News to see if you are in the pictures or mentioned in the articles.
Special thanks to the speakers who shared their experiences on the tour: Valeria Craven, Howie and Dana Meyerson, John and Karen Farrell from Bumble Bee Health Foods, Elena Pacheco, Ariel T. Mendez, Thida Cornes, and Jack Miller. We would also like to thank Google for providing loaner bikes and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition for providing liability insurance. Safe Moves was also in attendance to share information on the city’s bike education program at schools!
Tour attendes listen to Valeria Craven, left, as she describes the danger crossing the Escuela and California Intersection. Photo By Daniel DeBolt, Mountain View Voice.
At meetings on the Tuesday and Wednesday following the tour, Councilmembers and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee discussed funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects in the context of the crucial Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list.
CIP projects are items that City Council deems important to the City of Mountain View and are prioritized annually. The projects cost over $50,000 and cover needs such as improved Fire Department Communication systems and upgraded methane release valves in North Bayshore to street safety projects such as the potential road diet for California Street and bike lanes on Escuela Avenue.
During the Council meetings, elected officials and members of the public spoke strongly in support of projects that improve safety and livability, some even cited the bike tour and newspaper articles. Ultimately, California Street and Escuela Avenue made it into the CIP list! The city will examine a range of alternatives to improve the safety and aesthetics of both streets and the Great Streets Rengstorff Park road diet proposal for California Street will likely be in the mix.
Councilmembers also spoke strongly in favor of allocating funding for immediate short-term improvements such as new striping and improved lighting.
The CIP list must still go through a final round of Council review in May, but we’re over the first hurdle and are ecstatic with Council’s enthusiasm for crafting safer, more livable streets in the Rengstoff Park area along with other parts of the city.
We will need your help leading up to the critical City Council funding meeting in May (Date TBD). If you are interesting in meeting individually with councilmembers, please contact us. However, attending the meeting is the most effective way of voicing support for safer, livable streets in the Rengstorff area. We know it can be difficult to find time for a Council meeting, but they are usually scheduled in the evening around 6PM on a Tuesday. If you attend just one council meeting, this is the one to attend.
The city hasn’t nailed down the meeting date yet but we will let you know through our newsletter as soon as we know. Please sign up for our newsletter if you haven’t already and we hope to see you in May!
by wendeeswonderings | Feb 13, 2013 | California Street, Castro School, Escuela Avenue
Great Streets Rengstorff Park invites you to a Bike Tour on Saturday, March 2nd from 9AM to 11AM!
Enjoy a leisurely morning ride and learn about how Rengstorff Park neighborhood streets are key assets to building stronger social ties, economic success, and a healthier community in Mountain View. You’ll travel approximately 4 miles with stops along the way that highlight stories from neighborhood residents who will share with you some issues and the many opportunities to create safer and more attractive places to walk, bike and congregate in the city’s highest density neighborhood.
We encourage you to forward this email to anyone interested in safer streets in Mountain View or a lovely morning ride.
Don’t have a bike – no problem! Let us know, we have a few available.
Please RSVP to GreatStreetsRP@gmail.com no later than February 26th.
by wendeeswonderings | Feb 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Members of Great Streets Rengstorff Park were gratified as we attended two successful meetings this week.
GSRP was informed several months ago, that the next step to move the California Street road diet from an idea to reality was to have it placed on the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) list. City Council has the final word on the CIP list, but input from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (B/PAC) is important for council’s decision. Only a handful of projects make it into the 2 year CIP list cycle due to limited city funding.
With this in mind, GSRP attended the January 30th B/PAC meeting and asked them to recommend the California Street road diet for the CIP list. Following public comment from supporters and an engaging debate on the merits of many projects eligible for the CIP, Bruce England called for California Street road diet to be included with B/PAC’s recommendations. Mr. Purdon seconded, adding that the corner of Escuela and California Street is important due to nearby Castro Elementary and other services. After some discussion, California Street road diet was unanimously placed on their short list and headed for Council!
January 31st, City Council met for a study session to set city-wide priorities for next year. With the support of GSRP friends and supporters, our campaign to make our streets safe and healthy for everyone took flight. The majority of councilmembers showed support for making Mountain View bicycle and pedestrian safety a priority. We send a sincere THANK YOU to every councilmember!
With these successes, what is next? The CIP City Council meeting! We will need you to write emails or letters, attend this meeting or call city council to show your support for Pedestrian and Bicycle safety. We need you to support the California Street road diet!
We know that the key Capital Improvement Project council meeting will be in March, but do not yet have a date. Keep an eye on your mailbox as you will know the date as soon as we do.
We look forward to seeing you in March!
