HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5.A 03/18/2019 Late Doc 1Document Received After Agenda Distribution - Agenda Item 5.A/5.B
March 15, 2019
Subject: Item 5A - Resolution Approving a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission for the Allocation of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Transportation Development Act
Article 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project Funding & 513 - Resolution to Approve the Proposed
Project List for Fiscal Year 19/20, Per the Requirements of Senate Bill 1 to Obtain Road
Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Funds
Dear Petaluma City Councilmembers:
I'm writing to suggest possible alternatives to staff recommendations submitted for
Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) funding. My primary concern --in addition to
the fact that this was not reviewed by our Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC),
or informed by its input --is that the projects were selected with maintenance as the driving
factor, rather than safety.
Between 2006-17, there were 232 collisions reported in Petaluma involving drivers and
pedestrians, resulting in 242 injuries and nine deaths. At least 57 percent of these collisions
occurred in crosswalks.' This does not include a recent collision at East Washington and Vallejo
Streets that left a 77 year-old woman hospitalized.
One of the simplest ways to increase the rate at which drivers yield to pedestrians crossing is to
install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) or Overhead (HAWK) Beacons. Studies on
the impacts of both treatments have shown remarkable increases in the rates at which drivers
yield, and, consequently, reductions in collisions.2 s
There are several uncontrolled crosswalks around the City that are deserving candidates for
these improvements, especially along high speed corridors where the consequences of
collisions are most severe. Collision data for the available years (2006-17) suggests that the
following crosswalks should be prioritized:
1. East Washington & Wilson: 3 Collisions, 4 Injuries
2. East Washington & Keokuk: 2 Collisions, 2 Injuries
3. Petaluma Blvd & Cherry St: 2 Collisions, 3 Injuries
4. Petaluma Blvd & G St: 2 Collisions, 2 Injuries
' Source: Transportation Injury Mapping System. CVC Violations 21950 (Driver must yield to pedestrian
right of way in a crosswalk) and 21951 (Crosswalk, overtaking and passing vehicle stopped for pedestrian
within).
2 RRFBs: https://safetv.fhwa.dot.aov/intersection/conventional/unsianalized/tech Burn/fhwasa09009/
3 HAWK: httos://www.fhwa.dot.aov/publications/research/safetv/10045/
5. East Washington & Vallejo St: 1 Collision, 1 Injury (2006-17), plus the aforementioned
collision that took place in February 2019
This list of locations and the improvements described above are by no means exhaustive, but
could be a helpful starting point due to the frequency with which people are hit and injured in
crosswalks. There are many types of other projects --protected bike lanes, new crosswalks, curb
ramps, etc. --that should always be considered for TDA3 and other bike/ped funds.
None of this is to say that maintenance and safety aren't related. Lynch Creek Trail's disrepair
frequently comes up at our PBAC meetings --it is undoubtedly a worthy project and committee
priority. I cannot, however, recall Prince Park Trail ever being discussed within my two -plus year
tenure.
TDA3 is one of just a few reliable bicycle and pedestrian funding sources available to the City to
quickly implement safety improvements, which is why I believe it's worth considering whether
pathway maintenance funding can instead be delivered through Senate Bill 1 funds (outlined in
Item 5B on the agenda) and/or Measure M (Parks). With the City set to spend over $2.3m on
street maintenance and repair in FY19/20, surely a small portion can go towards pathway
projects?
Looking at the bigger picture, I would once again like to call out the need for an updated Bicycle
and Pedestrian Master Plan that provides a better overview of safety and maintenance priorities
to help inform funding decisions moving forward. Our existing plan was adopted in 2008 and is
in dire need of an update.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bjorn Griepenburg
Cc:
Dan St. John, Director, Public Works & Utilities
Gina Benedetti-Petnic, City Engineer
Jeff Stutsman, Senior Civil Engineer
Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee