HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-06-28 City Council (18)City of Palo Alto
Manager’s Report
7
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:JUNE 21, 1999 CMR:289:99
SUBJECT:CALTRANS DISTRICT 4 BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN
COORDINATOR
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached Resolution urging Caltrans District 4 to
employ a full-time Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator.
BACKGROUND
Caltrans District 4, which serves the six million people living in the Bay Area, currently has
no full-time staff member responsible for coordinating planning and design of bicycle and
pedestrian facilities. A District 4 employee with these responsibilities discharges them in a
part-time capacity. A number of Bay Area city councils have adopted, or are considering,
a resolution calling upon Caltrans District 4 to employ an in-house, full-time staff member
for this purpose. The attached resolution is modeled on one adopted, recently by the
Emeryville City Council.
DISCUSSION
Creation of a safe, convenient network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities is an important
policy objective in national transportation law as expressed in the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Similar policy support for this objective can be found in the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Regional Transportation Plan and in the Palo
Alto Comprehensive Plan. Both TEA-21 and its predecessor, the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), mandated that each state department of
transportation designate a full-time bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. While Caltrans has
complied with this Federal mandate, that position has only limited time available for Bay
Area work. While states as small as Vermont, with one-twelfth of the Bay Area’s population,
enjoy the services of a full-time person for planning and design of non-motorized
transportation facilities, the Bay Area lacks such a resource. This is particularly critical to
address such regional issues as bridge access for bicycles, improving pedestrian and bicycle
conditions on arterial roadways under Caltrans jurisdiction, provision of technical assistance
to municipalities in the region, and promotion of bicycle and pedestrian safety throughout
the Bay Area. An in-house, full-time staff member at District 4 would help ensure that the
CMR:289:99 Page 1 of 2
needs of bicycle and pedestrians are taken into account in both planning and design of
Caltrans projects in this region.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no resource impact for Palo Alto.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Creating safer and more convenient opportunities for bicycling and walking is an important
transportation policy emphasis in Palo Alto. The Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Goal T-3
calls for "Facilities, Services, and Programs that Promote Walking and Bicycling." Caltrans
District 4, which has responsibility for State highway rights-of-way in Palo Alto, can help
Palo Alto realize this goal. Creation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator at District 4
is particularly timely, as Palo Alto is about to begin a bicycle master planning process and
a similar effort for Santa Clara County is now underway.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
No Environmental review is required.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution requesting Caltrans to employ a full-time bicycle/pedestrian coordinator
PREPARED BY: Joseph Kott, Chief Transportation Official
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
EMIL~ HAR~SON
Assistant City Manager
cc: Planning Commission
Valley Transportation Authority (Michael Evanhoe)
CMR:289:99 Page 2 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF CALTR/INS DISTRICT 4 TO
CREATE AI~ OFFICE OF THE BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN
COORDINATOR FOR THE DISTRICT
WHEREAS, it is the duty of the California Department of
Transportation to promote economic vitality and enhance the quality
of life for the people of California by providing for mobility of
people, goods, services, and information; and
WHEREAS, it is highly desirable that the development of the
District 4 transportation system (which includes Palo Alto) should
take into consideration the interests, needs, and contributions
unique to each transportation mode; and
WHEREAS, it is likewise desirable .that the interests,
needs, and contributions of bicyclists and pedestrians be
considered; and
WHEREAS, there is presently no mechanism or staffing to
ensure that those interests, needs, and contributions are
considered;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of City of Palo Alto does
hereby RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION !o The Mayor is authorized and directed to
recommend to the Director of Caltrans District 4 that an Office of
the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for District 4 of the California
Department of Transportation ("Caltrans") be created. The
recommendation shall include a request that the duties of the
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator include formation of a citizen
bicycle/pedestrian advisory committee for the District and to
assume such duties as the District deems relevant to achieve its
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mission of fighting congestion and air
accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
pollution through
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Planning &
Community Environment
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