City of San Mateo bike projects update

[Mark Eliot]

Ken Chin provided me with a nice summary of what's happening on bicycle projects in San Mateo.  Scroll down a bit for the specifics.

What a world of difference it makes to have a city staffer (Ken) who really wants to get things done.  I just have to keep telling myself that governments always move a little more slowly than I want them to.

Imagine if we had a county-wide bike coordinator with this kind of energy and interest....

-M

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ken Chin <KC...@cityofsanmateo.org>

Date: May 14, 2012 2:51:12 PM PDT

To: Mark Eliot <ma...@eliotlabs.org>

Cc: Larry Patterson <patt...@cityofsanmateo.org>, Gary Heap <he...@cityofsanmateo.org>, Susanna Chan <ch...@cityofsanmateo.org>

Subject: RE: Bike project implementation

Hi Mark,

We used the Bicycle Master Plan's interested parties list to notify everyone about the meetings.  I am pretty sure you are on this list, but I will check?  Regarding question #3, the funding agreement is not yet in place with the Transit Authority.

Feel free to share this email with the bike community.  If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate on asking.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Eliot [mailto:ma...@eliotlabs.org]
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 5:29 PM
To: Ken Chin
Cc: Larry Patterson; Gary Heap; Susanna Chan
Subject: Re: Bike project implementation

Thanks for the update, Ken.  That all sounds great except for the "by the end of the year" part.

In lieu of a BPAC meeting, updating the website soon is probably sufficient for explaining what's happening -- as long as you announce it.  Which brings me to another issue:  I never heard directly from the city about the bike plan being updated with respect to bike parking and taken back to the council.  Isn't there an email list for those interested the bike plan and bike stuff in San Mateo generally?  If you used that list to announce the update, it may be broken.  Can you please check this?

In answer to (3) when you say "the funding agreement is not yet in place" are you referring to an agreement with C/CAG or a contract with a company to complete the work?

Would you mind if I forward your email to others in the bike community?

-M

On May 11, 2012, at 11:50 AM, Ken Chin wrote:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the email.  Yes, we don't want to lose momentum, we are definitely on the same page.  Internally, we have been working on a number of things to keep things moving. Unfortunately, they aren't exciting enough to broadcast to the public, i.e. funding agreements, drafting of RFP's and coordinating with Caltrans.

The ped/bike pages on the website are going to be completely revised in the near future to better communicate projects updates, so please stay tuned.  However, here are the answers to your questions:

1 - Yes, the 2nd reading of the Bicycle Master Plan Zoning Code changes received City Council approval on May 7th.  Printing of the master plan was on hold until this milestone occurred.  I am working with the consultant to wrap everything up for reproduction.  I am hopeful that we should have hard copies in hand no later than the first week in June.

2 - The downtown parking rings at the moment are going to remain where they are at.  Last week, I meet with the DSMA to reconfirm their support for  bicycle parking in the downtown and also updated them on the grant funding.  We are currently surveying the downtown for exact placement and I will be going to the merchants in the next couple of weeks to explain the installation timing.  I will be placing our first bicycle rack purchase order within the next couple of weeks with delivery expected within 6 weeks.  I am also working with both the Alliance and the Air District to leverage our grant money for even more racks.  My early prediction is that we will have almost triple the amount of racks requested in the grant, so I will be working with Park and Recreation and Civic Facilities to have the extra racks placed in the Parks and at Civic facilities.  Additionally, with the extra racks I may create a free rack giveaway to interested merchants.  This is still in the preliminary phase and will depend on how many extra racks we get.

3 - The funding agreement is not yet in place for the bike lane striping, but we have surveyed all of the City's bike striping with the hope that we will stretch our money and also refresh the existing striping.  We hope to have all of the striping done by the end of the year.

4 - The funding agreement for the Hillsdale Ped/Bike Bridge is also not in place yet because we are working with Caltrans and their process to nail down the exact scope of work.

5 - Phase 1 of the Bay to Transit Trail's RFP for Environmental Services was issued a couple of weeks ago and the design RFP should be issued within the next couple of weeks.  Construction won't take place until next year at the earliest.

6 - Yes, I am working on securing funding for a Bike Share Feasibility Study and Bicycle Way finding Signage, both of which are recommended in the Bicycle Master Plan.  If I can secure the funding, these projects should be completed by the end of the year.  Additionally, the City's Bike Map will also be in reproduction, but distribution of it may depend on the schedule of the citywide striping.  We are also going through the downtown and mapping all of the existing and proposed bicycle parking to incorporate it on a Google Map, which we hope to also have on our website.  Also, we may be purchasing some art bike bike racks.  Plus, as you saw in the Daily Journal or the SJ Mercury, we are proposing green bike boxes.  These are highlighted in the Bicycle Master Plan, but the location where you will see them this summer is on Delaware near Kmart.  The bike boxes are part of the Delaware Streetscape Improvements.

7 - I am tentatively scheduled for a June Study Session before the City Council to discuss the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan's projects and implementation.  Following that I will probably be going back to the PWC/BPAC for additional updates.  At this moment, this schedule is not set.

I completely agree with you on the implementation of the adopted plan.  Both of the Master Plans are suppose to be living documents and will not sit on shelves they are going to be implemented.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of background work that needs to take place before you actual see things happening on the street.

I hope this email answers your questions, if you have any follow-up questions, please don't hesitate on emailing me or calling me.  I will be happy to share any information with you or any other member of the community.

Thanks,

Ken

Kenneth Chin

Project Manager

City of San Mateo Public Works Department

330 W. 20th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94403

(650) 522-7313

kc...@cityofsanmateo.org

-----Original Message-----

From: Mark Eliot [mailto:ma...@eliotlabs.org]

Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 7:26 AM

To: Gary Heap; Ken Chin

Cc: Larry Patterson

Subject: Bike project implementation

Hi Gary and Ken,

I feel like we're losing the momentum we gained last summer on bicycling in San Mateo.  I know you guys are working on things, but, honestly, it's very unclear to everyone else what's happening.  The plan was approved by the council in fall 2011 and we secured money for a lot of great projects about the same time.  Since then we've heard pretty much nothing.  We really need to get back to a regular schedule of communication and community interaction.

You guys did a fantastic job reaching out to the public during the bike plan project.  Please don't forget why this was so important.  Reap the benefits of an engaged community.

1. Assuming the council approved the parking ordinance changes, will you now print copies of the plan and send me one?

2. The plan to retrofit parking meter posts in downtown with rings was put on hold pending reimbursement from commute.org for the first rings and the new bike plan.  Where does that project stand right now?

3. We have TDA-3 money for implementing the citywide bike lane and bike parking projects.  Where are we on those projects?  When will we see paint and racks?

4. I think there's also money for more work on the Hillsdale bike bridge.  Right?

5. I've heard that we're doing something on the potential trail from Hayward Park to the bay.  What are we doing?

6. What other things don't we know about?  Any new project proposals?

7. When will we get back to quarterly BPAC meetings where all of this can be discussed?

One last point:  A completed plan, as good as that is to have, is not the goal; the real goal is to complete the projects in the plan.  I think a lot of people would like to know if we're actually doing that.

Best Regards,

-M

PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message, together with any attachments, is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed.  It may contain information that is confidential and prohibited from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this message in error, please notify the original sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail and delete this message along with any attachments from your computer.  Thank you.