3A Public Hearing 2010 0517 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes Marclt 25, 2010 Agenda No. 10-03 Page 3 of 20 extremely efficient in moving large numbers of people. The initial estimated headway time stands at about five minutes. In 2007, staff reviewed the draft EIR for BRT and recommended terminating the BRT route at the downtown BART station rather than at Bayfair, and has since been working with AC Transit to refine the draft and move toward design. BRT features also include level-boarding at bus stops, a pay-in-advance fare collection system and dedicated (bus-only) traffic lanes. Issues of concern include handling cross-town traffic and moving people to transit corridors, the impact of lost parking spaces, increased congestion resulting from the use of bus-only lanes and so on. Mr. Cooke described three options: A) Terminating the BRT at the downtown BART station, with dedicated lanes only from the San Leandro border to Georgia Street and local service completing the circuit from the downtown station to the Bayfair BART station B) Terminating the BRT at the Bayfair BART station, with dedicated lanes in two areas - between the San Leandro border and Georgia Street and from Blossom Way to Bancroft Avenue C) Asking AC Transit to also study both options. Staff suggests that the Planning Commission consider and recommend Options A and C for San Leandro to the City Council for review at the Council's April 19, 2010 meeting. Commissioner Ponder asked what route AC Transit would take from the downtown BART station to Bayfair, and where the data Mr. Cooke cited originated. Mr. Cooke said buses would most likely return to East 14th Street via Davis Street, although potentially it could use West Juana Avenue instead, and that the data came from AC Transit. Commissioner Ponder also asked what would happen if the Planning Commission recommended something other than the options presented as San Leandro's LPA. Mr. Cooke replied that the Commission could make whatever recommendation it wants. Commissioner Fitzsimons inquired about left turns onto East 14th Street, both in dedicated and mixed-flow lanes, noting that there appear to be some areas where left turns will no longer be allowed. If that is the case, he also asked for confirmation that the EIR would cover those impacts. Mr. Cooke said yes, left turns will be more limited in dedicated lane sections, and this will be addressed in the EIR. Commissioner Fitzsimons asked whether ridership numbers projected under Option B mean that an additional 1,800 riders would be going through San Leandro. Mr. Cooke said yes, in 2025. Commissioner Abero also had a question about performance comparisons. Although projected numbers are provided, what are the actual numbers today -daily boardings in particular. Mr. Cooke said he does not have that information on hand; Secretary Livermore indicated that perhaps someone from AC Transit could respond to the question later. Commissioner Reed asked what control or authority San Leandro -the City -would have to preserve whatever plan is approved, because under current conditions, AC Transit can make route and schedule changes regardless of what San Leandro wants. Mr. Cooke said that the project could not be more than described in the EIR, but it could be less.