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| SFMTA home > About Us > Public Notices and Meetings > SFMTA Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) > June 6, 2005, minutes | |||
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City and County of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Citizens’ Advisory Council (MTA CAC) FINAL MINUTES Monday, June 6, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. 1145 Market Street, 5th Floor (Main Conference Room) San Francisco, California 1. Call to Order / Roll Call (Agenda Item 1). The regular meeting of the Municipal Transportation Agency citizens’ Advisory Council (MTA CAC) was called to order at 5:31 p.m., Monday, June 6, 2005. Daniel Murphy (chair) presided. A quorum was present including the following: MTA CAC Members Present at Roll Call: Daniel Murphy (Chair), Steve Ferrario (Vice Chair), Mary Burns, Sue Cauthen, Art Cimento, Joan Downey, Emily Drennen, Griffith Humphrey, and Daniel Weaver. MTA CAC Members absent at Roll Call: Cesar Perez, arrived at 5:38 p.m. MTA CAC Absent: Bruce Oka, Norman Rolfe, and Dorris Vincent. MTA Staff (San Francisco Municipal Railway [MUNI] and Department of Parking and Traffic [DPT]) Present: William Lieberman (MTA Deputy Director – Planning), and Deborah W. Denison (MUNI IT Project Manager). Community Representatives Present: Roger Basely – Transportation Advocate – Safety – Middle School 2. Adopt the MTA CAC Minutes of May 5, 2005: Motion to adopt the MTA CAC minutes for May 2005 by Joan Downey. 2nd by Mary Burns CAC passed unanimously (Ayes - Murphy (Chair), Ferrario (Vice Chair), Burns, Cauthen, Cimento, Downey, Drennen, Humphrey, and Weaver) 3. Public Comment – Concerning any issue within the jurisdiction of the Council and not noted on the agenda: Tape recording was inaudible. 4. Report of the Chair: Daniel Murphy (MTA CAC Chair) a) Executive Director Michael T. Burns announced his resigning from the MTA effective July 15, 2005. Interim MTA Executive Director was to be Stuart Sunshine. Mr. Murphy would be proactively seeking to have MTA CAC participation with the MTA Board in the search and selection process for the next executive director. b) Additional money to the MTA that became available from the state will be applied toward Adult Fast passes to delay its price increase through 2005. c) The 4 amended raises of parking fines and fees, also an amendment by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, were all defeated at the Board of Supervisors. d) Paul Czechowicz (MTA CAC Liaison) would be terminating his employment with the MTA July 1, 2005. Mr. Murphy would be meeting with Michael Burns regarding Mr. Czechowicz’s successor. 5. Staff Report: Deborah Denison (MUNI IT Project Manager) Ms. Denison distributed copied of a memo from Michael T. Burns, MTA Executive Director. Daniel Murphy added that Mr. Burns had accepted the position as head of VTA in Santa Clara County. Staff-Initiated Items6. Integrating MUNI and DPT Planning: (Discussion/Action) William Lieberman (MTA – Deputy Director - Planning) During the month of July 2005, many of various offices of both MUNI and DPT will be moving to 1 South Van Ness Avenue. DPT and MUNI planners will occupy the same floor, with goals of developing an environment of better communication and sharing between the departments. Future projects: Pedestrian Master Plan – As an element of the City plan, an urban transportation developed around a good pedestrian system. Bicycle Policy – Working into the network elements. 2 Bus Rapid Transit projects – Goals to address traffic congestion with BRT priority traffic and frequency of stops by way of sliming down on stops, similar to that of Limited lines. Questions and Comments from the CAC a) Emily Drennen: Describe his vision for “complete streets”, considering all the modes, bikes, transit, etc. Will these work themselves out on each project or will they be worked out on some policy level? Answer: While particulars are still being worked out, there will be some “complete streets” when everything will be shared, while others will be A and B streets. In looking at the budget, including State and Federal money, and how many funded projects can the Planning group take on, is there a plan for consolidating grants, contracts, etc? Answer: The Capitol Grants unit has been retained in Mr. Lieberman’s division. They are also communicating with DPT as to their needs for grants. While working within the Budget, consolidations will be made where consolidation makes sense. He would like to see more joints, submittals, etc. b) Steve Ferrario: Does the job of Director Planner encompass both Capitol bodies and Service Planning? Answer: Yes What changes have been observed in the relationship of the MTA with the S. F. Transportation Authority (TA), especially as it relates to the 38 Greary line? Answer: The relationship is a good on. The TA is comprised of competent people. The relationship with the TA is still evolving as the MTA assures them of real support. The hope is that the new Executive Director will also share that same ideality, as did Michael T. Burns. DPT just installed a massive Emergency Response Center (ERC). Answer: While DPT is expected to complete the move to the South Van Ness facility by December 2005, it may be a few years out before bringing the ERC to the new location in view of the investment. c) Sue Cauthen: The 39 Coit project has encountered some recent resistance by people preferring to use their own cars, feeling the service is not good enough, wanting more lines, including one suggestion of fewer stops. Answer: There were new buses that look sleek compared to the simply painting ones from our present fleet. BRT was a package that included some priority in traffic, upscale vehicles, passenger informational, also including nice waiting areas. What people generally seem to want to know about transit is, how frequent, routes near jobs, near places of residence, nice seats, etc. Also people who avoid transit are seeing transit as a last resort, as something less than upscale. Of course upscale comes with a price, i.e., upscale vehicle with a comparable fare for the value added. d) Joan Downey: Part of the Geary corridor goes through District 5. Erroneous material was being circulated from an unknown source in connection with the BRT, which has come to the attention of the President of the San Francisco Coalition for Neighborhoods. Ms. Downey will forward a copy to Mr. Lieberman for his review. e) Daniel Murphy: In view of MUNI’s service adjustments, what benefits will BRT offer the public? Answer: BRT will offer faster commute to the longer distance traveler through reduced frequency of stops, similar to that of the Limited lines, however there will still be the parallel transit lines servicing local stops. Public Comment Roger Basely – Transportation Advocate – Safety – Middle School Mr. Basely felt that many people are often too busy to get involved with transit planning. SFCTA saw DPT as not having the vision/goal, due to being deeply involved with methodology. He hopes to see Mr. Burns’s replacement with good planning and an overall planning concept. (Tape recording inaudible) 7. Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP): (Discussion/Action) Daniel Murphy announced that the Draft for SRTP would be available June 7, 2005, with a timeframe for comments in July 2005. William Lieberman also announced that he would be making a presentation to the Board. Council-Initiated Items8. Recommendations from the CAC Committees (Discussion/Action) Motion: The MTA CAC recommends that the ticket vending machines proposed as part of the new MUNI Wayside collection system sell Senior, Youth, and Disabled tickets as well as 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and Token fares. CAC passed unanimously (Ayes - Murphy (Chair), Ferrario (Vice Chair), Burns, Cauthen, Cimento, Drennen, Humphrey, Perez, and Weaver) Motion: The MTA CAC recommends that as part of the WAFER project the MTA should take advantage of the econnomy of scale and buy ticket vending machines for other locations that are identified as high volume surface stops in the Metro system. (Wording amended.) CAC passed unanimously (Ayes - Murphy (Chair), Ferrario (Vice Chair), Burns, Cauthen, Cimento, Drennen, Humphrey, Perez, and Weaver) Motion: WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco has an adopted “Transit-First” policy, and WHEREAS, approximately two-thirds of San Francisco residents are regular MUNI riders, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The MTA CAC recommends that none of the $9.2 million in General Fund transfer identified by the City Controller, nor any future Proposition 42 funds be used to reduce parking fines or parking fees from proposed levels. (Wording ammended.) Proposal was not agreed to: CAC members in favor (Ayes - Murphy (Chair), Burns, Drennen, Humphrey, and Perez) CAC members opposed (Nay - Ferrario (Vice Chair), Cauthen, Cimento, and Weaver) Motion: The MTA CAC recommends that MUNI exempt Emergency Road Call Response staff from hiring freezes and overtime prohibitions because fast and reliable road service is essential to maintain reliable transit service. CAC passed unanimously (Ayes - Murphy (Chair), Ferrario (Vice Chair), Burns, Cauthen, Cimento, Drennen, Humphrey, Perez, and Weaver) 9. Committee Reports a) Sue Cauthen: Per Michael Burns, proponents for the 39 Coit project could have copies of the legal opinion that DPT received from John Kennedy. b) Mary Burns: Commended the Traffic Engineering Department. They responded to a letter to review the stop sign and traffic situation at West Portal flowing on to Sloat Boulevard by the St. Francis Circle, as unsafe for pedestrian crossing. Along with zebra stripping crosswalks, they will be installing a special stop sign that will alert drivers to watch for pedestrians crossing from the right. c) Steve Ferrario: Read a line from a San Francisco Chronicle Letter to the Editor, dated May 21, 2005,titled: “MUNI versus Pick Pockets”. “MUNI station agents won’t run both escalators at the West Portal Station forcing old people and the disabled to go out of the station, into the rain, if they want to change platforms, because it’s the regulations.” Mr. Ferrario said he had observed many station escalators inoperable. Engineering or Operations should keep them up and running, especially at West Portal. Emily Drennen added that she is working with various advocates for safe works to transit that include issues such as, access for disabled and wheelchair bound people. Daniel Murphy will agendize “escalators for safety purposes for the disabled and wheelchair bound”. 10. Council Members’ questions and Comments: (Discussion/Action) a) Sue Cauthern was expecting a copy of the legal opinion regarding the 39 Coit. b) Joan Downey: 71 Haight-Noriega bus line: A stop sign is being installed at Frederic Street at Willard, across the street from Kezar stadium, hindering the 71 line run, along with a bigger problem of a stoplight added at Stanyon and Frederic streets. Waller Street has been closed to traffic going through Golden Gate Park, resulting in traffic backup which further effects the 71 line. DPT may want to look into perhaps, putting in a “left hand turn signal” at the traffic light. MUNI Park on West Portal at the N Judah line at Carl and Cole streets: 1) A series of E-mails reporting debris and rat infestation resulting from trash left by homeless people taking residence there and their pets. Notes forwarded to Ted Aranas, Acting Head of Facilities seems to have gone ignored. 2) Also, the sprinkler system watering the lawn has been turned off due to Budget woes. Neighbors were willing to help with watering and mowing the lawn with appropriate permission. Daniel Murphy and Daniel Weaver felt that the EMSC Committee could look into the MUNI’s grounds/maintenance issues. 11. Agenda Planning for July, 2005 Meeting: Tentatively Scheduled Next Regular Meeting: a) Invite Stuart Sunshine as the Interim Executive Director to talk about transition. b) Baseball schedule impact on LRV and how will it all work together. Jim Kelly and Fred Stephens. c) MUNI’s response to requests for public records in general. 12. Adjournment Attachments: Agenda Item 2 – May 5, 2005 minutes Agenda Item 5– E-mail from Michael T. Burns announcing his resignation
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The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) manages transportation in San Francisco, California. Copyright © 2000-2012 SFMTA. All rights reserved. Updated January 3, 2012
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