Chair Eddie introduced Rodney Pimentel of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) and Gary Kennerley, Consultant Project Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff, who gave a PowerPoint presentation on the status of the Doyle Drive Environmental and Design Study Project (Doyle Drive Project). Director of Planning Alan Zahradnik stated that the Doyle Drive Project is reaching a significant milestone with the completion of the environmental process and the selection of the preferred alternative. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is available in the Office of the District Secretary, as well as on the District’s web site.

Mr. Pimental expressed his gratitude to the Board for the opportunity to update the District on the Doyle Drive Project. He stated that SFCTA is very close to finishing the Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIR) and will be bringing forward, for approval, Alternative 5, the Presidio Parkway in the EIR. Mr. Pimental stated that Alternative 5 has been accepted by many of the stakeholders as the preferred alternative amongst the three alternatives that were presented in the EIR. He noted that Alternative 5 will be presented to the SFCTA Board of Commissioners for approval on September 19, 2006.

• Director Stroeh confirmed that the Doyle Drive Project was designed with four southbound lanes and three northbound lanes and inquired as to whether any consideration was given to changing the lane configuration on Lombard Street to relieve the traffic congestion. In response, Mr. Kennerley stated that the limits of the Doyle Drive Project end at Lyon and Broderick streets, and that the SFCTA has not looked at changing operations on Lombard Street as part of the Project.

• Director Newhouse Segal made the following comments and inquiries:
  • She requested that Mr. Kennerly display the traffic pattern when traveling northbound on Doyle Drive to Merchant Road. In response, Mr. Kennerly indicated where traffic exited Doyle Drive onto Merchant Road and stated that, with the preferred alternative, the access will essentially stay the same. To further clarify the response, Mr. Mulligan stated that the project contemplates spending money to improve Doyle Drive; however, the proposed project with the preferred alternative does not include the design option for the Merchant Road Access. Although the District supports moving forward with the project, the District has gone on record with the SFCTA, urging them to include the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option in the final design for Alternative 5 for the Doyle Drive Project.
  • She commented that the destination of traffic exiting Doyle Drive onto Merchant Road, included not only the Golden Gate Bridge, but also the Presidio. She then inquired as to whether the project included a plan for traffic calming. In response, Mr. Kennerley acknowledged that traffic accesses both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio from this exit, and that there is typically heavy congestion on weekday afternoons and on weekends. He noted that one improvement for traffic flow with Alternative 5 includes the installation of a stop sign to make the Merchant Road approach an all-way stop. He stated that the SFCTA is committed to working through this issue to improve the exit as much as possible without using the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option. Mr. Kennerley added that, working with Caltrans, the design will include a standard configuration to meet the required sight distances to allow a smooth merge, as well as look at ways to balance the appropriate sight distances in the area to accommodate both the traffic speed and a smooth weave. He also noted that these details will be worked out as the project is developed.
  • She inquired as to what is the added cost of the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option to the Doyle Drive Project. In response, Mr. Kennerley stated the slip ramp would add $8.6 million in direct construction costs, which amounts to 1% of the total project cost of $700 million.
    

• Director Eddie inquired as to lane configuration for the merge with State Route 1 and Doyle Drive and commented that drivers will continue to have difficulty changing lanes to exit onto Merchant Road. In response, Mr. Kennerley stated that, when U.S. Highway 101 and Doyle Drive merge, the lane configuration includes three lanes for Doyle Drive and two lanes for State Route 1. He noted that the landscape median ends at that location, so that the lane configuration can match the existing toll plaza operations and lane changes. Mr. Kennerley added that the improved sight distance will create a smoother merge, although it will still be necessary for motorists to cross over two lanes.

• Director Boro made the following comments and inquiries:
  • He inquired as to the accident history in the location between Doyle Drive and the Merchant Road Access. In response, Mr. Mulligan stated although the accident rate is relatively low, the District is concerned because it is a difficult maneuver for motorists. He noted that the Doyle Drive Project will be altering traffic patterns which may change the future accident rate.
  • He requested clarification regarding the moveable median barrier and the transfer vehicle. In response, Mr. Kennerley stated that, although the Doyle Drive Project does not include a moveable median barrier, the project does have sufficient space in the median to accommodate a barrier transfer vehicle. Mr. Mulligan added that the SFCTA has worked closely with District staff to address the need for an area to park the barrier transfer vehicle, and that the project incorporates such an area for a moveable median barrier.
  • He inquired as to whether the Doyle Drive Project includes the authorization of a moveable median barrier and whether the District would be required to request such authorization at a later date. He commented that, in his opinion, in order to avoid future lengthy discussions on the matter, the organization responsible for Doyle Drive should agree at this time that a moveable median barrier would be provided as part of the project. In response, Mr. Mulligan stated that the SFCTA and partner agencies did not agree in writing to allow a moveable median barrier, but that they agreed to provide an area to park the barrier transfer vehicle if the District proceeds with the project. He noted that District staff will seek such approval in writing from the SFCTA and the partner agencies during the design phase.
  • He inquired as what would happen if the District moved forward with the moveable median barrier project before the Doyle Drive Project was implemented. In response, Mr. Mulligan stated that the District would get Caltrans approval for an encroachment permit to obtain the area to park the barrier transfer v ehicle.
  • He commented that the District may want to express the need to include the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option for public safety concerns. In response, Ms. Kupersmith suggested that the Committee recommend to the Board a resolution in support of including the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option in Alternative 5, Presidio Parkway, identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Doyle Drive Replacement Project, in order to address existing and future safety concerns associated with the current Doyle Drive configuration; and, direct staff to transmit the resolution to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority immediately.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Directors urge inclusion of the Merchant Road Slip Ramp option in Alternative 5, Presidio Parkway, identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Doyle Drive Replacement Project, in order to address existing and future safety concerns associated with the current Doyle Drive configuration; and, direct staff to transmit the attached resolution to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority immediately.

Action by the Board – Resolution
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR

• Director Stroeh stated that, in his opinion, that the relocation of the Novato Bus Yard does seem sensible in regards to the City of Novato using those locations for better use. He added that the key component is that the District would not incur any cost from the process.

• Director Murray stated that this recommendation is worthy of study and that there is no downside for the District in proceeding with this MOA. She also stated that the redevelopment project would improve business for downtown Novato and possibly increase ridership on the Golden Gate Transit.

The Building and Operating Committee recommends that the Board of Directors authorize execution of a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Novato Redevelopment Agency (Redevelopment Agency) for the purpose of allowing the Redevelopment Agency staff to develop a feasibility plan for the potential relocation and redevelopment of the District’s Novato Bus Facility, with the understanding that all costs associated with any study and/or preparation of reports will be borne by the Redevelopment Agency.

Action by the Board – Resolution
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR

• Director Grosboll inquired as to whether staff has documentation to show that other public agencies are paying a comparable rate. In response, Mr. Witt stated that staff did extensive research into the amounts other agencies were paying for this specific site and found that the District’s costs were comparable to those of other agencies.

The Building and Operating Committee recommends that the Board of Directors authorize execution of a License Agreement with American Tower, L.P., for the use of operating the District’s radio communications equipment at the Mt. Tamalpais site, for five years, in the amount of $36,000 for the first year, with three (3) five-year options, to include 4% annual increases for the initial five-year term and all options, automatically renewed unless terminated by either party, with the understanding that requisite funds for the first year of the License Agreement are available in the Bridge Division Operating Budget for FY 06/07 and that funds for the remaining fiscal years of the License Agreement will be included in the Bridge Division Operating Budget.

Action by the Board – Resolution
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR

At the meeting, Director Boro, President of the SMART Board, stated that two meetings were held to launch the SMART Train Campaign for placing the measure on the November 2006 ballot.  He stated that former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta addressed the meeting held in San Rafael on Tuesday, August 22, 2006, and Supervisor Tim Smith addressed the meeting held in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, August 23, 2006.  Director Boro noted that the community expressed strong public support for the project.

Action by the Board – None Required

In response to an inquiry from Director Martini, Mr. Mulligan provided the Board with an update on the case regarding the City and County of San Francisco and People of the State of California vs. Pacific Cement Company.

Action by the Board – None Required