PSAC Agenda September 12, 2017

City Hall, Room 400, 6PM


1) Call to Order (2 minutes)

2) Roll Call/Introduction (5 minutes)

3) Approve Agenda (2 minutes)

4) Approve Minutes (5 minutes)

5) General Public Comment (10 minutes)

6) Police Department Report. Sgt. Embody (10 minutes)

7) Overview of the Van Ness Project. Kate McCarthy (15 minutes)

8) Sidewalks are for People not Robots. Erica Maybaum - Supervisor Yee's Aide (15 minutes)

9) MTA Report and welcome to our new staff person Victoria Chong (10 minutes)

10) Median Resolution - Action Item. Howard Strassner (10 minutes)

11) Members Report (10 minutes)

12) Chairs Report (10 minutes)

13) Future Items (5 minutes)

14) Adjournment

Proposed PSAC Resolution Requesting Masonic Avenue Medians at the Intersection with Geary Boulevard and Other Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Whereas construction has started on pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements for Masonic Avenue from the south side of Geary Boulevard to Fell Street including safety medians with traffic calming and tree plantings, and Geary Boulevard is part of the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project being designed for transit and pedestrian safety improvements but crossing the north side of the Masonic Avenue and Geary Boulevard intersection currently requires a pedestrian to cross a wide busy street without a median and this intersection is not included for a Near-term pedestrian safety improvement; while Geary Boulevard at Masonic Avenue includes wide medians for pedestrian crossing on the east and west sides, and

Whereas even intersections with well intentioned walking countdown signal lights set for a pedestrian crossing speed of 3.5 feet/sec. per the San Francisco standard, cannot be crossed completely by a growing segment of our elderly population and properly designed medians and adequate traffic signal provisions are essential for these people to cross wide busy streets half way and wait safely, and

Whereas a properly designed safety median should meet minimum pedestrian safety requirements and include a protective “thumbnail” and a supporting hand rail and a bench where practical, and

Whereas Geary Boulevard has frequent Rapid and Local bus service with largest the bus ridership in the Nation, but it also a thoroughfare with high amounts of auto traffic, and the Masonic Avenue bus is an important north south neighborhood connecting transit route, and reliable and fast as practical bus transit is an important component of San Francisco’s Transit First Policy which reduces auto traffic and improves pedestrian safety, and

Whereas many high traffic San Francisco streets have traffic signals designed to move traffic expeditiously and require pedestrians to request a pedestrian crossing countdown signal, timed for a pedestrian crossing speed of 3.5 feet/sec, in order to provide more time for traffic, but they also include a delayed green light crossing light to prevent right turning cars from reducing essential pedestrian crossing time, and

Whereas the San Francisco Bay area is the center of autonomous car design and pedestrian detection devices are included in every autonomous car to stop the car when pedestrians are detected, and this equipment is being tested in the Bay Area, now

Therefore the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) Resolves that a properly designed median for the north side and south side crossing of Masonic Avenue be included as a near-term pedestrian safety improvement for the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project, and

Further Resolves that a pedestrian request crossing countdown signal, timed for a maximum pedestrian crossing speed of 3.5 feet/sec be provided along with a delay for right turning traffic, to allow the complete crossing of Masonic Avenue, north and south of Geary Boulevard, and

Further Resolves that a pedestrian request crossing countdown signal, timed for a maximum pedestrian crossing speed of 3.5 feet/sec be provided along with a delay for right turning traffic, to allow the crossing of each section of Geary Boulevard east and west of Masonic Avenue; along with a pedestrian detection device interlocked with the traffic signal for each half of surface Geary Boulevard to delay the green light for east or west bound traffic until all pedestrians have cleared the crossing section as a way to be sure that even the slowest walking pedestrian can cross safely with minimum impact on transit.

October 8, 2017 Minutes

Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee

Draft Informal Minutes (No Quorum) October 8, 2017

Meeting started at 6:05 PM.

Present: Rick Johnson, D7; Thomas Rogers, D10; Kevin Clark, D1; Jon Winston, SFUSD; Kevin Stull, D6 and Stuart Watts, D3. Excused Absent: Jacquie Chavez, D-11; Becky Hogue, Senior and Disability Org;  Evy Posenentico, D-8; Howard Strassner, Transit or Environmental Advocate; Howard Bloomberg, Walk Advocate; Dan Golub, D-2; Trevor McNeil, D-4 and Meredith Osborn, D-5.

There are currently 14 appointed members.

Vice Chair Kevin Stull presided in Chair Becky Hogue’s absence.

Minutes:

1. Priyoti Ahmed, Transportation Planner at San Francisco County Transportation Authority, reported on Vision Zero Ramp Study.

Addressed developing improvements in five ramped intersections around SOMA in need of signal upgrades, including timing of signals and leading pedestrian intervals. Also new crosswalks and lane restriping. They are gathering feedback to formulate recommendations to implement changes in a five year period, if not sooner.

2. Safe Passage, Tenderloin 2 year Assessment: Kevin Stull Presented.

Streets are very unsafe for kids on their way to school and after school programs. The parents decided to form a volunteer group to “build a culture of safety’ for the 3500 neighborhood children. Volunteers help at intersection. Incidents down 80% along Tenderloin Safe Passage Routes.

3. Senior and Disability Action Network Report: Pi Ra presented.

SADN got money from DPH in 2016 to identify pedestrian concerns. Started a campaign around the top issue, crosing times. Since 1992 crossing times have been 4.5 feet per second. They would like to change the time to 3ft/sec.

4. Informal Discussion Items: A) Rick Johnson reported that Supervisor Yee is trying to prohibit autonomous delivery robots that use the sidewalk. B) Kevin Clark expressed frustration that Outside lands is appropriating roads as well as meadows in Golden Gate Park.

5. Future Items:

1. Supervisor Yee’s proposed prohibition of delivery robots on the sidewalk
2. New, updated Severe Injury Network Map.

Meeting adjourned 7:30 PM