Mill Valley Safe Routes to Schools Task Force
Meeting Notes
Wednesday March 22, 2017
Attendance
Danielle Staude-Senior Planner City of Mill Valley, Dan Cherrier- TAM, John Binchi- Mill Valley School District, GarinBougie- Team Leader Old Mill School, Ryan Erving- Team Leader Edna Maguire, David Hoffman- Parisi Associates, Mandy Anderson- Parent, Kirsten Kennel-Parent Edna Maguire, Clay Kunz- Team Leader Strawberry School, Sashi McEntee- City of Mill Valley Council Member, Des McKissock-Transportation Planner Marin Horizon School, Michael Mooney- Team Leader Marin Horizon, Brian Miller- CHP Officer, Stephanie Moulton-Peters- Council Member City of Mill Valley, Glen Newcomer- CHP Officer, Tricia Satake- Mill Valley BPAC, Raoul Wertz-Mill Valley School District, Kelly Zalewski- Marin Transit, Cynthia Samson- Tam High PTSA School, Bob Goralka- Marin County Dept of Public Works, Karen Meezan- Tam High PTSA. Wendi Kallins- Safe Routes to Schools, Peggy Clark- Safe Routes to Schools, Gwen Froh- Safe Routes to Schools
Update on Miller Ave Streetscape Project Danielle Staude, Miller Ave Project Manager and Sustainability Manager
City of MV- Link:
Or attached copy
Project accomplishments and next steps
Danielle reviewed aspects of the Mill Valley Master Plan for Miller Ave since 2011 and it’s current and future progress. Facility improvements along Miller Ave included a buffered bike lane to downtown, back in parking by the high school, enhancement of the bike lane for the 2 miles to town. The project is nearing the completion of Phase 1 that has been primarily underground.
Phase 2 will begin during the summer months when there is generally less people in town. This phase will address road paving. Due to the nature and type of paving, a good deal of the work will be completed during evening hours. The evening hours will lessen the impact on businesses and residents and driveway obstructions. Engineers are addressing traffic and noise issues during evening hours. The police department will also be assisting with traffic during evening hours.
Phase 3 will address landscaping and road striping; including Bike Connection improvements, sidewalk connections and parkway near the Lumber Yard. The Little School is contributing funds for their parking/entrance redesign
List of Intersection improvements-
●Locust Ave- accessible sidewalk ramps, bulb outs and improved lighting.
● Willow to Valley Circle- buffered bike lanes and completed sidewalk- increase mobility for all road users.
● Evergreen- the road signs are ineffective, the intersection will be redesigned reducing the vehicle turning movement to ultimately reduce road user confusion. A flashing beacon and new sidewalk will be installed. Stop signs will be for Evergreen traffic not Miller Ave. Residents did not want a traffic light installed. The new road configuration will increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Miller.
●Miller Ave from Camino Alto to Almonte will have a inbound sidewalk and bike lane
Almonte/Miller alignment
Mill Valley City Council meeting scheduled for April 3 will decide on a redesign. The improvements of the pedestrian light and facilitates in Tam Junction in the past years has increased traffic delays. The City’s DPW will make recommendations for this intersection at the April 3 meeting. (note: at the April 3 meeting, the council voted to approve the extended right turn lane)
Community members in the Almonte Neighborhood are concerned about the increase in traffic delays turning on to Almonte Ave. The Tam High School development reduced the number of vehicles that could park on campus. This resulted in students now parking on the road impeding the safety for pedestrians and bicycles traveling along and crossing Almonte from Miller Ave to the high school.
A Walk Audit was conducted in 2016. The biggest concern was fast moving vehicles turning onto Almonte and near the school. There is also a lot of confusion with students crossing with no set location. There is concern that these improvements will not address the high speeding traffic and the risk to students. Once the improvements are made the City will evaluate the traffic speeds again. The right turn from Miller to Almonte is designed to slow traffic.
The crosswalk at Almonte will be addressed by the City and the County. A proposal was made to add a crosswalk across Almonte. The current condition of no sidewalk prohibits painting a crosswalk leading to no facility.
The Mill Valley DPW will continue to observe traffic and road user conditions during and after construction. Community members expressed gratitude for the weekly email updates on the projects. They have been well received and a model for other communities to consider.
Sidewalk project across from Tam High w/pedestrian connection to the multi-use path
Is under construction and will be completed in the next month.
Shoreline Hwy-Tam Junction Bike-Ped Project Dan Cherrier, Transportation Authority of Marin Connection to MUP at Ashford
Dan provided an overview of improvements planned and historical information on the Tam Junction area. A Class 2 bike lane is planned for Almonte to Shoreline extending to the Walgreens. Students have incurred major and minor injuries while cycling on the wrong side of the road from the Arco Station to Flamingo. The (fairly new) light at Flamingo has encouraged students to cycle on the correct side of the road. A sidewalk will be installed from the Rug House to Helen Ave. The utility poll will not be moved during this initial phase; however plans will include its relocation when PGE can get to it. Engineers will also be addressing drainage issues by the Nursery and Arco. Most of the work will be completed in the evening in later April/June 2017.
Wendi reminded Task Force members that these improvements were initially addressed by Kathy McLeod. She was steadfast in requesting these safety needs for students for many years with the Safe Routes to Schools Task Force. This is an example of informed and collaborative efforts; constructive advocacy.
Almonte and Rosemont Report
Handouts:
●TAM Crossing guard program location scoring criteria
●Ranked list of TAM crossing guard locations
Dan provided an overview the TAM Crossing Guard program funded by Measure A. The program is evaluated every four years- 2006, 2010, 2014 and again in 2018. Additional evaluations are also conducted on an as needed basis.
The Crossing Guard Rank List lists location where crossing guards are located and where they have been requested. The evaluation process ranks locations across the county. There are 4 types of crossing guard groups. There are a number of characteristics that warrant a crossing guard.
All Measure A funding is allocated for guards in the county. If a school district can assist with the cost of a guard(s) TAM will work with them to provide a discount when possible. If a school district offers to fund a specific crossing guard over a location that has a higher ranking need, it can create a liability for the school district.
A volunteer crossing guard would be a quarter of the price; however there are limitations and requirements that make the option a big challenge. The guards are required to attend TAM training and be managed by TAM. If the volunteer does not work out it creates a burden because a guard was positioned and now is gone. If there were other sites ranking higher for a guard they will still need to be funded first. Wendi agreed this is not a location for a volunteer guard. The best solution would be a rapid flashing beacon. A request was made for Parisi Engineering to make a recommendation and to seek funding in the future.
The Rosemont intersection after being evaluated did not warrant a crossing guard with a user count of 8-9 students using the crosswalk in the morning. They are counting students ages 8-13. The current crosswalk does not lead to a sidewalk only a bike lane. There will be new count/evaluation conducted in 2018.
A parent and resident of the Rosemont intersection expressed her safety concerns for students and adults using the crosswalk. She has witnessed drivers turning onto Rosemont as high speeds when students are coming down the hill too fast. Her estimation is 50 students bike or walk this intersection each morning and afternoon.
Wendi commented that it was unclear why high school students are not counted when there is a high school in the area. She also requested an engineering study be completed if a crossing guard was not approved.
The County DPW has identified a number of operational issues with the Rosemont intersection. Several facility improvements will be implemented: enhanced crosswalk, limit lines will be added, a flashing pedestrian will be considered. The beacon pricing varies; solar vs ground electricity. This could be a consideration for TAM funding cycle in 2018 but there are other locations in the county that are also being considered.
Stephanie suggested the steps, lanes and paths that exist be considered as an alternative route for students. It was not clear if the Almonte District has the right of way on the properties the steps lanes and paths cross.
County- Department of Public Works Update
Bob reported evaluation conditions inside the Alto Tunnel are scheduled. Boring holes will be made and cameras will provide information for the engineers. A report is planned to be released at the end of summer 2017.
The County DPW will be meeting with Mill Valley DPW on April 19 regarding the Almonte proposed facility improvements. An “all way stop” will be updated at Shell Rd and Meadow Dr.
Team Leader reports and updates
Edna Maguire - No new updates
Strawberry- The Go Green Challenge will begin the last week of March and run for 4 weeks. The winning class will receive a trophy and a BBQ. The bus program did not meet the proposed number of riders for the pilot year. One of the challenges is many families do not know what school they will be attending until very close to the start date. This prohibits them for signing up for a bus pass. Encouragement for next school year will begin earlier. The community will be sent information explaining how the yellow bus reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
Mill Valley Middle School- The Student Council will be hosting a spring challenge. The PTA is funding healthy treats and an award. This is an annual event for MVMS and will be celebrated with the SR2S Bike Blender on campus in the spring. This school has set a standard for Teens Go Green program.
Old Mill School- The Active 4Me program continues to run with high participation. The students trips/distance is being tracked on a posted map at the school. They have reached Baja Mexico with the tabulated miles. The Go Green Challenge will award the winning class with a pizza party. The challenge will continue as the students to continue their virtual travels through Mexico.
Yellow Bus- Marin Transit
Kelly reported the program in Mill Valley is going well and they are starting to plan for next schools program.
Transitions – elementary to middle and middle to high school transportation plans
Gwen reported Safe Routes to Schools has been working with various high schools through the county for 8 years. Safe Routes has not been successful in developing consistent support with the administration, teachers or students at Tam High. The county schools that do have a successful program have developed a partnership with Safe Routes to Schools.
Recently at the regional YES conference over 500 students attended addressing environmental, health and safety issues in high schools. Tam High School was not represented again this year.
Safe Routes Teen Program has presented a Impact Teen Driving assembly in local high schools; this is an option for Tam High when a partnership is developed. Support from the PTSA would be appreciated.
Global Student Embassy (GSE) is an independent organization. They offer year round (college credit) courses in education and action to address climate change, food security and ecological degradation. They would like to offer the program at Tam High.
Redwood High School has 200 students that use the bus system. Redwood has unique transportation needs from Tam High. Many students travel from Tiburon and the bus vs. family vehicle helps to manage traffic delays during peak travel periods. Tam High does have public bus service to and from downtown Mill Valley and to Marin City. Bus schedules have been adjusted to work with the school’s bell system.
CHP Update
Officers continue to patrol schools. Twelve new officers are in training
Next Task Force Meeting
Wednesday, May 17 at 9:30.