Meeting on September 17

Concord Community Reuse Project
Draft Revised Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
Edi Birsan made a presentation on his research of the DEIR. In Chapter 4 "Transportation", Figure 4-14 shows major street improvements which include upper Monument Boulevard widened to 6 lanes and Meadow Lane widened to 4 lanes (see number 15 and 16 on map). How can Meadow Lane be widened with out eminent domain of single family residences? The public review comment period was extended and now ends October 26, 2009 at 5 p.m.!

Monument Redevelopment Forum
An upcoming public meeting on a date to be determined will follow up on the development of Urban Design Guidelines.

City of Richmond's Draft General Plan
Community Health and Wellness Element
This is a brilliant GP element that we should consider for Concord's GP. Of particular interest is Goal HW4 "Encourage Safe and Convenient Public Transit and Active Circulation Options". Here are the policies:

HW4.1 Expanded and Affordable Public Transit
HW4.2 Enhanced and Accessible Paratransit
HW4.3 Safe and Convenient Walking and Bicycling
HW4.4 Safety and Accessibility
HW4.5 Complete Streets

Concord Trails Master Plan

Here is some information on the Concord Trails Master Plan that was presented by Ray Kuzbari that I missed in the August 20 meeting:

• A new Concord Trails Plan will be adopted by the City Council in October, and will be included in Concord’s General Plan.
• Bicycle trails paralleling Monument Blvd. are planned in the Concord Trails plan.
• One route will be a Class III Bike Connection Trail from Sunshine Drive to Linden Drive which connects to a Class II Bike Lane from Walter Way to Mohr Lane and the Iron Horse Regional Trail.

Meeting on August 20

Today's guests include Joni Carlson of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition , Cindy Dahlgren of the County Connection and Ray Kuzbari, Transportation Manager for the City of Concord. Joni is the official representative of the EBBC to our TAT. Ray hopes the Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Project will begin construction in the fall. Caltrans funding is allocated but not yet available.

Joni points out to Ray that in the Contra Costa Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan it has Monument Blvd as a bike route. Ray thinks this is a mistake, and he has submitted the city's Trails Master Plan to the CCTA. (I have reproduced portions of the two maps in the June 1 draft of the CBPP. The first map shows the proposed Monument Blvd bikeway by CCC in red and by MTC in light blue. The other map shows the existing Class III bike routes in orange on Sunshine Dr and Meadow Ln.)

Cindy says the Route 8 bus has been advertised in many ways more than any other route. To get more people to ride Route 8, Luz and Hanna tried it. Also, the kids attending our meeting from the Youth and Volunteer Action Team have tried it. Laura-Jean says, "Route 8 is great!" People didn't know that Route 8 bus would come to your door. Call the day before to have it pick you up. (For your information, I have reproduced the Riders Guide / Guía del Viajero.) Cindy reminds us the funding quits in June 2010. We brainstormed ways for how Monument Blvd businesses could promote the Route 8 bus.

Meeting on July 16

We warmly welcomed Brad Beck, Senior Transportation Planner for Contra Costa Transit Authority and Ray Kazbari, Transportation Manager for City of Concord, and we introduced our selves. Brad's introduction of himself included an explanation of what the CCTA does: it distributes sales tax money to transportation projects undertaken by cities and the county. We had a lively discussion on the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Kathy Renfrow questioned why Monument Blvd. was not included on the bicycle route plan. The answer is too much traffic and not enough right-of-way for bicycle lanes on streets such as Monument and Clayton. The meeting ran out of time and we will continue the discussion at our next meeting.

Monument Boulevard Urban Design Plan and Design Guideline

I spoke in favor of the proposed plan at the Concord City Council meeting on July 6. It's so good it should be referred to in related plans: CCTA's 2009 Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update, and City of Concord's Economic Vitality Strategy Update.

Read the July 9 Contra Costa Times article "Monument redevelopment plans pit traffic needs against community interests", and The Concordian article on page 32 "Vision for Monument Corridor taking shape".

Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CBPP) 2009 Update

The Draft 2009 Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is now available for review and comment. (I've attended the June 29 Public Workshop on the 2009 CBPP.) The update addresses MTC's "routine accommodation" policy, where Measure J explicitly supports the idea that bicycle and pedestrian needs should be routinely accommodated in projects funded with Measure J revenues.

Take a look at the plan at http://www.ccta.net/EN/main/bike/cbpp.html, and send your comments and suggestions to Brad Beck, Senior Transportation Planner.

February Transportation Action Team Minutes

Monument Community Partnership
Transportation Action Team
Keller House
February 19, 2009

Attendance

Steve Ardrey East Bay Bicycle Coalition
Harold Blair MCP Board
Virginia Brunk, AARP
Gaby Castanada Facilitator, MCP Volunteer Action Team
Mary Lou Laubscher, Facilitator
Wes Laubscher Monument Crisis Center
Robert Mc Callister Resident
Bill Miller Senior Action Team
Dave Pitman Chair, Concord Park Association
Riena Velaquez Resident

Announcements
* Monument Pride Celebration coming on June 6th
* Volunteer Action Team is looking for space to meet
* Reina is concerned about safety on the Monument
* Wes suggested the group visit the Alameda Bicycle shop and program at the redeveloped Alameda Naval Base Redesign Project
* Bike to Work Day coming next month. Free “Goodie Bags will be given out to bikers at the Concord BART Station
* Lakeside Community Garden work day is February 28th at 10 a.m. Every one is invited to help out.
* Gentle Exercise class starting Monday, February 23 10:45 at the Police Sub Station , 1500 Monument Blvd.


Update on Changes in the County Connection Bus Routes by Virginia and Gaby

* All County Connection Bus Routes will be renumbered and changed.
* Bus fares will increase.
* Senior ID cards (Free Passes) will be eliminated
* LINK Services for disabled and seniors will cost $4.oo each way
* The Disabled /Senior Pass will be increased to 20 rides for $5.00
* Route 114 will not change but will be called Route 14
It will run on Weekends as Route 314
* Route 111 will be renamed Route 11
It will run on Weekends as Route 311
* Route 110 will be named Route 10
It will run on weekends as route 10 or route 20
* More weekend routes will be added to the system
* For information call 676-7500 or look up information at www.ccta.org
* Transportation Action Team can help by passing out blue information flyers widely

Starting a Monument Bicycle Repair Program by Steve Ardrey, Board Member East Bay Bicycle Coalition

Steve developed outline of a possible local program
Gaby, Mike Van Hofwegan (Monument Futures) and Mary Lou brainstormed suggestions

Starting a Community Bike Facility which would include:

Place to work on bikes with tools available
Kids/ workers build own bikes from recycled parts
An example is the Bicycle Kitchen project in San Francisco
Grants are available to start a simple program:
Saturday program using volunteers from Bicycle Coalition
Kids would fix a broken bike
Earn a biked
Learn how to patch a tire
Book on How To Do Repairs could be translated into Spanish
Space is main concern to get started
Meeting requested with Councilman Peterson
Virginia suggested into looking at Loma Vista Adult Ed. Site

Plan a group trip to Alameda Reuse project

Invite Garden Action Team, Transportation Action Team and Monument Redevelopment Team to join us.

Ratification Transportation Action Team Goals for 2009

Programs to in Be Continued in 2009
Urban Design Plan for Monument
Informative Speakers
Advocacy on Transportation Issues
Partnering with other agencies
Programs to Add in 2009
Participation in the Monument Redesign effort
Advocating for Safe Bicycle Routes and Walking Trails
Bicycle Safety Classes
Youth Bicycle Programs
Explore Boulder Colorado’s System for bikes, trails and other transportation Systems
Raising awareness for Safe use of Monument Corridor by pedestrians and bicyclists
Look for creative solutions to our transportation needs
Holding a bicycle Rodeo in conjunction with Monument Health Fair
Featuring new street improvements
Explore/ Initiate the feasibility of establishing a bicycle repair or recycling program

Approved 2-19 -09

Approval of Draft Letter Regarding MTC Use of Stimulus Funds

Group approved draft letters to Supervisor Federal Glover and Orinda Council Member Any Worth requesting they vote to use new Stimulus funds on local transportation projects that have be eliminated or greatly reduced in Contra Costa.

Next Steps

* Talk to Garden, Monument Re Design and Transportation groups about a joint trip to Alameda
* Distribute widely the blue informational flyers on County Connection Changes
* Harold and Mary Lou to attend press conference on February 25th regarding use of Stimulus funding
* Explore feasibility of Loma Vista site

Agenda Next Meeting
Report on meeting with Councilman Peterson
Start planning for Bicycle Repair Project
Update our blog with Dave’s help
Plan for tour of Alameda Re Design Project

Tonight’s meeting

+
Lots of great shared information
Better attendance from community members
Each person contributed information
Each person has been working on transportation projects
Meeting close almost on time

∆
Even more resident participation needed

Next Meeting
March 19, 7 p.m. at Keller House

Vision Statement By the year 2015 The Monument Transportation Action Team will have planned and implemented a “local” transportation system that will serve all residents of the Monument area who need it. It will be affordable, sustainable, safe, coordinated, environmentally sound, and get riders where they need to go in a reasonable time.