City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory  
Commission  
Monday, August 1, 2022  
6:00 PM  
Telepresence Meeting: City Web Stream  
6 P.M. SPECIAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING  
CALL TO ORDER  
Pursuant to Government Code Subdivision 54953(e), the meeting was conducted  
telephonically; pursuant to state law, the City Council made the necessary findings  
by adopting Resolution No. 1089-21, reaffirmed on July 12, 2022.  
Chair Mehlinger called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. via teleconference.  
ROLL CALL  
Present 6 -  
Commissioner Richard Mehlinger  
Chair Leia Mehlman  
Vice Chair Bryce Beagle  
Commissioner Alex Bonne  
Commissioner Dan Hafeman  
Commissioner Timothy Oey  
Absent 1 - Commissioner Arwen Davé  
Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, Angela Obeso, Principal  
Transportation Engineer and Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer attended via  
teleconference.  
Commissioner Davé (absent)  
Council Liaison Din (present)  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
1
22-0791  
Recommend to City Council the Selection of the Mary Avenue  
Underpass with Jughandle Option to be Defined as the  
Proposed Project for the Grade Separation of Crossing of the  
Caltrain Railroad Tracks for the Environmental Review  
Chair Mehlinger stated he has a conflict of interest where he owns real property  
within 1000 feet of the Mary Avenue Underpass, recused himself from the agenda  
item, and left the teleconference meeting at 6:05 p.m. Vice Chair Mehlman took over  
as Chair to run the meeting.  
Commissioner Hafeman stated he owns real property within 1000 feet of the Mary  
Avenue Underpass, recused himself from the agenda item, and left the  
teleconference meeting at 6:06 p.m.  
Angela Obeso, Principal Transportation Engineer, gave a presentation on the  
Caltrain Grade Separation Feasibility Study - Mary Avenue Underpass. Highlighting  
the following:  
- Project Background  
- Project Locations  
- Project Purpose - Safety  
- Why Grade Separation is needed  
- Next Steps - Preferred Option Selection - August 30th City Council  
- First option - Mary Avenue Underpass Tunnel  
- Mary Avenue Underpass Traffic Study Summary  
- Examples of local underpass projects  
- Second option - Mary Avenue Underpass Tunnel with Jughandle  
- Mary Avenue Underpass with Jughandle Traffic Study Summary  
- Mary Avenue Alternative Comparison  
- Staff Recommendation  
Commissioner Bonne commented and asked about the following:  
- Data on frequency of collisions between trains, vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists  
- How the underpass would address collisions  
- How realistic are the Caltrain predictions on their growth and time frame  
- Mary Avenue Underpass would not be safe  
- Mary Avenue Underpass Jughandle focuses too much on cars not enough for  
bicyclists and pedestrians  
Ms. Obeso addressed the questions.  
Commissioner Oey asked about the following:  
- Where the money is coming from to cover the construction  
- What are the most common routes people are taking for vehicles, pedestrians and  
bicyclists  
- Bikeway along Evelyn Avenue  
- Conflict points on Evelyn Avenue  
- Results of survey  
Ms. Obeso addressed the questions.  
Commissioner Beagle asked about the following:  
- Cost difference between the Underpass and the Jughandle  
- Crosswalk on the eastern side of the Jughandle connection to Evelyn but not on  
the western side  
- Did the study look into closing the Bidwell Avenue connection at Mary Avenue  
entirely  
- What is preventing the westbound traffic on Evelyn Avenue on the Jughandle  
option to continue uninterrupted without having to stop at the stoplight  
- Updating classification of bike lanes on Mary Avenue  
- Is there a requirement that the turn lanes need to sit at the right of the bike lanes?  
Ms. Obeso addressed the questions.  
Acting Chair Melhman commented and asked about the following:  
- Are the proposed level of bike lanes class II bike lanes just conceptual? Are they  
the floor of the ATP bike lane design?  
- Why hasn't the conceptual design incorporated 2 stage bike turn queues to reduce  
the number of conflict points?  
- If the properties are purchased what other uses can they be used besides the  
Jughandle? Could there be a park installation?  
- Should have higher standards in the proposed designs for bike lanes  
Ms. Obeso addressed the questions.  
Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:  
- What would be the budget and the space impact if there is a concrete barrier  
separating the bicycles from the vehicles?  
- What is the minimum vehicle lane width that could be implemented? Can one  
vehicle lane be narrower than the other?  
- Did you consider breaking the vehicle connection between Evelyn Avenue and  
Mary Avenue and eliminating the Jughandle?  
Ms. Obeso addressed the questions.  
Public Comment opened at 7:02 p.m.  
Ari Feinsmith, member of the public, commented on the following:  
- Thanked Ms. Obeso and City staff for reaching out to the Bike Sunnyvale SVBC  
- Neither intersection design stand out as significantly more bike/pedestrian friendly  
- Conflict point is about the same for both designs for bicycles and pedestrians  
- Depressed Intersection Suggestion: Upgrade to protected intersection  
- Jughandle suggestion - make both intersections protected  
- Mary Avenue - depending on which bicycle enhancements are included, the  
options can look better or worse  
Dan Hafeman, member of the public, commented on the following:  
- In support of the Jughandle, less expensive and slightly better for  
bicyclists/pedestrians  
- Not in favor of option 2: auto ramps on the train track side on the roadway  
- Does not like submerged intersection because 7-11 a local store for the  
neighborhood would have to go away  
- Not in favor of do nothing option, the project is not just for cars, but also for  
Caltrain and keeping people off tracks  
Public Comment closed at 7:08 p.m.  
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:  
- Would like to see project come back to BPAC for feedback in the final design  
phase  
- Supports Jughandle Option because it reduces conflict points  
- Lower cost and fewer environmental impacts  
Commissioner Beagle commented on the following:  
- Bidwell Avenue should be closed to vehicle traffic at Mary Avenue to benefit  
bike/ped  
Acting Chair Mehlman commented on the following:  
- Supports Jughandle Option  
- Would like to see the final proposal brought back to the BPAC  
- Standards for the final proposal for the ATP be brought up to more than the  
minimum standards  
MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Acting Chair Mehlman seconded to  
Alternative 2 with Modifications: Recommend to City Council the Selection of the  
Mary Avenue Underpass with Jughandle Option to be Defined as the Proposed  
Project for the Grade Separation of Crossing of the Caltrain Railroad Tracks for the  
Environmental Review and the final design be brought before Bicycle and  
Pedestrian Advisory Commission for approval before City Council vote.  
Acting Chair Mehlman commented on the following:  
- Seeing the draft proposal does not constitute BPAC's endorsement of the actual  
infrastructure  
- Would like to see the final proposal and provide feedback  
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:  
- Likes Jughandle Option because it minimizes the impacts to area, construction and  
climate change  
- More favorable option for bicyclists and pedestrians through the intersection than  
there would be for a fully depressed intersection  
- Important to give feedback on the final design  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Acting Chair Mehlman would like the final design meet  
more than the minimum ATP standards for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.  
Commissioner Oey accepts the friendly amendment. Commissioner Beagle accepts  
the friendly amendment.  
Acting Chair Mehlman commented on the following:  
- Standards for the final proposal for the ATP should be brought up to more than the  
minimum standards  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Beagle would like to add that City Council  
modify the plan to close the Bidwell Avenue intersection at Mary Avenue to  
vehicular traffic while keeping it open to pedestrians and bicyclists thereby removing  
a dangerous conflict point. Commissioner Oey seconded the friendly amendment.  
Acting Chair Mehlman rejects the friendly amendment.  
Acting Chair Mehlman commented on the following:  
- Bidwell Avenue should remain open for safety vehicle access  
- Diverting fire and ambulance to a longer route  
- Diverting more traffic through residential neighborhood  
- Impacts to the residents of the neighborhood with increase vehicular traffic would  
be detrimental  
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:  
- Commissioner Beagle's friendly amendment should be looked at and evaluated  
- Would like to see it investigated, likes the idea  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Beagle would like to add that City Council  
modify the plan to investigate closing the Bidwell Avenue intersection at Mary  
Avenue to vehicular traffic while keeping it open to pedestrians and bicyclists  
thereby removing a dangerous conflict point. Commissioner Oey and Acting Chair  
Mehlman accepts the friendly amendment.  
MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Acting Chair Mehlman seconded to  
Alternative 2 with Modifications: Recommend to City Council the Selection of the  
Mary Avenue Underpass with Jughandle Option to be Defined as the Proposed  
Project for the Grade Separation of Crossing of the Caltrain Railroad Tracks for the  
Environmental Review and the final design be brought before Bicycle and  
Pedestrian Advisory Commission for approval before City Council votes. The final  
design standards meet more than the minimum ATP standards for bicycle and  
pedestrian infrastructure. City Council modify the plan to investigate closing the  
Bidwell Avenue intersection at Mary Avenue to vehicular traffic while keeping it open  
to pedestrians and bicyclists thereby removing a dangerous conflict point.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 4 - Acting Chair Mehlman  
Commissioner Bonne  
Commissioner Beagle  
Commissioner Oey  
No: 0  
Absent 1 - Commissioner Davé  
Recused 2 - Commissioner Mehlinger  
Commissioner Hafeman  
Adjourn Special Meeting  
Acting Chair Mehlman adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m.