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San Rafael BPAC shortens public-comment time, approves Embarcadero pilot and elects officers
Summary
The BPAC voted to align public-comment time to 2 minutes for future meetings, approved a three‑month one‑way pilot on Embarcadero Way with before/after counts and public survey, and confirmed officer appointments for next year; staff also summarized draft city speed‑limit reductions under AB 43.
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee took several procedural and action items during the meeting.
Minutes: The committee approved the October 1 meeting minutes; three members who attended that meeting voted to approve and one member abstained because they were not present at the prior meeting.
Public-comment time: City Clerk Lindsay Lara recommended changing the committee’s public-comment limit from three minutes to two minutes to match citywide practice. After public testimony in favor of retaining three minutes for coherent remarks and discussion among members about discretion and written submissions, a motion to accept the staff recommendation passed; staff characterized the change as for future meetings and noted chairs commonly exercise discretion in practice.
Embarcadero one‑way pilot: Parametrix presented a proposed one‑way pilot on a narrow segment of Embarcadero Way (between Marina and Mission) aimed at pedestrian safety near the high school. Staff said counts show about 450 vehicles per day and roadway widths as narrow as roughly 11 feet in places; the recommended pilot would be temporary (minimum three months) with before/after traffic counts and an online survey to evaluate mode‑shift and diversion impacts. The committee voted to move forward with the pilot concept; staff will publish outreach flyers, conduct the counts in February and April and report back after the March survey and spring data.
Elections and calendar: The committee moved and approved nominations for chair and vice chair for the coming year (appointments to begin at the February 11 meeting).
Speed limits: Staff also presented Phase 2 of a citywide speed‑limit review under AB 43, which allows local jurisdictions more flexibility to reduce limits in areas with vulnerable users. Staff recapped the council’s downtown 20‑mph zone and proposed additional targeted 5‑mph reductions citywide on streets that meet AB 43 criteria; the committee discussed enforcement, data sources and coordination with traffic‑safety work.
No binding construction decisions were made; most items directed staff to proceed with outreach, surveys and data collection and to return with evaluations or revised plans.
