Center Boulevard Public Hearing
Fairfax Town Council Meeting

September 7, 2004, 7:30 pm
Fairfax Women's Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax

The Center Boulevard Reconstruction Project is an excellent opportunity to improve safety on Center for all users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Fairfax Director of Public Works Bill Whitney and consultants R.J. Alexander & Associates and Parisi & Associates have worked together to create three design alternatives that reflect a vision of Center Boulevard as a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly gateway into Fairfax. The purpose of the hearing at this Town Council Meeting is to discuss the design alternatives, hear public comment and decide on which alternative (or elements of different alternatives) to move forward with. Keep in mind that the Council may not pick a specific alternative, but may pick and chose between elements of the three alternatives for the final design.

It's important to keep in mind that this project is far from a done deal. Such work consumes the town's staff time as they work with consultants and apply for grants. It's vitally important to show our support for this work so that the Town continues to move forward with this crucial project.

Talking Points for Meeting Attendees

When you attend the meeting, please consider making a statement. Below are some talking points to get you started.

Say Thank You: All three designs represent a step forward for walking and bicycling in Fairfax. In your statement, please take a moment to thank Bill Whitney, the consultant and the Town Council for such proposed improvements as:

• Bike lanes the length of the project
• A bicycle parking plaza at Fair-Anselm Plaza
• Wide, continuous sidewalks throughout the project that link the existing parking lots along Center to downtown destinations.
• Two new crosswalks, including one at the Post Office.

In general, MCBC favors the designs that give the highest priority to walking and bicycling. Alternative 3 provides the most thorough treatment to encourage walking and biking, though it also removes the most car parking spaces and is the most expensive. For that reason it will likely be less popular with the Council. Of the three designs, Alternative 1 provides the least benefit for walking and biking yet is the cheapest. Alternative 2 is a fairly balanced compromise.

There are several elements in particular that we want to draw attention to and support:

• We need a solution for the intersection of Center/Pastori/Lansdale: The intersection is dangerous for cycling because it's unclear where cyclists should ride to cross the intersection. As a result, cyclists end up riding the wrong way on Center, on the wrong side of the road. It's also difficult for drivers to predict what a cyclist will do at this confusing intersection. Some kind of pavement marking is needed to continue the bike lane for westbound cyclists through the intersection. This improvement helps cyclists know where to ride and should reduce dangerous wrong-way riding. Alternative 2 clearly shows a possible treatment in the form of a bike lane. The Council should also consider using bike route stencils like the ones in San Anselmo to show the best way to cross the intersection. If Alternative 3 is chosen, the intersection artwork could cleverly incorporate a path guiding bicyclists across the intersection.
• The intersection of Pacheco and Center is confusing and dangerous: Alternative 1 shows the removal of the west-bound right turn lane and the east-bound left turn lane. This improvement simplifies the intersection and makes it safer for everyone, especially walkers and cyclists, and should be incorporated into the final alternative chosen by the Council. A treatment using stencils, similar to that proposed at Center and Lansdale, could also be used at the intersection of Center and Pacheco to carry the bike lanes through that intersection.
• Bicycle parking is needed throughout the project: Curb extensions provide a great place for bicycle racks out of the way of pedestrians. The Council should support interspersing bicycle racks throughout the project near destinations such as the Post Office, Avatar Business Center, Ross Valley Brewing Company, Sunshine Bicycle Center, Fairfax Gym and Albertsons. The racks can be placed between street trees so as to be compatible with the goal of a greener Center Boulevard. It's important to build adequate bike parking at the time the project is constructed and not wait for businesses to do so after the fact. All the alternatives show some curb extensions, but Alternatives 2 and 3 provide the most opportunities to combine bike racks with greenery.
• Good visibility is needed at the two new crosswalks: Crosswalk yielding by drivers on Center is already good - in order to help drivers continue this safe behavior, the Council should support using low landscaping to avoid blocking the sightlines to pedestrians. As a minimum, high visibility crosswalks like the one in front of Albertsons, should be used to increase visibility of pedestrians.

View the consultants' designs on-line at:
http://www.town-of-fairfax.org/Departments/PublicWorks/

If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Eric Anderson, MCBC Director of Planning, at eric@marinbike.org or 415-456-3469 ext 4#