Transportation, Housing, Preservation & Devlopment

By Nirmala I Bandrapalli

HIGH-SPEED RAIL

As we all know, the California high-speed rail initiative (HSR) has been a hot-button issue in the state, on the Peninsula, and, of course, in Burlingame. It is complex, has varied and long-term impacts, and requires very large expenditures--of federal, state and local funds. Let me tell you where I stand and give a little background on HSR. My position: In keeping with what has been our city's official position, I oppose high-speed rail in Burlingame, but support the electrification of Caltrain called for in phase one of the plan. I am relieved and pleased that the governor has signed legislation preserving a two-track approach to any changes going forward (the "blended system"), and ensuring that safeguards are in place to make movement beyond phase one very unlikely. Cities on the Peninsula overwhelmingly support the "blended system." Leveraging phase one funding to electrify Caltrain will increase Caltrain service, provide safer, crash-resistant cars and reduce pollution. We'll also get our weekday service restored in Burlingame. I do not support the High-Speed Rail Authority's plans for California beyond this initial phase. The Authority does not have a realistic financial plan and is unlikely to win additional funding from the state legislature. In addition, if high-speed rail ever comes to Burlingame--which at this point is doubtful and, in any case, would not occur for 20 years or more--I will fight to make sure it is below ground. Background and current status: The state's planned high-speed rail project was approved by California voters in 2008 with the passage of Proposition 1A. The High-Speed Rail Authority was created to plan, design, build and operate the system. Its vision was to have high-speed rail service connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2029, with extensions to Sacramento and San Diego thereafter. Controversy quickly ensued as the impact on communities surrounding the proposed route became clearer and the High-Speed Rail Authority produced a business plan without any realistic funding behind it. For the Peninsula, the High-Speed Rail Authority had initially proposed a four-track plan, in which Caltrain would occupy the outer tracks and high-speed rail the inner tracks along the Caltrain corridor. In response to strong opposition from local agencies, the Authority shelved that plan in favor of a "blended system" in which both train services share two tracks on the Peninsula and would avoid an aerial alignment in cities that did not want it. In 2012, the legislature approved construction financing for the initial phase of the HSR project. Many Burlingame residents have been among the most vocal in their concerns about the original four-track plan, and have continuing concerns that the "blended system" could be overturned. Our state representatives, Senator Jerry Hill and Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, carried those concerns to Sacramento in the form of Senate Bill 557. The bill makes it next to impossible for the California High-Speed Rail Authority to build a four-track rail system on the Peninsula. On September 6th, 2013, Governor Brown signed SB 557 into law. While the legislation stops short of codifying the "blended system" into law, it gives any of the nine Bay Area agencies that signed a memo of understanding agreeing to the blended system veto power over revisiting the four-track approach. The agencies include the Caltrain board of directors, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Just as importantly, the bill clarifies that $600 million in HSR first-phase funds will be used to electrify Caltrain by 2019, with local agencies providing the balance of the $1.1 billion project. That's the only funding that the state legislature has approved for high-speed rail, and it stands to benefit us greatly by modernizing Caltrain.

PARKING

We need to provide more parking downtown, and parking planning must be part of any new development project we approve. As a Planning Commissioner, I assure you that we currently are very, very particular about the kind of development we allow, and carefully consider the parking impact--both aesthetic and practical--of any proposal. I will carry that consideration to the City Council One of my goals is to increase parking in our downtown with a parking structure that blends in with our city's small-town architecture. In the meantime, I want to help shoppers find the 21 parking lots we already have in downtown Burlingame by encouraging the city to develop a smart phone application that will show drivers where our city's lots are located relative to their current position. We can also explore "smart" meter options that locate available metered spaces and make finding a parking space easier. Finally, and simply, I will work to ensure better signage for Burlingame parking lots.

SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR SENIORS

I will seek ways to enhance the transportation services we provide to our senior residents. Can we add pick-up/drop-off spots, hours of service, etc.? I will, of course, review usage-level and cost metrics, and get a data-based sense of seniors' needs (perhaps through an online and paper-based survey) before proposing specific changes. Among the other options we should explore are what I call a "Last Mile Connection" shuttle from transit hubs to key locations in our city, as well as a privately funded, volunteer-manned "taxi" service that could take seniors who are unable to drive to doctor's appointments. The latter would build on the concept currently implemented, to a limited degree, by FISH (Friends In Service Here), a group that is doing wonderful work here in Burlingame.

TRAFFIC FLOW

Our city has aligned its traffic lights to improve flow. If we move forward with Caltrain electrification and other non-auto-based transportation enhancements (for example, additional shuttle services and carefully planned, multi-unit housing near Caltrain and BART), we must provide alternatives to driving that reduce traffic and emissions. Progress on this front has clear environmental and quality-of-life impacts. We also need to ensure that all plans for roadwork and construction are viewed in an integrated fashion. For example, the impacts of anticipated work on the Highway 101 overpass and its relationship to California-Broadway traffic must be evaluated. We should also ensure, at minimum, that planning for any roadwork that impedes or complicates traffic flow includes advance communication so residents are well informed, as well as clear signage alerting drivers to what lies ahead--to mitigate congestion and minimize driver confusion.

SIDEWALKS

Many in our city ask why they have to pay for sidewalk repairs--even when city trees cause the cracks. Actually, state law makes sidewalk maintenance a homeowner responsibility. But years ago when the city of Burlingame had surplus funds, the council decided to pay for all repairs. Continuation of that practice proved impossible when the economy turned downward. Now the city splits the cost with residents and guarantees that they will not have to pay again for any needed repairs for 12 years. We all love the look of big leafy trees that form a canopy over many of our streets--so we encourage and nurture them. But, yes, these trees do cause sidewalk cracks. We need to ensure that when the city repairs sidewalks it curves them around

HOUSING

My approach to housing in Burlingame is based on the fact that change and growth are inevitable. But we need to carefully control and shape that change to ensure it is true to our city's character, while offering more housing options for current and future residents. Will our growing population of empty nesters and retiring Baby Boomers have housing alternatives that keep them in the city they love? Will young families, professionals, artists, craftsmen and others, who will be key to our town's future prosperity and the revenue of our businesses, find Burlingame attractive and affordable? Will new businesses/companies that increase our tax base see Burlingame as a place to locate, where their employees might live and the consumer market is vital? Below, I discuss my approach to answering some of these questions.

DENSITY AND DEVELOPMENT

In select areas of Burlingame (for example, around Burlingame Avenue and in the north end of town around the BART station), we need to develop multi-unit and mixed-use housing alternatives. My operating principles guiding any development are clear: apply the utmost care in approving projects, ensure that structures integrate attractively and smoothly with their surroundings, use scrupulous design standards, make adequate provisions for parking, and require high-quality construction. With this planning perspective, we can develop housing units that are attractive, within walking distance to shopping, blend organically into the city, and provide green space. Such housing will increase business and add to the vitality of the city. The idea of planning multi-unit housing near transit and shopping is a win all the way around. Burlingame stands to benefit from "Plan Bay Area" grant funds that reward such development. Current and future residents will have broader housing choices. Transportation will be enhanced for everyone, and underground parking can address potential parking problems. This can all be achieved while other residential areas in our city remain unchanged.

AFFORDABILITY

Burlingame's high-priced housing and beautiful residential streets are very much part of our identity. That won't change. The question is, can we at the same time promote more affordable housing alternatives that won't alter the city's character? I believe the limited multi-unit and mixed-use housing solutions described above prove that we can.

SENIOR-FRIENDLY HOUSING

As the Baby Boomer demographic group reaches retirement age, the percentage of residents in our county and city over age 65 will grow significantly. As of the 2010 census, the Bay Area's 65-and-over population represented 12 percent of the total. But by 2040, the share will increase to 22 percent. Put another way, the number of Bay Area seniors will more than double from under 900,000 today to nearly 2.1 million by 2040. Is our city ready for its part in that growth? Older residents typically want to be close to services, shopping and transportation; to drive less; and to downsize their housing because they need less space and want to be free of the cost and work of home maintenance. This reality further supports the need for Burlingame to develop appropriate, affordable, high-quality, mixed-use and multi-unit housing in designated areas.

THE BURLINGAME AESTHETIC

We are all sensitive to--and a central plank of my platform commits to--preserving Burlingame's small-town atmosphere. That commitment is the backdrop of all of the development positions I will take on the City Council. But what does small-town atmosphere mean? What does it look like? We all know it when we see it, but it's hard to capture it in words. Those of us who have been longtime Burlingame residents recognize it. It's in our trees; our residential streets; our preponderance of small, independent shops; the walkability of our neighborhoods; and the combination of cohesiveness and openness that we embrace. It's not big box stores or high buildings. You can count on me to be true to this aesthetic sense.

PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT

For some people, "preservation" and "development" are opposing points of view. I am not one of those people. For me, preservation and development are, instead, inextricably bound together to form the foundation of the smart planning on which our future will be built. Burlingame is not a museum and cannot be an artifact encased in amber; it is a lively and vibrant town. So, the question is not which side are you on? The question is how do we get the best of both worlds to ensure the endurance of our small-town character and the benefits of forward-looking solutions to the challenges we face?

THE PARK ROAD POST OFFICE

The city of Burlingame doesn't have the funds to buy the Park Road building formerly occupied by the U.S. Post Office. It is not yet on the market, but is sure to be priced at millions of dollars. Currently, the City Council is working with a reputable developer to submit a plan that would provide a public gathering space and other public amenities. The United States Postal Service will include an "historic covenant" when it sells the property to ensure that things like the beautiful marble lobby are preserved. Any developer that acquires the property will have to follow the terms of the covenant. I support the approach the council is taking.

There currently is no specific plan for the property. Among the possible uses for the space are housing, shops, public gardens, underground parking, galleries, performance spaces and public art. Regardless of who purchases the property, the city must approve the design of any project planned for the site. Burlingame's Planning Commission--of which I'm currently a member--will make sure the plan is excellent and will provide many opportunities for the public to be a part of the planning.

"PLAN BAY AREA"

In July, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopted an integrated transportation and land-use strategy called "Plan Bay Area." The plan, which runs through 2040, promotes transit-oriented development to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Working in collaboration with cities and counties, the plan advances initiatives to expand housing and transportation choices, create healthier communities and build a stronger regional economy. By directing grant funding, it seeks to locate most of the area's future housing within walking distance of public transit. Keeping most development within existing municipal development footprints is also one of the plan's key attributes. With smart planning, Burlingame may be able to leverage state funding (SB 375) for the kind of downtown housing development that I support. The safety valve of Plan Bay Area is that it is a carrot rather than a stick. No city has to apply for the grant funding it provides. My vision is to seek funding only for projects that our citizens truly want and need.

REVITALIZING BURLINGAME

Burlingame`s shopping districts are the envy of the Peninsula, but we must constantly strive to revitalize our city. While the current renovation of Burlingame Avenue is a step in the right direction, its implementation has aroused consternation on the part of some residents. The City Council should have ensured better communication and signage to help prepare everyone for the inevitable traffic and parking disruptions that go along with roadwork in the heart of the city. I also support initiatives to bring more businesses to the city and specifically to make our community more of an entertainment and cultural enrichment center--including galleries, theater or performance space, and public art. I will work with others on the council to determine outreach strategies, incentives and other techniques to make Burlingame even better. Doing more to clean up and beautify Broadway is another initiative that all of us should embrace. We can maintain the personality of the street--distinct from but not compared unfavorably to Burlingame Avenue--while at the same time helping local merchants make it a more appealing destination. It is home to different types of shops and service establishments that are important to Burlingame residents.