i am the executive director of the san francisco bicycle coalition. we're thrilled to be cosponsoring this event. for your support, enthusiasm, commitment, bringing fantastic talents. we will work hard in the next few days. huge thanks to the political family at the support. this would be an exercise in vision and dreaming. if it weren't for the fact that myself and so many others have the faith that we will actually produce results in the next few days, this will not just be draining envisioning. we will take many, maybe all of your ideas and to move forward. because we have such tremendous political support. i want to recognize and the mayor in the last 67 months of working with him, i can't tell you the difference. we're thrilled to have such a

partner. i want to thank you for the support and enthusiasm. i want to thank you from the police department, the port, and we really have the commitment we needed to move forward. that is why i am very optimistic. i want to say thank you to the teams that put this together. big thanks for jennifer with the dutch consulate. i was fortunate to spend eight months in the netherlands, and we got to test ride the thing that many of you have been working on for some many years.

we have this idea, a belief that san francisco can be a great bicycling city, internationally recognized. sometimes that vision gets challenged and that belief and waver a bit, i will be honest wit. my time in amsterdam, i could test that vision. is if all i make it out to be when i talk to folks. what i saw and what i experienced let me feeling without a doubt that you have succeeded in a way that is amazingly admirable, and in a way that we should be striving for here in san francisco. and most importantly, that i know we can reach. that was my biggest take away. there is a wonderful presentation of all of the elements, many of the elements they are using to make the netherlands said world-renowned

bicycling environment. i saw that san francisco has some many of these elements already in place. we are so far down the line, what we need is to bring it together.

[roll call] >> mr. chair, you have a quorum. >> let me welcome the staff this afternoon, think you very much. >> announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices. the use of telephones, pagers, and other -- get the tape

recorder on so that every precious word is remembered out of austerity. other sound producing electronics are prohibited at the meeting. if you're responsible for one going off, you may be removed for the meeting. the board respectfully request they be placed in the off position. is there a motion for approval and a second of the mets for the last meeting? >> so ordered -- of the minutes for the last meeting? >> so ordered. >> i like to ask the department to take a look at the citation report. we haven't seen those in several months.

>> will work and get something on the calendar for you. >> other directors? >> the directors' report. >> i am sitting in for the director of transportation. since this is the first meeting of the month, we will start with the special recognition award from the transit division.

, truly extraordinary. it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to introduce him to you. congratulations and thank you on behalf of the board of directors. [applause] >> you don't want to give a speech? >> he declines to speak respectfully. >> our next caller is from the transit division. he is an electronic maintenance technician also from the green light rail division and is a 34- year veteran. he has clearly demonstrated that he is a hard-working and dedicated employee that takes pride in all that he does. he works at troubleshooting all systems, including advanced

train controls. that is always paramount for us. we have the director of the transit division once again to present the award. >> again, we are on the verge of the one hundredth anniversary. of vehicles as well as taking care of the automatic train control systems. is the kind of effort from

people like henry that allow us to provide service to thousands of people. >> thank you for all these years of great work. [applause] >> i'll like to say a few words. it has been 34 years now, and i can't say another 34 years although i really enjoy my job. elector urge you to consider the fact of a lot of us are going to retire in the next five years horse sooner. it is difficult to train personnel on the automated train control system. it takes time to learn it. the worst possible scenario is that if we have a lot of people retire at the same time, we get a bunch of people coming in that

don't know the system. please consider that and i appreciate this award. [applause] >> of the next award goes to kim walten with the sustainable street's commission. she serves as a transportation planner and has been with the organization since 1998. she serves as the project manager for the glen park environmental impact report in the transportation feasibility analysis. she has taken the initiative to better understand one of the primary concerns of the community, which is parking. she became knowledgeable about management tools, processes for changing parking regulations, and getting the community

involved with the process. she has also partnered with the park came to organize successful community meetings. they have discussed survey findings, discussed where neighbors can take action, listen to concerns and ideas and have mutual respect and trust in the committee that will improve the transportation system. we want to honor today, and i see before us the director of the -- >> the afternoon. -- good afternoon. a lot of streets out there. [laughter] i am honored to be here to recognize can, because i had a hand in bringing her on board 13 years ago and she has been a

great colleague to work alongside with. i know that he would like to say a few words, age unknown and that has never met a microphone that he did not like. >> i will be very brief. she is one of the star players on our team and she has done an amazing job with the stationary project, it has been a lot of work and a lot of coordination. it comes down the personality, i just want to honor and a garrison of grateful to have people like her on our team. >> on behalf of the board of directors, thank you. >> i would like to thank the following people. my parents for raising the in

chicago where my transportation of interest began. there was public transit for 75 years, taking her last bus trip at the age of 96 years old. and of like to thank my co- workers and bosses at the mta where i have been fortunate to work with great alliance, and with incredibly talented people that worked in a sustainable streets division. [applause] >> our final recognition award goes to the capital program and construction division. if you can step to the microphone, she served as an associate engineer and has been with the agency since 2007.

she is a project engineer for the radio replacement project and has done a fabulous job with consultants to develop the radio system. extensive coordination has been done with property owners, other projects and agencies to ensure all needs are understood and addressed. she is a very enthusiastic individual and dedicated to what she does a day in and day out. let me introduce my colleague, the acting director of capital programs and construction. >> in the afternoon, members of the board. today is especially gratifying for me to introduce to you another one of our young engineers. during these four years, she has demonstrated not only her talent but also of great enthusiasm for doing the awards.

-- but for doing the work. i like to congratulate her and i am sure that we'll be looking forward to seeing her here again. >> on behalf of the entire agency, thank you for your outstanding work. [applause] >> i feel very honored to have this award, and it was very unexpected. i like to thank my boss for being supportive and since i am a newcomer, there are lots of things that i don't know, i am still in the learning curve. i would like to thank my husband. because of him, i have the opportunity to move to san

francisco and that don't quite let with the city. i feel very honored to work for the government and the society. [applause] >> continuing with the report, the next item is the track replacement project. work continues on the project where we are replacing the realm in both directions. it takes place every weekend. during the week, it is welded into long sections for installation over the weekend. as of december 31, will be halfway through the project. both inbound and outbound will be completed by the end of june

of next year. the staff has started to discuss the steps currently in place in the twin peaks tunnel. and we will ensure that we report back to the board as we make a decision on updating within the tunnel. >> thank you for that report and got a busy schedule. i understand you say that we haven't determined how when the rails and the tunnel speed will increase again? we think the project will be done by june, but the speed might increase before then? >> will want to make sure there is testing done before we can make a determination as to what

the increased speed will be. keeping that in mind, we will have a better idea after we bring the consultants. >> we're not anticipating a speed increase until at least june or may be later? >> i would say that is accurate. >> and a ticket there is nothing we can do to expedite the process? it was a few months project that was never committed. but i appreciate the definitive answer, handley of those trains in june along, and if june is what it needs to be to be done safely, so be it. >> we can check back with you and inform the board accordingly, but we're trying to put the rail in a safe and efficient manner. safety is first and foremost

with your quite aware of. >> i just had a question that was raised by one of the awards, and we don't have to get into this year, but the first award recipient is to be especially commended because he may be tracked observation while an automatic train control. that is a time when a driver could perhaps be less attentive because the computer is driving the train and he was paying very close attention and noticed a thing that turned out to be a person. do we have automated systems to detect and track obstructions'? or is that the primary line of defense? i would be happy to receive this offline. >> we can do that, then. continuing on, and want to provide an update.

we have public workshops in the summer as well as a survey that we disseminated. we received input regarding conceptual design options. based on the information we receive, including meetings held at the california academy of sciences, information received by recreation and parks staff and other groups, other interested individuals stakeholders. we received unanimous approval, and these efforts were supported by the pedestrian safety advisory committee. what we are planning to do would be a first, to feature by claims physically separated from moving traffic by parked cars. other cities currently used bicycle road works like new york city, washington d.c..

we want 20% of trips by bicycle in 2020. this will enable folks to be comfortable riding alongside cars since there will be a physical barrier protecting them. will to increase bicycle trips, reduce cycle and on sidewalks, and reducing collision. the next item i would like to provide an update on -- >> have we addressed the concerns that may have come from this and the community leaders and the disability community? >> yes, sir. it has indicated in the report, we have been working in tandem and we're looking at -- or working collaborative lisa that we don't sidestep -- working

collaborative lead so that we don't sides that -- working collaboratively so that we don't sidestep. >> [inaudible] >> mr. lee? >> this is the rec and park jurisdiction, so they will take the lead on this matter. >> the afternoon, members of the board. -- good afternoon, members of the board. we are going to the committee for consultation on december 14.

>> continuing on with the status of transit and the environmental impact report, we reached a major milestone with the notice of preparation, and that of as the public scoping meeting by the department of planning. the planning department is leading with out reach. the past participant community groups and the libraries, we are encouraging the public to comment by attending either meeting. we're hosting one tonight and tomorrow. you can also send comments through e-mail or written to the mta. as we approach the end of the calendar year, i wanted to announce that we will be offering free muni on new year's eve. all muni service of the free --

or will be free. i want to provide an update on america's cup. the final draft plan that encompasses the plan revolving around how we are going to move these people about that are here to take part. that plan was accepted by the event authority on september 30 complying with the agreement deadline. that reflects extensive input from staff and including the accessibility advisory committee and hundreds of community and advocacy meetings. it provides mitigation measures that go before the city planning commission in december. we plan to present that to all of you early in 2012.

the last item is in direct -- i know that chairman nolan was on this trip to the district of columbia as we talk about the advocacy efforts. there has been significant activity over the last month. more or less, meetings were conducted with the san francisco congressional delegation and key committee staff. as well as the fda being the federal transit administrator. the meetings all of firma strong and continued support for the subway project. for fiscal year 2012, the department of transportation appropriations bill was passed during the same week includes

hughes start spending for projects that will receive funding grant agreements. chairman, i did not know if you wanted to add anything else. >> it was a very positive trend for san francisco. -- a very positive trenip for sn francisco. what has to happen is that the administrator has to make a decision whether to grant us the full funding agreement and it goes to the office of budget and management, then congress for 60 days. we're not looking at any real news on that until march or april. but there were meetings with congresswoman pelosi. it was very encouraging to the entire agency.

we are happy to report that the others were making bond issues. >> i have one more item before i conclude my report. i wanted to say publicly that we are greatly excited about the generous support of the mta employees the pledged during the charities campaign. we set the bar high, 25% participation. we were able to get 25.2% which came to 1128 individuals contributing. we raised for come by the charities in excess of $130,000. the city overall was excess of $1 million. i want to thank all of those per year precipitation. that