Title
Transportation Commission Endorsement of the 2018 Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report and Work Program Priorities.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Transportation Commission
From: Gail Payne
Senior Transportation Coordinator
Date: February 27, 2019
BACKGROUND
On January 21, 2015, the City Council directed staff to prepare an approach to a comprehensive citywide transportation planning and implementation effort in response to a Council referral from Councilmember Tony Daysog (Citywide Transportation Effort). In 2016, the Transportation Commission and the City Council reviewed the existing conditions and goals and objectives. In 2017, the Transportation Commission and the City Council reviewed the draft strategies, projects and actions, and the Transportation Commission recommended the Draft Transportation Choices Plan for approval by the City Council. In January 2018, the City Council approved the Transportation Choices Plan along with direction to staff to prepare an annual report.
The attached 2018 annual report on the status of the Transportation Choices Plan provides an assessment of the City’s progress made toward implementing the plan and provides a recommended priority list of actions over the next two years to achieve the Transportation Choices Plan goals and objectives. The Annual Report is attached as Exhibit 1.
The Transportation Choices Plan tackles transportation issues with a comprehensive citywide approach by providing more transportation options for Alamedans with the goal of reducing drive alone trips at the crossings (Goal 1) and through Alameda (Goal 2) over the next 15 years and beyond. The purpose of the Transportation Choices Plan is to help ensure that the City sustains its high quality of life during a time of current and anticipated population and employment growth throughout the Bay Area region.
DISCUSSION
The 2018 Annual Report is the first annual report on the implementation of the Plan. It provides an overview of the major work accomplished in 2018 to implement the Plan and provides a recommended list of priority projects and programs that the City should attempt to accomplish over the next two years to continue Plan implementation and improve transportation choices for Alameda residents and businesses.
The Housing Element Annual Report 2018 is provided (Exhibit 2) to ensure close coordination between transportation and land use decisions and priorities.
Year 1 Progress Report (2018)
In this first year of Plan implementation, progress was made to implement 30 of the 39 projects in the Plan. A summary of the major accomplishments is as follows:
• Bus Improvements: Includes Line 19 supplemental service for peak times, Line 96 extension to Spirits Alley and Bladium areas of Alameda Point, bus passes for Mulberry neighborhood on Clement Avenue and for Island High School’s 120 students and explored the Alameda Shuttle.
• Ferry Improvements: Increased ferry ridership, celebrated the opening of the Central Bay Operations Center at Alameda Point, approved the final plans and secured the funding to build a new ferry terminal at Alameda Point, and approved a plan to restripe Main Street between the ferry terminal and Pacific Street to provide space for bicycling.
• Cross Alameda Trail: Construction began in Alameda Point between Seaplane Lagoon and Main Street. Completed final design for Main Street to Constitution Way. Celebrated the opening of the Jean Sweeney Park between Constitution Way and Sherman Street.
• West Alameda Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing: Explored the feasibility of an estuary crossing for bicyclists and pedestrians, and preserved easements on the Alameda side.
• Central Avenue Safety Improvements: The Transportation Commission approved four options to analyze in the Webster Street area and an extension of the two-way bikeway between Paden School and McKay Avenue.
• Shared Mobility: The City formalized the piloted dockless bike share program by contracting with Lime for a two year program. The City Council approved a pilot program with Gig Car Share. The City Council authorized staff to begin work on a citywide shared electric scooter program.
• Maintenance: The 2017 - 2019 Capital Budget invested over $13 million in the maintenance, repaving and improvement of the City’s existing transportation facilities and assets.
Priority Actions for Next Two Years (2019 and 2020)
The major focus of city transportation resources should be to accomplish the following Plan project and program milestones over the next two years:
• More Bus Service: Provide more frequent bus service between Alameda Point and Downtown Oakland. Identify funding for a new “Cross Alameda” bus route between Alameda Point and the east end of Alameda. Expand citywide AC Transit Easy Pass program. Develop design for the Appezzato Pkwy bus lanes or bus queue jump lanes.
• More Ferry Service: Complete construction of Seaplane Lagoon ferry terminal and begin additional ferry services in 2020. Replace the Main Street ferry terminal float, and begin work on a long-term plan for Main Street terminal improvements. Implement a parking management plan for the ferry terminals.
• Active Transportation Plan. Complete the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update.
• Broadway and Jackson Freeway Improvements. Complete design work with Oakland, Caltrans and Alameda County Transportation Commission for improvements to Broadway and Jackson I-880 ramps.
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Estuary Crossing. Complete feasibility studies with Oakland for a bicycle and pedestrian crossing from West Alameda to Oakland’s Jack London Square.
• Cross Alameda Trail: Complete construction of the Cross Alameda Trail between Alameda Point and Jean Sweeney Park, approve the final design and begin construction of the Trail improvements on Clement Avenue between Grand Street and Broadway, and approve the final design for the Trail between Broadway and Miller Sweeney Bridge.
• Central Avenue Improvements: Complete the study of four design options for the Webster Street/Central Avenue area and approve the final design for safety improvements on Central Avenue from Alameda Point to Sherman Street. The options to study include: 1) Sharrows and Traffic Calming (Four Lanes Remain); 2) Sharrows and Bike Lane (Four Lanes East/Three Lanes West); 3) Continuous Bike Lane (Three Lanes); and 4) Two-way Bikeway (Three Lanes).
• Otis Drive Improvements: Approve the final design for Otis Drive traffic calming between Westline Drive and Willow Street and initiate high priority, low cost calming strategies.
• Main Street: Complete Main Street restriping and bike lane safety improvements between the ferry terminal and Pacific Avenue.
• Encinal Avenue: Restripe and improve State Route 61 (Encinal Avenue) between Sherman Street and Broadway.
• Shared Mobility: Develop a shared electric scooter and shared electric bicycle permit program. Extend Gig Car Share pilot and evaluate in 2020.
• Transportation Awareness: Disseminate information to improve citywide awareness of transportation options. Continue bicycle safety education programs.
• Maintenance: Repave 10 miles of streets and trails, repair 4 miles of sidewalks, upgrade 10 signals, and install 50 bicycle racks and 10 bus benches.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for projects in the 2018 Annual Report of the Transportation Choices Plan will come from a variety of sources, and will be identified as part of the City’s budget process as projects move forward. Endorsement of an annual report will have no impact on the General Fund or City Budget. Final budget decision on specific programs and capital projects will be made by the City Council when it approves the Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Program. Endorsement of a work priority in the Annual Report does not predetermine or obligate the City Council to make a particular funding decision when it adopts the citywide Budget and Capital Improvement Program.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Alameda Municipal Code. Undertaking the 2018 Annual Report of the Transportation Choices Plan is consistent with the Transportation Element of the City's General Plan, which states that the City shall update planning documents as shown below:
• Policy 4.1.6.e: Support and maintain an up-to-date Transportation System Management (TSM) and TDM plan consistent with state law to provide adequate traffic flow to maintain established level of service.
• Policy 4.3.1.a: Update and implement the recommendations of the Alameda Long Range Transit Plan.
• Policy 4.3.2.d: Develop and implement a Pedestrian Master Plan with regard to physical system improvements, as well as programs and policies relating to encouragement, education and enforcement.
• Policy 4.3.3.a: Maintain and implement the Bicycle Master Plan with regard to physical system improvements (especially the identified priority projects), as well as programs and policies relating to encouragement, education and enforcement.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Endorsement of an Annual Report is statutorily exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Endorse the 2018 Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report and Work Program Priorities.
Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Exhibits:
1. Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report 2018
2. General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report 2018