Title
Review Quarterly Report on Activities Related to Transportation Policies and Plans
Body
Transportation Commission
February 22, 2017
Item 6A
Alameda Paratransit Shuttle - Thursday Central Loop Stop Changes
BACKGROUND
Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) Section 2-8.1 states that the Transportation Commission (TC) “shall monitor, via quarterly staff reports, implementation of approved transportation plans and policies.” This report provides an update regarding activities during the period of September 2016 through January 2017.
DISCUSSION
The below section lists various work tasks completed or are being worked on by staff relating to Transportation Plans from September 2016 through January 2017 sorted by the relevant transportation plan.
Bicycle Master Plan
Cross Alameda Trail - Appezzato Parkway: City staff submitted a Soils Remediation Plan to the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health for review and approval; conducted special studies for, and drafted, a revised NEPA checklist and received comments from the reviewing agency; continued working with adjacent property owners to finalize encroachment issues; received comments from City permit review; and continued to explore options for additional funding. The TC and the Planning Board approved the preliminary design at a joint meeting in February 2015. The project is funded from a Measure B/VRF Bike/Pedestrian Funds grant application totaling $793,000, Citywide Developer Fees as the local match totaling $198,000, and Federal Transit Administration monies totaling $787,440. Next Steps: Obtain the County’s final approval on the Soils Remediation Plan, finalize all encroachment issues, obtain federal NEPA clearance, and put the project out to bid, with construction expected to begin in late 2017 and to be completed in early 2018.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/public-works/cross-alameda-trail>
Cross Alameda Trail - Gap Closure (Atlantic Ave from Webster St to Constitution Way): In early 2016, staff brought a draft design for this critical trail gap between the Jean Sweeney Park and Appezzato Parkway trail segments to the TC. Since then, staff has been working with the design engineers, surveyors and traffic analysis consultants on revising the designs. Staff is working closely with all internal stakeholder departments, as well as AC Transit, neighboring property owners and bicycle/pedestrian advocates, on a design that maintains the current bus stop, and improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Next Steps: Finalize the revised design, develop a cost estimate and find project funding. Request TC approval of staff recommendation for design in March 2017.
Cross Alameda Trail - Jean Sweeney Park: The Recreation and Parks Department is the lead agency in charge of designing and constructing the Cross Alameda Trail through Jean Sweeney Park. The City is awaiting final Caltrans approval - as the grant funding agency - to bid the project. Next Steps: Construction is expected to begin by mid-2017.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/recreation/projects/cross-alameda-trail-jean-sweeney-open-space-park>
Main Street Bikeway (Singleton Ave to Ferry Terminal): Preliminary bikeway designs were developed to improve bicycle access to/from the ferry terminal in the short term. Due to other project needs (namely Cross Alameda Trail segments), there is no funding to build this project in this fiscal year. Next Steps: The design will be refined and brought to the TC for approval of staff recommendation in mid-2017, with construction in the next fiscal year.
Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project: In November 2015, the TC approved the recommended concept. In February 2016, the City Council approved the recommended concept, and requested more analysis on the Webster Street/Central Avenue intersection once the design and construction is funded. The concept was funded by a Caltrans Community-Based Transportation Planning grant totaling $232,200, with a local match, from Measure B, totaling $25,800. In June 2016, staff submitted an Active Transportation Program (ATP) to Caltrans. In October 2016, staff submitted a 2018 CIP grant application to the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC). In December 2016, the City won the ATP grant for $7.3 million of the $12 million project, which allows the project to continue to the next phase of design, outreach and environmental review. Next Steps: In spring 2017, staff expects to hear the results of the Alameda CTC grant application. Staff will begin the next phase of the project in Fiscal Year 2017/18 starting on July 1, 2017.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/public-works/central-avenue-complete-street>
Clement Avenue Safety Improvement Project: In May 2015, the TC approved the Class II bicycle lane concept alternative as well as track removal. The concept was funded by a $125,000 Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Program grant, which was administered by the Alameda CTC. In June 2015, staff submitted a grant application to the Active Transportation Program <http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/atp/> yet this grant application was not successful. In October 2016, staff submitted a 2018 CIP grant application to the Alameda CTC. In late 2016, the City added a durable temporary patch over the railroad tracks to keep pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and scooter riders from slipping on or getting wheels caught in the tracks. Because this patch could be easily damaged, the re-striping was done to keep traffic off of the center of the street until the long-term project is completed. Next Steps: In spring 2017, staff expects to hear the results of the Alameda CTC grant application.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/public-works/clement-avenue-complete-street>
Estuary Crossing Shuttle: A Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant began funding 50 percent of the costs of the shuttle as of August 2015. This federal grant, called Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, totals $187,957. The grant is matched with Measure B and TDM/TSM funds from Wind River. The shuttle is currently in its sixth year of operation. The boardings per day averaged 141 during the first year of operation; in its fifth year, the most recent full year of data, there were an average of 450 boardings per day. Next Steps: With new AC Transit bus services and with the expenditure of all grant funding, the Estuary Crossing Shuttle will end service on June 30. AC Transit restored Line 19 in December 2016 through the Northern Waterfront and will modify Line 31 in March 2017 to connect the College of Alameda and Laney College.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/about-alameda/estuary-crossing-shuttle>
Bicycle Safety Education: A multi-faceted bicycle education program was included as a non-infrastructure component of the Jean Sweeney Cross Alameda Trail Active Transportation Program grant totaling $124,000. The two-year effort will fund on-bike bicycle safety education at four schools near the trail, citywide bike safety education classes for all ages, and education programs targeted to low-income, homeless and formerly homeless youth. Staff received approval from Caltrans for the work program in June 2016, and are awaiting Caltrans approval to begin to expend the funds. Next Steps: Receive Caltrans approval to begin using funds, and contract with bicycle safety education providers to begin programs in mid-2017.
Long-Range Transit Plan Update
Transit and TDM Plan: In January 2015, the City Council directed staff to prepare a comprehensive citywide transportation planning and implementation effort in response to a City Council referral from Councilmember Tony Daysog. During this 18-month citywide planning effort, the City is identifying opportunities for strategic transportation investment and coordination with transit providers to provide Alamedans with enhanced transportation options while reducing congestion, carbon footprint and air pollution. In May 2016, staff and the consultant team - CDM Smith - obtained comments from the TC on the draft existing conditions memorandum. In November 2016, staff and CDM Smith obtained comments from the TC on the draft strategies memorandum. Next Steps: The TC will be requested to review the Draft Plan in spring 2017 and the Final Draft Plan in summer 2017.
Project web page: <https://alamedaca.gov/expanding-transportation-options-citywide-transittdm-plan>
AC Transit Service Expansion Plan: In January 2016, the TC approved restoring Line 19 along the Northern Waterfront as part of AC Transit’s Service Expansion Plan, which is possible due to Measure BB - passed by voters in 2014. In February 2016, the City Council approved this Northern Waterfront alternative, and AC Transit approved it in March 2016. In December 2016, AC Transit restored Line 19 along the Northern Waterfront. Public Works staff worked with AC Transit to restore and upgrade the bus stops along this bus line. Exhibit 1 shows photos taken at the ribbon cutting ceremony. For the month of January 2017, Line 19 had an average of 755 weekday boardings, which is high considering how short the route is and how the service just started. AC Transit is in the process of adjusting its schedule to reduce the overall run time since buses were running early. Buses should no longer need to sit at timepoints such as the Buena Vista Avenue/Stanton Street bus stop. Travel times should be shorter for passengers. Next Steps: In March 2017, AC Transit will modify Line 31 to connect the College of Alameda and Laney College as well as to the Main Street ferry terminal and to extend to Highland Hospital, which is the county’s primary trauma center and a county hospital.
Paratransit Program: In January 2017, staff hired a paratransit expert - Victoria Williams - to manage the program. The Premium taxi program, which provides a 50 percent discount for eligible residents, averaged 89 monthly trips in 2016. The Medical Return Trip Improvement Program (MRTIP), which provides subsidized trips for individuals returning home from medical appointments, averaged 6 monthly trips in 2016. The Alameda Paratransit Shuttle averaged 449 monthly trips in 2016. Next Steps: As shown in item 5C of this agenda, staff developed and is soliciting input on the Paratransit Program Plan for Fiscal Year 2017/18, which is due to the Alameda CTC in March 2017.
Project web page: www.AlamedaParatransit.com <http://www.AlamedaParatransit.com>
Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal Access: In mid-2016, the TC and the City Council approved in concept the residential parking permit program for the Homeowner Associations (HOAs) adjacent to the ferry terminal. In August 2016, AC Transit improved Line 21 so that each morning ferry to San Francisco has a connecting bus service to the ferry and each afternoon/evening ferry from San Francisco has a connecting bus service from the ferry. In September 2016, staff began marketing alternative modes of transportation at the ferry terminal, including Line 21 and existing bicycle access. In December 2016, the adjacent HOAs voted on the residential parking permit program concept and the City Council revised the residential parking permit program ordinance to enable HOAs to request these programs. Next Steps: On February 21, 2017, staff is requesting City Council to adopt the HOA resolutions authorizing residential permit parking on the public streets.
Main Street Ferry Terminal Access: Staff is looking into ways to close the bikeway gap on Main Street (as noted above), to fund a bus feeder service to/from the ferry terminal and to improve parking. In October 2016, City and AC Transit staff submitted a 2018 CIP grant application to the Alameda CTC for the Cross Town Express Bus, which would run between the Main Street ferry terminal and Fruitvale BART. Next Steps: In March 2017, AC Transit will move the Alameda terminus of Line 31 to the Main Street ferry terminal, which will provide bus service once again to/from this ferry terminal. In spring 2017, staff expects to hear the results of the Alameda CTC grant application. In mid-2017, staff will request the TC to approve a proposed bikeway gap closure, and will continue to seek funding for bus service to/from the ferry terminal as well as other potential parking management strategies that are under evaluation.
Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal Project: In March 2016, the TC commented on the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal Strategy and Plan. In April 2016, the City Council approved the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal Plan, adopted a CEQA Addendum and approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for future ferry service. Since the City Council action on the Ferry Terminal Plan, the City, Alameda Point Partners - developers of Site A - and their teams of architects and design professionals have been designing the ferry terminal project and going through the permitting process. The work has been informed by a Planning Board Study Session on May 9, 2016 and the Bay Conservation Development Commission Design Review Board meeting on June 6, 2016. Permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies is underway. Further design work is temporarily on hold until Site A closes on the land, which is anticipated in April 2017. Next Steps: In spring/summer 2017, staff will continue working with WETA on the design of the ferry terminal, and will seek approval from the Historical Advisory Board and a final design review approval from the TC and Planning Board.
TSM/TDM Plan
Webster Street Smart Corridor Project: The project includes six intersections between Central Avenue and the Webster/Posey Tubes as well as Constitution Way, and will implement an Intelligent Transportation System or SMART Corridor to improve safety and operations of transit and vehicular modes and to enhance mobility and safety. The Environmental Document and Right-of-Way Certification were approved by Caltrans Local Assistance Division. The design phase began in July 2009 and the final design and construction is now complete. Next Steps: System integration currently is in process.
Project web page: <http://alamedaca.gov/public-works/webster-street-smart-corridor>
Parking Management: In March 2015, the City Council approved the recommendation to procure, install and operate credit card enabled “smart” parking meters at all of the City’s single space meter locations. The resizing of meter poles to allow for the installation of the new meters was completed in late 2015 and the new meters were installed in February 2016. This meter upgrade was part of the 2014 City Council approved goal of freeing up one-two available parking spaces per block in Alameda’s business districts. The City Council also approved signage improvements including Variable Messaging Signage at the Civic Center Parking Structure to display real-time occupancy and to better guide on-street parkers to the off-street parking supply as well as refreshed curb painting for time restricted zones in the downtown commercial districts. Both of these items were completed in Fiscal Year 2015-16. Additional parking management improvements include the July 2016 upgrade of the multi-space payment kiosks at the Civic Center Parking Structure and execution of a new Parking Operations and Management contract for the Civic Center Parking Structure. In early 2017, Public Works and Alameda Municipal Power also completed an energy efficiency lighting upgrade at the Civic Center Parking Structure. Next Steps: Evaluate a pay by cell phone option upgrade the single space meter housings and locks, and study progress on the City Council’s 2014 occupancy goals.
Pedestrian Plan
Park Street Streetscape and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project: The project improves pedestrian safety at the intersections of Lincoln Avenue/Tilden Way, Pacific Avenue and Buena Vista Avenue along the Park Street corridor. In March 2014, the TC approved the improvement concepts for the Pacific Avenue and Buena Vista Avenue intersections at Park Street. In July 2014, the TC approved the improvement concept for the Lincoln Avenue/Park Street intersection. In 2016, the City Council approved the plans/specifications and the construction contract. Construction was completed in late 2016. Next Steps: Not applicable.
Countywide Transportation Projects
Proposed I-880/Broadway/Jackson Multimodal Transportation and Circulation Improvements for Alameda Point, Oakland Chinatown, Downtown Oakland and Jack London Square Project: This project includes improvements to Jackson Street on-ramp, Sixth Street, Martin Luther King Jr. off-ramp, Market Street on-ramp, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Staff is actively engaging with staff from Alameda CTC, Caltrans and the City of Oakland to pursue a mutually beneficial multimodal circulation project in and around the Broadway Jackson interchanges. There is $75 million from Measure B/BB funds that are available to help fund this project once a feasible project alternative is developed. Next Steps: Staff will be engaging the community, the TC and the City Council in this planning process later this year.
I-880/29th Avenue/23rd Avenue Interchange Improvement Project in Oakland: The City of Alameda, Caltrans, the City of Oakland and the Alameda CTC have developed a project to implement operational and safety improvements along I-880 between 23rd and 29th Avenues in Oakland. The Alameda CTC has been managing this project. The construction phase of the project began in 2014. Alameda CTC and Caltrans provided an update to the TC in March 2014 and in November 2016, respectively. Next Steps: Construction completion is expected in 2019.
Ongoing Traffic Calming/ Intersection Improvement Projects
Robert Davey Jr. Road/Island Drive Intersection: At the City Council’s request, City staff investigated the following traffic relief issues at Robert Davey Jr. Rd. and Island Drive. PW staff analyzed traffic operations in this area and recommended extension of the northbound left-turn lane on Island Drive and work with Alameda County and US Coast Guard to review Bay Farm Island bridge operation, and work with the Alameda Unified School District to review start times for Lincoln Middle School.
Park Street Corridor Signal Upgrade Project: Staff conducted an outreach meeting for this project on March 5, 2015 to obtain public interest of traffic signal upgrades along Park Street between Blanding Avenue and Encinal Avenue. Staff received full support from the public and the members of the Downtown Alameda Business District (DABA). In January 2016, the City Council approved the plans/specifications and call for bids. Next Steps: Construction is expected in 2017.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS/FISCAL IMPACT
The City Council has approved the funding for staff efforts required for the above activities.
RECOMMENDATION
This item is for discussion purposes only.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director
Gail Payne, Transportation Coordinator
Exhibits:
1. Photos at Line 19 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony