Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Transportation Demand Management Plan for Alameda Point (TDM Plan). (Base Reuse 819099)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Amending the Transportation Demand Management Plan for Alameda Point (TDM Plan)
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved the Transportation Demand Management Plan for Alameda Point on May 20, 2014 (TDM Plan), a crucial component of the City’s approach to addressing the City’s transportation issues associated with the reuse and redevelopment of Alameda Point (see Attachment 1 of attached Resolution). The intent of the TDM Plan is to provide strategies, measures, and services that are combined into a comprehensive program to:
• Create the envisioned transit-oriented development at Alameda Point;
• Achieve the City of Alameda’s General Plan goals to reduce automobile trips, and in particular, target the reduction of single occupant vehicle (SOV) trips; and
• Mitigate potential traffic impacts from existing and new development.
TDM strategies are designed to change travel behavior (when, where, and by what means people travel) by using combinations of incentives, disincentives, and convenient transportation services. The adoption of the TDM Plan is also required by the City’s General Plan and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Alameda Point. The primary components of the TDM Plan include: creation of a Transportation Management Association to oversee the TDM Plan and administer and manage certain elements of it; develop common transit services; car and bicycle share programs; parking management; incentives and support services; and annual monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
Since approval of the TDM Plan, the City has taken active steps to implement the TDM Plan including applying and receiving a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to retain expert TDM consultants to help the City implement the TDM Plan at Alameda Point. The City, in conjunction with these consultants, have accomplished numerous tasks to date, including the following:
1. Formation of the Alameda Transportation Management Association (Alameda TMA), a stand-alone non-profit organization, that oversees the ongoing implementation of the TDM Plan at Alameda Point and in the Northern Waterfront area with potential for expansion Citywide;
2. Established a Community Facilities District (CFD 17-1) for services requiring a special tax on private property at Alameda Point to fund transportation services and programs (among other public services) consistent with the TDM Plan;
3. Developed compliance worksheets for new members and ongoing monitoring and reporting forms, and conducted traffic counts in 2015 and 2016;
4. Prepared an initial budget for overhead costs;
5. Developed a preliminary Alameda TMA website: <http://alamedatma.fehrandpeers.net/> which will be moved to a public domain within weeks;
6. Prepared information and marketing pieces on transportation options to access Alameda Point;
7. Prepared a draft Memorandum of Understanding with AC Transit for bus service from Alameda Point to the 12th Street BART Station;
8. Commenced negotiations with dockless bike share companies for rollout this Fall;
9. Commenced discussions with AC Transit on how to expand their Easy Pass programs to all project areas within the Alameda TMA boundaries;
10. Commenced negotiations for branded electric vehicles to run between Alameda Point, the ferry terminal and other adjacent areas;
11. Commenced discussions to subsidize employee and resident trips to and from Alameda Point using carpool services; and
12. Prepared a draft start-up program and financial plan, including a proposed fee for existing businesses, for the first several years of transportation services and programs at Alameda Point targeted at the transportation needs of existing businesses at Alameda Point (Exhibits 1 and 2), which was proposed to the tenants for discussion and will be finalized by the Alameda TMA and then brought to the City Council for ratification at a future date.
The Alameda TMA Board of Directors approved the dissemination of information via email to existing businesses about the proposed near-term programs and fees for existing businesses (Exhibit 3). While the email in Exhibit 3 states the fee will be commencing January 1, 2018, City staff is recommending holding off on a specific date for commencing the fee in order to address the current pressing needs of the commercial businesses affected by the water quality incident that occurred in September.
The following staff report discusses staff’s recommendation that the City Council approve amendments to the TDM Plan that will help further implement the City’s transportation plans for Alameda Point.
DISCUSSION
As the City makes significant progress implementing the TDM Plan, City staff requests that the City Council approve minor amendments to the TDM Plan clarifying participation by existing businesses not just new development and major employers. The intent of the TDM Plan is to require all property owners, residents, and employers of Alameda Point to fund, comply with, and collaboratively manage, monitor and continuously improve upon the TDM Plan to successfully create a transit-oriented development, mitigate traffic impacts, and comply with the General Plan. City staff recommends these amendments to the TDM Plan to clarify that all property owners, tenants, developers and businesses are required to participate in complying with the TDM Plan (Attachment 2 of the attached Resolution).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funds for implementing the TDM Plan are currently budgeted in the Base Reuse Fund (Fund 858) or are being paid for through the MTC grant and future special taxes levied on private property at Alameda Point in CFD 17-1 for transportation services and programs.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the approved TDM Plan and the Transportation Element of the City’s General Plan, including Policy 4.1.6.a. and Chapter 9: Alameda Point of the General Plan, which outlines goals and policies for de-emphasizing the automobile; creating a mixed-use environment that promotes transit; and achieving a human-scale transit-oriented development, among many other transit-supportive policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Alameda City Council certified a Final EIR for the Alameda Point Project on February 4, 2014, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq. and adopted and incorporated into the project all of the mitigation measures for the project that are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the City, including this TDM Plan to mitigate traffic impacts.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution amending the TDM Plan.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Proposed Start-Up Transportation Programs
2. Proposed Financial Plan for Transportation Programs
3. August 30, 2017 Email to Existing Businesses, including Relevant Documents