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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTAM Station Area Plan Material handed in 64 Measure Q0 'RANSPOKUT[ON TAM AUMATIMFORMARIN June 4, 2012 Ms. Rebecca Woodbury City Manager's Office City of San Rafael P.O. Box 151560 1400 Fifth Avenue Room #203 San Rafael, CA 94915 RE: Transportation Alternatives for Marin ("TAM") comments on San Rafael Station Area Plan Revised Final Draft May 2012 Dear Ms. Woodbury: Transportation Alternatives for Marin ("TAM") is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote pedestrian and bicycle transportation. All of our comments are made with respect to the North-South Greenway/SMART Multi -Use Path Plan from Mission Avenue to Second Street section of the San Rafael Downtown Station Plan Revised Final Draft May 24' 2012. TAM would like to thank the San Rafael Department of Public Works for the extraordinarily quick and excellent revisions made to the Final Draft of the San Rafael Downtown Station Area Plan dated March 20, 2012, which are now in the San Rafael Downtown Station Area Plan Revised Final Draft dated May 24, 2012. While the City of San Rafael and its Department of Public Works have many projects to work on with reduced staff during these financially difficult times, the Department of Public Works did an excellent job revising the Downtown Station Plan to incorporate the SMART Multi Use Path ("MUP"). As you may be aware, the previous version of the Final Draft of the Station Area Plan did not include the Multi Use Path, that was approved by voters in 2008. (For your convenient reference, copies of the SMART Measure Q 1/4 cent sales tax that appeared on the ballot and the County Counsel's Impartial Analysis of the November 4, 2008 approval of the SMART project are attached as Exhibit "A," with the SMART Multi Use Path elements highlighted.) As we know from the language in Measure Q, a Multi Use Path was approved for the entire length of the SMART project, including from Mission Avenue to Andersen Drive, which is in the scope of the San Rafael Downtown Station Area Plan. The Department of Public Works worked diligently to incorporate the SMART MUP and associated verbiage throughout the revised Downtown Station Plan starting from Section 6 on page 84 through Section 4 Recommended Bicycle Improvements on page 103. TRANSPORTATION ArFERNATIATI's FOR MARIN e 187 E. Bjxn1FDALi,, AviNUE *MILL VALLEY 0 CA 0 94941 Titi,: 415.389.5040 x24 FAX: 415389-5044 While the language through the document was corrected, we understand that because this essential information for the MUP was included toward the end of the process that the Diagrams and Figures for the Multi Use Path are not included in the Final Downtown Station Plan dated May 24, 2012. The fact that the drawings have not been revised to include the Multi Use Path should be kept in mind by the San Rafael City Council as well as the Department of Public Works and any other agency that is looking at the Plan moving forward. Most importantly the City of San Rafael needs to take positive action to make sure that its Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update is modified to reflect all of the improvements that are identified in the Downtown San Rafael Station Area Plan dated May 24, 2012 including: Bullet point four on page 85 that describes the Multi Use Path from Second Street to Andersen Drive, which is a critical link of the southern portion Multi Use Path for the SMART Station. a. Exhibit "B(l)" shows a Proposed Alignment of the Multi Use Path from the Cal Park Hill Tunnel Pathway to the San Rafael Downtown Station. b. Exhibit "B(2)" has a detailed written description of this Proposed Alignment in B(l). c. Exhibit "C" shows a Proposed Alignment of the Multi Use Path from Mission to 2nd Street. 2. Bullet point six on page 85 titled Open Space should be incorporated. Figure VI -4, the language in the last sentence on page 91 describes the Mutli Use Path between Fourth Street and Mission Avenue. This is perhaps the timeliest section to focus on of all the Multi Use Path parts. The area of SMART Right of Way from Mission to Fourth Street has space for the Muld Use Path and planning and construction are eminent. We need both the San Rafael City Council and the San Rafael Department of Public Works to immediately focus on this key area so there is cooperation between SMART and the City of San Rafael to ensure the Multi Use Path is built on West Tamalpais between Mission and Fourth Street, connecting to the Puerto Suello Multi Use Path. 4. The second bullet point under recommended bicycle improvements on page 101 describes the Second Street to Mission Avenue bidirectional Multi Use Path. 5. Bullet point five on page 101 in Section 4 Recommended Bicycle Improvements should also be included in the Pedestrian Bicycle Plan. The seventh bullet point that San Rafael work with SMART to determine the alignment of the SMART Multi Use Pathway between Second Street and Andersen Drive is probably the second most important section to focus on and should also be included in the San Rafael Bicycle Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan 2011 Update. 2 TR AM,1'0R'1'A'J JON Aj:1'1,'.RNA'I'IVI,'S FORMARIN a 187 E. Bixn IFDAU," Avi'Niji,' a MILL VALLFly 0 CA 0 94941 Ttsi,: 415.389.5040 X24 FAx: 415.389-5044 TAM TRANSPORTMONAIMMATIMFORMi The proposed Multi Use Path alignments shown in Exhibits B(1) and C show the Multi Use Path from Second Street to Andersen and from Mission Avenue to Second Street. All are expressly outlined in the Final San Rafael Downtown Station Area Plan dated May 24, 2012. TAM submits the proposed alignments in B(1) and C are the optimal preferred Multi Use Path alignments, which should be included in all planning and construction development in San Rafael as they relate to the rail, rail station, and MUP in San Rafael. Again, TAM strongly applauds the vigorous efforts of the Department of Public Works to include the Multi Use Path in the Final Downtown Station Area Plan May 24, 2012 and the Department's hard work to plan and eventually build the Multi Use Path, an integral part of the Measure Q Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District Tax. Respectfully submitted, Patrick M. Seidler President cc: San Rafael City Council San Rafael City Manager San Rafael Department of Public Works Marin County Bicycle Coalition TRANSPORTATION AuIT' zNATIVI'S FORMARIN • 187 E. Bj.n'HI,'DA HI' At I NUF • MILL VAL1.13Y • CA • 94941 Tzi.: 415.389.5040 X24 FAX: 415.389-5044 EXHIBIT "A" Marin, Sonoma County, CA November 4, 2008 Election Measure Q Smart Quarter Cent Sales Tax Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 246,047 / 69.61 Yes votes ...... 107.6811 30.4% No votes 831805 (62.79%) Yes 149665 (37.2 1"lu) No in Marin County 162,242 (733%) Yes 58.016 (26.3%) No in Sonoma County Results as of Dec 3 8:30am, t00.0% of Precincts Reporting (642/642) Includes 189/189 Precincts in Marin County as of Jan 5 1 1:00am Includes 453/453 Precincts in Sonoma County as of Dec 3 8:30am To relieve traffic, fight global warming and increase transportation options, shall Sonoma -Marin Area Rail Transit District be authorized to provide two-way passenger train service every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours, weekend service, a birydelpedestrian pathway linking the stations, and connections tofern, llbus service, by levying a 114 -cent sales tax for 20 years, with an annual spending cap, independent a uditsloversight, and all funds supporting these environmentally responsible transportation alternatives in Marin and Sonoma Counties? 'r a a _n _4 :- The The Sonoma -Marin Area Rail Transit District ("SMART") is a rail district created by the Legislature in 2003 to evaluate, plan, and implement passenger rail and associated rail transit facilities and services from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to a ferry terminal in Marin County that connects to San Francisco. The geographic area of the district includes all of Sonoma and Marin counties. The District is authorized, with the approval of the voters, to propose a special tax to implement this service. The District has adopted an ordinance proposing a quarter -cent transactions and use tax ($0.0025 on every $1 spent), to be imposed on retail sales in Sonoma and Marin Counties, beginning April 1, 2009. Proceeds of the taxwould provide funding for the design, construction, implementation, operation, financing, maintenance and management of the rail system and a bicycles tri pathway from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to Larkspur in Marin County. An Expenditure Plan for the tax revenues is incorporated into the proposed sales tax ordinance. The revenue from the tax can only be spent on project elements listed in the Expenditure Plan, including but not limited to: 1. Weekday and weekend passenger rail service. 2. A parallel biEv cic%estrtan pgl "wa �. 3. Fourteen rail stations from Cloverdale to Larkspur (9 in Sonoma County, 5 in Marin County). 4. Rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP) corridor from Cloverdale to Larkspur, including new passenger train passing sidings. 5. A maintenance facility in either Cloverdale or Windsor. 6. Shuttle service at selected rail stations. The tax would be collected in the same manner as sales tax is currently collected, would begin on April 1. 2009, and would continue in effect for twenty (20) years. The District is empowered under state law to issue bonds to fund all or part of the construction of the project, so that work can begin sooner. The bonds would be repaid over time from the tax revenue collected. The ordinance also establishes an appropriations (spending) limit for SMART. The ordinance must be approved by two-thirds of the voters voting on the question in order for the special tax to go into etTect. s/PATRICK K. FAULKNIER Marin County Counsel s/STEVEN WOODSIDE Sonoma County Counsel m x CID 1 EXHIBIT "B(2)" Proposed SMART MUP Andersen to Second Street Alignment Andersen to Irwin (Approximately MP 16.0 to 16.7) "Segment 1" From South to North: The Andersen realignment is not known yet and will be a major factor in the planning of Segment 1. TAM supports a grade -separated crossing at Andersen. The primary desire is that the Multi Use Pathway ("MUP") be on the east side of the tracks and cross Andersen with the tracks to Rice Street. There is a tidal channel on the west side of the tracks north of Andersen Drive. Further, a west side path would cause one to two more track crossings than an east side path in this segment. The preferred alternative would be to have the SMART MUP continue from the Cal Park Hill Tunnel Segment on the east side of the tracks across Andersen continuing north on the east side of the tracks. On the section of Segment I from Anderson Drive to the tidal inlet additional ROW (15 to 20 feet) or easements would be needed for the SMART Pathway. There is a shallow depression on the east side of the tracks with some wetland features (but not tidal). Ideally, the MUP would be placed on the east side of this depression. This alignment would require more right of way acquisition or an easement. However, the preferred land for the pathway alignment is poorly used. The preferred MUP location is on the back side of a fence to the Borders/Toys R Us parking lot. It is possible the landowner would desire SMART to build the SMART Pathway in this location. From the tidal inlet north, the shallow depressions with some wetland features does not exist. However, there is a car dealership parking lot along the east side that would need to be reduced in size by approximately 12 feet to provide for an east alignment of the MUP from the inlet to Rice Street. The sliver of right-of-way would need to be acquired or a trade could be made. There currently exists an apparently empty parking lot to the north of Rice Street. Ownership of this parcel should be determined. The parking lot to the north of the car dealership that might be used in such a trade is across Rice Street from the car dealership's current parking lot. The SMART Land Committee needs to Look at both of these sections on Segment I, both south and north of the inlet on the east side of the tracks. TAM suggests the tracks to be moved slightly to the west, to allow more space for the path on the east side. If such track movement were done there would still need to be acquired some ROW on east side of the tracks for the east side MUP to be built. A new pathway bridge would be required over the tidal inlet. The remains of an old rail bridge might be used, to reduce disturbance over the channel. The rail line has to cross the same tidal inlet. The preferred option from Rice Street appears to be to get to the west side of the tracks at Rice, possibly on the west side of the re -aligned West Francisco. This would allow for separation from the rail, two fewer track crossings by the SMART MUP, and a better connection to Second Street (without having to cross West Francisco to get to Second Street from the Segment I path). (Some explanation is needed here relative to the proposed re -alignment of West Francisco.) This would avoid the pinch point with the highway on ramps. EXHIBIT 'B(2)" Since there is so much roadway realignment that SMART will be working on in this Segment 1, from Andersen, to Rice, to West Francisco, to Second Street, with the City of San Rafael, the County of Marin, and Caltrans, TAM requests that all Manning, environmental clearances, 100% engineering, and permits for this Segment 1 of the SMART Pathway be completed as part of this rail and roadway project from the Cal Park Hili project ending- at Andersen all the way to Second Street. Andersen Drive will be relocated and crossed by the rail fine. The north end of West Francisco is being completely realigned. In the scheme of things doing 100% of the SMART Pathway alignment makes sense from a practical standpoint. It would be impractical if the Pathway were not included in these major planning efforts. The SMART Pathway, although critical, is of lesser design difficulty than the road realignments and the road crossings by the rail in the highly redesigned area. There is simply too much roadway and rail work being done in this Segment I not to fully integrate the path into the 100% design process. TAM would like to be involved in all stakeholder meetings for the redesign of this area. TIGER grants in ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funded capital projects of regional significance, including projects for rail. Grants ranged from $20 million to $300 million, although smaller grants from localities were encouraged. Projects eligible included highway... public transportation projects, passenger... rail transportation projects. Particular attention was paid to the degree to which such projects contribute to significantly broader mobility though intermodal connections, or improved connections between residential and commercial areas. The Andersen to Second Street is an ideal TIGER Grant project, it includes: • Public Transport • Road improvements • It is a significant project in a smaller city • It includes passenger rail • The project provides access to transit center • The project includes a walking and bike path • The project connects to the Canal neighborhood and provides safe access for Canal School children to Davidson Middle School. If TIGER grants happen again, which they might, TAM encourages SMART to apply. N EXHIBIT "C" Downtown San Rafael Preferred SMART Multi Use Path/North-South Greenway Alignment Mission Avenue to Second Street /SMARTGreenway 1=772 ., ,. .10 Multi Use Path • • • i Second SMART SMART