HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14281 (Southern Heights Bridge Replacement)RESOLUTION NO. 14281
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
DESIGN OF OPTION 4 FOR THE SOUTHERN HEIGHTS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
PROJECT (PROJECT NO. 11282)
WHEREAS, the Southern Heights Bridge is currently a one -lane timber bridge
located on a narrow two-lane roadway in San Rafael, situated among the trees in a scenic way
that adds valued character to the Southern Heights neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Heights Bridge is structurally deficient, obsolete and
has been noted by the California Department of Transportation as needing replacement; and
WHEREAS, the replacement of the Southern Heights bridge is fully funded by
the local Highway Bridge Program (HBP); and
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2016, the City Council of the City of San Rafael
approved and authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Mark Thomas and
Company for the design of the Southern Heights Bridge Replacement Project, Project No. 11282;
and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works held a formal public meeting on
November 3, 2016 and discussed options for the design and replacement of the bridge, at which
the members of the public present expressed a strong preference for the installation of a new
bridge similar to the existing narrow bridge; and
WHEREAS, the City Fire Department requires a minimum of a 12 -foot wide
traveled area for emergency vehicle access; and
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2017, the City Council held a public hearing at
which staff and the City's design consultant presented four design options for reconstruction of
the bridge, designated as Options 1, 2, 3, and 4 on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference; and
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WHEREAS, Options 1, 2, and 3 each propose a new bridge with at least 15 feet
of traveled way that would include a dedicated pedestrian walkway in addition to a 12 -foot
vehicle lane accommodating emergency vehicle access; and
WHEREAS, Option 4 proposes a bridge with a 12 -foot traveled way that would
accommodate emergency vehicle access and would be similar to the existing bridge in that it
would not have a separate pedestrian walkway, but would instead allow for vehicles to share the
lane with pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, City staff and the City's design consultant advised the City Council
that, although they have found no record of pedestrian -vehicle collisions at this bridge, it was
their preference to pursue Option 1, a bridge width of 15 feet, given that construction of a new
bridge provides an opportunity to increase safety for pedestrians by adding width to the traveled
way; and
WHEREAS, numerous members of the Southern Heights neighborhood,
including a representative of the neighborhood association, appeared and spoke at the City
Council's February 6, 2017 public hearing and consistently testified to the importance of
maintaining the existing bridge in close to its current dimensions, explaining their historical
observations that the narrow bridge acts to slow vehicular traffic and therefore actually enhances
pedestrian safety; and
WHEREAS, public testimony as to the safety of the existing 9 -foot wide bridge
for pedestrians is supported by the history of safe shared use of the bridge by both vehicles and
pedestrians for approximately 50 years; and
WHEREAS, the written and oral comments received from the public at the
February 6, 2017 hearing uniformly urged the City Council to approve the 12 -foot wide bridge
shown in Option 4; and
WHEREAS, upon questioning by the Council, City staff and the City's design
consultant confirmed that Option 4 would be three feet wider than the existing bridge, that there
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is no record of vehicle/pedestrian collisions on the existing 9 -foot bridge during its 50 -year
history, and that CalTrans has indicated it will approve funding for the 12 -foot wide bridge in
Option 4 if that design is supported by the community and ultimately approved by the City
Council; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds no evidence that the existing Southern Heights
Bridge is dangerous for pedestrians, and that Option 4, which would add three feet in width to the
existing bridge, would be likely to further enhance the pedestrian and vehicular safety of the
bridge; and
WHEREAS, the proposal in Option 4 appears to have uniform neighborhood
support, and therefore under the circumstances would be in the best interests of the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
San Rafael hereby authorizes and directs City staff and the City's design consultant to move
forward with the design for the replacement of the Southern Heights Bridge according to Option
4 on attached Exhibit A.
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the
Council of said City on the 21 st day of February 2017, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Colin, Gamblin and Vice -Mayor Bushey
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Gamblin and Mayor Phillips
- !t ►
ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk
File No.: 16.01.266
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= 15' _
2' SHOULDER 11' TRAVEL WAY 2' SHOULDER
RAISED PAVEMENT
MARKERS
° a d
OPTION 1 - CONTINUOUS WALKWAY
SCALE. NTS.
= 16' _
12' TRAVEL WAY 4' SIDEWALK
OPTION 2 - SEPERATED WALKWAY
SCALE. N T S.
17'+ a =
12' TRAVEL WAY 4' SIDEWALK
°d ° ° e d
a
d a e ° e
OPTION 3 - BARRIER WALKWAY
SCALE- N S
= 12' TRAVEL WAY =
s e °
OPTION 4 - 12FT ROADWAY
SCALE. N T.S.
EXHIBIT A
SOUTHERN HEIGHTS BRIDGE RAf4
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
DEPARTMENT OF
° PUBLIC WORKS
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