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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Transit Center Update PPTSan Rafael City Council –September 4th, 2018 Adam Dankberg, Kimley-Horn and Associates Why a New Transit Center? •The SMART extension to Larkspur will bisect the existing San Rafael Transit Center (SRTC) •The SRTC will operate in an interim condition until a replacement transit center is constructed 2 Initial San Rafael Transit Center Relocation Study (2017) •Led by City of San Rafael in partnership with transit agencies and TAM •Initial nine concepts with three analyzed in detail •No preferred concept selected 3 4 Study Area •Approximately half of riders destined to downtown San Rafael •Over 500 bus trips a day •Proximity to SMART station •Locations outside of this area were explored as part of Relocation Study and eliminated Project Process 5 We are here Project Schedule 6 Development Process for Initial Transit Center Concepts •Identify sites that are capable of meeting the project objectives and the transfer needs of patrons •Assess bus routing and circulation that allows for bus access/exit •Delineate space for pedestrian and bicycle circulation •Identify opportunities for amenities, urban design, and placemaking components 7 Minimum Facility Requirements •17 Bus Bays •Allow for expansion in capacity •Passenger waiting facilities •Customer service •Public Restrooms •Maintenance/operations parking and staff restrooms •Bike parking •Signage/wayfinding •Urban design elements •Pick-up/drop-off curb space for kiss and ride, taxi/TNC, microtransit •Small, complementary retail •Security kiosk 8 Other Site Selection Considerations 9Source: Marin IJ •Proximity to SMART station •Safety and Security •Pedestrian accessibility •Existing land uses and structures •Connectivity to origins and destinations •Bus circulation and access/traffic considerations Community Outreach Process •Community stakeholders initially raised concerns regarding project development and concept selection processes; the project team worked collaboratively to implement an open and transparent process •Four phases of public engagement 1.Listening (March 20th Open House & March Survey) 2.Input on Specific Concepts (June 12th Open House, Canal Outreach, June/July Survey) 3.Identification of Alternative(s) for Environmental Analysis (October) 4.Share Findings of Environmental Analysis (2019) 1 2 4 10 3 Community Engagement –First Round •Goals: Introduce project, reset community perceptions of process •Open House held March 20th, 2018 •Approximately 75 attendees •Online survey open March 20th through May 1st •206 responses received 11 Outreach Round 1 Findings from the Community •Priorities: 1.Provide a safe transit center with enhanced waiting areas 2.Improve pedestrian access to the transit center 3.Facilitate easy and short transfers between bus routes, and between bus and train 4.Minimize impacts to surrounding vehicle traffic 12 Takeaways from Initial Community and Stakeholder Outreach •Community appreciated starting fresh with new concepts for a transit center •Community placed emphasis on: •Pedestrian access and circulation •Safety and comfort of the facility •Minimizing traffic impacts •Ease of transfers •Support expressed for the open and transparent process 13 Community Engagement –Second Round 14 •Project team shared the four proposed concepts and solicited feedback •Feedback was received through various avenues: •Open House held June 12th, 2018 – approximately 60 attendees •Online survey open June 12th through July 15th –187 responses •Two pop-up events in the Canal Neighborhood •Letters received from community groups •Received feedback that outreach and dialogue was comprehensive and valued 15 Transit Center Concepts Two-Story Concept 16 Lower Level Upper Level Across the Freeway Concept 17 Whistlestop Block Concept 18 Additional area under consideration for transit center facilities 4th Street Gateway Concept 19 Feedback from Second Round of Community Outreach •Two-Story Concept •Largest negative response of any concept •Positive feedback regarding concentration of activity on one block •Concerns about security, cost and aesthetics •Across the Freeway Concept •Second largest negative response •Positive feedback for connecting east & west San Rafael and use of underutilized space under freeway overpasses •Concerns about increasing pedestrian activity across Hetherton Street, security, and aesthetics of a transit center under the freeway 20 Feedback from Second Round of Community Outreach •Whistlestop Block Concept •Generally received most favorable reaction of any concept •Positive feedback that activity is mostly on one block and opportunities for integration of Whistlestop building •Concerns about presence of 3 curbside bus bays on 3rd Street •4th Street Gateway Concept •Generally received second-most favorable reaction •Positive feedback about opportunities for public spaces and efficiency of bus operations •Concerns about traffic impacts and removal of right-turns onto 4th Street from Hetherton 21 Feedback from Transit Operators •Two-Story concept not conducive to efficient bus operations due to ramp configuration •Across the Freeway concept is inefficient and difficult for bus operations •Whistlestop Block and 4th Street Gateway concepts are most effective for bus operations and merit further evaluation 22 Next Steps •Refinement of transit center concepts per June/July community & stakeholder feedback •Meet with GMs and Policy Leaders during September •Select concept(s) to carry forward into environmental process •Prepare notice of preparation (NOP) as part of CEQA process •Scoping meeting/community meeting expected in October 23