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Home My WebLink AboutPW Presentation from the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transporation District on the San Rafael Transit Center PPTSan Rafael City Council Presentation March 4, 2024 1 Agenda •Project Background •Recent Project Progress •2023 Public Engagement Activities •Project Design Update •Key Coordination Topics and Next Steps 2 •Over 700 daily bus trips, an increase since 2019 •9,000 daily boardings and alightings serving equally as an access point to Downtown San Rafael and as a transfer point between services •Large contingent of transit center users are essential workers who have continued to rely on transit through pandemic and will continue to rely on transit in future 3 Population Group Riders on Routes Serving Transit Center City of San Rafael General Population Marin County Population Household Income Less than $50k 45%31%25% Minority (non-white)69%33%29% Role of the Transit Center Why a New Transit Center is Needed 4 Third Street serves as a major barrier for pedestrian access and transfers to SMART Congestion on 2nd Street makes it challenging for buses to exit transit center, increasing travel times and impacting reliabilityTransit center access configuration requires extensive out-of-direction travel for buses, impacting traffic congestion and increasing operating costs SMART tracks bisecting transit center impacts pedestrian circulation and access, increasing transfer times and making wayfinding difficult Construction of SMART tracks impacted ability to access several bus bays, limiting flexibility and usability of transit center Current transit center was built 30 years ago, lacks sufficient space for customer service, and needs technology, sustainability, and user comfort improvements Transit center has insufficient space for pick- up/drop-off, shuttles, taxis, and bike parking Existing Safety Need 5 Existing Transit Center 6 SRTC Replacement Project Overall Anticipated Project Schedule 7 Current stage Recent Project Progress •December 2022:FEIR Adopted •February-December 2023:Community Design Advisory Group and Public Meetings •June 2023 -Current:Began Preparing NEPA Checklist and Re- engaged FTA •July 2023 -Current: •Advance Design Discussions with City of San Rafael and Marin Transit •Advance Preliminary Design and Engineering 8 9 RECONOCIMIENTO; VISIÓN + PRINCIPIOS “GRANDES GESTOS” DESARROLLO DEL CONCEPTO IMPLEMENTACIÓN; INFORME 2023 Public Engagement Activities RECONNAISSANCE; VISION + PRINCIPLES BIG MOVES CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION; REPORT-BACK CDAG #2 JULY 25, 2023 San Rafael City Hall OPEN HOUSE Dec. 6, 2023 OPEN HOUSE AUG. 15, 2023 CDAG #3 SEPT. 12, 2023 San Rafael City Hall CDAG #1 JUNE 20, 2023 Jackson Cafe CDAG #4 OCT. 17, 2023 Virtual CANAL ALLIANCE FACEBOOK LIVE AUG. 10, 2023 CANAL ALLIANCE FACEBOOK LIVE NOV. 30, 2023 10 2023 Public Engagement Activities Community Open House: Open House #1 -Attended by more than 50 people -Received a total of 158 written comments -Additional online survey received 119 responses Open House #2 -Attended by more than 60 people -Received a total of 130 written comments 10 11 RECONOCIMIENTO; VISIÓN + PRINCIPIOS “GRANDES GESTOS” DESARROLLO DEL CONCEPTO 2023 Public Engagement Activities Partnership with the Canal Alliance Facebook Live Event #1 - (8/10/2023) -Participated by 33 attendees -Received over 40 comments on the feed -Viewed by 1,100 people to-date Facebook Live Event #2 - (11/30/23) -Participated by 32 attendees -Received 30 comments on the feed -Viewed by 1,200 people to-date In-Person Promotoras Outreach -Total of 51 hours of outreach in Spanish at peak transit times -Distributed over 950 palm cards 11 Community Design Advisory Group (CDAG) Brought a balanced and diverse group of voices together to discuss and provide input on the design, aesthetics, amenities and features of the new transit center. Conducted a field walk of the existing transit center and the new site Served as a conduit between the District and the community Met four times over five months: June through October 2023 12 2023 Public Engagement Activities 12 Example Comments from Transit Riders •“Accessibility is a priority” •“Green Areas. Family areas. Good bus service. Rain protection” •“I would like long lighted canopies that protect from the wind, sun and rain” •“More safety” 13 Transit Rider Priorities –Key Themes •Amenities like restrooms, water fountains, phone charging, bike parking •Safety and security, e.g. visibility, cameras, etc. •Shelter from sun, wind and rain •Greenery, including London plain trees –but balanced with shelters and seating •Comfort & access, e.g. benches with arm rests to accommodate seniors •Inclusive of extended families, disabled persons & different body sizes •Signage –bilingual, directional signage and real time arrival/departure signage •Gathering place for families, friends, events 14 Community Design Advisory Group (CDAG) Outcome: Central Courtyard with Open Arcade •Courtyard provides more opportunities for placemaking and program; supports safety & security •Potential for shade and weather protection •Family-friendly •Courtyard can be secured at night 15 Example look and feel Community Design Advisory Group (CDAG) Outcome: Bus Canopy Look and Feel •Warm materials like wood and brick (where pragmatic) •Wood is reflective of Marin history and culture •Light and airy •Must provide substantial shelter •Opportunity to create a gateway to downtown 16 Public Engagement Outcome: Northwestern Pacific (NWP) Railroad Depot Building Reuse •Widely varying opinions from community members •Interest in retaining 1929 features or reconstructing original building •Interest in building an all-new building, without NWP Depot elements 17 Northwestern Pacific Railroad Depot ~1935 “Whistlestop” Today View from 4th St. at train tracks, looking southwest Northwestern Pacific Railroad Depot “Whistlestop” Laser Scanning + Conditions Analysis 18 Northwestern Pacific Railroad Depot “Whistlestop” Laser Scanning 19 1929 West Façade 1929 East Façade – originally partially open “arcade”, later filled in by the Railroad 1929 Shaped Mission Parapet, relocated onto 1982 addition Angle of 1982 gabled roof is same angle as original 1940’s-1950’s Railroad addition Integrating NWP Railroad History •Extending the transportation function of original building –creating a sense of place and a sustainable future •Reuse building elements from early railroad era that still exist •Incorporate elements similar to early railroad era, e.g. signage and lighting •Newly constructed building elements echo original building, e.g. roof lines, facade elements •Do not “reconstruct” original building (per guidance from US Department of the Interior) •Remain within existing environmental approvals Sources: San Rafael Heritage, Vivalon, Mill Valley Public Library, Marin History Museum, Marin County Free Library, Calisphere (UC archives), David Rumsey Historical Map Collection 20 ~1955 1935 Preserving Heritage Elements to Maintain a Sense of History from the Early Railroad Days East Side of the Northwest Pacific Depot / Customer Service Building 1.The original 1929 Depot entry will become the main entry to the new public lobby 2.The original 1929 “arcade” will become the edge of a new public courtyard 3.Reintroduction of Railroad signage and lighting 4.The Railroad filled in this part of the “arcade” in 1951. This wall will house a new café/retail space Color of stucco is intended to align with original building (to be confirmed) 1 2 43 ~1945 21 Preserving Heritage Elements to Maintain a Sense of History from the Early Railroad Days North Side of the Northwest Pacific Depot / Customer Service Building 1.The original 1929 Depot “arcade” will become a café 2.New north façade will echo the 1929 façade 3.New roof line will echo 1929 roof line, with potential reuse of roof tiles 4.West façade to be incorporated largely as-is, with 1929 elements 22 1 2 3 4 22 Add crosswalk and tactile paving (both sides of SMART) remove Per recent board meetings I suggest adding more detail to SMART platforms. I added ramps and equipment platforms (all four sides). Use a light gray (lighter than roads) instead of white. Please use the same tree symbol as in the plaza, but at the same size as these. These look like bushes. We will get you a more representative shape for the canopy KH to confirm tactile strips (typical) Label PASSENGER PICKUP AND DROP OFF If we’re showing tables and chairs, should we show benches too? Change to brick hatch The three small shelters should not overhang into the street Bus shelter should move north so that it provides coverage at doors to buses. One tree to move south. KH to confirm. 23 24 Indicative Courtyard Options/Opportunities View of the Plaza from 4th St., Looking South 25 Indicative Plaza Design Rendering Benches with armrests Brick paving; use of warm colors Bike parking adjacent to entry 1929 Façade relocated Balance of paving and greenery Tables and chairs near café Clear lines of sight London plane trees 26View of the Customer Service Building from Tamalpais Ave., Looking South Indicative Customer Service Building Rendering 1929 Façade relocated Brick paving; use of warm colors London plane trees Two-way bike route (strategy TBD) Benches with armrests 27View of the Bus Canopy from Hetherton at 4th Street Indicative Bus Canopy Rendering Mass timber structure Real-time signage Protection from elements; gateway to downtown Pedestrian crosswalks Street trees on Hetherton Benches with armrests Security kiosk (behind) Line of sight to SMART, buses, building Proposed Pedestrian Improvements 28 Intersection Bulbout & Directional Curb Ramps Intersection Bulbouts Exclusive pedestrian phase, no right-turn on red Pedestrian Level Lighting Directional Curb Ramps Directional Curb Ramps New LPI New Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) Improved Sidewalk Reconfigure Crosswalk Reconfigure CrosswalkHigh Visibility Crosswalk High Visibility Crosswalks (all legs) High Visibility Crosswalks (all legs) Proposed Bicycle Network Improvements 29 2nd to 3rd St Bike Path 3rd to 4th St Bike Path 4th St Crossing Proposed Bicycle Parking •Secure Bike Parking: 10 bike locker spaces near 3rd Street –adjacent to the Customer Service Building. Secure space for additional 20 bikes allocated. •Short-term Bike Parking: 20 bike rack spaces at three different locations near the entrance and throughout the plaza 30 Bike Lockers Bike Racks Key Ongoing Coordination Topics •Allocation of Responsibilities for Tamalpais Avenue (City of San Rafael) •North-South Greenway Configuration (City) •Design Review Process (City) •Street crossing design (California Public Utilities Commission, City, SMART, Marin Transit) •Bus Bay Configuration (Marin Transit) •Cultural Resources Analysis (Federal Transit Administration, City) 31 Next Steps •Presentations (Jan-Mar 2024): •Marin Transit, SMART, and TAM Boards •San Rafael City Council •San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee •Advance preliminary engineering (Winter/Spring 2024) •Additional round of community engagement (Summer 2024) •Obtain NEPA Clearance (in progress) •Begin ROW procurement (after NEPA clearance) •District to procure Final Design contract (End of 2024) 32