Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Permanent Transit Center____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: 245 Council Meeting: 11/20/2017 Disposition: Accepted report Agenda Item No: 6.c Meeting Date: November 20, 2017 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Prepared by: Bill Guerin, Director of Public Works City Manager Approval: _________ File No.: 18.06.52 TOPIC: DOWNTOWN GATEWAY - PERMANENT TRANSIT CENTER SUBJECT: CITY COUNCIL INPUT REGARDING THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS REQUIRED IN A TRANSIT CENTER GUIDANCE DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE CITY INPUT TO THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HIGHWAY, AND TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT (GGBHTD) ENVIRONMENTAL AND DESIGN TEAM WORKING TO DEVELOP A FINAL CONCEPT FOR THE PERMANENT TRANSIT CENTER IN SAN RAFAEL RECOMMENDATION: Provide City Council input and accept the report. INTRODUCTION: The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has begun the development of a new permanent Transit Center to replace the current Bettini Transit Center in San Rafael that is being displaced by the second phase of SMART rail service from central San Rafael to Larkspur. GGBHTD has initiated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review that is going to be required for this project. GGBHTD will serve as the lead agency and the City of San Rafael will provide input as a responsible agency. GGBHTD has selected a team of design, engineering, and environmental professionals to work with the City, other public transportation agencies, and the community to identify a site, design a facility, and complete environmental review for a relocated or modified bus transit center in the vicinity of the new downtown SMART station. A contract is expected to be signed this month, with all work to be completed within three years. The new transit center offers a significant opportunity for San Rafael to expand our support of regional transit while also improving the vitality, safety, and attractiveness of the neighborhood where the facilities will be located. The City, GGBHTD, and other transportation agencies collaborated in the development of a Transit Center Relocation Study that recommended three alternative sites along Hetherton Avenue as possible alternatives for a permanent Transit Center and recommended each be evaluated for additional study as part of the environmental review. The sites represent the starting point for the GGBHTD’s final planning SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 and design of a new bus facility and will define this Downtown Gateway for years to come. The GGBHTD has stated their willingness to explore a “Fourth Option” that would be developed before beginning environmental review, and assessed as a part of the EIR process. To that end, GGBHTD agreed to engage the public early in the process to inform their design professionals. That is anticipated to occur in the first quarter of 2018. BACKGROUND: For two decades, San Rafael has anticipated the return of commuter rail service in its various planning initiatives. The Downtown San Rafael Vision (1993), General Plan 2020 (2004/2013), San Rafael Design Guidelines (2004), and Housing Element (2015) each address aspects of the City’s aspirations, specific goals, and guiding policies for the neighborhoods surrounding the regional transit hub. In 2012, the City Council accepted a Downtown Station Area Plan that described and illustrated in greater detail how future development around the SMART station could implement the City’s commitment to both regional transit and a high quality townscape. The City has undertaken or participated in additional studies and plan updates that also contribute to planning for the bus transit center relocation. Among those are the Downtown Parking and Wayfinding Study (pending final approval), the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan update (pending final approval), the Climate Change Action Plan, the Climate Adaptation- Sea Level Rise White Paper (2014), the Marin Bay Waterfront Adaptation Vulnerability Evaluation (BayWAVE/2017), the Rice Drive to 2nd St. Multiuse Pathway Feasibility Study (2016), and the Transit Center Relocation Study (presented to the Council on November 1, 2016). Beginning in January 2017, the City retained Alta Planning+Design (Alta) to assist staff in working with the GGBHTD, other transit partner agencies, and the public in preparation for the transit center planning process. City staff contributed to the content of the GGBHTD’s Request for Proposals (RFP), participated in the Consultant team interviews and selection, and is now seeking City Council guidance on key considerations to share with the selected design team. While the GGBHTD is the property owner of the current transit center and lead agency for the project, this effort is a collaboration between the GGBHTD, the City, and other transit agencies. Additionally, the City and GGBHTD have adopted an MOU that memorializes our partnership and associated responsibilities. For decades to come, the design and location of the new Transit Center will substantially influence downtown’s character and quality of life well beyond the site perimeters. The City Council reviewed the Transit Center Relocation Study in 2016 and identified strengths and weaknesses of the three alternatives, with broad agreement that the optimum solution has yet to be identified. The Council has a timely opportunity to highlight the City’s priority requirements for this area that will enable it to evolve into a healthy, attractive, and vibrant blending of diverse downtown neighborhoods with safe, clean, efficient regional transit services in its midst. PRESENTATION ELEMENTS: At the City Council’s November 20, 2017 meeting, Alta will review the neighborhood’s history, intersecting interests, and identify potential “Fourth Option” siting and design elements. Following the presentation, the Council and the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback, including consideration of on-site or off-site issues that could be a part of the planning and/or construction of the relocated Bus Transit Center. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 Specific elements include: Identification of Transit Center Focused Planning Area The City has identified a Priority Development Area (PDA), defined as the portion of downtown within a half mile radius of the SMART station. In the unified Sustainable Communities Plan/Regional Transportation Plan, MTC and ABAG have assigned a target amount of new jobs and housing to be located within the PDA. Design and location of the relocated Bus Transit Center needs to consider how best to complement the City’s broader community development goals, and the Council will be invited to define the minimum area to be integrated into the Transit Center plan. 4th Option Elements The November 20, 2017 presentation will review considerations identified in the numerous studies and adopted plans that the City has undertaken. The Council and the public will be given the opportunity to comment on potential elements to be addressed in a fourth transit center alternative. Topic areas will include: • 4th Street development goals between Lincoln and Grand Avenues • Nearby Public Realm improvements, including Gateway features • Adjacent development uses, scale, and character • Vehicle, Biking, and Walking improvements • Future Parking needs and management • Improvements to Caltrans property under the elevated 101 structure • Sustainable Development features, including Sea Level Rise response • Transportation management and communication technology • Provision for future transit adaptation • Visual resource protection Economic analysis of the Transit Center Gateway The presentation will provide a recommendation that an economic consulting firm produce a transit center area economic development analysis by mid-2018, in conjunction with the City’s General Plan update. Jointly, these studies will provide the Bridge District’s design team with valuable insight and expectations that should be reflected in the ultimate solution. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with providing input to the GGBHTD and their design team. The City Council previously approved a contract with Alta Planning+Design which would expire on January 2, 2018. It would be useful to carry on this type of work in some fashion (not the subject of this report) on a go-forward basis as the design and environmental review of the transit center will be a multi-year effort. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Receive presentation on the upcoming Bridge District Transit Center planning 2. Accept public comment 3. Provide feedback and direction to staff, allowing them to return in December with a draft Transit Center Guidance Statement for Council review and possible action. STAFF REPORT APPROVAL ROUTING SLIP Staff Report Author: Bill Guerin Date of Meeting: 11/20/2017 Department: Public Works Topic: Downtown San Rafael - Permanent Transit Center Subject: Seek Council Input regarding Critical Elements – Develop Final Concept Type: (check all that apply) ☐ Consent Calendar ☐ Public Hearing ☒ Discussion Item ☐ Resolution ☐ Ordinance ☐ Professional Services Agreement ☐ Informational Report *If PSA, City Attorney approval is required prior to start of staff report approval process Was agenda item publicly noticed? ☐ Yes ☐No Date noticed: ☐Mailed ☐Site posted ☐Marin IJ Due Date Responsibility Description Completed Date Initial / Comment DEPARTMENT REVIEW FRIDAY noon 11/3 Director Director approves staff report is ready for ACM, City Attorney & Finance review. 11/12/2017 ☒ BG CONTENT REVIEW MONDAY morning 11/6 Assistant City Manager City Attorney Finance ACM, City Attorney & Finance will review items, make edits using track changes and ask questions using comments. Items will be returned to the author by end of day Wednesday. Click here to enter a date. 11/13/2017 11/13/2017 ☒ ☒ LG ☒ Staff Rep.only-Van DEPARTMENT REVISIONS FRIDAY noon 11/10 Author Author revises the report based on comments receives and produces a final version (all track changes and comments removed) by Friday at noon. Click here to enter a date. ☒ ACM, CITY ATTORNEY, FINANCE FINAL APPROVAL MONDAY morning 11/13 Assistant City Manager City Attorney Finance ACM, City Attorney & Finance will check to see their comments were adequately addressed and sign-off for the City Manager to conduct the final review. Click here to enter a date. 11/14/2017 ☒ ☒ LG ☒ TUES noon 11/14 City Manager Final review and approval 11/15/2017 ☒ JS