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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 2011CITY OF Agenda Item No: 11 Meeting Date: April 4, 2011 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Public Works Prepared by: City Manager Approval: Director of Public Works (LB) File No.: 18.10.09 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN 2011 UPDATE AND A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CORRESPONDING NEGATIVE DECLARATION. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adopting the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update and the corresponding negative declaration. BACKGROUND: In 1998, the San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was established with the specific purpose of creating a Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan. The BPAC, along with City staff, initiated preparation of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan in January of 1999. On February 4th, 2002, the City Council adopted resolutions 11009 and 11010 adopting the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan and a corresponding negative declaration. The adoption of the Plan "establishes eligibility for five consecutive [Bicycle Transportation Account] funding cycles". Therefore, in order to remain eligible for Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) grants, the Plan must be updated every five years. Since the adoption of the original Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan in 2002, the BPAC has continued to meet a minimum of two times per year with the specific intent of discussing and addressing bicycle and pedestrian related issues located within the City of San Rafael and to review the progress of the original Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan. In 2006 the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) began a countywide effort to update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans of each of the Towns and Cities in Marin County as well as the unincorporated areas. Alta Planning + Design was retained by TAM to perform this task. For over a year, Alta Planning + Design worked closely with city staff and the BPAC to update the plan. The BPAC reviewed the updated plan and recommended its adoption by City Council and on September 15, 2008, the City Council held a public hearing to adopt an update to the plan and the corresponding negative declaration. At the time, the City Council decided improvements to the plan were required and requested staff to review the comments heard during the public hearing, revise the plan and come back to City Council. No action was taken by the City Council on September 15, 2008. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: Council Meeting: Disposition: SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Palze: 2 Since the September 15, 2008 public hearing, the plan has been further updated to reflect changes in the bicycle and pedestrian system and to review and incorporate the comments heard and received during original 20 -day review period and public hearing. Since the contract between TAM and Alta Planning + Design had expired, the changes and updates to the plan were performed by City staff. Alta Planning + Design did, however, utilize their own time to review the majority of the proposed changes. Part of the update to the plan was to incorporate bike routes, lanes and paths which have been installed since the adoption of the original Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This includes the addition of ■ 4.1 miles of bicycle/multi-use paths ■ 3.4 miles of bicycle lanes ■ over 22 miles of signed bicycle routes Pedestrian improvements have also been installed as part of many capital improvement projects. It has been a practice of the Public Works Department to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian improvements in all projects including slurry seal, overlay, intersection improvements, etc. Pedestrian improvements include items such as new sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signal heads, bulb -outs, etc. Also incorporated in the Master Plan 2011 Update are the locations of newly proposed bicycle and pedestrian projects including • The Puerto Suello Hill Path to Transit Center Connector Project (an NTPP project) • The Old Lucas Valley Road Pathway ■ Upgrades to the pedestrian push buttons at all traffic signals citywide ■ Installation of a wide sidewalk and/or multi -use path on Francisco Boulevard East and Grand Avenue between Vivian Way and Third Street. In February of 2011 the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update Final Draft was completed. On March 3, 2011, at 6:57 PM, the BPAC voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the Plan to City Council. ANALYSIS: The California Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) requires a bicycle plan meet certain requirements. These requirements are contained in the Streets and Highway Code, Section 891.2. The San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update includes each of the eleven required items. This Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update is consistent with the circulation element of the San Rafael General Plan 2020. In particular, this plan proposes to "expand bicycle and pedestrian networks, and improve connections between the different modes" of transportation. The proposed plan promotes General Plan 2020 Policies C-4, C -4b, C-20, C-23, C-24, C -24b, C-26, C-27, C -27e and C -27f. Plan Overview The San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update proposes a continuous bicycle and pedestrian network for travel within San Rafael and connecting to surrounding communities. The original Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan identified seventeen north -south and twelve east -west bikeways, in which over eighty specific roadway segments were identified as locations to install bicycle facilities. Since the adoption of the original Master Plan in early 2002, fifty of the roadway segments have had improvements installed, completing or partially completing twelve of the north -south bicycle facilities and eight of the east -west bicycle facilities. In addition to the roadway segments which have yet to be constructed from the original Bike Plan, thirty- two new routes are proposed, including approximately six miles of Class I facilities, approximately two miles of Class II facilities (which may require the removal of existing Class III signing), and over two miles of Class III facilities. The plan also calls for numerous pedestrian improvements, additional bicycle parking, school safety commute programs, maintenance programs, and educational programs. The main goal of the 2011 Plan Update is to make bicycle and pedestrian travel an integral part of daily life in San Rafael and to make San Rafael a model city for alternative transportation. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 The Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update is a living document and the objectives set forth include: ■ Completing the network of bicycle and pedestrian routes ■ Maintaining and improving the quality of the established routes • Increasing the amount of bicycle parking • Coordinating with other modes of transportation for improved bicycle access ■ Increasing education of alternative modes of transportation • Increasing education through bicycle and pedestrian safety programs In addition, the Plan Update calls to continue to use the latest version of the Caltrans Highway Design Manual and/or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guidelines as applicable for bike, streets and pathways. The heart of the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update consists of improvements to the existing infrastructure. Proposed improvements are broken into near, mid and long term categories. There are over ninety separate bicycle and pedestrian related projects contained within the plan. The San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update also identifies several county -wide and inter -jurisdictional projects which are consistent with community priorities. These projects are identified as gap closures and safety programs and include: • Marin Pathway Maintenance Program ■ Interchange and Intersection Improvements Projects ■ Bellam Boulevard Bicycle/Pedestrian Project ■ Bus Stop Access Improvement Program • Regional Connection Projects • Signals, Lighting Improvements and Upgrades ■ Specific Pedestrian Projects Implementation Upon approval of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update, staff will begin applying for Federal and State grants. The Public Works Director has issued a directive to initiate and incorporate in all projects from the time of their inception forward, a multi -modal approach that ensures inclusion in the scope of all relevant, appropriate, necessary and mandated facilities. This directive shall be used as a tool to implement the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan 2011 Update, as feasible. FISCAL IMPACT: A large majority of the improvements described in the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update would be funded by grants and completion will depend on grant availability. A fee of $1,926.75 is required to file the Initial Study/Negative Declaration with the Marin County Clerk/Assessor's Office upon adoption by City Council which is available in the current Public Works operation budget. OPTIONS: • Adopt the resolutions • Reject the resolutions • Send back for additional study ACTION REQUIRED: Adopt resolution adopting of the negative declaration for the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update Adopt a resolution adopting the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update. Enclosures (4) 1. San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4 2. Initial Study/Negative Declaration 3. Resolution adopting Negative Declaration 4. Resolution adopting Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update RESOLUTION RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN 2011 UPDATE WHEREAS, in October of 1998 the City Council appointed a Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to develop a San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and WHEREAS, in January of 1999, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee along with city staff initiated preparation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and WHEREAS, consistent with the requirements of the of the City of San Rafael Environmental Assessment Procedures Manual and the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Initial Study/Negative Declaration was prepared finding the that proposed San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update would not result in a significant environmental impact; and WHEREAS, the San Rafael Municipal Code Section 2.40.010 "Environmental Matters", requires a public hearing for the Negative Declaration be held by the planning commission and/or the city council; and WHEREAS, a notice regarding the Initial Study/Negative Declaration prepared for this project was published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area and mailed to special interest groups and individuals; and WHEREAS, copies of the Initial Study/Negative Declaration were made available for a 20 day review period by pertinent agencies and interested members of the public, commencing on March 14, 2011 and ending on April 4, 2011; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on April 4, 2011 in which any and all comments were received by interested parties; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does hereby adopt the Negative Declaration based on the findings that the Public Works Department exercised its independent judgment in evaluating the Negative Declaration and the Negative Declaration has been considered in conjunction with comments received during the public review period. Based on this review, the Public Works Department has determined that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant impact on the environment. RESOLVED FURTHER, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does hereby adopt the Negative Declaration for the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update. 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 4t" day of April, 2011 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk File No.: 18.10.09 RESOLUTION RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN 2011 UPDATE WHEREAS, in October of 1998 the City Council appointed a Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to develop a San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and WHEREAS, in January of 1999, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee along with city staff initiated preparation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan was adopted in 2002 and provided eligibility for Bicycle Transportation Account grants; and WHEREAS, the San Rafael General Plan Policy C-4 calls for safety and convenience for bicyclists in the design of roadways, and more specifically Policy C -4b supports establishing design criteria for alternative modes of travel; and WHEREAS, an update to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan must be adopted every five years in order to remain eligible for Bicycle Transportation Account grants; and WHEREAS, the 2011 Update to the City of San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan was developed in accordance with all applicable Caltrans requirements; and WHEREAS, on March 2, 2011, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update to the City Council for adoption; and WHEREAS, the Public Works Department has recommended approval of a Negative Declaration for the San Rafael Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update by adoption of a separate resolution; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has been a leading agency in the implementation and construction of bicycle and pedestrian projects in Marin County, and; WHEREAS, the Public Works Director has issued a complete Streets Directive to initiate and incorporate in all projects a multi -modal approach that ensures inclusion in the scope of all relevant, appropriate, necessary and mandated facilities. NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does hereby adopt the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan 2011 Update. 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 4th day of April, 2011 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk