Background
In 2013 the County received a Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) grant from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to study a trail connection between the Lafayette-Moraga Trail and the Iron Horse Trail.
After an initial kick-off meeting on March 8, 2013, the County, Walnut Creek, and Lafayette entered into an MOU on June 21, 2013 to jointly participate in the study.
On December 5, 2013, the first public workshop was held to solicit feedback regarding the study and potential alignments for a new separated multi-use facility.
Status
This past July, Alta Planning (consultant on the project) released a Draft Preferred Alignment Report (Exhibit A), which identified a draft concept for public review.
Details are in the Draft Preferred Alignment Report and will be discussed by staff, but in general, the draft preferred alignment (from west to east) would run along:
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Olympic Boulevard to California Boulevard in Downtown Walnut Creek
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California Boulevard south to Newell Avenue
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Newell Avenue to the Iron Horse Trail
A segment of the draft preferred alignment that would serve as an alternate option to the main alignment would run along Newell Avenue from Olympic Boulevard to California Boulevard.
The draft preferred alignment will contain a number of short-term improvements, such as buffered bike lanes, narrower vehicular lanes, wayfinding signs, and sharrows. Longer-term, more complex, and costlier improvements will ultimately be necessary to achieve the goal of the 'ultimate project'- a separated facility that connects the two existing trails.
Currently, the report has been circulated among the County neighborhood organizations in the study area:
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Parkmead Community Association
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Saranap Homeowners Organization
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Saranap Community Association
In addition, the draft report was presented at the following City commissions:
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Walnut Creek Circulation Commission
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Lafayette Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
The draft concepts for the unincorporated portion of the study corridor will be reviewed at the TWI Meeting by staff.
There will be a second public meeting in August or September to solicit feedback on the draft preferred alignment. After input is collected, Alta will begin work on a final alignment report, which will go for final approval at the Board of Supervisors and formal adoption.
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