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C. 31

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development
Date:	January 22, 2013

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Approve a contract with Alta Planning + Design for the Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/22/2013

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

John Cunningham, 674-7833

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 22, 2013
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Alta Planning + Design for an amount not to exceed $185,915 to assist the Department of Conservation and Development in studying Olympic Boulevard corridor for the purpose of developing improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, for the period December 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None to the General Fund. The contract is funded at 100% by a Transportation for Livable Communities grant from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. Staff time is accounted for in the current department budget.

BACKGROUND:

The Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study is a planning study that will identify feasible alignments and the preferred alternative for a pedestrian/bicycle facility connecting two well used, paved, multi-use regional trails in Contra Costa County, the Lafayette-Moraga Trail (LMT) and the Iron Horse Trail (IHT). If connected, these facilities (in addition to the Contra Costa Canal Trail two miles to the north of downtown Walnut Creek) would complete a trail network that joins most of
Lamorinda, San Ramon Valley, and Central Contra Costa. The ultimate goal of the proposal is to provide a connection for bicyclists and pedestrians between the LMT to the IHT that is safer and more convenient.

The Department of Conservation and Development, with the assistance of the Public Works Department and staff from the cities of Lafayette and Walnut Creek, conducted a competitive solicitation process for consultant assistance in which Alta Planning + Design (Alta) was the unanimous selection. Alta will conduct the study with County oversight. County staff is, in turn, will be assisted by staff from the City of Walnut Creek and the City of Lafayette.


The study spans three jurisdictions (Lafayette, unincorporated Contra Costa County, and City of Walnut Creek) generally along the Olympic Boulevard corridor. (see attached map) The western project limit is in the City of Lafayette at the intersection of the LMT, Olympic Boulevard, and Reliez Station Road. The eastern project limit is in the City of Walnut Creek along the IHT corridor. For the purposes of this study, the Olympic Boulevard corridor includes Boulevard Way, Newell Avenue, and Olympic Boulevard. Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the study, staff from the Cities of Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and the County have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to outline expectations and responsibilities of the participating jurisdictions. All parties are in the process of finalizing and adopting the MOU.


The land uses and activity centers that are potentially served by the project are downtown Walnut Creek/Broadway Plaza, higher density housing along Olympic Boulevard, residential areas in Lafayette along the LMT, and the Mt. Diablo Boulevard commercial district. It is currently possible to bicycle and walk between the two trails on existing facilities. However, the route is a patchwork of facilities including, Class I paths, Class II lanes and unmarked or undesignated streets and sidewalks.


The study will recommend a range of improvements to be implemented in phases. Recommendations will range from short-term/low cost spot improvements to longer term investments that may reallocate existing right-of-way or acquire new right-of-way.


The proposal is supported in policy documents of the City of Walnut Creek, City of Lafayette, Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The study will not proceed and the implementation of County policies for bicycle and pedestrian facilities will be delayed if authorization to execute the contract is not approved.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

The study may result in safe routes to school type improvements for schools in the study vicinity.