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C. 35

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	January 22, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Approve a contract with Fehr & Peers for the Contra Costa County Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail Study.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/22/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Jamar Stamps (925) 674-7832
cc:	Lawrence Huang, DCD

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, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Fehr & Peers in an amount not to exceed $299,735 to assist the Department of Conservation and Development in developing and studying the feasibility of multi-use trail concepts for the Marsh Creek Corridor (“Corridor”), for the period January 22, 2019 through July 31, 2020.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No impact to the County's General Fund. Staff time and proposed County funding is included in existing work plans and budgets. Previously approved or reviewed allocations fund the project: Livable Communities Trust Fund District III portion ($250,000, Board approved 12/20/16), East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy Restoration Planning Funds ($25,000, 7/20/16) and Road Fund – Advance Planning (gas tax) ($24,735).

BACKGROUND:

Through a request for proposals solicitation, the Department of Conservation and Development (“DCD”) selected Fehr & Peers, a transportation planning/traffic engineering consultant firm, to develop the Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail Study ("Study"). The concept and proposal was developed through a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional effort including the Cities of Brentwood and Clayton, East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa Transportation Authority (“CCTA”), County Flood Control District, County Health Services Department, East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy, and non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups (Save Mount Diablo, John Marsh Historic Trust, Delta Peddlers, and Bike East Bay).

The Study will explore opportunities to develop an approximately 13-mile long multi-use trail through the Marsh Creek Corridor aligned with Marsh Creek Road between the City of Clayton and the City of Brentwood. In the event this trail and adjacent trails are completed, there will be one continuous non-motorized route from Concord to Mount Diablo that ultimately continues to the shoreline of the Delta in Oakley.

Marsh Creek Road is a major thoroughfare that connects Central and East Contra Costa County. This stretch of Marsh Creek Road where the subject trail is proposed receives up to 10,000 average vehicle trips a day. The western segment of Marsh Creek Road carries a higher volume of commuters on average each day due to its proximity to the City of Clayton while the eastern segment near Round Valley Regional Preserve (Deer Valley Road) receives significantly fewer average daily vehicle trips. Marsh Creek Road is the gateway to 110,000 acres of open space and recreational areas managed by the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy, East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa Water District, State Parks, and other local jurisdictions.

This project is consistent with the County's Complete Streets Policies including the 2016 Complete Streets Resolution and General Plan amendment of 2008 (Promotion of Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities).

Bicycle trips take place on Marsh Creek Road, in spite of the lack of a bicycle path or designated lane. Marsh Creek Road within Clayton has an existing Class II bicycle lane, which connects to Clayton’s extensive trail network. In East Contra Costa County, the Marsh Creek Trail currently runs from the Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley to the southern city limits of the City of Brentwood. The East Bay Regional Park District plans to extend the Marsh Creek Trail through the City of Brentwood to the Round Valley Regional Preserve (project initiated November 2018). This Study will seek to develop a project that closes the gap in the multi-use trail between Round Valley Regional Preserve and the City of Clayton.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Study will not proceed, thus delaying the implementation of County policies for bicycle and pedestrian facilities.