BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City has secured the appropriation of $620,000 in Contra Costa Measure J Transportation for Livable Communities (CC-TLC) funding to initiate the San Ramon Iron Horse Trail Bicycle / Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (Community Engagement / Preliminary Design); of which $200,700 has been allocated to the Community Engagement / Outreach and Preliminary Design component.
Prior to the allocation of the TLC grant, staff completed tasks related to the Project, including:
1. San Ramon Valley Iron Horse Trail Corridor Concept Plan – Finalized 2009;
2. Developed and circulated a Request for Proposals for Phase Two – Community Engagement / Outreach and Preliminary Design (December 18, 2012);
3. Conducted a Bidders Conference (January 15, 2013);
4. Received Proposals from 7 Firms (February 1, 2013);
5. Conducted oral board consisting of staff members from San Ramon, Contra Costa County Public Works, Sunset Development, and East Bay Regional Park District;
6. Selected Biggs Cardosa Associates (BCA) Inc. to implement Phase II – Community Engagement and Preliminary Design; and,
7. Presented informational report to San Ramon Policy Committee (May 22, 2013).
In 2004, voters of Contra Costa County approved Measure J, a ½-cent transportation sales tax program. Measure J includes Capital Improvement Projects and Countywide Capital and Maintenance Programs. Program Number 12 is titled - Transportation for Livable Communities (CC-TLC).
In the Expenditure Plan - CC-TLC program description is as follows:
The CC-TLC Program is intended to support local efforts to achieve more compact, mixed-use development, and development that is pedestrian-friendly or linked into the overall transit system. The program will fund specific transportation projects that: (a) facilitate, support and/or catalyze development, especially affordable housing, transit-oriented or mixed use development, or (b) encourage the use of alternatives to the single occupant vehicle and promote walking, bicycling and/or transit usage. Typical investments include pedestrian, bicycle and streetscape facilities, traffic calming and transit access improvements. Both planning grants and specific transportation capital projects may receive funding under this program.
Jurisdictions will be eligible for projects that meet the eligibility criteria only if they are in compliance with the Growth Management Program at the time a grant is approved for funding allocation by the Authority. Eligible projects will be recommended to the Authority by each sub region based on a three- or five-year funding cycle, at the option of the Regional Transportation Planning Committee. Subregional programming targets will be based on the relative population share of the each in 2009, and adjusted every five years thereafter. Criteria are to include flexibility so that urban, suburban, and rural communities can be eligible.
On November 12, 2013, Council approved Resolution No. 2013-102 – authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Contract between the City of San Ramon and Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. to implement the Community Engagement/Outreach and Preliminary Design for the Iron Horse Trail Overcrossing at Bollinger Canyon Road and Crow Canyon Road (CIP #5530 and 5531), in an amount not to exceed $200,700.
To date, staff and the Consultant Team have completed, and / or are in the process of completing a number of work tasks, including:
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Establish Project Development Team - Completed
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Initiate Site Evaluations - Completed
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Develop Public Outreach Campaign - Completed
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Implement Community Design Charrettes – Completed
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Implement Website/Online Survey/Social Media – Completed
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Develop Design Alternatives – In progress
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Solicit input from City Committees/Commissions – In progress
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Solicit Community Feedback – In progress
On October 28, 2014, staff provided Council with a summary of the Project, including feedback received from the Design Charrettes held spring 2014. At that time, staff informed Council the next phase of the project related to outreach component. As of January 15, 2015, the following outreach activities have been completed:
1. Implemented the City of San Ramon on-line Open Government survey – residents and the community at-large had an opportunity to provide comments and feedback on the
architecture of 21 bridge concepts. The on-line survey was available Thursday, October 30 through Wednesday, December 31, 2014;
2. Attended two San Ramon Farmer's Markets;
3. Installed signage along the Iron Horse Trail informing the public to provide comment/feedback; and,
4. Attended Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee.
Staff will present the results of this phase of Community Engagement/Outreach component, including the findings from the on-line survey, farmers market, Iron Horse Trail Corridor Advisory Committee feedback, and press coverage.
STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL
1. Present Outreach Survey Results to City Commissions, Committees and key stakeholders, including:
a. Planning Commission - February 2, 2015
b. Parks Commission – February 11, 2015
c. Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) – February 11, 2015
d. Transportation Advisory Committee – February 19, 2015
e. East Bay Regional Park District – February 6, 2015
f. Contra Costa County – February 6, 2015
g. East Bay Regional Park District – February 6, 2015
h. Contra Costa County – February 6, 2015
i. Transportation Demand Management Advisory Committee – March, 2015
j. San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors – March, 2015
k. Sunset Development – March, 2015
l. Teen Council – March
m. Senior Advisory Committee – March
2. Present feedback from City Commissions, Committees and stakeholders to City Council April, 2015;
3. Based on feedback from stakeholders, Council will select three (3) bridge designs – April 2015;
4. Consultant Team will refine cost estimates for the three bridge alternatives;
5. Present three bridge preliminary cost estimates to City Council – June 2015;
6. Council select final bridge structure – June 2015; and,
7. Initiate Environmental Review Phase of project – July 2015.
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