Agenda

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C. 62

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Date:	May 14, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail Grant Application

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/14/2019

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

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

(925) 674-7755 Colin Piethe

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: May 14, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE staff from the Department of Conservation (DCD) and Development and Public Works (PWD) to submit a joint application for grant funding for the amount of $130,000 from the California State Coastal Conservancy for the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No impact to the General Fund. DCD and PW will receive up to $130,000 in funding for the project. (No County match)

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail (CSSLT) is a 59-mile trail composed of Bay Trail and Ridge Trail segments that surrounds a portion of the Carquinez Strait, from Crockett to Vallejo and Benicia in Solano County, to Martinez and back to Crockett (reference attached maps). The CSSLT Gap Closure Study is a collaboration between Contra Costa County, the City of Benicia, San Francisco Bay Trail, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council that will identify actions to remedy 18 miles of trail gaps. DCD and PWD propose to hire a consultant to help conduct the study, which will be phased into three steps:

1) Identify any “fatal flaws” related to closing existing identified gaps with bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Pending the results of the fatal flaw analysis, the scope of the study will continue to either step 2A or 2B.

2A) Use the information gathered in the fatal flaw analysis to narrow the study’s focus and study one or two (depending on the results of step 1) trail gaps in greater detail.

2B) If the fatal flaw analysis identifies segments of the CSSLT alignment that may not be feasible or practical, step 2B includes a revisited study of potential trail alignments in order to identify an improved preferred alignment, focused upon developing a route with greater value and a more expeditious path towards implementation.

3) The final step will include preparation of presentation material and identification of an action plan to increase awareness of the general public and elected officials in an effort to draw increased attention and financial resources towards implementation of the CSSLT gap closure project segments. Conducting a study to close these gaps will help identify projects that will, in turn, create public health, economic, and social equity benefits.

Increase in Trail Usage/Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction: The 2005 The San Francisco Bay Trail Project Gap Analysis Study estimated that trail users will grow from 2.3 million to 5.1 million annual users in 2026 due to increasing growth in population and tourism. Safe and convenient connections, particularly to the two bridges connecting the CSSLT, will further increase the number of trail users who might have otherwise driven to parts of the CSSLT. This mode shift is expected to reduce GHG emissions and improve public health outcomes due to increased rates of physical exercise.

Disadvantaged Communities: Identifying bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the CSSLT will also serve disadvantaged communities. The CSSLT runs through MTC-designated “Communities of Concern” in Crockett, Martinez, and Vallejo. In particular, improving the quality of non-motorized infrastructure around the CSSLT will improve traffic safety and mobility outcomes for those who are walking, bicycling, or taking transit out of necessity.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Not authorizing this grant will prevent the County from securing funding that will lead to trail gap remedy projects around the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail.