At its May 14, 2019 meeting, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the submission of a grant application to the California State Coastal Conservancy for the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail (CSSLT) Gap Closure Study (“Study”).
At its July 9, 2019 meeting, the BOS adopted a resolution (Exhibit A) to accept $133,387 from the California State Coastal Conservancy to conduct the Study. |
Evaluation of Gap Segments in the CSSLT
A Draft Final version of the Study (“Draft Final Study”) (Exhibit B) evaluates fatal flaws in the trail alignments proposed in the CSSLT Vision Summary[1] and potential alternative trail alignments to close three gap segments in the CSSLT within Contra Costa County:
- Segment #4 – Mococo Road, in the City of Martinez, between the Benicia Bridge bicycle/pedestrian path touchdown, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing, and the intersection of Mococo Road and Marina Vista Avenue,
- Segment #5 – within Martinez, between (from east to west) the Marina Vista Avenue/Escobar Street split, Downtown Martinez, and the eastern trailhead of the George Miller Trail via Carquinez Scenic Drive within the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, and
- Segment #6 – Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline between (from east to west) the western trailhead of the George Miller Trail, Port Costa, and Crockett, specifically the Caltrans park-and-ride lot located beneath Interstate 80/Carquinez Bridge.
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(The numbering for the segments gaps are sourced from the CSSLT Vision Summary, which assigned numbers to existing gap segments along the CSSLT in both Solano and Contra Costa Counties.[2])
Gap Closure Improvements
The Draft Final Study identifies improvements and the optimum alignment to close the CSSLT gap in each of the three segments.
Segment #4 – Improvements to this trail segment could consist of one or a combination of the following potential improvements:
- realigning the intersection of the Benicia Bridge bicycle/pedestrian path connection with Mococo Road,
- closing/relocating existing street/intersection approaches on Mococco Road,
- constructing a sidewalk or shared-use trail along either the west and north sides or the east and south sides of Mococo Road, and
- striping bicycle lanes on Mococco Road.
[2] Please see page 6 of the CSSLT Vision Summary for the full map of all CSSLT gap segments.
Segment #5 – The optimum alignment would consist of the following improvements:
- new and existing bikeways along Marina Vista Avenue (westbound) and Escobar Street (eastbound) through Downtown Martinez,
- new bikeway on Ferry Street between Escobar Street and the UPRR crossing,
- an existing paved shared-use trail between the Ferry Street UPRR crossing and the Grangers Wharf Parking Area and a new path along Berrellessa Street between the Grangers Wharf Parking Area and the UPRR crossing,
- a new East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) trail adjacent to the south side of the UPRR tracks between Berrellesa Street and the Nejedly Staging Area, and
- a new trail along Carquinez Scenic Drive, which would be closed to regular vehicle traffic, between the Nejedly Staging Area the eastern terminus of the George Miller Trail.
Segment #6 – The optimum alignment would consist of the following improvements:
- a new trail between the western terminus of the George Miller Trailhead/Port Costa Staging Area and the existing Carquinez Shoreline Overlook Trail/Fire Road,
- a combination of new and existing trails between the Carquinez Shoreline Overlook Trail/Fire Road and the eastern terminus of Prospect Avenue in Port Costa,
- a combination of new and existing trails/fire roads between Prospect Avenue in Port Costa and Winslow Street in Crockett, through the Eckley Pier Park/Picnic Area,
- two alignment options between Winslow Street and the intersection of Pomona Street and Rolph Avenue within eastern Crockett:
- a shoreline route that can accommodate pedestrians and a Class III bicycle route only, generally along Winslow Street north and west, then Loring Avenue to Rolph Avenue, then south on Rolph Avenue, and
- an alignment tailored for bicyclists, using new bike lanes along Winslow Street south to Pomona Street, then new bike lanes on Pomona Street to Rolph Avenue, and
- new and existing bike lanes and sidewalk on Pomona Street between Rolph Avenue and 6th Avenue and a new Class III bikeway along 6th Avenue from Pomona Street north to the Caltrans park-and-ride lot beneath Interstate 80/Carquinez Bridge.
Future Steps
Segments of the CSSLT within the County’s jurisdiction will be added to the County’s Capital Road Improvement and Preservation Program (CRIPP). Staff will search for funding opportunities to complete next steps in implementing these segments, including additional trail alignment analysis, environmental work, design, permitting, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. When appropriate, staff will coordinate with partner agencies and initiate community outreach and engagement. |