HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-13 City Council (16)TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager,s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:.CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
DATE:APRIL 13, 1998
SUBJECT:UNIVERSITY ~AVENUE TRAIN
PROGRESS REPORT
CMR: 189:98
DEPOT ENHANCEMENT
REPORT IN ,BRIEF
The purpose of this staff report is to provide the Council with information regarding the
progress that has been made by the Downtown Palo Alto Train Station Subcommittee to
make the University Avenue Train. Depot a more welcoming place. The report als0 includes
information about the cooperative efforts being made by Stanford University, the Valley
Transportation Agency, the Joint Powers Board and the City of Palo Alto on future
improvements, the potential need for additional subsidized funding, and the status of the
long-range Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center interface area ("Dream Team") project.
CMR:189:98 Page 1 of 4
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
~ BACKGROUND ~
On April 22, 1997 Council unanimously adopted a proposal by Council Members Jean~
McCoWn and Lanie Wheeler to enhance the University Avenue Depot.. Specifically, the
proposal directed staff to:
Pursue ways in which Palo Alto and the other agencies involved at the Depot,
principally Stanford University, the Joint Powers Board (JPB) andthe Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Agency (SCVTA), could make the Depot a more welcoming
place, including: enhanced tunnel maintenance, secured bicycle storage, improved
signage and general improvements to landscaping and cleanliness, and potential use
of the station building for compatible uses.
Consider returning during the budget process with a recommendation on funding, to
be included in the 1997-98 Budget, which would represent the City ofPalo Alto’s
share of a joint maintenance and improvement effort for the Depot.
Return to Council after six months with a report on progress, making
recommendations on future actions to be taken at the Depot.
DISCUSSION
In November 1996, the Downtown Palo Alto Train Station Subcommittee (Committee),
headed by Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Frank and
Chamber representative Dena Mossar, with other representatives from the business
community, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (SCVTA), Stanford University, the
Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Palo Alto, began discussing ways to make
improvements to the University Avenue Depot. The Committee met monthly and initially
identified three projects that could quickly and easily make the facility more user friendly:
better directional signage, a thorough pruning of the foliage to improve the line of sight of
incoming/outgoing trains, and heavy steam cleaning of the walkways. All three projects
were completed by the end of September 1997. The Committee is also focusing on other
projects, including a maintenance agreement with the JPB, wherein the City will contract for
the cleaning of the four University Avenue pedestrian tunnels and the City and JPB would
split the cost. A detailed analysis of the Committee’s accomplishments and ongoing
priorities is attached.
Several issues are identified as ongoing priorities in the attached report: lighting; security;
pedestrian tunnel improvements-and maintenance; overseeing the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) work and making sure such work preserves the historic nature of the
facility; and monitoring the success of the bicycle facility.
CMR:189:98 Page 2 of 4
Staff’s experience in preparing for the bicycle storage facility and the realization of the need
for subsidized funding has lead staff and the Committee to believe that future
recommendations for other transportation uses proposed for the interior of the Depot will
also require su!~sidized funding. Additionally, SCVTA, in its January 1997 Condition
Assessment Report, estimated that the Depot needed $908,000 worth of renovations. A
source for funding the renovations has yet to be identified.
While joint efforts to improve the overall condition of the facility are progressing, staff is still
concerned about the inability of SCVTA and JPB to grasp how their interest in the facility
coincides with other users, the overall improvement plan and the historic significance of the
Depot. The most recent example of this was the JPB improvements to meet ADA
requirements. The JPB proposed using modem fixtures to make ADA improvements to the
restrooms. No consideration was given to the historic significance of the facility. In the
same project, the JPB also proposed to improve an ADA parking space, the same space the
SCVTA proposed to eliminate in its project.
Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center Project
In December 1996, the City of Palo Alto was awarded $200,000 in Petroleum Violation
Escrow Account (PVEA) funds for preparation of the schematic design plan to further
develop the long-range Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center interface area ("Dream Team")
project, which would bring about major aesthetic and civic improvements to the area. Key
elements of the plan include development of an innovative, multi-modal transportation
station centered around the existing Caltrain station, integrating existing rail, bus, local
shuttle, pedestrian and bicycle travel with adjacent land uses, and the reconstruction of the
existing University Avenue underpass and surrounding roadway system to create a new civic
garden or "town green" and roundabout gateway between Downtown Palo Alto and Stanford
University.
The study, which will begin this Spring, will be jointly managed by the Transportation
Division and Stanford University Planning Office and is expected to take six to nine months
to complete.
Staff proposes to continue to work with the Committee, Stanford, JPB and SCVTA in order
to:
identify possible transportation-related uses for the Depot;
identify sources of revenue to complete the restoration and renovations of the Depot;
encourage coordination and preplanning between agencies and other interested
parties.
CMR:189:98 Page 3 of 4
complete the plans for the Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center interface area (Dream
Team) project.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Council approved $50,000 in the 1997-98 Budget as seed money to improve the condition
of the Depot. A portion of this funding has been used to complete the three projects
identified (signage, steamcleaning and foliage clearance). The Holiday Inn is in the process
of obtaining approval to construct a new facility, and it has agreed to set aside funds for
improvements to the south side pedestrian tunnels leading to University Avenue.
Council also approved $20,000 in the 1997-98 Budget for a potential bicycle storage
program. On March 16, 1998, the Council accepted grant revenues of $127,000 fi’om the
Bay Area Quality Management District and added $22,000 for the construction, staff’mg and
administration of a bicycle parking facility in the Palo Alto Depot baggage room. In March,
staff issued the Request For Proposals for an operator of the facility and anticipates entering
into an agreement in Summer 1998.
A request to approve acceptance of $200,000 in PVEA grant funds to begin the design of the
Dream Team project will be forwarded to council on April 27, 1998.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A-Report of the Downtown Palo Alto
Train Station Subcommittee of the Try Transit Campaign
PREPARED BY: William W. Fellman, Manager, Real Property
APPROVED BY:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Melis~a Cavallo
Acting Director
Administrative Services
Emil~’l~ar’ri~n ~,
Assistant City Manager
CC:Downtown Palo Alto Train Station Subcommittee
Tom Davids, Joint Powers Committee
Jim Unites, Valley Transportation
CMR:189:98 Page 4 of 4
ATTACHMENT A
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
Downtown Palo Alto
Train Station Subcommittee
of the Try Transit Campaign
In November 1996, representatives from the City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto
Chamber of Commerce, Stanford University, regional transit agencies and the
business community began meeting to discuss making improvements to the
Palo Alto/University Avenue Train Station. This "Downtown Palo Alto
Train Station Subcommittee" was a spin-off of the Try Transit Campaign,
which since 1996 has focused its energies on increasing awareness of
transportation issues in the city and region, initiating the first-ever Palo Alto
Special Event Shuttle and improving and increasing interaction among
regional transit agencies.
The information below outlines both the accomplishments and ongoing
priorities of the subcommittee. Participation on the committee has been
primarily volunteer, with the exception of city staff. Many of the costs
associated with the accomplishments have either been assumed by the city or
paid through pro-bono agreements. The subcommittee will continue to meet
at least every other month in 1998 to continue its progress.
Downtown Palo Alto Train Station Subcommittee
I.ACCESS TUNNELS (to University Avenue)
¯ Accomplishments:
nDetermined that plywood currently covering tunnel walls could be
removed and replaced with iron/grille work in order to provide for better
ventilation and day lighting. Grille work drawings were completed for NW
tunnel and provided to city staff for ARB approval (Winter/Spring 1998) and
implementation.
--Worked with Clement Chen of Holiday Inn to "adopt" tunnels closest to
hotel (SW and SE) for renovation and improvements, including grille work,
if successful in NW tunnel.
~, Ongoing Priorities:
nPainting of all four (4) tunnels once grille work is in place.
--City of Palo Alto is currently pursuing an agreement which would allow it
to become the central authority for maintenance of the tunnels. Currently,
there are multi-jurisdictions responsible for various aspects of the tunnels.
1
325 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, California94301-2515 650/324-3121 Fax: 650/324-1215
II.BUILDING. SAFETY/SE(~IdRITY, LANDSCAPING
¯ Accomplishments:
mValley Transportation Authority (VTA) will paint the main station, bag
room and crossing structure in Spring of 1998. The Joint Powers Board (JPB)
will paint the northbound waiting station at or around the same time. Paint
color scheme is based on original colors and has been approved by the
Historic Resources Board.
--Landscaping around depot was trimmed back to improve line of sight.
--Temporary signage was put into place on September 8, 1997. Provides better
directional signage for passengers.
--Explored safety/security issues with Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)
as it relates to their project. Lighting and pedestrian access to station is
included in PAMF project.
¯ Ongoing priorities:
mIf a more permanent tenant for the station is pursued, need to examine
lighting issues for adjacent hotel parking and tunnel north to/past station.
mExpand downtown improvement concepts to include depot area with
enhanced lighting, signage, landscaping and street furniture.
mPursue VTA to repair leaks in roof and walls to protect mural and
structural integrity of building.
III. DISABLED ACCESS
¯ Accomplishments:
mMet with Joint Powers Board (JPB) staff to hear their plans for ADA
compliance including outside ramps, visual messaging signs, restrooms,
main counter in station and other areas.
¯ Ongoing Priorities:
-~City staff need to review JPB plans including possible impacts on
construction, historic issues. Plus JPB needs to coordinate with VTA and their
plans for new bus turnaround construction, etc.
~If a more permanent tenant for the station is pursued, make sure that both
JPB and VTA plans are compatible with possible future uses of building.
IV. BICYCLE PARKING FUNCTION
¯ Accomplishments:
mWorked with city staff to support bike function at the station. CMR goes to
council in February 1998 for bike function grant.
¯ Ongoing Priorities:
mMonitor bike function activities over 18 months of operation.
V,TENANCY OF BUILDING
¯ Accomplishments:
--Examined costs for seismic retrofit and architectural repairs needed for a
tenant to inhabit the main building and bag room structure. Determined that
seismic repair would be voluntary, not mandatory. Also determined (via
Chief Building Official Fred Herman) that using 1973 code would be fine with
voluntary seismic upgrade. (NOTE: Bike function can operate without any
seismic or architectural repair work needed.)
--Private firm (Charles M. Salter Associates) assessed acoustics issues (e.g.,
doors, windows, bathrooms, ceilings, floors, etc.) Determined that interior can
be isolated for office environment, if necessary; new air conditioning would
be required.
¯ Ongoing Priorities:
--Exploring other options for use of main building including visitor/
tourism function and/or commute coordinator function.
--A change in building occupancy may result in a requirement for seismic
evaluation. First step to analyze possible seismic strengthening would be
completion of structural pre-design report. Would also need to explore
funding options (e.g., grants, private funds, public funds) for this and related
work.
Downtown Palo Alto Train Station Subcommittee
Leonie Batkin, Stanford Management Co.
Tony Carrasco, Carrasco & Assoc./Chamber Board of Directors
Brian Dolan, City of Palo Alto
Bill Fellman, City of Palo Alto
Susan Frank, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Judy, Preservation Architect Consultant to the City of Palo Alto
Gayle Likens, City of Palo Alto
lean McCown, Join.t Powers Board
Dena Mossar, Palo Alto City Council
Leslie Quintero, Stanford Transportation Programs
Tom Richman, Tom Richman Associates
Others Participating:
Representatives from Joint Powers Board (]PB) --Tom Davids
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)--]im Pierson
2/17/98