HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-05 City Council (19)!City of Polo Alt
C ty Manager’s Report.
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:APRIL 5, 1999 CMR:190:99
SUBJECT:ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF AN
APPLICATION TO THE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
FOR A TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN AIR GRANT FOR THE
ARASTRADERO ROAD BIKE LANES AND PAMF/SOFA CALTRAIN
PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE UNDERCROSSING PROJECTS
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is accepting applications for projects
for the 1999/000 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program Manager funds, for
programs and projects that reduce air pollution. Among the types of projects eligible for
funding are bicycle improvement projects that are included in an adopted county-wide bicycle
plan or congestion management program.
Staffhas identified two eligible bicycle projects of interest to the Council and community, for
which additional funding is needed: (1) bike lanes on Arastradero Road in the vicinity of Gtmn
High School, from Georgia Avenue to Foothill Expressway (CIP Project #19815), and (2) a
pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing between Homer Avenue in the South of Forest Area (SOFA)
neighborhood and the new Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) campus. It is recommended
that Council authorize the submittal of the applicable grant applications for VTA 1990/00
TFCA funds for these projects.
CMR:190:99 Page 1 of 4
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the
submittal of applications to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for TFCA Program
Manager funds for the following projects, in the amounts indicated:
(1)Arastradero Road Bike Lanes Project $300,000
(2) PAMF/SOFA Caltrain Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing Project $300,000
BACKGROUND
Under Assembly’ Bill 434 (Sher 1991), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD), in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, imposed a $4.00
surcharge on motor vehicle registrations, in order to provide funding for BAAQMD’s
Transportation Fund for Clean Air. The Fund is used to implement strategies to reduce air
pollution from motor vehicles. Forty percent of these funds are returned to the counties in
which they are generated, via the Program Manager Fund, and are allocated according to county
priorities. (The remaining 60 percent are retained in the Regional Fund administered directly
by the Air District.) In Santa Clara County, the call for projects is issued by the staff of the
VTA Congestion Management Program. This report relates to an application to the VTA for
funds from the Program Manager Fund.
DISCUSSION
In mid-December 1999, VTA staff issued a call for projects for TFCA Program Manager funds.
The deadline for submittal of applications to the VTA was January 29, 1999. Due to the short
time line, staff submitted the two applications discussed in this report per the VTA guidelines,
Which stipulated that a formal resolution of the Council would be obtained prior to any action
by the VTA Board. The VTA Board is scheduled to take action on the TFCA project list in
early May, but VTA staff has requested that the required resolution be adopted prior to
April 15.
Arostr~ldero Road Bike Lanes Project (CIP 19815)
This project involves the replacement of the existing sidewalk bike paths with on-street bike
lanes on Arastradero Road from immediately east of Gunn High School to Foothill Expressway,
to improve bicycle commuting to Gunn High School and the Stanford Research Park. This
project will eliminate a major gap in the on-street bike lanes on Arastradero Road, which extend
from Deer Creek to justwest of E1 Camino Real. The project will require widening the roadway
for approximately 300 feet in advance of the Arastradero/Miranda intersection, to accommodate
the installation of a westbound bike lane and relocation of the right-turn lane, landscaped strip
and sidewalk.
This project was included in the 1996/98 Capital Improvement Program budget, with funding
of the design phase programmed in 1997/98 and construction in 1999/00. The total project cost
is estimated to be $475,000, including $50,000 for design and $425,000 for construction. The
proposed $300,000 TFCA grant would supplement $75,000 in TDA grant funds that Palo Alto
CMR: 190:99 Page 2 of 4
has already received for the project, and an additional $50,324 in 1999/00 TDA funds, which
Palo Alto has requested (refer to CMR: 129:99). The latter request has been recommended for
funding by the VTA to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). MTC will take action
to allocate the 1999/00 TDA funds in May or June.
PAMF/SOFA Caltrain Pedestrian!Bicycle Undercrossing Project
As discussed in CMR: 192:99, included in this packet as Agenda Item 9, Palo Alto submitted
a request for $1.77 million in Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) monies
to MTC, to construct a pedestrian bicycle undercrossing of the Caltrain right-of-way to connect
the South of Forest Area (SOFA) neighborhood in the vicinity of the Homer Avenue/Alma
intersection with the PAMF campus. A feasibility study for such a crossing of the railroad
tracks was funded and conducted in conjunction with the PAMF/SOFA Coordinated Area Plan
process. The consultant issued its final report in November 1998, which recommended that the
City pursue the undercrossing as the preferred crossing alternative.
When staff submitted the TEA-21 application proposal through the VTA screening process in
September, the consultant’s preliminary cost estimate for the project was $2.0 million. The
application for $1.77 million in TEA-21 funds (allowing for an 11.5 percent local match of
$230,000) was based on that estimate. In the final feasibility study issued in November, the
cost estimate was revised to $2.3 million. At that point, it was too late to request an increase
in the TEA-21 grant request.
To cover the increased cost, staff submitted a separate grant application to the VTA in January
for $300,000 in 1999/00 TFCA Program Manager funds. VTA staff indicated that its
recommendation to fund this project is contingent upon the City receiving the larger TEA-21
grant. As discussed in CMR: 192:99, this project is not currently included in the Regional TEA-
21 funding program. The City will have the opportunity to reapply during the next TEA-21
funding cycle later this year, at which time an application could be submitted for the full
amount of funding required.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution formally authorizing the City’s
application for 1999/00 TFCA funds for the two projects discussed in this report. If the Council
decides not to pursue one or both grants, staff will advise the VTA staff to withdraw one or both
of the City’s applications from consideration
RESOURCE IMPACT
These applications for funds will supplement existing local, City and other grant funds to
substantially complete the funding for each of the two projects. Since TFCA funds are
disbursed on a reimbursement basis, if these grants were secured, City funds would need to be
appropriated for the project expenditures and then reimbursed by the VTA.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The recommended actions in this report are consistent with a number of Comprehensive Plan
Transportation policies including Policy T-14: Improve pedestrian and bicycle access to and
CMR: 190:99 Page 3 of 4
between local destinations, and Program T-21: Study projects to depress bikeways and
pedestrian walkways under Alma Street and the Caltrain tracks and implement if feasible.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
If the City Council decides not to pursue one or both gr.ants, staffwill advise the VTA staffto
withdraw one or both of the City’s applications from consideration.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
An application for funds is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA); therefore no environmental assessment is needed at this time. However, staff has
prepared an environmental assessment for the Arastradero Road Bike Lanes Project pursuant
to the provision of CEQA, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration finding that the proposed
project would not result in any significant environmental impact. This mitigated Negative
Declaration will be submitted to the Council for approval at the time of Council consideration
of the project. The environmental review for the PAMF/SOFA Caltrain undercrossing will be
conducted prior to obligating the grant funds to this project.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Resolution authorizing the submittal of TFCA grant application
B.TFCA grant application - Arastradero Road Bike Lanes Project
C.TFCA grant application - PAMF/SOFA Callxain Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing Project
PREPARED BY: Gayle Likens, Senior Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
G. EDWARD GAWF
Director of Planning
and Community Environment
EMILY HARRISON ~’-
Assistant City Manager
Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee
Rosemarie Bednar, PAUSD
Walt Stringer, Caltrain Joint Powers Board
David Jury, Palo Alto Medical Foundation
CMR: 190:99 Page 4 of 4
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION TO THE
SANTA CLARA COUNTY VALLEY TRANSPORTATION °AUTHORITY
(VTA)FOR FUNDS FROM THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR
CLEAN AIR 40% PROGRAM MANAGER FUND FOR THE
ARASTRADERO ROAD BIKE LANES PROJECT AND THE PALO
ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION/SOUTH OF FOREST AREA
CALTP~AIN PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE UNDERCROSSING PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD) is authorized to impose a surcharge on motor vehicle
registration fees for motor vehicles within its jurisdiction, and
WHEREAS, the surcharge provides funding for the
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA), which is used to
implement strategies to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles,
and
WHEREAS, the VTA is the Program Manager for the TFCA 40%
Fund in Santa Clara County, and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is a supporter of clean air
and wishes to take action to enhance air quality within the San
Francisco Bay Area, and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto intends to submit an
application to the VTA for TFCA 40% Funds for the implementation of
bike lanes on Arastradero Road and a pedestrian/bicycle
undercrossing of the Caltrain right-of-way between in the vicinity
of Homer Avenue and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION i. The City Council hereby authorizes the City
Manager to file an application with the VTA for funding from the
Transportation Fund for Clean Air 40% Program Manager Fund for the
Arastradero Road Bike Lanes Project and the Palo Alto Medical
Foundation/South of Forest Area (PAMF/SOFA) Caltrain
Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing Project.
SECTION 2. The Council further authorizes the Mayor to
execute funding agreements on behalf of the City with the VTA for
said projects if said applications are approved for funding.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that a request for funds
is not considered a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), and therefore, no environmental assessment is
needed at this time. An environmental assessment has been
prepared for the Arastradero Road Bike Lane Project pursuant to the
provisions of CEQA, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration finding
that the proposed project will not result in any significant
environmental impact. The Mitigated Negative Declaration will be
presented to the Council for its review prior to any project
990331 sdl 0032127 1
approval. The environmental review for the PAMF/SOFA Caltrain
Undercrossing Project will be conducted prior to obligating the
grant funds to that project.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Planning &
Community Environment
990331 sdl 0032127 2
Application for Funds 1999/2000
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA)
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
~ection 1 - Identification.’,
ATTACHMENT B
Agency:
Address:
Contact:
Phone:
FAX:
City of Palo Alto, Transportation Division
P.O. Box 10250, Palo Alto, CA 94103
Ga¥1e Likens
650/329-2136
650/617-3108; email,gayle_likens@city.palo-alto.ca.us
Project Name:Arastradero Road Bike Lanes
Section 2 - Funding Request:
Local matching funds are nqt required, but credit will be given for local matching funds
in the scoring process in thefollowing ratios: 30%+ = 15 pts, 25% = 12.5, 20% = 10,
15% = 7.5, 10% = 5, <10% = 0.
Fund Source
TFCA 40% Funds Requested
Local Match (source: TDA
Other Match (source: City
TOTAL , ,.
Amount
$300,000
$ 125~324.
$ 29,676
$. 455,000
~£dJg.KiL~C,_~ t tgffectiveness
Please complete the appropriate attached Worksheet for your project type. Please note:
projects showing TFCA Cost Effectiveness scores greater than $60,000/ton are ineligible,
Section ~- PCb~
On a separate sheet, please address the follo.wing questions as completely as possible:
1.Please provide a general overview/description of the project.
2.Where will the project be located/implemented?
3.How and to what extent will the project reduce traffic congestion?
4.How and to what extent.will the project reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled?
Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) trips? Cold starts?
5. Does the project address more than one eligible project category? How?
CLLPPJO0
o Who will benefit from the project and how widespread do you expect the
benefits to be? How many county residents will benefit from the project?
What specific communities/groups will benefit (i.e. business, employers,
bicyclists, pedestrians, the elderly, commuters, etc.)?
Has your agency implemented a project similar to the proposed project in the
past? If so, briefly describe your experience (did the project meet
expectations, did it stay within budget, etc.).
How and to what extent does the project encourage a shift away from Single
Occupant Vehicles to shared-ride or non-motorized modes of transportation
.(including telec0mmuting)?.
Will this projeet’provide other benefits that are not covered by the questions
above (for example, reduces road water runoff)? If so, please describe those
benefits in detail.
,~Section 5 - Multi-Agency./Public-Private Partnerships
Ul This project is being sponsored and implemented by a.single agency.
This project involves cooperation between public agencies’. Please list below
each agency involved in the project and describe in detail the level of
involvement (financial, in-kind) of each agency.
City Of Palo Alto is the’lead agency.
Santa Clar~ C~unty - approval for cg~struction in County right-of-way
Palo Alto Unified School District - right-of-way easement
This project involves cooperation between public agencies and private
entities. Please list below each agency/entity involved in the project and
describe in detail the level of involvement (financial, in-kind) of each,
I am authorized by my agency to apply for these funds on its behalf. I understand that, if
the project is funded, my agency will enter into an agreement with the program manager
(VTA) to implement the project within budget, on schedule, and to provide the necessary
record-keeping for monitoring and audit purposes.
Signed: Name, Title, Date
CLLPPJO0
TRIP REDUCTION, BICYCLE AND SHUTTLE PROJECTS
DATA WORKSHEET
Project Sponsor:
Project Title:
Project Sponsor Contact:
Project Sponsor Phone #:
General Project Information
City of Palo Alto
Arastradero Road Bike Lanes
Gayle Likens
650/329r2136
Total Project Cost:
ITFCA Cost 40%:
TFCA Cost 60%:
Total TFCA Cost:
Cost Effectiveness Inputs
~455~000
300,000
0
~o,,0oo
Emission Reduction Data
Step I - Data For Calculation .of Emissions for Eliminated Trips
A~ B
# Trips/Day (1-way)Days/Yr
160 250
C
Trip Length (1-way)
3 miles
Step 2 - Calculation of Emissions for New...TriPs to Access~rransit orRidesharing (if any)
A B C
# Trips/Day (1-way)Days/Yr Trip Length (1-way)
Step 3 - Calculation of Emissions for Shuttle or Vanpool Trips (if any)
Specify Vehicle Type: Van, Shuttle, Bus
Specify Model Yr(s).
Note: if more than one.vehlcle, use fleet average
# Trips/Day (1-way)Days/Yr
C
Trip Length (1-wa#)
Please explain methodology for estimating # trips reduced, & average trip length
* Vehicle trips eliminated and replaced by bike trips.
DATA9900.xts Revision Date: 12/15/98
Application for 1999/2000 TFCA Funds
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
ARASTRADERO ROAD BIKE LANES PROJECT
Section 4 Project Narrative
Project Overview and Location: This project involves the replacement of the existing sidewalk
bike paths with on-street bike lanes along a .35 mi. segment of Arastradero Road from Georgia
Avenue just east of Gunn High School to Foothill Expressway, to improve bicycle commuting
to Gunn High School and me Stanford Research Park. This section of Arastradero Road from
just east of Gunn High School to west of Foothill Expressway has long been identified as a
missing link in the City’s on-street bike lane network along Arastradero Road where it interfaces
with the County bike lane network on Foothill Expressway. The project was identified in the
Gunn High Access Study as a school commute safety improvement. The project will also
improve the safety of bicycle access to the Stanford Research Park and, thereby, remove the
existing disincentive to bicycle commuting along this main access corridor to the Research
Park.
This bikeway segment is identified along Santa Clara County Bicycle Route 2 (Segments A and
B), which cross Arastradero Road in the vicinity of the project. The project is located along a
Palo Alto arterial street, and will extend through the Foothill/Arastradero intersection, which is
under the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. See attached Project Location map. The project
will require acquisition of right-of-way from the Palo Alto Unified School District to widen the
roadway for approximately 300 feet in advance of the Arastradero/Miranda intersection, to
accommodate installation of a westbound through bike lane and relocation of the right turn
lane, landscaped strip, and sidewalk.
Project Type: This is a bicycle facility improvement pr.oject. Palo Alto has implemented over.
30 miles of on-street- bike lanes. The city’s recent bicycle improvements include the Alma
Street bicycle bridge which has been a very successful project. Later this year, the City will
begin construction of major improvements at the intersection of Foothill Expressway and
Arastradero Road, including new bike lanes on all four approaches to the int~.rsection.
Project Benefits: The installation of bike lanes along Arastradero Road will specifically benefit
students bicycling to Gunn High School along Arastradero Road, and, to a gre.ater extent, the
ex.isting and potential bicycle commuters traveling to the Stanford Research Park and other
areas of Palo Alto. The 1990 census indicated that approximately 7 percent of persons
employed in Palo Alto commute via bicycle. This number is lower for the Stanford Research
Park area. Research Park employers and employees have referenced the inadequacy of bike
facilities at this location as a disincentive for encouraging bicycle commuting to the research
park businesses in the Arastradero Road corridor.
Shift from V~
Average daily traffic volumes along Arastradero Road and Foothill Expressway are 19,000 and
25,000 per day, respectively.This intersection currently operates at LOS D (37.6 seconds of
delay) during the AM peak hour and LOS E (49.9 seconds of delay) during the PM peak hour.
Page 1
Application for 1999/2000 TFCA Funds
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
Eight hour bicycle counts conducted at this location in 1997 documented approximately 543
bicycle trips through this intersection. Bicycle trips presently equal, approximately 3.3 percent
of the AM peak hour vehicle trips and 3.4 percent of the PM peak hour vehicle trips.
By improving the safety and convenience for bicyclists along Arastradero Road with the
installation of on-street bike lanes, it is projected that bicycle trips in this corridor would increase
by up to 30 percent per day, or 160 new tripslday.
For the purpose of this application, staff has assumed that the average new bike trip will be
approximately 3 miles long, but it is possible that the adult commuter cyclist’_s trip would be
longer, up to 5 miles in length.
Page 2
ARASTRADERO ROAD BIKE LANE PROJECT
Project Location in Context of North County Bikeways
,...’x,~PAL O ,~-.)
P"°’"°ALTOCalTrzln Station CHANNING& Transit Canter
Pavilion
Children’sHoapllol
at $lanlord ,
Center ,%
Stadium 4. %
¯.Avenue
ARASTRADERO ROAD
llfounlafn
View Transit
Center
San Antonio
Shopping
Center
LOSALT05
A~OND AV
t~
WIIdllle" ’= : /
I
!
ARASTRADERO ]{OAt)
BIKE LANE PROJECT
HENRY
FOOTHILL EXPRESSWAY
HIGH
sCHOOL
Project
Location
all||iasl|.Existing Bike Lanes
Proposed Bike Lanes
ATTACHMENT C
Application for Funds 1999/2000
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA)
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
~ection ! - Identification:
Agency:City of Palo Alto~
Address:P.O. Box i0250, Palo
Con~ct:Gayle Likens, Senior
Phone:650/329-2136
FAX:650/617-3108
Transportation Division
Alto, CA 94~03
Planner
Pr~ectName:Palo Alto Medical Foundation/South of Forest Area
Caltrain Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing
~2- FundingRequest:
Local matching funds are not required, but credit will be given for local matching funds
in the scoring process in the following ratios: 30%+ = 15 pts, 25% = 12.5, 20% = 10,
15% = 7.5, 10% = 5, <10% = 0.
Fund Source ,.,.
TFCA 40% Funds Requested
Local Match (source: TEA 21 )
Other Match (s.ource: City/Developer )TOrAh.
Amount
$ 300,000
$ 1~7..00~000
$ 230~000
$.2,300,000
Se6tion 3 - Cost Effectiveness.
Please complete the appropriate attached Worksheet for your project type., Please note:
projects showing TFCA Cost Effectiveness scores greater than $60,000/toiia~e ineligible.
Section’4 - Pro_iect Narrative:. ".
On a separate sheet, please address the following questions as completely as possible:
1. Please provide a general overview/description of the project.
2. Where will the project be located/implemented?
3. How and to what extent will the project reduce traffic congestion?
¯4. How and to what extent will the project reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled?
Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) trips? Cold starts?
5. Does the project address more than one eligible project category? How?
CLLPILIO0
Who will benefit from the project and how widespread do you expect the
benefits to be? How many county residents will benefit from the project?
What specific communities/groups will benefit (i.e. business, employers,
bicyclists, pedestrians, the elderly, commuters, etc.)?
Has your agency implemented a project similar to theproposed project in the
past? If so, briefly describe your experience (did the project meet
expectations, did it stay within budget, etc.).
How and to what extent does the project encourage a shift away from Single
Occupant Ve.hicles to shared-fide or non-motorized modes of transportation
(including telecommuting)?.
Will this projectprovide other benefits that are not covered by the questions
above (for example, reduces road water runoff)? If so, please describe those
benefits in detail.
Section 5 - Multi-Agency./Public-Private Partnerships
ISI This project is being sponsored and implemented bya single agency.
IZl This project involves cooperation between public agencies’. Please list below
each agency involved in the project and describe in detail the level of
involvement (financial, in-kind) of each agency.
.This project involves cooperation between public agencies and privat.e
entities. Please list below e~eh agency/entity involved’in the project and
describe in detail the level of involvement (financial, in-kind) of each.
City of Palo. Alto is the lead.age6cy. ,,
Caltrain/JPB -.pro.v~h~g~LgX~Li~sion to build on JPB ri~ht-of-way
Palo Alto Medical Foundation - providingin-kind easement,
landing area, and is constructing a segment of bike path
to Caltrain Station.
~ection 6 ’- Ce.rtifieation
I am authorized by my agency to apply for these funds on its behalf. I understand that, if
the project is funded, my agency will enter into an agreement with the program manager.
(VTA) to implement the project within budget, on schedule, and to provide the necessary
record-keeping for monitoring and audit purposes.
Signed: Name, Title, Date
CLLPPJO0
TRIPREDUCTION, BICYCLE AND SHUTTLE PROJECTS
DATA WORKSHEET
Project Sponsor:
Project Title:
Project Sponsor ContaCt:
Project Sponsor Phone #:
General Projeqtlnformation
~City_ofPalo Al~to~
PAMF/SOFA Caltrain Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing
Gayle Likens
650/329-2136
Cost Effectiveness Inputs
Total Project Cost:
TFCA Cost 40%:
TFCA Cost 60%:
Total TFCA Cost:
$2,300,000
300,000 "-
Emission Reduction Data
Step 1 Data For Calculation of Emissions for Eliminated Trips
A* B C
# Trips/Day (1-way)Days/Yr Tdp Length (1-way)
New bike trips 400 250 3 miles
New ped trips ,250 250 .5 - 1 mile
Step 2 - Calculation of Emissions for New Trips to AccessTransit or Ridesharing (if any)
A B C
# Trips/Day (1 -way)Days/Yr Tdp Length (1-way)
Step 3 - Calculation of Emissions for Shuttle or Vanpool Trips (if any)
S~eclfy Vehicle Type: Van, Shuttle, ~us "
Specify M, gdel Yr(S).
Note: if more than on4 vehicle, use fleet average
A B
# Trips/Day (1-way)Days/Yr
’C"
Trip Length (1-way)
Please explain methodology for estimating # trips reduced, & average trip length
*Vehicle trips eliminated and replaced by bike or ped trips.
DATA9900.xls Revision Date: 12115198
Application for 1999/2000 TFCA Funds
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION/SOUTH OF FOREST AREA CALTRAIN
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN UNDERCROSSING PROJECT
Section 4 Project Narrative
Project Description
The project is to design and construct a new pedestrian/bicycle grade separated crossing
of the Caltrain tracks approximately 800 feet south of the Palo Alto Caltrain station
platform. The crossing will connect to a new signalized at-grade crossing of Alma Street,
a m.ajor arterial street that parallels the Caltrain corridor. The purpose of the project is to
provide direct pedestrian/bike access from the south of Forest (SOFA) residential and
commercial area to the new Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) campus, and to the
Palo Alto Caltrain station (via a segment of the new bike path being constructed parallel
to the Caltrain tracks by PAMF). By improving access to this major multi-modal hub, the
project will encourage and facilitate multi-modal trips and t.ransfers and promote non-SOV.
trips. ~
The new Palo Alto Medical Foundation facility (355,000 square feet of medical clinic and
medical research offices; projected daily trip generation of approximately 13,000 trips) is
being relocated from the SOFA area to El Camino Real and will be completed in 1999.
This new facility was designed with an area reserved for the landing of the underpass and
a connection to the bike path running adjacent to the railroad right-of-way, to the Caltrain
Station.
The south of Forest Area is located immediately east of the project. This area,which is a
mixed residential and commercial area, is ourrently the subject of a Coordinated Area
Planning process. The proposed development regulations encourage land uses, housing,
and transportation systems that reduce the use of the .automobile and support
transportation alternatives, including walking and bicycling. Thenew undercrossing will
provide an alternate bicycle and pedestrian route between this south of downtown district
and portions of Palo Alto and Stanford located west of the Caltrain tracks.
The SOFA area is already served by the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard, approximately
4 blocks east of the proposed undercrossing. Aconnector bike route is proposed along
Homer street to link the two faciliites. The project will also provide an east/west connection
to a subregional bicycle trail from the new PAMF campus that extends north .into Menlo
Park. The segment of this bike path extending from PAMF south to Churchill A’venue has
been designed, and will be constructed when full funding is secured.
Project Impact on Traffic (~ongestionNehicles Miles Traveled
Both bike and pedestrian usage of this facility is anticipated to be high. Twelve hour
bicycle and pedestrian counts conducted in 1997 at two existing undercrossings,
University Avenue (.25 mi north) and Embarcadero Road ( .3 mi south), demonstrate the
high pedestrian/bike demand for east west connections across the tracks.
Embarcadero Road Underpass
University Avenue Underpass
7 a.m -7 p.m. Weekday Counts
Pedestrians Bicyclists
244 364
1987 879
Page I
Application for 1999/2000 TFCA Funds
Program Manager Funds (40%)
Santa Clara County
It is projected that approximately 750 pedestrians and 400 bicyclists (1/3 of the current
users of the University Avenue and Embarcadero Road underpasses) would switch to the
new PAMF/SOFA undercrossing. In addition, the undercrossing is expected to generate
approximately 250 new pedestrian trips and 400 new bike trips that would replace vehicle
trips, drawn from trips to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Caltrain station, adjacent
businesses, Downtown Palo Alto, Stanford University, SOFA neigbhorhood and general
vicinity.
It is estimated that the average new bicycle trip would represent a shift from an average
SOV trip of 3 miles, which represents trips originating in the Palo Alto-Menlo Park-Stanford
area. Staff believes that the new pedestrian tunnel will also reduce vehicle trips that would
have occurred if no convenient pedestrian undercrossing of the railroad tracks were in
place. A typical vehicle trip between the center of the SOFA neighborhood and the new
Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus, via downtown Palo Alto, University Avenue and El
Camino Real would be one mile long.
In summary the decrease in SOV miles resulting from this project would be as follows:
New Bicycle Trips:New Pedestrian Trips
New Trips x Trip Length x Da_~=Decreased SOV Miles4003 mi 250 300,000 mi2501 mi 250 62,500 mi362,500 mi
Project Type: This project is primarily a bicycle facility improvement project, but it is equally
a project that will provide access to and promote multi-modal transit trips.
The nearby University Avenue Caltrain Station is the major transit hub on the mid-
peninsula. This station is the second busiest along the entire Caltrain line, second only
to the San Francisco station. The station is served by 62 trains weekdays, with
approximately 3500 daily passenger boardings and alightings. In addition, the V-IA transit
center accommodates 11 local and regional bus lines of the VTA, Samtrans, and
Dumbarton Express, making approximately 850 weekday arrivals and departures. All
trains, VTA and DB buses are equipped to transport bicycles. Palo Alto will open the first
valet bicycle parking facility ("bike station") at the depot in March 1999 (funded by the
BAAQMD with TFCA funds). The facility will have storage capaciiy for 150 bicycles and
will offer full service bicycle repair and other amenities for bicycle commuters.
Bicycle bridges, overcrossings and undercrossings are a hallmark of the city’s bikeway
network. There are all well used facilities which provide convenient crossings of creeks,
roadways and rail lines in locations away from vehicular traffic. Palo Alto’s only other
pedestrian/bike grade separation of the Caltrain tracks is located at the California Avenue
station. Over 900 pedestrians and 800 bicyclists use the facility daily. The most recent
grade pedestrian/bike bridge was constructed over San Francisquito Creek at Alma Street
in 1996. This facility attracts over 400 users a day.
Page 2
AlL l~ledica| Foundation/South of Forest Area
Caltr~n Bicycle and Pedestrian Undcrcrosstng Project
Location l~ap
Path