tabber2Overview AnnouncementPlease take the web survey on the draft options for the Webster Street area and for the San Francisco Bay Trail area - survey deadline is December 27, 2018. In 2016, the City Council approved a concept to improve Central Avenue between Pacific Avenue/Main Street and Encinal Avenue/Sherman Street except for the Webster Street/Central Avenue intersection, which totals 1.7 miles. The approved and then funded concept includes a reduction from four to three travel lanes, a center turn lane, bike lanes, a two-way separated bikeway adjacent to three schools, two traffic signals, curb extensions at 14 intersections, three pedestrian refuge islands, rectangular rapid flashing beacons at five locations, nine new crosswalks and street trees/rain gardens. City staff will be returning to community members to discuss alternative strategies for the Webster Street/Central Avenue intersection. Purpose: The purpose of the improvements is to make Central Avenue safer for Alamedans in cars, on bikes and walking along this study area. The concept proposal included an outreach process, options analysis and partial design for this corridor.Focus Areas: The improvements focus on school, transit, truck and jobs access, two five-legged intersections, bikeway treatments and a reduction of travel lanes. Contacts: Please direct questions or concerns to Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Coordinator, by phone at 510-747-6892 or by email at gpayne@alamedaca.gov.Funding: In 2013 to 2016, the corridor concept process was funded by Caltrans through a Community-based Transportation Planning grant. The local match was paid for by the Alameda County Transportation Commission through Measure B - Alameda County's transportation sales tax. In 2017, the City received confirmation of funding for the Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project totaling $10.8 million in federal and state grant monies and a local match of $1.4 million for a total project cost of $12.2 million to fund the construction.Approved: The City Council approved the Central Avenue concept at special City Council meetings in February 2016 except for the Webster Street/Central Avenue intersection. Details The project area is along Central Avenue between Pacific Avenue/Main Street and Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue. Why this project?The Central Avenue study area has a disproportionate number of injuries from collisions compared to other streets in the city. A proposed bikeway on Central Avenue is listed as a high priority in the Bicycle Master Plan Update and the street is shown as a bicycle and transit priority street in the City’s Transportation Element. The proposed bikeway project directly supports General Plan Policy 4.3.3.a, “Maintain and implement the Bicycle Master Plan with regard to physical system improvements (especially the identified priority projects), as well as programs and policies relating to encouragement, education and enforcement.” Further, the project supports General Plan City Design Element policies maximizing access to the shoreline. Project StatusThe entire Central Avenue project stretches 1.7 miles between Main Street/Pacific Avenue and Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue, and focuses on making the street safer for all users. In 2016, the City Council approved a concept to improve Central Avenue except for the Webster Street area, which needs more analysis (Figure 1). The approved concept for the west end is similar to Fernside Boulevard by Lincoln Middle School, with a two-way bikeway in front of Encinal and Paden Schools. The approved concept for the Gold Coast area between Eighth Street and Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue is three lanes with bike lanes similar to Broadway. In 2017, the City received confirmation of $10.8 million in federal and state grant funding that will fund the construction of the Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project with local monies from Measures B and BB.Figure 1: Central Ave. 2019 Analysis Area around Webster St. Three Lane Street ConceptThe reduction of motor vehicle travel lane(s) is recommended in that it provides the opportunity to reallocate space for other uses such as bike lanes and center two-way left-turn lanes. According to the Federal Highway Administration's resources and informational guide, streets with travel lane reductions have multiple benefits for vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, such as:Decrease vehicle travel lanes for pedestrians to cross;Allow for better visibility of pedestrians waiting or attempting to cross the street;Improve circulation for bicyclists when a bikeway is added;Reduce rear-end, sideswipe and left-turn collisions by at least 19 percent through the use of a center two-way left-turn lane;Improve speed limit compliance by three to five miles per hour, which reduces the severity of collisions; andImprove travel flow since through vehicles are separated from left turning vehicles.The Federal Highway Administration also has issued a case studies document. Existing Conditions - MemoCentral Avenue is in school and recreation zones, an island arterial and a truck and transit route. Central Avenue is designated as Caltrans State Highway 61 between Webster Street and Sherman Street. Sidewalks and on-street parking exist on both sides of the street. No bikeways exist except for a path between Pacific Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. AC Transit Lines 20, W, 631 and 661 run along Central Avenue. Maps Corridor Map Existing Bikeway Map Schedule 2010November: City prioritized the Central Avenue study area as a high-priority bikeway project in the City's Bicycle Master Plan Update.2012October: Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) included the Central Avenue study area in the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans as part of the Bicycle Vision Network.2013March: Staff submitted a Community-Based Transportation Planning (CBTP) grant to Caltrans.May: City Council approved the planning grant application - Staff Report.September: Caltrans awarded the City of Alameda a CBTP planning grant totaling $232,000 with a local match of $25,800 from Measure B.2014November 18: City Council awarded the concept proposal contract to Placeworks - Staff Report.2015April 14 (Tues.): Community workshop #1 (Encinal High School - 6:30 p.m.)May 27 (Wed.): Transportation Commission (City Hall - 7 p.m.)June 4 (Thurs.): Community workshop #2 (Encinal High School - 6:30 p.m.)September 17 (Thurs.): Community workshop #3 (Encinal High School - 6:30 p.m.)November 18 (Wed.): Transportation Commission (City Hall - 7 p.m.)2016February 24 and 29: City Council (City Hall - 7 p.m.) - approved the Central Avenue concept - Staff Report.June: Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant submittalOctober: Alameda CTC CIP 2018 grant submittalDecember: Won ATP grant totaling $7.3 million of $12 million project - CTC staff report2017April: Won an Alameda CTC grant totaling $3.5 million, which fully funds the projectSpring: City Council approved $557,000 of the local match monies for fiscal years 2017 to 2019 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program Project SheetFall: City and Caltrans kick-off meeting on next stepsWinter: City staff requested consultant qualifications for complete streets; City staff requested a cooperative agreement with Caltrans2018January: City staff requested consultant proposals for the Central Avenue project initiation document (PID), which is required by Caltrans to since the project is partially on State Route 61April: City staff requested City Council approval to authorize the City Manager to execute a cooperative agreement with Caltrans and a contract with CDM Smith to prepare the PIDDecember: Community Workshop #4: Review of draft options for Webster St and SF Bay Trail area2019Jan 23: Transportation Commission at 7 p.m. - Request approval of draft Webster St area options for analysis in 2019 and request approval of the preferred option for the San Francisco Bay Trail areaFeb 19: City Council at 7 p.m. - Request approval of draft Webster St area options for 2019 analysis and request approval of the preferred option for the San Francisco Bay Trail areaFebruary: Begin analysis of Webster Street area optionsSpring/Summer: Webster Street area option approvals2020Spring/Summer: Environmental document scheduled for completion2021Spring: Plans, specifications and estimates - construction drawings - scheduled for completionSpring: Construction phase is expected to begin Town Hall Email ListPlease sign up to receive Central Ave Safety Project updates via email by sending an email to Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Coordinator – gpayne@alamedaca.gov Open Forum / Web SurveysPlease participate in a web survey on the draft options in the Webster Street and SF Bay Trail areas.Read what other community members have said about the Central Avenue Concept Proposal in several previous web surveys. Staff reviewed the responses and incorporated them into the decision process. MeetingsCommunity Workshop #1- When: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria (210 Central Avenue) Press Release Letter Notification (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area) Presentation Comments (as of April 20, 2015) Transportation Commission- When: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. - Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue) Presentation Staff Report Comments (as of May 17, 2015) Video Link (select "Transportation Commission" and then "Video" (timestamp: 1:19:40) Community Workshop #2- When: Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria (210 Central Avenue) Press Release Letter Notification (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area) Presentation Preferred Options Hand-out Facilitator Guide Comment Card CommentsCommunity Workshop #3- When: Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria (210 Central Avenue) Press Release Letter Notification (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area) Presentation Toolkit Hand-out Intersections - Preliminary Recommendation Table Hand-out Facilitator Guide Comment Card Comments (as of October 12, 2015) Transportation Commission- When: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 7 p.m.- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue) Staff Report Comments Existing Conditions Memo Concept Memo Presentation - Part 1 Presentation - Part 2 Link to video clipCity Council - Special Meeting to request concept approval- When: February 24, 2016 and February 29, 2016- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue) Staff Report Comments Existing Conditions Memo (same as above) Concept Memo (same as above) Concept Drawings - Pacific Avenue/Main Street to Encinal High School Concept Drawings - Paden School to Webster Street Concept Drawings - Webster Street to Eighth Street Concept Drawings - Eighth Street to Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue Cost Estimates Presentation - Part 1 Presentation - Part 2 Link to video clip (time stampe at 24:13 on Feb 24, 2016) Link to video clip - full and summaryCity Council Meeting to Approve the Consultants for the Caltrans Required Project Initiation Document- When: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 7 p.m.- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)- What: link to staff report Community Workshop #4- When: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)- Why: Request community input to refine preliminary alternatives for further consideration and analysis in 2019 for the Webster Street Area and the San Francisco Bay Trail AreaPresentationVideoWebster St. Options - Photos: Do Nothing - Sharrows - Bike Lanes - Two-way BikewayWebster St. Options - Plan Views: Sharrows - Bike Lanes - Two-way BikewaySF Bay Trail Options: Bike Lane - Two-way BikewayMap of Existing Bikeways Transportation Commission- When: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 7 p.m.- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)- Why: Request Transportation Commission to approve the Webster Street options to analyze in 2019 and a preferred option for the SF Bay Trail. City Council- When: Wednesday, February 19, 2019 at 7 p.m.- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)- Why: Request City Council approval of the draft options for the Webster Street area to analyze in 2019 and request approval of a preferred option for the SF Bay Trail
