Revision No. 20170501-1 of Sonoma Agenda Item Summary Report Agenda Item Number: 37 (This Section for use by Clerk of the Board Only.) Clerk of the Board 575 Administration Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95403 To: Board of Supervisors Board Agenda Date: March 20, 2018 Vote Requirement: Majority Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks Staff Name and Phone Number: Ken Tam 565-3348 Title: Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study Recommended Actions: Supervisorial District(s): First and Second Request comments from the Board on the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. Approve resolution accepting the findings and recommendations as contained in the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. Executive Summary: Regional Parks was awarded $100,000 from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to complete a feasibility study for a 0.8 mile Bay Trail gap near Sears Point. The trail gap is part of a larger project that consists of a 500-mile regional hiking and bicycling trail around the perimeter of San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. A feasibility study is needed to identify opportunities, challenges, and evaluate trail alignment options located within an environmentally sensitive area. The scope of the feasibility study included preliminary design and engineering, cost estimates, and meeting and soliciting input from the general public and stakeholders such as regulatory agencies. The findings and recommendations of the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study is included in the Board report and has been previously presented and distributed to the stakeholders. Comments from the Board, stakeholders, and the general public will be reviewed and addressed in the Final Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. Final Study will be used as a reference and resource to provide guidance on the development of the 0.8 mile Bay Trail gap. Regional Parks requests that the Board of Supervisors accepts the findings and recommendations as contained in the Study to meet grant obligations and to receive final grant reimbursement. Discussion: The Bay Trail Plan (Plan) for the San Francisco Bay Trail envisions a 500-mile regional hiking and bicycling trail around the perimeter of San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. The Plan was adopted by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) in 1989. The Plan includes a conceptual trail alignment
Revision No. 20170501-1 and policies to guide the development of the Bay Trail extending through the shorelines of nine Bay Area counties and 47 cities. The Bay Trail will provide connections to existing park and recreation facilities, create links to existing and proposed transportation facilities. The proposed Bay Trail alignment within Sonoma was further studied in the Sonoma Bay Trail Corridor Plan which was completed in December 2005. Specific Bay Trail alignments recommended in the Corridor Plan would later be included in the adopted 2010 Sonoma Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The Corridor Plan identified 29 total miles of the Bay Trail proposed for Sonoma and areas where additional trail gap analyses would be needed. Thus far, 13.6 miles of the 29 miles have been constructed in Sonoma. Please see attached location map titled State Route 37 Improvement Plan Existing and Planned Bay Trail for completed and planned sections of the Bay Trail. One of the trail gaps include the 0.8 mile Bay Trail section near Sears Point between the existing Sonoma Land Trust s trail (also known as the Eliot Trail) and the existing Tolay Creek/Lower Tubbs Trailhead parking lot near Highway 37. The trail gap is bordered by Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit railroad tracks on the west, Highway 37 on the north, Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District property on the east which includes an existing segment of the Bay Trail, and US Fish and Wildlife Service property on the south. Furthermore, the project area is subject to future sea level rise and in the vicinity of an environmentally sensitive area that includes the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. A feasibility study is needed to identify opportunities, challenges, and evaluate engineering design options to bridge the trail gap between two existing segments of the Bay Trail. The Bay Trail Project is administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). ABAG awards grant funds to plan and develop segments of the Bay Trail. In January 2016, the Board accepted the $100,000 ABAG grant award to fund the feasibility study for the Bay Trail Sears Point Connector. A total of $25,000 in Park Mitigation Fees were used to match the ABAG grant award for a grand total of $125,000 to prepare the feasibility study. Regional Parks solicited consultant proposals before hiring the consulting firm, Questa Engineering, Inc., to prepare the feasibility study. The work for the Bay Trail feasibility study included but not limited to evaluating existing site conditions, researching property and environmental data, reviewing existing literature and reports pertinent to the study area including the Draft State Route 37 Transportation and Sea Level Rise Corridor Improvement Plan (September 2017), preliminary design and engineering, and cost estimates. Input on the feasibility study was solicited from two stakeholder meetings on February 24 and November 17, 2017 and one community meeting on August 30, 2017. A partial list of stakeholder participants included representatives from Caltrans District 4, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, US Fish and Wildlife Service, State Fish and Wildlife Service, State Lands Commission, ABAG, Sonoma Transportation Authority, Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District, Sonoma Raceway, and Sonoma Land Trust. The findings and recommendations of the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study are presented to the Board of Supervisors for discussion. The draft feasibility study identifies four trail options as shown on the attached map and listed as follows: 1) Option 1A-D is 8,200 linear feet 2) Option 2 is 6,800 linear feet
Revision No. 20170501-1 3) Option 3 is 6,900 linear feet 4) Option 4 is 8,600 linear feet All four trail options have varying degrees of opportunities, challenges, benefits, and environmental impacts. Trail Option 1A-D provides the most direct connection; however, the trail user experience is diminished by road noise and vehicle traffic because the trail is located adjacent to Highway 37. Trail Options 2, 3, and 4 have varying setback distances from Highway 37 and provides a more scenic and tranquil trail experience; however, the trail locations would encroach into the San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge and would require habitat mitigation. Trail construction materials considered for the trail options include buttress fill on the south side of Highway 37, elevated fiberglass boardwalk on helical piers, floating aluminum boardwalk that would rise with sea level, elevated berm with boardwalk, fiberglass bridge, and engineering fill such as geofoam core. The estimated development costs for the trail options as a stand-alone project range from $9.3 million to $13.6 million. Instead of recommending one of the four trail options as the preferred trail alignment, staff recommends prioritizing the project based on opportunities when one of the trail options can be integrated and developed as part of a larger habitat restoration or transportation improvement project such as the completed Cullinan Ranch Restoration project and the proposed near-term and long term improvements on Highway 37 to address road flooding and sea level rise. The Highway 37 project presents an opportunity to construct a segment of the Bay Trail within Caltrans right of way and to improve pedestrian and bicycle access along the Highway 37 corridor. Regional Parks has submitted a response letter to the State Route 37 Policy Committee who is overseeing the joint efforts in improving Highway 37. Comments from the Board, stakeholders, and general public will be reviewed and addressed for the Final Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. Digital copies of the final feasibility study will be provided to the stakeholders and posted on Regional Parks Department web page for download. Accepting the Study s findings and recommendations is the final step needed to complete the scope of work described in our grant funding agreement. Regional Parks requests that the Board of Supervisors approves the resolution accepting the findings and recommendations as contained in the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study to meet grant obligations and to receive final grant reimbursement. Prior Board Actions: January 12, 2016, by Resolution No. 16-0023, approved a planning grant agreement between the Association of Bay Area Governments and the of Sonoma to receive funding for the Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. March 17, 2015, Board received the of Sonoma Capital Project Plan 2015 2020, including subject property. Strategic Plan Alignment Goal 2: Economic and Environmental Stewardship This project supports planning for a non-motorized transportation and recreation facility while protecting natural resources to support a thriving economy.
Revision No. 20170501-1 Fiscal Summary Expenditures FY 17-18 Adopted FY 18-19 Projected FY 19-20 Projected Budgeted Expenses Additional Appropriation Requested Total Expenditures Funding Sources General Fund/WA GF State/Federal Fees/Other Use of Fund Balance Contingencies Total Sources Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts: Total cost of the feasibility study is $125,000 which was previously budgeted. There is no cost associated with this item. Staffing Impacts Position Title (Payroll Classification) Monthly Salary Range (A I Step) Additions (Number) Deletions (Number) Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required): Attachments: 1) State Route 37 Improvement Plan Existing and Planned Bay Trail Map 2) Trail Options Map 3) PowerPoint Presentation 4) Resolution Related Items On File with the Clerk of the Board: Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study
STATE ROUTE 37 IM PROVE M E NT PL AN Existing and Planned Bay Trail Potential improvements to existing and planned Bay Trail along the State Route 37 corridor 7 State Hwy 3 6. e t a t S 1A. 2. y w H 7. 8. 9. 37 5. 4. 10. Sta t 14. eh wy 37 11. 3. 12. 13. 1. St e t a w H y 37 Bay Trail Existing Planned Fully Funded Study Underway 1. Deer Island Open Space Preserve 1A. Black Point Boat Launch 2. Port Sonoma Marina 3. Sonoma Baylands Bay Trailhead 4. Reclamantion Rd Sears Point Bay Trailhead 5. USFWS Headquarters--Sears Point Bay Trailhead 6. Paradise Vineyards--Potential Bay Trailhead 7. CDFW Tubbs/Tolay Bay Trailhead 8. Caltrans Public Viewing 9. Skaggs Island Access 10. Cullinan Ranch Public Access 11. Caltrans Public Viewing 12. Wilson Ave Bay Trailhead 13. White Slough Trailhead South 14. White Slough Trailhead North Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Source: Bay Trail Project CALTRANS LOGO USAGE GUIDELINES The Caltrans Logo (Service Mark) consists of three elements: the CT symbol,
Option 1A-D OPTION 1A-D
Option 2 OPTION 2
Option 3 OPTION 3
Option 4
Sonoma Board of Supervisors March 20, 2018 Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Study 1
Sonoma Marin San Pablo Bay Napa Contra Costa Bay Trail Sears Point Study Area Solano San Francisco Alameda San Francisco Bay San Mateo Santa Clara 2
Sonoma Bay Trail Sears Point Study Area Napa San Pablo Bay Solano 3
Purpose of Bay Trail Study Close trail gap Integrate trail with near and long term Highway 37 improvements Integrate trail with sea level rise Integrate trail with future habitat restoration Solicit input from public and stakeholders Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 4
Bay Trail Gap Closure Sonoma Raceway Existing Tubbs Island Trailhead Existing Eliot Trailhead Existing Rail Freight Service Existing Bay Trail Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 5
Workshop Results Coordinate with SR 37 Transportation and Sea Level Rise Corridor Improvement Plan Consider wildlife species targets vs. infrastructure impacts Connect to State Route 37, State Route 121 and existing trails Trail Option 2 is least costly and provides best user experience. Trail Options 1 and 2 should continue to be evaluated. Trail is expensive, but a small increment of overall long term State Route 37 cost (2%-4%) between $9.3 million and $13.7 million. Any State Route 37 project should include bicycle and pedestrian travel within the corridor. Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 6
Recommendations Bay Trail Sears Point connection project should be integrated into State Route 37 improvements and include: Trailhead staging Link to Eliot Trailhead, State Route 121, Tubbs Island Trailhead Physical separation from vehicle travel lanes Crossing of Upper Tolay Lagoon Improvements to existing Tubbs-Tolay Trail Improved hydraulic connection between Tolay Creek and Tolay Lagoon Habitat restoration and mitigation for wetlands impacts Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 7
Bay Trail Alignment Options Proposed Trailhead Parking Existing Tubbs Island Trailhead Parking Existing Eliot Trailhead Existing Rail Freight Service Existing Bay Trail Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 8
Near Term: Highway 37 Corridor BUTTRESS FILL FIBERGLASS BOARDWALK FLOATING ALUMINUM BOARDWALK Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 9
Long Term: Highway 37 Causeway and Elevated Road with Boardwalk TWIN CAUSEWAYS WITH 12 WIDE BIKEWAY AND FIBERGLASS BOARDWALK FOUR LANE ELEVATED ROAD AND FLOATING ALUMINUM BOARDWALK Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 10
Next Steps Receive and address comments from Board Submit study to funding partner Association of Bay Area Governments / Metropolitan Transportation Commission Provide final study to stakeholders including State Route 37 Policy Committee Work with stakeholders to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle facilities into State Route 37 design and implementation Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 11
Thank You VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST AT ELIOT TRAILHEAD AND HIGHWAY 37 Questions? Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study 12
SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS
SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS
of Sonoma State of California Date: March 20, 2018 Item Number: Resolution Number: 4/5 Vote Required Resolution Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The Of Sonoma, State Of California, Accepting The Findings and Recommendations As Contained in The Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study Whereas, the Bay Trail is a multi-jurisdictional project that includes a 500-mile regional hiking and bicycling trail around the perimeter of San Francisco and San Pablo Bays and extends through the shorelines of nine Bay Area counties including Sonoma ; and Whereas, the adopted 2010 Sonoma Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan identified the Bay Trail as a multi-use Class I Bikeway for the exclusive use by pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized modes; and Whereas, the Bay Trail project limits is broadly described in the 2010 Sonoma Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and Whereas, in January 2016, the entered into a funding agreement with Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to prepare a feasibility study for the Bay Trail gap near Sears Point that is necessary to define the project limits and evaluate existing site conditions for opportunities and constraints; and Whereas, the scope of the feasibility study includes preliminary design and engineering, cost estimates, and meeting and soliciting input from the general public and stakeholders such as regulatory agencies; and Whereas, in December 2017, the Draft Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study was completed under the direction of the Sonoma Regional Parks Director and identified four (4) trail alignment options; and Whereas, the Draft Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study provides recommendations for the implementation of the Bay Trail, a planned recreational and non-motorized transportation corridor that, when complete, will close a trail gap near Sears Point; and
Resolution # Date: March 20, 2018 Page 2 Whereas, comments from the Board, stakeholders, and the general public will be reviewed and addressed in the Final Bay Trail Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study. Final Study will be used as a reference and resource to provide guidance on the development of the 0.8 mile Bay Trail gap; and Whereas, the Final Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study will serve as an informational document to assist responsible agencies in future processes involving planning, environmental analysis, design, and construction of trail segments; and Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Sonoma Board of Supervisors hereby accept the findings and recommendations for the trail alignment options as contained in the Draft Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study; and Be It Further Resolved that the Sonoma Regional Parks Director may make minor technical adjustments to the Draft Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study before publishing and distributing the Study as appropriate; and Be It Further Resolved that the Sonoma Regional Parks Director be directed to coordinate with responsible agencies on implementation strategies including but not limited to pursuing grant opportunities and other means of funding to develop the proposed trail improvements recommended in the Draft Bay Trail - Sears Point Connector Feasibility Study as deemed appropriate. Supervisors: Gorin: Rabbitt: Zane: Hopkins: Gore: Ayes: Noes: Absent: Abstain: So Ordered.