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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05072013 - C.20RECOMMENDATION(S): ADOPT Resolution No. 2013-196 to support and approve of a wBART study for a BART or alternative rail extension that may serve the communities of San Pablo, Richmond’s Hilltop, Pinole, and Hercules and link them to existing BART services at the Richmond or El Cerrito del Norte BART station, as recommended by Supervisor Glover. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact on the County General Fund from this action, as there is no cost to the County arising from support of a study. BACKGROUND: On April 16, Mr. Zakhary Mallett introduced himself as the new District 7 Director for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Mallett has requested the Board of Supervisors' consideration of adopting a resolution of support for a feasibility study of wBART: A BART or alternative rail extension in West Contra Costa County. After introducing himself to each of the City Councils in West Contra Costa County over the last several weeks, including his priority of pressing for wBART, Mr. Mallett noted that the City Councils had an interest in helping realize traffic relief on the most-congested commute corridor of the San Francisco Bay Region, Interstate 80, through supporting the study of wBART. In order to make this support official and build political momentum for this effort, Mr. Mallett has asked each City APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 05/07/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: May 7, 2013 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C. 20 To:Board of Supervisors From:David Twa, County Administrator Date:May 7, 2013 Contra Costa County Subject:Resolution of Support and Approval of a wBART Study Council to adopt a resolution of support for the study of wBART. San Pablo and Pinole were the first two cities to take actions toward this end. Pinole passed a resolution of support on April 2, which was detailed in a BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) West County Times article. On Monday, April 8, the City of San Pablo adopted a resolution that amended their annual work plan to include a policy item for “Traffic Congestion Feasibility Studies,” which allowed them to adopt a resolution supporting the study of wBART at their Council meeting on April 15. On April 23, Mr. Mallett will be presenting a history and background of wBART to the Hercules City Council. Mr. Mallett is anticipating that the Hercules City Council will vote to adopt a resolution of support for the study at their next meeting. On May 7, 2013 the Richmond City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of a resolution of support for the study. Attached to this item is a letter to Supervisor Gioia from Richard Mitchell, Director Planning and Building Services for the City of Richmond regarding the proposed study to consider extending BART from Del Norte Station. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If the Board of Supervisors does not adopt the Resolution, there will be no official position of support from Contra Costa County for the wBART study. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None. CLERK'S ADDENDUM Redact phone number for Mr. Mallett. ATTACHMENTS Resolution No. 2013/196 Letter from Richmond Planning Director Interdepartmental Correspondence -Draft Date: April 5, 2013 To: John Gioia, Supervisor, Contra Costa County From: Richard Mitchell, Director Planning and Building Services Subject: Proposed study to consider extending BART from Del Norte Station Statement of the Issue: BART Director, Zakhary Mallett is proposing to commission a study to explore the feasibility of extending BART north along I-80, effectively isolating and downgrading the downtown Richmond station. This is an old concept that was evaluated and discarded during the mid-1980’s and should not be revisited. Background: The content of the following West County Times article summarizes the views of BART’s District #7 Director, Zakhary Mallett, who advocates extending BART north from the Del Norte station instead of the Richmond Station. This would be a very poor option for Richmond that is based upon outdated assumptions about development trends and population growth and ignores the unique significance of the Richmond station, which is the only one on the system that supports across-platform-transfer to Capitol Corridor trains. “BART’s new District 7 Director [Zakhary Mallett] says it’s high time to revive an idea that has been kicking around for decades: Bringing BART north along the Interstate 80 corridor — to San Pablo, Richmond Hilltop and Pinole, and perhaps Hercules and beyond. [...] How to extend BART farther north had been a matter of debate. One proposed alignment would have run north from the present Richmond BART station along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor on the San Pablo Bay shore. [...] Mallett says that for West Contra Costa, an alignment along I-80 is the only one that makes sense. “In today’s 21st century, the development in suburban communities follows freeways, not railroads,” he said. “The freeway is where everyone goes to get in and out of town. If we want to competitively capture that market of travelers, we must be in the near vicinity of the freeway. Commuters will not inconvenience themselves by traveling an extra length (to the railroad) to access transit.” [...] He said El Cerrito Del Norte is the most congested regional transfer station in the BART system. Another statistic he likes to cite: Nearly 60 percent of the ridership at El Cerrito Del Norte consists of commuters who reside north of El Cerrito and Richmond.” Interdepartmental Correspondence -Draft Analysis: Under Mr. Mallet’s plan, Richmond’s modern multimodal station(BART, AMTRAK, Bus and Taxi), along with its newly constructed parking structure would be downgraded to a minor ‘branch line’ status that would lose half of its current service. The BART system would be redirected to serve the so called “60% of Ridership that originates north of El Cerrito and Richmond”. This statistic implies that commuters are coming from Contra Costa County cities and fails to account for riders who begin their commutes in Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville in Solano County (many of whom arrive by bus to board BART at the Del Norte station). Surprisingly, Mr. Mallet’s comments fail to acknowledge dramatic changes that have occurred in development patterns and transit use since the freeway system began reaching peak capacity twenty years ago. Mr. Mallet correctly states that “…Development in suburban communities followed freeways, not railroads” however; he ignores the current trend toward urbanization in which new higher density development is occurring around rail transit systems, in historic downtowns, and along traditional main streets. Growth during the next thirty years will take place in urban centers located on current and future transit routes, not in low density suburbs located along freeways. Richmond’s general plan projects that 65% of the City’s growth will occur as high density ‘in fill’ development along existing transit corridors. Richmond’s multimodal downtown station is perfectly positioned to support this growth and will require a steady increase in service as this development pattern gains momentum. Mr. Mallet is seeking support to study his proposal to reduce service at the downtown Richmond station (perhaps eliminating direct service to San Francisco or Fremont) in exchange for a promise to study construction of a new BART station at Hilltop. While it is unlikely that funds could materialize for a northern extension of BART until after tracks reach San Jose in 2020, and then allowing time for planning, environmental review, right of way acquisition, construction and testing, a northern extension is not likely to appear until after 2040, Mr. Mallet’s proposal could result in the creation of a policy document that would have an adverse impact on long term resource allocation to the existing Richmond Station. This is not an acceptable option for Richmond. Projected population growth in West Contra Costa County cities beyond Richmond may not be sufficient to justify extension of the system without a significant ‘buy in’ from Cities located in Solano County. In the interim, it would not be in Richmond’s best long term interest to provide BART planners with a resolution that would support marginalizing the City’s unique, high quality station. The cumulative projected population for all of the cities and unincorporated areas located along I-80 north of Richmond will still total less than 100,000 by 2040. The cumulative population of Cities located in Solano County on I-80 will grow to 400,000 (Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, American Canyon) during the same period. Projected Interdepartmental Correspondence -Draft population growth in Richmond will be equal to or greater than total growth in all of the remaining cities in West Contra Costa County. Richmond is and will continue to be the largest City in West Contra Costa County. It is also the City that will experience the highest rate of growth between now and 2040. Any proposal to reduce service to Richmond in order to serve West County Cities located to the north is impractical because the cost to extend the line cannot be justified by projected population growth without financial support from the Cities in Solano County. City Population - 2010 Estimated Population - 2030 Richmond 105,000 140,000 Pinole 18,700 22,000 Hercules 24,500 35,000 Rodeo 8,680 10,000 Tara Hills 5,500 5,500 El Sobrante 13,300 15,000 Solano County Vallejo 117,000 150,000 Fairfield 106,100 110,000 Vacaville 93,100 105,000 American Canyon 20,000 35,000 A study is a good idea as long as it focuses on critical issues such as: a) Identifying right-of-way costs, routes, and engineering solutions that will connect the existing Richmond Station to Contra Costa College, Hilltop Mall and beyond b) Exploring the feasibility of diverting many of the buses that are currently dropping passengers at the Del Norte Station to the Richmond Station (which also offers the option of boarding Capitol Corridor Trains) c) Exploring the feasibility and cost of extending the line to Solano County where much of the congestion on I-80 originates. Interdepartmental Correspondence -Draft Recommended Action Please contact representatives at BART and express opposition to any discussion that would look at reducing the downtown Richmond station to a secondary status. We support extension of BART from the Richmond Station only.