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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04211998 - D12 IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA In the Matter of Supporting AB 1846(Perata) (as amended) which prohibits use of toll revenues to finance Resolution 98l 190 removal of the ramps that connect S.F. Transbay Terminal to the Bay Bridge WHEREAS, AB 1846 would prohibit the use of toll revenues of State Highway Account funds to finance the removal of the ramps that connect San Francisco's Transbay Terminal to the Bay Bridge; and WHEREAS, a 1988 study by DKS Associates for MTC, which analyzed the proposal by Caltrans to remove the eastern ramp to the Transbay Terminal and make the western ramp bi-directional, has proven that this idea will not work. The study verified that the existing two ramp loop system is the most efficient method of providing service; and WHEREAS, the bi-directional, single ramp alternative proposed by Caltrans would, at the minimum: * increase the potential for congestion and accidents on the Bay Bridge and San Francisco surface streets as AC Transit buses travel to the Terminal from the bridge on city streets, * reduce AC Transit's existing 991/o PM peak on-time efficiency with a potential loss of passengers, * eliminate essential staging capabilities on the existing ramps and place additional costs on the region and AC Transit to find adequate alternative staging areas within San Francisco or in the East Bay, thereby increasing AC Transit's operational costs, * hinder or eliminate one of the most flexible means of providing mass transportation between the East Bay and San Francisco at a time when the construction of the eastern portion of the Bay Bridge and seven-phase retrofit of the western segment are under simultaneous construction for a period approximately five years; and WHEREAS, Caltrans has been proceeding with its bi-directional, single ramp proposal despite the above described impacts, without any environmental or public review of its actions and their consequences. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED tt the CorCosta County Board of Supervisors recommends support for AB 184 and re ec eay proposal for the replacement of existing Transbay Terminal and ramps. Introduced by Witness my hand and the Seal of the Board of Supervisors affixed this 21"day April, 1998 JA Rogers, Ch it of the Board and Supervisor District One PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator 0,MA I V a ) Depu y Clerk REQUEST To SPEAK yORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speaker rostrum before addressing the Board, . .... Name: JLi. Phone: It Address'. G / 1. ��;.' City:Y I am speaking for myself or organization; (nye of Organization) CHECK ONN s I wish to speak on Agenda Item Date. My comments will be general for against I wish to speak on the subject of i I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: REQUEST To SPEAK F'oRX UJ f� (THREE' (3) XrNM LZXIT) ! Complete this form. and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: a: it l • Phone: r , Address: 1 b . - Cit.. : K I an speaking for myself or organization: ' `jt (noM of orwixation) CHECK ONE t I wish to speak on agenda item # Da ` - �9" MY comments will be: general i for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to; speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Request to Speak Form THREE'' (3) MINUTE UMIT cowlete thb tom ow Piro ft in box mr the APIAMP'rognun before addmWns the & 3 i bf 4 W �� tri4WAdng for w .r.,...,,,, ,!11'' �OEf* ' T uiL.71�d-.-- CHEM ONS .1 wAgh ' #2�. T�l to *a&an Am ;_" nm WiA # ► rmn for# Transbay Terminal Fact Sheet — AB 18 � (Eastern Ramp Retention) -ME NEED FOR CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF EASTER EAP ,,j 8I ■ Bay Bridge at capacity CORK SOMID of SUPERVISORS ■ BART at capacity in transbay tube at peak hours CON`rRA COSTA Co. ■ Bay Bridge Work-- 5 years for western bridge approach in San Francisco/eastern Bay Bridge Replacement. (Caltrans has not completed transportation mitigation analysis — need for more buses) ■ $350 Million spent for HOV lanes on 1-80 from Richmond to Bay Bridge to enhance express bus service to Transbay Transit Terminal ■ Efficiency of existing loop access to and from the Transbay Transit Terminal USE OF TERMINAL AND RAMPS: ■ Operating bus service from east bay to Transbay Transit Terminal since May 1937 (61 years) 1997 1998 2000 Daily Boardings 9,000 13,000 15,000 - 17,000 (40% increase) Number of one-way 582 615 850 - 1,000 trigs ■ Over 500 one-way trips each weekday ■ PM Peak on-time performance presently—98% ■ Farebox revenue recovery—63% ■ Number of buses during p.m. peak—135(one bus every thirty seconds using 33- 60'buses and 102 -40' buses) ■ Bus storage on-site (ramps) — up to 85 buses each weekday between a.m. and p.m. peaks EFFICIENCY WITH EASTERN RAMP ■ Allows for storage/layover on-site ■ No impact on San Francisco city streets and traffic ■ Allows appropriate stagin of buses(how they enter service as needed and short-term waiting on ramp)to maintain schedules ■ No operational cost increase PROBLEMS WITHOUT EASTERN RAMP ■ Minimal on-site storage ■ Increased costs staging capacity severely impaired * Cost of 4 to 7 acre stora a/sta ing site in downtown San Francisco cost unknown, but in the Millions) (Includes storage for Golden Gate Transit) * Operational costs —getting from storage area to Transbay Transit Terminal (preliminary estimates $1 - $1.5 Killion annually) �k Potential for congestion on Bay Bridge at Fremont Street under present design for bi- directional ramp and on San Francisco city streets—competing with up to 135 buses/peak hour (AC Transit only) * Loss of ridership due to loss of 98% departure reliability COST FOR EASTERN RAMP REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT Caltrans figures: ■ $1.5 Million to remove eastern ramp and not replace ■ $9 Million to retrofit in place or remove and replace m k " , * dFl -ter sa+3 • a �""b» $ j �; ,:. .. �' 9 y ,. ,. �}�, ;a v v + •� ° �y s ��,e� � ,... ....r ..-' t � aw.., ... .., ... owpr .t x a» 'tt' w µ } a fat f �YF F " 72E PwAdE, 99 W VU Founding Members --------- Karen Ackerman,FS,H R GC V Fes, Kenneth Biron,C,E,F CON&OM Iwo `�._D=A...,,,..,r z. Charlie Cameron,SWWR 2 0 1P098 David Gin,N g 4 Thomas M.Goetzl,F,FS April 17, 1998 i,;A¢;,�Q1 �UPr ., Walter Hate,B,RCV Jane Hoop,L,Y Janis Jackson,F Marc A.Lambert,O,Wl,W2 Board of Supervisors Bert Mah,F,FS Contra Costa County Steve Scholl,G 651 Pine Street Victoria Wake,G,FS,H Martinez, CA 94553 Louise Weiler,FS,H David Williamson,E Re: Support for AB 1846 Dear Chair and Supervisors: We are writing to express our strong support for Assemblyman Perata's bill, AB 1846, relating to Caltrans' plan to demolish a bus ramp between the San Francisca Transbay Terminal and the Bay Bridge. 'Ike X6A&aw tke b6 is an organization of commuters who ride AC Transit buses from the East Bay to San Francisco, many from West Contra Costa County. Founded in 1995, our mission is to safeguard, enhance, and promote AC Transit's transbay bus service. We believe we represent the interests of more than 10,000 transbay bus riders. The ramp and bus-deck configuration of the Transbay Terminal is ideal for fast and efficient operation of buses to and from the East Bay. Caltrans' plan to demolish the in-bound ramp and force the buses into a two-way operation on the remaining ramp is ill-conceived. It will seriously undermine the bus service and limit its potential for future growth. Caltrans' reasons for the demolition are unsupportable in our opinion. It is not "cost-effective" to save $8 million on a $200 million-plus project when the result will be to cripple transit service and increase operating costs for AC Transit. It is not"good urban design" to stunt the growth of transit in a city already choked with traffic congestion. Caltrans neverwould have arrived at tHEPinPIE PO Box 190310 Liman �� Rmcon Station San Francisco,CA 94119 Board of Supervisors April 17, 1998 Page 2 this plan if it had a realistic vision for improving transportation and mobility in the Bay Area. AC Transit's transbay bus service--now and in the future--offers the best answer to gridlocked freeways and standing-room-only BART trains. The buses are fast, reliable, and inexpensive. They are one of the East Bay's "best kept secrets," a point proved this past fall during the BART strike. Tens of thousands of stranded BART passengers discovered the buses and thousands of them stayed with the bus after the strike. In fact, transbay bus ridership has maintained a 40-percent increase since then. We urge you to support AB 1846 - - please help prevent Caltrans from making a big mistake. Sincerel yours, I ren Ackerman, President (415) 263-7310 ABA846'C.LTR