Ravenswood Avenue Railroad Crossing Project

Transcription

1 Ravenswood Avenue Railroad Crossing Project City Council Meeting October 10, 2017 Angela Obeso, Senior Transportation Engineer Etty Mercurio, AECOM Project Manager 1

2 Agenda Project Background Alternatives Analysis Feedback Summary Next Steps City Council Discussion City Council Selection of Preferred Alternative 2

3 Project Need Traffic Delays and Congestion Rail Gate Downtimes Caltrain Electrification Potential High Speed Rail Safety for All Modes Projected Increase in All Modes of Traffic 3

4 Project Need 20 collisions in 3 year period 1 pedestrian fatality 1 vehicular fatality 4

5 Video of Existing Conditions (U-Turn on Tracks)

6 Video of Existing Conditions (Vehicle Stopped on Tracks)

7 Video of Existing Conditions (RR Signal Requires Backup of Vehicle)

8 Previous Studies Numerous studies since the 1950s Feasibility Studies 8

9 Glenwood Ave (Lower 7 feet) 9 Encinal Ave (Lower 14 feet) Oak Grove Ave (Lower 1 foot) Ravenswood Ave (Lower 1 foot) San Francisquito Creek Viaduct Rail Profile Viaduct Profile 1,000 * * Length of Station Platform Existing Rail Profile Atherton Channel Atherton Caltrain Station Platform 600 Bridge over Roadway 0% Lowered Roadway Crossover Tracks 1,250 Palo Alto

10 Glenwood Ave (Raise 10 feet) Caltrain Station Platform Existing Rail Profile 10 Encinal Ave (Raise 15 feet) Oak Grove Ave (Raise 9 feet) Ravenswood Ave (Raise 9 feet) San Francisquito Creek Bridge over Trench Trench Rail Profile Trench Profile 1,000 * 0% * Length of Station Platform 1,250 Crossover Tracks Palo Alto Atherton Channel Atherton 600

11 Current Project Scoping November 2013: SMCTA Measure A Grant Funds March 2015: Rail Subcommittee Meeting May 2015: Council direction Summer-Fall 2015: Caltrain and SMCTA coordination December 2015: Request for Proposals Issued March 2016: Consultant contract awarded 11

12 Community Outreach to Date Public Meetings o May 2, 2016 o October 4, 2016 o June 7, 2017 Chamber of Commerce o September 29, 2016 Rail Information Meeting o March 20, 2017 Property/Business Owners o More than 25 meetings o May 2016 September

13 Community Outreach to Date Commission Meetings o Parks & Recreation Commission May 25, 2016 o Library Commission June 13, 2016 o Transportation Commission November 9, 2016 o Bicycle Commission November 14, 2016 o Planning Commission December 5, 2016 o Planning Commission September 11, 2017 o Complete Streets Commission September 13, 2017 City Council Rail Subcommittee Meetings o On-going, March 2015 October 2017 City Council Meetings o February 7, 2017 o April 4, 2017 o October 10,

14 Community Feedback Recurring Themes: o More Grade Separations o Minimize Height of the Railroad o Improve Pedestrian & Bicycle Access and Safety o Improve Connectivity between Alma St & Ravenswood Ave o Coordinate with other Projects o Minimize Driveway Impacts o Inform owners about Property Impacts o Station Configuration o Aesthetics Wish List Items: o Menlo Park as a Quiet Zone o Grade Separation at Encinal o Railroad Trench/Tunnel through the City o Viaduct in lieu of a Wall Add photo of dot board 14

15 Alternatives Alternatives Evaluated 15

16 Alternative A 3D Animation Flyover See video on project webpage: 16

17 Alternative C 3D Animation Flyover See video on project webpage: 17

18 Traffic Patterns/Circulation No access to Alma St No access to Merrill St and Alma Ln Alternative A Increased traffic on Laurel St Minor diversion of traffic from Oak Grove Ave and Glenwood Ave Alternative A & Alternative C Improves safety Reduces vehicle delays Enhances connectivity Alternative C Maintains full access to Alma St Maintains access to Merrill St and Alma Ln Future traffic signals along Glenwood Ave at Laurel St and Middlefield 18

19 Alternative A Ravenswood/Laurel Add Right Trap Lane on Eastbound Ravenswood at Laurel 19

20 Alternative C Ravenswood/Alma Street Full Access Intersection at Ravenswood and Alma 20

21 Shoofly Encinal Ave Oak Grove Ave Atherton Channel Glenwood Ave Ravenswood Ave San Francisquito Creek To San Francisco N To San Jose

22 Shoofly at Glenwood Atherton Channel Glenwood Ave San Francisquito Creek To San Francisco N To San Jose

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24 Shoofly at Caltrain Station Atherton Channel Ravenswood Ave San Francisquito Creek To San Francisco N To San Jose

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26 Alternative A Stages 1 & 2 Relocate Utilities Install shoring, excavate roadway, and install temporary bridge Construct shoofly Noel Dr Alma Ln Alma St Merrill St Construct Rail Shoofly Ravenswood Ave Relocate Utilities Install Shoring, Excavate Roadway, and Install Temporary Bridge 26

27 Alternative A Stage 3, 4 & 5 Shift railroad to shoofly Finish north side roadway Excavate south side roadway Construct Railroad and Alma St Bridges Finish North Side Roadway Merrill St Alma St Alma Ln Noel Dr Ravenswood Ave Excavate South Side Roadway Construct Railroad and Alma St Bridges 27

28 Alternative A Stage 6, 7 & 8 Finish Roadway Remove shoofly Noel Dr Alma Ln Alma St Merrill St Remove Shoofly Ravenswood Ave Finish Roadway Total Construction Duration 3-4 Years 28

29 Alternative C Stage 1 & 2 Relocate Utilities Install shoring, excavate roadway, and install temporary bridge Construct shoofly Glenwood Ave Oak Grove Ave Relocate Utilities Noel Dr Ravenswood Ave Mill St Mill St Alma Ln Alma St Garwood Way Merrill St Construct Shoofly Install Shoring, Excavate Roadway and Install Temporary Bridges 29

30 Alternative C Stage 3, 4 & 5 Shift railroad to shoofly Construct rail embankment and railroad bridges Excavate south side roadways Glenwood Ave Construct Rail Embankment and Railroad Bridges Oak Grove Ave Noel Dr Ravenswood Ave Mill St Mill St Alma Ln Alma St Garwood Way Merrill St Shift Railroad to Shoofly Excavate South Side Roadways 30

31 Alternative C Stage 6, 7 & 8 Shift railroad to new embankment Finish roadways Remove railroad shoofly Glenwood Ave Shift Railroad to New Embankment Oak Grove Ave Finish Roadways Noel Dr Ravenswood Ave Mill St Mill St Alma Ln Alma St Garwood Way Merrill St Remove Railroad Shoofly Total Construction Duration 4-5 Years 31

32 Reduce Potential Rail/Vehicle Conflict Improve East/West Connectivity Improve East/West Ped/Bike Access Reduce Potential Horn & Gate Noise Maintain Alma St/Ravenswood Ave Connection Increase Visual Impacts Minimize Property/Driveway Impacts Minimize Disruption During Construction ImproveTraffic Pattern Predictability Alternatives Matrix A C Threegrade separations for Alt C vs. one for Alt A More grade separations, better east/west mobility across town Increased safety and connectivity for Alt C With eliminationof at-grade crossings, horn or gate noise will potentially be reduced No direct access to/from Ravenswood from/to Alma St for Alt A Railroad profile remainsat current elevation for Alt A More impacts to properties with 3 grade separations, Alt C Fewer roads and properties impacted during construction for Alt A?// Improved traffic circulation for Alt C Improvement Impact Order of Magnitude Cost $ M* $ M* Lower overall cost for Alt A * Preliminary (Subject to Change) 32

33 Community Feedback (from June 7, 2017 Public Meeting) > 85% Support for Alternative C o More grade separations o Better east-west connectivity Some Support for Alternative A o Highest volume location o Lowest construction cost Continued Interest o Trench alternative o Tunnel alternative o Viaduct alternative Construction Considerations 33

34 Property & Business Owners Feedback Minor to no effects prefer Alternative C Moderate effects prefer Alternative C Major effects prefer Alternative A Concerns about construction impacts 34

35 Planning Commission Summary September 11, 2017 Motion that City Council Support Alternative A Additional Items included in the motion: o Recommend being open to consideration of other options o Recommend additional analysis for cost implications of other options such as viaduct o Recommend project team provide photos of the berm experience Results: o 4 in Favor, 2 Against, 1 Absent Why in favor of Alternative A? o A wall or berm will divide the City o Cut-through traffic on Alma will be eliminated o Improved north/south bike connectivity on Alma St o Less time to construct, less disruption to the City 35

36 Complete Streets Commission Summary September 13, 2017 Motion that City Council Support Alternative C Results: o 6 in Favor, 3 Against Why in favor of Alternative C? o More grade separations are preferred o Direct access to library from Ravenswood/Alma o Consistent with future expansion of rail operations o Overall solution rather than an interim solution Additional Items: o Consider grade separating Encinal o Bike/ped access should be as robust as possible o With the berm in Alternative C, additional breezeways are essential o Other options (trench/tunnel, viaduct) desirable to some 36

37 Next Steps City Council Action on Preferred Alternative October 10, 2017 Secure funding Environmental Studies & Final Design Construction Final Transportation Master Plan 37

38 City Council Action Requested Select preferred alternative: Option 1: Alternative A Underpass Option 2: Alternative C Hybrid Option 3: Do Nothing Option 4: Additional Studies For More Information: Visit Us at: Us at: Transportation@menlopark.org 38