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Home My Public Portal About20230725 - Agenda Packet - Planning and Natural Resources (PNR) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Tuesday, July 25, 2023 1:00 PM 13130 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA 94062 Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve North Ridge Parking Area A G E N D A Members of the public may submit written comments to be provided to the Committee as follows: • Written comments may be submitted via the public comment form at: https://www.openspace.org/public- comment. • Submitting a request via the paper-based public comment form at the meeting in-person. • Any comments received after the deadline will be provided to the Committee after the meeting. MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE ROLL CALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS: CYR, GLEASON, HOLMAN ADOPTION OF AGENDA ORAL COMMUNICATIONS This portion of the agenda is for members of the public to comment on items not on the agenda; however, the Brown Act (Open Meeting Law) does not allow action by the Committee on items not on the agenda. Individuals are limited to one comment during this section. 1. Approve the July 18, 2023 and Revised July 11, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee Meeting Minutes 2. Highway 35 Multi-use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve – Conceptual Parking Design Alternatives and Trail Crossing Location at the North Ridge Parking Area (R-23-87) Staff Contact: Brittany Wheatman, Planner II, Planning Department General Manager’s Recommendations: 1. Receive a presentation on the Highway 35 Multi-use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study and provide feedback on the parking area conceptual design options. 2. Forward Option A-2 (upper and lower parking area expansion with two-way circulation and the associated multi-use trail crossing location and design) to the Board of Directors for consideration as the project description and scope to initiate environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. ADJOURNMENT In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the District Clerk at (650) 691-1200. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. Written materials relating to an item on this Agenda that are considered to be a public record and are distributed to Committee members less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, will be available for public inspection on the District’s website at http://www.openspace.org. CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA I, Maria Soria, District Clerk for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee was posted and available for review on July 20, 2023, at the Administrative Offices of MROSD, 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos California, 94022. The agenda and any additional written materials are also available on the District’s website at http://www.openspace.org. Maria Soria, MMC, CPMC District Clerk MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Administrative Office 5050 El Camino Real Los Altos, CA 94022 Tuesday, July 11, 2023 REVISED DRAFT MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Cyr called the meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee to order at 1:10 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Jed Cyr, Craig Gleason, Karen Holman Members absent: None Staff present: General Manager Ana M. Ruiz, Assistant General Counsel II Egan Hill, Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, Executive Assistant/Deputy District Clerk Loana Lumina- Hsu, Executive Assistant/Legal Secretary Irma Mora, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Senior Planner Tina Hugg, Planner II Tyler Smith, Planner II Brittany Wheatman, Management Analyst II Marion Shaw, Supervising Ranger Alysha Carabetta, Public Affairs Manager Korrine Skinner, Public Affairs Specialist II Natalie Jolly ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Gleason moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-0-0 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Public comment opened at 1:12 p.m. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 2 July 11, 2023 Daniel Shane spoke on rapid loss of highway vegetation barriers due to increased housing developments, expressing that there should be a higher value placed on enhancing vegetation barriers for the health of neighborhoods. Mr. Shane encouraged the District to advocate for the protection of highway vegetation barriers. Public comment closed at 1:16 p.m. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Approve the April 4, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee Meeting Minutes. Motion: Director Gleason moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to approve the April 4, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee meeting minutes. ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-0-0 2. Background Information, Proposed Performance Measures and Service Design Concepts, and First Go-No Go Consideration for a Potential Shuttle Program and/or Ride Hail Program at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve (R-23-86) General Manager Ana Ruiz provided opening remarks regarding high visitation at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains higher today as compared to pre-pandemic levels. A Multimodal Access Study was conducted for Rancho San Antonio, which identified priority Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies to address parking congestion and demand at this preserve, including consideration to explore shuttle and ride-hail programs. To move effectively forward with shuttle and ride hail programs, companion TDM measures will likely be needed as part of implementation. Ms. Ruiz requested the Committee members to consider the challenges and opportunities, and likelihood of success, when determining whether the District should move forward with the programs and clarified that the proposed routes for either program are solely focused along the Cristo Rey Drive main entrance. Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan provided a background presentation of the Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Study and the implementation of Priority 1 TDM Strategies, including the addition of new bike facilities, parking sensors and the accompanying dynamic sign system, the pilot carpool lot, and upcoming bike lane improvements on Cristo Rey Drive in partnership with the City of Cupertino. Planner II Tyler Smith provided the staff presentation on the potential shuttle and ride hail programs, including design parameters, stakeholder engagement, and public surveys. Mr. Smith spoke on the design parameters that were considered to guide the development of the shuttle and ride hail programs. He then described stakeholder engagement efforts to further inform this work, including meetings with Foothill College, City of Cupertino, and a Joint-Stakeholder Workshop with Santa Clara County Parks, Town of Los Altos Hills, City of Los Altos, City of Cupertino, Cupertino Union School District, City of Sunnyvale and City of Mountain View. He also discussed discussions with transit agencies related to the potential shared use of transit Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 3 July 11, 2023 centers and stops and discussions with partner agencies on potential partnerships and on lessons learned with other shuttle or ride hail programs. Director Holman requested and received additional information on the benefits gained from the TDM measures that have been implemented to date at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. Ms. Chan explained the carpool program is still in the pilot phase and data is being collected to measure its effects, and additional information on the carpool program will be presented to the Board of Directors when the pilot is complete. Ms. Chan stated staff has observed use of the installed bike racks and received positive feedback from cyclist for the bicycle repair station. Additionally, staff has received positive feedback from visitors on the dynamic parking signs and the online tool that tracks parking availability, which is being highly used by visitors. Director Holman asked for additional explanation of the baseline prior to the implementation of additional multimodal access improvements. Ms. Chan explained the most recent available baseline data was collected in Fall 2022. Director Holman expressed the importance of comparing baseline data with post-implementation data of recently completed TDM strategies to inform decisions on whether to proceed with a shuttle and/or ride hail program(s). Ms. Ruiz explained the baseline changes based on the progression of the different implemented strategies. Ms. Ruiz provided additional comments on the dynamic signage and carpool lot requirement of three persons or more. Staff have observed visitors with three or more people are choosing to park closer to the main trailhead rather than at the carpool lot because of a preference to be closer to the main trailhead. Director Holman expressed the carpool lot may not be in a good location and perhaps the carpool lot should be located at the most desired lot. Director Gleason also expressed the carpool lot is likely at the wrong location. Ms. Chan explained the current carpool lot location was selected for the pilot program due to the need to control egress and ingress without requiring significant infrastructure improvements. The location is close to another popular trail. Director Holman suggested two smaller carpool lots to serve various preserve users that want to access the various main trailhead facilities. Ms. Chan explained today’s meeting is focused on the potential shuttle program and ride hail program, and the companion measures, including the carpool program, will be brought before the Planning and Natural Resources Committee at the July 18, 2023 meeting. Director Gleason asked and received confirmation the parking sensors are in working order. Director Gleason asked if clear, defined goals and priorities were set at the beginning of the project. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 4 July 11, 2023 Ms. Chan explained staff balanced the different interest with input from the community, Planning and Natural Resources Committee, and the Board, and staff developed robust evaluation criteria for the TDM strategies. Each area was rated and evaluated. The consultant identified fifteen TDM strategies that met the goals that were approved by the Board for implementation. Ms. Ruiz explained the overall project was first initiated to address congestion issues at Rancho San Antonio, excess parking and overflow in neighborhoods, negative interactions in parking lots, and visitor frustrations, all while maintaining equity of access, promoting green modes to visit the preserve, while balancing the need to avoid visitation impacts to natural resources and the land. Ms. Chan explained that those TDM strategies that balanced the overarching goals rose to the top as the priority TDMs to pursue. Director Gleason expressed appreciation for the explanation and stated that having clearly defined priorities would help focus the decision-making process and next steps. Ms. Chan explained that if the Board approves moving forward with the shuttle program and ride hail program, companion measures and the benefits and trade off the different programs will be further fleshed out to help the Board make a final informed decision on each program. Director Holman stated the District does not have carrying capacity information for the preserves and understanding the carrying capacity can aid in making well informed decisions for these programs. Ms. Chan explained, based on field staff observations, the front areas of preserves are the busiest, especially on weekends and holidays, and the backcountry areas of the preserve experience less use. The proposed shuttle and ride hail programs may serve to regulate visitation during peak periods by spreading out visitors across different days and times. Ms. Chan stated the District plans to explore carrying capacity through a separate project in the next 2 years. Mead & Hunt consultant Brian Laverty continued the presentation, explained results from the public survey of October 2020 to November 2020, and shared questions and responses related to the potential shuttle and potential ride-hail services. Mr. Laverty provided information on survey demographics and informative data points showing the following: the main entrance on Cristo Rey Drive is the preferred entrance; preferred visitation time is spread out throughout the week with weekday mornings seeing the most parking congestion and overflow onto nearby roads. Mr. Laverty shared when survey responders would or might use an off-site shuttle service, circumstances that would influence visitors to use a shuttle, reasons respondents would most likely not use a shuttle, and respondent preferences for short wait times and short riding times. Mr. Laverty also shared case studies and common themes of other shuttle programs. Mr. Laverty explained four potential performance measures for a shuttle program: ridership, comparison of empty parking spaces during shuttle service, timeliness of service, and ridership from more than ten zip codes. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 5 July 11, 2023 Mr. Laverty provided additional information on the routes that best match criteria and may have the largest impact to preserve users: • Route B – Foothill Community College parking lot, which offers ample parking. However, the location is far from the main preserve entrance. • Route C – Mountain View Transit Center - serves Mountain View Rail Station, which has commuter and light rail services and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus routes. The site is associated with the longest shuttle route but includes a secondary stop at the Lucky Supermarket Shopping Center. • Route E – De Anza Community College, which offers ample parking. De Anza currently has more transit servicing the campus than Foothill Community College, including a VTA bus stop, and De Anza is closer to Rancho San Antonio. • Route I – Lucky Supermarket to the Main Entrance: shortest shuttle route in distance and time. Director Gleason asked if visitors are already using the Lucky Supermarket parking lot. Mr. Laverty stated there is no data available to indicate current use of the Lucky Supermarket parking lot by preserve visitors. Director Gleason asked if there is information on visitor behavior once parking lots are full such as how many people are waiting for parking spots, parking in local neighborhoods, or going home or to another location. Mr. Laverty saw from direct observation that visitors are waiting in the parking lot for a person to leave, and visitors are parking in neighborhoods, on Cristo Rey Drive, and on other streets. Since Fall 2022, the data from the vehicle counter may provide some additional information. Supervising Ranger Alysha Carabetta stated that a ranger has been assigned to do traffic control for several months at Rancho San Antonio with 10 to 15 cars waiting at any time, with visitors stopping in the driving lane of the parking lot waiting for a parking spot to become available. Rangers are also observing visitors parking on Cristo Rey Drive and in neighborhoods. Director Gleason asked if rangers noticed if the parking behavior is occurring during the week. Ms. Carabetta stated no, the parking behavior is observed only on weekends and holidays during peak times. Mr. Laverty stated it was noted there are a few visitors already parking at Foothill Community College and walking to Rhus Ridge Trail. Director Holman asked why visitors should not park in the parking lot while waiting for a spot rather than have visitors circle because it creates greenhouse gas emissions. Ms. Ruiz explained stopping in driving lanes can block emergency access. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 6 July 11, 2023 Ms. Carabetta explained visitors are stopping at the beginning of entrances and into the driving lane of the road, blocking circulation. Director Holman asked how a survey question was posed such that respondents opted to not take a shuttle because they would be unable to take their bikes, yet a shuttle could have bike racks. Mr. Laverty explained the question posed is as shown on the slide: “What circumstances would prevent you from using a shuttle to access Rancho San Antonio?” Director Holman asked about the largest market for potential shuttle users. Mr. Laverty stated those who arrive by motor vehicle are the starting market for the shuttle program. Those arriving on foot or by bike most likely have short travel routes and would not be the main users of a shuttle. Mr. Laverty explained the bike rack on shuttle vehicle scored low as part of the proposed service parameters. Director Gleason stated there are not many trails which allow bicycles in Rancho San Antonio. Director Gleason asked about data on how many visitors arrive separately and meet at Rancho San Antonio to hike together. Ms. Ruiz stated staff will look into the preserve user survey if there is information. Director Gleason supported providing incentives to visitors that arrive in a group during high visitation times. Mr. Smith explained the average number of Rancho San Antonio occupants per vehicle is over 2 thus the reason why carpool was set to three people. Chair Cyr called for a recess at 2:36 p.m. Chair Cyr resumed the meeting at 2:44 p.m with all committee members present. Arcadis-IBI consultant Steve Wilks continued the presentation explaining the ride hail survey results. The survey indicated that almost 80% of respondents are familiar with ride hail apps; the top three characteristics that would encourage ride hail use would be availability of an app, pick up from home, and a wait time of less than 20 minutes; marketing and other TDM strategies may increase the number of people interested in using this service; and over 60% of respondents would like to travel less than 5 miles using ride hail. Mr. Wilks explained ride hail service typically includes a third-party platform to mediate service between driver and passenger. A Concept of Operations provides a high-level description of actions needed to develop a ride hail service and how to develop a Request For Proposals for ride hail services, including functional and technical requirements. Mr. Wilks explained service design options to consider: 1. Independent ride hail program; 2. Collaborate with City of Cupertino on expanding the Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper service, which already serves Rancho San Antonio and can be included as a specific stop; and 3. Integrate a ride hail program with a shuttle program to complement service times (the ride hail program could Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 7 July 11, 2023 provide service during hours after shuttle service ends for the day to ensure visitors have another option for the return trip). Mr. Wilks explained important considerations: providing options for folks without a smart device; an option for those who are unbanked with pre-loaded cards; options for those with mobility devices; geofence capabilities to set boundaries for service; and customer-centric capabilities (amenities). Mr. Wilks explained the cost and ridership model, which includes ridership estimates, costs, subsidy options. Mr. Wilks presented three alternate fare scenarios in the model: $1.50, $2.50, and $3.50. Mr. Wilks explained the parameters can be adjusted for each of the three service models to identify costs and revenues from different fare scenarios. Mr. Wilks explained the use of performance measurements to monitor how performance is helping achieve program goals, which includes Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The District would select metrics for establishing a baseline and then evaluate the ride hail program. Mr. Smith explained the next steps for the project, including information to be presented at the next Planning and Natural Resources Committee on July 18. Director Gleason asked and received confirmation that the SV Hopper serves limited hours on Saturday and no hours on Sunday. Mr. Smith confirmed a collaboration with the City of Cupertino would include an ask to expand service hours. Director Gleason stated other cities have similar services and asked if the programs are servicing travel centers that the District identified as potential shuttle stops. Mr. Smith confirmed city shuttle services often serve transit hubs. Mr. Wilks stated the SV Hopper technology platform has geofencing capabilities and the possibility to collect real-time customer information. Director Holman asked if City of Cupertino is open to sharing the cost for expanding SV Hopper weekend service. Mr. Smith explained the City of Cupertino expressed interested in collaborating, however, conversations are still preliminary. Staff would have to evaluate cost sharing for expanding the SV Hopper weekend services. Ms. Ruiz stated the cost and revenue estimate slides of the presentation only represents partial costs and does not include staffing and other operational costs. If directed to develop the programs further, cost numbers would be further defined. Director Holman asked roughly how much higher the cost numbers would increase. Ms. Ruiz stated preliminarily the numbers would be more than 20%. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 8 July 11, 2023 Director Holman expressed having accurate numbers is crucial information to making a decision. Director Gleason asked about the effects on the existing parking problem based on the preliminary estimates. Mr. Wilks explained baseline data would need to be establish to determine demand and impact of the ride hail services, the reduction of vehicles, and how shuttle ridership will also impact use of ride-hail services. Director Gleason asked about the impact on the parking issue with a potential ride hail program in place without a shuttle program. Mr. Wilks explained there is not a calculation of reduction of private vehicular parking but expressed a calculation of reduction of vehicles can be extracted from the model. Director Gleason requested information on the reduction of vehicles. Chair Cyr stated the next part of the presentation will be provided at the Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee meeting. Director Holman asked about the feasibility of receiving responses to Committee questions by the next Committee meeting. Mr. Smith stated staff will work with consultants to provide answers to questions. Public comment opened at 3:14 p.m. Steve Flynn spoke on in support of the potential shuttle and ride hail programs that focuses access on Cristo Rey Drive, rather than St. Joseph’s Avenue. Mr. Flynn spoke on the incentives to encourage visitors to use services, including carpool spots at main trailheads. Mr. Flynn spoke in support of subsidizing existing shuttle and ride hail programs. Elizabeth Montgomery spoke on the St. Joseph’s Avenue entrance and access into the preserve. Ms. Montgomery stated that the St. Joseph’s Avenue offers no turn around for potential shuttles or ride hails vehicles, and there are no amenities such as restroom or garbage collection in that area. Mr. Montgomery spoke in favor of using existing parking spaces more efficiently. Marlene Zimmerman expressed concerned for additional vehicles from ride hails using St. Joseph’s Avenue and encouraged the use of Cristo Rey Drive. Ms. Zimmerman expressed support for educating visitors to use preserves closest to them and to improve the existing parking area. Ms. Zimmerman expressed a preference for a no-go on both the potential shuttle and ride-hail programs. Judy Dahl expressed concerned of additional vehicles and traffic from ride hails using St. Joseph’s Avenue and encouraged the use of Cristo Rey Drive. Cyndel Podich spoke on cars waiting for a parking spot and the effects of pollution. Ms. Podich asked if adding 15 to 20 additional parking spots would solve the waiting-for-a-spot problem. Ms. Podich asked for consideration of pollution contributed from shuttle and ride hail vehicles. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 9 July 11, 2023 Wayne Whitlock expressed the opinion that the preserve is full if the parking lot is full and requested consideration of preserve capacity. Mr. Whitlock encouraged the consideration of additional visitor use and the effects on the preserve and impact to visitor enjoyment. Wayne Whitlock commented that a question the Committee should consider is when the parking lots are full whether the park is full. In view of the capacity and the user experience that the District is trying hard to maintain and, in his opinion, that the District is doing a great job of, is to ask what the visitor accessibility should be. Mr. Whitlock commented on his experience over the past few years and noted that often days when the park is so full, the experience and enjoyment are much more limited. Mr. Whitlock encouraged the Committee to take these concerns into account before taking any action that could potentially encourage increase usage. In addition, he appreciates that staff emphasized that Cristo Rey is the target of this effort for the proposed programs and requested that the District consider stating in writing that St. Joseph’s Avenue in not a potential target for the use of this effort. Public comment closed at 3:31 p.m. Director Gleason asked if the preserve users who responded to the public survey live closer to other preserves. Mr. Smith explained 25 to 30% of respondents live within one zip code. Ms. Ruiz explained the majority of visitors do live near the preserve and Rancho San Antonio is a regional preserve that draws visitors from other areas. Ms. Ruiz further explained aspects that make the preserve attractive, including accessibility via highways (I-280), no travel up rural or windy roads, Deer Hollow Farm, and trail routes that can accommodate different abilities. Director Holmen asked if the District has encouraged people to visit other preserves. Ms. Ruiz stated staff promotes other District preserves at community events and outreach booths. However, Rancho San Antonio is very popular and well known. Director Holman stated not noticing an encouragement on the public website for users to visit other District preserves. Public Affairs Manager Kori Skinner explained staff is developing a preserve guide for outreach material that lists all preserves and includes a “if you like this, go here” page. Director Holman asked when the guide would be launched. Ms. Skinner stated the guide is scheduled to be available in Fall 2023, and explained the guide is currently in design and will move to final design and printing. Director Holman asked if the guide will be posted or shared at Rancho San Antonio. Ms. Skinner stated staff will explore distribution options. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 10 July 11, 2023 Ms. Skinner shared the parking counter online webpage received 45,000 visits a year, while the District’s public website received approximately 50,000 web visits. In June 2023, the Parking Counter webpage was the fourth most visited page on the District website. Director Gleason asked if there is consideration to extend the SV Hopper service area to the entrance of Fremont Older Open Space Preserve to help address parking issues at the preserve. Mr. Smith stated extending the SV Hopper service area to the Fremont Older entrance was not considered but will discuss with the City of Cupertino. Chair Cyr expressed support for extending the SV Hopper service to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve as the parking lot is impacted on weekends and holidays as well. Chair Cyr continued Committee Item 2 to the July 18 meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee. ADJOURNMENT Chair Cyr adjourned the meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee at 3:40 p.m. Loana Lumina-Hsu Deputy District Clerk MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Administrative Office 5050 El Camino Real Los Altos, CA 94022 Tuesday, July 18, 2023 DRAFT MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Cyr called the meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee to order at 1:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Jed Cyr, Craig Gleason, Karen Holman Members absent: None Staff present: General Manager Ana M. Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Maria Soria, Executive Assistant/Deputy District Clerk Loana Lumina-Hsu, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Senior Planner Tina Hugg, Planner II Tyler Smith, Planner II Brittany Wheatman, Senior Planner Gretchen Laustsen, Chief Ranger/Visitor Services Manager Matthew Anderson, Foothills Area Superintendent Brad Pennington, Supervising Ranger Alysha Carabetta, Public Affairs Manager Korrine Skinner ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Gleason moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-0-0 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS District Clerk Maria Soria reported there were no public speakers for this item. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 2 July 18, 2023 COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Approve the July 11, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee Meeting Minutes. Public comment opened at 1:03 p.m. Ms. Soria reported there were no public speakers for this item. Public comment closed at 1:03 p.m. Motion: Director Holman moved, and Director Gleason seconded the motion to approve the July 11, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee meeting minutes. ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-0-0 3. Background Information, Proposed Performance Measures and Service Design Concepts, and First Go-No Go Consideration for a Potential Shuttle Program and/or Ride Hail Program at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve (R-23-86) General Manager Ana Ruiz stated that due to the extensive amount of information collected for Agenda Item 3, today’s meeting is a continuation of the July 11, 2023 Planning and Natural Resources Committee (PNR) meeting. Ms. Ruiz clarified that the project is an exploration of a potential shuttle program and/or ride hail program for Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, and that if either program moves forward, the ingress/egress for either program would be from Cristal Rey Drive through the main Preserve entrance. Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan provided an overview of the Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Study, including information on how the strategies were evaluated and prioritized. Ms. Chan explained why the multimodal access study was pursued and the study goals. She reviewed the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies, including the purpose of the TDMs, which aim to expand the travel mode choices. The study included 26 TDM strategies across five categories: access improvements, transit improvements, traffic operational improvements, visitor demand management, and capacity improvements. The TDMs were scored using twelve scoring factors that were weighted by relevance to the study goals, and each TDM was evaluated on a scale from one to five. The highest scoring TDMs were categorized into first, second, and third priority groups. Director Gleason commented that the goals were set in terms of reducing parking demand as opposed to closing the gap between supply and demand, which he believes has a significant impact on the rankings of the TDMs and inquired how the choice was made. Ms. Chan stated that in order to close the gap, staff recognized that there is not enough space to build substantially more parking, which is why staff looked at multi-modal choices to shift how people arrive to the preserve and encourage other modes of transportation to reduce the parking demand. Furthermore, while building more capacity can be part the solution, increasing parking capacity alone will not address the issue. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 3 July 18, 2023 Ms. Ruiz expressed that there is also a concern of what the impacts might be to the preserve and to the visitor experience within the preserve if the solution primarily focuses on increased parking. Ms. Chan reiterated that adding parking spaces is priority three, it is lower on the priority list as it does not support the goal of reducing parking demand compared to other strategies. Director Gleason remarked that the goal of reducing parking demand as opposed to closing the gap between supply and demand artificially lowers the scores. Furthermore, that none of the TDMs can close the gap by itself, but rather with a combination of TDMs. The staff report indicates that adding parking spaces does not support the goal of reducing parking demand and scored as a low priority. Whereas, if the goal is to close the gap, one can then compare the options differently. Ms. Ruiz indicated that there may be a need for a combination of TDM strategies. She also noted for Board consideration that increasing parking supply may not necessarily achieve the goals of meeting the parking demand if the demand further increases with an increase in supply. Ms. Chan added that the District and Board recognized there would never be enough parking built to meet the demand at Rancho San Antonio, which is why staff is pursuing multimodal access solutions to help reduce the parking demand. Director Holman is an agreement with Director Gleason and Ms. Ruiz’s remarks on demand and supply, and increases in future demand. Director Holman stated that adding more parking would not result in a change in behavior, and that the public would continue to use their current means of transportation. By making Rancho San Antonio more accessible via other means, the District may also be increasing visitation at the preserve. Chair Cyr stated that the carrying capacity of the preserve data is critical for the Committee to make an informed decision on whether to support the shuttle and/or ride hail programs. Director Holman commented that the subject of carrying capacity was raised at the previous Committee meeting and without that information it is difficult to make an informed decision. Director Holman suggested that there may be a third option whereby the Board may consider certain options and defer others to a future date when additional information is provided. Ms. Ruiz offered another option for the Committee to consider: finishing the shuttle and ride-hail studies and findings, keeping in mind that the results may inform future efforts related to the Purisima Multimodal recommendations. Purisima is another preserve with many parking issues that may benefit from a shuttle and other parking management strategies. Director Gleason commented that connecting people to nature is a critical part of what the District does, and in Rancho San Antonio, people are trying to connect to nature as they sit waiting for a parking space. Director Gleason then made a comparison between Rancho San Antonio’s location to the South Bay, noting that Rancho San Antonio is the proximate preserve to many residents who live even outside of District boundaries. For this reason, he believes the District should not actively try to reduce visitation, and if it does, it should do so with good reason and understanding of the impacts that it may have. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 4 July 18, 2023 Director Holman commented that the two highest priorities of the District’s mission are to preserve and protect and questioned the point at which people’s experience of nature is degraded due to high visitation, to which she reemphasized the need for a carrying capacity evaluation. Director Holman inquired and received information about what the District is doing in terms of partnering with other entities to leverage their shuttle programs and whether other entities promote their shuttle services. Planner II Tyler Smith continued the staff presentation and provided responses to Committee questions from the July 11 Planning and Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Smith provided additional information on the Silicon Valley Hopper program and reviewed the average vehicle occupancy data at Rancho San Antonio on the weekends that was collected in 2016, 2017 and 2023. This data was used in the Multi-Modal Access Study that helped guide the development of the carpool program. Mr. Smith reviewed the preliminary estimated costs of the ride hail and shuttle programs if they were fully implemented. Mr. Smith discussed the impact on parking demand and stated that while the two programs may potentially free up some parking spaces, they would not be able to solve the problem of reducing parking demand and congestion on their own. The need for parking is decreased for those who use the shuttle or ride hail, but because visitor demand is high at Rancho San Antonio, those otherwise unused spaces would likely get filled. The District would need to introduce strategies alongside the shuttle and/or ride hail programs to be able to better manage visitor demand. Lastly, he reviewed the impact of ride hail and shuttle services on parking space reductions. Director Holman inquired and received information about the parking reductions resulting from the additional bike facilities, rideshare parking, and the digital dynamic parking signage. Mr. Smith continued the presentation and reviewed the TDM strategies that staff is proposing to evaluate further to complement the proposed shuttle and ride hail programs, whether it is decided to implement one or both of the programs to better manage the parking supply. The TDM strategies have many operational considerations and challenges. The carpool parking measure can benefit from lessons learned through the carpool pilot program that has been running since September of 2022. The carpool pilot program requires between 3 to 5 staff members to operate. The second measure is parking reservations, which could provide benefits such as reducing any open parking and encouraging carpool and trip planning. The third measure is parking time limits, which could promote more frequent parking turnover, but would require enforcement and therefore, more staff capacity. The fourth measure is priority parking zones, which may reduce parking demand at peak times, but may also be confusing for visitors and potentially challenging to manage. The fifth measure is to close the parking lots when capacity is reached to shift visitors to shuttle and/or ride-hail modes. Closure of the parking lots would have significant challenges, including impacts to the visitor experience and circulation. Ms. Ruiz commented that companion measures will need to be implemented if the goal includes shifting people's travel habit, so they use multimodal transportation to arrive at the preserve. Likewise, if the goal includes parking demand reduction, companion measures are also necessary. The companion measures are a big lift for staff. They would be incredibly time- consuming to administer, maintain, and track, and would be very challenging for staff to pursue and to receive public support. They are also expensive from an operational standpoint. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 5 July 18, 2023 Director Holman inquired and received information whether it is feasible for volunteers to be able to pick up some of the work on the proposed measures. Director Holman stated that public messaging and marketing is an important component of this project to clarify that the goals of the project go beyond visitor convenience. By indicating to people that this is the right thing to do, people will be more likely to embrace the measures and this program supports the District’s mission. Director Holman suggested that Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is an active group that could educate visitors to help people be mindful of when and how they arrive to the preserve. Public comment opened at 2:30 p.m. Elizabeth Montgomery voiced her concern that she heard a committee member not wanting to build more parking while another committee member mentioned that they want people to continue visiting the preserve. Ms. Montgomery commented that it is really great to have people experience nature and learn to love it, however, she believes that there is a point when bringing more visitors to the preserve will only degrade the experience for wildlife, the environment, and visitors. Ms. Montgomery voiced her worries about the two proposals, individually or in combination, particularly when one of the proposed sites is the Mountain View Caltrain Station, which has the potential to attract additional people who do not even know about Deer Hallow Farm or Rancho San Antonio. She voiced concern for the rise in visitors and how it could eventually have a negative influence on the visitor experience due to the possibility that the visitor rate would grow as a result of subsidized service through either a ride hail or shuttle program. Ms. Montgomery urged the Committee to be cognizant of the issues as they consider the programs. Lastly, she proposed that the District spend some time to determine how to market and message the other preserves, so they have broader utilization and a high payback. Director Holman asked Ms. Montgomery about the timing of her visitation to the various preserves. Ms. Montgomery stated she visited other preserves with schoolchildren about 12 years ago, and what she discovered is that many preserve would benefit from additional parking, more lighting, and easier access. She believes that if these improvements were provided elsewhere and people were made aware of it, it would promote usage of other preserves and all parks would be more widely used. Marlene Zimmerman spoke as a visitor to Rancho San Antonio and commented that there is a desire for people to connect with nature, however, if you go at a time when there are more people, you are not connecting with nature and instead connecting with people and suggested considering limiting the number of people at any time. Ms. Zimmerman also spoke as a resident of the St. Joseph’s Avenue neighborhood, and she heard a comment that Cristo Rey Drive is the focal point. She suggested having something in writing stating that the St. Joseph Avenue area entrance will not be considered for shuttle or ride hail programs now or in the future. Finally, she spoke as a property owner who funds the District through her taxes and encouraged the Committee to put the study to an end as she believes that sufficient funds have already been spent thus far indicating that the two programs have many flaws. Lastly, she suggests promoting other preserves and putting an end to the study. Fred Witteborn suggested using a large, flat area for expansion in the adjacent field on the northwest side in which an additional 100 parking spaces could be added. Mr. Witteborn Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 6 July 18, 2023 mentioned that parking lot one already has a restroom and is under used with just 50 parking spaces. In addition, there is a trailhead near this lot that connects to many popular trails and Deer Hollow Farm. Mr. Witteborn stated that if the District does not wish to pursue the additional 100 parking places, then the question is how many people the District wishes to pack into this preserve. Public comment closed at 2:42 p.m. Ms. Ruiz stated that the Committee might want to consider bringing the item to the Board with the understanding that staff complete the two studies so that staff can have that data and information, not necessarily that it would be applied to Rancho San Antonio, but that it might help inform implementation of similar programs at other locations where these may be a better fit. Moreover, consideration of implementation could be put on hold until a carrying capacity study at the preserve is completed to determine whether one or both programs should be implemented for Rancho San Antonio. Chair Cyr asked whether the Board would have enough time to digest the information when it is brought before them. Ms. Ruiz proposed holding a special meeting solely to discuss this matter and asked the Committee for feedback on whether the full Board would feel the need to delve into the same level of detail as the Committee, and if so, whether two meetings would be necessary. Chair Cyr expressed support for completing the studies in order to collect the data and information that can be used at other preserves, such as at the Purisima preserve. Chair Cyr stated that he does not wish to overburden the other board members, and his sense is that the two programs do not fit in Rancho San Antonio, and they may also not resolve the congestion problem. Director Holman inquired how much money is needed to complete the studies if they are 90% complete. Mr. Smith stated it would be an approximately $30,000 to complete the studies. Director Holman inquired and received information on how reliable the data and information would be if the studies were put on hold for two years in order to undertake a carrying capacity study. Director Holman inquired of there are other cities that are using a ride hail program and whether that would decrease District costs. Mr. Smith stated that the Cities of Cupertino and Santa Clara will invest in the SV Hopper, while the City of Palo Alto recently began their version of such program, and the City of East Palo Alto has a SamTrans program. These programs have the potential to expand and collaborate in order to create a cohesive program. Leveraging existing partnership programs or resources would be more cost effective. Director Holman inquired and asked for clarification on whether the information received from the studies can be applied to the Purisima preserve given that they are in such different locales. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 7 July 18, 2023 Director Gleason expressed his support for the SV Hopper, especially since it is being adopted in various other cities. There is also the potential to use the SV Hopper to transport people to Fremont Older, which is another difficult place for parking, and may be able divert people to other preserves. With respects to the shuttle, he supports completing the study and agrees with Ms. Ruiz that the most likely place to have a shuttle could be at the Purisima preserve. Chair Cyr’s recommendation is to only forward 4b of the General Manager’s recommendation. Director Gleason recommends not to go forward with option 4a and that there is enough reason to continue with the studies. Director Gleason inquired if the motion should be refined to capture Committee input. Ms. Chan stated that staff can report to the full Board and capture the comments from the Committee so that the Board can understand the Committee’s concerns about implementing a shuttle program at Rancho San Antonio, and that the Committee nonetheless supports completing the data gathering process with the clarification that the data may be best applied at another location. Ms. Ruiz asked Ms. Chan to include mention of the Committee’s position on the need to first complete a carrying capacity study before considering such programs at a preserve to fully inform future implementation decisions. Director Holman agreed that this matter should be brought to the Board, and that the presentation should be concise. For those interested in more details, they can watch the recordings of the Committee meetings. Furthermore, she agrees in removing option 4a and requested adding an additional element to 4b to initiate a carrying capacity study. In addition, she proposed that the Committee recommend which companion measures to move forward. Chair Cyr recommended that the carrying capacity study only focus on Rancho San Antonio. Ms. Ruiz indicated that the Committee does not need to decide on the companion measures at this time but, can certainly eliminate those that have no likelihood for further advancement. However, if they are all kept at this time, the District will be able provide additional information and costs on each potential companion measure. Director Holman suggested also adding information for the Board that the carpool pilot program is nearing its completion and include information on the outcomes of the pilot program. Chair Cyr stated that he did not support the time limit companion measure. Director Gleason expressed support for letting staff decide which companion measures to further explore. The Committee continued to discuss refinements to the General Manager’s recommendation and proposed the following for recommendation 4: 4. Based on information received and Committee discussion, select one of the following recommendations to forward on to the full Board of Directors for consideration: Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 8 July 18, 2023 a. Discontinue further development of the shuttle and/or ride hail programs. Or a. Direct the General Manager to continue expending funds from the contract and allocating staff resources to pursue next steps, including: i. Further developing the shuttle and ride hail programs options, focusing on opportunities that best leverage similar existing programs; ii. Exploring the availability of grant programs to cover upfront program implementation costs and, if possible, on-going operating expenses; and iii. Refining and selecting the recommended companion measure(s) that will be necessary to reach successful program outcomes. b. Prior to taking action on the proposed programs, initiate a carrying capacity study of the preserve. Motion: Director Holman moved, and Director Gleason seconded the motion to forward the General Manager’s recommendation based on information received and Committee discussion recommend to forward on to the full Board of Directors for consideration of the following: a. Direct the General Manager to continue expending funds from the contract and allocating staff resources to pursue next steps, including: i. Further developing the shuttle and ride hail programs options, focusing on opportunities that best leverage similar existing programs; ii. Exploring the availability of grant programs to cover upfront program implementation costs and, if possible, on-going operating expenses; and iii. Refining and selecting the recommended companion measure(s) that will be necessary to reach successful program outcomes. b. Prior to taking action on the proposed programs, initiate a carrying capacity study of the preserve. ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-0-0 Ms. Montgomery inquired if Ms. Zimmerman’s suggestion of having a statement in writing that the St. Joseph’s Avenue area entrance will not be considered for shuttle or ride hail programs will be taken under consideration. Ms. Ruiz advised the Committee that it is not in the Board’s interest to commit to having such a statement because the future cannot be predicted. Currently, the study indicates that if the District proceeds with either program, the focal point will be Cristo Rey Drive. No one can predict what changes may occur in 10, 20 or more years in the future in terms of circulation in the neighborhood or neighborhood opinion. Furthermore, if there was contemplation of a change that might affect the neighborhood in the future, the neighborhood would be notified in advance to provide early opportunities for discussion and engagement. Director Holman expressed support of Ms. Ruiz’s comments and stated that with all due respect to the neighbors, it is highly unusual to place such a commitment in writing for any public agency because of changes that can occur in the future, and that Ms. Ruiz’s comments have noted that should anything be contemplated that may affect the neighborhood, neighborhood notification and input would be pursued. Planning and Natural Resources Committee Page 9 July 18, 2023 Ms. Montgomery commented that Wayne Whitlock’s comments during the public comment period from the prior meeting were not properly captured and requests that his comments be accurately captured in the minutes. Ms. Soria stated that the July 11, 2023 minutes had been approved by the Committee, but she will listen to the recording to confirm if Mr. Whitlock’s comments were captured correctly and any chances would be brought back to the Committee for approval. Director Gleason agreed to have the minutes reviewed and revised by the District Clerk because his notes did include further remarks from Mr. Whitlock. ADJOURNMENT Chair Cyr adjourned the meeting of the Planning and Natural Resources Committee at 3:28p.m. Maria Soria, MMC District Clerk Rev. 3/15/21 AGENDA ITEM 2 R-23-87 July 25, 2023 AGENDA ITEM Highway 35 Multi-use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve – Conceptual Parking Design Alternatives and Trail Crossing Location at the North Ridge Parking Area GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS 1.Receive a presentation on the Highway 35 Multi-use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study and provide feedback on the parking area conceptual design options. 2.Forward Option A-2 (upper and lower parking area expansion with two-way circulation and the associated multi-use trail crossing location and design) to the Board of Directors for consideration as the project description and scope to initiate environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. SUMMARY The Highway 35 Multi-Use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study (Project) is a partnership between the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District), San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Bay Area Ridge Trail Council (Ridge Trail Council) and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). The Project is evaluating a multi-use trail crossing location and connector trail in the northeastern reaches of Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Purisima, Preserve), as well as the potential expansion of the existing North Ridge parking area. At the July 25, 2023 Planning and Natural Resource (PNR) Committee meeting, staff will present conceptual parking area design options to expand the Purisima North Ridge parking area, including a preferred design option (A-2) for Committee consideration to forward on to the Board of Directors as the recommended project description and scope to initiate environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). BACKGROUND The District is conducting a feasibility study to identify a trail crossing location from the Purisima North Ridge parking area across Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) to connect existing segments of the Bay Area Ridge Trail within Purisima, west of Highway 35, to a new segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail planned on the east side of Highway 35 (Ridge Trail Extension). The feasibility study is also analyzing a potential expansion of the North Ridge parking area to serve visitors to both the existing Preserve trailhead and to the proposed Ridge Trail Extension. R-23-87 Page 2 The intent of the Project is to (1) enhance regional connectivity through a multi-use trail crossing that will allow access to trails on both sides of Highway 35 and (2) identify ways to reconfigure and expand parking capacity at the North Ridge parking area. Existing conditions of the North Ridge parking area and trailhead are shown on Attachment 1. The Project goals and strategies include supporting the implementation of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and improving public access and visitor experience at the Purisima North Ridge trailhead. At the April 4, 2023 PNR meeting, staff presented the Project goals and strategies, the results of preliminary technical studies and the opportunities and constraints analysis (R-23-38). The technical studies conducted for the Project site include a Biological Resource Survey, Pathogens Risk Assessment, Cultural and Historic Resource Surveys, Boundary and Topography Surveys, and a Traffic Study. These technical studies, along with field scouting work completed by staff, identify existing site conditions and provide findings that informed the Opportunity and Constraints Analysis. The analysis completed to date have identified a feasible trail crossing location on Highway 35 immediately south of the existing parking area exit driveway as well as two potential onsite locations for parking expansion at the North Ridge trailhead. At the April 4, 2023 PNR meeting, staff also shared information on spatial analysis and parking capacity scenarios to illustrate preliminary parking capacities for standard vehicles, horse trailers, and shuttle buses at the two potential parking expansion areas. In addition to onsite parking capacity, the Project is also incorporating Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies recommended in the Purisima Multimodal Access Study, which the Board reviewed and accepted on November 9, 2022. The expectation is that many of these strategies are suitable for the North Ridge trailhead site and can be incorporated into the design and long-term management of the parking area, where one or more of these strategies may be implemented concurrently: Highest priority TDMs •Peak period parking reservations/priority parking •Bicycle parking and facilities (including bicycle repair stations) •Temporarily redesignate spaces on specific days/times to best meet demands o May include designating special parking areas temporarily for carpool, equestrian, shuttle pick-up/drop-off, or other uses •Real-time parking lot occupancy sensors and signage •Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure Lower priority TDMs •Vehicle wayfinding signage •Clearly identify permitted on-street / shoulder parking •Accommodate future shuttle / transit systems Public Feedback and Stakeholder Engagement Feedback received at the April 4 PNR meeting from Committee members and the public on the parking expansion and reconfiguration of the North Ridge parking area and trailhead is summarized in the table below: R-23-87 Page 3 Table 1. Public and Committee Feedback from the April 4, 2023 PNR Meeting Theme/Topic General Feedback/Comments Equestrian Parking Demand •Current equestrian parking spaces are not exclusively for equestrian trailers or reservable and therefore are often used by visitors with standard vehicles. An equestrian provided feedback that they do not visit Purisima because the equestrian spaces are rarely available. •There is a need to better understand demand for equestrian parking at the North Ridge trailhead (a range of 2-4 designated equestrian spaces should be considered for conceptual design options). A member of the public suggested implementing at least two designated equestrian parking stalls and providing two additional equestrian stalls through flexible parking areas. Highway Crossing •Multiple suggestions were provided for additional warning features, including crossing lights and pavement markings (although acknowledging that designs will ultimately be determined by Caltrans). •Interest in keeping the crossing consistent with the rural character of the area. Parking Expansion Areas •Interest in parking reconfiguration options with and without expansion into the lower area near the District residence. •Interest in having the lower expansion area be for equestrian parking, as long as screening is provided between the parking area and adjacent residence. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies •Support for parking reservations and flexible parking areas for part of the parking area. More information is needed regarding equity considerations for visitors with limited access to technology and understanding the success of parking reservation systems at other parks/preserves. •Interest in a shuttle stop on the highway shoulder for easier pick-up and drop-off. •More information is needed about the required space for a future shuttle drop-off and pick-up area and whether a shuttle could circulate through the parking area. •Bike racks and other bike facilities may not need to be prioritized at the North Ridge trailhead since not many people will ride their bikes here and to go on a hike or ride through the preserve. •Need to consider how many electric vehicle (EV) spaces are necessary given the limited size of the parking areas, and how the addition of this infrastructure may increase parking demand due to decreased general parking spaces. In response to feedback received at the April 4 PNR meeting, staff began drafting conceptual parking design options for the North Ridge parking area and trailhead. Staff also held a virtual meeting on June 7, 2023, to share preliminary design options with members of the public for further feedback (see Attachments 2-5). Notice of the June 7 meeting was emailed to interested R-23-87 Page 4 parties of the Preserve and the hiking, biking, equestrian, accessibility, and regional trails interested parties lists. A summary of the feedback received at the June 7 meeting is included in the table below: Table 2. Public Feedback from the June 7, 2023 Virtual Meeting Theme/Topic General Feedback/Comments Conceptual Parking Design Options •Support for option B.2 (Upper & Lower (Parking) Expansion areas, One- Way Circulation), A.2 (Upper & Lower Expansion, Two-Way Circulation), and B.1 (Upper Only, One-Way Circulation). •A neighbor shared concerns about the change to the “serenity” of the neighborhood setting with the parking changes. Equestrian Parking/Access •Neighbors and equestrians both shared that few equestrians currently visit the North Ridge trailhead due to a lack of designated equestrian parking. Equestrians supported the inclusion of designated equestrian parking spaces and said they appreciated being considered in the planning process and would use these equestrian parking if provided. •Proximity of equestrian parking to standard vehicle parking is not a significant safety concern and the different types of parking do not necessarily need to be separated. For example, equestrian parking at Rancho San Antonio is located next to standard vehicle parking and gets a good amount of foot traffic. •Two designated equestrian spaces at North Ridge may be sufficient. Providing four equestrian spaces would make it much easier for equestrians to count on available parking but they may not be constantly occupied. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies •If two designated equestrian parking stalls are provided, another two stalls could be provided as flexible stalls for larger vehicles that could be used by either equestrians, bicycling groups transporting bikes and other gear, or school/educational programs, etc. These flexible spaces could also be reserved to allow groups to plan their outings to the North Ridge trailhead. Circulation •Consider how one-way circulation through the parking area will interfere with traffic on Highway 35. Anticipate that cars may back up on the highway, if a vehicle stops at the parking entrance or if vehicle circles back into the parking area. Highway Crossing •A neighbor expressed concerns about the safety of an on-grade trail/road crossing due to speed and road curvature. The neighbor suggested a tunnel be implemented for a safe crossing and lights should not be used for the crossing. •Equestrians shared that they have used similar equestrian/ pedestrian crossings on Highway 50 and other highways that could be considered “unsafe” for trail crossings. The equestrians appreciate these crossings, which are not highly used but necessary for equestrians to connect to county parks and equestrian facilities. •Important to consider who will be using the crossings and how much traffic is expected on the highway to balance the risk of formalizing an at grade crossing. R-23-87 Page 5 DISCUSSION The intent of this agenda item is for the PNR to review the conceptual parking design options for the North Ridge parking area and consider forwarding conceptual parking area design option A-2 (two-way circulation, upper and lower expansion) to the Board as the recommended project description and scope to initiate CEQA review. Conceptual Parking Area Design Options The conceptual parking area design options strive to accommodate the increased demand for access to the Preserve from hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists while minimizing neighbor and environmental resource impacts. Each option will meet or exceed accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). At this stage in the design process, details such as the parking surface material and striping are not yet discussed until the District prepares detailed plans during the design development phase after environmental review is completed. The parking area, in all configurations shown, will have over 5,000 square feet of impervious area and be required to implement Low Impact Development (LID) measures in compliance with the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit. Therefore, although not shown, each design will include LID measures such as bio-swales, detention basins, or pervious pavements. Furthermore, it should be noted that each design option includes the recommendations of the traffic engineering study to maintain existing entrance and exit driveways, locate an on-grade crossing adjacent to the exit driveway, establish a no-parking zone along the western side of Skyline Boulevard and formalize shoulder parking at designated spaces. The final design solution for the on-grade trail crossing and parking improvements located within the Skyline Boulevard right-of-way will be at the discretion of the California Department of Transportation through the encroachment permit process. Option A.1 Upper Expansion Only, Two-Way Circulation This design option proposes to improve the upper area only (see Attachment 2). It includes a main parking aisle with approximately 50 parking spaces and two-way vehicle circulation within the aisle. This is very similar to the current parking configuration, but with more effective use of the space. A second one-way aisle is proposed with approximately 4 equestrian parking spaces and ample adjacent space for horse staging. The second aisle can flexibly meet TDM strategies, including a shuttle stop or priority / reservation parking. Access to this aisle could be managed with a gate or kiosk if deemed appropriate. In this design option, the restroom can be located at the current, south end of the area near the existing trailhead, or relocated to the north end of the parking area, where there is more space for staging. The approximate footprint of drivable surface is 25,000 square feet. An ADA path of travel is provided that connects the Highway 35 crossing to the north end of the median between the standard vehicle parking area and equestrian aisle (as well as the northern restroom location option). The ADA path extends along the median and connects to the existing trailhead near the entrance of the parking area where ADA parking spaces are located. The ADA path crosses one drive aisle on the north end of the parking area and one drive aisle on the south end of the parking area. In this design option, the existing driveway access to the employee residence would remain unchanged. R-23-87 Page 6 Option A.2 Upper & Lower Expansion, Two-Way Circulation This design expands on option A.1 by moving the equestrian parking to the lower expansion area and introducing a second row of passenger vehicle spaces in the upper area. Approximately 74 passenger vehicle spaces can fit in the upper area, with 2 to 3 equestrian spaces down below (see Attachment 3). A new driveway would be constructed down to the lower area to allow equestrian vehicles to “pull-through” when parking. Equestrian parking is appropriate for the lower area because it offers the most separation between horses and other user groups and based on the number of spaces available for use, offers the lowest volume of visitors adjacent to the employee residence. New vegetation would buffer the employee residence from the parking area. Pedestrian circulation and restroom locations are generally consistent with option A.1. And similar to option A.1, the TDM strategies, such as flexible parking, shuttle stop, or priority parking, could be implemented in either the second aisle of the upper area, or the lower area. The approximate footprint of drivable area is 39,500 square feet. In this design option, a new vehicular connection to the employee residence would be created off the one-way aisle constructed through the lower area. In this design, an ADA path is provided on the west side of the upper parking area that connects to the Highway 35 crossing and restroom location on the north end of the parking area, and to the ADA parking spaces and restroom option on the south end of the parking area. The ADA path crosses two drive aisles on the north end of the parking area and one on the south end of the parking area. Option B.1 Upper Expansion Only, One-Way Circulation Design option B.1. has the smallest footprint, thus minimizing impacts and construction costs (see Attachment 4). This option proposes one-way vehicle circulation and angled parking spaces for approximately 41 passenger vehicles in the main aisle. Consistent with option A.1, a second aisle is proposed with approximately 4 equestrian parking spaces, and ample space adjacent for horse staging. The second aisle can flexibly meet TDM strategies, including a shuttle stop and priority / reservation parking. Access to this aisle could be managed with a gate or kiosk if deemed appropriate. In this design option, the restroom can be located at the south end of the area near the existing trailhead, or at the north end of the parking area, where there is more space for staging. The approximate footprint of drivable surface is 22,500 square feet. In this design option, the existing access to the employee residence would remain unchanged. In this design, an ADA path is located similarly to option A.1 and crosses one drive aisle on the north end of the parking area and one drive aisle on the south end of the parking area. ADA parking stalls are located near the trailhead and entrance to the parking area. Option B.2 Upper & Lower Expansion, One-Way Circulation This design expands on option B.1 by relocating the equestrian parking to the lower expansion area and introducing a second row of angled passenger vehicle spaces in the upper area (see Attachment 5). Approximately 61 passenger vehicle spaces can fit in the upper area, with 2 to 3 equestrian spaces down below via a new one-way driveway. New vegetation would buffer the employee residence from the parking area. Pedestrian circulation and restroom locations are generally consistent with option B.1. And similar to option B.1, the TDM strategies, such as flexible parking, shuttle stop, or priority parking, could be implemented in either the second aisle of the upper area, or the lower area. The approximate footprint of drivable area is 34,750 square feet. In this design option, a new vehicular connection to the employee residence would be created off the one-way aisle constructed through the lower area. R-23-87 Page 7 In this design, an ADA path is located similarly to options A.1 and B.1 and will cross one drive aisle on the north end of the parking area and one drive aisle on the south end of the parking area. ADA parking stalls are located near the trailhead and entrance to the parking area. Phasing The design options presented herein all offer the ability to be phased. For example, option A can be implemented as phase A.1 initially. Once additional capacity is needed, option A.2 could be implemented with little change or reconstruction of the A.1 improvements. Design Variations Design options A & B have similar layout and circulation, so favorable attributes from one design option can be combined with the other, should the Committee wish to bring the two concepts together. Preliminary Cost Estimate in Current Dollars Preliminary estimates have been prepared to compare the probable construction costs associated with each design option. The estimates are based on the findings of the site assessments, technical studies, and recommended construction methods. The estimates provide an order of magnitude cost, commiserate with the amount of information available in the design. Each estimate includes all of the components shown in the attached conceptual designs, including parking and circulation improvements, TDM strategies, trailhead amenities, on-grade crossing infrastructure, and right-of-way improvements. There are many factors that will impact the final construction costs, including design changes, permit conditions, as well as fluctuations in material and labor costs. The estimates were prepared using current 2023 dollar values because the target construction date has not yet been identified. Table 3. Design Concept Summary Existing Option A.1 Option A.2 Option B.1 Option B.2 Cars Eq. Cars Eq. Cars Eq. Cars Eq. Cars Eq. Existing Lot + Upper Area 41* 0* 50 4 74 0 41 4 61 0 Lower Expansion Area 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 Hwy 35 Shoulder 13 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 Total 54 0 56 4 80 2 47 4 67 2 Impervious Area 17,490 sf 25,000 sf 39,500 sf 22,500 sf 34,750 sf Preliminary Cost Estimate n/a $2,135,000 $3,050,000 $2,025,000 $2,838,000 *Although the existing parking lot can accommodate equestrian parking, it does not provide designated equestrian parking spaces. Existing capacity with equestrian parking is approximately 26 cars and 2 equestrian spaces. Cars = Standard vehicle parking stalls, 9’ x 18’ Eq. = Designated equestrian trailer parking stalls, 12’ x 55’ sf = Square feet Each conceptual design option is intended to support the project’s overall goals and strategies. A comparison of the conceptual parking area design alternatives is shown in Attachment 6. The criteria used to compare the concept options include value, impact to site, integration of TDMs, alignment with Project goals and policies and public support. R-23-87 Page 8 FISCAL IMPACT There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the recommendation. Funds for design development, engineering, and permitting will be recommended in future fiscal year budgets as a part of the annual Budget and Action Plan process. This project is not currently funded by Measure AA as it is still within a feasibility stage. However, implementation of capital improvements may be eligible for Measure AA funding reimbursements in the future. PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW •September 29, 2020: The Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee (LFPAC) reviewed a partnership agreement and recommended Board adoption of a resolution authorizing the General Manager to accept $114,000 in grant funding from the SFPUC for the Project. o Board Report (R-20-101) o Minutes •October 28, 2020: The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the General Manager to accept grant funding for the Project. o Board Report (Res. 20-32) o Minutes •April 4, 2023: The Planning and Natural Resources Committee (PNR) received a presentation on the Project and provided feedback on the Project goals, technical studies, opportunities and constraints analysis, and preliminary considerations for parking expansion. O Board Report (R-23-38) O Minutes PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act. In addition, public notices were sent to interested parties of the Preserve and to hiking, biking, equestrian, accessibility, and regional trails interested parties lists as well as the Kings Mountain Neighborhood Association. CEQA COMPLIANCE Board selection of a preferred design option for the Highway 35 Multi-use Trail Crossing and Parking Feasibility Study is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Environmental review is anticipated to occur in a future fiscal year, based on Board selection of a project design alternative as the CEQA project description. NEXT STEPS With guidance from the PNR, staff will either proceed with forwarding the General Manger’s recommended concept design option A-2 to the Board or may further refine parking area R-23-87 Page 9 conceptual design options based on Committee input. A preferred alternative will be presented to the Board according to the following tentative schedule: Feasibility Study Milestone Tentative Schedule PNR Meeting – Forward Preferred Parking Alternative recommendation to the Board of Directors for consideration as the project description and scope to initiate environmental review. Summer 2023 Board Meeting - Presentation of trail crossing recommendations and preferred parking area conceptual design alternatives Winter 2023 Future Project Phases Tentative Schedule Environmental review conducted as part of Purisima Comprehensive Use and Management Plan FY24 and FY25 Design development, engineering, and permitting FY25 and FY26 Attachment(s) 1. Existing Conditions 2. Option A.1 Upper Expansion Only, Two-Way Circulation 3. Option A.2 Upper & Lower Expansion, Two-Way Circulation 4. Option B.1 Upper Expansion Only, One-Way Circulation 5. Option B.2 Upper & Lower Expansion, One-Way Circulation 6. Conceptual Parking Area Design Alternatives Comparison Responsible Department Head: Jason Lin, PE, Engineering and Construction Department Manager Jane Mark, AICP, Planning Department Manager Prepared by: Scott Reeves, Senior Capital Project Manager, Engineering and Construction Department Brittany Wheatman, Planner II, Planning Department Contact person: Brittany Wheatman, Planner II, Planning Department Graphics prepared by: Scott Reeves, Senior Capital Project Manager HWY 35 MULTI-USE TRAIL CROSSING AND PARKING EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS OPEN SPACE PRESERVE NORTH RIDGE PARKING LOT S k y l i n e B l v d. Private Property Not to scale DistrictEmployeeResidence JULY 25, 2023 10 3 UNDEFINED SHOULDERPARKING ON HWY 35 PARKING SPACES ARE UNDEFINED,RESULTING IN LOWER PARKING CAPACITYTHAN SPACE ALLOWS EQUESTRIAN PARKING IS ON AFIRST-COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS 41 Trailhead Amenities& Restroom ATTACHMENT 1 EXISTING CONDITIONS HWY 35 MULTI-USE TRAIL CROSSING AND PARKING EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS OPEN SPACE PRESERVE NORTH RIDGE PARKING LOT S k y l i n e B l v d. Private Property Not to scale DistrictEmployeeResidence JULY 25, 2023ATTACHMENT 2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTION A.1 50 4 RestroomOption #1 RestroomOption #2 3 3 DEFINED SHOULDERPARKING ON HWY 35 ON-GRADE CROSSING &SPUR TRAIL CONNECTIONTO BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL DEFINED NO PARKING ZONE HWY 35 MULTI-USE TRAIL CROSSING AND PARKING EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS OPEN SPACE PRESERVE NORTH RIDGE PARKING LOT S k y l i n e B l v d. Private Property Not to scale DistrictEmployeeResidence JULY 25, 2023ATTACHMENT 3 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTION A.2 51 2 23 RestroomOption #1 RestroomOption #2 3 3 DEFINED SHOULDERPARKING ON HWY 35 ON-GRADE CROSSING &SPUR TRAIL CONNECTIONTO BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL DEFINED NO PARKING ZONE HWY 35 MULTI-USE TRAIL CROSSING AND PARKING EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS OPEN SPACE PRESERVE NORTH RIDGE PARKING LOT S k y l i n e B l v d. Private Property Not to scale DistrictEmployeeResidence JULY 25, 2023ATTACHMENT 4 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTION B.1 41 RestroomOption #1 RestroomOption #2 4 3 3 DEFINED SHOULDERPARKING ON HWY 35 ON-GRADE CROSSING &SPUR TRAIL CONNECTIONTO BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL DEFINED NO PARKING ZONE HWY 35 MULTI-USE TRAIL CROSSING AND PARKING EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS OPEN SPACE PRESERVE NORTH RIDGE PARKING LOT S k y l i n e B l v d. Private Property Not to scale DistrictEmployeeResidence JULY 25, 2023ATTACHMENT 5 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTION B.2 41 20 2 RestroomOption RestroomOption 3 3 DEFINED SHOULDERPARKING ON HWY 35 ON-GRADE CROSSING &SPUR TRAIL CONNECTIONTO BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL DEFINED NO PARKING ZONE Atachment 6: Parking Area Design Alterna�ves Comparison Value – Parking Expansion vs. Cost* Minimizing Impact to Site Integra�on of TDMs Alignment with Project Goals & Policies Public Support (Parking)** Op�on A.1 Provides moderate value for the overall cost by increasing standard vehicle parking and providing designated equestrian spaces. Retains key site elements by keeping parking within the upper expansion area. Provides a second drive aisle that can be controlled for ﬂexible or priority parking. Increases parking within the previously developed upper expansion area and increases traﬃc safety by providing two-way circula�on within the parking area. Supports public interest in providing designated equestrian parking and internal circula�on. Does not provide a signiﬁcant increase in standard vehicle parking. Op�on A.2 Provides a signiﬁcant increase in standard vehicle parking and includes designated equestrian spaces, which has the greatest value for the cost of construc�on. Modiﬁes the site’s character by expanding parking to the lower expansion area, although this area has been previously disturbed. Vegeta�on clearing and grading is required for expansion into the lower area. Screening is recommended to provide separa�on from onsite residence. Provides a second upper drive aisle and lower expansion area that can both have controlled access for ﬂexible or priority parking. Maximizes onsite parking within the previously developed upper and lower expansion areas and increases traﬃc safety by providing two-way circula�on within the parking area. Supports public interest in providing more standard vehicle parking, internal circula�on, and designated equestrian parking. Op�on B.1 Provides the lowest value for the overall cost. This op�on provides designated equestrian parking but does not provide an increase in total standard vehicle parking. Retains the site’s character by keeping parking at the upper expansion area with the least amount of impervious area. Provides a second drive aisle that can be controlled for ﬂexible or priority parking. Does not signiﬁcantly increase onsite parking and retains one-way circula�on that requires vehicles to circulate onto Highway 35. Supports public interest for designated equestrian parking but does not provide any addi�onal standard vehicle parking. Does not support public interest in keeping circula�on within the site (i.e., making circula�on two-way). Op�on B.2 Provides the second highest value for the number of addi�onal standard vehicle spaces and provides designated equestrian parking. Modiﬁes the site’s character by expanding parking to the lower expansion, although this area has been previously disturbed. Vegeta�on clearing and grading is required for expansion into lower area. Screening is recommended to provide separa�on from onsite residence. Provides a second upper drive aisle and lower expansion area that can both have controlled access for ﬂexible or priority parking. Increases onsite parking within the previously developed upper and lower expansion areas, although retains one- way circula�on that requires vehicles to circulate onto Highway 35. Supports public interest for addi�onal standard vehicle parking and designated equestrian parking. Does not support public interest in keeping circula�on within the site (i.e., making circula�on two-way). *Analyzes the value of each op�on based on preliminary cost es�mates and es�mated increase in total standard vehicle parking spaces. **The highway crossing and traﬃc safety remain priori�es for the project, however, this comparison focuses on parking area design only. Strongest alignment with policy/goal Stronger alignment with policy/goal Medium alignment with policy/goal Weaker alignment with policy/goal Weakest alignment with policy/goal