Title
Staff Report for Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Forward the City's Selected and Approved Aesthetic Features as Shown in Attachments 2A and 2B for the Marina Boulevard and Davis Street (State Route (SR) 112)/I-880 Interchanges in San Leandro for the I-880 Southbound HOV Project
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to forward the City's selected and approved aesthetic features as shown in Attachments 2A and 2B for the Marina Boulevard and Davis Street (SR112/I-880) Interchanges to the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) and Caltrans for inclusion in the I-880 Southbound High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Project.
BACKGROUND
The $108 million I-880 Southbound HOV Project will extend the southbound HOV lane from just south of Marina Boulevard to Hegenberger Road. The project will reconstruct both the Davis Street and Marina Boulevard overcrossings. The project will also construct improvements to accommodate additional traffic by providing signalized off-ramps at Marina Boulevard and an additional lane on Davis Street from the southbound off-ramp to Warden Avenue. The majority of the project is being constructed with funds from the 2006 Proposition 1B Bond, with additional funds provided by developer contributions for improvements at Marina Boulevard and Measure B and Federal Earmark funds for the new lane on Davis Street.
Recognizing the special circumstance of the project and the singular opportunity for implementing the General Plan's goal of providing a gateway at these major entrances into the city, Staff requested that aesthetic improvements be made to the interchanges. The Alameda CTC and its consultants, WMH Corporation and Haygood & Associates Landscape Architects, developed a basic design feature set. There were four aesthetic features identified in the preliminary design. The features included: 1) End Corbel; 2) Retaining Wall/Wingwall Design; 3) Fencing; and 4) Color. Three basic design concepts were initially developed for the interchanges.
The aesthetic improvements will be constructed using Federal Transportation Enhancement funds. The Alameda CTC is the lead agency on the design phase of project. The Alameda CTC will turn the project over to Caltrans for the construction phase. The Alameda CTC and Caltrans have requested that the City forward a resolution indicating the City's aesthetic preferences.
Analysis
City staff reviewed the initial aesthetic alternatives and displayed them at the September 13, 2011Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting to receive initial input. Using the Committee's input, the historical experience of the Public Works Services staff on maintenance risks for the various alternatives, and the Planning Department's architectural experience, a reduced set of design options was prepared. This review process eliminated the colored concrete and the cherry and butterfly figures on the bridge fencing. The colored concrete was eliminated because it would make the City responsible for graffiti removal for all of the bridge surfaces rather than just the surfaces above the roadway. The cherry and butterfly figures were eliminated from the fencing to reduce vandalism and to lower the cost and complexity of future fence repair. This reduced set of alternatives was used for the outreach efforts to seek public input. Attachments 1A and 1B show this set of aesthetic alternatives.
In-lieu of holding a traditional meeting for community feedback, staff displayed the proposed aesthetic design alternatives at the San Leandro Farmers' Market on September 28, 2011 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the City Information Booth. The informal setting of the Farmers' Market was selected to encourage residents to provide feedback on the features and to allow staff the opportunity to engage the public and receive broader input. The alternatives were also displayed at the District 5 and 6 Town Hall meeting held on October 6, 2011 at the Main Library. A comment form was made available to provide written input and allow for the tabulating of comments. Approximately 70 comment forms were received during the two events. Results favored the green fencing alternative and provided positive feedback on the corbel and slope paving designs.
Based upon input from the public and staff, the preferred aesthetic features include the following:
· End Corbel: Hill design with City Logo
· Slope Paving: Butterfly pattern at Marina; Cherry pattern at Davis Street - concrete finish
· Fencing: Hills pattern
· Fencing & Lighting Color: Green
· Wall Finish: Fractured Rib
These proposed aesthetic features were then brought before the Facilities and Transportation Committee for review. The Committee concurred with the features and directed staff to bring them before the full City Council for review and approval. Attachments 2A and 2B show the proposed aesthetic features to be forwarded to City Council for its endorsement and approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to forward the City's choice for the aesthetic features at the Marina Boulevard and Davis Street (SR112)/I-880 Interchanges to the Alameda CTC and Caltrans.
Previous Actions
· On May 19, 2008, by Resolution No. 2008-054, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Leandro and the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency relating to the Interstate 880/Marina Boulevard Interchange Project
· On May 16, 2011, by Resolution No. 2011-097, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Leandro and the Alameda CTC relating to the I-880/Davis Street-Westgate Parkway Interchange Project
Committee Review and Actions
· On January 10, 2012, the Facilities and Transportation Committee reviewed this item and recommended presenting the aesthetic design of the project to the full City Council
· On September 13, 2011, the Facilities and Transportation Committee was presented information on all of the alternatives for public input
Applicable General Plan Policies
· 20.01 Coordination with Regional Agencies
· 20.07 Coordination of Public Works Projects
· 42.01 Gateways
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
· On October 6, 2011, at the District 5 and 6 Town Hall Meeting, input was received on the proposed alternatives
· On September 28, 2011, at the Farmer's Market City Booth, staff solicited and received comments from the public on the proposed alternatives
ATTACHMENTS
· Attachment 1A and 1B - Outreach Aesthetic Features Exhibits
· Attachment 2A and 2B - Recommended Aesthetic Features Exhibits
PREPARED BY: Keith R. Cooke, Principal Engineer, Engineering and Transportation Department