COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

 

DATE:

May 27, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 10, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Alameda de las Pulgas Streetscape Project from Ashton Avenue to near Harkins Avenue - West Menlo Park Area
(Project No. R7D01, F-36[348])

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution adopting plans and specifications, determining prevailing wage scales, and calling for sealed proposals for the Alameda de las Pulgas Streetscape Project.

 

Previous Board Action

Adopted a resolution which provided design guidelines to be followed by staff in developing the construction plans for the Streetscape Project.

 

Key Facts

The proposed project has been designed in accordance with the guidelines approved by your Board after consulting with the property owners, representatives of the Alameda Streetscape Task Force (Task Force), residents, and the Commission on Disabilities' ADA Subcommittee.

 

We have reevaluated, but are not recommending that the curb radius at the southwest corner of Avy and the Alameda be revised as requested by the City Council of the City of Menlo Park.

 

Discussion

Project Plans

The proposed project, totaling approximately 0.2 miles in length, consists of the installation of 7-foot sidewalks with curbs and gutters, ADA access ramps and bulbouts at selected intersections and bicycle lanes. The road surface will also be slurry sealed (a layer of oil emulsion mixed with fine aggregate) within the project limits after the other improvements are installed to provide a "finished" appearance to the overall cross section of the road.

 

We have requested, and the Real Property Division is contacting the property owners to obtain rights-of-entry to allow us to construct smooth transitions from the back of sidewalk to the property owners' parking areas that will be adjacent to the sidewalk area. We will have to and can revise our plans by contract change order to provide for additional under sidewalk drains and depress the driveways where the owners do not want work done on their properties.

 

Tree Planting

The planting of trees within the project area is proposed to be financed through an assessment district process that has not yet been initiated by the Task Force. However, we are proposing to install forty-three (43) tree grates in the sidewalk area in accordance with your Board's direction to maximize the number of trees that can be installed. This will allow us to move forward with the project at this time and preclude our having to remove concrete sidewalk when the assessment district or other financial mechanism is established to finance the planting and maintenance of the trees. The tree grate openings will be filled with asphalt concrete to eliminate tripping hazards in the sidewalk area until trees are actually planted. We will report to your Board when we have more information on the formation of the assessment/maintenance district.

 

Construction Impacts

Driveway access to the adjacent properties and businesses will be limited during construction. We have contacted the property owners concerning access to their respective properties, and have incorporated requirements in the plans and specifications in order to reduce the impact on the adjacent businesses.

 

Request of the City of Menlo Park

The Menlo Park City Council has requested that your Board consider increasing the radius of the curb return bulb out at the southwest corner of Avy and the Alameda in order to accommodate larger vehicles making right turns from east bound Avy to south bound Alameda. The Council's concerns are that large vehicles, coming from the west on Avy Avenue, will cause traffic congestion while attempting to make the right turn since they will either be forced to pull out into the left turn lane on the Alameda, start the turn from the through/left lane on Avy Avenue or take another route through residential neighborhoods to access south bound Alameda.

 

Staff re-evaluated the curb radius and concluded that increasing the radius from 10 feet to
15 feet as suggested does not appreciably increase the ability for a large vehicle to make this turn. The problems associated with large vehicles making the turns at this intersection were also discussed when your Board was considering the design guidelines to be followed in developing the construction plans for the Project. The bulbout was approved as it provides for a symmetrical configuration (curbs line up) as viewed by motorists traveling south on the Alameda, and shortens the distance and therefore the time that pedestrians need to cross the Alameda at this intersection. We also confirmed with SamTrans that they do not have a bus route that requires the right turn off of Avy onto the Alameda; and do not believe that there would be a great number of large vehicles making this turn, since the area above the Alameda is primarily a residential district which historically does not generate the need for large vehicles.

 

We appreciate the City Council's concerns but believe that we should go forward with the design as proposed since it conforms to the design parameters that were approved after the public discussion of these parameters at a regularly scheduled Board meeting. However, we can evaluate the intersection after construction is completed to determine if there are operational issues, and recommend adjustments in the intersection configuration or other solutions as may be appropriate if there are operational issues.

 

Environmental Compliance

The San Mateo County Planning Department has determined that this project is exempt from the requirements for preparation of an EIR under Section 15301, Class 1, of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and we have filed a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.

 

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to be a "responsive, effective and collaborative government" and Goal Number 20 "government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain," as the project as proposed complies with the direction given by your Board which provides for the current needs of the community as well as providing improvements that can be integrated into the redevelopment of the adjacent properties.

 

Fiscal Impact

The total estimated cost for this work is $434,000. Road fund costs, which will be used to finance road paving and striping work, are estimated to be $70,000. Half Cent Transportation funds will be used to finance the remainder of the project (estimated to be $364,000).

 

There is no impact to the General Fund.

 

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel.

 

A copy of this report has been sent to the adjacent property and business owners, the Task Force and the City of Menlo Park City Council and City staff and we will report any comments that we receive.