Railyard Alternatives & I-280Railyard AlternativesBoulevard & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 1 (RAB) Feasibility Study SPRING 2017 Led by the San Francisco Planning Department, the RAB Study is a multi-agency analysis of transportation and land use alternatives in the most rapidly growing areas of the City, including: South of Market, Mission Bay, and Showplace Square/Lower Photo: Manu Cornet Potrero Hill. Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 2 Why is this Study happening now? San Francisco has committed to significant transit Caltrain Electrification and infrastructure investments in the coming decades. The Downtown Rail Extension (DTX), the electrification of Caltrain, and High-Speed Rail (HSR) service are planned around existing infrastructure. Rather than simply considering how to build each project independently in the existing circumstances, the City would like to coordinate these projects into a unified vision for the area. With the intersection of these projects, San Francisco is at the crux of a 100-year decision that will impact our entire region. Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) High-Speed Rail (HSR) Transbay Transit Center (Slated to open levels 3-5 December 2017) Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 3 21st Century Solutions We have the unique opportunity to reshape the future of our region by investing in understanding all possible options for our rail alignment to improve access and quality of life for the entire east side of the City and beyond. Seeking Solutions The existing infrastructure was built in a time when the area was primarily industrial, and 20th century decisions divided these now densifying neighborhoods. As we move forward, we’re now seeking 21st century solutions that will increase connectivity and reduce congestion for public transit, cars, pedestrians and cyclists. Answering the Tough Questions Despite years of multiple studies, a number of unresolved issues remain. The RAB analysis seeks to address the following unanswered questions: ▪ Should we trench neighborhood streets? ▪ Can we avoid the most disruptive type of construction as we connect rail to the Transbay Transit Center (TTC)? ▪ Can Caltrain better align with BART, High Speed Rail, Muni and other modes of transit? ▪ Does the Caltrain railyard match modern land use demands? Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 4 Do we accommodate rail with trenched streets? The electrification of Caltrain and the Fillmore Street Prior delivery of High Speed Rail (HSR) will to Grade-Separation impact our existing at-grade railway crossings, most notably with longer wait times. One solution is trenching streets (grade-separation) to move existing intersections under railway crossings. Potential Grade-Separation Existing Grade-Separation of of 16th Street Geary at Fillmore Street Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 5 RAB Study Components The Planning Department is studying the five following 3: Railyard Reconfiguration/ components, which can stand independently or can potentially be combined into one design alternative for Relocation the area. Each component includes a thorough analysis Modifying or relocating some or all of the activities at of existing conditions and prepares conceptual design the 4th/King Railyard would allow Caltrain to operate on alternatives within three study areas: the 16th Street a smaller footprint, while potentially freeing up land for grade separation, the 4th and King Railyard, and I-280. open space and future development opportunities. 1: Rail Alignment to Transbay 4: Boulevard I-280 Transit Center (TTC) Replacing the end of I-280 north of Mariposa with an urban surface boulevard, similar to the Embarcadero This component explores how we get both Caltrain and or Octavia Blvd, could create new open space, improve High-Speed Rail from the county line into the Transbay circulation and allow connectivity throughout the area Transit Center. that is currently separated by 1.2 miles of I-280. 2: Transbay Transit Center (TTC) 5: Opportunities for the Public’s Loop Benefit The Transbay Transit Center Loop entails creating a Relocating the Caltrain Railyard and/or creating a loop track/extension to enhance operational capacity at surface-level boulevard instead of the elevated freeway the Transbay Transit Center and potentially adding a makes new land available for housing, commercial crossing to the East Bay. development, and open space. Component 1: Rail AlignmentRailyard Alternatives to& I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 6 Transbay Transit Center (TTC) The three options for connecting High Speed Rails (HSR) and Caltrain to the Transbay Transit Center (TTC) are outlined on this map. The RAB Study analysis will review construction methods and rail alignment configurations, as well as seek opportunities to fund and build a cost effective project. Component 2: Transbay Transit RailyardCenter Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard(TTC) Feasibility Study 7 Loop 3. Steuart Street Caltrain & HSR 4. In the Bay Caltrain & HSR Currently, the Transbay Transit Center (TTC) is a stub-end station, meaning trains use the same track to go in and out. A loop track or extension to the East Bay will increase the station’s overall capacity by up to 40 percent. The RAB analysis is looking at the financial and physical feasibility of a loop track to solve for future connectivity and capacity issues. Component 3: RailyardRailyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 8 Reconfiguration/Relocation If tracks are tunneled, can land at the 4th/King Railyard be repurposed? Component 3 provides some context to help answer this question. A Look Ahead Thinking Through Relocation Currently, the railyard is used only for the operations, In 2013, Caltrain and the City and County of San maintenance, and storage of Caltrain and includes 6 Francisco studied necessary land for each activity platforms and 12 tracks. Starting in 2025, the railyard (operations, maintenance, and storage) at the 4th/King will begin to serve as the interim station for High Speed Railyard. The study determined that Caltrain could Rail (HSR) until the DTX is built. HSR is anticipating the operate, maintain, and store the anticipated fleet on a use of two platforms and four tracks. HSR operations at smaller footprint and if maintenance and storage were 4th/King Railyard could modify Caltrain’s existing and provided elsewhere, an even smaller footprint for only anticipated use of the station to 2.5 platforms and 5 operations activities might be possible. tracks. Platform heights will also need to be adjusted to accommodate HSR operations. Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 9 Component 4: Boulevard I-280 Removing the surface tracks north of Potrero Hill opens up the possibility of replacing parts of I-280 with a surface boulevard in the long term. Originally planned to connect to other highways, I-80, I-280 currently serves as a large off-ramp serving 44,000 drivers daily. This component looks at replacing the end of I-280 north of Mariposa with an urban surface boulevard, similar to the Embarcadero or Octavia Boulevard. Those boulevards effectively handled similar loads following freeway demolitions. Such a boulevard could prioritize different modes on different streets, provide better connectivity for emergency vehicles, transit, pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars, and could help create a more attractive urban environment with more open space. Southbound requires 3 lanes and Northbound requires 3 to 5 lanes and could include High- Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for carpooling and public transit. Component 5: OpportunitiesRailyard Alternativesfor & I-the280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 10 Urban Environment The combined impacts of repurposing the railyard and turning I-280 Railyard (20+ Acres) into a surface boulevard could open new parcels of land. This land could be available for new housing, employment, and open space. Land Use Options In total, approximately 24 acres of land could become available for Activate Adjacent Parcels development and open space. This ranges from between 1.05 and 2.43 million sq. ft. of commercial and 1.46 million sq. ft. of additional residential space. The study is asking the following questions: What’s possible? What’s desirable? What does it look like to add 1.05 to 2.43 million square feet of commercial and office space? Where could we add open space? Pushing the Envelope New Funding Opportunities The development of land use scenarios for the space made available can push the envelope of what’s possible for the area and has the potential to pave the way for future projects. Decisions regarding the balance of development types, building heights and public amenities will be made through an extensive community planning process. This Study is looking at what could be possible but I-280 Corridor (4+ Acres) does not determine how the land should be developed. Railyard Alternatives & I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study 11 PHASE I – PHASE II – Preliminary Options Analysis Alternatives Development Feb 2016 – March 2017 June 2014 – Feb 2016 Ongoing Community Engagement JULY 2017 JULY JUNE 2014 JUNE Community Working Group Participation Public Meeting Preliminary Options Analysis SF Board of Public Input Supervisors Make February 2016 Public Meeting Draft Alternatives Recommendations Public Input on Alignment March 2017 Options RAB June/July 2017 SF Board of SF Board of Supervisors Update Supervisors Update STUDY Draft Alternatives Revised Alternatives March 2017 April/May 2017 TIMELINE Note: Dates and timeframes indicated are subject to change.