The San Francisco Bay Trail Gap Analysis Study
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The San Francisco Bay Trail Project Gap Analysis Study A Report on Closing the Gaps in the 500-mile Regional Trail System Encircling San Francisco Bay September 2005 ABAG Supporting agencies The Bay Trail Project plans, promotes and advocates for implementation of the Bay Trail network. To carry out this mission, staff coordinates with public and private partners, disseminates information about the Bay Trail, seeks funding and administers planning and construction grants. Construction and maintenance of the Bay Trail is the responsibility of cities, counties, park districts or other property owners. The Bay Trail Project is a nonprofit organization administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments. www.baytrail.org The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is the comprehensive regional planning agency for the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG’s mission is to strengthen cooperation and coordination among local governments. ABAG administers the Bay Trail Project. www.abag.ca.gov The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency guided by the vision of a beautiful, restored and accessible coastline. It acts with others to preserve, protect and restore the resources of the California coast and the San Francisco Bay. www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL PROJECT GAP ANALYSIS STUDY A REPORT ON CLOSING THE GAPS IN THE 500-MILE REGIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM ENCIRCLING SAN FRANCISCO BAY Association of Bay Area Governments Bay Trail Project Prepared by: Alta Planning + Design, Inc. Questa Engineering, Inc. GreenInfo Network AUGUST 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Bay Trail Steering Committee Members Bay Trail Board Members Rick Parmer Susan Barnes Tom Huening Bruce Beyaert Julie Bondurant Bill Bliss Joan Cardellino Mary Burns Leo Dubose Rosemary Corbin Stana Hearne Dana Cowell Joseph La Clair Bob Douglass Brian Wiese Lynn Favaro Cathy Woodbury, Alternate Jean Finney, Alternate Jim Foran Bay Trail Advisory Council Mark Frederick Steve Heminger Kelly Gibson, Alternate Liz Figueroa Dan Hodapp Kathleen Foote Minane Jameson David Hansen Ellen Johnck Bill Lockyer Doug Johnson Ken McKowen Dough Kimsey Linda Stonier David Lewis Gayle Likens Bay Trail Staff Members Bill Long John Malamut, Alternate Laura Thompson, Project Manager Steven McAdam, Alternate Maureen Gaffney, Bay Trail Planner Jim McGrath Lee Huo, Bay Trail Planner Julia Miller Patrycja Bossak, Bay Trail Planner David Mitchell Betty Moose, Alternate Consultant Team Rob Powell Michael Jones, Principal in Charge, Alta Kerry Jo Ricketts-Ferris Ian Moore, Project Manager, Alta Diane Ross-Leech Nora De Cuir, Project Planner, Alta Philip Sales Jeff Peters, Project Engineer, Questa Don Weden Margaret Henderson, Project Designer, Questa John Woodbury Lynn Federico, GreenInfo Network Del Woods Amanda Kochanek, GreenInfo Network Larry Orman, GreenInfo Network III This page intentionally left blank. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... - 1 - 2. Why Complete the San Francisco Bay Trail?.............................................................................................. - 2 - 2.1. Recreation and Shoreline Access .......................................................................................................... - 2 - 2.2. Transportation ......................................................................................................................................... - 2 - 2.3. Environmental Restoration and Education ........................................................................................ - 3 - 2.4. Community Health.................................................................................................................................. - 4 - 2.5. Equal Access to Open Space................................................................................................................. - 4 - 2.6. Economic Vitality.................................................................................................................................... - 4 - 3. The First 15 Years........................................................................................................................................... - 6 - 3.1. Establishment of the Bay Trail Plan and Project ............................................................................... - 6 - The Bay Trail Project.................................................................................................................................. - 6 - 3.2. Completing the Remaining Bay Trail Gaps......................................................................................... - 7 - Local Adoption............................................................................................................................................ - 7 - State Funding and Support ........................................................................................................................ - 7 - Partnership Building ................................................................................................................................... - 8 - Increased Public Awareness ...................................................................................................................... - 9 - Recent Project Successes.......................................................................................................................... - 10 - Land Ownership Challenges.................................................................................................................... - 10 - Engineering Challenges ............................................................................................................................ - 10 - 4. The Next 15 Years........................................................................................................................................ - 12 - 4.1. Classification and Evaluation Process................................................................................................ - 12 - 4.2. Cost Estimate Methodology............................................................................................................... - 15 - Trail Construction Unit Costs................................................................................................................. - 15 - Trail Classification in the Cost Estimates.............................................................................................. - 15 - Project Categories...................................................................................................................................... - 16 - 4.3. Project Phasing ...................................................................................................................................... - 17 - Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. - 17 - Benefit Factors........................................................................................................................................... - 18 - 5. Bay Trail Projects by Phase ......................................................................................................................... - 19 - 5.1. Short-Term Projects (Years 1-5).......................................................................................................... - 29 - Summary of Short-Term Projects........................................................................................................... - 29 - Project Example: Short -Term ................................................................................................................ - 36 - 5.2. Mid-Term Projects (Years 6-10)........................................................................................................... - 38 - Summary of Mid-Term Projects ............................................................................................................. - 38 - Project Example: Mid-Term.................................................................................................................... - 45 - 5.3. Long-Term Projects (Years 11-15) ...................................................................................................... - 47 - Summary of Long-Term Projects ........................................................................................................... - 47 - Project Example: Long-Term.................................................................................................................. - 51 - 6. Closing the Gaps........................................................................................................................................... - 52 - Environmental Issues ............................................................................................................................... - 54 - Planning, Environmental Review and Permitting................................................................................ - 55 - Roads........................................................................................................................................................... - 56 - Best Practices for Feasibility Studies ...................................................................................................... - 57 - Institutional Challenges ...........................................................................................................................