RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY San Fran c isco Bay July 2002 -----=~Jro:;~~~~ ~ ______Crossings Study
After more than a year of careful study, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is preparing final recommendations for a strategy to not only ease the congestion plaguing various routes across San Froncisco Bay but to help deal with a projected 40 percent increase in transbay travel by 2025. Responding to a request by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein that a 1991 study be updated, MTC launched the San Francisco Bay Crossings Study in late 2000 and began analyzing the costs, travel impacts and environmental issues associated with a long list of options for three primary trans bay corridors: San Francisco-Oakland, San Mateo-Hayward and the Dumbarton Bridge corridors.
Study Team Tackles Tough Questions The Bay Crossings Study team, which includes staff from MTC While the policy committee's draft recommendations focus on and other agencies, is led by a 13-member policy committee lower-cost improvements that could start going into place with (see box on page 6). The team's mission was to balance limit in months - and could be paid for with existing funds or a pos ed funds with the growing need for congestion relief on the sible $1 increase in tolls on state-owned toll bridges - it also three existing bridges and in BART's transbay tube. This raised recommends further investigation of a new mid-Bay bridge and a series of critical questions: Should we build a new crossing other big-ticket projects that could take many years to complete or try to move more people through existing corridors? Should and for which no funding sources have yet been identified. we concentrate on bridges or tunnels? What combination of enhancements for auto travel and transit is needed? How More Transit Options, Carpool Co nnectivity much should we pay? What will we get for our money? And The policy committee recommends moving ahead quickly on a what's the cost of doing nothing? wide range of low-cost improvements that will make carpool- (continued on next page) e Metropolitan Transportation Commission • Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter • 101 Eighth Street • Oakland, CA 94607-4700 Te~ 510.464.7700 • TDD/TlY: 510.464.7769 • Fax: 510.464.7848 • E-mai~ [email protected] • www.mtc.ca.gov (<»ntJnued from front page) Daily Person Trips by Corridor - 2025 Baseline • rehabilitate the Dumbarton rail bridge and begin
900.000 _ Tn. sit commuter rail service (6 cents for basic service); 800.000 I--- c L-~ L __ ~ 500.000 service on transbay routes (15 cents). :. 400,000 ? ; 300.000 Longer-Range Options o 1"4 Transit 200.000 The short-term improvements recommended by the policy 100.000 committee will ease many of the existing transbay congestion o COrridor SF·Oakland Sa n Mateo- Hayward Dumba rton Bay Bridge Bndge Bndge Support for Increased Tolls to Pay for New Bay Crossings ''''' ing and transit more attractive in all three corridors. These ..... improvements - which would have the lowest environmental impact of all the alternatives considered - include: • re-establishing express bus service on the San - Mateo-Hayward Bridge; • extending the carpool lane on the northbound ,.. Interstate 880 approach to the Bay Bridge; • speeding carpool traffic through the Bay Bridge toll .. Total Toll SHoll $4 Toll S5 Toll plaza and metering lights by using pop-up cones to isolate the carpool lanes on the left and right sides; • creating more loading and unloading zones for casual problems. But they certainly won't solve them all, much less carpools in San Francisco's South of Market district; accommodate the expected increase in transbay travel during • extending the carpool lane on San Francisco's the years ahead. So the Bay Crossings Study recommends Second Street approach to the Bay Bridge; and keeping the door open for some longer-term projects that • extending the FasTrak'" electronic toll collection could go forward if additional funds become available and lanes on approaches to the San Mateo-Hayward and consensus can be developed. Durnbarton bridges. The policy committee's recommendations for further study Higher Tolls Could Win Voter Support include various improvements to the western approaches to More ambitious improvements will require additional funds. and from the Dumbarton Bridge, the addition of new carpool With legislation to authorize a vote on raising bridge tolls lanes along key bridge and freeway segments, construction of likely to be introduced next year. Bay Area voters could hold flyover connections to link existing carpool lanes. and boost the key to other near-term improvements recommended by ing the capacity of existing BART stations. the policy committee. Interestingly. the opinion polling con The Bay Crossings Study also urges continued coordination ducted by MTC as part of its public outreach efforts for the with the California High-Speed Rail Authority - which is Bay Crossings Study shows strong support for raising bridge moving ahead with plans for a statewide network of 200-mile tolls from S2 to S3. with a majority of respondents even per-hour trains - regarding its interests in future rail cross expressing support for a S4 toll (see chart at right). With ings over or under the Bay as part of a link between the Bay money from a S3 bridge toll, the Bay Area could afford to: Area and Sacramento. • create reversible lanes on the San Mateo-Hayward Other possible long-term projects include construction of a Bridge, providing an extra lane in the peak direc new mid-Bay bridge and widening of the San MateO-Hayward tion (3 cents of additional $1 toll); Bridge to a total of eight lanes. While the public has expressed • expand express bus service across all three bridges strong sentiments. both pro and con, for a new bridge, the (27 cents); (rontinued on page 5) 2 ______San Francisco Bay Crossings Study • ------..... - ,,' • • J , / f - , • I 'r .. \, ED .... - .,.-- .- -:;.. --... - - ssion I San Frandsco Say Crossings Study ______4 (continued from page 2) draft recommendations include adding these multibillion Can the Recommendations Really Help? dollar projects to the "Blueprint" section of MTC's next Without question. The Bay Crossings Study team expects that Regional Transportation Plan. The Blueprint is a list of projects if all of the policy committee's recommendations were imple that typically have been subjected to some planning analysis, mented, they would result in a roughly 70 percent increase in but which may not have consensus or funding. express bus ridership (to 36,000 daily riders from 21,000 under the Baseline 2025 scenario), a roughly 8,000 daily person-trip Daily Transbay Vehicular Traffic Growth - Existing to 2025 increase in carpool activity, and a five- to 10-minute average 450,000 time savings for carpoolers at Bay Bridge approaches in San 400,000 Francisco and the East Bay. Basic commuter service over the 350,000 renovated Dumbarton rail bridge is expected to attract 3,000 to 300,000 4,000 riders each day and to reduce auto traffic on the 250,000 Dumbarton highway bridge by about 1,000 cars a day. 200.000 The long-term options recommended for further study would 150,000 have a major impact on Bay Area transportation as well. 100.000 .!. Construction of a new mid-Bay bridge would attract some o 50.000 ·c'0 86,000 daily vehicle trips and would reduce daily traffic on (; o u SF· Oakland San Mateo·Hayward Dumbarton the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge by about 40,000 vehicles and Bay Bndge Bndge Bndge ~ on the Bay Bridge by 23,000 vehicles. Improvements to the ~ o western approaches to the Dumbarton Bridge would allow ',p'" more efficient use of existing bridge capacity and reduce traf '0'" What Options Were Considered? '" fic on local arterials such as University Avenue, Willow Road '"E The first phase of the Bay Crossings Study sought to identify E and the Bayfront Expressway by more than 50 percent. e the widest possible range of improvements in the three main ~ ~o transbay corridors. After reviewing dozens of proposals - What About Ferries? ~ including various suggestions for airport-to-airport connec .c While new ferry services are not part of the Policy Committee's !l tions, bridge alignments and freight ferry proposals - the '0 draft recommendations, the conceptual alternatives consid policy committee by late 2001 narrowed to six the list of pos '" ered in the study's initial phase included both passenger and '"0. sible transbay travel improvements, and directed the study E'" freight ferries. Now MTC is working cooperatively with the San team to begin a more thorough analysis of the costs, travel Francisco Bay Area Water Transit AuthOrity (WTA), which is impacts and environmental issues associated with each (see looking at several options that could expand ferry service in "Key Findings" on page 6). These alternatives included: the region. The WTA is scheduled to release a draft 1. express bus/carpool lane/operational improvements Environmental Impact Report and a draft Implementation and (all corridors) Operations Plan in late August, and will hold a series of pub 2. Bay Bridge corridor rail: a new heavy-rail tunnel from lic meetings this fall to solicit input on various alternatives. San Francisco to Oakland and/or a new BART crossing The WTA is expected to submit a plan to the state Legislature with new San Francisco stations by the end of December 2002. 3. expansion of San Mateo-Hayward Bridge capacity with Can "Smart Growth" Make a Difference? reversible lanes and eventual widening of the bridge to Absolutely. MTC is playing a lead role in the Regional Smart eight lanes Growth effort, which has developed a vision to guide land-use 4. new mid-Bay bridge linking Interstate 238 in the East decisions in the years ahead. The Smart Growth scenario is Bay with Interstate 380 north of San Francisco designed to bring jobs and housing closer together, and would International Airport focus development largely around transit routes. By 2025, 5. commuter rail service on a rehabilitated Dumbarton these large-scale changes in land use could cut the number of rail bridge transbay vehicle trips by as many as 50,000 a day and boost daily transit ridership by 17,000. The Bay Crossings Study 6. improvements to approach roadways linking the Policy Committee supports continued work to develop region- Dumbarton Bridge with U.S. 101. al consensus on smart growth. (continued on page 6) 5 ______San Francisco Bay Crossings Study Carpool lane extensions/improvements fJ Additional carpool-lane extensions/ on Bay Bridge approaches in Oakland improvements on Bay Bridge approach • Coordinate with High-Speed Rail Authority 11 -880 northbound, isolate left-side and es in Oakland (Grand Avenue on-ramp; to serve Bay Area-Sacramento market right-side carpool lanes at toll plaza) westbound 1-580 left and right sides; 1-880 northbound to MarkeVAdeline) • Additional analysis of BART core-capacity Carpool improvements/signage on improvements San Francisco city streets Ii) Additional carpool improvements on (2nd Street, FremonVHoward streets, San Francisco City streets (Bryant and • Coordinate with Water Transit Authority Sterling on -ramp) Beale streets, Essex Street on-ramp, on possible new ferry service 1-80 westbound approach to Maritime Sterling on-ramp) off-ramp - truck deceleration lane I1l Expanded express bus service !increase to 158 peak-hour trips) !Ill BART core capacity enhancements (purchase and operation of 47 new cars) Capital Cost: $4.2 million Capital Cost: $416.4 million 20-Year Net Operating Cost: $4.5 million 20-Year Net Operating Cost: $357.4 million Not applicable IE Add new mid-Bay Bridge (with express bus service) to Blueprint in the next Regional Transportation Plan update - Potential capital cost: $6.7 billion to SS.2 billion - Potential 20-year operating cost: $700.6 million • Coordinate with Water Transit Authority on possible new ferry service Re -establish express bus service mCarpool-lane Improvements Not mapped: (2 peak-hour trips in each direction) (Route 92 gap closure between • Add San Mateo-Hayward Bridge widening Extend FasTrak™ approach lane at Hespenan and 1-880 in Hayward) (to 8 lanes) to the Blueprint in the next toll plaza IE Expanded express bus service Regional Transportation Plan update. (increase to 10 peak-hour trips, new - Potential capital park-and-ride lot, and Route 92 carpool cost: $2.1 billion to $2.4 billion on-ramp at Hesperian) - Potential 20-year operating III Reversible lanes on high-rise portion of cost: $38.5 million San Mateo Bridge (potentially designate reversible lane for carpools and buses) • Coordinate with Water Transit Authority on possible new ferry service Capital Cost: S4.3 million Capital Cost: S134.5 million 20-Year Net 20-Year Net Operating Cost: S2.0 million· Operating Cost: $97.6 million Extend FasTrak™ approach lane at ml Carpool·lane improvements Not mapped: toll plaza (Route 84/1-880 direct carpool flyover • Cooperative study of western approach ramps in Fremont) and US 101 corridor by Santa Clara Valley IllI Expanded express bus service !increase Transportation Authority, San Mateo to 10 peak-hour trips, new park-and-ride City/County Association of Governments, lot, and Route 84 carpool on-ramp) and San Mateo Transportation Authority mRail service on the Dumbarton rail bridge (underway) (seismic upgrade of existing rail bridge and operation of 6 peak-period trains between Union City and the Peninsula) Capital Cost: S186.6 million Capital Cost: $37,000 20-Year Net 20-Year Net Operating Cost: S151 .9 million Operating Cost: SO .. Includes 3 yea rs of express bus; remamder to be funded with potential toll mcrease. 3 ______Metropolitan Transportation (rontmued from page 5) Key Findings Alternative!lmp rovement All Bridges • Operational strategies like expanded express bus service New BART tunnel & stations S4.71 S662 and an improved carpool lane network feeding the bridges New rail tunnel12leRS) S 4.61 S 7 21 will work, and are relatively inexpensive. New rail tunnellnorth l e~ only) S 2.75 $ 485 • The BART system will be able to handle demand between San Mateo Bridge widening S1.32 $1.50 now and 2025, but capacity of transbay trains and San I New mid -Bay bridge S 382 S 4 82 Francisco stations will be a concern in the future. Route 84/U.S. 101 connector S041 $114 • A new six-lane mid-Bay bridge would reduce congestion for transbay vehicles by the largest amount of any alternative, but public support for added vehicle capacity is weak. Did MTC listen to the Public? • New rail crossings are expensive, and do not appear to " (V Because the outcome of the Bay Crossings Study will affect generate the large number of riders that would justify the ~ the lives of millions of area residents, the study team con S6 billion to S11 billion investment necessary to build a ( ducted an extensive outreach effort designed not only to new rail bridge or tunnel. ..) infonn the public about the study but to involve people in • Dumbarton rail service is widely supported, but is not seen developing and evaluating the alternatives. To accomplish as a major factor in reducing congestion on the Dumbarton these goals, the Bay Crossings Study team held seven public auto bridge. meetings during 2001 and 2002, and conducted telephone • A new Dumbarton approach road providing a more direct opinion polls in May 2001 and May 2002 to gather informa connection between the bridge and U.S. 101 to the south tion from a total of 1,850 Bay Area residents. would have beneficial effects on local and regional traffic, but raises other community and environmental concerns. In terms of overall support, more than 60 percent of poll respondents favored expanding BART and commuter rail serv ice, followed by expanding express bus service. But only 25 to 30 percent were in favor of widening existing bridges or building a new bridge (environmental concerns appear to Bay Crossings Policy Committee weigh prominently in people's minds when responding to pro posals for new Bay crossings). These poll results concerning These are the public officials who directed the priorities for new bridges are not all that surprising when you Bay Crossings Study: consider the fact that only 7 to 8 percent of Bay Area resi Ralph Appeuato, Co-Chall John ~cLemore dents are regular users of one of the three bridges. A further MTC Comml$$JOner and Mayor }fTC CommlsSloner an'.1 Santa finding, which may also relate to the bridge usage figure, is 1 Alameda 'lara t:ity CounCllmember general support for higher tolls (in the S3 to S4 range) to pay Sue Lempelt. (o·(ha" Dena Massar MTC CommIssIoner and Mayor Santa Qara Valley for some of the improvements. oiSan Mateo Transportanon AuthOrity Thomas Blalock Board Member, Vice-Mayor In addition to the public meetings and the opinion polling, the BART Board Member oj Palo A to Bay Crossings Study convened four focus groups to get in Michael ~evin ~rk DeSaulmef depth comment from members of over 70 invited groups, and MTC CcmmlSSlonel and Contra MTC CommlsstOner llnd Casta County Supe""."r San Mateo County Supemsor conducted individual interviews with a diverse cross-section of Joseph Freltas Jr. John Rubin stakeholders, including business, labor, environmental groups MTC CommiSSIoner representing San Frant:lJco Bay Area Water and elected officials throughout the region. Public meetings in Transit Authonty Board Member San FranClSCl} I!andeU Iwasaki Aaron Peskin July 2002 will provide the public another chance to weigh in. HTC Commwloner repTtltnung San f'rnncisco r.ounty Members of the public can also comment online by visiting the CoUrans Transportation Authonty: MTC Web site at Box 5, Folder 2 Item 16 ACCNO_000347