Santa Rosa Valley Trail Master Plan
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Ventura County Resource Management Agency Santa Rosa Valley Trail Master Plan A 2014 Santa Rosa Valley Trail Master Plan August 2014 Prepared For The County of Ventura Prepared By Rincon Consultants Alta Planning + Design Draft Santa Rosa Valley Trail Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................................................ 2 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................... 3 Assessment Report .................................................................................................................. 4 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................... 4 Challenges ................................................................................................................................. 23 Design Standards and Guidelines ............................................................................................ 27 Trail Development Plan ............................................................................................................ 53 Trail Operation and Maintenance Guidelines ....................................................................... 69 List of Figures Figure 1: Easements Only ........................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2: Informally Used Trails ................................................................................................ 11 Figure 3: On-Road Facilities ...................................................................................................... 13 Figure 4: Existing Trail Facilities ............................................................................................... 17 Figure 5: Existing Bike Facilities ................................................................................................ 19 Figure 6: Trail Gaps.................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 7: Trail Corridor Terms ................................................................................................... 32 Figure 8: Width and Clearance Guidelines ............................................................................... 34 Figure 9: Trail Tread .................................................................................................................. 36 Figure 10: Trail Bed Cross Sections ........................................................................................... 37 Figure 11: Trail Switchbacks ......................................................................................................40 Figure 12: Bollard Stripping .......................................................................................................48 Figure 13: Overlook Staging Area at Barranca Road ............................................................... 50 Figure 14: Existing and Potential Trail Concepts ..................................................................... 55 Figure 15: Natural Surface Trail at Property Line ..................................................................... 57 Figure 16: Natural Surface Trail Adjacent to Drainage ............................................................ 57 TOC-1 Figure 17: Existing Roads with Equestrian Use ........................................................................ 58 Figure 18: Residential Roads in New Developments (Proposed) ........................................... 59 Figure 19: Las Posas Road from Santa Rosa Road to Escollera Avenue (Existing) .............. 60 Figure 20: Narrow Shoulder at Santa Rosa Elementary (Existing & Proposed) ................... 60 Figure 21: Expansive ROW: Santa Rosa Road (Existing & Proposed) ..................................... 61 Figure 22: Narrow ROW East of Santa Rosa Elementary (Existing & Proposed) ................... 62 List of Tables Table 1: Age Distribution in Santa Rosa Valley .......................................................................... 4 Table 2: Commuting to Work: Santa Rosa Valley and Countywide ......................................... 5 Table 3: Summary of Design Guidelines and Regulations ....................................................... 28 Table 4: Suggested Widths and Clearance for a Standard, Single-track Horse Trail ............. 34 Table 5: Suggested Widths and Clearance for a Standard, Double-track Horse Trail ........... 35 Table 6: Suggested Design Grades for Horse Trails ................................................................ 38 Table 7: Suggested Slope Range for Outslopes on Horse Trails ............................................ 39 Table 8: Minimum Suggested Turning Radius for Horse Trails, Depending on Site Conditions ............................................................................................................ 39 Table 9: Surface Materials ........................................................................................................46 Table 10: Natural Surface Classifications Summary ................................................................. 47 Table 11: Surface Materials ....................................................................................................... 52 Table 12: On-Street Equestrian Trail Improvements ............................................................... 58 Table 13: Priority and Estimated Cost of Trail Improvements ................................................ 63 Table 14: Methodology for Cost Estimates .............................................................................. 65 Table 15: Maintenance Recommendations for the Santa Rosa Valley Trail Network ........... 72 Appendices Appendix A Data Review Appendix B Reference Information for Trail Design Appendix C Liability TOC-2 This Trail Master Plan includes an assessment of Executive Summary existing conditions in the Santa Rosa Valley’s trail system, guidelines for the design of trail improvements, a preliminary/conceptual development plan and cost estimates for trail Over the last several decades, the Santa Rosa improvements, and operation and maintenance Valley has developed into a rural residential guidelines. This trail system is herein defined as community with a significant equestrian inclusive of both equestrian routes and component. During this time, a network of bikeways, and both off-street and on-street informal and formal equestrian trails has been facilities. The Trail Master Plan, as shown in established and developed. In addition, many Figure 1, has been designed for consistency with of the residential properties in the valley include the Ventura County General Plan and the facilities such as barns and arenas to support Ventura Countywide Bicycle Master Plan. horse ownership. And in 2012 the County opened the long-planned Santa Rosa Valley Park, which features equestrian riding facilities, including a training area. This Trail Master Plan incorporates the County’s long-standing policy that new trails and facilities will not be developed unless funding for their proper construction and long-term Many of the early residential subdivisions maintenance has been identified. The trail included dedicated trails easements that have system within the Santa Rosa Valley is unique in created a large portion of the current trail that a non-governmental entity, SRVTI, exists system in the Santa Rosa Valley. In addition, for the sole purpose of supporting, developing there are a number of informal equestrian trails and maintaining trail facilities. Thus, while the that are used by riders, who also utilize public County does not currently have the funding set- and private street surfaces and shoulders to aside for the development and maintenance of travel throughout the valley. While this system new trail facilities, the facilities outlined in this of trails currently serves the residents and Trail Master Plan may potentially be realized visitors well, the system is somewhat under the auspices of SRVTI. Regardless of the disconnected and inconsistent, and there is no entity that may be responsible for the long-range plan for its future development, development and maintenance of trail segments, operation and maintenance. To preserve the Trail Master Plan is intended to ensure that existing multi-use trails in the face of new future trails are developed and managed in a development and to establish new trail consistent manner and in keeping with connections in the Santa Rosa Valley, local established County design guidelines. residents collaborated in 2004 to form a nonprofit organization, Santa Rosa Valley Trails, Inc. (SRVTI). In 2013, the SRVTI began working in cooperation with the County of Ventura to prepare this Trail Master Plan to establish a valley-wide trail system, adopt design and operating guidelines, and establish maintenance and funding policies. Santa Rosa Valley Trail Master Plan 1 Introduction Background