Salinas River Trail Northern San Luis Obispo County Salinas River Corridor Anza Trail Conceptual Master Plan - February 2014 Prepared by: In association with: Prepared for: Table of Contents 1. Introduction and Summary 3. Design Standards and Guidelines 1.1 Master Plan Purpose ....................................1-1 3.1 Design Guidelines and Regulations ..........3-1 1.2 Salinas River Trail Background....................1-3 3.2 Transportation Facilities vs Recreational 1.3 Vision, Goals and Objectives .......................1-3 Trails .................................................................3-1 1.4 Public Input ...................................................1-8 3.2.1 Transportation Facilities .................................3-1 1.4.1 Public Workshop #1 .........................................1-8 3.2.2 Recreational Trails and Paths ........................3-3 1.4.2 Public Workshop #2 .........................................1-8 3.2.3 Facility Type Selection .....................................3-3 1.4.3 Public Workshop #3 .........................................1-8 3.3 Federal Standards and Guidelines ............3-3 1.4.4 Public Review Document ..............................1-8 3.3.1 American Association of State Highway and 1.4.5 Stakeholder Interviews ...................................1-8 Transportation Ocials (AASHTO) .............3-3 1.4.6 Online Survey .....................................................1-9 3.3.2 Architectural and Transportation Barrier Com- pliance Board (Access Board) .......................3-5 1.5 Study Area .....................................................1-9 3.3.3 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 3-6 1.6 Master Plan Organization ..........................1-18 3.4 State Standards and Guidelines ................3-7 1.7 Recommendations Summary ...................1-18 3.4.1 California Department of Transportation 1.7.1 Recommended Improvements Summary 1-18 (Caltrans) ..............................................................3-7 1.7.2 Estimated Costs ..............................................1-19 3.4.2 California Department of Parks and Recreation 1.7.3 Summary of Trail Types ................................1-19 (DPR) ......................................................................3-8 1.7.4 Private Property Rights and Trail 3.5 Local Standards and Guidelines ................3-9 Connectivity .................................................... 1-19 3.5.1 County of San Luis Obispo ............................3-9 1.7.5 Next Steps ........................................................ 1-22 3.5.2 San Luis Obispo Council of Governments 2. Setting (SLOCOG) ..........................................................3-12 3.5.3 City Plans .......................................................... 3-12 2.1 Existing Land Use .........................................2-1 3.6 Shared-use Path Design .............................3-16 2.1.1 Destinations .......................................................2-1 3.6.1 Background ..................................................... 3-16 2.2 Public Lands and Access Easements .........2-7 3.6.2 Shared-use Path Access ...............................3-16 2.2.1 Existing Trails and Public Access 3.6.3 User Group Conicts..................................... 3-16 Easements ...........................................................2-7 3.7 Trail Facilities ................................................3-17 2.2.2 Potentially Connecting Trails .....................2-10 3.7.1 Trail and Paved Path Location Criteria ... 3-17 2.3 Existing and Planned Bicycle Facilities ...2-17 3.7.2 Bridges ...............................................................3-20 2.4 Environmental Resources ..........................2-17 3.7.3 Boardwalks .......................................................3-22 2.4.1 Agricultural Resources .................................2-17 3.7.4 Drainage Crossing Structures ................... 3-22 2.4.2 Biological Resources .....................................2-18 3.7.5 Staging Areas .................................................. 3-23 2.4.3 Cultural Resources .........................................2-19 3.7.6 Trail Heads ........................................................3-23 2.4.4 Geologic Conditions .....................................2-19 3.7.7 Turn Outs, Vista Points and Rest Areas ...3-23 2.5 Economic Resources ..................................2-20 3.7.8 Shade Structures ............................................3-24 2.5.1 Economic and Demographic Trends ...... 2-20 3.7.9 Restrooms ........................................................ 3-24 2.5.2 Services and Amenities ............................... 2-24 3.7.10 Fencing ..............................................................3-25 2.5.3 Facility Use Levels ..........................................2-25 3.7.11 Plant Materials ................................................ 3-26 2.6 Trail Issue Perceptions and Realities........2-25 2.6.1 Summary of Trail Issues and Solutions .. 2-25 2.6.2 Potential Public Safety Issues and Solutions ...........................................................2-26 2.6.3 Potential Environmental Issues and Solutions ...........................................................2-28 Northern San Luis Obispo County Salinas River Anza Corridor Trail Master Plan 1-1 Table of Contents 3.8 Signage and Trail Branding .......................3-26 5. Action Plan 3.8.1 Site Furnishings ..............................................3-27 5.1 Project Implementation Steps ...................5-1 3.8.2 Fencing and Gates .........................................3-27 5.1.1 Alternative Route Selection ..........................5-1 3.8.3 Lighting .............................................................3-28 5.1.2 Funding - Grant Applications .......................5-1 3.8.4 Paving Patterns ...............................................3-29 5.1.3 Project Agreements -Right-of-Way 3.8.5 Trail Structures ................................................3-30 Acquisition/Permission................................... 5.1 3.8.6 Public Art .......................................................... 3-30 5.1.4 Site Survey - Base Maps and Information 5-4 3.9 Signage and Markings for Trac 5.1.5 Preliminary Design ...........................................5-4 Control and Waynding .............................3-30 5.1.6 Technical Studies ..............................................5-4 3.9.1 Regulatory ........................................................3-31 5.1.7 Environmental Studies and 3.9.2 Waynding .......................................................3-31 Documentation .................................................5-4 3.9.3 Interpretive and Educational .....................3-33 5.1.8 Permits ..................................................................5-4 3.10 Trail Surface Considerations .....................3-33 5.1.9 Construction Documents ..............................5-4 3.10.1 Natural Soft Surface Trails ..........................3-33 5.1.10 Bidding and Contracting ...............................5-4 3.10.2 Firm Natural Surface Trails .........................3-33 5.1.11 Construction .......................................................5.4 3.10.3 Paved Hard Surface Paths ..........................3-34 5.2 SRT Reach Improvements and 3.11 “Non-standard” Bicycle Facilities .............3-37 Implementation Steps ..................................5-4 3.12 Unstable Slopes and Erosive Areas ..........3-41 5.3 Permitting and Approvals ...........................5-4 3.13 Access and Restricted Areas ......................3-41 5.3.1 San Luis Obispo County Permits .................5-4 3.14 Floodway Issues...........................................3-42 5.3.2 Encroachment Permits ...................................5-5 3.15 Designing Trails to Maximize 5.4 Environmental Documentation ..................5-5 User Experience ...........................................3-42 5.4.1 National Environmental Policy Act .............5-5 4. Master Plan Recommendations 5.4.2 California Environmental Quality Act ........5-5 5.4.3 Section 404 Permit - U.S. ACOE ....................5-5 4.1 Master Plan Design Policies and Objectives .. 5.4.4 Section 401 Water Quality Certication - 4-1 Regional Water Quality Control Board ......5-5 4.2 Initial Identication and Ranking of Alterna- 5.4.5 Streambed Alteration Agreement - tive Trails .........................................................4-2 California Department of Fish and 4.3 Selection of Primary Routes ........................4-6 Wildlife ..................................................................5-5 4.4 Reach-by-Reach Descriptions ...................4-10 5.5 Legal Background .......................................5-12 4.5 Trail and Support Facility Types ...............4-11 5.5.1 Public Trust Doctrine ....................................5-12 4.5.1 Trail and Path Types ...................................... 4-11 5.5.2 Statutes Limiting Private Property 4.5.2 Boardwalks .......................................................4-11 Liability ..............................................................5-14 4.5.3 Routes to Close ...............................................4-11 Appendices 4.5.4 Trailheads, Staging and Parking Areas ..4-12 4.5.5 Signs ...................................................................4-12 A. Background Documents 4.5.6 Fences, Gates and Stiles .............................. 4-12 B. Existing Conditions, Opportunities and Con- 4.5.7 Bridges and Drainage Crossings .............