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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.2 PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION STAFF REPORT 5.2 TO: Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission December 14, 2022 SUBJECT: Status Update and Review of Preliminary Plans for CIP C-055, Diablo Road Trail BACKGROUND The Town’s vision to develop a continuous multi-use path along the Diablo Road corridor is reflected in each of Danville’s key planning documents over the past three decades, tracing back to the Danville 2005 General Plan, (adopted in 1987) and Townwide Trails Master Plan (adopted in 1989). In each of these policy documents, the objective of developing a multi-use path along the corridor is clear while the exact alignment remained undetermined. Potential alignment options ranged from on-road bicycle lanes to a grade- separated off-road trail. Given right-of-way constraints in the corridor, all options necessitate a dedication of land from the Magee property located on the south side of Diablo Road. Ultimately, in 2018, the Town completed the Diablo Road Trail Feasibility Study that provided an analysis of several trail alignment options in preparation of the Environmental and Design phases of the project. Currently, the Diablo Road Trail Project (Capital Improvement Program Project No. C-055) is nearing completion of the Environmental phase and will be proceeding to the Final Design phase through late Winter 2023, with the goal to begin the Construction phase in summer/fall of 2023. The total estimated project cost is approximately $5.7M and is fully-funded in the 2022/23 Five-year Capital Improvement Program. DISCUSSION The Diablo Road Trail Project, CIP C-055 consists of the design and construction of an 8- foot-wide, off-street paved multi-use path with two-foot gravel shoulders that will traverse along the southern shoulder of Diablo Road and feature a signalized pedestrian and bicycle roadway crossing at the intersection of Diablo Road/Fairway Drive. The project site is located immediately north of East Branch Green Valley Creek and property belonging to the Magee Cattle Ranch, and south of single-family residential uses. When completed, the project will provide a 0.9-mile, Class I mixed-use path for pedestrians and cyclists that will connect the Diablo Road/Green Valley Road corridor to the west to Blackhawk Road/Mt. Diablo State Park South Gate access to the east. The project is located within the Town of Danville public right of way (ROW) and on easements obtained from private property owners. The west end of the project will terminate at the intersection of Fairway Drive and Diablo Road connecting to the existing 0.5-mile Diablo Road (aka “Barbara Haile”) Trail, and as previously described, will feature a signalized crossing connecting the new path on the south side of Diablo Road to the existing path on the north side of Diablo Road. The east end of the Town-constructed portion of the project will terminate approximately 400 feet west of the intersection of Avenue Nueva and Diablo Road. The facility will continue east by connecting with a new, 0.7-mile paved path segment that is currently under construction as part of the Magee Preserve Development. When completed, the new path segments will provide a contiguous, 2.1-mile Class I facility connecting the Diablo Road/Green Valley Road intersection (west limits) with Blackhawk Road (east limits), as previously described (Figure 1). Figure 1 – Diablo Road Trail Alignment Map Current Status As described, the Diablo Road Trail Project is nearing completion of the Environmental Phase. A Notice of Public Review Period and Intent To Adopt A Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”) of Environmental Significance was released on October 3, 2022 with a deadline for comments due November 17, 2022. Subsequently, the State of California Natural Resources Agency requested an extension of the comment period to November 30, 2022, of which was granted by staff. With the comment period completed and no significant comments received, adoption of the MND will be scheduled for Town Council consideration at their upcoming regular meeting of December 20, 2022. Preliminary Plan Review With the pending completion of the Environmental phase, work on Final Design will commence and is expected to be completed in late winter of 2023. At this time, preliminary alignment and elevation plans prepared by staff are being provided for the Commission’s review and comment (Attachment B). The preliminary plans were presented to the Bicycle Advisory Commission at their regular meeting of November 28, 2022. Project updates and plan revisions will continue to be presented at future Town Council and Commission meetings as they become available, and as directed. Updates on the project are also provided on the Town of Danville website (https://www.danville.ca.gov/853/Diablo- Road-Trail) and Danville Town Talks website (https://danvilletowntalks.org/diablo- road-trails-project). Prepared By: Andrew Dillard Transportation Manager Attachment A – Project Update Presentation Attachment B – Diablo Road Trail Preliminary Alignment and Elevation Plans