Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Sarah Birkeland, Acting Parks Director
Subject: Measure K Funding Agreement Amendment with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the Ravenswood Bay Trail connection project.
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Parks Acting Director to amend the agreement with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection Project, extending the term through June 30, 2019.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Francisco Bay Trail (Bay Trail) is a 500 mile shoreline walking and bicycling path that will one day encircle San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. With over 340 miles complete, it follows the shoreline in nine counties, passing through 47 cities and crossing four toll bridges.
Within San Mateo County, 49 miles or 72 percent of the planned 68 miles of the Bay Trail are complete. The Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection Project (Project) will close a critical gap in the Bay Trail. It is also the last gap in 80 miles of contiguous trail that will link the three south bay counties and a toll bridge.
This project is 0.6 miles in length, located between Ravenswood Open Space Preserve and University Avenue along the boundary between the cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
The Project has been underway for ten years as it is one of the more complex Bay Trail gaps. A working group composed of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), the cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and San Francisco Bay Trail staff of the Association of Bay Area Governments have steadily moved the Project forward.
Some of the challenges are existing wetlands, a railroad line that could be activated in the future, SFPUC lands, adjacent residential neighborhoods, nearby Hetch-Hetchy water pipes, South Bay Salt Pond restoration, and a former gun club site that needs clean-up. Because the trail segment doesn’t yet exist, pedestrians and cyclists currently must make use of a two-mile detour on city streets.
In 2005, the City of Menlo Park used a Bay Trail/Coastal Conservancy planning grant to analyze the site and identify a preferred alignment. In 2010, MROSD used another Bay Trail/Coastal Conservancy planning grant to complete conceptual designs, as well as CEQA initial study and environmental review, and to refine the alignment and contract with SFPUC for a public access easement.
DISCUSSION:
A Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bay Trail Connection at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve has been developed. This extension to the term of the agreement will allow for the design development, interpretive signage design and pre-construction trail use counts as well as support the bidding, construction management, and biological monitoring.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the amendment as to form.
This amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcomes of an Environmentally Conscious Community as closing this 0.6-mile gap in the Bay Trail will serve East Palo Alto and Menlo Park residents and supports an active alternate transportation corridor serving major employers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The amendment will extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2019 only and does not involve additional funding. There is no additional fiscal impact as a result of this change.