Transcript Slide 1
Caltrans Approval Process:
Update
Van Ness Avenue BRT
Citizens Advisory Committee
September 8th, 2009
Outline
Caltrans Approval Process
Review of EIR/EIS findings
Project Study Report / Project Report (PSR/PR)
Design Exceptions Fact Sheets
Design Exceptions Fact Sheets
Stopping sight distance and grades
Lane widths
Shoulder widths
Caltrans Approval Requirements
Caltrans’ jurisdiction
Van Ness Avenue designated US Highway 101
Owned by Caltrans, property line to property line
Approval required for modifications to the right of way
Local jurisdiction
Maintenance agreement with City of San Francisco
City responsible for operation of traffic signals, lighting
Design Exceptions and Justifications
Caltrans review of EIR/EIS technical work
Responsible agency
Courtesy review of traffic, cultural impact analysis findings
Environmental document is typically an attachment to the PSR/PR (see next
bullet)
Project Study Report / Project Report
Streamlined approach to documentation
Contents similar to environmental analysis
Design Exception Fact Sheets
Geometric standards for state facilities: Highway Design Manual (HDM)
Document design exceptions and justifications
Highway Design Manual
One set of standards for all Caltrans facilities
Does not provide design standards for most multimodal roadway
features
Pedestrian corner bulbs
Transit lanes and station platforms
Caltrans “BRT Task Team” initiated HDM supplement in 2008
Intended to provide distinct design standards for multimodal, urban roadways
Still in progress
Design Exceptions and Justifications
Approach
Safety: Are safe
Reasonableness: Consistent with national roadway design guidance
Context: Are consistent with San Francisco context
Impacts: reduce environmental impacts
Community Issues: advance community objectives
Flexibility in Applying Design Standards – Caltrans policies
Context Sensitive Solutions
Complete Streets
Where multiple design options are available, or where optimal design for
one mode conflicts with optimal design for another, the best design is
that which is most appropriate given context, environmental impacts,
and community issues.
Stopping Sight Distance and Grades
25 nonstandard
locations
Crest or sag vertical
curves
Existing condition is nonstandard; project will not remedy
Function of roadway grades – SF’s hilly terrain
Caused by roadway
grades
Grades above 9%
are nonstandard
Context
Reasonableness
Nonstandard stopping sight distance common throughout
SF
Safety
Existing condition not associated with safety problems
Intersections with nonstandard SSD have collision rates
below statewide average
Mast arms installed with project will improve signal
visibility
Impacts
Re-grade Van Ness Avenue and cross streets
Install retaining walls
Travel Lane Width
Standard is
12 feet
Existing
and
proposed
lane widths
are 10 feet
Context
Existing condition is nonstandard; project will not remedy
Function of SF’s hilly terrain
Reasonableness
AASHTO and ITE recommend 10’ lanes for low speed urban arterials
SFMTA standards allow 10’ lanes
Safety
Existing condition not associated with collisions (e.g., sideswipe)
Proposed project will reduce likelihood of sideswipe collisions by
removing buses from mixed flow traffic
Research indicates that 12’ lanes are not safer than narrower lanes in
low speed, urban environment
Impacts
Remove parking or reduce sidewalk or median width
Would worsen pedestrian conditions over today
Shoulder Width
Standard is 8 feet
Existing and proposed
shoulder is generally 8
feet (used as parking
lane)
Non-standard (2 foot)
shoulder proposed where
pedestrian corner bulbs
are provided
Context
Existing condition is nonstandard; project will not
remedy
Reasonableness
AASHTO and ITE recommend 6’ width for corner bulbs
Caltrans HDM has no design standards for corner bulbs
Safety
Existing condition not associated with collisions
Two foot buffer provided between edge of bulb and
travel lane
Bulbs increase safety for pedestrians
Impacts
Remove bulbs from project
Would worsen pedestrian conditions over today
Next Steps
Caltrans review of Design Exception Fact Sheets – through mid
October
Caltrans review of cultural resources impacts analysis – through
beginning of October
Caltrans review of traffic operations analysis – through end of October
Draft PSR/PR for Caltrans review and concurrence prior to circulation of
Draft EIR/EIS – first quarter 2010
Questions