Caltrans Approval Process: Update

1. Caltrans Approval Process:Update Van Ness Avenue BRT Citizens Advisory Committee September 8th, 2009

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 25 nonstandard locations Crest or sag vertical curves Caused by roadway grades Grades above 9% are nonstandard Context Existing condition is nonstandard; project will not remedy Function of roadway grades – SF’s hilly terrain 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 Stopping Sight Distance and Grades

8. 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 Travel Lane Width

9. 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 Shoulder Width

10. 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

11. Questions