March 13, 2024 Page 1
Measure BB Bus Project Repurposing
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
MEMORANDUM
March , 2024 Project# 248460.005
To: Gail Payne, Project Manager
City of Alameda
From: Mike Alston, TE, RSP1, Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
RE: Named Measure BB Bus Project Repurposing
PROJECT PURPOSE
The City of Alameda, AC Transit, and Alameda County Transportation Commission will determine how to allocate project money from the Measure BB named bus project titled “Alameda to Fruitvale BART Rapid Bus project #14”. The expressly stated purpose of that allocation is to “provide a fast and reliable connection between the City of Alameda and the Fruitvale BART station, providing service to new development proposed for th e City of Alameda.” The allocation totals $9 million.
There are many potential projects that could meet this goal, and some projects provide co -benefits with other City goals. This memo provides a list of potential projects and asserts a priority ranking and proposed allocation among those projects. Staff expects that these priority projects may evolve in subsequent coordination conversations with AC Transit as the Realign Plan takes shape , which is why multiple projects are listed beyond the $9 million project budget. The AC Transit Realign draft service scenario was presented to the AC Transit Board of Directors (BOD) in early 2024, but the BOD directed staff to refine a draft plan and return in six months (fall 2024). Therefore, any changes from the Realign project have been postponed to 2025.
Item 6C Exhibit 2
Transportation Commission Meeting
February 26, 2025
Exhibit 2
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Measure BB Bus Project Repurposing
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
PROPOSED REPURPOSING PROJECTS
Table 1 shows the proposed projects organized by priority tier. The project priorities align with the citywide high-priority projects as listed in the 2023 Annual Report on Transportation for grant applications and are explained in the below section.
Table 1 Repurposing Projects Organized by Priority Tier Project Proposed Allocation (Total
Project Cost)
Grant Application Priority in
2023 Annual Report
Tier 1 Projects
1A Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific
corridor improvements
$4M ($20M) Y
1B Stargell/Alameda Point
multimodal improvements
$4M ($9M) Y
1C Westline Bus Queue Jump
Lane
$1M Y
Tier 2 Projects
2A Park Street Bus Transit
Efficiencies
$1M N
2B Citywide Roundabout
Projects
$4M each Y
2C Fernside, Tilden to High , bus
transit access improvements
$1M Y
Tier 1 Projects
1A. LINCOLN/MARSHALL/PACIFIC CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
The Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor project is a high priority project for the City along a high-injury corridor as identified in the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan . The project concepts are designed but currently are unfunded for construction. The project includes a roadway reconfiguration to support multimodal safety and access. Transit amenities west of Webster Street include a bus island at the Academy of Alameda, consolidated bus stops between Fifth Street and Webster Street for improved efficiencies , bus stop amenities, and intersection improvements at bus stops to make bus stops easier and safer to access.
This project provides access to Alameda Point and to one of the City’s two Priority Development Areas (PDAs) per Plan Bay Area 2050. The project would also serve some of the City’s most vulnerable communities, according to Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s ( BCDC’s) Community Vulnerability map .
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The following sites provide more information about the project:
The following sites provide more information about the project :
◼ The project’s webpage is www.alamedaca.gov/LincolnMarshallPacific . ◼ The City Council approv ed concept design for the west end of the corridor with bus operations between Main Street and Webster Street is shown here :
https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/departments/alameda/transportation/lincoln - marshall-pacific/lincoln-ave-strip-maps-202303016-1.pdf Existing Bus Lines : 96 (30-min. frequency)
Proposed Realign Bus Lines: DA20 (30-min. frequency ), DA96 (30-min. frequency ) Project Funding Plan: The City of Alameda will resubmit the $20 million grant application in May 2024 to the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) federal request for projects. The $4 million bus repurposing Measure BB monies will pay for the transit -related improvements and will fulfill part of the local match requirements for the SS4A grant. If the City is not successful in obtaining federal or state corridor funding , the $4 million transit-related improvements could be completed as a standalone project. W ith or without corridor funding, the City expects the project to follow the below schedule.
Schedule:
Tasks Completion
Final Plans, Specifications and Estimates Sept 2025
Publish "Notice Inviting Construction Bids" Oct 2025
Pre-bid meeting, Site Tour Nov 2025
Construction Bid Opening Dec 2025
City Council Bid Award/Authorization Feb 2026
Issue Notice to Proceed March 2026
Estimated Construction Completion March 2027
Project Close-out Sept 2027
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1B. STARGELL/ALAMEDA POINT MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS
This project would enhance the current Willie Stargell Avenue Complete Street project with additional transit-focused improvements. The Complete Street Project will construct improvements by building both walking and bicycling paths in the vacant right -of-way north of the roadway, slowing speeding traffic along the corridor, and making intersection safety and access improvements . The project has been advanced to conceptual design and will be submitted for Active Transportation Program ( ATP) funds for the second time in 2024. This project provides access to Alameda Point , and is within the Naval Air Station PDA, one of the City’s two PDAs per Plan Bay Area 2050 . The project is located along the border of an area of high social vulnerability, and connects to Alameda Point, an area of highest social vulnerability, according to BCDC’s Community Vulnerability map .
Transit-focused improvements would add to the Complete Street bike/ped estrian project by incorporating bus efficiencies, transit stop improvements (with the addition of new transit lines per Realign), and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle crossings to access the new bus stops . Additionally, the Stargell corridor project would identify a vision for the corridor with two or three roundabouts (Main, Fifth and East Campus/Mariner Loop) and then would fund one of the roundabouts. The potential roundabout locations in this project area are described in more detail in item 2B and include:
◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/Mariner Square Loop/East Campus Drive ◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/Fifth Street
◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/Main Street
Existing Bus Lines: 96 (30-minute frequency) - only for Mariner Sq. Loop/E. Campus Dr. intersection
Proposed Realign Bus Lines : DA19 (45-min. frequency ), DA20 (30-min. frequency) and DA96 (30-min. frequency)
Project Funding Plan: The City of Alameda will resubmit its $5 million grant application in June 2024 to the state and regional Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 request for projects. The $4 million bus repurposing Measure BB monies will pay for the transit -related improvements and will fulfill a portion of the local match requirements for the ATP grant. If the City is not successful in obtaining the ATP funding or other grant monies , the $4 million transit -related improvements would be completed as a standalone project, or a Tier 2 project could be delivered . The City expects the project to follow the schedule below.
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Schedule:
Tasks Completion
ATP Award Announced June 2025
ATP Executed Agreement Oct 2025
Project Approvals and Environmental
Documentation Jul 2026
Final Plans, Specifications and Estimates Jul 2027
Caltrans approval of CON phase Oct 2027
Award, Execute Contractor Agreement Feb 2028
Issue Notice to Proceed March 2028
Estimated Construction Completion March 2029
Project Close-out Sept 2029
1C. WESTLINE DRIVE BUS QUEUE JUMP LANE
The Westline Drive Bus Queue Jump Lane project would identify a transit-only lane along Westline Drive/Eighth Street between Otis Drive and Portola Avenue. A dedicated bus lane would allow buses traveling northbound to Central Avenue to bypass general traffic queues. As part of a multimodal concept design process, t he project would also identify a separated bike path on the west side of Westline Drive/Eighth Street to close the Westline/Shoreline and Central Avenue bike lane gap.
The project was identified in the City’s Transportation Choices Plan as a Medium Priority project and in the Active Transportation Plan as a project with an expected completion date of 2027.
Existing Bus Lines: W (20-min. frequency ), 20 (30-min. frequency ), 663 (school service) Proposed Realign Bus Lines : DA20 (30-min. frequency ), DAW (20-min. frequency ) Project Funding Plan: The repurposed Measure BB funds will cover developing a multimodal concept design that includes dedicated spaces for all modes including a bus queue jump lane and a bikeway and completing the bus queue jump lane including design and construction .
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Schedule:
Tasks Completion
Concept Design/Community Outreach for
Multimodal Corridor Concept 2025
Final Plans, Specifications and Estimates March 2026
Publish "Notice Inviting Bids" April 2026
Pre-bid meeting, Site Tour May 2026
Bid Opening May 2026
City Council Bid Award/Authorization July 2026
Issue Notice to Proceed August 2026
Estimated Construction Completion February 2027
Project Close-out June 2027
Tier 2 Projects
2A. PARK STREET EFFICIENCIES
Park Street is a key corridor for AC Transit buses in the City. AC Transit has identified an opportunity to improve transit service by modernizing traffic signal s along Park Street to allow for transit signal priority (TSP) where it currently does not exist . AC Transit has requested funding for this project through MTC’s BusAID funding program . Pending the results of that funding award, the City could allocate some repurposed funding to this effort. AC Transit’s BusAID proposal involves installing GPS -tracking TSP technology and optimizing signals at four intersections: Alameda Avenue/Park Street, Encinal Avenue/Park Street, San Jose Avenue/Park Street, and Otis Dri ve/Park Street. It is focusing on these intersections because the City of Alameda implemented TSP technology and signal optimization along the rest of the Park Street corridor from Blanding Avenue to Central Avenue. This project aims to complete the TSP network along the remainder of the Park Street corridor.
Existing Bus Lines : 20 (30-min. frequency), 21 (30-min. frequency), 663 (school service) Proposed Realign Bus Lines : DA20 (30-min. frequency ), DA21 (30-min. frequency )
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2B. CITYWIDE ROUNDABOUT PROJECTS
Through its citywide screening analysis, the City /Kittelson consultant team has identified top roundabout locations for implementation. Some of the top locations include intersections that serve AC Transit lines and provide access to and from the City’s priority development areas, including:
◼ Mariner Square Drive/Marina Village Parkway. This intersection serves the existing 19 and 96 lines and would serve the proposed DA19, DA20, and DA96 lines. ◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/Mariner Square Loop/East Campus Drive . This intersection serves the existing 19 and 96 lines and would serve the proposed DA19, DA20, and DA96 lines. ◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/ Fifth Street. This intersection serves the existing 96 line and would serve the proposed DA19, DA20, and DA96 lines.
◼ Willie Stargell Avenue/Main Street . This intersection provides access to the Alameda Point development and would serve the proposed DA19 and DA20 lines.
The roundabout project activities would include:
• Traffic analysis including bus operations, access, and mobility • Conceptual design (advancing scaled sketches)
• Community engagement
• Environmental clearance
• Design
• Construction
2C. FERNSIDE, TILDEN TO HIGH
The City’s Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways Projects (more information is available on the City’s website) will create an updated design concept for Fernside Boulevard from Tilden Way to San Jose Avenue to increase safety and mobility for all users and to implement the City’s Active Transportation Plan recommendations. The project is still in the early stages and could incorporate transit efficiencies for buses as well as improvements to make bus stop access easier and safer.
Existing Bus Lines: O (30-min. frequency), W (20-min.), School 663 route Proposed Realign Bus Lines : DAO (30-min. frequency weekdays; 60-min. frequency Saturdays and Sundays)
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Measure BB Bus Project Repurposing
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AC TRANSIT PRELIMINARY DRAFT REALIGN
The preliminary draft AC Transit Realign routes are under staff consideration for potential revision later this year . Any changes are set to take effect 2025, so the City has an opportunity to identify improvements to intersections and roadways for existing and newly proposed lines. Table 2 shows the most recently proposed routes (presented January 2024) with the major corridors they serve. The project descriptions above note which lines each project would serve along with the draft proposed frequencies.
Table 2 AC Transit Preliminary Draft Realign Proposed Bus Lines Line # Existing Proposed On/Off Alameda
via…
Corridors
DA6 No Yes Tubes and Miller-
Sweeney
Broadway, Santa Clara / Pacific , Tilden, Webster
DA19 Yes Yes Tubes and Miller-
Sweeney
Atlantic, Buena Vista, Main, Marina Village Pkwy,
Mariner Square Loop , Tilden, Willie Stargell
DA20 Yes Yes Tubes and Park
Street
Central, Eighth / Westline, Grand, Lincoln /
Marshall / Pacific, Main, Otis, Park, Shoreline,
Willow, Webster, Willie Stargell
DA21 Yes Yes Park Street Island, Mecartney, Otis, Park, Robert Davey Jr .
DA51A Yes No Tubes, Miller-
Sweeney
none – DA6 will cover current Line 51A in
Alameda
DA96 Yes Yes Tubes Lincoln / Marshall / Pacific, Main, Mariner Square Loop, Monarch, Orion, Webster, West
Atlantic, West Midway, West Tower, Willie
Stargell
DA851 Yes Yes Tubes, Miller-
Sweeney
Broadway, Santa Clara, Tilden, Webster
DAO Yes Yes Tubes, Miller-
Sweeney
Broadway, Encinal, Fernside, High, Santa Clara,
Tilden, Webster
DAOX Yes No Extending W
instead
none
DAW Yes Yes Tubes, Bay Farm Webster, Central, Eighth / Westline, Grand, Island, Otis, Island, M ecartney, Robert Davey Jr ,
Shoreline, Willow