DATE:
July 5, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen
FROM:
Charles S. Bryant, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Approving A Citywide Pedestrian And Bicycle Wayfinding Program (CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301(c) And 15061(b)(3)) Recommendation
The Planning Commission, Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and staff recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution accompanying this report approving the Citywide Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program.
Background
The need for improved wayfinding for pedestrians and bicyclists has been repeatedly discussed at the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for years and is included as a program in the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) that is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the Planning Commission in July 2023, and by the City Council in September 2023.
On November 15, 2022, the City Council approved an amendment to the contract with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. (Alta) for the ATP, originally authorized on November 17, 2020, to include the development of a pedestrian and bicycle wayfinding program (wayfinding program). This was done to take advantage of the resources and information that Alta had already compiled in the creation of the ATP, and to begin implementing the ATP.
Discussion
Program Development
The scope for the wayfinding program includes:
the development of unique wayfinding designs for up to seven sign types (e.g. decision, confirmation, turn, street/trail intersection, secondary access, pavement markings for trails/sidewalks, and/or kiosk), editable art files of the signs to use on an ongoing basis as locations are added or modified, maps for sign placement for 100 locations throughout the city.
In February 2023 the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) began work on creation of the wayfinding program.
In February the BPAC identified destinations of interest to include on signs and confirmed priority routes for signage across the city. They also reviewed sign design options by taking a visual preference survey.
In March the BPAC reviewed updated destination and priority route maps, provided feedback on initial sign placement proposals and programming, confirmed the desired types of signs (sign “family”) for the city, and provided direction on sign design by reviewing the results of the visual preference survey.
In May the BPAC reviewed the sign design concepts and initial sign placements, providing direction for revisions.
At their June 5 meeting, the BPAC confirmed the proposed sign designs and placement, and recommended that the City Council approve the wayfinding program.
Sign Types and Design:
The wayfinding program, recommended for approval by BPAC includes six sign types:
Two with a pedestrian focus (kiosks and fingerboards),
Three with a bicycle focus (directional, confirmation, confirmation turn), and Pavement markings that indicated which type of infrastructure is in place (stairs, ramp, or elevator) to get across the train tracks by using the South Bayfront Bridge, Powell Street Bridge, or the bridge at the Amtrak station.
At the recommendation of BPAC, the final wayfinding sign designs are very similar to those of the neighboring cities, Berkeley and Oakland. The unique aspects of Emeryville’s proposed signs include the directional arrows, which are designed to match the City of Emeryville logo, and placeholders for icons that may be included as part of a public art program.
Wayfinding and Public Art
The wayfinding signs were considered as a potential opportunity for public art because, during several bicycle and walking tours over the years, people mentioned that wayfinding to help get across the train tracks would be very useful, and that public art could be incorporated into such wayfinding. Furthermore, the Public Art Master Plan indicates that an art project that highlights railroad over crossings could be considered as a capital project commissioned by the Public Art Committee (PAC).
The BPAC and the PAC have formed a joint subcommittee to assess opportunities for public art and wayfinding. The subcommittee met once in May and, after reviewing a few options for incorporating art into the wayfinding program, determined that in-pavement wayfinding to navigate the three above-grade rail crossings could be a targeted project for collaboration on a commission without delaying any sign installations. At their June meetings, the BPAC and PAC unanimously endorsed this approach. The subcommittee will meet again in July to develop a request for proposals (RFP).
While the development of destination icons to add to wayfinding signs was considered, the subcommittee dismissed the idea due to the possibility of using a graphic designer to address this scope in the future, should icons be desired moving forward. The subcommittee is exploring pavement markings to replace those that are included in the attached wayfinding program. If the subcommittee moves forward with this option, the pavement markings included in the attached program can be used as placeholders, and made of temporary materials similar to those used to inform the public of the ATP survey.
Sign Content
Maps of where each sign type should be located throughout the city have been developed. These sign locations are approximate, as field visits will be necessary prior to installation to ensure visibility and to minimize visual and physical conflicts. The consultant also developed a matrix with sign content, listing which destinations should be included for each proposed sign location. Destinations and their tiers of importance (which help prioritize what destinations should be included at each sign location) were also reviewed and recommended by the BPAC. Sign content will also be reviewed and adjusted, as needed, prior to installation. The content of the kiosk signs was included in this contract. While the kiosks are intended to contain maps with the relevant position of each kiosk location, it has not yet been determined if these signs should be printed, or digital; digital kiosks would be capable of providing a range of content that could include maps, meeting agendas, and City event information.
Review and Implementation
The wayfinding program is a highly visible project that has been anticipated for many years. Following the recommendation by the BPAC on June 5, 2023, the Transportation Committee’s review of the wayfinding program is scheduled for June 20, 2023, and will be reported verbally to the Planning Commission and City Council as part of the staff presentation.
Implementation of the wayfinding program is included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted by the City Council on June 6, 2023 in various projects under the Sustainable Transportation category. Instead of being a stand-alone program, implementation will typically be assessed as part of streetscape projects and road improvements. The first installations are anticipated to be done as part of the 40th Street Multi-Modal Improvement Project.
Environmental Review
The proposed Citywide Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), which pertains to alterations to existing streets and sidewalks, and the “common sense exemption” at Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposal may have a significant effect on the environment. The program involves wayfinding signs in already-developed locations and does not require or authorize any construction or other activity that would possibly cause potential environmental impacts.
Fiscal Impact
None.
Staff Communication with the Public
The development of the proposed Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program took place over four BPAC meetings between February and June 2023, was reviewed by the Transportation Committee on June 20, 2023, and presented to the Planning Commission on June 22, 2023. The Commission’s comments will be reported as part of the staff presentation at the July 5, 2023 City Council meeting.
Conflict of Interest
There is no conflict of interest.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the Citywide Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program.
PREPARED BY: Navarre Oaks, Associate Planner
Approved and Forwarded to the
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution, including Exhibit A, Citywide Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program Citywide Pedestrian and Bicycle Wayfinding Program
City Council Meeting | July 5, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM