MAY, 2021
PREPARED BY ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
RINCON CONSULTANTS
DIAZ YOURMAN & ASSOCIATES
COAST SURVEYING INC
City of Riverside Parks, Recreation,
& Community Services
DRAFT MASTER PLAN
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose
Trail Phase 1
ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
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ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................. 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 6 Existing Conditions .............................................................................................10 Public Engagement ............................................................................................22 Conceptual Plans ................................................................................................24 Final Concept Design ........................................................................................58 Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................60 Appendix 2 ...........................................................................................................62 Appendix 3 ...........................................................................................................64 Appendix 4 ...........................................................................................................68 Appendix 6 ........................................................................................................... 74 Appendix 7 ...........................................................................................................84
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 01 Executive
Summary
5 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Executive
Summary
To be completed for final master
plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 02 Introduction
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Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Introduction
Project Description
The Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 project is
a 2-mile active-transportation and recreational green
space trail. The project will create a Class I asphalt
concrete (AC) shared use path and an unpaved path
within an existing city-owned water utility easement.
The trail corridor will be landscaped with native and
climate appropriate trees, shrubs, and will feature
additional amenities including entry plazas, trailside
seating, bicycle racks, interpretive signage, and solar lighting. It will create a continuous off-street multi- purpose trail connection from Palmyrita Avenue
to Blaine Street, and will offer local residents both
recreational opportunities and a connection to the Box
Springs Reserve.
Project Goals
At its core, this project has three main goals: to reduce vehicle miles driven, reduce energy use from tree
shade, and promote carbon sequestration through
tree planting. Through these goals, the 2-mile trail will enhance safety, ADA accessibility, and promote a livable community where people can circulate without cars.
The project goals will also include:
• Construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that provide safe routes for travel between residences,
workplaces, commercial centers, and schools.
• Expand and enhance community green spaces and
provide sustainable landscaping.
• Provide a recreational trail to disadvantaged and low- income communities in the City of Riverside.
• Expand the city’s existing transportation network and provide usable car-less connection between Palmyrita
Avenue and Blaine Street.
• Provide opportunities for green infrastructure to
capture runoff in a system which mimics the natural
environment.
• Provide opportunities for recreation and increase
public health benefit.
• Provide connection to Box Springs Reserve and
natural hiking trails.
• Create a safe and secure space throughout the trail
corridor.
Project History
In 2018, the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and
Community Services Department conducted city-wide
phone and internet surveys, and hosted five focus
group meetings and seven community workshops (one
in each city ward). In Wards 1 and 2 where the project
is located, extension and improvements of trails and
bike lanes, and creation of more hiking trails were listed among the top priorities from residents. The surveys
in the other wards furnished the same results. The
community workshops were advertised to residents
Project corridor with existing bike path pictured facing north between Blaine Street and Watkins Drive.
8 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan using social media, the internet/web, telephone, emails, community calendars, digital billboards, promotional
videos on YouTube, and local government cable
television. The project was also presented at a joint
Riverside Bicycle Club and City Bicycle Advisory
Committee meeting, and was supported unanimously
with no objections, but with suggestions for how the
improvements could be made for a well-functioning and
user friendly trail.
Gage Canal History
The Gage Canal was constructed in 1885 with the
purpose of transporting water from the Santa Ana
River to citrus groves and citizens of Riverside. The
canal was instrumental in the development of the
Riverside citrus industry and at the time was the most
ambitious irrigation project undertaken in California,
nearly doubling the irrigated area in Riverside. As a
result of increased urbanization and the declining
local citrus industry, by 1959 the city announced its
plan to condemn the canal. A battle between canal
stakeholders and the city ensued with the result that
the canal survives to this day although in a different
physical form. So that Gage Canal water could be
used for domestic purposes in the City of Riverside, a
pipeline was constructed in 1974 from the headworks
south to Linden Street, where the city started taking
water for domestic use. Today the canal is known as a
local historical landmark and is part of school district curriculum so students learn about this important piece of Riverside history.
Project Funding
The Urban Greening Grant Program, funded by the
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), selects
projects that reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering
carbon, decreasing energy consumption, and reducing
vehicle miles traveled. Projects funded under this
program also aim to transform the built environment
into places that are more sustainable, enjoyable, and
effective in creating healthy and vibrant communities.
The total amount of Urban Greening funding
available during the round 3 application period was
approximately 19 million dollars. The amount of funds
awarded to the City of Riverside for this project totals $3,708,509.20 and was the largest amount distributed
during round 3 of the program.
The project will be required to include a consistent
quantity of elements detailed in the grant application
such as trees, plants, an unpaved path, bicycle path,
and other amenities and furnishings. As indicated in the grant application, the project will eventually sequester 868 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).
Project Team and Stakeholders
The Trail project is being spearheaded by the City of
Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Department (PRCSD), and all approvals related to the
project will be through the Riverside City Council.
Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) owns the Gage Canal
right-of-ways in fee; however, the Gage Canal Company
operates and maintains the Gage Canal itself. The
proposed project will depend on interdepartmental
cooperation between PRCSD, Riverside Public Works
Department, and RPU.
The team coordinated with key stakeholders who
include, but are not limited to the following:
• Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)
• The Gage Canal Company
• University of California (UCR)
• Local businesses, trail advocates, and residents
• Riverside Bicycle Technical Advisory Committee
• Metrolink
Alta Planning + Design is leading the Trail design
with support from Rincon Consultants, Diaz Yourman
& Associates, and Coast Surveying Inc. Rincon
Consultants are providing environmental services,
Diaz Yourman & Associates are provide geotechnical
engineering services, and Coast Surveying provided
supplemental topography.
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03 Existing
Conditions
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Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Existing
Conditions
Site Characteristics
Canal Easement Corridor
Maintaining an open canal can be difficult due to
accumulation of sand, mud, and plant growth which
ultimately reduces the capacity of the canal. This led
the Gage Canal Company to begin experimenting with
various canal coverings as early as the 1920s. In 1974, so that water could be used for domestic purposes, the
Gage Canal Company installed a new pipeline, from the
canal headworks to the City of Riverside.
The project site (corridor) follows the existing city-
owned water utility easement for the Gage Canal. In this segment of the easement, the canal is subterranean
and encased in concrete. On the surface, the corridor
is improved with a dirt road that is used for canal
maintenance and operations vehicles, while the
remaining easement is disturbed but improved. The
typical right-of-way (ROW) width of the corridor is 50
feet, except for a narrow section that runs adjacent to Sugarloaf Mountain on the north and west sides where
the width decreases to approximately 10-feet.
Physical Character
The linear slope from south to north along the project
corridor is primarily gentle with a steeper section
where the existing maintenance road intersects an
asphalt-paved access road that provides maintenance
access from Marlborough Avenue to a water tank in Box
Springs Mountain Reserve (Box Springs).
Native plant and animal communities are present
adjacent to the project corridor primarily within and
around Box Springs. Coastal Sage Scrub is the
dominant plant community, although fire damage in
Box Springs has diminished it somewhat leading to
an increase in coverage by invasive annual grasses.
During site reconnaissance Encelia farinosa was
observed along much of the trail section around Box
Springs. Two stands of cholla cactus were observed
along the existing corridor near the interface of Box
Springs and the residential neighborhood north of
Spruce Street. A number of reptile species are present
at Box Springs including three rare species: coast
horned lizard, orange-throated whiptail, and the red
diamond rattlesnake. Sixteen species of mammals
including pacific kangaroo rat, mountain lion, and mule deer, along with eighty five species of birds inhabit the reserve.
Project corridor between Columbia Avenue and Palmyrita Avenue.
Topography
Most of the project corridor is fairly level with a gentle linear slope, however, there are more significant slopes between Spruce Street and Marlborough Avenue near
the existing water tank maintenance road:
• Blaine Street to Watkins Drive: 0.04% - 2.50%
• Spruce Street to Marlborough Avenue: 0.30% - 13.0%
• Marlborough Avenue to Palmyrita Avenue: 0.05%
- 2.50%
Drainage is generally via sheet flow from east to west
and higher adjacent elevations generally occur to the
east side of the corridor. From Marlborough Avenue
north there are manufactured slopes down draining
adjacent commercial/industrial properties. There are
steep slopes adjacent to the project corridor as it
rounds the northwest corner of Box Springs Mountain
Reserve. Any proposed drainage across the project
site should follow the prevailing cross slope. This cross slope drainage creates opportunities for potential
12 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan Gage Canal Trail Corridor looking south as it enters the Box Springs Mountain Reserve area
southern residential section, to steep adjacent slopes
along the northwest corner of Box Springs. Evidence of
ponding was found during site reconnaissance in areas
with center draining topography, and there are a few
locations where erosion has caused sloughing of the
downslope edge of the existing corridor.
Vegetation
The dominant native vegetation of the project area is
coastal sage scrub (CSS), a complex of tough, woody,
aromatic shrubs typically 1-6 feet tall. Common species of CSS include California buckwheat, brittle-bush, black sage, and white sage. It is estimated that nearly 90%
of the existing CSS habitat in Riverside County has
been lost due to urbanization, frequent fires, OHV-use, invasive species, and military activity.
Vegetation on and adjacent to the project corridor
consists primarily of typical commercial landscaping in the section from Marlborough Avenue north to Palmyrita
Avenue, with trees and shrubs such as Lophostemon
confertus (Brisbane Box) and Acacia redolens (Desert
Carpet) for example. In the project area around Box
Springs, from Marlborough Avenue south to Spruce
Street, a mix of native CSS and invasive annual grasses was observed during site reconnaissance. On the
southern section of the project corridor from Spruce
Street to the southern terminus at Blaine Street, there is virtually no existing vegetation. Adjacent residential vegetation consists of small to medium size trees
and hedges such as African sumac, palo verde, and
bougainvillea for example.
Another approach would be to use the proposed
landscaping to strategically supplement and enhance
the remaining CSS habitat in the area. This could be
done by using primarily CSS species in tree and plant
selections. In a sense this would leverage the project’s landscaping toward habitat creation and enhancement,
and could provide a strong element of identity. Another opportunity for vegetation on the project is to use
fruit trees in strategic locations along the trail such as trailheads or rest areas. The use of fruit trees in the proposed landscape would create a connection to the
history of the citrus industry in the region and could be combined with interpretive elements indicating this.
Fruit trees could also become part of a larger system
of community orchards in Riverside. The organization
“Fallen Fruit” has worked to establish “Urban Fruit
Trails of Riverside” which is a network of walking trails, populated with fruit trees and planted, tended, and
harvested by the public. Lincoln Park was one park
stormwater capture, treatment, and infiltration using a series of landscaped swales along the edges of the
proposed asphalt path and unpaved path where space
permits. Strategic tree and shrub planting can also be
used to protect the path and trail from stormwater runoff from adjacent steep slopes. In the segments of the
project corridor at the south end between Blaine Street and Watkins Drive and at the northern end between
Columbia Avenue and Palmyrita Avenue both outside
edges are at higher elevation than the center of the
corridor creating a center draining condition leading
to ponding during wet weather. In these instances it
may be possible to mitigate this condition with the
installation of landscaped swales in the center of
the corridor, where the path and trail run on near the
outside edges. Grading along and adjacent to the
unpaved path will prevent the concentration of flows
that can lead to long-term erosion. Certain areas, mostly around Box Springs and north of Marlborough Avenue
have loosely consolidated soil along the western edges
of the corridor where runoff has caused sloughing and
downcutting of the top of slope. Strategic planting of
trees and shrubs along these edges can help stabilize
the top of slope and prevent continued erosion.
The cross slopes along the project corridor primarily
flow downhill from east to west, although there are
some sections that are level to slightly reversed, with the steepest cross slopes occurring in the section from Marlborough Avenue north to Columbia Avenue.
Adjacent topography ranges from nearly level in the
13 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES On-street portion of Trail alignment, looking southeast on Watkins Drive south of Spruce Street location that received a large number of fruit trees as part of this program.
Another opportunity with vegetation is to use the
proposed project landscape to sequester carbon.
Indeed this is a requirement of the project funding and can be accomplished by planting trees which sequester
and store carbon in the process of wood creation.
Various species can be proposed to create a carbon
sequestration bank as long as the total carbon captured meets or exceeds the project estimate created as part
of the grant funding requirement. Finally the proposed
project landscape could be visually anchored through
the use of ‘signature large trees’, a repeating large
tree such as an oak or sycamore that could create an
identity for a section of the trail.
Hydrology
The Santa Ana Watershed drains into the Santa
Ana River, the largest river in Southern California.
In very broad terms, the Santa Ana Region is a
group of connected inland basins and open coastal
basins drained by surface streams flowing generally
southwestward to the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Ana
watershed is an arid region; therefore, there is little natural perennial surface water in the watershed.
The occurrence of groundwater in the watershed is
highly controlled by the geology of the area, both
the configuration of bedrock and by the extensive
geological faults. Most groundwater basins are
unconfined. However, the variable depth to bedrock,
variations in geologic layers, and the presence of faults cause pressure zones where water flows toward the
ground surface. In general, groundwater flows the same
direction as surface water: from the mountains in the
east/north to the Pacific Ocean in the west. There
are multiple drainage ditches that can be found along
14 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan the surface path of the Gage Canal, which takes water
runoff to local storm drain systems and rivers, then
down to the ocean.
The Gage Irrigation Canal is basically a gravity flow
system with water being distributed in pipelines to
individual plots of land below the level of the canal.
The canal, however, also supplies water above the line
of the canal by pumping water through pipelines to a
higher point, allowing water to flow by gravity individual groves for irrigation by open furrow.
Adjacencies
ADJACENT PROPERTIES
The northern section of the Gage Canal Multi-Purpose
Trail Phase 1 from Marlborough Avenue to Palmyrita
Avenue, passes through the Hunter Industrial Park
neighborhood of Riverside. This area consists primarily of industrial and commercial campuses and is known for
technology-based firms, clean industries, and research
facilities. Through this section, both sides of the trail are bordered by large concrete tilt-up style buildings, associated parking lots and landscaped areas. It passes between 13 industrial complexes for about 3,000 feet.
The project offers an opportunity to create an additional active-transportation commuting option for local
employees, and an area for recreation before and after
work.
The southern section of the Trail from Spruce Street
south to Blaine Street passes through a mixed
residential zone comprised of single-family homes,
multi-family residential complexes, and student housing. 23 single family homes and 3 multi-family complexes
border the project corridor for approximately 2,800
feet. There are two neighborhood access points
Cage Canal Trail corridor looking north as it enters Hunter Park Industrial neighborhood
to the corridor via utility easements connecting to
Massachusetts Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive
respectively. The trail will offer residents an additional active-transportation commuting option, directly linking them with employment centers in Hunter Industrial
Park to the north, and creating easy connections
to the existing on-street bicycle network to access
employment centers in the University District. The
Trail will also offer residents opportunities for active recreation, as well as a place to relax. Trailheads and other nodes along the corridor can be enhanced with
small landscaped plazas with the potential of seating
areas, exercise equipment, and community fruit trees.
RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY
From Spruce Street north for approximately 2,300-feet
the trail corridor runs adjacent to a railroad right-of-way which is located directly to the west. A Riverside County Transportation Commission property is located at the
junction of Spruce Street and Watkins Drive. In 2013
the environmental group Friends of Riverside’s Hills
reached a settlement with the RCTC, which allowed for
the completion of the 24-mile commuter rail extension
from Riverside to the city of Perris. Discussions
regarding this topic are ongoing.
BOX SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESERVE
The portion of the project corridor from Marlborough
Avenue south to Spruce Street runs along the
northwestern edge of the Box Springs Mountain
Reserve for approximately 3,500 feet. Two main trails
Cage Canal Trail corridor looking north where it lies adjacent to the railroad ROW and single family homes north of Spruce Street
15 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES within Box Springs will connect to the proposed Trail,
and would allow users to access the miles of trails within the Reserve. Where the Box Springs trails intersect the Trail there is an opportunity for placemaking by creating trail rest stops at these circulation nodes. Wayfinding and interpretive signage would also be appropriate at
these intersections.
Transit, Intersections, and Crossings
TRANSIT
Located on the west side of the street on Watkins Drive just 80 feet south of the Spruce Street intersection is a UC Riverside shuttle stop. A Metrolink station is located on Marlborough Avenue, 2000’ west of the Gage Canal
corridor.
INTERSECTIONS
• Spruce Street: Starting from the south end of the
plan area, users will first encounter the intersection at Spruce Street and Watkins Drive when traveling north.
Users will need to make two crossings to connect
up with the next section of trail. Spruce Street in this location is a three lane road and the crossing is 50
feet long. Users will then turn east to cross over an
existing pedestrian rail crossing before connecting
back to the off-street trail.
• Marlborough Avenue: To facilitate a direct connection between the Trail and the Metrolink station, a mid
block crossing will be created. Marlborough Avenue in
this location is a two lane road with class II bike lanes on both sides of the street and a center median. The
proposed crossing will span roughly 43 feet. Users will Gage Canal corridor looking north where it crosses Columbia Avenue.
Asphalt concrete service road connecting Marlborough Avenue to existing water tank. This is a potential pedestrian and bicycle connection from the Metrolink station.
then travel east or west over an existing pedestrian
rail crossing. The rail crossing on the south side of the street is 54 feet across whereas the northern crossing
is 37 feet across.
• Columbia Avenue: The trail design will implement a
mid-block crossing at Columbia Avenue. Columbia
avenue is a five lane road with Class II bike lanes. The crossing will span 70 feet.
Connections
DESTINATIONS
The heart of the UC Riverside campus is located
approximately half a mile south of the Trail terminus at Blaine Street (and there is a direct Class II connection between the trail and UCR). Another half mile to the
west of UCR is University Village, a large outdoor mall, which offers areas to shop and dine. In addition to UC
Riverside, this section of the Trail is located close to two other schools. University Heights Middle School
is roughly a quarter mile west of the trail. Continuing east across the Metrolink Rail line is Highland
Elementary School on Highlander Drive. With no direct
connection across the rail track, the school is about 0.4 miles to the trail intersection at Spruce Street. Other nearby destinations include: Riverside Sports Center
UCR, Stonehaven Student Housing, and places of
employment in the Hunter Industrial Park neighborhood
adjacent to northern segment of trail from Marlborough
16 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan Eastern terminus of Marlborough Avenue at its intersection with the Gage Canal corridor.
Avenue to Palmyrita Avenue. The Trail will offer access to Hunter Hobby Park, which is approximately ¾ mile
west of the Trail on Marlborough Avenue and has
playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas. An existing Class II bike lane connects the park to the Trail through Malborough Avenue and Columbia Avenue.
TRANSIT
Located near the halfway point of the northern
‘industrial’ segment, there is a connection to the
Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR Metrolink Station. The
trail links UCR and the Metrolink station, creating
an important connection for students and faculty
commuting to the campus. A transit stop is located on
Blaine Street (Riverside transit line 10), with another transit stop located on Watkins Drive just south of
Spruce Street adjacent to on-street section of the trail (Riverside transit line 51).
TRAILS
Besides connecting students and residents to Metrolink, the trail forms a direct link to the Box Springs Mountain Reserve trail system. The Box Springs Mountain
Reserve covers 3,500 acres of land in the cities of
Riverside and Moreno Valley. This will allow trail users easier access to many miles of existing and proposed
multi-use trails and scenic views of Riverside and
Moreno Valley.
BICYCLE FACILITIES
The Trail is also benefited by the connections to Class II bike lanes that are found on every cross street along the project corridor. These streets include:
• Blaine Street: 6’ wide Class II bike lanes
• Watkins Drive: 6’ wide Class II bike lanes
• Marlborough Avenue: 5 wide Class II bike lanes
• Columbia Avenue: 5’ wide Class II bike lanes
• Palmyrita Avenue: 7’ wide Class II bike lanes
Irrigation System Points of
Connection
The landscape irrigation system for the Trail corridor will make points of connection (POC) to existing potable
water mains within public street ROW where the trail
intersects the streets.
Carbon Sequestration
The Urban Greening grant application for this project
planned for the planting of 700 trees along the two
mile long corridor. These trees would sequester an
estimated 868 metric tons of CO2e. The final number of
trees will likely change based on the trail alignment and the species that are chosen to be planted. However, the project team will aim for the same target CO2 reduction as specified in the grant application.
Stormwater Capture
The City is under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA)
which establishes requirements for the discharge of
urban runoff from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4 permit) under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Board (RWQCB)
issued Permit No. R8-2010-033 to authorize the
discharge of urban runoff from MS4 facilities in Riverside County within the Santa Ana Region MS4 Permit areas.
This project will adhere to the Low Impact Development
(LID): Guidance and Standards for Transportation
Projects for the Santa Ana Region Riverside County
Co-Permittees. The guidance establishes minimum LID
Principal and Best Management Practices (BMPs) that
will treat runoff and address Hydrologic Conditions of
Concern.
In lieu of a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP),
the Master Plan will identify minimum required BMP’s
and address storm water pollution from the proposed
improvements. The goal of implementing storm
water quality management is to minimize storm water
pollutants runoff. Waste material dumped into storm
drain inlets can adversely impact surface and ground
waters. The pollutants of concern that are expected
17 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
NEEDS NEW IMAGE
Beginning of southern section of Trail at Watkins Drive entry point. This is a potential trailhead amenity location. to be generated from the runoff of impervious areas
are typically oil, grease, metals (copper, lead, zinc,
chlorinated pesticides), suspended soils, trash and
debris.
Land Use
The adjacent land uses vary as one moves north
to south down the project corridor, with mixed
commercial/light manufacturing uses in the north
from approximately Palmyrita Avenue down to
Marlborough Avenue, a more naturalized setting
between Marlborough Avenue and Spruce Street, and
a residential setting between Spruce Street and the
southern terminus of the project at Blaine Street. The
local climate is semi-arid with hot, dry summers and
mild, occasionally wet winters.
Summary of Surveys
Topographic Survey
Existing topographic aerial mapping was provided
by the City at 1-foot contours. The design was
supplemented by conventional field surveys at eight (8) locations along the project limits. The existing typical section along the Gage Canal Multi-Use Trail between
Blaine Street and Watkins Drive consist of an 8-feet
6-inch asphalt concrete path over native soil and 42-feet of native soil. At Watkins Drive the multi-use trail meets the existing sidewalk and traverses two driveways up
to Spruce Street. The multi-use trail crosses Metrolink rights-of-way and continues north up to Columbia
Avenue. This segment consists of an existing natural
dirt trail with graded native slopes on each side of the trail up to Box Springs. The existing terrain between
Columbia Avenue and Palmyrita Avenue mainly consists
of natural swales and undeveloped grassland.
Utilities
The design team requested maps and records from
utility owners with facilities within the project limits and will field verify the utilities that may be impacted. Based on the records received we determined the horizontal
and vertical location, as well as size of existing
utilities from available record drawings. Based on this preliminary research the utilities listed in Table 1 are within the project limits.
18 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan Geotechnical Survey
Field exploration were performed from February 19
to February 26, 2021, and consisted of performing 12
hand auger borings that were subsequently converted
to percolation test wells. The boring/percolation test locations were chosen to provide coverage of the
Project site for grading and to collect data for infiltration and agronomic testing. The boring depths, which
ranged from approximately 3 to 5 feet below the ground
surface (bgs), were selected to extend below the depth
of significant influence of the proposed pavement loads and to the likely depths of site infiltration. Details of the field exploration, including sampling and percolation
test procedures, and boring logs, are presented in
Appendix D.
Soil samples collected from the borings were
re-examined in the laboratory to substantiate field
classifications. Selected soil samples were tested
for moisture content, grain-size distribution, percent
passing the No. 200 sieve, Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, pavement-supporting capacity (R-value), and corrosion potential (pH, electrical resistivity, soluble chlorides, and soluble sulfates). The soil samples tested are identified on the boring logs.
Argonomy
Agronomy testing was performed by Wallace
Laboratories and A&L Laboratories on selected soil
samples. Tests included standard agricultural suitability, growth studies, and nematode testing. Results of the
agronomy testing and recommendations for the Project
site are summarized in the reports prepared by Wallace
Laboratories and A&L Laboratories that are presented
in Appendix D. The soils are overall adequate, and will require standard amendments during planting.
Soil Survey
Based on the findings of our field exploration and
laboratory testing, the subsurface conditions along
the Project alignment generally consisted of coarse-
grained (i.e., sandy) soils with varying fines (i.e., silt, clay) content. Laboratory test results did indicate that some of the soils contained similar amounts of coarse- and
fine-grained soils. Trace to few gravel and cobbles
were encountered in the bulk samples collected during
the field exploration, as was evidence of debris (e.g., concrete, glass, brick) in many of the borings. The hand auger borings performed along the Project segment
between Marlborough Avenue and Watkins Drive
generally encountered refusal caused by cobbles and
boulders at depths ranging from 3 to 4 feet bgs.
The moisture content of the near-surface soils generally ranged from 3% below to 3% above optimum moisture
content. The likely pavement subgrade soils were
visually classified as non-expansive. The pavement-
supporting capacity of the proposed multi-use path
subgrade soils was evaluated using laboratory R-value
testing, the results of which indicated R-values ranging from 54 to 73. The saturated permeability calculated
from field percolation tests performed in the sandy soils encountered in the upper 3 to 5 feet of the subsurface
profile ranged from approximately 0.02 to 6.8 inches
per hour (in/hr).
The saturated permeability calculated from field
percolation tests performed in the sandy soils
encountered in the upper 3 to 5 feet of the subsurface
profile ranged from approximately 0.02 to 6.8 inches
per hour (in/hr).
Groundwater measurements performed within
approximately 1 mile of the Project alignment within the last 20 years (California State Water Resources Control Board, 2021) generally indicate that groundwater
is more than 50 feet bgs. Therefore, a design
groundwater elevation of 50 feet bgs was selected for
the purposes of our analysis.
Environmental Summary
The environmental component for this project will follow the provisions of Senate Bill 288, which provides for a Statutory Exemption from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) for projects like the Gage Canal
Trail. The exemption recognizes that transportation
projects like trails, transit centers, rights-of-way
improvements intended to promote transit, cycling and
pedestrian modes that have potential to lower carbon
emissions from the transportation system, are exempt
from CEQA when certain criteria are met. To support
the Notice of Exemption (NOE), biological and cultural
resource technical study memos were performed.
The biological technical study will include consideration of legally protected resources (e.g., listed species,
waters/streambeds) and any implications (e.g., surveys, avoidance, minimization, mitigation, or permits) that
may be required. The cultural resource technical
study will offer historic background and management
recommendations for the cultural resources within this
two-mile stretch of the Gage Canal. The recommended
mitigation measures for the Gage Canal Trail will be
incorporated in the final plans and specifications.
19 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Table 1.0: Utilities Within the Project Limits
Utility Contact Information
AT&T Distribution ATTN: Susan Blackburn
(510) 645-2929
ATTSubstructureOCR@att.
com
AT&T Transmission ATTN: Joseph Forkert
22311 Brookhurst Street, Suite
203
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 963-7964
[email protected]
The Gage Canal Company ATTN: Ben Alms
7452 Dufferin Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 780-1333
[email protected]
HP Communications
Fontana
ATTN: Stacy Allee
8440 Cottonwood Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
(760) 985-2438
[email protected]
Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners
ATTN: Kurtis Johnson
1100 Town and Country Road
Orange, CA 92868
(714) 560-4400
Kurtis_johnson@
kindermorgan.com
Level 3 Communications/
Century Link
ATTN: Anthony Williams
1025 Eldorado Boulevard
Broomfield, CO 80021
(877) 366-8344
Anthony.Williams1@lumen.
com
MCI – Verizon 400 International Pkwy
Richardson, TX 75081
(972) 729-6322
[email protected]
Crown Castle Fiber – LA &
VEN
ATTN: Nicholas Belinsky
1500 Corporate Drive
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 416-2449
nicholas.belinsky@
crowncastle.com
Riverside Highland Water
Company
ATTN: Craig Gudgeon
12374 Michigan Street
Grand Terrace, CA 92313
(909) 825-4128
[email protected]
City of Riverside – Water City of Riverside - Water
ATTN: Blake Yamamoto
3750 University Ave., 3rd Fl.
Riverside, CA 92501
(951)826-5549
[email protected]
Utility Contact Information
City of Riverside – Traffic
Engineering
ATTN: Nathan Mustafa
3900 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92522
(951) 826-5148
[email protected]
City of Riverside – Electric ATTN: Efren Mejia
3900 Main Street
3750 University Ave., 4th Fl.
Riverside, CA 92501
(951)826-2182
[email protected]
City of Riverside – Sewer ATTN: Thuy Nguyen
3901 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5285
[email protected]
City of Riverside- City
Surveyor
ATTN: Curt Stephens
[email protected]
Spectrum - Riverside ATTN: Rey Lopez
7337 Central Avenue.
Riverside, CA 92504
dl-socal-charter-
[email protected]
University of California
Riverside
ATTN: Mike Mendoza
900 University Avenue,
Telephone Bldg.
Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-1881
[email protected]
SCE Distribution – Desert
Region
ATTN: Map Requests
14005 S. Benson Avenue
Chino, CA 91710
[email protected]
SC Gas Riverside -
Distribution
ATTN: Geary Ambers
1981 W Lugonia Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 335-7955
scgseregionredlandsutilityrequest@
semprautilities.com
SCG – Transmission socalgastransmissionutilityrequest@
semprautilities.com
20 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan Planning Context
City of Riverside Trails Master Plan
(2021)
The City of Riverside’s recently developed Trails
Master Plan (TMP) serves as an update to the Multi-
Purpose Recreational Trails Master Plan and Trails
Standards document adopted by Council in January
1996, with slight modifications and updates included
in the 2003 Parks and Recreation Master Plan update.
The TMP identified a series of existing and proposed
trail corridors throughout the city. A prioritization
process, examining opportunities and constraints and
considering public input, identified a group of “top-
ranked” proposed trails. The Gage Canal corridor was
classified as a top-ranked trail through this process.
The portion of the Trail planned and designed in this
document is part of the larger Gage Canal corridor that runs through the City of Riverside and is detailed in
the recently updated Riverside Trails Master Plan. The
Gage Canal Corridor creates a continuous 13+ mile long
trail connection across Riverside. Currently, roughly 1.9 miles of the corridor is constructed whereas 11.7 miles are proposed. This Trail plan will upgrade an existing .5 mile section of trail and create an additional 1.5 miles of existing trail through the corridor.
The Gage Canal corridor, once completed, will form one
of the longest continuous trails through Riverside. The completion of other adjoining trail corridors will assist in connecting Gage Canal to other major trail corridors like the Santa Ana River Trail, Victoria Avenue, and 7-mile
trail.
The future upgraded and constructed Trail between
Blaine Street and Marlborough Avenue will create a
vital connection between UC Riverside and adjacent
neighborhoods to the Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR
Metrolink Station. Besides connecting students and
residents to the Metrolink, this trail segment forms
a direct link to the Box Springs trail system. This will allow trail users easier access to several miles of multi- use trails and scenic views or Riverside and Moreno
Valley. The Trail is also benefited in this area by the connections to Class II bike lanes found on every cross street along the trail segment.
City of Riverside Active
Transportation Plan (2021)
The City of Riverside Active Transportation Plan (AT
Plan) builds on the city’s previous Bicycle Master
Plan and Master plan Update from 2007 and 2012.
The AT Plan integrates walking, bicycling, and other
transportation modes into a single plan that includes
policies, infrastructure recommendations, and
supporting programs, as well as identifies context
specific funding sources, prioritized infrastructure
projects, and implementation strategies.
As a means to create a cohesive network of
connectivity between transportation and recreation
facilities within the city, the AT Plan proposes links to major trail networks identified in the city’s Trails Master Plan including Gage Canal.
Riverside County Comprehensive
Trails Plan (2018)
The Riverside County Comprehensive Trails Plan
establishes three primary goals: 1) the creation of a
backbone trail network that is feasible, compatible with other plans, leverages trails within other jurisdictions, and closes gaps in a countywide trail system; 2)
provide guidance for the design of trails which are
accessible, usable by a variety of users, and connect
to major destinations and other trails; and 3) sharing
of recommendations for continued management of
regional trails. The plan also identifies regional parks and connections to county backbone trails, including
the Box Springs to which the Trail forms an important
connection.
Riverside General Plan - Parks and
Recreation Element (2012)
As part of the Parks and Recreation element of the city’s general plan amended in November of 2012, a vision
for the future of open space in the city was established.
Coined “A Necklace of Open Space”, Riverside
envisions a “necklace” of parks and open space that
exists on and/or defines the edges of the city with
connectivity between those spaces and to Riverside’s
neighborhoods with landscaped parkways and trails
accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
21 ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.
Gage Canal Multi-Purpose Trail Phase 1 Draft Master Plan
CITY OF RIVERSIDE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Riverside General Plan - Circulation
and Community Mobility Element
(2012)
The Circulation and Community Mobility Element of the
city’s General Plan includes a subsection on walking
and biking in Riverside that establishes a vision to
“provide an extensive and regionally linked public
bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian trails system.” This vision is supported by 13 policy objectives that provide guidance for expansion of the city’s trail network,
including maximizing connections between trails and
major activity centers and neighborhoods, linking to the trails of adjacent jurisdictions, and incorporating trails into future development projects.
Bicycle Master Plan (2007, 2012)
Riverside’s Bicycle Master Plan, adopted in 2007 and
updated in 2012, recommends several Class I Bike
Paths such as the completion of the Trail and providing connections to the Santa Ana River Trail. The Bicycle
Master Plan also proposes guidelines to encourage
trail usage, and calls for coordination with the county to connect city trails with the county’s network of regional trails.
Riverside County Box Springs
Comprehensive Trails Master Plan
(2015)
The Box Springs Trails Master Plan was created to
establish a vision for improved trails and increased
connectivity within the 3,400 acre reserve. While much
of Box Springs is situated outside of the city, a portion of the land falls within Riverside’s northwestern border.
The plan identifies several opportunities to connect
from the city trail network and local destinations to
the reserve. One of the areas identified as a “staging
area” for the Box Springs trail system is located at the Metrolink station on Marlborough. This plan aims to
create that connection.
City, State, Federal Standards
and Requirements Influencing
Design
The design of the Trail utilizes applicable standards and criteria from the City of Riverside, Caltrans Highway
Design Manual, American Public Works Association,
and CA MUTCD. These standards form the basis for all
improvements, including the horizontal path geometry,
cross slope grades, typical pathway sections (including pavement sections), driveways, curb ramps, sidewalk,
striping, signs and pavement markers, landscaping,
irrigation, and local drainage deficiency improvements.
All aspects of the trail will be accessible in accordance with State and Federal Law.
Applicable Codes and
Standards
The following lists applicable codes and standards to be used for design specific elements. References to these documents will be provided in the appendices of the
Special Provisions during the design phase.
• City of Riverside Standard Plans for Public Works
Construction – for special provisions and plans for
Class I bikeway, landscape, irrigation, driveway, curb
ramps, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and signs.
• Caltrans Standard Plans and Specifications – for
striping and pavement markers standards
• Caltrans Highway Design Manual (HDM) – for
bikeway design criteria.
• California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (CA MUTCD) – for specifications and
requirements for traffic control devices, including their use and placement.
• Standard Plans and Specifications for Public
Works Construction (SPPWC) – for supplemental
improvements not found in the city standards.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - for all
newly planned and constructed buildings, structures,
sidewalks, curbs, curb ramps, and other related
facilities.
• City of Riverside Trails Master Plan (2021) - for
soft-surface trail design