for Via Verdi Repair Project prepared for City of Richmond This report was prepared by: This report was reviewed by: Ryan McClain, P.E. Fehr & Peers
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION & PROJECT DESCRIPTION... 1 2.0 ROAD CLOSURES DURING CONSTRUCTION... 2 2.1 Summary of Construction... 2 2.2 El Portal Drive Closure... 2 2.3 Traffic Detours... 2 2.4 Transit... 2 3.0 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY... 3 3.1 Summary of Strategies... 3 4.0 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN STRATEGIES... 5 4.1 Public Information... 5 4.1.1 Media and Press Releases... 5 4.1.2 Local Television News and Newspapers... 5 4.1.3 Community Outreach... 5 4.1.4 Other Public Information Strategies... 6 4.2 Motorist/Traveler Information Strategies... 6 4.2.1 Changeable Message Signs (CMS)... 6 4.2.2 Ground Mounted (Stationary) Signs... 6 4.3 Construction Strategies... 6 4.3.1 Stage Construction and Traffic Handling... 6 4.3.2 Project Phasing... 6 4.4 Demand Management... 7 5.0 CONTINGENCY PLAN... 8 TABLES Table 1: Roles & Responsibilities... 7 APPENDICES Appendix A Traffic Control Plan Appendix B Detour Plan i
1.0 INTRODUCTION & PROJECT DESCRIPTION This document is intended to outline the transportation management approach for the Via Verdi Repair Project in the City of Richmond. It describes roadway closures and detours required for construction of the project as well as public information strategies to minimize the impacts to traffic caused by the project to the extent possible. Via Verdi is a two lane road providing access to a residential development that includes 85 single family homes and a 100 unit apartment complex. Via Verdi is the only road access to the development. On April 15, 2010, a culvert that passes under Via Verdi collapsed causing the road to fail and cut off vehicular access to the residential development. A temporary bypass road through the adjacent cemetery property was constructed to restore access to the development. The repair project includes the replacement of the section of culvert that collapsed at Via Verdi and the remaining intact culvert under El Portal Drive with a modern reinforced concrete box culvert. The remaining intact culvert will need to be removed and replaced by traditional open cut methods. The design of the culvert replacement will also include a reinforced concrete headwall at the upstream and downstream ends of the replaced culvert section. In addition to the culvert replacement, there are several other project elements including: road design and construction for Via Verdi and El Portal Drive; temporary bypass road demolition and cemetery property restoration; creek restoration; utility design and reconstruction; and Creekview Condominiums parcel restoration. The road areas affected by the culvert collapse and construction, including Via Verdi, El Portal Drive, and portions of the parking and entrance areas for the Creekview Condominiums will be designed and reconstructed. The temporary bypass road will be demolished and the cemetery property restored to its prior condition in accordance with agreements between the Cemetery Trust and City of Richmond. Approximately 30 feet of San Pablo Creek will be daylighted in the headwall area, and the creek bed adjacent to the headwall and endwall will be restored and revegetated. The Project will include utility design and re-construction along Via Verdi and El Portal, with all utilities and surface drainage to be restored approximately to their pre-collapse conditions. The project is expected to take six to eight months to complete. To ensure public safety, the Project requires full closure of El Portal Drive east of I-80 between the bypass road and Barranca Street during construction. The roadway closure and detouring is described in Chapter 2. 1
2.0 ROAD CLOSURES DURING CONSTRUCTION This chapter presents information on the El Portal Drive closure for the Via Verdi Repair Project. 2.1 SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION Construction of the Via Verdi Repair Project is expected to take six to eight months. Construction includes replacement of the collapsed culvert and remaining culvert, reconstruction of Via Verdi and El Portal Drive, and removal of the temporary bypass road as described in Chapter 1. In terms of traffic control and detouring, all work will take place as single phase. 2.2 EL PORTAL DRIVE CLOSURE To facilitate construction of the Project and to ensure public safety, El Portal Drive will be closed east of I-80 between the existing temporary bypass road and Barranca Street (see Appendix A for the proposed Traffic Control Plan). This closure is expected to be in place for the entire construction schedule of six to eight months. This closure will block access between I-80 and San Pablo Dam Road along El Portal Drive, as well as to areas west of I-80. 2.3 TRAFFIC DETOURS During the road closure, traffic will be detoured to San Pablo Dam Road, south of El Portal Drive in the following manner: Westbound traffic on El Portal Drive coming from San Pablo Dam Road will be routed along San Pablo Dam Road southwest to the I-80/San Pablo Dam Road interchange, then north on San Pablo Avenue to Church Lane. Eastbound traffic on El Portal Drive heading to San Pablo Dam Road will be routed south on Church Lane to San Pablo Avenue, then northeast on San Pablo Dam Road. Eastbound I-80 traffic using El Portal Drive to reach San Pablo Dam Road will be detoured to the San Pablo Dam Road interchange. Westbound I-80 traffic using El Portal Drive to reach San Pablo Dam Road will be detoured to the San Pablo Dam Road interchange. The detour plan is provided in Appendix B. 2.4 TRANSIT Currently AC Transit operates the 74 line and the Transbay L line on El Portal Drive. These routes will need to be detoured during construction and bus stops will need to be relocated outside of the construction zone. 2
3.0 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY 3.1 SUMMARY OF STRATEGIES The Transportation Management Plan (TMP) is a specialized program tailored to prevent and mitigate the impacts of a construction project by applying a variety of techniques. The major objectives of the TMP are to maintain efficient and safe movement of vehicles around the construction zone and to provide intensive public awareness of potential impacts. The TMP strategies are of a general nature and mitigate the overall level of congestion. The strategies are grouped into seven broad Transportation Management categories: 1. Public Information 2. Motorist/Traveler Information Strategies 3. Incident Management 4. Construction Strategies 5. Demand Management 6. Alternate Route Strategies; and 7. Other Strategies Public Information, Traveler Information Strategies, and Demand Management are most applicable to this project. Detailed information regarding these elements and how they can be applied to this project is discussed in Section 4.0: Transportation Management Plan Strategies. Table 1 lists specific Transportation Management measures planned for implementation on this project and the corresponding roles and responsibilities. 3
Table 1 Roles and Responsibilities Transportation Management Measure Responsible Agency Action Required Comments 1 Construction Area Signs (Ground Mounted) Contractor Provide warning information to motorists. Included in PS&E, construction area signs and detour signs. 2 Portable Changeable Message Signs Contractor Install portable CMS s announcing detours and upcoming construction. Message content and deployment supervised by CM. To be used as needed as part of Traveler Information Strategies and as shown on the Detour Plan. 3 Detours Contractor Establish detour routes and signing. Various items included in the PS&E. Detour information can also be posted on a website. 4 Press Releases City of Richmond Provide construction and project information through media. 5 Traveler Information System City of Richmond in cooperation with Caltrans Provide real-time traffic information on Caltrans website. To be used as needed as part of Public Information. 6 Community Outreach City of Richmond Provide up-to-date project information on project s website, using door to door flyers/handouts, and through public meetings. To be used as needed as part of Public Information. 4
4.0 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN STRATEGIES This section describes TMP strategies applicable to mitigate construction-related traffic delays on this project. The TMP strategies are of a general nature and mitigate the overall level of congestion. The following categories have been identified as being most applicable to this project and are highlighted in this section: Public information Traveler Information Strategies Construction Strategies Demand Management Transportation management strategies that require action by the construction contractor are described briefly in the TMP and presented in detail in the project Technical Specifications. Transportation management strategies that are to be implemented by the City of Richmond appear only in the TMP and are not included in the Technical Specifications. The following is a detailed discussion of the Transportation Management strategy elements that are suggested for this project. 4.1 PUBLIC INFORMATION Public awareness activities will be provided specifically for this project. These activities may include but are not limited to the following: 4.1.1 Media and Press Releases Detailed construction information and the roadway closure schedule should be provided for public awareness through media notification four weeks prior to the start of construction. The recipients of these notifications and press releases may include but are not limited to newspapers, television, radio, etc. These press releases shall also be provided for inclusion on agency web sites, and to the El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee, the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, and Caltrans. Initial notifications will be issued by February 15, 2012. 4.1.2 Local Television News and Newspapers The City of Richmond will include all major local media resources including local television news stations and local newspapers in the standard distribution of Media/Press Releases. Media will be notified of information available from the website. 4.1.3 Community Outreach The City of Richmond will provide community outreach for this project through various methods such as construction updates on their web site and producing brochures and flyers, all as deemed necessary by staff. As the project progresses, City of Richmond will hold public informational meetings and send mailings as deemed necessary and deemed helpful to alleviate commuter and resident concerns and coordinate with El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee. 5
4.1.4 Other Public Information Strategies The Contractor shall provide the City of Richmond project manager with detailed information concerning project schedule, including any changes to traffic control, in advance of the activity. Timely project status reports will be forwarded by the City of Richmond to Caltrans, City of San Pablo, Contra Costa County Public Works, El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee, and West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee. 4.2 MOTORIST/TRAVELER INFORMATION STRATEGIES The motorist/traveler information strategies provide advance notices regarding potential delays and/or available detours during construction throughout the project. The Contractor will be required to comply with construction signing standards for all work. 4.2.1 Changeable Message Signs (CMS) The function of Changeable Message Signs (CMS) is to alert drivers in advance of changing travel conditions in the construction zone such as congestion and detours in order to provide an opportunity to change routes or adjust travel plans. Messages should conform to Caltrans guidelines and CMS use shall be limited to real-time conditions such as ongoing detours or short term advance notice of changing conditions such as ramp closures within the week. For advance notice of the El Portal Drive closure and detours to San Pablo Dam Road, it is recommended that CMS be placed two weeks prior to the closure. The CMS should remain in place for two weeks after the closure is in place, then replaced with ground mounted (stationary) signs for the duration of construction. 4.2.2 Ground Mounted (Stationary) Signs Ground mounted construction and warning signs provide information about immediate road hazards to motorists, including appropriate signing for expected closures. The Construction Manager may provide input regarding numbers of signs needed. Additionally, construction notice signing shall be installed two weeks in advance of the start of construction and notices of construction activities should be submitted to local police departments, fire departments, and transit agencies. Signing showing the estimated dates for the beginning and ending of construction should be posted in advance of the project limits in each direction and shall be maintained throughout the duration of construction. 4.3 CONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES Construction strategies are implemented for a project whether or not a TMP is prepared. The key features of stage construction are to schedule work to minimize impacts and provide alternate routes. 4.3.1 Stage Construction and Traffic Handling Construction strategies should be developed by the Contractor in conjunction with the City of Richmond. In addition to the traffic control plan and detour plan in the PS&E, the Contractor shall prepare traffic control plans for approval by the City of Richmond when such plans deviate from the PS&E. 4.3.2 Project Phasing City of Richmond and the Contractor will coordinate the phasing of any other projects both within and adjacent to this project s limits in order to minimize conflicts and traveler delay and inconvenience, and to avoid duplication of construction efforts. 6
4.4 DEMAND MANAGEMENT Due to the significant levels of congestion throughout the area, a reduction in traffic demand during peak periods will help reduce congestion along the detour route. The City of Richmond shall notify the public through outreach to be aware of the closure and detours so as to minimize the increased traffic in the areas as much as possible. In addition, the City will coordinate with AC Transit and WestCAT to encourage public transit usage during the construction period. In addition, through the public outreach and public information process, the City of Richmond will encourage other demand reduction strategies such as ride sharing and alternate work hour schedules. 7
5.0 CONTINGENCY PLAN An incident on I-80, higher than anticipated traffic demand, or construction activity from other projects could result in increased congestion at the San Pablo Dam Road off-ramps. The Contractor and the City of Richmond shall have a contingency plan in place to reroute detoured traffic from the San Pablo Dam Road off-ramps to other interchanges such as Hilltop Drive and Appian Way to temporarily alleviate congestion at San Pablo Dam Road. This effort will be coordinated with Caltrans. CMS will be used to direct traffic. The names, telephone numbers and pager/cell numbers of the Contractor s Project Manager and City of Richmond s project manager shall be provided in the Contingency Plan. Appropriate communication procedures will be established to communicate between agencies during the entire construction period. 8
APPENDIX A Traffic Control Plan
APPENDIX B Detour Plan