June 24, Carmen Sandoval, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Ad Hoc Subcommittee to Study Plaza de Panama Project

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1 June 24, 2011 TO: FROM: RE: Carmen Sandoval, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Ad Hoc Subcommittee to Study Panama Project Balboa Park Improvements Guiding Principles An ad hoc subcommittee was formed to study the Panama project, comprised of the following members of the Transportation and Land Use Committee: Sandy Shapery Gary Weber John Mendez Javier Galindo Clark Fernon Chamber staff member Carmen Sandoval supported the subcommittee, which met on four occasions: first on May 4, 2011, with members of the Panama project team (KCM, Civitas, and Rick Engineering) to better understand the proposed project, related issues, and other alternatives previously considered; second on May 12, 2011, with Bruce Coons to better understand SOHO s opposition to the project; third on May 17, 2011, in Balboa Park to walk the proposed alignment and review the likely impacts of the project; and finally on June 9, 2011, in the Chamber s offices to discuss our observations and recommendations. There are many, many viewpoints on Balboa Park, perhaps our city s most treasured public asset. The business community certainly has an interest in seeing a project go forward that would enhance and maximize patronage of the park by both tourists and San Diegans. In addition, the centennial of the park will occur in 2015 and a project could be timed for completion prior to events celebrating the centennial. However, any such project must balance many competing interests and a controversial project is not likely to be approved and constructed in time for the 2015 celebrations. Through our discussions, and especially in light of the anti project stance taken by the City Council on June 8, 2011, the subcommittee found it appropriate to develop guiding principles for the Chamber s position on any improvement project to be undertaken in Balboa Park, rather than commenting on the specific project proposed, which may no longer be moving forward. The subcommittee s recommendations are provided following the guiding principles. GUIDING PRINCIPLES Treatment of Plazas and Pedestrian Circulation Any project should strive to eliminate parking from the plaza spaces and improve the pedestrian experience within Balboa Park.

2 The Panama is at the heart of the park for many visitors, and significant effort is warranted to improve the experience for pedestrians, cyclists, disabled, and other nonmotorized visitors. Opportunities exist to enhance the north south pedestrian flow and better connect the Panama and surrounding venues with the Organ Pavilion, House of Pacific Relations/International Cottages, museums surrounding the Pan American Plaza, and other destinations in the south portion of the park. One such opportunity is to make the east half of the split roadway just north of the Organ Pavilion pedestrian only, and handle all vehicular traffic on the west half of the roadway (similar to the proposed Panama project). The Pan American Plaza, which is currently consumed by parking, is an oft overlooked opportunity to further enhance the visitor s experience. If a parking garage is considered behind the organ pavilion, rather than greening the roof of the parking garage and leaving the Pan American Plaza paved, it is recommended to consider keeping the roof of the parking garage as parking and reverting the plaza at least partially to a pedestrian friendly space. The plaza is quite large and a portion of it could remain paved for disabled parking, pick up and drop off, and public transit. Parking The ultimate solution to providing adequate parking may be to have a limited number of spaces within the park and significant parking surrounding the park, with enhanced public transit between the parking areas and the heart of the park. Such areas include the following: o There appear to be existing, free parking opportunities that are underutilized, such as Inspiration Point. With a better traveler information system and improved transit program, these opportunities could better serve the park with minimal capital cost. o Previous studies have reportedly shown that there are opportunities on the West side of the park (along Sixth Avenue and Balboa Park Way) to install diagonal parking at low cost, potentially providing hundreds of additional parking spaces. While the subcommittee did not review these studies, the concepts seem worth pursuing. o A parking garage may be possible in the vicinity of the lawn bowling facilities, or nearby. o The Zoo has studied possible construction of a parking structure in the vicinity of the Zoo s current parking lot or the carousel. The subcommittee did not reach consensus on whether or not parking in the heart of the park should be paid; however, if paid parking is implemented, then variable pricing should be considered and the latest technologies should be incorporated, such as a monitoring and communication system to provide real time traveler information. At least one committee member felt that paid parking (with variable pricing) should be extended to all parking within and around Balboa Park. Public Transit Public transit should be improved between the park and surrounding communities.

3 Public transit should be improved between the park and regional transit systems, such as the nearby bus stops and trolley stations downtown. Public transit should be improved within the park, especially between surrounding parking areas and the heart of the park. Ideally, these improved transit services should be designed to continue operating (at more frequent headways) on the busiest days of the year. Traffic Circulation Efforts to improve traffic circulation should be guided by these priorities, in order: o Emergency vehicles and other public safety functions (highest priority) o Commercial functions, such as deliveries to museums and restaurants, that are required for the daily operation of the park o Public transit access o General public for purposes of visiting the park o General public for travel through the park (lowest priority) Accessibility to and within the park, including meeting ADA requirements, is also a top priority. It is not evident to the subcommittee that a large scale construction project is warranted to improve traffic circulation. It was observed that on the busiest days of the year, the park is closed to traffic and plenty of people are able to find ways to access the park. If such a project is found to be warranted, perhaps not all options have been studied. For example, it appears feasible to lower the Prado West roadway to pass under the Panama in a curved cut and cover tunnel, daylighting just to the south of the plaza and reconnecting to the west half of the split roadway (north of the Organ Pavilion). The cost of such a project is likely similar to, or less than, the proposed Panama project. Another possible option for managing traffic circulation is to limit vehicular access into and through the park via a toll system or other means. Balance of Old and New There is an opportunity to provide a balance between our 20 th Century heritage on the one hand and 21 st Century technology on the other. Any project should respect the historic and treasured features of the park, such as the architectural character of existing buildings and the serenity of areas like the Alcazar Garden. Where appropriate, new technologies should be incorporated, such as clean technologies for propelling transit vehicles, solar panel arrays atop any parking garage, and the latest parking and traveler information systems. Partnership As stated above, a controversial project will not get built by The Chamber encourages a spirit of partnership in the development of a workable improvement project. Involved entities

4 with different or even opposing viewpoints will need to work together to find a way forward, or nothing at all will get built. SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS The committee believes the best solution to the Panama itself would be a phased approach. The first phase would consist of eliminating parking from the plaza, but continuing to allow vehicular access through the plaza. This improvement should be combined with an overall pedestrianization of the Prado West and the roadway as it passes through the plaza and turns south toward the organ pavilion. (For example, use of pavers or other textured surface materials would inform drivers that they are in a pedestrian friendly zone, and also make the roadway appealing to pedestrians during those times when the park is closed to traffic.) Bidirectional traffic would be placed on the westerly of the two roadways south of the plaza, with conversion of the easterly roadway over to pedestrian use. This should be a cost effective, minimally controversial project that could be designed and constructed by It could also be combined with other improvements to the plaza and park similar to those envisioned by the proposed Panama project; however, there would be no bypass roadway. This would enable further study of the true need for complete elimination of vehicles from the Panama. If warranted, a future phase (likely after 2015) could consist of limiting or eliminating vehicles from the plaza. Limiting could be achieved via tolling. Eliminating could be achieved by undergrounding of the roadway through the plaza, as shown in the attached exhibits. Exhibit A shows the new (undergrounded) roadway connecting to the existing roadway near the Organ Pavilion. Exhibit B shows the new (undergrounded) roadway connecting to a separate roadway near the Organ Pavilion, with access to a parking garage south of the Organ Pavilion (similar to the Panama project, but with no bypass bridge). Exhibit C shows a conceptual cross section of the depressed roadway along the Prado West.

5 Botanical Building The Old Globe Theatre of Art San Diego of Art Panama Timken Casa del Prado California Panama Alcazar Alcazar Gardens Gardens House of Charm House of Charm Casa de Balboa Alcazar Gardens Parking Alcazar Parking Lot PLAZA DE PANAMA Balboa Park San Diego, Ca Spreckles Organ Pavilion Spreckles Organ Pavilion NORTH Proposed Rooop Park / Parking Garage Balboa Park Cut and Cover Concept EXHIBIT A - Connection to Existing Roadway TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE COMMITTEE Federal Building

6 Botanical Building The Old Globe Theatre of Art San Diego of Art Panama Timken Casa del Prado California Panama Alcazar Alcazar Gardens Gardens House of Charm House of Charm Casa de Balboa Alcazar Gardens Parking Alcazar Parking Lot PLAZA DE PANAMA Balboa Park San Diego, Ca Spreckles Organ Pavilion Spreckles Organ Pavilion NORTH Proposed Rooop Park / Parking Garage Balboa Park Cut and Cover Concept EXHIBIT B - Connection to Bypass Roadway TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE COMMITTEE Federal Building

7 cadcoaching.co.uk Balboa Park Cut and Cover Concept EXHIBIT C - Prado West Typical Section TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE COMMITTEE