STAFF REPORT City Council of the City of Sausalito AGENDA TITLE: Ferry Patron Bicycle Parking Plan - Summer 2014 RECOMMENDED MOTION: Note and file informational item, no action necessary SUMMARY In April 2013 the attached Staff Report was presented to City Council to review the history of problem solving vehicular, bike and pedestrian traffic in the Ferry Landing Transit Hub area. Five potential solutions were reviewed to address the safety issues associated with the increased number of bicycles and tourists converging on El Portal and Tracy Way. The five potential solutions and some of their benefits and costs are listed in the following table: Ferry Patron Bike Parking Alternatives Number Concept Benefits Costs 1 Close Tracy Way to No racks elsewhere. Bicycles Increases vehicle vehicular traffic for the are moved away from the congestion on El season and use the space for bicycle parking 2 Close Tracy Way and limit El Portal to morning and evening vehicular traffic staging area. Parking area close enough to ferry terminal to be readily recognizable by bicyclists without the need for additional signage or changes in bicycle rental maps Reduces congestion compared to 1. Bicycles are moved away from the staging area. Parking area close enough to ferry terminal to be readily recognizable by bicyclists without the need for additional signage or changes in.bicycle rental maps Portal and requires two-way traffic with turnaround Requires two-way El Portal plus installation and removal of a barrier seven days per week Page 1 of 8
Ferry Patron Bike Parking Alternatives Number Concept Benefits Costs 3 Close parking lane of Tracy and construct temporary bike parking zone Allows vehicular movements on El Portal and Tracy. Bicycles are moved away from the Loss of revenue, vehicular parking, creates trip hazards for 4 Utilize SMALL CAR parking spaces in Muni Lot 1 5 Utilize portion of Lot 1 with Tracy-fronting parking spaces staging area. Parking area close enough to ferry terminal to be readily recognizable by bicyclists without the need for additional signage or changes in bicycle rental maps Least impact to vehicular traffic on street or in Lot. These vehicle parking spaces are often underutilized as they are too small for most vehicles. Closest to queue. Bicycles are moved away from the staging area. Parking area close enough to ferry terminal to be readily recognizable by bicyclists without the need for additional signage or changes in bicycle rental maps bicyclists moving out of parking and onto sidewalk for queuing, possible hazard for bicyclists climbing over barrier into or out of Tracy Distance from queue, loss of revenue, need for barrier to separate bikes and pedestrians from vehicles in lot Loss of revenue, need for barrier and need to relocate spaces for persons with disabilities Graphics depicting these concepts were also provided as an attachment to the April, 2013 Staff Report. Option #5 was initially implemented in May 2013 with 14 parking spaces repurposed to accommodate bicycle racks. This allowed tourists to park their bicycles away from the staging area and reduced most of the congestion we had experienced in 2012. To make sure costs were equitably borne by the bicycle rental companies, the ferry services and the City, Blazing Saddles, the largest of the bicycle rental companies provided part-time staff on the busiest days to assist in directing bicycle traffic into the designated parking area. Golden Gate Ferry expanded its service and provided two full-time staff persons to coordinate pedestrian flow and the bicycle reservation system that allowed tourists to pick their ferry departure time based on their desired length of stay to sightsee, shop and dine in Sausalito. In response to concerns regarding the loss of vehicle parking space, one K-rail segment and three bicycle racks were Page 2 of 8
removed from the initial configuration on May 17, 2013 and wheelstops re-installed on several vehicle parking spaces. One of the concerns in choosing to place the designated bicycle parking option in Lot 1 was that it would result in a decrease in Lot 1 Revenue. This did not materialize and in fact, a review of our revenue from Lot 1 for the period of July 31, 2013 to December 31, 2013 shows a 15% increase, or $47, 495.28 from the same period the previous year. 7/31/2012-12/31/2012: $315,782.35 7/31/2013-12/31/2013: $363,277.63 A comparison of Lot 1 revenues for the entire calendar year of 2012 and 2013 also shows no loss in revenue: 2012: $1,198,015.45 (increase of $91,530.51, or 8.27%, over previous year) 2013: $1,308,532.11 (increase of $110,516.66, or 9.22%, over previous year) Taxi service has also expanded in Sausalito over the last two years and impacted the El Portal/Tracy Way intersection causing further congestion. A taxi parking/staging plan was put in place to move the taxi staging area from El Portal to Anchor Street and Bay Street. ISSUES The volume of visitors continues to rise each year and it is evident in the reports on Ferry ridership. Blue and Gold is reporting an 8% increase in total passengers from 2012 to 2013 and Golden Gate is reporting an 18.8% increase in bike fares from 2012 to 2013. Blue and Gold (year counts, all passengers - bike stats not available) 2012 278,360 2013 303,713 (8% increase from 2012, but only 4% higher than 2011 levels) Golden Gate Ferry bike counts July through September 2012 18,763 2013 22,519 (18.8% increase) Throughout the summer Staff continued to monitor the effectiveness of the bike parking plan in mitigating safety concerns and traffic flow on El Portal. As the tourist season reached its peak in August all the bicycle parking was filled to capacity and the bicycles regularly backed up onto El Portal in mid to late afternoon causing it to become congested and unsafe. City Staff has worked closely with the involved parties to help reduce the impact of the approximately 3000+ rental bicyclists that visit the downtown area on summer days. Due to the increase in visitors, the limitations of the current bicycle parking area, its proximity to the ferry staging line and the reservation booth, it has made this area a point of congestion. Bicyclists will often back up into the intersection of Tracy Way and El Portal, creating the risk of Page 3 of 8
vehicle versus bicycle collisions. When the current bicycle parking is full, people will secure their bicycles to meter poles. This condition makes it difficult to collect meter money and has caused the SPD to establish earlier collection times. To alleviate this safety concern the City has an opportunity to consider introducing an ordinance to regulate bicycle parking such as prohibiting bicycle on sidewalks, against trees and parking meters. The City continues to be proactive in working with the Chamber of Commerce, and the bicycle rental and ferry companies to limit the adverse impacts of this type of tourism on the downtown area. Staff believes that the current bicycle parking areas are at capacity and that additional parking areas need to be established. Further, the placement of parking racks in the Bank of America plaza has drawn criticism from our downtown merchants. City Staff and Parisi Transportation Consulting (a Sausalito business) evaluated the spatial geometry of both El Portal and Tracy Way to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing Tracy Way for bicycle parking and utilizing El Portal for two-way traffic. Without removing some of the parking spaces on El Portal, the available turning radius for a vehicle wishing to reverse direction from easterly to westerly and exit with Tracy Way closed to vehicular traffic is only 27- feet. This radius is sufficient for most passenger cars without the requirement for backing associated with a three-point turn; however, it is not sufficient for a modern single-unit (twoaxle) truck that requires slightly more than a 35-foot radius. A short commercial semi-trailer (similar to those observed making deliveries on El Portal when the site was first visited) can require more than a 35-foot radius. On this basis, Staff recommends that for the duration of the seasonal closure of Tracy Way, five (5) presently metered parking spaces and three (3) loading zone spaces be restricted to commercial and passenger loading only as depicted on the attached Figure 1 to ensure a minimum of a 36-foot turnaround radius. On the basis of the congestion noted on El Portal last season. Staff further recommends that the other spaces on El Portal be restricted to commercial and passenger loading only during the hours of 11 AM to 7 PM every day (parking would be prohibited during those hours). Staff plans to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing some of these spaces for taxicab standing. Staff will work with the commercial route drivers who deliver to businesses on El Portal to ensure that they are aware of the proposed changes and that appropriate modifications to schedules, routes and vehicles can be accomplished to minimize any potential adverse impacts associated with the seasonal closure of Tracy Way to motor vehicles. Staff expects to be able to accommodate a minimum of 216 bicycles in racks on Tracy Way and may be able to accommodate up to 342 bicycles in racks if the spacing is feasible. FISCAL IMPACT The creation of a designated bicycle parking area with controlled points of entry and exit will cost the City an estimated $1,500 in materials (bollards and modifications to signage) and Staff time for labor. Page 4 of 8
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS On an interim basis, Staff plans to implement Alternative 1 Close Tracy Way and reconfigure El Portal into a two-way street, limiting parking on El Portal to commercial and passenger loading during peak bicycle and pedestrian hours with the exception of certain spaces necessary for safe turnaround and allowing regular parking before 11 AM and after 6 PM in those spaces not needed for the turnaround. Should additional actions be necessary to protect the health and safety of pedestrians, bicyclists or motorists, Staff is prepared to take additional actions as warranted. The information gathered in addressing these issues and in enjoying the benefits of Sausalito as a bicycle touring destination will aid the City and the Ferry District in developing long-term plans to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives associated with ferry landing operations. ATTACHMENTS A. Figure 1 - El Portal Parking and Loading Spaces to Allow 36-foot Turnaround Radius B. Concept Plan for 2014 Bike Parking C. Staff Report 04/23/2013 Page 5 of 8
PREPARED AND REVIEWED BY: Jennifer Tejada Chief of Police PREPARED AND REVIEWED BY: Jonathon Goldman M Director of Public Works SUBMITTED BY: City Manager Page 6 of 8
ATTACHMENT A Figure 1 -- El Portal Parking and Loading Spaces to Allow 36-foot Turnaround Radius Page 7 of 8
ATTACHMENT B Concept Plan for Ferry Landing Alternative Bike Parking Locations Alternative 1 Close Tracy Way to Vehicular Traffic for the Season Page 8 of 8