SVBC Sends Joint Comment Letter for Dumbarton Study

Friday, September 29 marked the deadline for comments to SamTrans on the Dumbarton Corridor Study. SVBC collaborated with eleven other organizations on a joint letter with comments on the feasibility study. This letter was a follow-up to our coalition letter back in April and in addition to meetings with SamTrans staff over the past couple months as well as two community forums that we co-hosted. Because we wanted to share a message with other organizations that have related missions of serving the community, the scope of the letter is broad.The study initially included multi-use trail options along the Peninsula right of way of the Dumbarton rail corridor but that was not recommended by SamTrans in the draft study due to space considerations. SVBC, along with other groups, think that a trail should be included in further study and analysis alongside transit in the ongoing process for the corridor.SamTrans staff will be collating and reading all the comments they've received over the past 45 days and using them to update the draft study to take back to the SamTrans Board, likely in December. We will keep you posted for the meeting date. In the meantime, SVBC and our partners will be meeting with decision-makers to get our message across.As discussed in other posts, this area lacks a connected bike network with many gaps and barriers (see local bike network map in above image). In addition, several of these neighborhoods are historically underserved by high quality transportation and safe walking and biking facilities. A multi-use trail along the rail corridor would create a community asset and a great complement to transit service. It would be free and open to the public 24/7, serving locals and commuters alike.There are also good examples from around the country of multi-use trails alongside transit. These demonstrate how bike/ped facilities can be designed safely alongside transit, particularly in constrained spaces:Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade/Linear Park in San Diego, CA: a trail between light rail/trolley and active freight rail. It runs alongside Harbor Dr. starting at Kettner Blvd. until Fifth Ave (about 2/3 of a mile). At that point it splits into separate trails/sidewalks on either side of the rails. The total right of way is approximately 60-75, including three rail tracks (two light rail and one freight). The width of the trail is approximately 10-15'.Mason Trail and MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Fort Collins, CO: The Mason Corridor bicycle/pedestrian trail runs parallel to the MAX Bus Rapid Transit system offering a convenient north/south route for cyclists and pedestrians. This trail provides a direct link to major destinations, activity centers along the Corridor and it links to the city's existing and expanding trail network. The trail and BRT are also adjacent to a rail corridor. South of Drake Road, the bus shares McLellan Drive with cars and there is also a bike lane in addition to the trail on the other side of the rail. (Bike Map, BRT Map)Image from left to right: Road, trail, rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)Orange Line, Los Angeles: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and trail.Palo Alto Caltrain: Approx. 65 feet width for two sets of train tracks, fencing, and a nice wide bike trail with graveled shoulders.Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART): Approx. 65 ft. wide with two rail tracks and a trail.Purple Line and Capital Crescent Trail, MD: commuter rail, rail, and trail.