The Great California Delta Trail

Planning Process for Contra Costa and Solano

CountiesTechnical Advisory Committee Meeting

January 2010

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome from Delta Protection Commission

Representative of Delta Protection Commission

Representative of Assembly Member Tom Torlakson

Alta Planning + Design, Consultant

National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Project Overview

What is the The Great California Delta Trail?

The Great Delta Trail concept was born out of Senate Bill 1556 (Assembly Member Torlakson) to facilitate the planning and feasibility process for the establishment of The Great California Delta Trail in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Project Overview

What is The Great California Delta Trail planning process?

Create Blueprint Report for how the trail will be planned in Contra Costa and Solano Counties

The Report will be followed by more detailed planning in these and in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo Counties

The Great California Delta Trail will be considered for implementation in the cities, towns and communities

Project Overview

The Blueprint Report will Be a guide for the planning, feasibility and outreach

process

Be based on working with stakeholders and property owners

Build on existing trail networks

Identify opportunities for new trails

The Blueprint Report will NOT Adopt specific trail alignments or projects but may

identify potential trail alignment opportunities

Project Overview

Who is working on The Great California Delta Trail Blueprint Report?

Delta Protection Commission

National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Contra Costa County

Solano County

Alta Planning + Design, Consultants

You!

Project OverviewTechnical Advisory Committee Roles

Identify technical issues related to planning, design and engineering

Present the related needs and plans of your agency and organization

Identify potential, planned and existing trail alignments and projects

Help obtain relevant data

Project OverviewStakeholder Advisory Committee Roles

Present the interests of your constituency

Help identify trail opportunities and challenges for areas where you have familiarity

Provide insight on local issues that may affect the trail alignment

Identify other potential stakeholders

Project Summary

Goal is to develop a Blueprint Report for the trail planning process and product, focusing on Contra Costa and Solano Counties

Report will be followed by more detailed planning in these and in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo Counties

Technical and Stakeholder advisory committees will provide valuable input on interests and issues

Blueprint Report will not include specific trail alignments or designs, it will be focused on developing the planning, feasibility, and outreach process

Project Steps

Review existing conditions and policy documents

Outreach Local interests Issues

Trails Best Practices Memo Technical Issues Memo Draft Great California Delta Trail Blueprint

Report Outreach and input Final Great California Delta Trail Blueprint

Report

Project Schedule

Task 1: Establish Baseline ConditionsExisting Conditions

Trails Best Practices Memorandum

Develop Technical Issues Memorandum

Task 2: Outreach ActivitiesStakeholder Interviews

TAC Meeting #1

SAC Meeting #1

Task 3: "Blue Print" Final ReportDraft Blueprint

TAC Meeting #2

SAC Meeting #2

Final Blueprint

Nov Dec JunMar May Jan Feb

2009-2010Jul AugAprilOct

Project Background and Context

What is a “trail”? Multi use paths

Paved paths 12’+ wide

Serve bicyclists, pedestrians, ADA, strollers

Unpaved trails

Serve mountain bicyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, limited wheelchairs

Other trails include water trails, interpretive educational trails, agricultural marketing trails

Project Background and Context

Project Background and Context

Project Background and Context

Community Ownership

Trail stewardship

Public process must build trust

Access to nature, scenic views, historical and cultural areas, local communities

Respect adjacent property owners

Fun, safe and convenient for users

Addressed maintenance and management

What Makes a Successful Trail?

San Francisco Bay Trail

American River Parkway

Cedar Lake Regional Trail, Minneapolis

Sandifer Bridge, Spokane River Centennial Trail, WA

Project Background and ContextRegional trails typically

have:

Goals and objectives

Design standards

Oversight bodies

Community involvement

Adopted plans

Project Background and Context

Project Background and Context

Regional Trails Best Practices

Many nearby regional trails:

San Francisco Bay Trail

Bay Area Ridge Trail

California Coastal Trail

American River Parkway

Project Background and ContextTechnical Issues

Sea level rise

Levee integrity

Safety and function

Right-of-way

Agricultural impact

Natural resources

Cultural resources

Project Background and ContextToday’s objectives are to identify:

Subject or site specific challenges

Subject or site specific opportunities

Existing or planned trails

Relevant data or information

Project Background and ContextInformation gathering

Site specific information (projects, resources, ownership)

Data and information on existing or planned trails

GIS data can help us build a comprehensive map

Breakout Session

Trail Opportunities and Challenges Breakout Session

Break into groups of 4-6 people

One facilitator, one note taker

Your ideas (subject or site specific)

Breakout Session Goals What data do you have?

What are the key opportunities and challenges?

What is the best way to plan and design the trail?

What else should we know about or have?

Trail Opportunities and Challenges

What is your vision of what The Great California Delta Trail should be?

What are key opportunities to create/implement The Great California Delta Trail?

What are the key challenges to create/implement the Great California Delta Trail?

Next Steps

Stakeholder interviews

Continue review of existing conditions

Develop best practices memo

Develop technical issues memo

Draft Great California Delta Trail Blueprint Report

TAC/SAC meetings in June 2010

Present Final Great California Delta Trail Blueprint Report to Delta Protection Commission

Thank you!

For more information and to keep updated visit:

www.delta.ca.gov