Community-Based Planning to Create a Walkable/Bikeable Treasure Island

 

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) have been awarded a $98,000 grant from CalTrans Division of Transportation Planning. The grant will fund community based transportation planning to create a safe walkable, bikeable and accessible Treasure Island. Treasure Island is a former Naval base situated midway between San Francisco mainland and west Oakland. Click here for photos and further information on Treasure Island History. This project will lead meaningful outreach and facilitate community participation in prioritizing sustainable transportation needs for current and future residents of Treasure Island, visitors, employees and commuters.

Proposed Draft Sustainability Plan for Treasure Island (Designed by SOM)

Creating safe functional places for people to walk and bicycle could have a profound impact on health. Promoting physical activity in community design, such as creating bicycle and pedestrian access and supporting community programs are all important strategies to enhance physical activity and at the same time reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Funding from this grant will be used to conduct training workshops, community meetings, focus groups, surveys and events geared toward educating and empowering stakeholders to be involved in planning for pedestrian and bicycle access, ultimately resulting in a community action plan aimed at ensuring equitable transportation for residents, commuters and visitors on and to Treasure Island with an emphasis on building healthy, active neighborhoods.

Project Status – Spring 2008

Convening Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

At the April 10th, 2008 meeting, which was attended by 10 members of the TAC, we covered the following: reviewed an overview and timeline for the project; reviewed the 14 transportation recommendations for the redeveloped Treasure Island; received feedback on the Draft Treasure Island Community Transportation Plan as a whole; and discussed next steps. The next TAC meeting is planned for September. If you or your group is interested in participating in this process, please email the Community Organizer, Neal Petal at the SFBC or Cynthia Comerford Scully at the SFDPH.

East Span Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathway Connection to Treasure Island

On January 11th, a meeting and presentation was attended by SFBC and the SFDPH that was given by Caltrans staff, Ken Terpstra and Alec Melkonians on the bicycle connection of the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge. In addition to Caltrans, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and the Bay Trail Project also attended the meetings. The meeting focused on the timeline for the East Span Pathway construction, bicycle connections to the East Bay, and connections at Yerba Buena Island. Caltrans’ responsibility for design and construction of the Pathway ends at Yerba Buena Island, and the Treasure Island Development Authority will ultimately be responsible for design of the connector for Yerba Buena to Treasure Island. Next steps from this meeting focus on identifying and following up with the appropriate individuals to ensure that the pathway is safe and convenient for bicyclists and pedestrians.

EIR scoping meeting for Treasure Island’s Redevelopment.

In February, the SFBC attended the scoping meeting for the EIR for Treasure Island’s Redevelopment. Comments were submitted later in the month, ensuring that proper environmental review is conducted for numerous transportation strategies, if analysis is required.

Formal Presentations by the SFBC and DPH

The SFBC and the SFDPH gave a presentation to the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) Board of Directors in February. A brief summary was given of work to date and shared the results of SFDPH/SFBC Transportation Matrix and Summary, showing the direction of our future research and outreach.

SFBC gave a presentation at the TI Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on March 4, 2008. It was the first time the SFBC presented before the Committee. The presentation consisted of an overview of the Community Planning for a Walkable and Bikeable Treasure Island project and gave a summary of milestones. During this presentation, we encouraged each member to review the Working Draft at its distribution.

 

 Photo Credit: Treasure Island Community Development

Photo:  Treasure Island Community Development