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Major issues exist throughout the city due to the state “borrowing” nearly $10 million in local gas tax revenues, slated for street repairs and improvements, as part of the state budget “solution” over the past decade and a half. About two years ago the state announced that it would no longer contribute any matching funds for new or improved connections of local roads to state highways. That meant NO state money for connections to highways 101 or 46 at Airport Road, Union Road, Golden Hill Road, Buena Vista, Spring Street, Riverside or First Street. However, the 13th, 16th and 24th Street connections are considered part of the 101/46E connection and will be funded, in part, by the state.
The most recent proposed plans for the 46E connections can be seen in the “Parallel Route Study” done by CalTrans in conjunction with the city. That proposal is available by clicking the link below.
We already have funding approved, depending upon what happens with the State budget, for improvements beginning this year at Highways 46 East and 101, on and off ramps at 16th/17th streets and 101, widening of the 13th Street Bridge over the freeway and improvements to the intersection of Riverside and 13th. The 16th Street southbound on-ramp to 101 will eliminate many of the left turns onto Riverside from westbound 13th Street.
A few years ago the city committed $11 million to the improvements at Highway 46W and 101, including Vine Street, Theatre and Ramanda drives and Gahan Place. The full improvements for those intersections and realignments have been estimated to cost $90 million over the course of the project. We are currently working on improvements west of the freeway.
Through SLOCOG we are scheduled to receive over $4 million from the federal stimulus program to proceed with the next phase of improvements between 2009 and 2012. This will realign Theatre Drive and Gahan with 46W and be the next step toward realigning S. Vine Street to match at 46W with Gahan and the realigned Theater Drive. The CalTrans developed plan calls for roundabouts at this intersection and at the intersection of Ramada Drive and 101/46W, eliminating the present off-ramp system.
All of the above for 46 and 101 were secured or re-secured, and road blocks cleared, during my watch on SLOCOG (our regional government body) and in conjunction with my activities at the state level on behalf of the city and the region.
Improvements to S. Vine Street are underway. These improvements are primarily taking place around the provision of bike lanes from First Street to Highway 46W. The bike lanes will have a flush curbing between the bike and traffic lane. That curb serves two purposes. It will provide a slight “bump” to warn bikes or motorized vehicles that they are crossing over into the other’s space and it will hold the pavement securely reducing pavement degradation in both the traffic and bike areas.
We have developed a new plan line for Creston Road which will bring major traffic improvements as it is developed. The improvements include both widening and intersection alternatives.
To reduce air pollution and traffic congestion we have approved a number of roundabouts (different from the old traffic circles) at city intersections. Planned, but not funded as yet, are roundabouts at River and Charolais roads, Golden Hill and Union roads and Rolling Hills and Creston roads. These will act as traffic calming devices and, our traffic engineers assure us, will reduce travel time through these intersections.
Improvements to Vine Street at the very north end of the city are high on SLOCOG’s next funding round priority list (probably in 2012 -14).
The regional transit system, which provides intercity buses, is in process of taking over operations of the system from a contract operator. We expect better efficiency, more convenience and faster response to complaints and suggestions through this new operating system.
Improvements to Paso Robles transit system will include special shuttles for seniors which will pick them up and drop them off in closer proximity to the entrances of the structures they are traveling to and from. For instance, from the door at the Senior Center to the door at Wal-Mart, Von’s or their doctor’s office. This should begin in 2009.
Future planning includes looking at trolleys or local shuttles on the west side’s major north/south streets to ease parking problems and improve access to local events and shopping.
Funding has been secured through SLOCOG for new bathrooms and platform improvements at our rail station. That project should be underway later this year or in 2010.
Over $40 million in funding for rail improvements has been secured. This is for the San Francisco to Los Angeles route which goes through, and stops at, Paso Robles. That is only a small amount of the money needed. Planning and progress continues. I am serving you regarding that as the alternate delegate on the Coast Rail Coordinating Council.
Transportation has been an issue in Paso Robles ever since it was founded. The original transportation was the train, horse back, and horse drawn conveyances, including a trolley on rails between the train station, the El Paso de Robles Hot Springs Hotel and the hot springs and mud baths at about what would be 39th Street. The first bridge was one at Thirteenth Street. Prior to that, all traffic came across an “Arizona” crossing, through the riverbed. Wet years caused major isolation.
Years have passed and we have added two other river crossings in the city. We’ve had a third, more southerly one, planned for many years but the State (Cal-Trans) opposes any crossing that could further impact the intersection of Highway 46 West and 101.
Our streets were more than adequate up until a few years ago when our success in drawing people into the Downtown, shopping centers, the Paso Robles Event Center (formerly the “fairgrounds”), City Park and Barney Schwartz Park has created traffic congestion and perceived parking problems. Past Councils have studied the downtown traffic and parking six ways from Sunday and this Council has decided to act. Some of those “actions” have been further complicated by Federal and State legislation that impacts greenhouse gases, conservation and handicapped access. Funding mechanisms, at the State and Federal levels, have also been altered as the economy shifts and spending priorities shift.
All of those things are being factored into the emerging plans for the Uptown Plan and Town Centre Plan areas. Those plans will incorporate a more pedestrian friendly street and alley orientation with an increase in the number of parking spaces available, and improved public transit connecting the entire west side and providing links to the eastside. On the eastside the Chandler Ranch, Beechwood and Olsen Ranch plans all look very carefully at good traffic patterns and convenience for every mode of transportation.
The Follow the River/Follow the Dream plan will further enhance the entire west side and provide additional linkage to the eastside. The friendly, interactive nature of the downtown will be expanded both north and south.
Most frustrating to current residents is road improvements, extensions and connections. Nothing is free. All such improvements are primarily funded by new development as it occurs. By law, we cannot demand improvements before entitlements. However, we can expect improvements concurrent with creation of new need. The timing is based upon what is called “nexus.” There has to be a development created need to justify a development created improvement. Our citizens could decide to build the roads by passing General Obligation Bonds but no one thinks that is an acceptable idea, even with re-imbursement from development as it occurs.
Stopping “growth” is not an option. As long as we are a “free” country, and we don’t need to get a government permit to move, people who “discover” Paso Robles as a desirable place to live will come here. We have no right to stop them so we have to accurately anticipate their numbers and provide a safe and friendly way to make room for them.
We have improved our street standards to reduce maintenance and repairs over the life of new roads to be installed. We have also set higher standards for digging up the road and patching it upon completion of the project. By having better seals we can prevent water intrusion under the roadbed which weakens and cracks the paving. With deeper curbs and gutters we can accomplish the same.
All in all, we are looking at more and better connections plus more choices for travel modes in a friendly setting for walking, biking, bus, rail or auto. Nor are we neglecting the airport. It is in a transitional phase at the moment and many of the options depend on federal funding.