TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: AC Transit Bus Parklet Design Manual
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider adopting the AC Transit Bus Parklet Design Manual.
Body
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this action item. Consultant services to complete the guidelines cost the District $69,994 in grant funds from the Regional Measure 2 "Safe Routes to Transit" program administered through Transform. Another $30,000 was used to support the construction of a demonstration parklet on Solano Avenue at Cornell in Albany at a stop serving Lines 18 and G.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Parklets are a form of tactical urbanism that seeks to repurpose parking spaces into an extension of the sidewalk and usually include seating and public communal gather space for patrons of nearby businesses and other activities intended to add uses to the sidewalk. They are typically sponsored, funded, and constructed by local businesses and implemented with a permit from the local jurisdiction. However, they are open and available to the public. There are dozens around the Bay Area, including many in our service area. They do not typically create operational issues with our buses unless the sponsoring business would like to convert an existing AC Transit stop into a parklet for their customers and the general public. This typically results in the request to relocate the AC Transit bus stop away from the parklet location until staff devised a strategy to integrate the two into a common, functional, public space.
In 2014, AC Transit was awarded $100,000 of "Safe Routes to Transit" funds to develop guidance on how to incorporate bus stops into a proposed parklet. The District awarded a contract to Community Design & Architecture to assist staff with research, peer review, and production of the design manual and associated materials. The scope of work included the following:
* A co...
Click here for full text