Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
PrintApplication - Submitted
Print Application RFP Title:Urban Greening Grant Program - March 2020 - Round 4 Project Title:Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Estimated Date of Completion: 12/30/2022 Funds Requested($):1,705,225.00 Other Sources of Funds($):718,519.00 Total Budget($):2,423,744.00 Applicant Organization:City of San Luis Obispo Applicant Address:990 Palm St. , San Luis Obispo , CA - 93401 Federal Tax ID:956000781 County:San Luis Obispo City/Town:San Luis Obispo Project Address:Chorro Street at Mission Street Senate District 17 17, Assembly District 35 35, US Congressional District 24 Project Description: The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway transforms 1.7 miles of the City of San Luis Obispo's (SLO's) transportation network into a greener, safer, and more enjoyable way to walk and bicycle to school, work, and home. Initiated by local parents and supported by community members advocating for safer streets, the Greenway incorporates separated and protected bikeways, ADA compliant curb ramps, shorter pedestrian crossings, drought-tolerant landscapes, and street trees. The route starts downtown and travels north, guiding users through the Anholm Neighborhood to parks, open space, and Pacheco Elementary, a Title I dual immersion school. Additional destinations include the public library, grocery stores, Bishop's Peak Elementary, and the Cal Poly University Campus. The route will connect to an additional 2 miles of bikeways. A suite of stormwater improvements will ensure 100% of stormwater receives treatment before entering two nearby creeks that provide steelhead habitat. Latitude:35.285930000 Longitude: -120.668170000 Cordinates Represent: Coordinates Determined Using: Project Director (Applicant's Representative Authorized in Resolution) (Signature required at bottom of this page) Name: Shelly - Stanwyck Title: Project Director: Authorized Representative Phone: 805-781-7294 Email: sstanwyc@slocity.org Project Manager - Person with day to day responsibility for project (if different from authorized representative) Name: Jennifer - Rice Title: Project Manager: Day to day contact Phone: 805-781-7058 Email: jrice@slocity.org I certify that the information contained in this project application, including required attachments, is complete and accurate Signed: ____________________________________________________________ Applicant's Authorized Representative as shown in Resolution Date: _________________ Print Name:____________________________________________________________ Title:_________________ Page 1 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Application Overview RFP Title: Urban Greening Grant Program - March 2020 - Round 4 Submitting Organization: City of San Luis Obispo Submitting Organization Division: Office of Sustainability Project Title: Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Project Description: The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway transforms 1.7 miles of the City of San Luis Obispo's (SLO's) transportation network into a greener, safer, and more enjoyable way to walk and bicycle to school, work, and home. Initiated by local parents and supported by community members advocating for safer streets, the Greenway incorporates separated and protected bikeways, ADA compliant curb ramps, shorter pedestrian crossings, drought-tolerant landscapes, and street trees. The route starts downtown and travels north, guiding users through the Anholm Neighborhood to parks, open space, and Pacheco Elementary, a Title I dual immersion school. Additional destinations include the public library, grocery stores, Bishop's Peak Elementary, and the Cal Poly University Campus. The route will connect to an additional 2 miles of bikeways. A suite of stormwater improvements will ensure 100% of stormwater receives treatment before entering two nearby creeks that provide steelhead habitat. APPLICANT DETAILS Applicant Organization: City of San Luis Obispo Applicant Organization Division: Office of Sustainability Applicant Address: 990 Palm St. , San Luis Obispo , CA - 93401 PROJECT LOCATION Latitude : 35.285930000 Longitude:-120.668170000 County: San Luis Obispo Estimated Date of Completion: 12/30/2022 Project Address (or nearest cross street): Chorro Street at Mission Street Nearest City/Town: San Luis Obispo Cordinates Represent: Coordinates Determined Using: PROJECT BUDGET Funds Requested($): 1,705,225.00 Other Sources of Funds($): 718,519.00 Total Budget($): 2,423,744.00 Funding Program Applied Page 2 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Name: Division: Address: Federal Tax ID: Applicant Information City of San Luis Obispo Office of Sustainability 990 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, CA , 93401 956000781 Submitter Name: Submitter Phone: Submitter Fax: Submitter Email: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Yes Project Management Role Title First Name Last Name Phone Fax Email Project Director: Authorized Representative Assistant City Manager Shelly Stanwyck 805-781- 7294 sstanwyc@slocity.org Project Manager: Day to day contact Transportation Planner/Engr Jennifer Rice 805-781- 7058 jrice@slocity.org Person Submitting Information Jennifer Rice 805-781-7058 jrice@slocity.org Legislative Information Primary Additional District(s) Senate District 17 17, Assembly District 35 35, US Congressional District 24 Contacts Name Phone Email City of San Luis Obispo Jennifer Rice 805-781-7058 jrice@slocity.org City of San Luis Obispo Luke Schwartz 805-781-7190 lschwartz@slocity.org Cooperating Entities Role Name Phone Email There are no COOPERATING ENTITIES to display. Pre Submission Attachment Title Phase Submission Period Date & Time 1.01 Concept Proposal Form Signature Page PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/14/2020 11:11:46 AM 1.02 Site Plan PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/14/2020 12:52:48 PM 1.03 Photographs PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/10/2020 4:22:05 PM 1.04 Cost Estimate PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/10/2020 4:22:28 PM 1.05 Community Engagement C PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/10/2020 4:22:46 PM 1.07 Assessor's Parcel Map PHASE1 PRE SUBMISSION 7/10/2020 4:22:58 PM Download all Pre Submission Attachments Post Submission Attachment Title Phase Date & Time Attached No Post Submission Attachments Available to Display Questionnaire - Phase1 ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST 1 Is the applicant one of these entities? (Choose one) Page 3 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Answer: l City 2 Does the project meet at least one of the three GHG reduction project activities listed below? 2a. Sequester and store carbon by planting trees Answer: l Yes 2b. Reduce building energy use by strategically planting trees to shade buildings Answer: l No 2c. Reduce commute vehicle miles traveled by constructing bicycle paths, bicycle lanes or pedestrian facilities that provide safe routes for travel between residences, workplaces, commercial centers, and schools. Answer: l Yes 3 Does the project meet at least one of the statutory requirements listed below? 3a. Acquire, create, enhance or expand community parks and green spaces Answer: l Yes 3b. Use natural systems or systems that mimic natural systems to achieve multiple benefits Answer: l Yes 4 Is 50% or more of the project located within a publicly accessible area in a disadvantaged or low-income community? (Select all that apply) a. Disadvantaged Community (CalEnviroScreen 3.0) Answer: l No b. Low-Income Community (at or below 80% of statewide median income) Answer: l Yes c. Low-Income Community within a Half Mile of a Disadvantaged Community Answer: l No d. If not, is the project located in an urban area as defined? Answer: l Yes If yes, list the applicable plan covering the project area that designates or defines the area as urban (May include, but not limited to, general plans, specific plans, or community plans.) Plan name: Answer: City of San Luis Obispo General Plan DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST 1 Does the project serve a disadvantaged or low-income community? Select all that apply. 1a. Disadvantaged Community (CalEnviroScreen 3.0) Answer: l No 1b. Low-Income Community (at or below 80% of statewide median income) Answer: l Yes 1c. Low-Income Community within a Half Mile of a Disadvantaged Community Answer: l No 1d. Critically Underserved Community Page 4 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Answer: l No 2 Is 50% or more of the project in a publicly accessible area in the disadvantaged or low-income community? Answer: l Yes If you selected “Yes” to at least one of the Questions 1 a-c, answer Questions 3-8. Projects must meet at least one of the following to be eligible as a disadvantaged or low-income community. Select all that apply. 3 Will a majority of the trees planted be accessible by walking within ½ mile of the disadvantaged or low- income community? Answer: l Yes 4 Does the project reduce the flood risk to one or more adjacent disadvantaged or low-income communities? Answer: l No 5 Does the project expand or improve the usability of existing active transportation routes? Answer: l Yes 6 Does the project improve open spaces, parks, greenbelts, and passive recreational areas publicly accessible by walking within ½ mile of a disadvantaged or low-income community? Answer: l Yes 7 Does the project reduce energy demand for households? Answer: l No STEP 1: PROJECT PROPOSAL Project Summary Describe the discrete project, including expected project deliverables. Include a brief description of current site conditions and extent of public access for the proposed project, if applicable. Summaries are limited to 4,000 characters. Answer: The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway establishes 1.7 miles of bike and pedestrian improvements along Chorro and Broad Streets to create a safer connection between neighborhood destinations, schools, parks, open space, and the City's downtown center. The project also incorporates improvements to capture and treat stormwater before it enters the storm drains and two important steelhead streams within the watershed. The project is a critical piece of the City's soon-to-be updated Active Transportation Plan and Climate Action Plan that details the City's goal to be carbon- neutral by 2035. While City plans have called for comprehensive north/south bicycle transportation improvements for years, the impetus for this project came from families attending the School District's Title I dual immersion school, Pacheco Elementary. It is the largest elementary school in the district (approximately 570 students), which draws children from throughout the City. Parents wanted a safer, less stressful way to cross the busy, four-lane Foothill Boulevard and a safer route through the Anholm Neighborhood. The Greenway will provide a safe route to serve bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. This Greenway (entirely encompassed within an AB 1550 low-income area) creates a vital link between the City's downtown core and Pacheco Elementary, Bishop's Peak Elementary, Cal Poly University, and surrounding residential neighborhoods. The Greenway improves walking and biking access to three parks and creates linkages to open space and activity centers. It will also integrate with an existing 2 miles of bike infrastructure south of downtown and future Safe Routes to School Plan elements. The Greenway will consist of Class 1, 3, and 4 bikeways to accommodate two-way Page 5 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx bike traffic along the route, with the majority being Class 4. Newly planted trees will fill the gaps in the mature canopy, and in-street planter boxes will serve the dual purpose of protecting cyclists and greening the street. Four bioretention facilities, one bioswale, 27 drain inlet filters, and over 200 feet of pervious pavement (gutter pan) will help to replicate natural water systems to capture and filter/infiltrate stormwater before it reaches Stenner and Old Garden Creeks. Both support steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The improvements will treat 100% of the stormwater and infiltrate 1.33 acre-feet of stormwater per year. Utilizing the City's Public Art Fund, the currently dark, uninviting US-101 underpass on Chorro Street will be transformed (in coordination with Caltrans) into a well-lit public art installation and safe route for bikers and pedestrians, allowing residents to use the Greenway day and night to travel to downtown events and activities. Existing traffic volumes and speeds along the proposed route exceed the levels recommended for mixed-flow conditions, where bicyclists and cars share travel lanes. While some bicyclists are comfortable riding under these conditions—over 300 bicyclists per day travel the region between downtown and Foothill Boulevard—these conditions do not attract new riders of various ages and abilities. By creating a Greenway that is safe for the youngest of our community, we re-envision our streets for all. Our calculations project that daily bike trips will increase to 681. This could further increase as we see continued interest in affordable e-bikes locally. 68% of Cal Poly students (almost 15,000) live off- campus, many in the neighborhoods this route connects. Students can use the route to travel to campus or to downtown for work, shopping, and recreation. Permanent residents can commute downtown for work and travel to parks, grocery stores, the library, museums, restaurants and more. Parents will be able to safely deliver their children to two elementary schools, and the Greenway will help alleviate the considerable traffic congestion at Pacheco. Project Questions Applicants must answer the following questions, as applicable. If a question does not apply to the project, indicate "Not Applicable" with a brief explanation. Do not leave blank fields. Answers are limited to 4,000 characters each. Statutory and Program Requirements All applicants must meet certain requirements as specified in statute. Each applicant must answer the questions below, as applicable. 1 Explain how the project meets the statutory criteria of 1) acquiring, creating, enhancing, or expanding community parks and green spaces, and/or 2) using natural systems, or systems that mimic natural systems. Answer: The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway passes through a dense urban neighborhood with many impervious surfaces. Two creeks, Stenner and Old Garden, pass through this neighborhood as well. Both support and contain documented occurrences of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. The Stenner Creek tributary supports San Luis Obispo Creek watershed's largest population of steelhead. In an undeveloped, vegetated landscape (aka a natural system), rainfall commonly infiltrates into the ground where it lands. In an urban landscape, this process is severely compromised or lost altogether. Stormwater runs off rooftops and streets, into storm drains, and in the case of the Anholm Neighborhood, directly into the creek. The stormwater impacts water quality in these steelhead streams by carrying sediment and other pollutants directly to the creek. It also affects the in-channel Page 6 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx hydrology and mobilizes additional sediment and static channel elements (e.g. logs). Green Streets that incorporate Low Impact Development (LID) strategies to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater will improve creek health and provide other urban greening benefits. Along this project, the City will create opportunities for stormwater capture and infiltration through four bioretention facilities and one Bioswale (flow through with curb cuts) covering approximately 2,225 ft², and over 200 feet of pervious pavement (gut-ter pan). The improvements will infiltrate 1.33 acre-feet of stormwater per year. The remaining water will be treated in one of 27 storm drain inlets before entering the creek. These filters are compost-based and can absorb nutrients, metals, and other pollutants, as well as capture sediments. The stormwater treatments in this project support the goals and objectives of the South-Central California Steelhead Recovery Plan to restore and maintain suitable habitat conditions for all life-history stages of steelhead and to reduce water pollutants, such as sediments and other non-point source pollution. Many of the new neighborhoods being built in San Luis Obispo incorporate LID strategies. It is harder to retrofit older residential streets with these treatments given the number of existing driveways, existing parking expectations, and mature tree-planted landscapes. The City has worked to maximize areas for infiltration and tree planting within this project given the site constraints and limited ability to remove parking. Storm drain inlet filters are being used to maximize additional water quality benefits given these constraints. These filters will be maintained annually by the City and are a tool called out in the 2019 San Luis Obispo Creek Stormwater Resource Plan. The City will also be planting 60 new trees to enhance existing green spaces and streetscapes, and it will install 400 planter boxes along the bike route to provide additional greening benefits, since space constraints do not allow for permanent medians with bioswales. The trees are estimated to capture 456 MTCO2e, will be selected from the City's approved tree pallet, and help the City meets its Climate Action goal of 10,000 new trees by 2035. Watering and maintenance of the trees will be incorporated into an existing urban tree stewardship program partnership between the City and a local nonprofit partner, ECOSLO. ECOSLO organizes volunteer neighborhood tree ambassadors to keep a watchful eye on the growing trees. The program is already caring for around 120 trees with more to be added in the coming year. 2 Which of the three project activities (carbon sequestration through tree planting, energy use reduction from tree shade, or reduced vehicle miles traveled) is being proposed? Answer: The Greenway is anticipated to reduce 3,354,644 vehicle miles traveled over the next twenty years. Our calculations project that daily bike trips will increase to 681 immediately after the project is implemented. This should continue to increase as we see continued interest in affordable e-bikes locally and the rest of the Active Transportation network improvements are built out. Investing in this particular route is important because the Greenway passes under US-101 along Chorro Street, providing vital access in an area with few north/south routes. The next closest US-101 crossing is Santa Rosa Street/US-1, which has much higher traffic volumes and greater incidence of cyclist and pedestrian collisions as documented in the annual Traffic Safety Report (2015, 2016, 2017). The Greenway provides a safe alternative for Cal Poly students residing in surrounding neighborhoods to get on/off campus and into downtown. 68% of students live off-campus. Currently, students travel east/west on Foothill, a high-volume street that is difficult to cross. In fact, the Foothill corridor already carries approximately 1,200 bicycle and pedestrian trips per day. The Greenway connects to campus via Highland St. (an east/west alternative) and utilizes the newly installed High- Intensity Activated crosswalk ("HAWK") crossing beacon to move users across Foothill safely. The Page 7 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Federal Highway Administration calculates that HAWKs can reduce pedestrian collisions by 69%. Families will also be important users of the Greenway using the route to travel North to Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary School. Some Pacheco parents travel from over 3 miles away by bike to the school, and we expect to see more families use this method of transportation as protected lanes increase safety. The school faces heavy traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up. Bikers avoid this delay. The safety of protected bikeways and their potential to increase bicycle ridership is well-documented by People For Bikes and The Green Lane Project. Protected bikeways have been a best practice in street planning for decades in many European cities where nearly 40 percent of citywide trips are made by bicycle. Over the past decade, North American cities have increasingly built these types of facilities, with over 400 protected bike lane installations in over 100 U.S. cities as of 2017. Protected bikeways are shown to increase bike volumes by an average of 75% in the first year alone. Surveys find that 80% or more of "Interested but Concerned" bicyclists would be comfortable riding in protected bike lanes—a significantly higher percentage compared to those who would be comfortable riding in standard bike lanes (39%) or streets with no bicycle facilities (8%). Installing a protected bike lane on a street cuts the injury risk per bike trip by 50% (on one-way bikeways). These bicycle improvements also make conditions safer for pedestrians, as it cuts sidewalk riding by 56% on average (sidewalk and wrong-way riding accounts for 16% of San Luis Obispo bicycle collisions). As the City's first Class 4 protected bikeway, this project will introduce new and valuable infrastructure to the community. Implementation and familiarity will lead to the adoption of other protected bike facilities, helping to elevate the quality of the bicycle network citywide, attract new users, and reduce vehicle miles traveled well beyond the scope of this project. A secondary objective of this project is carbon sequestration through tree-planting. Approximately 60 new trees will help fill in tree canopy gaps, beautify, and sequester 456 MTCO2e. The trees to be planted will be selected from the City's approved tree pallet, and combined with other City planting efforts, help the City meets its Climate Action goal of 10,000 new trees by 2035. An existing partnership with the nonprofit ECOSLO through an urban tree stewardship program will ensure the healthy establishment of these trees. 3 Explain how the proposed strategy will result in a net GHG benefit. CARB's 2019-2020 quantification methodology for the Urban Greening Program can be found at: Air Resources Board Website. Answer: With leadership from SLO City Council, our community has set the aggressive goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. Over the next 20 years, the project's bike and pedestrian infrastructure will prevent 1,205 MTCO2e from entering the atmosphere, and the 60 trees planted will help store 456 MTCO2e carbon. The Greenway will help create a vital multimodal link that accommodates bicyclists and pedestrians and prioritizes safety and mobility for users of all ages and ability levels. This project reflects several key City programs, plans, and policies, including the Sustainable Transportation Major City Goal, the General Plan objective to achieve 20% bicycle mode share citywide, the Climate Action Plan recommendation to increase use of active transportation modes, and the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic-related deaths and severe injuries for all the City's road users by 2030. Developing SLO's active transportation infrastructure is a critical part of advancing these policy commitments and enhancing connectivity to ensure that residents in this AB1550 low-income area can effectively get to school, work, and home with reduced dependence on vehicles. Specifically, the Page 8 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Greenway utilizes infrastructure that is statistically proven to improve walking and biking conditions and increase ridership, therefore reducing vehicle miles traveled by giving residents a true alternative way to access activity centers, parks, and open space. The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway's Class 4 bike lanes will be the first of their kind in San Luis Obispo. The City is currently finishing the draft of its updated Active Transportation Plan that calls for a network of protected bike lanes along the major arterial roads of the City. The implementation of this project will ultimately result in a much more dramatic reduction of vehicle miles traveled citywide (and a greater reduction in GHG emissions) by showcasing to the community what such a network could look like, helping to galvanize support for the new plan and reduce fears from the residents concerned about impacts to road infrastructure for vehicles. The Greenway helps connect residents to the City's network of protected greenbelt open space properties, such as the nearby Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve that can be accessed from Lincoln Street within the project area. The City has a proud land conservation legacy now totaling over 7,500 acres within its greenbelt and has adopted a goal of providing a trailhead within walking or biking distance of every neighborhood in the City. The City is in contract with a local nonprofit organization, ECOSLO, to run an urban tree stewardship program. This program provides care and maintenance instructions to neighborhood residents who foster street trees. When residents are not able to care for them, ECOSLO coordinates their volunteer base to assist. In the rare cases that the ECOSLO volunteer base is at capacity, the City's Urban Forestry Division is available to provide services. This three-tier program ensures that the new trees planted along the Greenway will receive robust care. The trees to be planted will be selected from the City's approved tree pallet and help the City meets its Urban Forestry goal of 10,000 new trees by 2035. 4 Explain how the project provides multiple benefits. These could include, but are not limited to, reduced air pollution, water pollution, consumption of natural resources, or consumption of energy. Answer: The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway will provide multiple benefits to our community and environment. Transportation is the single largest source of GHG emissions in the City of San Luis Obispo. Transportation emissions primarily occur as the result of single occupancy fossil-fueled vehicles. The City is committed to attaining a General Plan Mode Split Objective of 20% of in-town trips conducted by bike by 2030. The Greenway would create 1.7 miles of safe bike routes from Cal Poly, past schools and through residential neighborhoods, to downtown and other commercial zones making this shift a reality for many residents North of downtown. According to CARB, San Luis Obispo County is designated as a "nonattainment" zone for both Ozone and PM10 (report updated in August 2019). Getting people out of their cars and traveling by bike or by foot to conduct essential trips will be good for local air quality. There are numerous activity centers within a 1/2 mile of the project site. More car trips converted to bike trips will reduce consumption of fossil fuels and decrease GHG emissions. The project will prevent 1,205 MTCO2e from entering the atmosphere and result in a 118,252-gallon reduction of fossil fuel use. The trees planted will help store 456 MTCO2e. The City's draft Active Transportation Plan calls for a connected network of protected bike lanes on major arterial roads throughout the City, allowing residents to commute to all areas via bike. The Greenway will be an integral part of this network and be the first Class 4 bike lane in the City. Our calculations project that daily bike trips along the route will increase to 681. With the increased affordability and popularity of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, this number could increase, and with the City's recent decision to purchase 100% carbon-free electricity via Monterrey Bay Community Power, Page 9 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx these trips will be carbon neutral. The City has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035. The above actions will help reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, the City has a number of greening efforts underway that will help in carbon sequestration. The City has a robust Greenbelt Protection Program and will be developing an Urban Forest Master Plan. The draft Climate Action Plan update calls for 10,000 new trees to be planted by 2035. The Anholm Greenway's greening efforts will help meet these goals. 60 new trees will be added to the existing mature tree canopy in the neighborhood. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping will be included in the new bioswales and bulb-outs. In-street planter boxes will serve the dual purpose of protecting cyclists and greening the street. These new plants will help with carbon sequestration and air and water quality, as well as provide mental health benefits. The trees will also assist with shading and cooling. The Anholm Greenway project will also help alleviate stormwater impacts to local steelhead creeks. Both Stenner and Old Garden creek support steelhead and receive untreated stormwater. Currently, stormwater impacts water quality in these creeks by carrying sediment and other pollutants directly to the creek. It also affects the in-channel hydrology. The Low Impact Development (LID) strategies implemented as part of this project will capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater before it reaches the creeks. The improvements will infiltrate 1.33 acre feet of stormwater per year. The remaining water will be treated in one of 27 storm drain inlet filters before entering the creek. These filters are compost-based and can absorb nutrients, metals, and other pollutants, as well as capture sediments. These measures will provide localized water quality benefits. These measures, combined with the adoption of additional LID measures throughout the City, will help protect water quality downstream for wildlife and people. The San Luis Obispo watershed ultimately drains to Avila Beach, one of the region's most popular tourism destinations. 5 Select TWO of the project examples from the list below and answer the corresponding questions. Provide a qualitative description as well as any quantitative information on this topic. a. Greening of existing public land and structures, including schools b. Green streets and alleys that integrate green infrastructure elements into the street or alley design, including permeable surfaces, bioswales, and tree c. Non-motorized urban trails that provide safe routes for both recreation and travel between residences, workplaces, commercial centers and schools d. Tree Canopy e. Neighborhood, city, regional, or county parks and open space f. Riparian Habitat g. Urban heat island mitigation and energy conservancy efforts through greening, including greening roofs h. Multi-objective stormwater projects, including the construction of permeable surfaces and collection basins and barriers i. Climate resilience and adaptation of urban areas that reduce vulnerability to climate impacts and improve the ability of natural systems to buffer the impacts of climate change Page 10 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx j. Economic, social, and health benefits including, but not limited to, recreational opportunities, workforce education and training, contracting and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities Answer: l c. Non-motorized trails h. Multi-objective stormwater projects a Greening of existing public land and structures, including schools a.1 Describe the current environmental condition and use of the project site. Answer: a.2 How will the proposed project contribute to the economic, social, and/or recreational life of the community? Answer: b Green Streets and alleys that integrate green infrastructure elements into the street or alley design, including permeable surfaces, bioswales and trees b.1 How will the project convert the property into a green street or alley? Answer: b.2 How will the project reduce vehicle miles traveled? Answer: c Non-motorized urban trails that provide safe routes for both recreation and travel between residences, workplaces, commercial centers, and schools c.1 Describe how the trail increases connectivity of the active transportation network such as filling gaps or otherwise completing routes in a bike or trail plan or a low-street bikeway network. Answer: This 1.7-mile project connects a region divided by US-101 and Foothill Boulevard with an extensive bicycle network of more than 75 miles of bike paths, bike lanes, and on-street facilities as well as over 150 secured bicycle parking spaces. This plan helps to advance the Sustainable Transportation Major City Goal and its goal of 20% bike mode share, the Safe Routes to School Plan, and the draft Climate Action and Active Transportation Plan updates. Currently, existing traffic patterns and roadway design make it difficult to safely travel north/south through this area. Only enthusiastic and confident riders will attempt the trip. By installing protected bike lanes and additional bike and pedestrian safety measures, we encourage many more residents to conduct essential trips by bike. The Greenway connects residents north/south from the Cal Poly campus through residential and commercial areas to downtown. Directly south of downtown is another roughly 2 miles of bike trails and other bike infrastructure leading farther south (namely the Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard and Railroad Safety Trail). The City is awaiting the decision on another grant to fund protected bike lanes on two major streets downtown. With the addition of this project, users will be able to travel 3.5 miles north/south through the City on safe bike infrastructure. Our vision is that all SLO residents will have access to a well-designed and maintained network of interconnected bikeways linking City destinations. San Luis Obispo has been designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2007 and was recognized at a GOLD level in 2015. In 2020, People For Bikes ranked San Luis Obispo the top U.S. city for bikes, but we have more work to do to make biking safe for all. As the City is able to complete this project and others called for in the draft Active Transportation Plan, we will realize our vision. c.2 Identify the intended users of the trail. Answer: The Greenway will be utilized by the members of this AB1550 community to connect to recreational opportunities and activity centers, including grocery stores, pharmacies, professional offices, the Page 11 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx library, restaurants, retail, and entertainment options. The Greenway create an enjoyable and safe connection between neighborhood destinations, schools, parks, open space, and the City's downtown center. In particular, users will include: -Families seeking safe routes to the two area elementary schools and home-based day care centers in the neighborhood; -College students commuting to Cal Poly for classes and downtown for work; -Daily commuters looking to save on travel costs and get exercise on their way to work in the restaurants, retail, and government and professional offices downtown; -Commuters wishing to connect to Regional Transit buses two blocks from the Greenway route; -Hikers and mountain bikers connecting to the Cerro San Luis open space trails; -Parents taking their young children to the park or library; -Residents who want to enjoy downtown destinations and cultural events without paying and searching for limited parking access; and -Anyone who needs a safe north/south route across US-101 on foot or by bike. With the increased interest in affordable e-bikes and e-cargo bikes locally, more families and other residents are exploring ditching their car for essential trips. Safe bike infrastructure also makes it easier for low-income families to survive as a one or no car household. Given the difficulty and expense of parking on Cal Poly's campus and in downtown San Luis Obispo, students living in the surrounding n%ighborhoods could easily live car-free and shed the added expense and hassle of car ownership. c.3 Describe how the trail connects to or between parks, open space, or green infrastructure. Answer: The Greenway connects to three parks (Broad Street, Anholm, and Throop) and the Cerro San Luis open space and its 2.3 miles of trails. The Broad Street Park is being transformed from a community garden into a multi-functional neighborhood park. Upon completion, the park will include an accessible walking path around the perimeter of the park, open turf space, some play features, games, picnic tables, and benches, as well as community garden plots. The park will also provide bicycle racks and a hydration station. On-street shared lane markings will connect Greenway cyclists to Broad Street Park. Just beyond Broad Street Park, hikers and mountain bikers can access Cerro San Luis open space. This 118-acre reserve features 2.3 miles of popular trails, oak forests, and sweeping views. Heading north, the Anholm Park features play structures and picnic tables. Tucked away on a quiet neighborhood street, it is located less than a block off of the Greenway. Crossing Foothill Blvd., the Greenway encounters Pacheco Elementary School and adjacent Throop Park. The largest of the three parks, Throop features picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, and softball field. In the future, a designated safe route to school will connect Throop Park and Bishop's Peak Elementary School. Just past this area, residents can access the Bishop's Peak open space and trails by riding through a residential area. The City has a proud land conservation legacy now totaling over 7,500 acres within its greenbelt. The Page 12 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx City is currently finishing the draft of its updated Active Transportation Plan that calls for a network of protected bike lanes along the major arterial roads of the City. As this safe network is built out, residents will be able to access even more parks and green space by bike. Eventually, the region plans to fill in the gaps of the Bob Jones bike and pedestrian trail that will connect downtown San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach, a popular beach destination for locals and visitors d Tree Canopy d.1 What species of trees and plants will be used? If proposing non-native species, explain the rationale for the selection. Answer: d.2 What are the environmental benefits of the species selected? Answer: d.3 What consideration, if any, was given to pollen production in the project plant palette? Answer: d.4 How was the initial size selected for the planting area considered to ensure the best chance for survival and growth? Trees must not be larger than 15 gallon. Answer: e Neighborhood, city, regional, or county parks and open space e.1 How many acres of green space/park will be created or enhanced? Answer: e.2 Describe any limits such as parking, hours of operation, available staffing, user fees, seasonal restrictions, or other ecological considerations. Answer: f Riparian Habitat f.1 Describe how the project will protect, restore, enhance, or preserve riparian habitat using either common or scientific names to identify elements. Answer: f.2 If the project includes restoration or re-establishment of riparian habitat, explain plans to employ habitat management strategies designed to reduce mosquito production (e.g., Central Valley Joint Ventures Technical Guide to Best Practices at: LINK FOUND HERE.). Answer: g Urban heat island mitigation and energy conservancy efforts through greening, including green roofs g.1 Describe what energy saving measures will be incorporated into the project. Energy saving measures may include, but are not limited to, constructing green roofs, planting trees to shade buildings, walkways and spaces, and converting asphalt to native plants and/or turf, or other permeable surfaces. Answer: g.2 Explain how the project will reduce GHG emissions by reducing energy demand and promoting resource efficiencies. Answer: h Multi-objective stormwater projects, including the construction of permeable surfaces and collection basins and barriers h.1 Describe generally the type of stormwater facilities in the proposal (e.g., rain gardens, planters, bioswales, green roof, etc...) Answer: Page 13 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Stormwater within the Anholm Neighborhood passes through a dense urban neighborhood to the storm drains and directly into either Stenner or Old Garden creeks. Both have steelhead. The Greenway will incorporate a number of stormwater treatment measures to capture run-off. Along this project, the City will add a bioswale (totaling 225 ft².), 4 bioretention facilities (i.e. bulb-outs or curb extensions totaling 2,000 ft²), and over 200 feet of pervious pavement (gutter pan to infiltrate water traveling down the gutter). The bioswale is an existing unused planter area that will be retrofitted with curb cuts to allow stormwater to flow through, irrigate the plants and trees and also infiltrate water. As the water is returned to the street, it will flow through one of the drain inlet filters to finish the polishing of the stormwater before it gets into Old Garden Creek. The bioretention facilities are located in areas that will help support traffic calming along with greening the roadway and capturing stormwater that flows directly into Stenner and Old Garden Creeks untreated. Two sections of curb and gutter need to be installed as part of the project so it was decided to use pervious concrete to allow for additional infiltration and allow for additional polishing as the water passes through the subsurface soils. h.2 How will the project be designed to reduce mosquito and methane production? (see Central Valley Joint Ventures Technical Guide to Best Practices at: LINK FOUND HERE.). Answer: Not applicable. Project is not located in the Central Valley. h.3 What is the estimated volume of Stormwater captured and treated? Explain your methodology. Answer: The improvements will infiltrate 1.33 acre feet of stormwater per year and also result in an 80% annual pollutant load reduction for an equivalent Drainage Management Area (DMA) of 54,403 ft2 (DMA is the amount of impervious surface area that will funnel water into the bioretention facilities). The treatments combined will result in an average annual reduction of 348 pounds of TSS, 0.07 pounds of copper, 0.06 pounds of Zinc, and 5.1 pounds of Nitrate. The remaining water will be treated in one of 27 storm drain inlet filters before entering the creek. These filters are compost-based and can absorb nutrients, metals, and other pollutants, as well as capture sediments. It is difficult to retrofit older residential streets with bioretention facilities and the City has worked to maximize opportunities for retention and infiltration. The storm drain inlet filters are being used to capture additional water quality benefits given the constraints faced. We estimated the stormwater benefits with a calculator tool developed by Dr. Darla Elswick. Dr. Elswick, formerly of the Low Impact Develop Initiative (LIDI), is a stormwater professional and has worked to develop LID features and the assessment of those features in her position at LIDI. Her primary task was working with municipalities and performing QA/QC calculations on the efficacy of installed stormwater treatments to determine amounts of pollutants captured by vari-ous designs. The calculator tool is excel based and allows for output based on the dimensions, DMA and type of LID feature identified. i Climate resilience and adaptation of urban areas that reduce vulnerability to climate impacts and improve the ability of natural systems to buffer the impacts of climate change i.1 How will the project specifically increase resilience to climate change? Answer: i.2 What approach was used to determine said benefits? Answer: i.3 Identify the climate action plan applicable to the project. Answer: j Page 14 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Economic, social, and health benefits including, but not limited to, recreational opportunities, workforce education and training, contracting and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities j.1 How will the project maximize access to workforce education, training, and quality jobs to residents of disadvantaged communities and individuals with barriers to employment? Answer: j.2 How will the project ensure supplier diversity and procure goods from local businesses, businesses located in disadvantaged communities, or minority or women-owned businesses? Answer: j.3 How will the project use state or local youth employment programs (e.g., California Conservation Corps, local conservation corps or similar youth employment programs) and how will youth employment elements be integrated into the program? Answer: j.4 Using the list below, indicate which of the following apply to the project and explain how the selected benefits will be achieved- • Improved mental health (e.g., social networking, overall well-being) • Increased physical activity (effects on obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) • Reduced risk for skin cancers • Increased access to locally grown/sustainable food sources • Increased access to natural environments, parks, open space, etc. • Other co-benefits to public health (examples include reducing urban heat island effects, increasing safe active transportation - e.g., pedestrian walking and bicycling, and serving an area of high density population) Answer: Statutory and Program Priorities Each applicant must answer the questions below, as applicable. For the purposes of this section, points will be awarded to the project in which either the disadvantaged community or low-income approach is applicable. 6 Describe how the project will accomplish TWO of the following: a. Provides park or recreational benefits to a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community. b. Proposed by a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community. c. Develop partnerships with local community organizations and businesses in order to strengthen outreach to disadvantaged communities, provides access to workforce education and training. d. Uses interagency cooperation and integration. e. Uses existing public lands and facilitates the use of public resources and investments, including schools. Answer: The City of San Luis Obispo has mild weather, allowing residents to use outdoor public spaces year- round. Residents living within the AB1550 footprint will use the Greenway to access hiking and mountain biking trails in the Cerro San Luis open space, community garden plots in the Broad Street Park, the softball field at Throop park, and play structures in the Broad Street, Throop, and Anholm Parks. By its nature, the project as a whole encourages walking and biking by creating 1.7 miles of safe thoroughfare. The path provides a free way to get to downtown destinations, helping users save money on gas and parking. Residents can access a variety of free events within Mission Plaza (approximately 49 special events are permitted annually and include a summer concert series and holiday festivals). In addition, every Thursday night there is a large Farmer's Market and street fair, complete with free valet bike parking. Residents can access an additional 2 miles of existing bike routes just south of the downtown core, Page 15 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx and as additional projects are built out, the Greenway will ultimately connect to more protected bikeways for recreation and commuter trips. Families biking with their children to school daily highlighted the critical need to improve conditions in order to safely navigate to Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary Schools. They delivered a video and petition with 89 signatures to City Council in 2015. The video shows families evaluating traffic on the busy street. Footage demonstrates how challenging it is for adult cyclists to gain enough speed to get across Foothill Blvd., even pedestrians running to get to the bus stop are challenged by on- coming traffic. Pacheco Elementary is a Title I Spanish dual immersion school, which draws children from throughout the AB1550 classified areas of the City. Approximately 45% of the student body is identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged and qualify for free/reduced lunch. This school has the largest student population in the district (approximately 570 students) and traffic congestion is an ongoing challenge before and after school. The Principal himself has been commuting by bike from across town to the school and is excited to support these improvements. In response to the feedback from parents, the City began the process of identifying safe bicycle and pedestrian routes to school for Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary. Public input was solicited every step of the way. Feedback was captured through an online survey and the project website. City staff held several meetings with neighbors and walked and biked with families to gain firsthand experience with the challenges. The Active Transportation Committee (a citizen's advisory committee for the City that provides oversight and policy decisions on matters related to bicycle and pedestrian transportation) also reviewed the plan, listened to public comment, and gave staff direction throughout the plan development process. Adopted in 2017, the completed Safe Routes to School plan identifies the HAWK signal and adjacent Class 1 bike path to the south as top priorities. The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway project incorporates both of these improvements and builds on them to increase safety for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the corridor from downtown to the elementary schools and beyond to Cal Poly. The need for traffic calming measures has been an Anholm neighborhood resident concern since the 1990s, as Chorro Street is one of the few north/south connections to downtown and has high rates of vehicle speeds despite the posted speed limits. The entire neighborhood is within the AB1550- designated zone. During development of the Greenway plan, the City facilitated a robust outreach effort, including five community meetings, several informal field visits for staff, Active Transportation Committee meetings, City Council hearings, and the development of a project website for public comment. 7 Discuss any demographic, social, and/or cultural issues that are important to the local community and that will influence design, implementation, and maintenance of the project. Answer: The City of SLO is a college town and the county seat. SLO is fairly flat, has mild weather, and is an excellent area for increased bike infrastructure and green streets. The City has a goal – at least 20% of trips be conducted by bike by 2030. The City of SLO is an active city with many residents enjoying outdoor recreation and supporting open space preservation. Climate action enjoys broad community support, as evidenced by the support for the City's Climate Action Major City Goal and draft Climate Action Plan update that includes a goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. Recently, the City, with support of local citizens, voted to purchase its electricity via Monterrey Bay Community Power (a community choice energy company that provides 100 percent carbon-free electricity). The City of SLO and many residents envision a different future and embrace a mode change. Projects like the Anholm Greenway will help garner citywide excitement Page 16 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx for this shift and help alleviate fears around this change. As mentioned in other sections, the original impetus of this project was concern from parents about unsafe bike and pedestrian conditions when traveling to school. The Greenway was specifically designed so that bikers of all ages and abilities would feel comfortable using the Greenway to access schools, grocery stores, parks, the library, movie theaters, and more. With the increased interest in affordable e-bikes and e-cargo bikes locally, more families are exploring ditching their car for essential trips. In recent years, both a pedicab and long-term e-bike rental business have cropped up in SLO. Better bike infrastructure will allow these kinds of businesses to last. The Anholm Neighborhood is close to downtown and Cal Poly University. The residents are a mix of original homeowners, young families, and renters. The Anholm Neighborhood is an older neighborhood with narrow streets and few garages. Students often rent homes at increased occupancy in order to afford rental costs, which can exacerbate parking shortages. During public comment on this project, older residents, in particular, expressed concern about the loss of parking in the area. To understand existing on-street parking conditions, parking surveys were conducted. This information influenced the design of the Greenway and helped to identify several ways to relieve any parking shortages. Due to the difficulty of parking on campus, many Cal Poly students and faculty travel to campus by bike, foot, or bus. However, there is not an adequate protected route from these neighborhoods. This project helps create an alternative bike route to campus. The Greenway also serves as a key gateway to downtown. Downtown San Luis Obispo is the employment and cultural center of the entire county, but it has limited parking availability and little to no free parking. The improved bike infrastructure will allow students to bike to their restaurant and retail jobs in the downtown area, along with other commuters and shoppers. Pedestrians and cyclists also travel this route to downtown at night. Young adults are likely to use the route late into the night to get home from downtown activities. The City has committed Public Art Funds to install safety lighting and streetscape improvements near the US-101 underpass as part of this overall project. In addition to being bike-friendly, our community is also proud of the town's aesthetic, downtown and throughout the older residential communities. This project complements the neighborhood's unique character. Sidewalk improvements and corner bulb-outs will provide space for additional landscaping and/or green street treatments and the aesthetic context of the neighborhood will be considered when selecting signage and treatments/materials. For the bikeway installation, planter boxes will green the streets and buffer bike lanes. Residents can apply to install and maintain unique plantings in the Adopt a Planter Program. 8 Discuss how the project has been identified as a priority by the local jurisdiction. Answer: In 2015 an online video (https://vimeo.com/126540751) and Change.org petition with 89 signatures were delivered to the City Council detailing the barrier that Foothill presented to parents and students who live on the south of the street and want to bike or walk to the north side to reach both Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary Schools. In the region near Pacheco Elementary, Foothill has an average daily traffic of 16,394 vehicles per day, the 85th percentile speed is 43 mph. The crossing distance is 65 feet from curb to curb across four lanes of traffic. This made it a challenge for pedestrians and cyclists of varying abilities to cross without some kind of intersection control. In response to community concerns about school access, the City embarked on a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plan. This plan identified the safe crossing of this street as a critical part of north/south connection in this area. Page 17 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Extensive public engagement included a project website (https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_3736), an online survey, multiple meetings with the neighborhood, and staff walks and bike rides with parents and students to experience the challenges first hand. In 2017, the SRTS Plan was adopted by the City Council. The HAWK crossing beacon and bike path located to the south ranked as top priority projects to promote safety and encourage more children to bike and walk to school. Simultaneously, in early 2016, the City began working with the community to develop the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Project. First identified as a "First Priority" project in the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan, the route was selected as a safe, convenient, low-stress avenue to connect bicyclists and pedestrians from the schools, through the Anholm Neighborhood, and into the downtown core. A bicycle fatality on Foothill in 2017 further underscored the urgent need to improve conditions in this region. Broad and Chorro Streets carry a greater volume of vehicular through-traffic than typically desired for a residential collector street and the traffic speeds exceed the posted 25 mph speed limit by 20 percent or more. Residents and City staff support streets that better balance motor vehicle throughput with neighborhood safety. The City conducted extensive community outreach to assess the needs of this AB1550 area. An online survey was made available for citywide participation via the project webpage, while a mail-in survey was distributed to approximately 1,200 residents in the Anholm Neighborhood. In total, nearly 500 survey responses were received for the preliminary alternatives survey. Residents participated in design workshops, shared public comments at committee and City Council meetings, and submitted 204 comments on the project website (https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/189/Issue_3444). The culmination of these efforts resulted in the final Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Plan (Adopted 2018) (https://www.slocity.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22122). The City is actively searching for resources to support the implementation of this plan while community interest is high. The City was able to install the HAWK crossing beacon on Foothill Blvd. in December 2019 with the help of Safe Routes to School funding and it has been able to set aside some funds for implementation, but not enough to fund the project in its entirety. 9 Describe efforts by the local jurisdiction to provide resources for project implementation. If resources have not been provided, please explain. Answer: The City has worked with the local community through a number of planning processes to design a project that meets multiple expressed community needs and provides multiple benefits to both the community and the environment. The 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan, the 2017 Safe Routes to School Plan, the 2018 Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Plan, the draft Active Transportation Plan, and the draft Climate Action Plan all have had extensive public input, and all clearly document the need for this project. Developed over the course of hundreds of staff and volunteer hours, the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway is now ready for implementation, and the community is eager to see it implemented. The City was able to install the HAWK crossing at Foothill with grant funds in the fall of 2019. The City has also purchased a right of way easement across the Church of Latter-day Saints property (approximately $423,000) to install the Class 1 Bike path segment of the project. A temporary construction easement has also been negotiated for this segment. The City has committed $200,000 in Public Art funds to add lighting and public art under the US-101 Page 18 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx to improve safety conditions. An additional $518,519 in City funds and in-kind support have been set aside for implementation of the project or a segment of the project. This funding is available now. However, given projected revenue shortfalls for the City in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, it will be difficult to obligate more funds to construct the project at this time. The City has an existing partnership with a local environmental nonprofit, ECOSLO to plant trees throughout the City. Several trees have already been added to Chorro Street, and ECOSLO is committed to assisting the City in the stewardship of new street trees in the neighborhood. The City is prepared to maintain the other landscaping and stormwater improvements as part of its biannual budget. The City and the community are committed to this project and are ready to advance to the next phases of implementation. With additional grant support, the City can make this vision of the Anholm Greenway a reality. 10 How does the project incorporate participation of local agencies, businesses, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations and citizens' groups in project planning, design, or implementation? Answer: During the planning process City staff worked with a number of community groups and residents to design the project. In addition to the multiple public design workshops, staff visited with residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to understand how the project would affect them. Staff participated in ride-along tours, coordinated by residents, through the Anholm Neighborhood to Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary schools. Staff have reached out to parent organizations associated with both elementary schools to gather input. Pacheco parents and administration are particularly eager to see the project implemented, as it will help with the considerable traffic congestion at the start and end of the school day at this dual immersion magnet school. Bike SLO County (a local nonprofit dedicated to improving bicycle riding in SLO County) has been actively engaged in the project planning. Their representatives and members consistently advocated for infrastructure that serves all riders. They have a number of educational and other services that benefit current and future riders. They have a Bike Kitchen to help residents learn bike maintenance. They also provide Bike Valet services at most major events downtown, like the Thursday night Farmer's Market. The City of San Luis Obispo has a vibrant and active downtown core. The City has partnered and continues to partner with Downtown SLO (a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit whose mission is to foster an economically vibrant downtown) to strengthen downtown vitality. The City's Downtown Concept Plan calls for changes in downtown that improve pedestrian and bicyclists' experiences and encourage more residents to travel downtown by bike, bus, or foot. Downtown SLO is a key supporter of these changes. The City has an existing partnership with a local environmental nonprofit, ECOSLO to plant trees throughout the City. ECOSLO is committed to assisting the City in the stewardship of new street trees in the Anholm Neighborhood. The City regularly meets with the Cal Poly administration and Associated Students Inc. to discuss infrastructure needs within the City of benefit to students and faculty. Cal Poly supports the addition of increased bike and pedestrian infrastructure that helps students and staff safely access campus. In recent years, Cal Poly has also implemented a number of improvements that limit vehicle use on campus. The City has already begun discussions with Caltrans regarding improvements at the US-101 Page 19 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx underpass, and Caltrans will issue an Encroachment Permit and update the City's maintenance agreement, so that lighting, public art, and other improvements can be added. The Church of Latter- Day Saints has sold a right of way easement to the City, this ensures that the public will be able to pass through their property on the Class 1 bike trail. They have been in close coordination with the City and support the project. The remainder of the project will be constructed in the public right-of- way. 11 Identify how the project will expand acreage and/or access to open space in the critically underserved, disadvantaged, or low-income community? Answer: This project provides safe, enjoyable, and convenient access to Broad Street, Anholm and Throop parks, and an access point to Cerro San Luis open space, all located within the AB1550 area. The parks offer community garden plots, play structures, picnic tables, benches, bike racks, restrooms, and a softball field. These parks provide space for community to gather, grow food, play a game, and make new friends. The access point to Cerro San Luis connects this neighborhood with fresh air, wildlife, and commanding views. Both hiking and mountain biking are allowed on Cerro San Luis. On the north side of Foothill Blvd., bikers can travel west from the Greenway to trailheads for Bishop's Peak Open Space. From the downtown portion of the Greenway, people can access the Mission Plaza and walk along the San Luis Obispo Creek walking path. As the City's vision of a comprehensive, interconnected bikeway is actualized this neighborhood will be connected to even more parks and open space (https://slocity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html? appid=798ac2f5ca70486d9c5c2eb59ba8da4b). Users of all abilities will especially appreciate direct connections to buffered bike lanes downtown, and connection to the Railroad Safety Trail and the Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard. Ultimately, riders will be able to take the Bob Jones Trail from downtown San Luis Obispo all the way to Avila Beach. Disadvantaged and Low-Income Communities For the purposes of this section, points will be awarded to projects in which the disadvantaged and/or low- income community approaches are applicable. 12 Identify where the project will be located in relationship to the disadvantaged and/or low income census tract by providing geographical location information. (See Appendix E in the guidelines for the disadvantaged and low-income community criteria) Answer: The entire project and surrounding residential area are within an AB1550 low-income community. The project site is within Census Tract 0112, San Luis Obispo County, California. From the south, the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway route begins downtown at Mission Plaza, at the corner of Chorro and Monterey Streets. Mission Plaza is the heart of downtown, in the summer hundreds of people flood the plaza for free concerts on Friday nights, in December children can ride a carousel and visit Santa. A creek-walk begins here and continues for two blocks, providing a nature-centric way of experiencing downtown. The route continues north from downtown through the Anholm Neighborhood past homes and apartments. Rental housing is interspersed throughout. The County library and City Hall are just a block and a half from the route on Palm Street. Heading north, a Class 4 separated bikeway crosses under the US-101 overpass, continuing along Chorro Street. The route jogs over to Broad Street via Mission Street. Street trees and stormwater bioretention treatments will be added in available spaces to help further green the street for residents. Along Broad Street, due to narrower roadway constraints, the northbound section is a shared Class 3 route while the southbound section is a Class 4 separated bikeway. After passing through the Anholm neighborhood, Class 4 separated bikeway facilities jog west behind the Foothill Plaza Shopping Page 20 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Center on Ramona Drive. The Shopping Center features a grocery store, restaurants, bike repair shop, and other amenities. At this location, a bike trail continues north across the Church of Latter-day Saints property to the crossing at Foothill Blvd. Bioswales will help to capture and treat stormwater along the trail. These plantings and new trees will make the path enjoyable and green. The new HAWK signal facilitates crossing Foothill at Ferrini Rd. for bikes and pedestrians. The Greenway then continues north past Pacheco Elementary School, the District's Title I dual immersion school which pulls students from this AB1550 low-income designated community and other AB1550- designated areas within the City. Some families already bike from these areas to the school and increasing safety on the route will encourage more to travel via bike to avoid traffic congestion at the school site. A future protected bikeway will extend from here to Bishop's Peak Elementary. The Greenway ends in the north at Highland Street, the Cal Poly Campus is immediately east. The Greenway will enable students, many who live on tight budgets, to travel from campus to downtown and to their homes safely, allowing them to use a bike for the majority of their regular trips. In addition, on the southern end near US-101, on-street paint marks a Class 3 extension on Lincoln Street past historic Lincoln Deli to the Broad Street Park. Cerro San Luis open space can be accessed just beyond this point. Investing in this particular route is important because the Greenway passes under US-101 along Chorro Street, providing vital access in an area with few north/south routes. The next closest US-101 crossing is Santa Rosa Street/US-1, where daily motor vehicle volumes are five times those of Chorro Street and where there is a greater incidence of cyclist and pedestrian collisions. The Greenway will further green the neighborhood streets and allow riders of all ages and abilities within the surrounding AB1550 low-income community to get out of their vehicles for essential trips. 13 Describe how the applicant or partnering community-based organizations made efforts to meet with and involve disadvantaged or low-income community residents about the project prior to the proposal deadline. Answer: Development of the Greenway plan included an extensive community-based public engagement effort, focused on understanding the key needs and priorities of residents in this low-income census tract (AB1550 area) and stakeholders. The entire project site is within this census tract. Major components of this community outreach effort included: public meetings, a project website and online survey, and mailed survey. The City provided signs in the neighborhood with information on the project and how to provide input. In addition, the City established an online survey to gather input from City residents and a mail-in survey was distributed to approximately 1,200 residents in the Anholm Neighborhood (within the AB1550 area) to target their input more directly. In total, nearly 500 survey responses were received for the preliminary alternatives survey. City staff also created a survey for parents at Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary Schools. Pacheco is a Title I dual immersion school and 45% of its students are identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged. Information was also provided on social media channels and the local newspaper ran several stories on the project development. Five community meetings were held at the City/County Library over the course of the two-yearlong planning process. This included an initial project kick-off meeting, an interactive design charrette to allow attendees to draw up their desired plans for the street improvements, a meeting to present preliminary project alternatives, a neighborhood meeting to present plans and invite feedback on the final recommendations, then a supplementary interactive design charrette to further refine specific segments. In addition to formal public meetings, City Transportation Staff also conducted several in-person site visits to tour the area and answer questions from neighborhood residents, business owners, and other Page 21 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx stakeholders who may not have been able to attend prior community meetings. Staff also joined a group of Bishop's Peak and Pacheco Elementary School families on a bicycle tour following their typical routes to/from school. The Active Transportation Committee (ATC), consisting of seven residents who provide oversight and policy decisions on matters related to bicycle and pedestrian transportation, was also involved in the project's design. The ATC received multiple presentations from staff throughout development of the Anholm Greenway Plan. The committee solicited public comments and ultimately provided staff with feedback and recommendations to carry forward to the City Council. During the alternatives development stage, a City Council Study Session was held to present design options. The Study Session was well-attended and provided an opportunity for the Council and the public to learn more about the project and provide input on the various project alternatives. A City Council hearing was held in April 2018 to adopt Plan recommendations for the "northern" and "southern" segments, with a final hearing in September 2018 to adopt the final recommendations. A project website (www.peakdemocracy.com/3444) was created at the onset of this planning process and was used throughout development to provide updates, access to project materials, and to serve as an open forum for community members to leave feedback. Upon adoption of the plan, the project website had received over 1,600 unique visitors and 190+ comments in the online forum. 14 Discuss how the project addresses an important and meaningful community need. (See Appendix E for more information on identifying a meaningful community need.) Answer: As mentioned, the original impetus of this project was concern from parents about unsafe bike and pedestrian conditions when traveling to Pacheco and Bishop's Peak Elementary Schools. The Anholm Neighborhood Greenway was specifically designed so that bikers of all ages and abilities within this AB1550-designated low-income area would feel comfortable using the Greenway to access schools, grocery stores, parks, hiking trails, the library, movie theaters, and more. Safe bike infrastructure makes it easier for low-income families to survive as a one or no car household. This benefits families in the Anholm and surrounding neighborhoods, but also benefits families commuting from low-income census tract areas further south of downtown. The Railroad Safety Trail, Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard, and other area bike lanes allow families to travel to Pacheco from distances over 3 miles away. A number of families already bike from these areas of town to Pacheco on a regular basis. The project does not only benefit bicycling, but also the pedestrian experience. Pedestrian improvements include five bulb-outs that shorten crossing distances on high-traffic intersections, 18 high-visibility crossings, new ADA-compliant curb ramps, better lighting, and improvements to the US- 101 underpass. For cyclists, this project implements improvements that are statistically proven to improve conditions and increase participation for users of all abilities, namely 8,800 linear feet of Class 4 protected bikeway and 550 linear feet of Class 1 bike path. Protected bikeways are shown to increase ridership by 75% within the first year of installation. Designating safe, comprehensive bicycle infrastructure also reduces sidewalk riding by an average of 56% further improving conditions for pedestrians. 68% of Cal Poly students live off-campus and the neighborhoods that surround Foothill Blvd. have a high concentration of student rentals. Many Cal Poly students are living on modest means. Approximately 24% of Cal Poly University students, just over 5,000, receive grant aid which requires demonstrated financial need and many are working while attending school in order to afford it. The Greenway will vastly improve conditions for low-income students living in the Anholm Neighborhood and nearby neighborhoods, allowing them to transition to bike commuting safely to school and work in the downtown and surrounding commercial zones. According to NerdWallet, the average monthly cost Page 22 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx of even a used car is over $700, a sizeable and sometimes unnecessary expense for a student living on a tight budget. The urban greening efforts of the project will help sequester carbon, clean the air, and reduce water pollution. All are important long-term benefits for the residents in this community, as well as wildlife in the creeks and surrounding open spaces. These greening efforts along with the addition of lighting and public art will increase safety in the area day and night. Many residents, particularly Cal Poly students, travel this route by bike or foot to attend events in downtown San Luis Obispo in the evenings. Given that parking is limited in the downtown core, more trips via bike or foot will help conserve parking for other regional visitors. Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act 15 Was this project eligible to receive funding from the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008? Answer: This project increases access to three neighborhood parks in the northern, middle, and southern sections of the Greenway. However, since park improvements are being advanced with other funding sources, specific park improvements are not part of this proposal. Therefore, this project would not have been eligible to receive funding under the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act. Additional Project Characteristics 16 Explain how the project addresses environmental, social, economic, or public health issues or provide benefits not previously discussed? Answer: According to the Friends of the Urban Forest, urban greening efforts, such as the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway, can improve safety, reduce crime, promote exercise, provide habitat for local wildlife, build neighborhood and civic pride, and strengthen communities. The bike infrastructure in the project especially will help the community meet its aggressive Climate Action goals and allow some residents to shed the expense of car ownership and embrace a car-free life. Children utilizing the Greenway to bike and walk to school will get exercise, create healthy habits, and develop active transportation skills that will expand as their geographic range expands with age. Young bikers grow up to be young adults that are comfortable biking as a form of transportation. Investing in safe routes to school can have a positive long-term residual impact. Creating a route safe enough for the youngest of riders benefits them now and our community for years to come. Urban forests, green space, and open space have well documented mental health benefits. The City's Greenbelt has over 50 miles of trails available for recreation, and with the infrastructure investments proposed in the City's draft Active Transportation Plan, most of these areas will be safely accessible by bike or foot. In fact, the City has adopted a goal of providing a trailhead within walking or biking distance of every neighborhood in the City. Getting people out of their cars and enabling this more active lifestyle will have positive public health benefits (e.g., effects on rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) Creating this safe pedestrian and bike access to downtown helps the community easy access locally grown food at the weekly farmer's market and allows residents of all ages greater access to the community's arts and cultural events. Like much of California, the San Luis Obispo area faces cost of living and affordability issues. Based on a comparison of median income to median home price, the San Luis Obispo area is one of the top 10 most unaffordable places to live in the Country. Along with addressing Climate Change, the community is actively working to address these issues. The City envisions a future where people can live near where they work, use active transportation or low emission transit for in-town travel, and access a system of protected natural landscapes for no-cost passive recreation. The Anholm Page 23 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Neighborhood Greenway will serve as an example of what the future can look like for San Luis Obispo. 17 Describe how the project uses anti-displacement strategies. Answer: Ensuring that the City of San Luis Obispo has adequate affordable housing has been a key issue for the City staff and City Council. Addressing housing is one of the City's five Major City Goals. Its goal is to "facilitate the production of housing with an update of the Housing Element, including an emphasis on affordable housing (including unhoused people) and workforce housing through the lens of climate action and regionalism." The City's draft Climate Action Plan update also attempts to address equity and affordability issues that may arise from greening efforts. The addition of bike trails and other bike infrastructure in other parts of the City has not caused displacement in those areas; however, the City will remain vigilant in tracking possible housing changes. The Housing element calls for City policies and standards to be regularly reviewed to ensure they are preserving housing and assisting with the production of future affordable housing. It also encourages creative strategies for rehabbing and reusing properties for housing. It calls for the preservation of mobile home parks and only supports changes in tenure if those changes benefit residents. The City's Land Use Element protects existing housing in the downtown area and calls for the development of new mixed-use development that provides housing options for a variety of households. All deed-restricted affordable housing, most of which are rentals, cannot be converted while under restriction, which can last up to 55 years. Most deed restrictions are extended. In recent years, the City has explored Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as an option to help create more affordable housing. Older neighborhoods like the Anholm neighborhood are one potential area for additional ADU development. Based on recent permitting numbers, we estimate about 30 ADUs will be constructed each year within the City. In addition, staff recently attended a webinar by the California Coastal Conservancy titled "Greening Without Gentrification: What Can You Do?" to learn more about ways to avoid displacement of residents because of greening projects. City staff will continue to seek out new approaches to increase affordability for the future. 18 Describe the type of irrigation system included in the project. Answer: The irrigation design will comply with the City of San Luis Obispo's water-efficient landscape standards and the State's water conservation requirements. Plant material will be selected based on low water use and adaptability to the climatic, soil, and topographical conditions of the site. The irrigation system will be designed so as to not exceed the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) for the site. A weather sensing 'smart controller' will be used to monitor the irrigation water and manage it daily. All trees, shrubs, and ground cover areas will be irrigated on separate hydro-zones, so that once established, water can be regulated in a more efficient manner. Trees located in the Ferrini/Highland area, trees at the large bioretention facility, and trees where the bikeway crosses Foothill Blvd. at the Church of Latter-day Saints will be irrigated by bubblers. Additionally, trees and landscaping located in the new bulb-outs on Walnut at Chorro Street will be irrigated by bubblers. All ornamental planting will receive drip irrigation or other highly efficient irrigation. Any landscape enhancement near the US- 101 under crossing will be native, drought-tolerant, and established initially with irrigation but after the first season and as the native plants mature, the irrigation volume can be scaled back. Project Readiness 19 Describe the status of the following items, including anticipated timing for completion of each: Page 24 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx • Preliminary designs • Environmental documentation • Necessary permits and long-term operation and maintenance commitments and agreements • For projects including an acquisition: detailed appraisal and/or comparable sales data; preliminary title report; negotiations with a willing seller. Answer: After a comprehensive two-year design process, a comprehensive Greenway plan was adopted in 2018. The plan incorporates the traffic and parking impact studies and details specific bicycle, pedestrian, and streetscape improvements for each stretch of the alignment. The project is categorically exempt from CEQA because the project will be constructed on existing City streets within the public right-of-way. The Greenway plan included a Mitigated Negative Declaration. The preliminary designs for the project are 90% complete and it is anticipated that they will be final and ready to bid by the end of 2020. The City has acquired a right-of-way easement on the Church of Latter-Day Saints property for the Class 1 trail and a copy of the Deed can be provided. A Construction Easement for the church property will be filed for this project upon completion of the design. The Greenway does not require any other acquisitions. This project requires a Caltrans Encroachment Permit and an update of the City/Caltrans maintenance agreement for the area under US-101. Both of these efforts are already underway and anticipated to be complete at the time construction documents are complete. Encroachment permits will be issued after the plans are finalized in 2021. Construction on the project should commence in Spring of 2021 and end by Summer 2021. It will take 1 year for the landscaping to establish. ECOSLO volunteers will also be available to assist with steward-ship of the newly planted trees. Storm drain filters will require yearly maintenance, and this expense will be covered by City General Funds. Long-term maintenance of the bike lanes and other hardscapes will be covered by City funds and repaired on an as-needed basis and/or as part of regularly scheduled paving work. 20 List all other sources of funding and amounts already committed to the project and expected timing of funds. Answer: $200,000 - City of San Luis Obispo Public Art Fund, Committed, Available now. $518,519 - City of San Luis Obispo Funds and in-kind support, Committed, Available now. 21 If funding is not received from other sources, is the requested grant amount sufficient to complete the project? Answer: This project was designed to be implemented in phases. The first phase – the HAWK crossing on Foothill Blvd. – has been completed. The City has some obligated funds for additional work, but it will not cover the cost of the entire project. With support from the Urban Greening grant the City can complete the project, building out the bicycle and pedestrian improvements, stormwater management strategies, and street greening. Given the projected revenue shortfalls for the City in future budget years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely the City will be able to complete the project, in total, without state support for the foreseeable future. 22 List the legal owners for each parcel within the project footprint and the status of notifications, negotiations, agreements, etc. to implement the project. Answer: Church of Latter-day Saints - Class 1 Bike path. A temporary construction easement has been negotiated and permanent right of way easement was purchased. Page 25 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Caltrans - US-101 Underpass. The City has been talking early and often with Caltrans regarding the update of City/Caltrans maintenance agreement and an Encroachment Permit. Both negotiations are ahead of schedule at this time. Residents - Adjacent Properties. Residents along the corridor do not own real property within the project alignment, but they will be notified prior to construction via mailer and door hangers and accommodated during construction. 23 List all entities with jurisdiction over the project and the status of notifications, agreements, meetings, etc. Answer: Church of Latter-day Saints - Class 1 Bike path. A temporary construction easement has been negotiated and permanent right of way easement was purchased. Caltrans - US-101 Underpass. The City has been talking early and often with Caltrans regarding the update of City/Caltrans maintenance agreement and an Encroachment Permit. Both negotiations are ahead of schedule at this time. City of San Luis Obispo – the City's Public Works Department is the lead on the project and will coordinate with all necessary Departments as needed. Organizational Capacity 24 Describe your organization's experience in completing this type of project? Answer: The City of San Luis Obispo has completed numerous stormwater, bike, and pedestrian improvement projects. The Public Works Department has advanced the development of more than 75 miles of bike paths, bike lanes, and on-street facilities. The City's Sustainability Department has extensive experience designing projects to protect natural systems and conserve open space. Sediment management is particularly beneficial to our local steelhead population. Projects related to elements of the Greenway project include: Stormwater: -Santa Rosa Skate Park Bioretention Basin (Pumps water out of the skate park into a basin for infiltration and stormwater polishing.) -Filtrexx Stormexx Drain Inlet Filter at Chorro and Monterey Streets (Drain inlet filters pollutants out of the stormwater as it enters the storm drain system.) -Bioswale and pervious concrete gutter pan components of the LOVR/101 Interchange project (Sidewalk inlets connect to a bioswale at the back of the sidewalk to filter and infiltrate stormwater. The pervious gutter helps to infiltrate water flowing along the gutter pan.) Bikeway Projects: -Bill Roalman Neighborhood Greenway (Morro Street) -Railroad Safety Trail – various segments -Los Osos Valley Road Safe Routes to School (Oceanaire to Laguna) 25 Identify the project's fiscal sponsor and explain their role, if applicable. Answer: This project is managed by the City of San Luis Obispo and does not rely upon the support of a fiscal sponsor. 26 Describe all past state grants from other agencies including the project name and year. Answer: Over the years, the City has worked with a number of state agencies to support work in a number of departments. Below is a selection of more recent projects: SLOCOG Safe Routes to School Grant – Foothill/Ferrini Crossing (Constructed 2019) Page 26 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx Caltrans Active Transportation Program Grant – Railroad Safety Trail (Taft to Pepper) (Construction 2020) Caltrans Highway Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair (HBBP) Grant – Marsh Street Bridge Replacement (Construction in progress) Waddell Ranch Open Space Acquisition – California Natural Resources Agency EEMP Grant and Cali-fornia Wildlife Conservation Board grant (Completed 2018) Miossi Brothers La Cuesta Ranch Open Space Acquisition – California Department of Parks and Recre-ation, Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) grant (Completed 2019) Miossi Brothers La Cuesta Ranch Conservation Easement – California Department of Conservation / Strategic Growth Council, Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program (In progress) Templates for the other attachments can be found on the Urban Greening Website. Certification And Submission Statement Please read before signing and submitting application. I certify under penalty of perjury: • The information entered on behalf of Applicant Organization is true and complete to the best of my knowledge; • I am an employee of or a consultant for the Applicant Organization authorized to submit the application on behalf of the Applicant Organization; and • I understand that any false, incomplete or incorrect statements may result in the disqualification of this application. By signing this application, I waive any and all rights to privacy and confidentiality of the proposal on behalf of the applicant, to the extent provided in this RFP. Submission By: JenniferRice23 Submitter Initials: JR Submission Date: 7/14/2020 12:56:13 PM © 2020 State of California. Conditions of Use | Contact Us | Privacy Policy Page 27 of 27SOAR 7/14/2020https://soar.resources.ca.gov/Proposal_Mgmt/PrintApplication.aspx