City Council weighs value of transit village

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jan 12, 2008 | by Theresa Harrington

A Walnut Creek transit village with nearly 600 apartments could boost the transit line's ridership by providing built-in customers who live at the station.

But the development would limit the expansion of facilities for commuters who travel to the station by car or bus. It could also affect views of Mount Diablo from the station and add traffic to city streets.

The City Council has agreed that an environmental study of the proposed transit village should begin soon, based on a revised plan unveiled Tuesday. The village could include up to 50,000 square- feet of commercial space at the site along

Ygnacio Valley Road and North California Boulevard.

"Having been in city government, I know that change is disconcerting," said Gail Murray, BART board president and a former Walnut Creek mayor. "We think it's important to have a project that brings pride to BART as well as to the city."

The City Council agreed that a transit village could be a welcome addition to Walnut Creek, serving as a transit hub and connecting the downtown to high-rise offices. The council asked developers to look at potentially modifying the plan to preserve views of Mount Diablo, add a restaurant and rooftop gardens and incorporate plenty of public art.

Some council members were concerned about the project's density and the constraints it would put on parking and bus service. The council has not approved the plan and could ask developers to downsize it, based on the results of the environmental study.

Residents who spoke at the meeting worried about parking, views and traffic. The development would add more bus-loading areas and replace current BART surface lot parking with a new market-rate garage that holds an additional 100 spaces for commuters.

Walnut Creek transportation planning manager John Hall said that parking demand likely would exceed supply. Councilman Gary Skrel suggested that commercial space in the parking structure earmarked for an athletic club could be used for parking.

County Connection would prefer to have additional bays, to accommodate future central county buses, as well as express buses expected to increase service from areas such as Solano County, agency general manager Rick Ramacier said. He said the increased capacity would be adequate, as opposed to the Pleasant Hill BART transit village, which is reducing bus loading areas, causing buses to head south.

Each apartment could generate up to seven car trips a day, Hall said.

This could create unacceptable levels of congestion on Ygnacio Valley Road, according to the city's General Plan, said former City Councilman Ed Skoog.

Transit villages are designed to reduce vehicle traffic, said Frank Arthur of Walnut Creek Transit Lifestyle Associates, which is partnering with BRE Properties to build the project on BART-owned property. Developers plan to improve pedestrian and bike connections and provide car-sharing.

The environmental report should determine whether the project would conform to city standards.

Theresa Harrington covers the Walnut Creek area. Reach her at 925- 945-4764 or tharrington@bayareanewsgroup.com.