Context Sensitive Solutions & Community Engagement Presentation to City of Palo Alto Rail Committee on Context Sensitive Solutions & Community Engagement March 22, 2017

Outline Introduction – Michele DiFrancia, Mott MacDonald Overview of Context Sensitive Solutions – Gary Toth, Project for Public Spaces Community Engagement – Scott Steinwert, Circlepoint Rail Committee Direction Since the last RC mtg, we’ve brought on Gary Toth with PPS, and been working with staff and Circlepoint to better incorporate CSS into the Community Engagement effort for this project.

1 Introduction

Scope of Services Tasks Status Task 1 Support Council Rail Committee Underway Task 2 Convene Rail Technical Group RC Direction Task 3 Support CPA during CHSRA Envt Review Phase Task 4 Conduct Rail Corridor Circulation Study Partially Underway Task 5 Conduct Context Sensitive Alternatives Analysis Task 6 Prepare Draft & Final PSR and 15% Design Plans TBD Task 7 Complete Envt Analysis for Preferred Alternatives Task 8 Financing Plans Task 9 Additional Tasks

Proposed Schedule Millbrae Station ASP Schedule is the same as presented at last RC mtg; will be updated with milestones suggested today. Goal is to do the AA in about a year.

Context Sensitive Solutions 2 Context Sensitive Solutions

Gary Toth - PPS Bachelor’s Eng. Stevens Inst. of Technology 1973 34 years at NJDOT 9 years at PPS; Member AASHTO Task Force on CSS Part of rewriting the CSS principles in 2007 Oversees the Management of FHWA’s CSS.org website NJ Project Manager of the Smart Transportation (CSS) Guide for Pennsylvania and NJ PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES

From Joint AASHTO/FHWA Strategic Planning Process – What is CSS? “…a philosophy for doing business in a manner responsive to and in collaboration with a full range of stakeholders impacted by transportation decisions.” From Joint AASHTO/FHWA Strategic Planning Process – March 2007

“…a philosophy for doing business” What is CSS? “…a philosophy for doing business”

CSS Principles These core principles apply transportation processes, outcomes, and decision making: Strive toward a shared stakeholder vision to provide a basis for decision. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of contexts. Foster continuing communication and collaboration to achieve consensus. Exercise flexibility and creativity to shape effective transportation solutions, while preserving and enhancing community and natural environments.

CSS Qualities http://contextsensitivesolutions.org/content/topics/what_is_css/

CSS Decision-Making Process Identify Context Select Evaluation Criteria Alternative Analysis Define Problem Establish Vision Identify Solution Identify Stakeholders

Problem Definition Current conditions Broad-based statement of the problem that reflects all aspects of community context. Legitimizes full range of stakeholder (community) values. Does not offer a solution. Is not developed until stakeholders are meaningfully engaged to define community context.

Vision Where we want to be: identifies desired outcomes from the solution Creates a “common mental map” for success Based on a understanding of community context and problem definition Informs the development of evaluation criteria or measures of success

Evaluation Criteria: Measures of Success Attractiveness Community Cohesion Convenience Energy Efficiency Economic development Minimized sprawl Environmental Justice Environmental quality Traffic Operations Accessibility Safe for all users Social Networking Pedestrian friendly Bike Friendly Costs Historic Preservation

CSS Decision-Making Process Air/Water Quality T R a N S P O A I Property Values Education Living Wages Aesthetics Social Networks Land Use Jobs Health Housing Cultural Resources Recreation Plants & Wildlife Life Safety Transportation

Why Measures? Moves the conversation from positions to issues Facilitate an open, transparent and accountable decision-making process Helps professionals have tangible metrics to use as evaluation criteria to compare alternatives Clarifies roles and responsibilities Lays the foundation for performance measures so results can be tracked Helps demonstrates return on investment

Summary There are many ways to organize context components Context components should reflect community values Tools help organize/ translate community issues/ concerns into data Context tools empower stakeholders to inform decision making Tools provide a tangible link to problem definition, visions, evaluation criteria and solution identification = better, more informed decisions Community context tools should be used very early in the project development process

“…a philosophy for doing business” What is CSS? “…a philosophy for doing business”

Does it Take Longer?

3 Community Engagement

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Each process milestone will feature community involvement activities to distribute information to and gather feedback from the public. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS City Council Hearing Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee Public at Large OUTREACH TOOLS Community Engagement Plan Interviews Factsheet Mailer Community Meeting Website Content eBlast Online Survey

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Provide Project Background Introduce Process Determine Make-up of Committees COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Establish roles and responsibilities for Public at Large, Community Advisory Committee, and Technical Advisory Committee COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee OUTREACH TOOLS Community Engagement Plan Interviews Website Content

Potential Stakeholders Caltrain (PCJPB)* Palo Alto Planning & Community Envt Dept, Public Works Dept, Utilities Dept* Canopy Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC)* CARRD PAUSD CHSRA* Partners in Education Friends of Caltrain Project Safety Net Homeowner & neighborhood associations SPUR League of Women Voters Stanford Local businesses/ Chamber Transform Mid Pen Media Center VTA* * Potential TAC members

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Define problem Establish community needs/priorities Define program goals Develop evaluation criteria COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee Public at Large OUTREACH TOOLS Factsheet Mailer Community Meeting Website Content eBlast Online Survey

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Generate alternatives based on problem definition Establish needs/priorities COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS City Council Hearing Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee Public at Large OUTREACH TOOLS Factsheet Mailer Community Meeting Website Content eBlast

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Assess developed alternatives relative to program goals and evaluation criteria COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee Public at Large OUTREACH TOOLS Factsheet Mailer Community Meeting Website Content eBlast Online Survey

CSS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROCESS DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK MILESTONES PROBLEM DEFINITION & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PROGRAM BACKGROUND EVALUATE & REFINE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE 2017 J F M A M J J A S O N D Report on preferred alternative Provide insight on implementation steps and further engagement opportunity COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE & COUNCIL MEETINGS Community Advisory Committee/ Technical Advisory Committee Rail Committee Public at Large City Council Hearing OUTREACH TOOLS Factsheet Website Content eBlast

Rail Committee Direction 4 Rail Committee Direction

Thank You