El Cerrito Plaza and Del Norte Stations

El Cerrito Plaza and Del Norte Stations

Modernization Concept Plans - Final Report December 13, 2013

In association with:

Table of Contents

El Cerrito BART Stations Modernization Concept Study Final Report

1. Introduction

1

What We Heard

1

Needs Assessment

2

Station Profiles

4

Existing Conditions

5

2. Vision

7

Framing the Conceptual Scenarios

7

Architectural Assets

7

Vernon De Mars, Architect

8

Architectural Approach

9

3. Project Goals

12

Improve the Passenger Experience

12

Highlight Sustainability

13

Improve Station Access

14

Engage the Surrounding Community

15

Improve the Employee Experience

16

Maintain Options for Future Development

16

4. Conceptual Scenarios

17

Scenario 1 - Maintenance and Building System Upgrades

17

Scenario 2 - Transform the Passenger Experience

18

Scenario 2A - Fire Egress Improvements

20

Scenario 3 - Community Placemaking

21

Cost Estimate

22

5. Conceptual Diagrams

24

El Cerrito del Norte Station

25

El Cerrito Plaza Station

41

Appendix A - Cost Estimate Details Appendix B - Peer Review

AE3 Partners, Inc. + KKCS, Inc.

1 Introduction

El Cerrito BART Stations Modernization Concept Study Final Report

What we heard

The El Cerrito BART Stations Modernization Concept Study brought together a team of architects, planners and engineers to develop and assess design strategies for modernizing the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte stations. To fully understand the needs at these stations, the consultant team met on many occasions with BART staff from Planning and Development, Maintenance and Engineering, District Architect, Customer Access, Operations, Transportation and Operations Planning and BART Police as well as staff and consultants from the City of El Cerrito Commuinty Development, Planning and Public Works to brainstorm, receive feedback on scenarios and identify opportunities and constraints surrounding both stations.

This report should serve as a flexible framework to launch the next phase of studies and design work. Many thanks to the people who contributed to this report. Your input helped guide and shape the conceptual scenarios and made the final recommendations possible.

BART Staff Robert Powers

Val Menotti Deidre Heitman Laura Timothy Sadie Mitchell Tian Feng Roy Aguilera Joe Lipkos Rodney Evans Patricia Corbett Alejandro Serrano Jeffrey Ordway Yvette McCoy Paul Voix Pam Perez Steve Beroldo Robert Franklin Robert Mitroff Carlton Allen Hannah Lindelhof James ross Lori Lovett Jeff Garcia

Project Team Kal Krishnan

Robert DeLiso Stan Tomlinson Chris O'Gara Carol Wolf Mrinal Sarkar Jason Chung Rick Dumas Doug Davis Stephanie Jaeger Sylvia Kwan Robert Jansen Mona Tamari Martin Lee Franklin Lee Remi Tan

City of El Cerrito Melanie Mintz

Margaret Kavanaugh-Lynch Yvette Oritz

AE3 Partners, Inc. + KKCS, Inc.

1

El Cerrito BART Stations Modernization Concept Study Final Report

Needs Assessment

Staff highlighted both obvious and less apparent needs and concerns at these stations. Because the station structures are nearly identical, many of the existing conditions and concerns are present at both. However, these stations function very differently in the community and it is important to recognize the unique characteristics of both as well as the communities they serve.

Staff identified the following issues to be addressed in the station modernization plan:

? Public elevators need to be accessed from paid area ? Escalators are dripping oil and require constant maintenance ? Additional vertical circulation is needed ? Station agent booths are too small, uninsulated and do not meet current standards ? Station agent needs better visual surveillance of paid area ? Public restrooms are dingy and out dated ? Pigeons and pigeon droppings are a constant problem ? Better lighting is needed for comfort and safety

It should be noted that there are several station improvements that are either underway or are funded through a variety of grant sources. These include the design and installation of a comprehensive wayfinding program modeled after the MTC Hub Signage program which incorporates real-time information displays. The Ohlone Greenway expansion also includes intersection improvements to increase safety and path continuity through both station sites.

Southwest view of El Cerrito Plaza Station

Southeast view of El Cerrito Plaza station and Ohlone Greenway

Southwest view of El Cerrito del Norte Station

2

Del Norte parking structure, Ohlone Greenway and intermodal road

AE3 Partners, Inc. + KKCS, Inc.

El Cerrito BART Stations Modernization Concept Study Final Report

In addition to staff concerns, the stations have areas of improvement for current users:

? Wayfinding and signage is not intuitive ? Seating, bike racks and bus shelters block circulation routes to paid areas ? Abandonded and outdated equipment gives the impression the station is dirty and is in disrepair ? Dark, uninviting atmosphere under the guideway ? Lack of variation in color and materials ? Platform is exposed to the weather and can be cold and windy

Exisiting conditions at El Cerrito Plaza and Del Norte stations.

AE3 Partners, Inc. + KKCS, Inc.

3

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