Transportation commission backs TDA Article 3 grant application for four trail crossings

The Walnut Creek Transportation Commission on Jan. 16 recommended that the City Council allow staff to apply for Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 grant funding to install high-visibility striping and rapid‑flashing beacons at four trail crossings.

City staff said the proposal would focus on four crossings in and near the Larkey area and would add "triple‑4" high‑visibility pavement markings, passive detection for rapid‑flashing beacons and extended flash times when users are detected in the crosswalk. Assistant Engineer Rashad Culver told commissioners the estimated project cost is $230,000 (about $180,000 construction; $50,000 soft costs) and that the city plans to request approximately $100,000 from the TDA Article 3 program while using traffic impact fees to fund the remainder.

The commission’s discussion centered on site selection, equipment details and grant strategy. Commissioners asked about the choice of crossings, solar power for beacons, how passive detection works, whether passive detection could be triggered early enough for approaching bicyclists, vegetation trimming to improve sight lines, and coordination on crossings that straddle city and county jurisdiction lines.

Culver said crossings were chosen for proximity to schools, parks and the greater county trail network and that the proposed beacons are solar with onboard battery packs. He said passive detectors will sense users approaching the crossing and that the exact detector setback will be finalized during construction. He also said striping and passive detection are consistent with treatments used elsewhere in the city.

Commissioners urged staff to consider asking for more grant funds if allowed, and to flag coordination with Contra Costa County for crossings that are on or adjacent to unincorporated county roads. After a motion to support the staff recommendation (initially specifying a particular request amount) was amended to authorize staff to seek “additional funds as reasonably practical,” the commission voted unanimously to recommend the application and to forward the matter to City Council. The commission asked staff to follow up with details on detection performance and to consider public outreach and signage to educate trail users about the new treatments.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final award decisions will be made by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the city council must approve the application before staff submits it.