Engineers present 60% design for Tolovana emergency vehicle and ADA ramp; grant pursuit underway

Engineers for the Tolovana emergency vehicle and ADA ramp told the Cannon Beach City Council on March 17 that the project has reached the 60% design milestone and will continue toward a 90% package to be permit-ready.

The update, presented by Jessica of ADFF (engineer of record), said the 60% plans focus on rehabbing the vehicular ramp and improving pedestrian access to reduce recurring congestion and to accommodate emergency vehicles. Jessica said the set is more detailed than the prior 30% package — including grading, slopes and material thickness — but is not yet the permit-level package typically reached at about 90% design. “We are at the 60% milestone,” Jessica said.

Why it matters: the ramp is intended as an access point for emergency response after major seismic or storm events and also to improve daily pedestrian safety. Council and staff discussed whether a federal ship-to-shore designation would affect military response plans; staff reported ongoing outreach to OEM after preliminary conversations with the Navy suggested the fleet assigned to the region may not stop locally after a Cascadia-level event.

Design and resilience details: Jessica said the team examined statistical wave models to address annual King Tide and debris issues. To reduce wave reach they are stopping the handrail at an elevation where waves are less likely to overtop, and are considering barrier bollards at the bottom of the ramp to deflect driftwood. She also said the new ramp geometry should allow city maintenance machinery to access the area more easily for debris removal.

Cost and funding: staff pointed to a 60% engineer's estimate included in the packet but cautioned that the number covers hard construction costs only and omits soft costs such as design, permitting, construction administration and owner contingency. “Take this number with a grain of salt,” staff said, noting it should not be interpreted as an overall project cost. Engineers said they are pursuing several grant opportunities now that the design is sufficiently developed.

Next steps: designers will refine details toward 90% — including input from a landscape architect and comments received from Oregon Parks and Recreation and the fire department — and will continue outreach to OEM to clarify any ship-to-shore designation requirements that might apply. The design team and staff expect to return with a more fully specified package and funding plan as the project advances.

The council did not take a formal vote on the ramp during this session; the discussion concluded with staff and engineers noting follow-up steps.