Reworked Park-and-Ride Plan Ready For Public Scrutiny

The city will host a workshop Saturday at the Veteran's Memorial Hall to get public input on the updated West Military and Downtown Intermodal station projects.

Among the many changes in the updated plans are new landscaping and a new median in front of Solano Square and back-in angled parking on Military West near West 14th St.  The meeting begins at 8:30 AM and is scheduled to end at 12:30 PM.

"This project is giving us a hard-to-believe opportunity to beautify our
gateways and encourage walking, biking and transit," said Charlie Knox, Benicia Public Works and Community Development Director.  "It will make it
easier to cross Military at multiple locations and extend the recent
improvements along the high school west to I-780."

Intermodal stations typically serve large segments of a community by providing a central transportation hub.  People who live close to an intermodal station often walk or ride a bike to the station where they catch a bus to BART or the ferry.  Those living further away  park their car at the station. 

City staff is proposing improvements to two areas in town already well served by the bus but lacking in the amenities needed to attract riders.  The improvements on Military West span the distance from Southampton Rd. to the freeway onramp at where Military West ends.  Besides the back-in angled parking on the south side of the street, staff is proposing new medians, landscaping and bicycle lockers and new sidewalks.

Improvements at the downtown site also include a new pedestrian plaza at the entrance to City Park as well as some reconfigured parking and improvements to the bus stop.

A plan put forward in July failed to gain community support due to fears of increased traffic and noise arround City Park.  "Please note that the site plan for First/Military has been changed significantly following public comment at Council: there is now nothing in the plan that affects City Park or the surrounding residential area," Knox said.