City of Davis

Informational Packet

Thank you for your interest in this project!  The City of Davis, UC Davis and the Davis Downtown Business Association are co-sponsoring an open house meeting to present concepts for improving circulation connections and wayfinding between UC Davis and Downtown Davis.  Public comments on the concepts are requested.

Agenda for Open House on June 29, 2005
7:00 to 7:30 PM   Introductions, overview, process and next steps.
7:30 to 8:45 PM   Open house to review concepts, submit comments.
8:45 to 9:00 PM   Closing, submittal of comments (or within 10 days).

Submitting Comments
Comments may be submitted within 10 days of the meeting (by July 11 please) by any of the following methods:

• Hand in June 29.
• Deliver to City Community Development Department, 23 Russell Boulevard.
• Email to rwolcott@cityofdavis.org.

Purpose of Open House and Public Comments
This public comment opportunity was added to the middle of the project process to: (1) seek public comments and confirm general public support for the direction the project is taking; and (2) allow for modifications prior  to the following steps leading to City Council and UC Davis acceptance of the concepts.

Steps in This Project Process

• Consultations with city and UC Davis staff and key stakeholders.
• Develop concepts for improving connections and do preliminary analysis.
• Current step:  Seek public comments on the concepts.
• Further analyze concepts, develop cost estimates, identify potential funding sources, and develop an implementation plan.  The implementation plan would identify specific projects, responsibilities, and priorities.
• Seek City Council and UC Davis acceptance of the concepts for the purpose of implementing specific concepts.

Background of Project

Both City and UC Davis planning policy documents address the improvement of connections between the campus and downtown. These include the UC Davis Long Range Development Plan and the City of Davis General Plan, Core Area Specific Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines.  Some of the City policies are:

• Enhance the safety and accessibility of the bicycle network in the vicinity of UC Davis.  (General Plan)
• Improve pedestrian access between UC Davis and the Core Area.  (Core Area Specific Plan)
• A “Discovery Walk” shall be developed by the City in cooperation with the DDBA and UC Davis…(as) a scenic route that links the Core Area and UC Davis.  (Core Area Specific Plan)
• The City and downtown merchants should study the possibility of a Core area shuttle service. (Core Area Specific Plan)

UCD remains committed to assist in funding a shuttle service between the proposed hotel and conference center and downtown.  In addition, a shuttle could potentially serve the future campus research park.

The project is consistent with several City Council goals for 2004 to 2006:
Economic development.  Increase retail shopping.  Pursue opportunities to promote Davis as a destination for visitors.
Downtown.  Further enhance the downtown as a regional center for arts and entertainment and a vital commercial center.
Interjurisdictional.  Maintain a strong relationship with UC Davis to pursue shared interests.  Work collaboratively.
Transportation.  Reduce traffic, increase safety.
Arts and entertainment.  Increase arts and entertainment, particularly in downtown.
Community aesthetics.  Enourage high quality building and landscaping throughout the city.

Project Goals and Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to ease movement between the UC Davis campus, arts & entertainment venues, and the downtown.   Safe, convenient and attractive circulation routes would be of mutual benefit to UC Davis, the City of Davis, downtown businesses, and the general public.

More specific goals and objective were developed based on existing City and UCD policies, a study of issues and opportunities, and input received from stakeholder interviews.  These are:

Goal 1: Improve bicycle, pedestrian and vehicular connections between the campus and downtown for safety, convenience and attractiveness.

• Objective 1a: Improve the east-west bicycle and pedestrian connection from D Street to A Street (along First Street and along the arboretum). 
• Objective 1b: Improve north-south bicycle and pedestrian connections from downtown to the arboretum, including a connection from D Street to the arboretum.
• Objective 1c: Improve the First and A Street intersection function.
• Objective 1d: Recommend feasible shuttle opportunities to link the Mondavi Center area, Fine Arts Department area, and the future hotel/conference center with the downtown area.

Goal 2: Improve campus / downtown identity and wayfinding, creating a unified experience linking UC Davis and the City of Davis.

• Objective 2a: Improve the campus edge identity and campus / downtown gateways, including enhancements to the First and A Street Intersection.
• Objective 2b: Improve signage between downtown and the Mondavi Center area.
• Objective 2c: Explore the identity and wayfinding function of the Arboretum.
• Objective 2d: Explore the possible shuttle as a unique source of identity.

Brief Summary of Concepts

The concepts developed to date are briefly summarized below:

• First Street and A Street Intersection:  Proposed improvements for vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle movements and landscape improvements signaling a gateway between the University and City.
• First Street. Proposed improvements for bicycle and pedestrian travel between A and D Streets.
• MondaviCenter to Downtown Shuttle.  Review of possible shuttle options and routes.  Consideration of appropriate pilot projects.
• Campus to Downtown Pedestrian Corridors and Gateways Proposed concepts to improve pedestrian movement and wayfinding between campus and downtown including the Arboretum, Third St., and a potential "Arts Walk".

Graphics

Color graphics for the connection concepts are available on this webpage.
These graphics will be presented at the June 29^th Open House.

Comments Form

Submit comments online

For More Information

Contact: Bob Wolcott, City of Davis Community Development Department, (530) 757-5610, rwolcott@cityofdavis.org or Karl Mohr, UCD Office of Resource Management and Planning, (530) 754-9617, kfmohr@ucdavis.edu.