On September 6, 2001 at Pier
80, Port staff met with community members to discuss the proposed Illinois
Street Rail/Truck Bridge over Islais Creek and to solicit input from the
community regarding project impacts.
The majority of the community
members in attendance were tenants of the industrial building fronting the west
side of Illinois Street between Marin Street and Islais Creek. Community members stated that the
bridge placement on the Illinois Street right-of-way would negatively impact
the loading/unloading access to the industrial building, will reduce the
availability of on-street parking spaces, will increase traffic in the area and
will impact the habitat and marine species. Community members asked Port staff to evaluate
alternatives/revisions to the proposed bridge project to lessen the impacts
cited. Port staff agreed to
evaluate the following items and provide responses to the community members.
1. Evaluate realigning the proposed bridge structure
easterly (not within the Illinois Street right-of-way).
2. If the bridge is to remain in the Illinois Street
right-of-way, evaluate raising the entire 80’ roadway width to match the
bridge incline in order that the resulting roadway will serve the loading bays
along the easterly elevation of the industrial building.
3. Identify options to provide parking in the vicinity to
replace on-street parking that would be lost as a result of the bridge project.
4. Evaluate roadway surfaces other than metal grates to
be used on the proposed bridge in order to reduce traffic noise and improve
bicycle safety.
5. Evaluate the options for more direct pedestrian
connections between the existing Tulare Pedestrian Path (connecting Illinois
Street with 3rd Street) and the proposed Muwekma Ohlone Shoreline
Park (easterly of Illinois Street).
6. Identify landscaping options for all bridge
alternatives.