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Dysfunctional at its best --- Mill Valley and the Alto Tunnel.
Author: The Odd Duck
Date: 07-07-2015 - 01:25
Study continues on reopening Alto Tunnel
By Nels Johnson, Marin Independent Journal
POSTED: 07/04/15, 5:05 PM PDT | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO 1 COMMENT
A study of reopening the Alto Tunnel in the Mill Valley area will move ahead now that county supervisors have given a Redwood City consultant another $4,000 to pay for complications involving title research.
The tab for BKF Engineering’s study rose to $73,000 as officials approved a public works request for more money for survey, mapping and related work.
BKF was hired in 2013 to analyze right-of-way issues involved with a proposal to reopen Alto Tunnel for bike and pedestrian use. At last report, officials estimated reopening the old Alto Tunnel could cost $60 million.
The need for more money was triggered by delays and other complications due primarily to “changes in the title company industry and the age of some of the originally recorded title documents,” principal civil engineer Bob Goralka told the county board.
“This information will help narrow the construction cost estimates contingency level to achieve a higher level of confidence in the cost to recondition the tunnel for bicycle and pedestrian use,” he said.
The county board four years ago allocated $8.8 million in federal funds for a series of bicycle and pedestrian projects — including $600,000 to study ownership, engineering and cost issues concerning reopening the Alto Tunnel. The spending included $180,000 for boundary, topographic research and a title survey of Alto Tunnel, as well as $420,000 to construct an entry portal at the tunnel, study conditions and determine costs of reopening it.
Still, no decision has been made to reopen the tunnel, a project sought by bicyclists.
The Alto Tunnel, 16 feet wide, 20 feet tall and approximately 2,200 feet long, served as a single-track railway for nearly 90 years. The tunnel remained open until 1971, when bulkheads were added at each portal to block entry.
In 1975, a plug was added near the north end of the tunnel, and in 1982, a collapse at the southern portal was stabilized with gravel and earth fill.
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Note:The interesting thing when the report was being done, no body and I mean no body told BKF that is a narrow gauge tunnel built in the 1880’s instead they thought it was a standard gauge tunnel.
Older Story
Alto Tunnel plan gets heated attention in Mill Valley
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journalmarinij.com
Posted: 05/03/2013 05:22:23 PM PDT
The fate of the Alto Tunnel for bicycle and pedestrian use was the focus of debate in Mill Valley over the past week.
The city's General Plan Advisory Committee got into the act as it weighed city plans for future transportation and considered the function of the Alto Tunnel, which bicycle advocates want to see opened to provide a flat route between Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
In its discussion, the committee decided to remove from the general plan language addressing the tunnel, deeming it a potentially contentious issue. A portion of the plan had read: "Consider feasibility assessments for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, such as Alto Tunnel, that may provide safe and convenient connections between Mill Valley and the rest of Marin County."
The move surprised bike advocates, who then packed Thursday night's committee meeting with more than 50 tunnel proponents.
By the end of the session, the reference to the tunnel was restored into the general plan's language, along with wording that encourages study of the Camino Alto and Horse Hill bike crossings.
"I'm happy with the action, it is an effective compromise," said John Palmer, who helps head the Scott Valley Homeowners' Association.
Palmer and the association worry that work on the tunnel could affect homeowners in the neighborhood. Because the tunnel closed, more homes have been built near and even on top of the structure and any work could disturb residents and
raise liability issues, he said. He wants to see the Camino Alto and Horse Hill routes studied with an eye toward improvements.
But bike advocates want to see the tunnel opened, saying it would provide a flat easy-to-use connection along the county's north-to-south bikeway. They also said it is important to have the tunnel included in Mill Valley's general plan in case money becomes available to work on the project.
Riders presently have to use the Camino Alto and Horse Hill routes, which are steep in places and can present dangers. Camino Alto in particular puts bikes and cars on a rough, narrow road with blind curves.
"Some people like the challenge of the other routes, and that's great, but the tunnel is for the rest of us," said Kim Baenisch, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
Opening up the Alto Tunnel for bike and pedestrian use could cost as much as $60 million, according to one county report, although bike advocates say that estimate is too high.
The tunnel is 16 feet wide, 20 feet tall and approximately 2,200 feet long — about a half mile — and served as a single-track rail tunnel for nearly 90 years.
The tunnel remained open until 1971, when bulkheads were added at each portal to prevent entry. In 1975, a plug extending approximately 125 feet was added near the north end of the tunnel and in 1981, there was a collapse at the southern portal.
The southern portal area was stabilized in 1982 with gravel and earth fill. The middle 1,600 feet of the tunnel remains sealed off.
In 2011 Marin County officials allocated $600,000 in federal funds to study land ownership, engineering and the costs involved in opening the tunnel. That work is ongoing, officials said.
"The tunnel is the subject of different opinions from different groups," said Jim McCann, Mill Valley's city manager. "And it's a matter that has some strong opinions."
Contact Mark Prado via email at mprado@marinij.com
Copyright 2012 Marin Independent Journal. All rights reserved.
By Nels Johnson, Marin Independent Journal
POSTED: 07/04/15, 5:05 PM PDT | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO 1 COMMENT
A study of reopening the Alto Tunnel in the Mill Valley area will move ahead now that county supervisors have given a Redwood City consultant another $4,000 to pay for complications involving title research.
The tab for BKF Engineering’s study rose to $73,000 as officials approved a public works request for more money for survey, mapping and related work.
BKF was hired in 2013 to analyze right-of-way issues involved with a proposal to reopen Alto Tunnel for bike and pedestrian use. At last report, officials estimated reopening the old Alto Tunnel could cost $60 million.
The need for more money was triggered by delays and other complications due primarily to “changes in the title company industry and the age of some of the originally recorded title documents,” principal civil engineer Bob Goralka told the county board.
“This information will help narrow the construction cost estimates contingency level to achieve a higher level of confidence in the cost to recondition the tunnel for bicycle and pedestrian use,” he said.
The county board four years ago allocated $8.8 million in federal funds for a series of bicycle and pedestrian projects — including $600,000 to study ownership, engineering and cost issues concerning reopening the Alto Tunnel. The spending included $180,000 for boundary, topographic research and a title survey of Alto Tunnel, as well as $420,000 to construct an entry portal at the tunnel, study conditions and determine costs of reopening it.
Still, no decision has been made to reopen the tunnel, a project sought by bicyclists.
The Alto Tunnel, 16 feet wide, 20 feet tall and approximately 2,200 feet long, served as a single-track railway for nearly 90 years. The tunnel remained open until 1971, when bulkheads were added at each portal to block entry.
In 1975, a plug was added near the north end of the tunnel, and in 1982, a collapse at the southern portal was stabilized with gravel and earth fill.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:The interesting thing when the report was being done, no body and I mean no body told BKF that is a narrow gauge tunnel built in the 1880’s instead they thought it was a standard gauge tunnel.
Older Story
Alto Tunnel plan gets heated attention in Mill Valley
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journalmarinij.com
Posted: 05/03/2013 05:22:23 PM PDT
The fate of the Alto Tunnel for bicycle and pedestrian use was the focus of debate in Mill Valley over the past week.
The city's General Plan Advisory Committee got into the act as it weighed city plans for future transportation and considered the function of the Alto Tunnel, which bicycle advocates want to see opened to provide a flat route between Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
In its discussion, the committee decided to remove from the general plan language addressing the tunnel, deeming it a potentially contentious issue. A portion of the plan had read: "Consider feasibility assessments for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, such as Alto Tunnel, that may provide safe and convenient connections between Mill Valley and the rest of Marin County."
The move surprised bike advocates, who then packed Thursday night's committee meeting with more than 50 tunnel proponents.
By the end of the session, the reference to the tunnel was restored into the general plan's language, along with wording that encourages study of the Camino Alto and Horse Hill bike crossings.
"I'm happy with the action, it is an effective compromise," said John Palmer, who helps head the Scott Valley Homeowners' Association.
Palmer and the association worry that work on the tunnel could affect homeowners in the neighborhood. Because the tunnel closed, more homes have been built near and even on top of the structure and any work could disturb residents and
raise liability issues, he said. He wants to see the Camino Alto and Horse Hill routes studied with an eye toward improvements.
But bike advocates want to see the tunnel opened, saying it would provide a flat easy-to-use connection along the county's north-to-south bikeway. They also said it is important to have the tunnel included in Mill Valley's general plan in case money becomes available to work on the project.
Riders presently have to use the Camino Alto and Horse Hill routes, which are steep in places and can present dangers. Camino Alto in particular puts bikes and cars on a rough, narrow road with blind curves.
"Some people like the challenge of the other routes, and that's great, but the tunnel is for the rest of us," said Kim Baenisch, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
Opening up the Alto Tunnel for bike and pedestrian use could cost as much as $60 million, according to one county report, although bike advocates say that estimate is too high.
The tunnel is 16 feet wide, 20 feet tall and approximately 2,200 feet long — about a half mile — and served as a single-track rail tunnel for nearly 90 years.
The tunnel remained open until 1971, when bulkheads were added at each portal to prevent entry. In 1975, a plug extending approximately 125 feet was added near the north end of the tunnel and in 1981, there was a collapse at the southern portal.
The southern portal area was stabilized in 1982 with gravel and earth fill. The middle 1,600 feet of the tunnel remains sealed off.
In 2011 Marin County officials allocated $600,000 in federal funds to study land ownership, engineering and the costs involved in opening the tunnel. That work is ongoing, officials said.
"The tunnel is the subject of different opinions from different groups," said Jim McCann, Mill Valley's city manager. "And it's a matter that has some strong opinions."
Contact Mark Prado via email at mprado@marinij.com
Copyright 2012 Marin Independent Journal. All rights reserved.
Dysfunctional at its best --- Mill Valley and the Alto Tunnel.