Placerville Station: transforming mobility for cyclists, pedestrians, drivers and transit users
At a glance
The Placerville Station project aimed to enhance the City of Placerville's accessibility and safety by providing non-motorized infrastructure, improving an existing intersection and turning the Placerville Park-and-Ride into a multimodal hub that benefits both residents and visitors.
The project transformed the Park-and-Ride lot into a multimodal facility that would provide areas for all modes of travel to, from and around the station. This included increasing vehicle, transit and bicycle parking areas and constructing a portion of the El Dorado Trail, a regional trail system that spans the city, to facilitate non-motorized user access and connections to and from a transit station.
The project also incorporated a cohesive landscape design with native, drought-tolerant plants that serve as water-quality features, along with additional low-energy lighting and modifications to the existing intersection of Mosquito Road/Locust Ave and U.S. Highway 50 (US 50).
The challenge
The City of Placerville is a popular tourist destination thanks to its Gold Rush history and its growing status as one of California’s great wine regions. However, resident and visitor access is challenging because US 50 cuts through the city.
In the early 2000s, the city’s growing population warranted a small transit station, which was placed on the north side of US 50, just a few hundred feet from the US 50/Mosquito Road westbound on and off ramps and 1,000 feet from Main Street, which is the heart of the city’s downtown and is bustling with local businesses, restaurants and wine shops.
In 2015, the city secured funding to build two segments of the regional El Dorado Trail, one of which ran between US 50 and Main Street, with plans to expand the trail in the future.
The existing infrastructure, including several roads converging at the southern limits of the Park-and-Ride facility, posed serious safety problems and contributed to a high rate of traffic collisions.
City officials recognized the need for roadway and multimodal improvements, as well as a multimodal hub, to address these challenges and strengthen overall accessibility and safety for residents and visitors.
The new design had to address safety challenges posed by the existing mountainous topography and the Mosquito Road/Locust Ave intersection with US 50 ramps, while also providing traffic and pedestrian access, given increased vehicle flow. It also had to include landscape and sustainability features to meet permitting requirements and enhance the scenery.
Our response
GHD provided environmental clearance and redesign of the Placerville Station into a multimodal hub. The upgraded facility includes:
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Expansion of the Park-and-Ride facilities from 50 parking spaces to 130;
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Enhanced roadway configuration to improve sight distance and overall traffic operations;
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Improved intersection at Mosquito Road/ Locust Avenue by adding a stop sign to control traffic flow;
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Enhanced pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along the El Dorado Trail by realigning the trail and developing a permanent and safe connection through Placerville Station; and
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Additional low-energy, non-glare lighting with light shields was installed to increase safety at Placerville Station while considering the needs of the neighboring residential community. Modern Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crossing lights were also installed to improve visibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
We also developed a cohesive landscape design featuring nearly 600 plants, most of which are native and drought-tolerant. This not only enhanced the site's visual aesthetics but also improved drainage and water quality around it.
The impact
GHD’s solutions collectively transformed Placerville Station into a true multimodal hub, improving safety, accessibility and overall user experience for both residents and visitors.
Improved vehicle flow and intersection upgrades reduced collisions, while bicycle lane connectivity at Placerville Station enhanced the experiences of pedestrians and cyclists. The landscaping and lighting boosted aesthetics through a sustainable approach, using low-water plants and low-energy, non-glare lighting. The expanded Park-and-Ride facility, with 130 parking spaces, bike lockers, and restrooms, made it easier for residents and tourists to park and access the downtown area. The addition of sidewalks and other curbside improvements created a pedestrian-friendly environment.
Throughout the project, the community provided positive feedback, expressing excitement about the improvements that made the area safer and more accessible. Public outreach meetings allowed the community to provide input and ideas, which were incorporated into the final design.