SR-506-002 (2)
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.:506-002.
C/ED:CPD:DKW:bz
COUNCIL MEETING: February 10, 1987
Santa Monlca, callfornla~__~
FEB 2 4 1987
TO: Mayor and CIty Councll
FROM: CIty Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendatlon to Authorlze Clty-wlde Clrculat10n Study
INTRODucrrON
Thls report recommends that the C1ty CouncIl authorIze the
1n1 tIa tIon of a C1 ty-w1de cIrculatIon study.
The study would
provIde a comprehens1ve reV1ew of the City1s trafflc cIrculatIon
system W1 th an emphaSIS on protect1on of resIdentIal areas and
better overall flow 1n the CIty.
The analYls would
IdentIfy
eX1st1ng c1rculat1on condltlons,
1nventory and recommend a
prIorIty for 1mplementat1on of presently-needed cap1tal proJects,
pro] eet future cond 1 t10ns and needed C1rculatIon 1mprovements,
and develop a f1nancIng plan.
BACKGROUND
CIrculat10n Issues are of growIng concern to the Santa MonIca
communIty.
TraffIC volumes are steadIly IncreaSIng at the same
tIme
as
State
and
Federal fund1ng sources for c1rculatIon
Local governments and S-c.
FES 24 198,
are assumIng a larger share of costs for
are
dImlD1sh1ng.
1mprovement
proJects
pr1vate
developers
1mprovements to CIty streets and for State hIghways and freeways.
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FEB ~7
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CommunIty concern about traffIC lssues has manIfested Itself In
con] unctlon Wl th Plannlng CommlSSlon and CJ. ty CounCIl rev lew of
most maJor development proJects as well as 1n reVlew of pOliCY
documents such as the Land Use and C1rculat1on Elements and the
proposed Zon1ng Ord1nance. Frequently, the CIty has expressed
concern to the C1ty of Los Angeles regard1ng projects occur1ng 1n
that c1ty WhICh will adversely affect Santa Mon1cats c1rculatlon
system.
The C1ty'S 1984 Land Use Element called for the preparatIon of a
c1rculat1on 1mpact study of the Spec1al Off1ce D1str1ct once a
spec1fIed amount of development had occured 1n that area. In
November 1986 staff 1ssued an RFP for thiS study. Five
consul tants responded W1 th proposals. Of these, two f1nallsts
were selected by a staff workIng group after extensive background
checks and Interv1ews.
As a result of purSUIng th1S llmlted-area study and through
diScuSSIons Wl th the potent1al consul tants, staff has concluded
that a C1ty-w1de approach IS needed, not only because of
wldespread communIty concerns, but partICUlarly In regard to
development of a comprehens1ve flnanc1ng plan to fund necessary
traffIc-related capItal 1mprovements, and establIshment of a
Council-approved pr lor 1 ty IlSt of capI tal proJects to m1 tigate
cIrculat10n impacts.
The proposed analYSIS would prov1de a comprehensive reVlew of the
Cltyts traffIC clrculat10n system wlth an emphas1s on protectlon
of res 1dentlal areas and better overall flow 1n the CI ty. The
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study wlll have four maJor components: 1) ldent1f1cation of
eXlst1ng condlt1ons and ffilt1gatlon medsures; 2) preparatlon of an
1nventor y and a recommended lmplementat10n pr lor 1 ty for
presently-needed capital improvement proJects : 3) proJect1on of
future condltlons and capital improvements needed to m1tigate the
1mpacts of future traff1C growth: and 4) development of a
comprehens1ve f1nancing plan(s) to 1mplement needed improvements.
The prImary focus of the study would be on maJor traff1c problem
areas and needed cap1tal improvements to the C1ty'S c1rculat10n
1nfrastructure such as new freeway ramps, trafflc s1gnals,
traff1C slgnal 1nterconnect, medians and slmilar projects.
Ult1mately, the Clty CounCIl would reV1ew the study and establish
a proj ect pr lor I ty llst as well as f lnanc1ng mechan1 sms _ The
study wlll focus on parkIng only to the extent of calculat1ng
cos ts of replacement park 1ng for spaces los t due to ml t 19at 10n
Improvements.
Several maJor Development Agreements are pend1ng and wlll lIkely
be acted on prlor to the completion of the City-w1de traff1C
study. ConSistent With current pract1ces, such proJects wlll be
requ1red to m1t1gate the1r lmmed1ate traff1C 1mpacts as
1dentlfIed by the env1ronmental process and General Servlces
Department reView. Staff wlll also recommend that each such
Agreement ensure that the proJects are subJect to paying their
falr share of any future assessments or fees applicable to
Simllarlly-sltuated property WhlCh may be created as a result of
the C1ty-w1de traffIC study.
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An ~mportant part of the study process ~s communlty lnput. Once
a consultant IS selected, staff WIll conduct on~ or more publlC
workshops to provIde opportunltIes for communIty groups, property
owners and other Interested persons to comment on c~rculatlon
lssues.
These comments wIll aSSIst the staff and consultant In
preparatIon of a report WhICh recognlzes communIty concerns. The
completed study WIll also be subJect to extenSIve publlC reVIew.
It IS estImated that
approx~mately SIX to
recommendat~ons, wh~ch
preparatIon of
nIne months.
could Include
the study WIll take
Implementat Ion of 1 ts
spec~al ordlnances or
creatIon of an assessment dlstrIct(s), would occur follOWIng
completIon of the study.
Staff IS plannIng on solICItIng proposals for the study from the
two fInalIsts from the SpeCIal OffIce RFP process. Award of the
contract for the study as well as allocatIon of funds to perform
lt WIll require CIty CounCIl approval.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The cost of the study WIll be establIshed after selectIon of a
consultant. It 15 lIkely that a speCIal allocatIon of funds WIll
be necessary.
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RECOMMENDATION
It 1S respectfully recommended that the C~ ty CounC11 author 1 ze
staff to proceed w1th select10n of a consultant for the C1ty-w1de
clrculatLon study, and to return to the CounCil wIth award of a
contract and allocat1on of funas.
Prepared by: Peggy Curran, C/ED D~rector
Stan Scholl, General Serv1ces D1rector
D. Kenyon Webster, SenIor Planner
DKW:bz
trf
1/29/87
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