SR-506-003-02 (2)
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GS:SES:RF:ME (10-17-88) Santa Monica, Californ~a
Council Meeting: october 25, 1988
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TO: Mayor and City Council 7
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Proceed with Initial studies Required
To Determine the Financial Feasibility of Widening
Cloverfield Boulevard between the Santa Monica Freeway
and Olympic Boulevard and to Authorize the City Manager
to Negotiate and Execute Necessary Contracts for Survey,
Appraisal and Environmental services
INTRODUCTION
This report discusses recommendations submitted by the consultant
working on the Citywide Traffic study and recommends that the city
Council direct staff to proceed with initial studies required to
determine the financial feasibility of widening Cloverfield
Boulevard between the Santa Monica Freeway and Olympic Boulevard
to provide an additional lane of traffic in each direction. This
report also recommends that the City council authorize the city
Manager to negotiate and execute necessary contracts for these
initial studies which will determine the feasibility of this
proj ect, including survey, appraisal and environmental design
services. Finally, it is recommended that the City Council
appropriate traffic mitigation fees in the amount of $200,000 to
fund these initial studies.
BACKGROUND
Crain and Associates, the traffic engineering consultant for the
citywide traffic study has determined mitigation measures and
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traffic improvement project needs which will reduce the impact of
increased vehicular trips in the city. Findings by Crain and
Associates indicate that the widening of Cloverfield Boulevard
between the Santa Monica Freeway and Olympic Boulevard by adding
one traffic lane in each direction is one of the highest priority
improvement needs in the city. The Cloverfield Boulevard corridor
north of the Santa Monica Freeway is one of the City'S most
critical arterial roadways as it serves not only the Special Office
District, but also the Hospital Area and significant employment and
residential areas in the east end of the city.
The concept of widening Cloverfield Boulevard has been recommended
by both the Water Gardens Traffic Committee and the steering
Committee for the Citywide Traffic Study. The Water Gardens
Traffic Committee is a group of citizens residing in and around the
special Office District who were selected to help determine traffic
improvement needs resulting from approved developments in the
District. The Steering Committee for the Citywide Traffic study
is comprised of key staff members who have been assigned to select
viable improvement programs recommended in the Citywide Traffic
Study and submit such improvements to the City Council for
approval. As indicated above, both groups have approved the
concept of widening Cloverfield Boulevard from the Santa Monica
Freeway to Olympic Boulevard and recommend that planning for this
improvement proceed immediately.
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As the proposed widening of Cloverfield Boulevard between the Santa
Monica Freeway and Olympic Boulevard will require the purchase of
private property for additional rights-of-way, one purpose of this
staff report is to request council approval to initiate studies to
determine the financial feasibility of this project. Preliminary
design by Crain and Associates indicates the street widening is
technically feasible. The first step in such a determination of
financial feasibility is a detailed survey of the roadway to
determine the specific right-of-way requirements. Upon determining
what properties will need to be purchased, staff must then contract
for appraisal services to determine the cost of such purchases.
Assuming that the results from the survey and appraisal processes
appear to be cost-effective, staff can then proceed with
environmental studies for the street improvements. Upon completion
of these studies and preparation of detailed cost estimates for the
project, staff will return to council for authorization to proceed
with the construction phase of the project.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
Both the Colorado Place and Water Garden developments have paid
traffic mitigation fees to date totalling approximately $7.1
million dollars as part of their development agreements. These
fees are to be used to construct improvements needed to mitigate
the traffic impacts from the developments. Staff anticipates that
survey, appraisal and environmental services will cost
approximately $200,000. At this time, there are no budgeted funds
for such work. The City Council is requested to appropriate
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$200,000 from the Water Gardens traffic mitigation fee for survey,
appraisal, environmental and design services to Capital
Improvements Project account 0~-770-416-000-956.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the city Council:
l. Direct staff to proceed with initial studies required to
determine the financial feasibility of widening Cloverfield
Boulevard between the Santa Monica Freeway and Olympic
Boulevard to provide an additional lane of traffic in each
direction.
2. Authorize the city Manager to negotiate and execute any
contracts necessary to initiate the proposed traffic
improvements.
3. Appropriate $200,000 from the traffic mitigation fees paid by
the Water Gardens project to Capital Improvements Project
account 01-770-416-000-956 to fund survey, appraisal and
environmental design contracts.
Prepared by: stan Scholl, Director of General Services
Ron Fuchiwaki, city Parking and Traffic Engineer
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