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SR-506-003-04 (10) . GS:SS:RD:db Santa Mon~ca, Cal~forn~a Counc~l Meet~ng May 11, 1982 ~v. lJ-B . ~ 2nd ReV1Slon :JIJ6-tJ. MAY 1 1 1982 To: Mayor and City Councll '03-0tr From: Clty Staff SubJect: Central Bus~ness District Parking and Trafflc Circulatlon INTRODUCTION ThlS report provldes a surrunarization of the Central Business District Parking and TrafflC Circulation Study, mak e s recommendations to improve clrculatlon in the Central Business District, and provides cost implicat~ons and analysls of on-street parking loss. BACKGROUND PARKING The C~ty contracted MPA, Inc. , Municipal and Transportation Eng~neers to conduct a parking and traffic c~rculation study of the Central Buslness Distrlct. Results of the parking ~nventorles revealed the 3-hour zones ~n several of the structures and most of the on-street parklng are at or near capacity during peak usage periods. Although most of the on- street parking Meters were at or near capacity they were well utllized w~th an average daily turnover rate of almost s~x vehicles per space and an average parking duratlon of less than one hour. Turnover in the structures was much lower with an average of less than three vehicles per space and an average duration in the range of one and a half to two hours for the three hour parking areas. I REV. ~ JJ--e MAY 1 1 ~~:]2 GS:SS:RD:db Santa Monica, Callfornla . Councll Meeting May 11, 1982 INTERSECTIONS The Intersectlon Capaclty Analysis of the eXlsting street system reve aled the ma]Orlty of the intersections within the Central Buslness District currently operate at a high level of serVlce with mlnlmal vehlcle delay. The only exception was the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and 4 th Street plus Llncoln and OlymplC Boulevards. At Santa Monica Boulevard and 4th Street the congestion and vehlcle delay result from a lack of left turn lanes on all four approaches (this has Slnce been partially remedied by left turn restrictions). At Lincoln and OlymplC Boulevards drlvers experlence a high degree of delay occasioned by the volumes exceedlng the capacity which can pass wlthln the green tlme and the number of lanes. STREETS Several streets were analyzed to determine the effect of one way trafflc on the remaining street system. Roadway wldth for two-way streets in a Central BUSlness District should be a mlnlInUm of two lanes in each directlon in order to allow through movement to occur whlle cars are entering and leaving the curb parking stalls. One way flow allows approximately the same flexibility with only three lanes instead of four. For an existing two-way street belng converted to one-way the extra space can be utilized for a bicycle lane. Slnce most lntersectlons in the Central Business Dlstrict are operating at the "A" level of service, the analysis and discussion applies equally to any couplets in the CBD either eXlsting or being contemplated. The impact of two-way flow versus one-way flow lS 2 . GS:SS:RD:db Santa Monlca, California . Councll Meetlng May 11, 1982 . 4 . more vehicle delay for a two-way operation with slightly reduced levels of service. However, there 1S much less driver confusion and less extra travel wlth a two way system. Staff has held meetings with the Chamber of Commerce and a public meeting at First Presbyter1an Church to discuss traffic in the downtown. Most of the discussions and comments were directed to making Arizona Avenue a two-way street. Many merchants told of customer confusion ln trying to get to theJ..r shops. The alleged adverse effects the Fanner's Market has on the traffic circulation and buslness on Ar1zona Avenue near the Mall was also d1 scu ssed. Staff proposes to convert Arlzona Avenue and Slxth Street from one-way to two-way streets. The conversJ..on of ArJ..zona Avenue will eliminate 28 on-street parking spaces WhlCh were recently added. The elimination of the 28 spaces wlll reduce potentlal revenue to the City by approximately $33,600 per year. The cost to change the street from one-way to two-way is estimated to be $15,000. A large portion of the cost 1S to modify the recently installed traffic signal at Ar1zona and Ocean Avenues. The conversion may require Wllshire Palisades to modify their vehicle ingress and egress. They have estimated the cost will be between 520,000 and $35,000. If Arlzona Avenue is converted between 2nd Street and Lincoln the total cost would be only $7,000. The Fanners Market would still have a significant traffic circulation and parklng impact on Wednesdays. The conversion of Arizona cannot begin until the traffic slgnal 1S modified. It is anticipated three months will be required for the modiflcation. The conversion of Slxth Street from one-way to 3 GS:SS:RD:db Santa Monica, Californla Councll Meeting May 11, 1982 .. .. . . two-way will elimlnate 20 on- street parklng spaces (which also were recently added) . The annual parklng weter and flne revenue cost is estimated to be $24,000. The installation cost to convert the street is estlmated to be $6,000. This work can begin within four weeks after Council approval. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended City Council instruct Staff to convert Arizona Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and Ocean Avenue and Sixth Street between Wllshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue from one-way to two-way and appropriate $21,000 to do the work. Prepared by: Stan Scholll Dlrector of General Services Ray Davis, Parklng and Traffic Engineer 4