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
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. GS:SS:RD:db Santa Monlca, California
. Councll Meetlng May 11, 1982
. 4
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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
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GS:SS:RD:db Santa Monica, Californla
Councll Meeting May 11, 1982
.. ..
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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
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