SR-506-001-03-01 (7)
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City Council Report
City Council Meeting: September 26, 2006
Agenda Item: ~
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Andy Agle, Interim Director, Planning and Community Development
Subject:
Approve Crosswalk Enhancement Plans for Main Street between Pico
Boulevard and Colorado Avenue in the Civic Center Area
Recommended Action
This report recommends that City Council approve the proposed crosswalk
enhancements across Main Street at Vicente Terrace and at the crosswalk in front of
City Hall, as indicated in Attachments A and B.
Executive Summary
An evaluation of the section of Main Street between Pico Boulevard and Colorado was
undertaken to determine if pedestrian crossing conditions could be improved. A marked
crosswalk is recommended across Main Street at Vicente Terrace to add a second
crosswalk in the long section between Pico Boulevard and the crosswalk in front of City
Hall. Enhancements are also recommended for the crosswalk in front of City Hall. The
enhancements for each location are indicated in the attached plans (Attachments A and
B.) Funding for this work is available in the adopted budget for FY 2006-07 as outlined
in the Budget/Financial Impact section below
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Discussion
The Civic Center Specific Plan provides for pedestrian improvements between Pico
Boulevard and Colorado Avenue as part of a long-term strategy. The current
recommendations address the immediate pedestrian needs that have been created as a
result of interim transitions. The segment of Olympic Drive between Main Street and 4th
Street provides new access to the Santa Monica Freeway, resulting in more traffic on
Main Street. The average evening speeds have increased as cars head southbound
down the bridge from Colorado to Olympic Drive. The pedestrian traffic in the crosswalk
in front of City Hall has increased as a result the new temporary pool-car and employee
parking lot across the street. Vicente Terrace, the new street constructed south of Rand
between Ocean Avenue and Main Street, has created additional demand for crossing
Main Street.
A workshop was held for all Civic Center area employees and employers on February 1,
2006 to seek comments and suggestions concerning pedestrian crossing issues along
Main Street. The stated goals of the project were to:
. Enhance the pedestrian experience
. Reduce potential conflict points between motorists and walkers
. Mark crosswalks at reasonable intervals to channel crossing locations
. Establish crossing locations consistent with travel paths
. Increase motorist awareness of people walking
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A questionnaire was also distributed and e-mail comments were encouraged. The
technical team gathered and reviewed pedestrian counts, traffic data and collision
reports. The team also analyzed the public input, the physical alignment and
topography; adjacent land uses and observed paths of travel. Preliminary
recommendations were developed and were presented at a public workshop on July 10,
2006. The workshop was well attended.
The following recommendations are recommended for immediate implementation:
Crosswalk in Front of City Hall (Attachment A):
Refuge islands will create a protected area in the middle of the street on both sides of
the crosswalk where the pedestrian can wait safely for the other direction of traffic to
clear. The presence of the refuge island in the middle will prevent vehicles from using
the center lane to skirt around a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian and also to prevent
delivery trucks from parking in the center lane, blocking the view of pedestrians in the
crosswalk. The placement of the refuge islands will also provide a perceptual cue to
slow traffic. Normally the refuge islands would be raised and landscaped, however,
since these are interim measures pending reconstruction of Main Street to align with 2nd
Street, the islands will be indicated with temporary materials, including flexible plastic
lane deflectors and crosswalk warning signs. The center refuge areas will be marked to
indicate that they are pedestrian safety zones from which vehicles are prohibited. The
crosswalk markings will be slightly off-set on each side of the refuge area to encourage
the pedestrian to look towards the oncoming traffic. The crosswalk enhancements will
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require the removal of approximately 1 metered parking space on the west side of the
street.
A "Your Speed is xx" sign, that will indicate a vehicle's real-time speed, will be installed
on the west side of Main street just south of the bridge to address the tendency of
vehicles to increase speed as they proceed down the incline of the bridge. New "Ped
Xng" pavement markings will be added in advance of the crosswalks. The existing
temporary curb extension on the east side of Main Street will remain.
Vicente Terrace Crosswalk (Attachment B):
A new crosswalk across Main Street is recommended for the north side of the ''1''
intersection at Vicente Terrace. This was determined to be the most strategic location
to place a second crosswalk based on observed crossing patterns and stated paths of
travel. The placement of the second crosswalk also takes into consideration the curve
of the street in front of Rand. The Vicente Terrace location is far enough south to
provide a clear line of site for a driver traveling southbound around the curve.
The recommended treatments are similar those for the crosswalk in front of City Hall.
Refuge islands are recommended to create a protected area in the middle of the street
on both sides of the crosswalk. Since this section of the street is planned to be modified
in the ultimate Civic Center Specific Plan, the refuge islands will be created with
temporary materials similar to the Main Street crosswalk. Crosswalk signs will be
installed and "Ped Xng" pavement markings will be added in advance of the crosswalks.
4
The crosswalk markings will be slightly off-set on each side of the refuge area to
encourage the pedestrian to look towards the oncoming traffic. New access ramps will
need to be installed. The crosswalk installation will require the removal of
approximately 1-2 metered parking spaces on the west side of the street.
Longer Term Measures
The addition of marked crosswalks across Main Street at Olympic Drive were assessed
but are not recommended until Olympic Drive is extended through to Ocean Avenue.
An analysis of pedestrian paths of travel indicated that the two crosswalks at Vicente
Terrace and City Hall would address most needs in the interim, particularly while the
entire west side of the street across from Olympic Drive will be a construction project for
several years (Le. the Village and the extension of Olympic Drive). Upon completion of
the Olympic Drive extension, a traffic signal will be installed, if warranted, and marked
crosswalks would be incorporated into the design.
Raised curb extensions could also be considered for the northeast and southeast
corners of Olympic Drive. One objective is to tighten the turning radius, particularly to
slow northbound cars turning right onto Olympic Drive. However, it is recommended
that this decision be deferred until Olympic Drive is extended through to Ocean Avenue.
A striping plan was developed that would restore the bike lanes to Main Street after the
Civic Center parking structure is open. The new parking structure will provide ample
parking capacity and the bike lane can be restored pursuant to the adopted Main Street
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Master Plan and Bicycle Master Plan. The re-installation of this bike lane would restore
Bicycle Route 3, a continuous lane from Colorado Avenue to the southern City limit.
Staff will provide an information item to Council about the proposed striping plan once
the structure is completed.
Environmental Analysis
The proposed crosswalk enhancements across Main Street at Vicente Terrace and in
front of City Hall have been determined to be categorically exempt from the provisions
of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Article 19, Section
15301 (c) which defines a Class 1 exempt project in the following way: "Class 1 consists
of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration
of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical
features, involving little or no expansion beyond that existing at the time of the lead
agency's determination..." This exemption lists as examples of "existing facilities: (c)
Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and
similar facilities." The crosswalk enhancements, including minor alterations to signage
and striping, the addition of temporary lane deflectors and the addition of a real-time
information sign, are to an existing street and include no expansion of this facility.
Budqet/Financiallmpact
The implementation of the temporary measures is estimated to cost $40,000. Sufficient
funds are available in Account C010162.589000. An estimated amount of $3,000 will
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be required to ensure that the temporary measures are maintained. The maintenance
cost will be charged to the same CIP account number.
Prepared by:
Ellen Gelbard, Deputy Director, Planning and Community Development
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Ir ctor, Planning
opment
Andy Agle, Interi
and Community
Attachment A: Conceptual Crosswalk Treatment - Main Street in Front of City Hall
Attachment B: Conceptual Crosswalk Treatment - Main Street North Side of Vicente Terrace
7
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