sr-081269-8dCITY OF SANTA MONICA
~' INTER-E T E T
DATE: August 6, lg6g
i° TO: Perry Scott, City Tnanager
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FROM: Bartlett L. Kennedy, City Engineer
~1UG 12 1ci69
THIS ML ~1 `3E
RETURNEz~ 10 ~.IE
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SUBJECT: Proposed Intersection Remodeling - 20th Street at
Olympic Boulevard - Pennsylvania Avenue.
Plans for ou-r lgo8-6g traffic signal improvement program
presently are nearing completion. Included in the program is the
modernization of the traffic signals at 20th Street and Olympic
Boulevard.
The east side of this existing intersection presents a unique
traffic hazard, due to the existence of Pennsylvania Avenue i~nmediately
adjacent on the south to Olympic Boulevard (see attached sketch). This
rna?tes the intersection very difficult to properly signalize, and the
confusion resulting from the tti~ro possible left turn movements from
20th Street to either Olympic or Pennsylvania presents a very real
accident hazard.
As originally constructed in 1g47 by the State, Pennsylvania
Avenue provided the principal means of access to the area south of
Olympic Boulevard between 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard.
Hot~rever, when the State relinquished Olympic Boulevard to the City and
the City opened 21st Street through to Olympic, Pennsylvania Avenue
ceased to be of importance.
It is the recommendation of this office that Pennsylvania
Avenue be closed at its westerly end by the construction of a curb
and sidewalk, and that the portion of the street lying betti-reen 20th
Street and 20th Court be used for parking until such tune as it might
be vacated and sold. Vehicular access to this industrial area, includ-
ing access to 20th Court, would not be adversely affected by this
proposal.
The attached memo from the Traffic Engineer describes in detail
the traffic volumes and other data pertinent to this recor:isnendation.
Following are some of the advantages that vaould result from
this action:
1. More adequate signalization.
2. Elimination of an accident hazard,
3. Improved safety for pedestrians.
August o, lg6g Page 2
Subject: Proposed Intersection Remodeling - 20th Street
at Olympic Boulevard - Pennsylvania Avenue.
4, Additional parking facilities,
5. Future sale of street and its -return to tax -rolls.
6. Relocation of bus stop to safer location,
T'_ne estimated cost of the necessary construction, including
storm drain relocation, is 7,500. State Gas Tax funds can be used
for this purpose.
It is recommended that the City Council be requested to
approve the closing of Pennsylvania Avenue as outlined above and
authorize the expenditure of State Gas Tax funds for its construc-
tion,
BARTLETT L, KEIV'IvEDY
City Er_gineer
Attac'_(maents
CITY U"r SANTA tv1CN1C~,
n
av ~a ~~
DATE: August 6, 1969
TO: B. L. FCennedy, City Engineer
FRONY: J. J. Wrenn, Parking & Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT: Proposed Curb Modifications, 20th and Olympic
In conjunction with signal modification plans for 20th and Olympic,
the following information is furnished per your verbal instructions:
24 Hour Traffic Count - 20th and Olympic - Wednesday, July 30, 1969
South bound Iv'orth bound
6,261 5,670
East bound West bound
5,926 9,027
North-south Total
11,931
Total 24 hour intersection volume was 26,884.
24 hour north bound right turn was 1,233.
636 vehicles enter Pennsylvania at 20th in 24
only 2.4/0 of the total intersectional volume
to influence the intersection geometrics when
Street via the opening at 21st and Olympic.
About 60% of these are Edison or City trucks.
14,953
hours. This represents
and should not be allowed
they can enter 21st
All vehicles entering Pennsylvania at 20th must stop at 21st, whereas
entering 21st from Olympic, they are not required to stop. At a cost
factor of 5 cents per unnecessary stop, the slight difference in
travel will be more than offset by this cost difference.
Pedestrians, particularly children from St. Anne's School, will have
a safer method of crossing this extremely wide intersection.
The 24 hour volume of north bound right turns of 1,233 vehicles will
be able to turn right on the red indication whenever possible, whereas
now because of the open throat of Pennsylvania, this move is prohibited.
This improvement will eliminate the confusion of north bound motorists
who are unsure whether south bound left turn vehicles are attempting
to turn into east bound Olympic or Pennsylvania Avenue. It will also
eliminate the confusion generated by cvest bound Olympic vehicles making
a U-tuxn into either east bound Olympic or Pennsylvania Avenue, It
will also provide for the safety of the pedestrian who now utilizes
East-west Total
B. L. Kennedy Page 2 August 6, 1969
the crosswalk at 7_Oth and Pennsylvania. in the mistaken belief that
east bound motorists will continue on Olympic when in reality they
are going into Pennsylvania.
The proposed curb alignment on Olympic will permit the relocating of
the Olympic Boulevard bus stop from near side to far side without
hindering east bound motorists. It will also serve as an accelera-
tion lane for motorists who make the right turn from 20th Street.
The present bus stop location is extremely hazardous in that
passengers vaho exit from the rear door do so into a driveway. This
could result in an injury and possible law :suit against the City.
The closure of Pennsylvania at 20th will permit the parking of 6 to
7 vehicles on the south curb on an interim basis until such time as
that portion between 20th .and 20th Court can be sold to a private
developer. Presently Pennsylvania in this area ;s one way east
bound and parking is prohibited to provide for the necessary
transition to the south side of 'the street.
In conclusion, we strongly recommend the improvement be adopted be-
cause it will benefit both the motorist and the pedestrian by virtue
of the increased safety, resulting from the improved crosswalk and
signal indication locations, and will materially increase the
over-all capacity of the intersection.
dt
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J. Wrenn
P king & Traffic Engineer
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