sr-100868-8bDATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
INTER-DEPARTMENT
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September 30, 1908 s ~'~ 1tiJ~'~' '3'
P.ET~I[Z P _i O Ii'
CIT 3 xrh ; ,S' ~ Onto TLIr
Perry Scott, City Manager (via B. L. Kennedy, Ci;~y--En~~r~eer)
James iTrenn, Acting Parking & mraffic ,Engineer
Recommendation: 2o'th Street & Cloverfield Boulevard
Traffic Improvements.
In response to your verbal instructions of T~iay 10, 1908,
,ae are herewith submitting the follo~,ving report on our proposal tc
alleviate the traffic congestion evidenced at the subject location
since the opening of the Santa Monica Freeway ir. January 1966.
Since then, four traffic studies involving manual hand
counts have been conducted at the intersectional complexes of Clover-
field Boulevard at 26th Street, Michigan Avenue, and the Santa Monica
Freeway. During two of these studies, counts ti~tere simultaneously
taken at the intersections of 26th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard
at Olympic Boulevard. These counts were undertaken in January 1960,
April 1967, September 1967, and June 1868. During these June counts
automatic traffic counters *rrere placed on bcth 26th Street and
Cloverfield Boulevard simultaneously to register 24 hour volumes for
from four to six days over a two week period.
In addition, during August 1968 extensive manual turning
motion counts were conducted simultaneously at the intersections of
Cloverfield Boulevard at 26th Street, Olympic Boulevard, Colorado
Avenue, Broadway, and Santa Monica Boulevard. Again automatic 24
hour directional traffic volume counts were taken simultaneously at
raid-block Iocatians on Cloverfield Boulevard between each of the
aforementioned intersections,
Turning motion counts were also conducted on 26th Street
at the Colorado Avenue, Broadway, and Santa Monica Boulevard inter-
sections to provide data for the A.lI. and P.P•4. peak hour area traffic
flow maps sub;:,itted with this recommendation along with:
Table I which indicates 24 hour A.D.T. and P..M. - P.M. peak
hour volumes at the 26th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard intersection
along with the appropriate percentage of their respective totals.
Table II which reflects the primary movement (northbound)
under observance on Cloverfield Boulevard and is a summar;= of the
A.i4. - P.M. peak hour turning motions at each of the intersections on
Cloverfield Boulevard.
September 30, 1868 Page 2
Subject: Recommendation: 26th Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard Traffic Improvements.
Table III which reflects a summary of the total volume on
Cloverfield within each block for A.M. - P.M. peak hours as yell as
their 24 average daily totals. In addition, 40 scale prints sho~~ving
the total concept of our recommendations have been completed to
augment the 20 scale layouts in color of Cloverfield prepared for
Council presentation and discussion,
Some three years ago, prior to the opening of the Santa
Monica Freeway, we predicted that Cloverfield Boulevard as opposed
to 26th Street would handle approximately 50;~ of the traffic flow in
and out of the Freeway complex. All the traffic studies taken since
the Freeway opening have consistently substantiated our prediction
as evidenced in the summaries of the traffic counts conducted in
June and August 1968.
The average Daily Traffic (A.D.T.) (See Table I) at the
north. leg of Cloverfield Boulevard and Michigan Avenue is 24,850
vehicles per day {V/D ). Excluding the State Highways, this traffic
volume is exceeded on City contrclled streets by only b+7ilshire Boule-
vard, iirhich has an A.D.T< of approximately 2g, 000 VfD. This 24,850
A.D.m, was split between 26th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard almost
evenly with Cloverfield Boulevard handling only 708 total v/D less
than 26th Street.
It was and is our firm belief that the predominant north-
bound from Michigan Avenue traffic movement onto Cloverfield Boule-
vard {520 - 24 hour) has as its destination some point westerly of
Cloverfield Boulevard or else it would not contend ?-vith the potential
accident hazards and delays existing in the. present 26th Street and
Cloverfield. Boulevard intersectional geometric design.
;~7hile there is a definite need to redesign the intersection
at 26th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard, it is only one problem facet
of the overall traffic flow on the Cloverfield Boulevard approaches
to the Santa Monica Freeway. The one basic reoccurring remedy
predicated upon our personal observations during all four surveys and
substantiated by the data collected, was a modification of the traffic
lanes and channelization on Cloverfield Boulevard between Michigan
Avenue and Delaware Avenue so as to add an additional lane southbound.
This additional lane is required so as to provide for a mandatory
double Left Turn Only lane to the Freeway On Ramp. In addition, the
added lane southbound frill provide 50 percent more storage capacity on
the approach legs to the three existing signals between Michigan Avenue
and Delaware Avenue. This will in effect provide a smoother flow
through this intersectional complex.
September 30, lgo8 Page 3
Subject: Recommendation: loth Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard Traffic Improvements,
Another facet of the overall problem requiring attention
is the widening of iMichigan Avenue particularly within 200 feet +
east and west of Cloverfield Boulevard by widening the street from
40 to 48 feet and increasing all curb radii to 35 feet. It vrill
provide us ~irith two approach lanes to the intersection again.
facilitating greater capacity during a signal cycle change and at
the same time providing much smoother ingress to the Michigan Avenue
industrial complexes serviced by the heavy truck traffic involving
semis, trailers, etc. It is our opinion that .<rith the Edison Company,
Peerless Trucks, Goplen Excavating, City Yards equipment, etc, that
the present 40 feet width in itself hampers and reduces the inter-
sectional capacity at Cloverfield Boulevard and ~~ichigan Avenue.
Therefore, ~rre believe that Michigan Avenue from Cloverfield Boulevard
east to 24th Street and west a minimum distance of 200 feet, should
be widened ~~rithin the present Right of ~r1ay from 40 to 48 feet, so as
to open the throat of Michigan Avenue to facilitate quicker ingress
and egress of the heavy truck activity experienced at this inter-
section.
Keeping in .mind that the improvements recommended from the
north leg of Cloverfield Boulevard and i~?ichigan Avenue to Delaware
Avenue should be installed in any eventuality regardless of *~vhat is
done north of iMichigan Avenue, cFre will concentrate now on the problems
concerning loth Street and Cloverfield Boulevard between t+Ichigan
Avenue and Olympic Boulevard.
In analyzing the series of traffic counts conducted along
Cloverf5.eld Boulevard, it is interesting to note that they substantiate
our opinions regarding rotorist desire. It can definitely be assumed
that the motorist northbound on Cloverfield Boulevard from Michigan
Avenue does have as a desired destination some point tivesterly of
Cloverfield Boulevard,
You will note on Table I that the northbound Cloverfield
Boulevard right turn towards loth Street is literally insignificant
.~rith the exception of Santa R4onica Boulevard, It must also be pointed
out that the northbound right turn at Santa IQonica Boulevard does not
necessarily represent that total of vehicles that entered Cloverfield
Boulevard from the 26th Street intersection north. of n~Iichigan Avenue.
There vrould be a definite group of vehicles that would have entered
the Cloverfield Boulevard traffic stream from either Olympic Boule-
vard, Colorado Avenue, or Broadway for various reasons, i.e.,
circling the block from say Broadway to Santa i,ionica Boulevard or
from eastbound Colorado Avenue to eastbound Santa ?Monica Boulevard
via Cloverfield Boulevard,
September 80, 1868 Page 4
Subject: Recorurendation: loth Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard Traffic Improvements.
To illustrate this, 403 vehicles entered Cloverfield
Boulevard northbound at 26th Street during the P.1. peak hour, yet
the surr, of all northbound turns both east and. westbound from
Oly'mpi c Boulevard to Santa i47onica Boulevard totaled g2g. It is
axiomatic that the additional 466 vehicles r,~ust have entered the
Cloverfield Boulevard traffic stream from elsewhere. 1'et, this
same P.PH. peak hour reveals a minimal northbound right turn east-
bound extent at Santa Plonica Boulevard *rrhere Cloverfield Boulevard
terminates. Even here, nearly 75~ of the northbound Cloverfield
Boulevard motorists turn left vaestbound.
In assessing the north:ound movement, it is apparent from
Table I that approximately g5~ of the motcrists northbound on
Cloverfield Boulevard from A?ich.igar. Avenue would turn left westbound
onto Clympie Boulevard at 26t'_n Street if Cloverfield Boulevard vaere
to be mmade one-gray southbound anti 2'oth ,Street one-saay northbound..
These motorists will proceed to their desired destination regardless
cf any one-vaay ;proposal, but it vrould be detrimental to the effective
traffic movement on loth Street if these -aestbound motorists did not
turn at Clympie Boulevard.
This nort_bound left turn movement vrould have to 'pe
acporrrmodated at Olj-rnpic Boulevard due to the constriction in street
width on 2o'th Street at Colorado Avenue from 04 feet on the south.
leg to 48 feet on the north leg, Also, Olympic Boulevard because of
its semi-expressvaay status due to t_~e absence of driveways and
pedestrian activities and the existence of a median traffic divider
between 2uth Street and Cloverfield Boulevard presents the logical
connecting link tc funnel the diverted traffic flow between these
tvao streets resulting frorc a one-gray installation.
However, if Cloverfield Boulevard v+rere made one-way south-
bound and 26th Street one-way northbound 95~ cf the existing 600
vehicles per hour or approximately 550 V~H currently going north on
Cloverfield Boulevard that vrould be required to go north on loth
Street would be turning left (vaestbound) at the same time 700 VfH
southbound on loth Street would be required to turn right (westbound)
onto Olympic Boulevard. These two turning mcvements vrould have to
merge with the existing westbound Olyn;pic Boulevard traffic volume
of some 1,000 V~H. The sum of these three volumes vrould be in
excess of 2,250 VfH v^restbound on Olympic Boulevard approaching Clover-
field Boulevard. This vrould, in effect, severely strain the capacity
of Olympic Boulevard; probably require *rridening from two lanes to
three lanes westbound and still vaould not alleviate the congestion
that would occur at Cloverfield Boulevard.
September 30, lgo8
Sub,;ect: Recommendation: 2'oth Street ~, Cloverfield
Baulevard Traffic Improvements.
Page
The State prescribes additional left turn provisions be
adopted whenever left turn volume at a given intersection exceeds
300 V/H. You can readily see that the 700 southbound 26th Street
V/H that would be compelled to turn right {?^restbcund) onto Olympic
Boulevard at 26th Street and then continue to Cloverfield. Boulevard
vrhere they ?could turn left (southbound) vrould stretch the capacity
of the mandatory double left turn lane proposed at Cloverfield
Boulevard i,vestbound. To add 550 vehicles westbound, of which sor.~?e
450 would in all probability turn right {northbound) onto Clover-
field Boulevard vrould -require a mandatory. right turn only lane along
:^rith an optional right turn and/or through lane. It can be seen that
this eriss-cross traffic pattern, particularly during peat. hours, will
severely over-tax even the pro~oosed geometric design of the Olympic
Boulevard at Cloverfield Boulevard and 2'oth Street intersections,
because you still must contend vrith the existing demand on westbound
Olympic 3ouleva-rd of some 1,000 V/H.
In other words, making Cloverfield Boulevard one-way south-
bound would merely move the congestion. problem from one point at loth
Street and Cloverfield Boulevard to two points on Olympic Boulevard
at 26th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard and this we cannot advocate.
Ho:^rever, we believe that raking loth Street one-way north-
baund between Cloverfield and Olympic is the only logical way to
eliminate the bottleneck at loth Street and Cloverfield Boulevard
that materially constricts traffic vvithin the Freeway area.
Also, the providing of three approach lanes to the Freevaay
complex wherein all of the southbound traffic both frog, Cloverfield
Boulevard and loth Street have maximum longitudinal distance to
merge into the proper driving lane for the Freeway approach is an
advantage that cannot be minimized. Presently, the southbound 26th
Street traffic cannot easily be channelized into the appropriate
lanes for entering the Freeway on ramp due to the approximately 900
curve that breaks practically on r;,ichigan Avenue thus limiting the
methods *.ae would 'nave to properly advise the motorist by signing as
to ~~rhich lane they should use to obtain maximum efficiency and safety.
On the other hand, our recommendations will provide us with the maximum
ability to direct the motorist into the proper approach lanes for
either the Freeway or Pico Boulevard by means of the overhead signing
recommended.
It therefore is our recommendation that Cloverfield Boule-
vard remain a two-s^ray artery and that 26th Street, bet:^reen Cloverfield
Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard, be made one-?-way northbound for the
reasons summarized as folio=rrs:
September 30, 1908 Page 6
Sub~~ect: Recommendation: 26th Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard mraffie Improvements,
1. This,. in our judgement, is the one feasible traffic
circulation plan for this area because it provides
for th.e minimal amount of congestion consistent with
proposed geometric requirements at the intersections
of loth Street and Cloverfield Boulevard at Olyr,^.pic
Boulevard.
2. Tt orovides for the free flow of northbound traffic
from t'_ne Freeway complex via either loth Street or
Cloverfield Boulevard,
3. It provides for three approach lanes to the Freevray
complex giving ma_ximurr, longitudinal distance for the
motorist to merge into the proper driving lane for
the Free~rray approach,
4, Because of its design, vre believe it will not only
accommodate existing traffic volumes but grill possibly
serve to attract volumes that are novr congesting the
Lincoln Boulevard On and Off Rarnps due in ioart to the
deficient design characteristics at the Cloverfield
Boulevard-Freeway complex,
5. It permits, except during peak hours, a circulatory
move from Cloverfield Boulevard southbound to 20th
Street northbound via a left turn access lane.
0. Because of the increased curb radii, street :•ridths,
etc. truck activity in the industrial complexes vrill
be ex_oedited and the companies involved vrill save time
and money.
It is further recommended that the Cloverfield Boulevard
widening should definitely be continued through. to Santa PZonica
Boulevard for the following reasons:
The California Department of r{Totor Vehicles has acquired the
property on the northvaest corner of Colorado Avenue and
Cloverfield Boulevard upon which they intend to construct nevr
facilities considerably larger than those they presently occupy
at 15th and Broadway. ?rTe have checked the traffic flove and
parking plans which they are going to utilize during discussions
with their local manager and it is their intent to have one
driveway on Colorado Avenue and one on Cloverfield Boulevard.
This Cloverfield Boulevard driveway would be located at the
northerly edge of their property where, under the present
September 30, 1868 Page 7
Subjecta Recommendations 2'6th Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard Traffic Improvements..
Cloverfield Boulevard widening proposal, the transition south-
bound from 40 feet to 0'0 feet in roadway width would begin.
There T,vould be in all probability from a minimum of 1,000 to
2,000 vehicles per day entering the Cloverfield Boulevard traffic
stream from this new improvement alone, and it would pose a
definite safety problem due to the location of this driveway on
a transition.
In addition, Systems. Development Corporation has just leased the
cld Summers Gyroscope building complex on Broadway and are
expanding their operations 4vith a corresponding increase in
employment. The driveway exiting from the parking lot servicing
this ne*,v facility is located approximately 200 feet south of
Broadway within the existing 40 foot wide street and will provide
egress from this parking lot of some 200 cars during the peak
hour, It appears to us that vaith these t~vo new developments in
this particular block currently designed as a transitional area
that a definite need occurs for a reversal of current plans to
terminate the street widening in the middle of it.
If we are ever to encourage full development of the remain-
ing area between Broadway and Santa P/ionica Boulevard, a vride, modern
up-to-date street (instead of a narrovr block with sub-standard lane
widths) should be a mandatory reauirernent to provide convenient ingress
and egress to the abutting properties to and from the F-ree~rray complex,
Therefore, *ae strongly recommend that the proposed widening of Clover-
field boulevard to 60 feet in width be ;made uniform to its terminus
at Santa Monica Boulevard.
In summary, it is recommended that;
1. 26th .Street from Cloverfield Boulevard to Olympic Boule-
vard be made one-way northbound.
2> Cloverfield Boulevard remain a two-41Tay arterial and be
widened to a minimum road~ray width of 60 feet frcrn
Michigan Avenue to Santa i'fonica Boulevard.
3'. P~ii c'_~~igan Avenue from 24th Street to a point a minimum
distance of 200 feet ,vest of Cloverfield Boulevard be
~~rid.ened to a road.vay frridth of 4~ feet snrithi n city-owned
right of svay.
!E. Modify traffic signals, channelization, and lane mark-
ings on Cloverfield Boulevard between i~fi chigan Avenue
and ~Tirginia Avenue to provide an additional traffic
lane southbound.
September 30, lgo8 Page 8
Subject: Recommendation: loth Street ~ Cloverfield
Boulevard Traffic Improvements.
5. Provide all things necessary, including, but not
limited to, channelization, street rlodifications ,
lane markings, turning and parking prohibitions,
mercury vapor street lighting, signing whether
regulatory or directional, including illuminated
overhead bridge type directional signs to fully
implernentize our recommendations as shown on
Engineering Department Print ;2778-A.
The cost of the above improvements, exclusive of right
of way costs, is summarized as follovas:
Cloverfield Boulevard c^~idening:
trirginia Avenue to n~7ichigan Avenue -------- ~ 90,000
Michigan Avenue to Olympic Blvd. ---------- 53,000
Olympic Blvd> to Santa Prionica Blvd. ------- 180,000
X323,000
Michigan Avenue widening ---------------------------- 18,000
Overhead Signing °--------------------------°-------- 17,000
Railroad Crossing Gates (City Share} ------°--------- 25,000
Traffic Signals L Olympic ~ 20tH
and Glyznpic at Cloverfield ----------------------- 121,000
Sub-Total ------------------------------ 5505,000
15' ~gineering ~; Contingencies -------- 75,700
TOTAL ESTIS-iATED COST (Less Rf?,+7} -------- X580,700
Folloi<rin~ is a su,~~mary of the funds available to finance
the project:
1858-6g State Gas Tax Appropriation ----------------- X485,000
Carry-over funds from -previous years ---------------- 125,000
rn r+z- ~ F `So10 000
TO^1 AL Gr`.S lAX ruNDS AVHILr,BLv ---------° ~ ,
Estimated Expenditures (Construction Only}:
Storm Drain in 26th Street -------------- ~} 48,000
SteU~ra.^t St,: Oly,~pic to P.E. ------------ 35,000
P.E. to Delaware ----------- 100,000
Delaware to Picc(Design Only} 10,000
TOTAL FLT?~,.5 OBLIGATED rOR EXPEi`dDITURE TO 6/30f6g - ~1g3,000
Remaining 1968-6g Gas Tax Funds Available for
this project ------------------------------------- X417,000
September 30, 19'08 Page g
Subject: Recommendation: loth Street & Cloverfield
Boulevard- Traffic Improve:ents.
In addition, the follo~n,ing Gas Tax funds vrill be 0.vailacle in
19og-70 to augment the finaizcing ofth.is projec'cc
Section 2106 (State) funds ---------------- 15355,400
.Section 2107 (State) funds ------
(4~327,60o x 40) ----------------------- 12g,8oo
TOTAL STATE r~,?DS ------------ X485,200
Counter Gas ^1ax rends -------------------------------- 100,000
TOTAL ESTIT-TA^1 ED lg6g-74 GAS TAY FUNDS ------------ - ''~
- - ~~85,200
CONCLUSION:
It is interesting to note that the overall influx of
vehicles into the Cloverfield Boulevard complex from loth Street to
Delaware Avenue during oeak hours increased by 6,5;0 over September,
19'07 volumes. This in spite of the obvious design deficiencies
inherent ir. the present street geometries. Thus it can be safely
assumed that a greater volume increase can be expected when improved
street geometries providing a smoother traffic flow are installed.
Therefore, it is vitally important that the proposals that best
accommodate both current and future needs be adopted and installed,
It is our firm belief that these needs can best be :met by the adoption
of our aforementioned recoms~endations.
Recommended by;
~iREIvA
•c ing Parking and
Traffic Engineer
P.ttachments:
1. Traffic Flow 1~?ap AN1Peak
2. Traffic r^lovr A4ap PT>1Peak
3. Table I
4. Table II
5. Table III
BARTLET^1 L. . r1TNEDY
City Engineer
26th STREET & CLOVERFIELD BLVD. TRAFFIC STUDY
TABLE I
JUNE 1968 TRAFFIC COUNT SUMMARY
24 Hour A.M.
(7:15
Northbound
26th Street 6281 - 48% 503
Cloverfield Blvd. 6785 - 52% 644
13,066 1,147
Southbound
Peak P.M. Peak
-8:15) (4:30-5:30)
- 44% 627 - 55%
- 56% 503 - 45%
1,130
26th Street 6547 - 55% 546 -
91 65%
35% 715 -
560 - 56%
44%
Cloverfield Blvd. 5335 - 45% -
2 274
1
11,882 837 ,
TOTALS
Both Streets ~`
Northbound 13,066. - 52% 1,147 - 58% 1,130 - 45%
Southbound 11,882 - 48% 837 - 42% 1,272 - 53%
24,948 1,984 2,404
26th STREET & CLOVERFIELD BLVD. TRAFFIC STUDY
TABLE II
NORTHBOUND ON CLOVERFIELD BLVD. TURNING MOTION COUNT
AUGUST 1968
Left (Westbound) Thru (Northbound) Right (Eastbound)
A.M. P.M, A.M. P.M. A.Mo P.M.
Northbound at
S. M. Blvd. 184 403 T Interse ction 57 147
76.3% 73.3% - - - - - -- - 23.7% 26.7%
Broadway 125 113 237' 502 19 35
'32.8% 17.4% 62.2% 77.2% ' .5% 5.4%
Colorado 114 94 350 417 40 41
22.6% 17.% 69.4% 75.5% .8% 7.5%
Olympic 118 89 508 371 ~~ 5 7
18.7% 19.% 80.5% 79.4% .8% 2.6%
Onto Cloverfield Onto 26th St.
26th' 652 463. - - - - - - - 468 623
58.2% 42.6% 41.8% 57.4%
Combined Totals
(Northbound)
A.M., P.M,
241 550
381 650
504 .552
631 467
1,120 1,086
26th STREET & CLOVERFIELD BLVD... TRAFFIC STUDY
TABLE III
AUGUST 1968 TRAFFIC COUNT SUMMARY
CLOVERFIELD BLVD.
A.M, Peak P.N. Peak
1400 Block (S.M.) 24 Hour (7:15-8:15) (4:30-5:30)
(S.M. - Broadway)
Northbound 4,463 - 64.2% 241.- 60.8% 550 - 80.7%
Southbound 2,485 35.7% 155 - 39.2% 131 - 19.3%
Northbound &
Southbound Totals 6,948 396 681
1500 Block (Broadway)
(Broadway-Colorado)
Northbound 5,166 - 57.8% 381 - 57.8% 650 - 64.1%
Southbound 3,767 - 42.1% 278 - 42.2% 363 - 35.9%
Northbound &
Southbound Totals 8,933 659 1,013
1600 Block (Colorado)
(Colorado-Olympic)
Northbound 6,384 - 57.9% 504 - 60.7% 552 -.58'.7%
Southbound -4,639 - 42.0% 326 - 39.3% 388 - 41.3%
Northbound &
Southbound Totals 11,023 830 940
1700 Block (Olympic)
(Olympic-Michigan)
Northbound 6,709 -.56.7% 631 - 46.4% 467 - 48.1%
Southbound 5,121 - 42.2% 728 - 53.6% 503 - 51.9%
Northbound &
Southbound Totals 11,830 1,359
Average Totals Four Blocks Combined
Northbound 439 - 54.1%
Southbound 372 - 45.8%
Northbound &
Southbound Totals 811
970
555 - 61.0%
346 - 38.0%
901