sr-032266-6d1i
CITY OF SANTA MONICA ~
INTER®EPTET MEMO
~y
~~5~~,,8
DATE: March 17, 1866 ~„-
TO: Perry Scott, City Manager PJIAR~i9cb
FROM: Bartlett L. Kennedy, City Engineem THIS `; r ;'
RETL. 4 J 'i i `~
CITY C',,iiti`S l rTGE
SUBJECT: Bus Stop Location, Pico Boulevard at 20th Street rOR i~;.iivi;.
In compliance with your request, the following information
is furnished relative to the relocation of the subject bus
stop from its previous near-side location to its present
location on the east side of 20th Street.
URZen Pico Boulevard was scheduled for resurfacing, it was
determined that bus pads should be placed to minimize future
maintenance. In locating these pads, the Traffic Engineer
personally discussed each proposed location with Mr. Prior
and Mr. Cooper of the Transportation Department.
At the intersection of Pico Boulevard and 20th Street, the
bus stop for the eastbound bus was moved from a near-side
location, in front of a service station, to afar-side
location, in front of a drive-in restaurant, the "Taco Tio.
The decision to make this move was based on the following
factors
The driveway to the service station nearest the intersection
is a relatively narrow drive, approximately 18 to 20 feet
wide, and is located with the top of the "X" within inches
of the pedestrian crosswalk crossing Pico Boulevard. With
these conditions, all of the inherent features of the near-
side bus zone were present, i.e., parked bus obstructing
intersection visibility of approaching drivers; obstructing
view of eastbound drivers to primary signal indication; and
interfering with and posing a hazard to drivers making an
eastbound to southbound right turn. Also, due to narrow
drives to .the service station, the bus zone was so short
that the back end of the bus usually was blocking the number
two traffic lane. On the far-side of the intersection, all
of these disadvantages-are overcome and both the bus-riding
and the motoring public enjoy a minimum of hazard and/or
inconvenience.
The probable effect of this move upon the adjacent business
was also considered. At that time the only adjacent business
was the "Taco Tio," although a similar type of business,
"Rembrant's," has since opened immediately adjacent to the
March 17, 1966 Page 2
Subject: Bus Stop Location, Pico Boulevard
at 20th Street
"'Taco Tio." It was felt that persons waiting to board a bus
would avail themselves of some of the services of "Taco Tio,"
i.e., ice cream, soft drinks, coffee, etc., and that for
this reason the location of the stop at this point should
cause no great harm. This was based on observation of
activities at other bus stops located under similar condi-
tions in other areas, though not in Santa Monica.
The operator of the "Taco Tio" has complained to Mr. Spurgin
that since the bus stop was placed in front of his place of
business, he has experienced a severe loss in trade. He
readily admits, however, that not all of this loss is due to
this one factor alone. He, the operator, makes the point
that by moving the bus across 20th Street we have added to
the hazard of Santa Monica City College students by requiring
them to cross 20th Street to get to an eastbound bus. Actually,
this is not the case, since the bus also stops on Pico at 18th
Street, immediately in front of Santa Monica Gity College.
All of the factors which influenced the decision to place the
bus zone in front of the "Taco Tio," as outlined above, have
been reviewed in the light. of the complaint by the owner of
that business and by Mr. Spurgin. On the basis of our review,
Mr. Prior and I both feel that the original decision was well
founded and in the best public interest. We do not recommend
that any change be made.
$.
BARTLETT L. Y
City Engineer
I N T E R- D E P A R T M E N T M E M O
DATE: March 21, 1966
T0: Perry Scott, City Manager
FROM; T. 0. Prior, Director of Transportation
SUBJECT: BUS ZONES
This memo will supplement my verbal report pertaining to bus zones,
and particularly the eastbound zone on Pico Boulevard at 20th Street.
It is my firm opinion that all bus zones should be located on the
farside of the intersection, where it is practical to do so. My opinion
is based on the following facts.
At a nearside zone, it is impossible to stop a bus parallel to the
curbing, unless there is at least 80 feet of red curbing immediately prior
to the zone. Without sufficient space to stop parallel to the curbing,
the left rear corner of the bus blocks the number two traffic lane, thus
causing a stoppage of traffic. This also creates a hazard to the passen-
ger alighting via the rear door. The nearside zone can create an obstruc-
tion of the traffic signal. It often obstructs. the view of a pedestrian
crosswalk. The nearside zone creates a traffic hazard for automobile
traffic while making a right turn in front of the bus. This type of acci-
dent usually happens just as the bus starts to move forward. If contact
with the vehicle making the turn is avoided, it very frequently causes a
passenger that has just boarded, to be thrown down. In either case, acci-
dents of this type are costly.
The farside zones eliminates all of the described hazards.
The present location of the eastbound zone on Pico at 20th Street,
has eliminated all of the described hazards, If this zone were to be
relocated to the nearside, we would be renewing all of the hazards thaC
have been eliminated by moving it to the present location, farside of the
intersection.
It is the intention of the Transportation Department to relocate
all bus zones to the farside of the intersection throughout the City oahere
specific hazards exist, or pedestrian traffic is heavy.
There are some nearside locations on Pico Boulevard that should be
moved as soon as possible. The Traffic Engineer has surveyed these various
locations and is scheduling their relocation into his work program. This
also applies to other streets, such as Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica
Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Montana Avenue, and many other areas.
As a matter of information, the National Safety Council has studied
bus zones and strongly recommends farside locations.
March 21, 1966
To: Perry Scott, Gity Manager
Re: Bus Zones
Page Two-
Based on these facts, it is my recommendation that the zone on Pico
Boulevard at 24th Street remain where it is.
At the time the bus zone on Pico Boulevard at 24th Street was moved
from nearside to farside, the business on the corner, known as Rembrandt's,
was not in operation. The parking area surrounding this location was being
used by the Taco Tia. After the present owner opened the location known as
Rembrandt's, a fence has been built restricting the use of the parking lot
to his customers only.
„~
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T. 4. PRIOR
Director of
Transportation
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