sr-012412-3iCity Council Meeting: January 24, 2012
Agenda Item:3,1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director of Planning & Community Development
Subject: Authorization to Transfer Project Sponsorship of Expo Bike Path to the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a payment agreement with Metro to:
1) Transfer project sponsorship of the Expo Bike Path project to the Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), including federal
Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) funds authorized by Metro in the
amount of $2,018,650; and
2) Authorize Metro to invoice City for a local match obligation in amount of
$672,000.
Executive Summary
The Exposition Corridor Commuter Bike Path Project is a regional commuter bike path
that, when completed, will connect Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The
project is located within the Metro -owned Exposition right -of -way adjacent to the
Exposition Phase 2 Light Rail and includes 1.3 miles within the City of Santa Monica.
Santa Monica was previously awarded grants of federal TEA funds amounting to
$2,371,000 as part of Metro's 1999 and 2006 Call for Projects. The City was originally
the responsible agency for design and construction of the bike path and contracted in
2006 for design services that included $352,350 in TEA funds.
In 2007, preliminary design activities for the bike path were halted at the request of the
Exposition Construction Authority ( "Expo ") while the alignment of the Phase 2 Expo
Light Rail was studied. Subsequently, Expo took over responsibility for design and
construction of the bike path project, with Metro responsible for administering the grant
funds. The remaining TEA funds grant of $2,018,650 is being transferred to Metro
sponsorship. Additionally, the grant conditions obligate the City to contribute $672,000
(25% of the total project cost of $2,690,650). Authorization for Metro to invoice the City
for the local match obligation of $672,000 will be memorialized in a payment agreement
between the City and Metro.
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Background
The City was originally the agency responsible for design and construction of the bike
path and to this end, the City Council previously awarded a contract to Crain &
Associates on March 14, 2006. Since project sponsorship will now transfer to Metro
with Expo taking over design and construction, the City's role in the project has shifted
from lead to advisory agency. When the bike path is constructed, the City would
ultimately be responsible for operating and maintaining the bike path through a separate
bikeway license agreement with Metro.
In anticipation of Expo's selection of a design /build contractor; staff developed a
concept design for the bike path with an emphasis on ensuring a safe and convenient
bicycle facility. Staff has been working closely with Expo staff to ensure that the
structures and alignment of the rail line do not preclude the ability to design a bike path
that meets Caltrans, City, and national standards.
Discussion
Bike Path Scope of Work
The project consists of the design and construction of 1.3 miles of a Class 1
bikeway /trail and an adjacent pedestrian pathway along the Metro -owned Exposition
right -of -way (ROW) from Centinela Avenue to 17th Street. The bike path will be 17' wide
consisting of 12' for the bike path and 5' for the pedestrian path. In areas where the
bike path is adjacent to a roadway (e.g. adjacent to the Bergamot/26th Street station),
the City's standard 10' sidewalk must be constructed resulting in a 22' wide facility.
Access points will be located at the intersections of the bike path with Centinela
Boulevard, Stewart Street, 26th Street, Cloverfield Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, 20tH
19th, 18th and 17th Streets. At 17th Street the path will join the City's existing bike
network.
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This is consistent with the scope of work from the original Letter of Agreement (LOA)
with Metro for the TEA funds executed on April 4, 2004. The original scope of work
encompassed the following elements:
• A 12 -foot wide bikeway, including the necessary grading.
• A 5 -foot wide adjacent pedestrian pathway of decomposed - granite will be
constructed in the eastern and western sections where the right -of -way width
can accommodate the bicycle and pedestrian path cross - section and the
necessary space for the future light -rail line can be reserved. In the section
where the ROW is adjacent to Olympic Boulevard, from where the ROW crosses
Olympic Blvd eastward to approximately 500 feet. west of Stewart Street, the
ROW is too narrow to accommodate a bikeway /pedestrian path /rail line cross -
section and a concrete sidewalk will be constructed on City right -of -way to
accommodate pedestrians. If, during design, it is determined that the bikeway
project precludes adequate placement and width for the Exposition Light Rail
Transit Project on MTA's right -of -way, the City of Santa Monica will work with
MTA to accommodate the transit purpose based on design considerations
known at that time. The existing street- edge is currently unimproved and will
require construction of sidewalk, curb and gutter for approximately 0.3 miles or
1,900 linear feet as part of the project. Grading will also be required for the
pedestrian pathway /sidewalk. A sample cross section is attached to the LOA.
® Bikeway signage and striping.
• Bikeway crossing improvements at Stewart Street, 26th Street, Cloverfield
Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, 20th and 19th Streets. The path can take
advantage of uninterrupted stretches of the right -of -way and existing signalized
street crossings at 26th Street and Cloverfield (with limited signal modifications).
New crossing improvements will be required at Stewart Street, Olympic
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Boulevard, 20th and 1gth Streets, with cyclist/pedestrian activated mid -block
signals at three of the locations.
• Perimeter landscaping using drought - resistant/low- water -use ground — cover,
shrubs, and trees per MTA Right -of -Way Preservation Guidelines. The purpose
of landscaping is to create a visual buffer from the adjacent industrial land uses
and a noise buffer from the heavy traffic along Olympic Boulevard. The
landscaping will require irrigation.
• Fencing or bollards that will not obstruct the movement of cyclists, where needed
to discourage unwanted intrusions on the bike path from adjacent uses.
• Bicycle and pedestrian amenities at intersections only (bike racks, benches,
trash cans, etc.)
b Bikeway lighting, where necessary, for safety along the path.
To the extent feasible, staff would like to ensure that local funds are expended on bike
path safety such as call boxes and advanced bicycle video detection at the mid -block
crossings along with furnishings that are normally provided on recreational facilities
such as water fountains and trash receptacles. Staff has had discussions with Expo in
order to identify these requirements and path facilities.
Current Status
Expo has indicated that a design /build contractor will be selected in February 2012.
Staff is currently refining the concept design to identify more specific details such as
lighting, landscaping, and materials in anticipation of working closely with the bike path
design /build contractor. The City has also issued an RFP for two Santa Monica
residents to serve on the Expo Bicycle Advisory Task Force. It is expected that staff's
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recommendation for selection of task force representatives will be brought to City
Council in February 2012.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The federal TEA funds were transferred to Metro. The $672,000 local match is
available from the following accounts:
Expo Commuter Bike Path: 0200561.589007 $518,600
Olympic Blvd Sidewalks Office District: 0040367.5890000 $153,400
Total Local Match Obligation $672,000
Prepared by: Jing Yeo, Special Projects Manager
Approved:
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D"avid Martin, Director
Planning & Community Development
Attachments:
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
A. Expo Bike Path Scope of Work from Letter of Agreement 2004
B. Aerial photos of bike path alignment
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ATTACHMENT A
EXPO BIKE PATH SCOPE OF WORK FROM
LETTER OF AGREEMENT WITH METRO 2004
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Call for Projects — Exposition Corridor Commuter Bike Path Letter of Agreement #LOA.P0006239
ATTACHMENT C
Scope of Work
Exposition Corridor Commuter Bike 'Rath ID #6239
LOCATION
The Exposition Corridor Commuter Bike Path (the 'Bike Path') is located in the City of Santa
Monica, on the Exposition rail right -of -way (ROW) from the eastern city limit at Centinela
Avenue to 17'h Street, as shown an the attached vicinity map. This is an east -west corridor of
travel. The right-of-way is owned.by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan, Transportation
Authority (MTA). The project will be designed to reserve sufficient space for a future light rail
line.
The Bike Path is part of the Exposition Boulevard Right -of -Way Regional Bikeway, (MTA'a
Bicycle Master Plan, 1995) that connects Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica through the
Cities of Los Angeles and Culver City. Destinations and activity centers within the City of Santa
Monica are: the regional office park at the eastern end of the City; Santa.Monica College;
Bergamont Station (containing the Santa Monica Museum of Art'and galleries); various studios; the
City of Santa Monica Yard; St John's Health Center and Santa Monica -UCLA Medical Center and
connection through the City's existing bikeways system to Downtown Santa Monica•and the coastal
bikepath system.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project consists of the' design and construction of 1.3 miles of a Class I bikeway, and an
adjacent pedestrian pathway along the MTA -owned Exposition ROW from Centinela Avenue to
1Th Street. Access points will be located at the intersections of the Bike Path with Centinela
Boulevard, Stewart Street, 2e Street, Cloverfield Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, 20'h, 10, 18"
and l7t" Streets. At 17" Street the bikeway will join the City's existing bike system.
The project elements include;
• A 12 -foot wide asphalt bikeway, including the necessary grading.
- • A 5 -foot wide adjacent pedestrian pathway of decomposed - granite will be constructed in
the eastern and western sections where the right -of -way width can accommodate the
bicycle and pedestrian path cross- section and the necessary space for the future light -rail
line can be reserved. In the section where the .ROW is adjacent to Olympic Boulevard,
from where the ROW crosses Olympic Blvd eastward to approximately 500 feet west of
Stewart Street, the ROW is too narrow to accommodate a bikeway /pedestrian path/rail
line cross - section and a concrete sidewalk will be constructed on City right -of -way to
accommodate pedestrians. If, during design, it is determined that the bikeway project
precludes adequate placement and width for the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project on
MTA's right-of-way, the City of Santa Monica will work with MTA to accommodate the
transit purpose based on design considerations known at that tithe. The existing street-
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Call for Projects— Exposition Corridor Commuter Bike Path Letter of Agreement#LOAT0006239
edge is currently. unimproved and will require construction of sidewalk, curb and gutter
for approximately 0.3 miles or 1,900 linear feet as part of this project. Grading will also
be required for the pedestrian pathway /sidewalk. A sample cross section is attached to
this LOA.
Bikeway signage and striping.
• Bikeway crossing improvements at Stewart Street, 20 Street, Cloverfield I3oulevard,,
Olympic Boulevard, 20'" and 19'" Streets. The path can take advantage of uninterrupted
stretches of the right -of -way and existing signalized street crossings at 26' Street and
Cloverfield (with limited signal modifications). New crossing . improvements will be
_ required at Stewart Street, Olympic Boulevard,; 20" and ..19'" . Streets, with
cyclist/pedestrian activated mid -block signals at three of the locations.
• Perimeter landscaping 'using draught- resistant/low- water -use ground- cover, shrubs and
trees per MTA Rightof -Way Preservation Guidelines. The purpose of landscaping is
too create a visual buffer from the adjacent industrial land uses and noise buffer from the
,heavy traffic along Olympic Boulevard. The landscaping will require irrigation..
• Fencing or bollard's that will not obstruct the movement of cyclists, where needed to
discourage unwanted intrusions onto the bike path from adjacent uses.
• Bicycle and pedestrian amenities at intersections only (bike racks, benches, trash cans,
etc.)
• Bikeway lighting, where necessary, for safety along the path.
The Design, Preparation of Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS &E) will be completed in
accordance with State, County and City, standards. The design of the bikeways will be in
conformance with: State of California Department of Transportation Highway Design Manual
on Bikeway Facilities (Chapter 1000), the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
MTA Rights -of -Way Preservation Guidelines; and American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Biew1c Facilities (1999).
The project milestones are anticipated to be the following:
Project Kick -off (Execute LOA [2 mos.], Caltmns Field I April /03. I Octcber/03 16 months
Review [1 mo l Caltrans Authorization to proceed F2 mos 11 _
Procure Design Team October /03 Fehruav /04 5� momhs
Preliminary Design, Community Outreach and Environmental March /04 April/05 14 months
ATTACHMENT B
EXPO BIKE PATH ALIGNMENT