sr-061212-3f (2)I
City of City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: June 12, 2012
Agenda Item: 3
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Rod Gould, City Manager
Subject:
Reduce the Speed Limit on the Pier Bridge and Pier Deck
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council reduce the speed limit on the Pier Bridge and
Pier deck from 10 Miles per hour to 5 miles per hour.
Executive Summary
Currently the speed limit on the Pier Bridge and deck is 10 miles per hour. The speed
limit in the adjacent 1550 lot is 5 miles per hour. The reduced speed limit would
enhance safety and reduce maintenance costs associated with the Pier deck.
Discussion
Pier Management staff has discussed with Pier Maintenance, the City Traffic Engineer
and the Santa Monica Police Department the speed limit on Pier bridge, the on -deck
access to parking and the on -deck parking lot. The current speed limit is 10 MPH.
Staff recommends the change in speed limit to enhance safety, reduce abrasion to the
Pier's timber deck boards, and provide a consistent speed limit with the adjacent 1550
lot. The areas under discussion often experience high levels of adjacent pedestrian
traffic on the Pier Bridge and access way which sometimes cross the roadway. There
are also frequently large numbers of pedestrians walking among cars in the deck
parking lot. The slower speed would allow more reaction time and reduce stopping
distance.
Pier Maintenance and Pier Management staff have observed that there is a significant
increase in the jostling and abrasion of deck board between 5 and 10 MPH. The
movement and vibration of the deck boards is directly impacted by the speed vehicles
1
travel. The higher current speed loosens the boards and the nails that hold them as well
as damaging the boards' surfaces. Deck boards in the described areas need to be
repaired and replaced frequently. The 1550 lot already has a City Council set 5 MPH
speed limit.
The Pier Bridge and deck vehicular access and parking deck are not dedicated public
streets therefore the speed limits are set by City Council.
Commission Action
The Pier Corporation at its May 2, 2012 meeting reviewed the staff proposed speed
reduction and supported staff's recommendation to reduce the speed limit to 5 MPH.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
No expenditures of funds are required for this action. Ten mile per hour speed limit
signs will be replaced by five mile per hour signs from inventory.
Prepared by: Rod Merl, Pier Manager
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
Director, City Manager Office
2
Rod Gould
City Manager