SR-02-12-2013-4ACity of City Council Report
i Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: February 12, 2013
Agenda Item: -)f— F)
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director of Planning and Community Development
Subject: Study Session on Moving Forward with LUCE — Circulation Element
Policies and Programs Update
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council review and comment on Land Use and
Circulation Element transportation improvement implementation measures and direct
staff to continue with such measures.
Executive Summary
This update provides Council and the community with the opportunity to review the
strategies that have been implemented, or will take effect in the near future, as means
to address traffic, enhance circulation, and advance core sustainability and quality of life
principles of the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE). Circulation is a critical
requirement as the City moves forward with area plans.and individual project approvals
and it is important to take stock of measures that have been implemented since the
adoption of the LUCE in July 2010. This report provides a summary of these policies,
programs and projects.
Background
In July 2010 the City Council adopted the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE)
following a six year public process. It called for addressing congestion, air quality,
greenhouse gas emissions, housing affordability, and sustainability through a multi -
pronged approach to address present and future vehicle trips to the greatest extent
possible with a target of no net new PM peak vehicle trips to be accomplished by,
• making more efficient modes of transportation — walking, biking, transit and
carpooling — more attractive,
• meeting needs locally and reducing the need to travel long distances by car, and
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• Implementing targeted congestion management measures using tools such as
parking pricing and Safe Routes to Schools.
It also called for the completion of a number of implementation plans and documents,
including a new zoning ordinance, the creation of bike and pedestrian action plans, the
adoption of a traffic impact fee and specific or area plans for downtown, the Bergamot
Transit Village /Mixed Use Creative areas, and Memorial Park.
Discussion
Regional Challenges Regional Solutions
Vehicle traffic congestion is a regional problem that has plagued Southern California for
decades and which requires both regional and local solutions. The region has an
existing freeway and roadway network that is heavily used and largely built out. As
evidenced by the $1.03 billion price tag and multi -year schedule of the recent 1 -405
widening, roadway expansion is challenging and costly. Nonetheless, efforts both
regionally and locally have made strides in optimizing the vehicle flow within the existing
network through signal upgrades, corridor synchronization, repair efforts and regular
maintenance. Crucial not only for vehicle flow, this work helps to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions caused by idling vehicles and the localized air quality degradation along
major corridors that impact human health.
With Los Angeles County forecast to grow by 626,000 people in the next 7 years (2020
SCAG forecast) and by a total of 1.6 million people by 2035, it is unlikely that the region
can optimize, build or widen enough roads to eliminate vehicle congestion in the face of
this growing demand. Santa Monica has a small fraction of the county -wide growth, with
a forecast of 5,600 additional residents by 2035 in contrast to the 550,100 additional
residents forecast for the City of Los Angeles. Recognizing this challenge, State and
County agencies have begun to increase efforts to diversify transportation options so
that personal mobility and access to jobs, goods and services is not compromised.
Increased carpooling and vanpooling, train and bus transit, bicycling, walking and
transportation demand management are increasingly recognized as critical to the
region's quality of life and economic vitality.
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In November 2008, Los Angeles County voters passed Measure R, a local sales tax
that will raise $40 billion over 30 years to fund critical traffic relief and transportation
improvements, including the Expo Light Rail line from Downtown Los Angeles to
Downtown Santa Monica. It also funds the Wilshire subway extension from Western
Avenue toward Westwood Village, Crenshaw Light Rail line, and initial steps of the 1-
405 San Fernando Valley Corridor Connection. This local funding, combined with state
and federal transportation dollars, provides the majority of resources available for
transportation and traffic improvement both locally and regionally.
Local Action and Santa Monica's Proactive Efforts
Santa Monica has successfully pursued regional sources for traffic relief and
transportation resources for years, including leadership and advocacy leading to
completion of the Expo Light Rail line and dozens of transformative projects such as:
• Signal synchronization
• Transit Mall
• BBB CNG /clean buses
• Bike Center
• Bike lanes
• Expo Station Upgrades
But there is much more to do. The City has adopted aggressive policies to coordinate
and synchronize investments and programs to manage vehicle congestion and expand
transportation options. The first step is a good land use plan; putting land uses near
transit and creating compact walkable areas effectively reduces demand for vehicle
trips. The LUCE established a land use program that concentrates change in less than
4 percent of Santa Monica, located near future Expo Light Rail stations and on high -
frequency transit corridors. This protects established neighborhoods and also creates
the fundamental conditions to reduce future vehicle trips. Plans to coordinate this
change for maximum vehicle trip reduction are underway including:
• Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) — Proposed land uses continue the vitality of
downtown with a mix of compact mixed -use housing, culture, recreation and
creative employment. Pedestrian access and vitality are central to economic
health in downtown. The DSP concepts to date focus on opportunities for
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improving pedestrian condition$ and connections to transit and parking. The DSP
policies intend to facilitate partnerships with new development to expand the
shared and public parking resources, manage and upgrade streets to smooth
vehicle and transit flow and remove obstacles, create standards for public right -
of -way improvements that increase sidewalk width, landscape and quality, and
create pedestrian connectivity to the Civic Center and Lincoln Boulevard.
• Bergamot Area Plan (BAP) — Recognizing the strong creative and cultural arts
presence, land uses should enhance this economic synergy and introduce
compact mixed -use housing and commercial that serves to reduce trips. District -
based shared parking and parking management, to influence new trip demand,
combine with new direct streets that break down the industrial superblocks to
facilitate walking, biking and Expo ridership. New bike lanes, sharrows,
bikesharing and parking encourage non - motorized access; carpool, vanpool and
carsharing create additional choices; and bus service expands at the start of
Expo service. A draft BAP was released for public review in early February.
• Memorial Park Neighborhood Plan — Envisioned as a mixed -use
neighborhood, policies are anticipated to encourage shared parking to support
affordable housing production, implement aggressive TDM to maximize transit
use and implement bike and pedestrian improvements to create connections to
nearby commercial and employment destinations. This process is in very early
stages and a draft plan is anticipated in 2014.
New development that
follows adoption of
the LUCE is
being held to the
highest
standards of vehicle
trip reduction and
requirements
for transportation
demand
management (TDM). Currently most development is approved through a development
agreement process, and a package of TDM measures is negotiated with each
development agreement. TDM and vehicle trip reduction strategies are also among the
core community benefits that can be offered by new development. TDM techniques help
to carefully manage transportation resources through incentives, employer regulation,
communication, marketing and other techniques so that they are used optimally.
Typical baseline TDM measures being negotiated in new development agreements
citywide, with emphasis in the plan areas, include:
• Average Vehicle Ridership requirements (a measure of carpooling and shift of
modes away from single - person vehicle trips)
• Bicycle racks and secure bike storage
• Peak hour trip caps
• Transportation Information Center —transit welcome package
• On -site TDM Plan coordinator
• Unbundled parking for commercial and residential uses
• Pedestrian wayfinding
• Lockers and showers for commuters
• Transit pass subsidy
• Parking cashout (incentive for commuting without a vehicle)
Since the 1980s the City of Santa Monica has worked with existing employers to reduce
commute trips through the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance
(SMMC Chapter 9.16). This ordinance currently regulates a total of 669 employers,
accounting for 37,784 employees in the City. The Ordinance is being updated and
strengthened as part of the Zoning Ordinance update to apply to more employers and
provide tools for increased reduction in existing commute trips. Driven by LUCE policy,
additional TDM measures underway are:
• TDM Incentive Program: Grant - funded distribution of TDM incentives to
encourage employees, residents and visitors to use transit, bike or walk to
reduce solo driving trips. Collaborative efforts will include Metro, Big Blue Bus,
Buy Local Campaign and Business /Residential groups.
• TDM Toolkit: Grant - funded creation of an online clearinghouse for transit,
bicycle, pedestrian and rideshare information. This comprehensive multi - mobility
website will be specific to Santa Monica businesses, employees, and visitors and
will integrate traveler information, trip planning, and support information.
• Transportation Management Associations (TMA): Catalyze creation of non-
profit or business groups to help promote, market, and encourage alternative
modes of transportation. Interest in this program has been high and staff is
working to identify funding sources and operational models, particularly in the
Downtown and Bergamot areas to start.
TDM incentives and programs work hand in hand with the physical resources and
improvements being made to the City's bicycle, pedestrian and transit network. Over 40
percent of vehicle trips are less than two miles, easily within walking or biking distance.
A transportation impact fee for new development that would partially fund network
improvements was reviewed by Council on August 28, 2012 and will be presented as a
draft Ordinance to Council on February 26, 2013.
The last few years have witnessed a sea change in the enthusiasm and energy for
bicycling in Santa Monica. This has been fueled by a regional increase in cycling and a
significant expansion in local bike facilities. In November 2011, the Bike Action Plan was
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unanimously adopted by City Council as the first implementation plan of the LUCE,
along with $2.5 million in implementation funds. Through coordinated action and effort
the following accomplishments have been made in less than two years:
• Miles of new bike lanes and sharrows: Over 30 miles of new bike lanes and
sharrow were added to the network this year, including adding safety buffers and
making new network connections to commercial areas and schools.
• Green Lanes: Santa Monica's first high - visibility green bike lanes opened on
Ocean Park Blvd between Lincoln and Neilson Way. Additional green lanes will be
going out to bid shortly for 2nd /Main Street and Broadway.
• Bike Center: In December 2011, Santa Monica's first bike center opened at the
base of Santa Monica Place (Parking structures 7 and 8). The largest facility of its
kind in the region, this 300+ secure bike facility has enrolled hundreds of members,
and has exceeded performance expectations for service, rental and programs. Bike
lane striping and sign enhancements were made in in conjunction with its opening.
• Beach Bike Campus: A free and open -to- the - public bike skills learning center
opened in April 2012 including a practice riding area, repair area, and online
instruction videos covering ABC Quick Check, Bike Fitting, Starting Stopping &
Controlled Riding, Quick Stop, Rock Dodge, Avoidance Weave, Lane Positioning,
and Signal positioning for detection and safety.
• Expo Regional Bike Path: the Expo Light Rail project is paired with a regional bike
path creating a dedicated bike route through West Los Angeles and connecting to
Downtown Los Angeles. It will run off - street in Santa Monica from Centinela to 17th
Street. Staff has been actively working with the Construction Authority to resolve
design issues.
• Beach Bike Path: Signing and striping improvements to reduce conflicts between
pedestrians and bicyclists, currently under construction and anticipated to be
completed by the summer of 2013.
• Bike Parking: Hundreds of additional bike racks have been sited and installed in
commercial areas and along major boulevards, new bike corrals have been
installed on Main Street, and Parking Structure 6 will be built with an interior bike
parking area for approximately 100 bicycles.
• Bike Education & Encouragement: Regular bike classes and targeted rides are
being offered through the Bike Center and local bike shops continue to offer group
and recreational rides. A Safe Routes to School project is developing a bicycle
curriculum for physical education classes for use in Santa Monica schools.
Bicycle ridership is increasing on pace with implementation of the Bicycle Action Plan
projects. Early numbers show a 30% increase in number of employees who are
bicycling to work from 3.3% to 4.4 %. A grant- funded project is also underway to
encourage students to walk and bicycle to school, because each student who walks or
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bikes eliminates two vehicle trips from the roads. A Safe Routes to School pilot
program at four SMMUSD schools is providing student safety training, parent education,
events such as the First Annual Family Bike Fest, and curriculum development for safe
biking and walking. An infrastructure - oriented Safe Routes to School program is
underway for Samohi this school year, and a similar grant- funded program will be
focused on Edison Language Academy next school year.
As more people walk to work, to school, to transit, or for short errands, additional
attention is needed for pedestrian safety and prioritizing pedestrian improvements. A
Pedestrian Action Plan is in development that will incorporate physical improvements,
enforcement, and education related to walking in Santa Monica. A first community
workshop was held on January 28th with a draft plan anticipated at the end of 2013.
Meanwhile, the following efforts are already underway:
• Watch the Road Campaign: An interdepartmental program led by the City
Manager's Office is developed and disseminating safety and awareness messages
for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians through bus and sanitation truck decals,
handouts, parking structure posters, and KCRW public service announcements.
• Crosswalk Maintenance Effort: In February 2012 crosswalk markings on major
corridors were inspected to identify necessary repainting for safety and visibility. A
contract has recently been approved to update priority locations.
• Crossing Enhancements: High visibility flashing beacons and signs with
embedded perimeter LED lights have been recently installed at several pilot
crossings to improve driver yield rate for pedestrians. Additional improvements such
as stop signs or crosswalks are made based on requests and budget availability,
where warranted.
Big Blue Bus provides a valuable role in the City's transportation system, carrying over
19 million people on its lines in 2012, which is an approximately 4% increase over 2011.
BBB provides crucial links between destinations within and outside the City and access
to Santa Monica employment and student centers. Refocusing its routes to mesh with
the Expo stops will be a priority for BBB when the light rail opens in early 2016. Recent
measures underway include:
• Bus Arrival Real time Information: Several methods of real time information will
soon be available, including on -line trip planning functions that also provide walking
and fare information, mobile applications that allow people on the street to verify or
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find the bus /trip they need to make, and real time signs that tell you when the next
bus will be arriving.
• Bus Fare Payment Options: Smart phones and other forms of technology are
converging to allow transit operators to offer more cashless ways to pay the fare. Bar
codes, QR codes, cell phones and swipe cards allow passengers to pay in advance.
Cashless fare payment speeds boarding and reduces dwell time which can result in
significant operating cost savings and improved schedule reliability.
In addition to BBB routes, Metro Rapid provides critical service to Santa Monica with
high capacity routes on both Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard that divert
thousands of daily vehicle trips and provide frequent, reliable transit service to Santa
Monica residents and employees.
Managing the flow of people, bicycles, vehicles, and transit on the City's limited public
right -of -way is a critical function and must be closely linked with land use planning and
regulation. Since adoption of the LUCE, the City has focused on the day -to -day
operations of the transportation network with a multi -modal emphasis at the heart of its
efforts. It is critical to maximize the efficiency and balance the utilization of the City's
streets and roads resources, including approximately 200 traffic signals. This is an
ongoing effort that requires daily dedicated management; as well as planning and
resource assemblage for both known and unanticipated events. The City has made
multi -year multi - million dollar investments in upgrading the City's traffic signal system,
including completion of Phases 1, 2, 3, 4A, and 4B of the signal synchronization project
and upgrades to the hardware and software of hundreds of citywide signals. The City
also invests significant resources in street maintenance and safety upgrades through
the annual capital improvement program. Staff are continually working to address safety
concerns and manage traffic flows. These Traffic Management Measures are being
implemented to gain the most efficiency out of the.existing street and road network in
Santa Monica
• Signal Synchronization and Flow Upgrades: The Advanced Traffic Management
System (ATMS) provides the technology and infrastructure to facilitate smoother
traffic flows to reduce congestion, especially at intersections. ATMS infrastructure
improvements include upgrades to traffic signals, traffic signal controllers, traffic
signal cameras, and wireless devices. The resulting infrastructure and technologies
allowed the City to establish a centralized traffic management center (TMC), from
which traffic signals are remotely monitored, managed and controlled in real -time.
Traffic signal timing can be adjusted from the TMC to accommodate shifting traffic
patterns due to peak travel times, special events, holidays, and traffic accidents.
The City is currently constructing the 4th phase in a five -phase project. Upon
completion of Phase 4 this year, 95% of city's signal system will be upgraded.
• Traffic Signal Priority for Emergency Vehicles and Rapid Bus: In conjunction
with the implementation of the ATMS, the City implemented a Traffic Signal Priority
System. Because traffic signals are networked to the system, vehicles equipped
with special transponders may request priority at intersections within Santa Monica.
Public Safety vehicles are granted pre - emption to get green lights on major
corridors, improving safety during emergency operations. Soon Metro and Santa
Monica buses running on the four Rapid Bus corridors (Wilshire, Santa Monica, Pico
and Lincoln) in Santa Monica will be added to the program, allowing buses to cause
a green light to be held longer or a red light to change sooner depending on the
bus's position relative to its schedule.
According to a Texas Transportation Institute study, implementation of parking
wayfinding signage can reduce congestion related to searching for parking by 50
percent. A grant- funded real -time parking availability system is being implemented this
year to serve the downtown gateways and coastal parking lots, with changeable
message signs at the 4th /5th Street freeway exit, along costal gateways including the
Pacific Coast Highway, and at the entrance to each beach lot. Future grant funds are
being sought for multi -modal signage around future Expo stations and for additional
parking wayfinding in Downtown.
City staff conducts a weekly construction management review and update of potential
traffic impacts on major streets and corridors resulting from private and public
construction projects, with up to date construction notifications and detour information
provided on the website, through SM Alerts and the Know Before You Go newspaper
and website notifications. More than 30 individual projects are monitored on a weekly
basis. Potential impacts such as temporary lane closures and detours are identified and
efforts are coordinated to minimize impacts on the City's transportation system.
Construction traffic management is coordinated with the City's Be Excited Be Prepared
campaign.
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Sufficient automobile parking is necessary for the success of most of Santa Monica's
business districts. Lack of available parking is a common complaint voiced by residents
and business owners. Parking and traffic congestion are linked, as lack of parking
information can create traffic congestion and pollution from drivers circling as they look
for spaces and too much parking can incentivize driving for short trips. The LUCE
identifies parking policies as a powerful management tool to create incentives and
disincentives to reduce traffic congestion and optimize parking and work completed
since adoption includes:
• Shared Parking Ordinance: The Interim Zoning Ordinance enabled existing
parking spaces in the Downtown district to be offered to off -site uses when not
required by the on -site uses.
• Parking Supply: Parking Structure 6 reconstruction began in 2012, and will provide
approximately 750 public parking spaces.
• Parking pricing: Citywide parking rate changes were implemented in fall 2012 to
more closely reflect the market and parking demand, with lower prices in less
utilized lots and higher rates in heavily used facilities.
• Real -time Parking Availability App: A smart phone app has been developed to
communicate real -time parking availability and price for public structures, public lots
and on- street spaces to direct drivers immediately to the most available and cost -
effective spaces.
• New Parking Payment Technology: New wireless parking meters accept credit
card and coins. Pay -on -foot stations provide automated parking solutions at
structures and lots.
In addition to these new efforts, staff has increased the active management of City -
owned parking facilities as a system that integrates downtown and beach facilities. The
goal is for people to park once while visiting multiple destinations. Staff is closely
monitoring utilization and making adjustments of monthly parkers to optimize use.
Implementation of the Interim Parking Plan has successfully relocated approximately
850 monthly parking pass holders to peripheral structures, and added over 100
temporary surface parking spaces located at the 5th and Arizona site. A January 29,
2013 Information Item to Council provides an up -to -date and comprehensive summary
of multiple parking implementation efforts.
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Neighborhood cut - through traffic and parking availability continue to be critical
community concerns. In the last few years, LUCE implementation efforts have focused
on:
• Shared Parking: staff are currently looking to find parking opportunities for the
neighborhoods, including potential off - street parking (where available). This effort
will include meeting with resident groups and follow -up with facilities that may have
potential shared parking available.
• Preferential Parking: Since July 2010, new or modified preferential parking
regulations have been added to approximately 45 residential blocks throughout
Santa Monica, including addressing concerns of SMC student parking, commercial
spillover parking and other concerns.
• Neighborhood Traffic Calming: Staff regularly responds to inquiries from
residents, workers, and business owners to address issues related to traffic calming
within neighborhoods. In FY2011 -12, alone, staff responded to more than 2,000
phone inquiries and more than 350 requests submitted through the Government
Outreach (GO) system. Follow -up often requires field reviews, data collection and
assessments to determine the extent of any safety concerns. Improvements to
signals, signage, and markings are recommended as- needed to address safety
issues. For more complex issues or issues covering areas larger than one - block,
detailed traffic studies and meetings with the public are often called for to better
understand the concerns. Currently a Berkeley Street Evaluation is underway to
address issues of speeding vehicles.
In the last few years since LUCE adoption a number of major multi -year transformative
streetscape projects have either been completed or initiated construction. Many have
implemented state -of- the -art transportation improvements to improve performance while
also introducing landscaping, stormwater infiltration, bike and pedestrian upgrades and
signal improvements. Projects include:
• Ocean Park Boulevard "Complete Green Street ": In collaboration with the Ocean
Park neighbors, this project created wider sidewalks, parkway /storm water biofilter
swales and infiltration areas, 100+ new trees, new landscaping and medians, new
marked crosswalks with enhanced overhead flashing beacons, visible green -
painted bike lanes, bike racks and street furniture, 75 pedestrian - scaled light poles,
traffic signal improvements; and Los Amigos Park storm drain improvements.
• Borderline Neighborhood "Living Street ": In collaboration with the Borderline
neighbors, this project created a "living street' where pedestrians would use the
carriageway of the street, sharing the street with vehicular traffic. This concept
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promotes walkability and communal "front yard" function, reclaims the streets as
residential streets, and provides traffic - calming measures and mitigation of traffic
infringement from commercial to residential uses in the area. Since completion, staff
have been working with the neighborhood residents to ensure effective
implementation of a number of key project elements, including: creating a
neighborhood entrance by integrating colored paving at the intersections, creating
traffic calming measures such as "tabling ", bollards and bulb outs.
• 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard Streetscape: The project on Cloverfield
and 20th Streets between the 1 -10 Freeway overcrossing and Pico Boulevard was
recently completed and includes pedestrian lighting, enhanced pedestrian
crossings, street trees, curb extension and plantings, a new pedestrian signal and
sharrows (20th only).
Wcomincr Projects and Work Underway:
In spite of the significant progress made on traffic management and transportation
options in the last 2 -3 years, much more is in the works for the near future. Through a
combination of programmed general funds, partnerships, and generous grant funds,
many additional transportation projects are in stages of planning and implementation to
be coming soon, including:
• Bikeshare: Bikesharing is catching on as a driving alternative for commute,
entertainment and shopping trips. Operational planning and site identification is
underway to facilitate implementation in FY 2013 -14. Grant funding from two
sources will allow 25 -30 bikeshare stations to be located throughout the City
including at SMC and in downtown, commercial districts, and Expo station areas.
Bikeshare in cities such as Washington D.C., Minneapolis and Denver have been
extraordinarily successful.
• Car Sharing Program: A process is underway to procure one or more car sharing
providers for a `pilot' City program. The City anticipates that a car sharing program
will provide pre- approved members with a fully automated on -line reservation and
billing system that provides access to a fleet of self - service vehicles strategically
placed throughout the City. Hourly or daily rates would incorporate the cost of
parking at the vehicles home site (if applicable), fuel, maintenance and insurance.
• Colorado Esplanade: The Esplanade will improve vehicle flow at major entries to
the downtown, including realignment of Main and Second Streets and simplification
of vehicle movements at Fourth /Colorado and Ocean /Colorado. The project will
accommodate the significant increase in pedestrian volume on Colorado generated
by the Expo station, and create a separated bicycle path that connects toward the
Beach Bike Path. Partially grant- funded, this project will be completed prior to
opening of the Downtown Expo station.
• Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway: Grant - funded conceptual design is
underway for the Michigan Avenue project to calm vehicle cut - through traffic in the
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Pico Neighborhood while creating a greenway that is an amenity for the
neighborhood. The project will create pedestrian and bicycle connections between
SMMUSD schools, SMC, the 17th Street Expo station and other major destinations.
Elements will include landscaping, intersection treatments, wayfinding and calming
measures.
• High Visibility Bike Linkages to Transit: Grant - funded implementation of
upgrades to existing bike facilities that lead to the future Expo Light Rail stations will
begin in FY 13 -14. High visibility treatments will be installed along the pathways, at
intersections, driveways and other conflict points to make connections more
attractive and usable.
• Lincoln Boulevard Streetscape: With recent relinquishment of Lincoln Boulevard
to the City from the State, the City has committed to a streetscape plan for Lincoln
Boulevard in coordination with neighbors in order to identify short and long -term
opportunities to improve the function, safety and economic health of the street. The
project will be initiated early next fiscal year.
• Pier Bridge reconstruction: Improvements are being designed and are
anticipated to include pedestrian and bike upgrades to be completed in 2016 -17.
This, project will address the LUCE and the Bike Action Plan identified need for
better coastal linkages.
• . Multi -Modal Travel and Parking System: This grant- funded project will create a
comprehensive multi -modal wayfinding system for the City that includes trip
planning tools, an online parking reservation system, real -time traveler information
systems, dynamic signage, and static signage. The project includes the
development of an online multi -modal traveler information system that includes a
GIS -based database and mapping engine for users to plan trips and /or create
customized maps to support trips. The online multi -modal traveler information
system will link the already robust traveler information provided by the City of Santa
Monica, and will provide users with a single source for all trip planning and
information. The project design will be finalized by early next year and the project
will complete in towards the end of 2014.
• Expansion of Downtown Park -Once: An expansion of the in -lieu parking program
in Downtown is being evaluated and is anticipated to be considered by Council this
spring, allowing projects to participate in more effective shared parking
arrangements.
• Zoning Code Update: The new code will include updated vehicle and bike parking
requirements when it is released in draft form this summer. The Planning
Commission discussed initial policy options at the Januar) 30, 2013 meeting.
In addition to currently funded projects, staff continues to pursue transportation funding
for future years to maintain momentum and support a shift toward fewer new vehicle
trips and more trips made by walking, biking and transit. Every other year, Metro
solicits grant proposals from local jurisdictions for transportation projects. In January,
staff prepared seven applications for the 2013 solicitation totaling over $12 million in
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grant funds. While the City will not receive all requests, even some of these
improvements will help enhance the quality and diversity of the transportation network.
The projects were described in the January 8 2013 Council staff report and include:
• Citywide Signal Detection — improving bicycle detection across Transit Corridors
• Multi -modal Wayfinding — creating well- designed signage linking Expo and major
destinations
• Bike /Mobility Hub at the Expo 17"h Street Station
• Westward Extension of Expo Bike Path via 17th Street and Michigan Avenue
• Safety/ Security Lighting for Transit Access — Colorado and 17u Street
• Expo Station Linkage to Downtown and Civic Center — 4th Street Enhancements
• Replace 40 -foot Buses with Alternative Fuel Buses
The challenge is to provide choices and incentives to encourage and facilitate transit,
biking and walking as viable options. The City continues to invest in optimizing vehicle
flow and signal function, building upon years of investment in corridor improvements
and roadway maintenance. LUCE implementation calls for a balancing that shifts more
resources toward alternative modes while achieving greater efficiency from the existing
infrastructure. Much progress has been made in the short time since LUCE adoption
with much more to come. Continued progress will help to City to achieve its coordinated
goals for traffic relief and sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions, quality of life and
human health improvements.
Next Steps
Regular measuring and monitoring was a Council commitment adopted in the LUCE,
including indictors of mobility and transportation. As part of the LUCE, a transportation
demand forecast, model (TDFM) unique to Santa Monica was developed that accounts
for all motorized and non - motorized transportation system users. The model is
structured to enable it to capture the effects of the City's LUCE land use and policy
initiatives on traffic congestion. These enhancements include the effects of sustainable
development patterns (e.g. complementary mixed use of housing and daily services,
and transit oriented development), urban streetscape design factors, alternative
transportation networks, parking management and TDM measures, as well as use of
the future Expo Light Rail. Staff is currently calibrating the model with new traffic count
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data and developing the methodology and data structure for bi- annual reporting to begin
this year.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared by:
Francie Stefan, Manager of Strategic and Transportation Planning
Sam Morrissey, Manager of Transportation Engineering and Management
Ellen Gelbard, Assistant Director
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
` &j -
David Martin Roc Gould
Director, Planning and Community City Manager
Development
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