SR 02-28-2017 3B
Ci ty Council
Report
City Council Meeting : February 28, 2017
Agenda Item: 3.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director , Transportation Planning
Subject: Edison Language Academy Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Review the refined designs for the Edison L anguage Academy Project
consisting of physical changes at Delaware Avenue/22 nd Street, Kansas
Avenue Mid -block near Edison Language Academy, 27 th Street/Kansas
Avenue, a nd Stewart Street/Kansas Avenue; and
2. Receive and file the designs for the Edison SRTS Project.
Executive Summary
This pedestrian and bicycle improvement project is funded by a State Safe Routes to
School (SRTS) grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for
design and construction. The City has been developing a co mprehensive SRTS
program to improve safe walking and biking to City schools. This project specifically
addresses SRTS physical improvements to street crossings in the vicinity of the Edison
Language Academy, along the MANGo corridor and in the Pico Neighb orhood. Staff
r equest s that Council receive and f ile the attached designs for the Edison Safe Route to
School project.
The project improvements were identified in the Bike Action Plan, Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood Greenway Plan, and catalyzed by recent ch anges made during the
Edison Language Academy reconstruction. After extensive public outreach, staff has
completed refined designs for pedestrian and bicycle improvements at four locations:
Delaware Avenue and 22 nd Street, Kansas Avenue Mid -block near the Edison
Language Academy, 27 th Street and Kansas Avenue, and Stewart Street and Kansas
Avenue. These improvements encourage safe walking and biking by shortening
crossing distances and improving the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists. At three of
the intersection s , curb extensions and marked crossings will be installed, and at the
Kansas Avenue mid -block location a raised crosswalk is identified.
A fifth project location at Pico Boulevard and 30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue has been
withheld pending ad ditional public outreach. This location near the Dorchester tunnel
will receive additional design options for a two -stage crossing for people on bikes and
walking. An updated and refined design for this intersection is anticipated to be ready
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for C ouncil review at the time of construction contract approval.
The next steps in the process are to complete construction plans for each intersection,
and initiate the bid process to select a construction contractor. Staff w ill return to
Council later this year t o request bid approval.
Background
The Edison Safe Routes to School Project is funded by a State Safe Routes to School
grant that was competitively awarded by the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans). The City received notice to proceed f rom Caltrans in August 2013 which
allowed the City to begin advertising and selection for design services, and was initiated
after substantial completion of the Edison campus reconstruction. Council approved a
design contract with Alta Planning and Design on April 12, 2016 (Attachment A), and
Council approved a contract amendment to explore a traffic circle on November 22,
2016 (Attachment B).
Safe Routes to School is an international movement that aims to increase the number of
children who walk or bicyc le to school by removing the barriers that currently prevent
them from doing so. Those barriers include lack of infrastructure, safety concerns, the
absence of basic education programs, and encouragement efforts aimed at children,
parents, and the communit y.
Residents, school personnel and parents have raised concerns regarding speeding
vehicular traffic, visibility of pedestrian and vehicles, and street crossing difficulties in
the vicinity of the Edison Language Academy and the Pico Neighborhood. The Ci ty
responded proactively in 2014 with the creation of the Michigan Avenue Ne ighborhood
Greenway plan (MANGo, Attachment C). The plan strives to create an inviting
neighborhood gathering and sustainable circulation space along Michigan Avenue and
along adjo ining street extensions like Virginia Avenue. The greenway creates a
complete east -west connection on neighborhood streets for people walking and biking
to school, City parks and local businesses. The greenway is achieved through elements
including roadwa y calming for pedestrian safety, increased landscaping, bike facilities,
lighting, and enhanced crosswalks. The plan was adopted by City Council on February
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11, 2014. The plan specifically identified improvements at three intersections:
Delaware/22 nd Str eet, 27 th Street/Kansas Avenue, and Stewart Street/Kansas Avenue.
The City’s Bike Action Plan (Attachment D) was another proactive approach to address
some resident circulation concerns, this time for the creation of a bike network. The
plan was adopted in November 2011; it identified Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester
Avenue as the location for a median refuge island/diverter crossing enhancement due to
challenges of crossing Pico Boulevard, and the importance of providing a comfortable,
direct I -10 F reeway crossing via the Dorchester Tunnel.
The Edison Language Academy (ELA) is a dual immersion elementary school which
recently completed reconstruction of its buildings and campus. The new design
relocated the main pedestrian entrance from Kansas Aven ue to Virginia Avenue.
Morning and afternoon passenger loading occurs primarily at the main entrance where
an onsite loading zone was created during redevelopment. The new rear entrance on
Kansas Avenue moved slightly west, and the existing crosswalk on Kansas Avenue
remains in a location that does not align with the new entrance. The rear entrance still
serves a significant number of pedestrians that originate from south of the campus.
ELA is a language magnet school. In order to accomplish a stude nt body balance with
English and Spanish speakers, children are accepted from any Santa Monica school or
from outside of the City if needed. The school has estimated that about 25 percent of
the existing student body is from within the immediate neighborh ood service area. Still,
many walk and bike to school. In fact, during the October 2016 “Bike It Walk It ”
encouragement day, 70 percent of the Edison student population participated. About 47
percent of those participating were walkers. Students who at tend ELA from the Grant
Elementary School area are within walking and biking distance to ELA.
Discussion
Project Design Refinement
The City received notice to proceed on a competitive grant in 201 3 from Caltrans to
improve walking and biking to ELA, and b y implementing improvements identified in the
MANGo plan and Bike Action Plan. The grant included conceptual designs for key
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intersections, to be refined and constructed through the project development process.
The project design refinement process began by investigating improvements at five
project locations: 1) Delaware Avenue/22 nd Street; 2) Kansas Avenue Mid -block
adjacent to ELA; 3) Kansas Avenue/27 th Street ; 4) Stewart Street/Kansas Avenue; and
5) Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorches ter Avenue (Attach ment E). The following three
design elements were considered at these locations:
Curb Extensions (i.e. bulb -outs): Bulb -outs are areas where the curb is extended
into the roadway at crossings. Bulb -outs improve the pedestrian experience by
shortening cr ossing distances, increasing pedestrian visibility, slowing turning
vehicles, and visibly narrowing the roadway to discourage high -speed traffic.
Traffic Circle: A neighborhood traffic circle is a round central island around which
vehicular and bicycle traffic circulates. Traffic circles reduce intersection conflicts
and excessive vehicle speeds. Traffic circles can help to shorten the sight lines
for drivers, focusing their vision on the current block on which they are traveling,
increasing awareness of others on the road like pedestrians.
Median Refuge/Diverter: A median refuge/diverter is an island built in a street
intersection which allows for two -stage crossing of a busy street by cyclists and
pedestrians. It permits those crossing the street to negotiate one direction of
traffic at a time, thereby making it easier to cross.
Public Outreach
Over the past seven months, the City has engaged many residents, businesses,
parents and school personnel in a discussion about the proposed changes. The
ma jority of the resident participants live in the Pico Neighborhood.
The project outreach built upon the outreach, events, and public workshops that
generated the MANGo and Bike Action Plans. In June 2016, outreach began with the
Edison Language Academy fa culty, Parent Teacher Association and Santa Monica
Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Facilities Department. The meetings
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introduced the project, outlined the outreach process, and provided an opportunity for
input. The school and SMMUSD personnel ha ve been supportive of the project and the
City’s overall efforts to improving school access.
Once concept plans were complete, staff presented the design concepts to the following
organizations between October 2016 and February 2017:
Pico Neighborhood A ssociation
Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board
Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board Parent Connection Group & Familias
Latinas Unidas
Pico Improvement Organization -
Friends of Sunset Park
Edison Parent Teacher Association
Edison faculty and SMM USD staff
Two Community Open House events were hosted by City staff to reduce barriers to
participation for neighbors, and Spanish translation was offered:
November 15, 2016 Open House at Virginia Avenue Park
January 9, 2017 Open House at High Place, Community Corporation of Santa
Monica on Virginia Avenue
Outreach was also done at community gatherings like the 2016 Fall Festival at Virginia
Avenue Park (VAP) to solicit input on the refined designs. Contact cards were
distributed during the Posada at VAP. Posters noticing the public about the changes
were posted at each of the locations in English and Spanish, with contact information to
get project details an d provide input. Staff also me t internally with City departments to
discuss the proposed pl ans and their potential impacts to City operations like trash
collection and emergency services. Based on the existing conditions and feedback
from the public and City Departments, staff revised the designs.
Many elements of the plan received clear and c onsistent popular support, while
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comments were more divided about others. The curb extensions and crosswalks
located at Kansas Avenue mid -block and at 27 th Street were popular and widely
supported. The traffic circle proposed at 22 nd Street and Delaware A venue, the median
diverter at Pico Boulevard and 30 th Street, and the curb extensions at Kansas Avenue
and Stewart Street presented design challenges that required further assessment and in
some cases revision to the plan. Detailed comments specific to lo cation may be found
below in the Project Location, Assessment and Final Design section.
Staff followed up on concerns with field observations, data collection and evaluation,
and vehicle turn tests. A traffic impact study was completed to assess the circ ulation
changes that could result from the Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue
median refuge island. Turning path tests were completed using computer aided design
software and followed up with a field test using a physical mark out of the changes in
the street and test driving by Public Works and Fire Department staff.
Project Location, Assessment, Final Design
1) Delaware Avenue/22 nd Street.
This four -way intersection is directly on the MANGo route, and proposed to receive
curb extensions at all four corners, with dual curb ramps, landscaping, irrigation and
painted crosswalks. This intersection is one block from Virginia Avenue Park and
one block from the busy I -10/Cloverfield interch ange.
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Delaware Avenue and 22nd Street
A traffic circle w as proposed in the MANGo Plan at this location. After a land survey
and turning test were complete, it was determined that there was insufficient space
to accommodate a traffic circle. A number of design options were considered in an
attempt to accommodat e the planned traffic circle. However, it was found during the
turn path field test that a trash truck would not be able to make a legal left turn
around the smallest circle considered. Additionally, the location of an underground
utility cover in the ce nter of the intersection precluded planting a tree in the circle.
This limited the options for adding a vertical feature that would shorten the sightline
for drivers. A traffic circle at this location was also less popular with residents. The
addition o f curb extensions will afford the ability to add landscaping to this location
and provide a visual narrowing of the roadway which will make it easier for
pedestrians to cross the street and for drivers to maintain safer speeds, especially
when turning. Cu rb extensions were navigable by all vehicles.
2) Kansas Avenue Mid -block
This mid -block location is on a narrow, undivided stretch of Kansas Avenue and is
proposed to receive two curb extensions, ramps and a six -inch raised painted
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crosswalk aligned with the rear school entrance. Kansas Avenue has on -street
parking on both sides, and serves as the back of house for some commercial
developments along Pico Boulevard. Most of the surrounding development is
multifamily residential.
Kansas Avenue Mid -Block
The proposed curb extensions and crosswalk on Kansas Avenue are in response to
the school campus pedestrian access changes and not a prior adopted plan. The
proposed crosswalk will better align with the school’s new rear entrance gate which
was relocated during the school’s reconstruction. The school entrance is adjacent to
an existing speed hump. Rather than remove the speed hump, the new six -inch
raised crosswalk is proposed to integrate the new speed hump. Pedestrians would
cross on a flat level sur face at the same grade as the raised public sidewalk. This
speed table crosswalk is similar in concept to the crosswalk constructed in front of
City Hall across Main Street. Vehicular passenger loading is also proposed to be
consolidated into a 78 -foot l oading zone on the north side of Kansas Avenue, east of
the proposed crosswalk. No net parking will be eliminated to create this crosswalk,
because the consolidation of loading zones creates spaces which compensate for
any removal for the crosswalk. This project was not funded by the Caltrans grant
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given the timing of the school’s redevelopment but can be added to the project
scope and locally funded by the Transportation Impact Fee .
3) Kansas Avenue/27 th Street
At this T -intersection located east of Vir ginia Avenue, two curb extensions,
associated curb ramps, two painted crosswalks, and regrading to remove runnel
channel s are pro posed.
Kansas Avenue and 27th Street
A traffic circle was initially proposed by MANGo at this location. After a land survey
was complete, it was found that there was insufficient space (less than 20 feet
between proposed curbs) to accommodate a traffic circle due to the narrow width of
Kansas Avenue. It was determined that pedestrian crossing could be improved by
providing curb extensions instead. An additional crosswalk across Kansas is
supported by SMMUSD staff and is proposed to allow a crossing alternative to the
Stewart Street/Kansas Avenue intersection. This new crosswalk will require the
elimination of one on street par king space in order to add red curbing for visibility.
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Re -grading this intersection will also allow the removal of the concrete runnel
drainage channels that cross 27 th Street where it intersects with Kansas Avenue.
This will remove a cycling hazard from along the MANGo route.
4) Stewart Street/Kansas Avenue
This four -way stop controlled intersection would receive c urb extensions and dual
curb ramps on three corners of the intersection (except the southwest corner),
landscaping and irrigation, painted cr osswalks, and painted yellow centerlines. The
southwest corner will receive a painted curb and concrete neck down in an effort to
avoid impacting the County of Los Angeles storm drain. This location i s directly on
the MANGo route.
Kansas Avenue and Ste wart Street
The MANGo plan identified curb extensions and enhanced crosswalks at Stewart
Street and Kansas Avenue. This location is heavily traveled by school children and
parents in the morning and afternoon and is a busy location for automobiles traveli ng
to and from schools and homes in the area, and north -south traffic. A crossing
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guard is located at this intersection during the morning and afternoon school
commute.
The City’s Department of Public Works was concerned that the proposed curb
extensio ns would prohibit a trash truck from turning right onto Kansas Avenue from
Stewart Street southbound. This is a travel route for the Resource, Recovery and
Recycling (RRR) division’s collection services. Computer generated turning tests
demonstrated that the City’s trash truck and Hazmat fire apparatus, which has a
more limited turning radius, would be able to make the turn. A follow up field test
was undertaken which confirmed early results. The exercise provided some insight
into some design changes t hat would improve vehicle circulation such as increasing
the radius of the northwestern curb extension to 20 feet, painting yellow centerlines
on each leg of the intersection and adjusting the location of where vehicles are
designated to stop on Kansas Ave nue. The most significant constraint at this
location is the narrow width of Kansas Avenue which requires vehicles to follow the
trash truck as it serves Kansas Avenue, an existing condition.
It was also suggested that narrowin g each Stewart Street appro ach c ould increase
congestion by eliminating the ability to use the wide travel lane (and adjacent bike
path of travel) as two lanes, one for through vehicles and one for right turning
vehicles. This narrowing will re -enforce the intended one -vehicle per approach
operation and prohibit right turns from occurring simultaneously with through traffic.
While this may require some to wait longer to make a right turn, it will provide
considerable safety benefits to active transportation users by reducing right -of -way
confusion, reducing conflicts with pedestrians, and prohibit ing vehicles from blocking
the existing northbound bike lane.
5) Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue
The Bike Action Plan (BAP) proposed a median refuge island/diverter on Pico
B oulevard/30 th Street as a crossing enhancement. This alteration would involve
completion of the median at the 30 th Street intersection and providing two narrow
channels (breaks in the median) for cyclists to cross with a separated resting place
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in the cen ter of Pico Boulevard. The refuge median would include rolled curbing
which allows passage of emergency vehicles but would prohibit passenger vehicles
from crossing Pico and making left turns from and to Pico Boulevard.
The BAP identified the Pico Boulev ard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue location as a
key location for improving north -south bicycle access because it links to parts of the
bike network that provide lower -stress routes . This location would be one of two
marked crossing points between 28 th Str eet and 33 rd Street, the other being a
crosswalk with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons and signage located at 31 st
Street. This crossing would make connections to the Dorchester Tunnel and
destinations towards the north like Ishihara Park and E xpo light rail and bike path.
The intersection is home to two bus stops, one on the south west corner and another
on the north east corner of the intersection. Median Diverters are a common
neighborhood treatment in locations whe re lower volume streets cross higher
volume streets . T hey are intended to make it easier to cross major boulevards by
allowing two -stage bike and pedestrian crossing and discouraging through traffic
from using neighborhood streets. The design process looked at multiple options,
including so me which preserved passenger vehicle turns. However, none of these
options improved the protection or safety of people crossing , which is the primary
goal of this improvement.
At the second Community Open House, a number of residents and businesses
expre ssed concern about the implications of restricting left turns from Pico
Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue, and restricting vehicle through traffic
across Pico Boulevard. The concerns included reducing access options to residents
and businesses, and how the turning restrictions would alter traffic patterns. A traffic
analysis was completed to understand vehicle displacement if the median were
completed.
The traffic analysis forecasts that vehicle displacement would be relatively small
given the numb er of vehicles that are currently making these turns. For example,
29th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pearl Street, where the greatest increase is
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possible, could see an increase from 1,633 to 1,804 vehicles over a 24 -hour period,
and Urban Avenue bet ween Pico Boulevard and Pico Place, could see an increase
of 165 vehicles over the course of a 24 -hour period (171 vehicles). If the
assumption is made that the additional traffic is distributed between 7AM and 7PM
each day that is approximately 14 additi onal vehicles per hour. Typically, a change
of this size is small enough to be imperceptible to people living on a street like 29th
Street. Similar traffic increases are also possible at Yorkshire Avenue and 31 st
Street. The study made the assumption th at traffic would be distributed to the
nearest adjacent street, knowing that some will elect to use 28th Street to utilize the
existing traffic signal at Pico Boulevard. W hile this project has the potential to adjust
the way people dri ve to and from the n eighborhood, the safety improvements at 30th
Street and Pico Boulevard would provide significant benefits to neighborhood
walking, biking and mobility.
It is apparent that the outreach efforts have successfully reached a segment of the
community that may be impacted by the change and more time is needed for the
City to communicate with those residents and businesses . Staff is proposing t o
delay this project location to allow for additional outreach and evaluation of options
which will require these improv ements proceed on a separate, decelerated track .
Staff would return to Council at the time of construction bid approval for the other
changes for final approval of an approach to improving crossing at this location . The
Caltrans grant funds included cros sing improvements at this intersection.
CEQA Determination
Section 15301 of CEQA Guidelines provides Class 1 exemption for the operation,
repair, maintenance, permitting, or minor alteration of existing public or private
structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features, involving
negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's
determination. Projects that fall into this class (Class 1) include alterations to existing
streets, sidewalks, gutter, bicycle facilities, and other similar facilities and additions of
safety or health protection during for use in conjunction with existing facilities. The
project consists of the construction of curb cuts and extensions, ramps/diverters,
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crosswalk stripin g, pavement striping, and wayfinding markings on existing streets,
sidewalks, and intersections near Edison Language Academy and Pico Neighborhood.
No changes to operation (including expansion of roadway capacity) are proposed.
Therefore, this project is a Class 1 project that is categorically exempt per Section
15301 of the CEQA Guidelines. Furthermore, none of the exceptions specified in
Section 15300.2 of CEQA Guidelines would apply that would preclude the use of these
CEQA exemptions - The project site is not located in a sensitive environment, the
project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual
circumstances, the project would not damage scenic resources, the project would not
be located on a hazardous waste site; and the p roject would not cause a change to a
historical resource.
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Next Steps
The next step is to complete the construction drawings for Delaware Avenue/22 nd
Street, Kansas Avenue Mid -block near school , 27 th Street/Kansas Avenue, and Stewart
Street/Kansas Avenue . Additional outreach to residents and businesses potentially
impacted by the changes proposed at Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue
will be completed. This will be followed by construction bidding and consultant
selection. Staff will return to Council with recommendations on the construction contract
and the final Pico Boulevard/30 th Street/Dorchester Avenue design.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of
recommended action. Staff will return to Council when specific budget actions are
required. It is anticipated that construction costs will be covered by the grant which is
budgeted in the 2016 -18 CIP with some additional funding from the Transportation
Impact Fee acc ount to cover the cost of the added Mid -block crosswalk on Kansas
Avenue and eventually for ADA upgrades and lighting at the Pico Boulevard/30 th
Street/Dorchester Avenue intersection. Construction of these added project elements is
contingent upon future Council budget approval.
No additional funds are requested for the completion of construction plans. Work will
proceed with previously authorized funds and staff will return for construction contract
approval. At that time, there will be financial impli cations to covering construction costs
and budget increases to cover the cost of ongoing operation of landscape maintenance
and drainage channel cleaning.
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Prepared By: Peter Dzewaltowski, Transportation Planning Associate
Approved
Forwarded to Counci l
Attachments:
A. April 12, 2016 Council Staff Report
B. November 22, 2016 Council Report
C. Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway Plan
D. Bike Action Plan
E. Edison SRTS Concept Designs
F. Written Comments
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
MICHIGAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
DELAWARE AVENUE AND 22 ND STREET
36’22’
26’
R 15’
TYP.’R 15’
TYP.’
40’
7’
7’7’7’
22
N
D
DELAWARE ave
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
0 20 40
1
RW
LEGEND
EXISTING CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE EXISTING
TREE
POSSIBLE
FUTURE
TREE
TELECOM LINE
WATER LINE
GAS LINE
STREET LIGHT
FIRE HYDRANT
VARIOUS UTILITIY VAULTS
EXISTING SIGN
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
MICHIGAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
kansas avenue mid-block crossing
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
40
20
0
KANSAS AVENUE
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY
KANSAS AVENUE CROSSING
RW RW RW RW
RW RW RW
kansas ave 30’
32’
78’ School Loading Zone, 3 spaces
Main Gate
20’
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
0 20 40
2
R 15’
TYP.’
RW
LEGEND
EXISTING CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE EXISTING
TREE
POSSIBLE
FUTURE
TREE
TELECOM LINE
WATER LINE
GAS LINE
STREET LIGHT
FIRE HYDRANT
VARIOUS UTILITIY VAULTS
EXISTING SIGN
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
MICHIGAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
Kansas avenue and 27th street
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
30’
7’7’
23’
7’
24’
38’
27
T
H
S
T
kansas ave
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
0 20 40
3
R 15’
TYP.’
Impacts one on-street
parking space
RW
LEGEND
EXISTING CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE EXISTING
TREE
POSSIBLE
FUTURE
TREE
TELECOM LINE
WATER LINE
GAS LINE
STREET LIGHT
FIRE HYDRANT
VARIOUS UTILITIY VAULTS
EXISTING SIGN
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
MICHIGAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW RW
RW
RW
RW
RW RW
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
Kansas avenue and stewart street
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
0 20 40
30’
20’
26’5’7’
5’5’
5’
St
e
w
a
r
t
Kansas ave
40’
20’
5’
5’
4
R 15’
R 15’R 15’
R 15’
TYP.’R 20’
RW
LEGEND
EXISTING CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE EXISTING
TREE
POSSIBLE
FUTURE
TREE
TELECOM LINE
WATER LINE
GAS LINE
STREET LIGHT
FIRE HYDRANT
VARIOUS UTILITIY VAULTS
EXISTING SIGN
EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
MICHIGAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
pico boulevard AND 30TH STREET
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
0 20 40
5
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
S a n t a M o n i c a
Feet
28’
28’
8’6’
PICO BLVD
Do
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30
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Bus stop
Bus
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ALTERNATIVE
Rectangular Rapid
Flashing Beacon flexible
delinator
posts
Rolled curb for fire
access over median
RW
LEGEND
EXISTING CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE EXISTING
TREE
POSSIBLE
FUTURE
TREE
TELECOM LINE
WATER LINE
GAS LINE
STREET LIGHT
FIRE HYDRANT
VARIOUS UTILITIY VAULTS
EXISTING SIGN
Wi
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1
Vernice Hankins
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Sent:Monday, February 27, 2017 7:40 AM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:FW: 2/28/17 city council meeting agenda 3B.Edison Language Academy Safe
Routes to School (SRTS) Project
From : elena estrin [mailto:efestrin@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM
To: Kevin McKeown Fwd <kevin@mckeown.net>; Tony Vazquez <Tony.Vazquez@SMGOV.NET>; Gleam Davis
<Gleam.Davis@SMGOV.NET>; Sue Himmelrich <Sue.Himmelrich@SMGOV.NET>; Pam OConnor
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Cc: Council Mailbox <Council.Mailbox@SMGOV.NET>
Subject: 2/28/17 city council meeting agenda 3B. Edison Language Academy Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project
Dear Santa Monica C ity Council Members:
My fa mily have been residents of the Pico Neighbor hood for over 35 years and were only recently (January
2017) made aware of the City of Sa nta Monica’s plans for our neighborho od (Urban and Kansas Ave. between
Yorkshire and Urban where it meets Pico Blvd.). Under the title of “Safe Routes to Schools” the City plans to
block our ability to safely access Pico Blvd. by putti ng an island in the middle of Pico Blvd. at the
Pico/Dorchester intersection. This pr oposal is being put forward under th e guise of improving access to the
Edison Language Academy, a ridiculous statement as Dorchest er is not a street pedestri ans or bike riders would
use to travel to Edison Language Academy.
The proposed plan limits residents of our neighborhoods' ability to access Pico to only Yorkshire or Urban
where it curves onto Pico; both are more difficult and da ngerous intersections. Yorksh ire does not provide safe
access to east bound Pico because of the street offset of Yorkshire and 29th making viewing of west bound Pico
traffic impossible: it is very dangerous to turn east onto Pico si nce you can’t see cars coming at you. Urban at
Pico (31 st ) is also very difficult because of the offset streets and the light at the next corner and eastbound traffic
on Pico backs up for the light and there is no space for car s to safely make a left ont o Pico. Dorchester is the
safest street access to Pico for our neighborhood.
We shared our concerns with the Project Manager and th e Principal Transportation Pl anner. While they contend
that outreach has occurred it has not been to the neighborhoods that would be directly impacted by this plan.
City Staff’s contention that the proposed changes at Pico/30th St/Dorchester would have a minimal impact on
residents of this area are not consiste nt with the current traffic patterns. During peak traffic hours multiple cars
use east bound Urban Avenue to try to get ahead of traffic on Pico. They speed down Urban and attempt to turn
east onto Pico to access the freeway onramp at Centenela. Th e light at 31st and Pico leaves very little space for
cars to enter Pico going east from Urban. The Staff report states that the tra ffic analysis forecasts that vehicle
displacement would be relatively sma ll given the number of vehicles that are currently making these turns. The
Staff report makes the absurd assumption that the additi onal traffic would be distri buted between 7am and 7pm
each day. The reality is that 100% of those vehicles will impact the neighborhood between 4:30 and 6pm
Monday through Friday resulting in a massive increase of vehicles in 1.5 hours on a narrow, short residential
street. If approved, this project will force more traffic to backtrack to already impacted Stewart. Pedestrian
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lights already exist on Pico and the proposed new lights would not increase safety for walking or biking and
would increase potential for accidents.
City Staff state they will complete this aspect of the plan for Council review at the time of construction contract
approval. Please do not approve this pa rt of the plan as presented. It will not improve safety or access to
Edison.
Thank you for your consideration
Elena Estrin/Steve Kandell
Residents Urban Ave.
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