Loading...
SR 04-25-2017 8A Ci ty Council Report City Counci l Meeting : April 25, 2017 Agenda Item: 8.A 1 of 19 To: Mayor and City Council From: David Martin, Director , City Planning Subject: Design approval for the Lincoln Neighborhood Corridor Plan Streetscape Recommended Action Staff recommends that City Council approve the final streetscape and transportation concept for the Lincoln Neighborhood Corridor Plan. Executive Summary Since successfully taking over responsibility for Lincoln Boulevard from Caltrans in 2012, the City of Santa Monica has worked with local residents and businesses to improve one of our community’s most important but neglected transportation and business corridors. The Lincoln Neighborhood Corridor Plan (the “LiNC”) consists of two main components: enhancing the physical environment and pedestrian safety through streetscape improvements and supporting the aesthetic transformation of the corridor by incentivizing the remodel of existing businesses. The project has reached a milestone with the completion of the final design concept for the streetscape and transportation proposal. This rep ort provides information on the streetscape design effort, and summarizes the various design components and programmatic changes that will be implemented over time. Council is being asked to approve the LiNC streetscape design and transportation concept n ow prior to the completion of the project’s business improvement measures, which are being developed on a separate timeline. The proposed streetscape and transportation enhancements would fulfill the Land Use and Circulation Element’s (LUCE) policy dire ction to transition the busy commuting corridor of Lincoln Boulevard into a pedestrian -oriented environment. Work on the streetscape and transportation concept has spanned several years, and has identified opportunities for new crosswalks, landscaped medi ans and pedestrian refuges, pedestrian lighting, bicycle connectors and many other elements. Importantly, the LiNC has integrated a peak commute -hour dedicated bus lane into the right -of -way (with no net impact to vehicle flow) as a means to support Linco ln’s role as a transit priority corridor and to increase transit ridership. Recent work on the streetscape and transportation concept has involved identifying a realistic phasing program for implementation that takes into account a variety of factors such as construction costs, available funding sources, pedestrian and bicycle crash data, emergency vehicle access and alignment of project purpose with the City’s strategic initiatives. Two phases of work have been identified. 2 of 19 At its February 15, 2017 meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the LiNC streetscape and transportation plan. Background The project area is located within three neighborhoods along 17 blocks of Lincoln Boulevard from the I -10 Freeway (including the bridge o verpass) to Ozone Avenue, approximately 1.25 miles long . The project boundaries include the vehicular right -of - way, as well as the public sidewalk and the ground floor of the buildings that front Lincoln Blvd. Caltrans relinquished Lincoln Boul evard to the City of Santa Monica in 2012, which stimulated public and private interests in addressing deferred maintenance issues and in fulfilling the vision of the LUCE for a more walkable and aesthetically pleasing corridor. In 2013, the Public Works Department and Traffic Engineering Division conducted a street resurfacing and striping project that improved vehicular operations and laid the groundwork for future transit efficiency by modifying right -of -way striping to accommodate potential dedicated b us lanes. The resurfacing project improved the visual condition of Lincoln Boulevard, but left more substantive streetscape modifications (such as medians or crosswalks), policy recommendations and other enhancements to be resolved by the Lincoln Neighbor hood Corridor Plan. On June 10, 2014 (ATTACHEMNT G) the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract (CCS #9651) with Community Design and Architecture (CD+A) to prepare a detailed streetscape and transportation concept for Lincoln Boulevard between the I -10 Freeway and the City limits at Ozone Avenue. The Council Ocean Park Blvd. Ocean Park Sunset Park Pico LINCOLN BOULEVARD Pico Blvd. 3 of 19 later authorized an amendment to t his contract on July 28, 2016 to provide additional design development to address emergency access concerns from the Fire Departme nt. Streetscape Plan Development Beginning in August 2014, an interdepartmental team led by Planning and Community Development began work on the LiNC to develop streetscape, transportation and business improvement concepts. Leveraging relationships with neighborhood leaders and members of the Lincoln Boulevard Taskforce, the planning team conducted extensive outreach to address key concerns and develop consensus on a preferred streetscape alternative. Outreach activities included two community workshops, dozens of one -on -one and group stakeholder meetings, focus groups with local businesses, and an online presence that included social media and civic engagement platforms. Since August 2014, staff has presented LiNC concepts to the Planning Commission, Cit y Council and other boards and commissions to further refine streetscape and transportation enhancements. Feedback was used to direct resources to specific issues that warranted additional research and investigation. Staff met with the Planning Commission on three occasions: 1) on October 1, 2014 (ATTACHMENT H) to introduce the project and obtain directional guidance, 2) on September 2, 2015 (ATTACHMENT I) to solicit input about emerging plan elements and obtain direction on key policy questions that had s urfaced during concept development, and 3) on February 15, 2017 (ATTACHMENT J) to finalize the streetscape concept and take action on a unanimous recommendation for approval. Staff presented the LiNC project to the City Council on one occasion on November 24, 2015 (ATTACHEMNT K). At subsequent public meetings before the Recreation and Parks Commission, Architectural Review Board and in community workshops, staff received additional guidance, and interdepartmental team members helped the project team refine design criteria and implementation options that informed the final concepts presented in this staff report. Public Participation and Community Outreach In collaboration with multi -departmental staff, the project team has worked with a wide range of const ituents to develop streetscape, transportation and business improvement concepts. Neighborhood leaders communicate frequently with staff through the Lincoln Boulevard Taskforce, which includes representation from the Ocean Park, Sunset Park 4 of 19 and Pico neigh borhoods, as well as from the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. The outreach effort has involved many different forms of outreach in which participants have explored the range of issues, concerns and ideas surrounding the Boulevard, and have wo rked with staff to develop a preferred alternative. Outreach has involved two well -attended community workshops, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, regular meetings with the resident -led Lincoln Boulevard Taskforce, and technology and social media p latforms. A separate effort to work with Boulevard businesses on any perceived impacts from the proposed commute -hour dedicated bus lane has also been conducted and is described in more detail later in this report. Discussion The final streetscape and tra nsportation design incorporates elements that have been identified by the community as important to connectivity and livability. Additional design criteria have been established by various City departments who provide emergency or maintenance services. C oncepts have also been aligned with federal and state guidance on roadway design, and the landscaping proposal acknowledges California’s historic drought. During the design process, each block has been individually analyzed for opportunities to accommodate the features that are desired by the community, and which support the goals of the project. The final streetscape plan incorporates a balanced mix of new features that result in a better performing, enhanced streetscape and transportation environment for vehicles, transit , pedestrians and bicycles . None of the streetscape elements being proposed results in the loss of a travel lane for vehicles. The improvements are intended to make movement for all users and modes more predictable by providing safe place s for pedestrians to cross the street , identify areas for bicycles to maneuver, accommodate transit, and organize vehicle flow. The following are brief descriptions of the design features incorporated into the final design. Lincoln Boulevard Streetscape a nd Transportation Design Features (ATTACHMENT A ):  New peak commute -hour 12 -foot wide dedicated Bus Lanes  New landscaped center medians, 10 feet average width, various lengths 5 of 19  3 new crosswalks with pedestrian -actuated safety signals across Lincoln Boulevard located at Grant, Pine, and Wilson/Pier Streets  4 enhanced crosswalks that integrate new pedestrian refuges at Olympic, Pearl, Hill and Ashland  New crosswalk striping at 20 locations on side streets  ADA compliant dual -directional curb ramps at 90 locatio ns along the boulevard  125 new pedestrian lights spaced at 75 foot average intervals  13 new curb -extensions and bulb -outs at strategically located side streets and in certain areas on Lincoln Blvd. north of Pico Blvd.  2 new bicycle connection improvements at Ashland and Pearl  48 new street trees in existing and/or future parkways and potentially in medians  32 bioswales for stormwater runoff  New bike racks, benches and trash receptacles  Eliminated unused curb -cuts and revised curb ramps  Wayfinding signage an d markers The primary objectives of the LiNC streetscape are to guide the transition of Lincoln Boulevard into a pedestrian -friendly environment and to improve transportation conditions for vehicles, transit and bicycles. These objectives are helpful in d istilling the many components of the project into a logical implementation sequence and funding rationale. A careful review of the corridor concept was undertaken to determine which elements would: 1) provide highly visible and effective improvements to e xisting conditions for pedestrians, vehicles, transit and bicycles; 2) be implemented in the short -term; 3) balance cost with benefit; 4) be cost -competitive against competing projects; 5) require the least amount of disruption to traffic flow and to the l ocal business environment, and 6) address locations where crash data identified the need for additional attention. Out of this analysis emerged two implementation phases:  Phase 1 involves a discrete set of streetscape elements that target “connections.” Th e estimated cost for Phase 1 improvements is approximately $2.9 million and could be fully implemented by the end of 2018 if appropriate approvals, funding resources and processing timelines are pursued efficiently. For a list of Phase 1 improvements, plea se see ATTACHMENT B . 6 of 19  Phase 2 includes a package of costlier upgrades and more intense construction activities that would fully complete the streetscape proposal. The estimated cost for Phase 2 improvements is estimated to exceed $10 million, and may take several years, if not more, to accumulate funding through grants and internal funding resources prior to full implementation. LINCOLN NEIGHBORHOOD CORRIDOR PLAN PHASING RECOMMENDATION PHASE 1 PHASE 2 ST R E E T S C A P E E L E M E N T S 3 new crosswalks with pedestrian -a ctuated safety signals across Lincoln Boulevard located at Grant, Pine, and Wilson/Pier Streets ✓ 4 enhanced crosswalks that integrate new pedestrian refuges at Olympic, Pearl, Hill and Ashland ✓ New landscaped center medians, 10 feet average width, various lengths ✓ ✓ New crosswalk striping at 20 locations on side streets ✓ 13 new curb -extensions and bulb -outs at strategically located side streets and in certain areas on Lincoln Blvd. north of Pico Blvd. ✓ 48 new street trees in existing and /or future parkways and potentially in medians ✓ ✓ 32 bioswales for stormwater runoff ✓ 125 new pedestrian lights spaced at 75 foot average intervals ✓ Eliminated unused curb -cuts and revised curb ramps ✓ ✓ ADA compliant dual -directional curb ram ps at 90 locations along the boulevard ✓ ✓ Wayfinding Signage and Markers ✓ ✓ TR A N S . NE T W O R K New Peak Hour Directional 12 -foot wide Dedicated Bus Lanes ✓ 2 new bicycle connection improvements at Ashland and Pearl ✓ New bike racks, benches and tras h receptacles ✓ ✓ Peak Hour Directional 12 -foot Dedicated Bus Lanes (Phase 1) Based on in -depth analysis on the applicability and benefits transportation enhancements, such as dedicated bus lanes on Lincoln Boulevard, staff recommends