Council Meeting: June 28, 2005 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Crosswalk Enhancements and Neighborhood Traffic Improvements for Colorado Avenue Between 20^th Street and Centinela Avenue; Amendment to Contract with Kabbara Engineering for Design Service in the amount of $110,627, including contingency; and Amendment to Contract with DMR TEAM for Project Management, Construction Management and Inspection Services in the amount of $82,780, including contingency.

INTRODUCTION

This staff report recommends that the City Council approve the proposed crosswalk enhancements and neighborhood traffic improvements for Colorado Avenue between 20^th Street and Centinela Avenue and authorize amendments to contracts with Kabbara Engineering for design engineering services and DMR for project management, construction management and inspection services.

BACKGROUND

In 1998, the City of Santa Monica embarked on a project to systematically evaluate and enhance crosswalk locations to facilitate a safe and active pedestrian environment. This effort is part of a larger citywide objective to create a pedestrian friendly environment in support of a Livable Community. The project was initiated in response to community frustration with the unwillingness of motorists to stop for lawful pedestrians, particularly at uncontrolled locations. The key objectives of the crosswalk enhancement project were to improve the functionality, visibility and ease of use of crosswalk locations. The study focused on five major travel corridors in the first phase and five corridors in a second phase, totaling close to twenty-five miles of major arterial roadway and hundreds of intersections covering the entire lengths of Pico Boulevard, Montana Boulevard, Ocean Avenue/Barnard Way, Neilson Way, Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Broadway, Ocean Park Boulevard and 26^th Street.

On January 23, 2001 City Council authorized the design of the east Colorado neighborhood traffic improvements between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue as part of the Mid City Traffic Plan. The design and development of crosswalk enhancements were overlayed onto the neighborhood traffic improvement project, with project limits expanded to cover the area between 20^th Street and Centinela Avenue. The strategy for Phase III of the Pedestrian Crosswalk Enhancement project has been to incorporate crosswalk improvements into current projects when the opportunity arises and the need is defined.

The development process for Colorado Avenue included outreach to obtain suggestions and observations from the community. A workshop was held and a written questionnaire was distributed at the outset, in April, 2002. The consultant team gathered pedestrian counts, traffic data, reviewed accident reports, and made field observations about pedestrian/land use patterns and physical characteristics of the streets in addition. A street capacity drainage study was necessary to review the impact of the proposed improvements on existing drainage patterns and street capacity. The proposed improvements were revised in response to the findings of this study. A follow-up community workshop was held in December, 2004 to review preliminary recommendations. The workshop comments and other subsequent feedback were considered as recommendations were finalized. The discussion of these comments, a description of the additional evaluation and the final recommendations are included in this report.

RECOMMENDED ENHANCEMENTS

The crosswalk enhancements recommended for Colorado Avenue between 20^th Street and Centinela Avenue are summarized in the matrix labeled Attachment A and shown in the maps labeled Attachment B1-4.

General Improvements:

The following are measures that were incorporated into Phases I and II of the crosswalk enhancement program and will be carried through to this segment:

· Zebra Striping Pattern: A zebra-striping pattern will be used to increase visibility for uncontrolled crosswalks; crossings with in-pavement flashers; crosswalks contiguous with a zebra-striped crosswalk; and those immediately adjacent to schools.

· Limit Lines: Limit lines will be provided in advance of each crosswalk to encourage the motorist to stop before the crosswalk rather than in the crosswalk.

· Pavement Markings: “Ped Xing” markings in the pavement will be provided at uncontrolled crosswalks.

· Mark Side-Streets: Crosswalks will be marked across controlled side-streets, parallel to the major street.

· School Crosswalks: Crosswalks adjacent to schools will be yellow rather than white.

· Accessibility: New or repositioned curb ramps will be installed where it is determined that they are required in conjunction with the installation of a new crosswalk.

· Align Markings: Markings will be aligned so that crosswalks are generally at right angles with the curb line to provide the shortest, most direct pathway.

· Identify Crosswalks at Signalized Intersections: Marked crosswalks will be provided at all legs of signalized intersections.

Specific Improvements:

The specific recommendations for each location were developed by carefully balancing the needs and impacts along the street. Many residents expressed concern about the speed of traffic and the difficulty of crossing the street. The crosswalk enhancement project, in all phases, has been focused on improving walkability as part of a larger community livability objective and now a citywide Active Living objective. A prime consideration is to ensure adequate spacing, so the pedestrian doesn’t have to walk a long distance out of his/her way for a marked crosswalk. Along this section of Colorado, the only marked crosswalks are currently at the signals and there are long stretches with no marked crosswalks.

The streets that intersect Colorado Avenue east of 26^th Street are generally off-set or “T” intersections, so that most potential new crosswalks will land mid-block and eliminate curbside parking. The impact is magnified because of the residential nature of the street, where the curbside spaces are not marked and the vehicles park closely. The recommendations have been developed to address the loss of parking, with new spaces added wherever possible. The parking space losses and gains are also summarized in Attachment C and described below.

Some residents were hoping to have median islands similar to those on Broadway to slow the traffic and reinforce the residential nature of the street. The off-set nature and the drainage requirements for the street limit the number and length of medians. The recommended locations are described below.

Curb extensions are a valuable component of the crosswalk enhancement program because they shorten a pedestrian’s street exposure and improve visibility for both the pedestrian and motorist. Curb extensions have been included where possible, however the street configuration and drainage issues limit the possibilities. The curb extensions will be no wider than the curb parking and will not interfere with the bicyclist’s path of travel. They will be designed carefully to accommodate turning movements and street sweeping.

The specific recommendations are described going eastward, starting at 20^th Street.

Midblock between 20^th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard

Many pedestrians cross mid-block between 20^th and Cloverfield in the vicinity of the food establishments on the south side of Colorado. The block is very long and the street is wide. A mid-block crosswalk will facilitate a safe and channelized crossing point. In-pavement flashers will be utilized to address the two lanes of traffic in each direction. Raised landscaped median islands will provide a pedestrian refuge and prevent vehicles from entering the center-lane for turning or deliveries. Three metered parking spaces will need to be removed from the south side, with the potential for adding back one or two spaces on the north side.

Midblock between Cloverfield Boulevard and 26^th Street

This segment contains large office complexes on both sides of the street, with a food court contained within the campus on the north side and a restaurant on the south side. The block length creates the incentive for pedestrians to cross the street mid-block. The measures described above are also recommended for this location since both blocks are comparable. The measures include in-pavement flashers and raised, landscaped pedestrian refuge islands. The identified crosswalk location will intersect on the north side with a multi-space delivery cut-out. The addition of the crosswalk will eliminate one loading space and require a slight shift of the mailboxes so they are out of the crosswalk path of travel.

26^th Street Intersection

Eastbound Colorado Avenue changes from a four-lane street to a two-lane street at 26^th Street. To better control the speed of traffic and discourage jockeying for position while merging into the one lane east of 26^th Street, the two through eastbound lanes approaching 26^th Street will be restriped to provide one through lane and one exclusive right turn lane. A striped curb extension (rather than raised because of drainage) will be added on the south side of Colorado, just east of 26^th Street, to further discourage a second lane of through traffic.

Between 26^th Street and Princeton Street

Since eastbound lanes will be reduced from two to one lane east of 26^th Street, there is an ability to add approximately 7 parking spaces on the south side of the street in the area that is currently the merge lane. Approximately 5 marked parking spaces can also be added on the north side of the street.

Princeton Street “T” Intersection

There are currently no marked crosswalks across Colorado Avenue at Princeton Street. Marked zebra-striped crosswalks will be added to all three legs. Although four metered parking spaces will be removed on the south side, a greater number of spaces will be added just west of this location. A tree on the southeast side of the intersection will need to be relocated or replaced.

Harvard Street “T” Intersection

There are currently no marked crosswalks across Colorado Avenue at Harvard Street. Marked zebra-striped crosswalks will be added to all three legs. Although one metered parking space will be removed on the south side, a large number of spaces will be added to the west. A tree on the southeast side of the intersection will need to be relocated or replaced.

Stewart Street “T” Intersection

There is an existing traffic signal on Colorado Avenue at Stewart Street with marked crosswalks on the south and west legs. Crosswalk striping, a pedestrian signal head and a push button will be added on the east leg of the intersection.

Yale Street “T” Intersection

There are no marked crosswalks across Colorado at Yale Street. Marked crosswalks at this location will serve the café on the south side and the housing on both sides. Although it is generally desirable to mark all legs of the crosswalk, the driveway adjacent to the café precludes striping the eastern leg so only the western and northern legs will be zebra striped. Placement of a crosswalk at a mid-block location east of the intersection was explored but no feasible location was identified.

Stanford Street Offset Intersection

There are no marked crosswalks across Colorado Avenue at Stanford Street. The north and south legs of Stanford Street are offset from each other. Marked crosswalks will be added on to all four legs of the intersection. Curb extensions are possible on the eastern leg and will aid visibility and shorten the crossing distance. The existing marked median in the center of the intersection will be converted to a raised and planted median. The landscaped medians are intended to demarcate the residential character of the area and enhance the pedestrian quality of the street. The presence of the median is intended to reduce speed slightly and will not impede vehicular turning movements. Approximately five parking spaces will be eliminated at this location and three spaces will be added back on the south side just west of this location.

Berkeley Street Offset Intersection

There are no marked crosswalks across Colorado Avenue at Berkeley Street. Three of the four legs: east, south and north, will be added to serve the adjacent land uses. Curb extensions are possible on the eastern leg and will be added to aid visibility and shorten the crossing distance. A western leg would result in the loss of additional parking spaces and since the eastern leg of Stanford Street is not far away, a decision was made to leave the western leg of Berkeley unmarked. The existing marked median is recommended to be converted to a raised and planted median island. A large tree on the northeast corner of the intersection will likely need to be removed to provide for a curb ramp at that location and will be replaced within the project area.

Franklin Street Intersection

There are no marked crosswalks across Colorado at Franklin Street. All four legs of this intersection will be marked with zebra striping to facilitate pedestrians. Curb extensions are possible on the northeast and southwest corners and will be added to aid visibility and shorten the crossing distance.

Between Franklin Street and Centinela Avenue

A landscaped median island is recommended to provide a gateway entrance to the City, which is consistent with the City’s Open Space Element. The presence of the island will help reduce speed as drivers enter a residential area. The length of the island will be limited to allow turning movements into driveways.

Community Feedback

Community participation along this corridor was light even though the initial meeting notice was mailed to residents and businesses in an area including two-blocks on both sides of Colorado from 20^th Street to Centinela Avenue. Opinions were also diverse and there was no definitive consensus. Some people were focused on slowing traffic through their neighborhood. Some were opposed to putting anything in the roadway, including curb extensions and median islands. When queried about where they thought crossing improvements would be helpful, they identified an extensive list of locations. At the community meeting in December 2004, where the preliminary recommendations were reviewed, several people expressed a priority to preserve street parking over crosswalks. In response to these comments, staff re-evaluated the recommendations with an eye towards replacing more parking spaces, where possible, and reassessing the necessity of each crosswalk recommendation. The parking impacts and spacing of the recommended crosswalks were reviewed carefully and two locations that were initially proposed for improvements were eliminated. The resulting net impact on parking is a net gain of 1-3 spaces, although they are distributed unevenly through the corridor.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Kabbara Engineering design services and DMR TEAM project/construction management services were originally authorized by Council (Kabbarra on January 23, 2001 and DMR TEAM on September 12, 2000) for a combined effort to design and manage the construction of neighborhood traffic control improvements on 4th Street and Colorado Avenue. The projects were bid as a combined single project. Subsequently the projects were separated and the 4^th Street project has now been designed and constructed. The scope of work and cost proposals for both the design and the construction management firms must be amended to reflect that the Colorado project will be designed and constructed independently of 4^th Street. The project scope has also been expanded to cover the area between 20^th and 26^th Streets, to include a hydrology study and to include the design and construction of the crosswalk improvements that have been overlayed on the initial neighborhood traffic improvements project.

The project schedule anticipates that the project will be ready for bid in early 2006 and will be completed by winter 2006.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

The total amended Kabbara (#7877-CCS) contract for engineering design services will be $305,027 for both 4^th Street and Colorado Avenue. The amendment for $110,627 includes: the development of a separate bid package for Colorado, the added scope, including the new area between 20^th and 26^th Streets, the added crosswalk design component, added lighting, a required hydrology study, required digital mapping services, cost-of-living increase from the initial contract five years ago, and 10% contingency. Funding for the amendment will be from the following accounts:

Mid-City Traffic Improvement C010270.589000 $59,916

Crosswalk Imp. Office Dist. C040456.589000 $50,711

Kabbara Amendment Total $110,627

The total amended DMR TEAM contract for project management, construction management and inspection services will be $255,965 both 4^th Street and Colorado Avenue. The amendment for $82,780 includes: the development a separate bid package, management of a separate construction contract, the added scope, including the new area between 20^th and 26^th Streets, the added crosswalk design component, added lighting, review of a required hydrology study, cost-of-living increase from the initial contract five years ago, and 10% contingency. Funding for the amendment will be from the following accounts:

Mid-City Traffic Improvement C040270.589000 $55,778

Neighborhood Traffic Measures C010841.589000 $27,002

DMR TEAM Amendment Total $82,780

The estimated cost to construct the project is $875,000, with funding programmed in Office District Traffic Mitigation, Phase III Crosswalk Improvement and Neighborhood Traffic Improvement accounts.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:

1. Authorize staff to prepare construction drawings and specifications for the recommended crosswalk enhancements described above for Colorado Avenue between 20^thStreet and Centinela Avenue.

2. Authorized a contract amendment with Kabbara Engineering in the amount of $110,627, including 10% contingency.

3. Authorized a contract amendment with DMR TEAM, Inc. in the amount of $82,780, including 10% contingency.