CC SR 20220906 01 - Western Ave Caltrans Bike Lanes Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/06/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive updates from the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) regarding its proposed Western Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian
Improvement Project.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file the presentation of updates from Caltrans on its proposed
Western Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project to install bicycle
lanes and pedestrian access improvements on Western Avenue; and
(2) If warranted, request that Caltrans work with City Staff to make any further
adjustments to the project based on City Council and public feedback.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. Caltrans will fund the project.
ORIGINATED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director
REVIEWED BY: Same as Above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. September 6, 2022 Caltrans Bike Lanes Presentation (page A-1)
B. February 1, 2022 staff report
BACKGROUND:
On February 1, 2022, Caltrans presented to the City Council the proposed Western
Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project (Attachment B). The presentation
contained information regarding the proposed project on Western Avenue, which is
owned and operated by Caltrans within the jurisdictional boundary of the City. The
proposed project consists of re-purposing existing parking lanes into dedicated bicycle
lanes (Class II Bike Lanes), upgrading nine curb ramps in the City to become compliant
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and installing pavement markings to
create a northbound right-turn lane at Westmont Drive/Delasonde Drive.
In response to the Caltrans presentation, the City Council expressed the following
concerns:
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• Narrowing lane widths in designated segments from 12 feet to 11 feet may
negatively impact the flow rate and elderly drivers who are accustomed to the
standard 12-foot lanes.
• Modifying medians without proper landscaping is a missed opportunity for synergy
and would result in diminished beautification effects.
• Crosswalks with special designs should be considered part of the project to assist
with beautification efforts.
• Potential for a repeat of construction delays encountered in the recent Caltrans
curb ramps replacement project.
• Need for Caltrans to further study the negative effects of the ongoing Ponte Vista
development on Western Avenue traffic flow.
The City Council approved a motion directing Staff to work with Caltrans to:
1) Study the combined traffic impacts of the proposed bike lanes, the Ponte Vista
Development, and potential mixed-use development that is being explored as part
of the City’s Housing Element Update;
2) Improve landscaping within the medians that will be impacted by the project;
3) Consider enhanced crosswalk beautification; and
4) Return to the City Council with an update before construction commences.
This evening, Caltrans will be presenting updates to their proposed project in response
to the City Council’s motion.
DISCUSSION:
Since the February 1, 2022 City Council meeting, Staff has been working with Caltrans
to revise the project to address the City Council’s concerns. In response, Caltrans made
some changes to the project, but Caltrans did not accommodate all the City Council’s
requests, as summarized below (Attachment A).
Lane Widths
The project presented to the City Council on February 1, 2022 consisted primarily of Class
II Bike Lanes; or lanes that are for the exclusive use of bicycles, as shown in Exhibit 1 on
the next page. The February 1, 2022 project also included some limited areas with Class
III Bike Routes; or lanes that are shared by vehicles and bicycles, as shown in Exhibit 2
on the next page.
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Exhibit 1 – Class II Bike Lane / Exclusive Bike Lane
Exhibit 2 – Class III Bike Route/Shared Vehicle-Bike Lane
The project design has now been revised to eliminate Class II Bike Lanes in certain
locations which allows on-street parking to remain. Additionally, there are now fewer
locations where 11-foot lanes are needed thereby maintaining the existing 12 -foot width.
The locations where dedicated Class II Bike Lanes will be installed are shown in Exhibit
3. The locations where lanes will be reduced to 11 feet are shown in Exhibit 4.
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in California,
July 2005, Caltrans, Alta Planning + Design
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in California,
July 2005, Caltrans, Alta Planning + Design
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Exhibit 3 – Western Avenue Shared Bike Lanes Exhibit 4 – Western Avenue Lane Widths
Legend
Red = Class III Bike Lane
Black= Class II Bike Route
Legend
Red = 11’ Vehicle Lanes
Black= 12’ Vehicle Lanes
Class II Bike Route
Class II Bike Route
Class II Bike Route
Class II Bike Route
Class III Bike Lane
Class III BikeLane 12 ‘ Vehicle Lanes
12 ‘ Vehicle Lanes
11 ‘ Vehicle Lanes
11 ‘ Vehicle Lanes
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Traffic Impacts of Proposed Bike Lanes including Ponte Vista Development
Staff has been engaging with Caltrans on the path forward for a traffic study to ascertain
the impacts of the Ponte Vista development and the proposed mixed-use rezoning to
accommodate more housing units based on the City’s Housing Element Update on
Western Avenue. Caltrans stated that it unsuccessfully attempted to obtain additional
funds to perform studies and revise the project , and that the project needed to proceed
to deliver its objectives. Additionally, Caltrans’ position is that the necessary permits for
the Ponte Vista development have already been issued based on a prior traffic study with
agreed-upon mitigation measures.
In response, Staff believes the most effective approach to address the Council’s concerns
is to perform a comprehensive traffic study as part of the Western Avenue Traffic Flow
Improvements Project which is tentatively scheduled to occur in 2023-2024. Such a traffic
study would consist of a detailed analysis of existing conditions at the time the study
occurs and will include the bike lanes, as well as the forecast build-out of Ponte Vista and
the City’s Housing Element Update. Any additional measures to improve traffic flow would
be identified through this process. Caltrans has agreed with this approach and will work
collaboratively with the Staff to ensure successful outcomes.
Median Landscaping
Caltrans stated that it unsuccessfully attempted to obtain additional funds to revise the
project to include median landscaping. Caltrans committed to working with the City to
implement the City’s Western Avenue Beautification Project.
Enhanced Crosswalks
Staff requested Caltrans include decorative crosswalk designs in the project as directed
by the City Council. Caltrans responded that it would only consider crosswalk designs
that are included in the state traffic engineering manual for pavement markings (CA
MUTCD). Staff’s research of the CA MUTCD concluded that it does not allow the use of
decorative crosswalks. However, it allows for some limited aesthetic enhancements to
crosswalks. Further research by Staff indicates Caltrans has allowed some of these
aesthetically improved features in some statewide projects. Samples are shown in
Exhibits 5-7 on the following page.
Caltrans informed Staff that it can not incorporate aesthetically enhanced crosswalks into
the current project due to lack of funding (the cost of one aesthetic crosswalk is estimated
by Staff to be approximately $15,000). Caltrans suggested that such designs could be
allowed as part of the City’s future Western Avenue Beautification Project or as part of a
future Caltrans project to re-pave Western Avenue in 2026. Staff will work with Caltrans
to incorporate a design acceptable to Caltrans, similar to the samples shown below, into
the Western Avenue Beautification Project.
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Exhibit 5 – Sample A of Context Sensitive Crosswalk Design
Exhibit 6 – Sample B of Context Sensitive Crosswalk Design
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Exhibit 7 – Sample C of Context Sensitive Crosswalk Design
Avoiding Construction Delays
Caltrans has assured Staff that every measure possible will be taken to avoid the
construction delays experienced during the prior phase of curb ramp installations. These
measures include deploying sufficient personnel to monitor progress in the field, detecting
problems early, and intervening so that extended delays are avoided. Additional
measures include advanced planning related to supply chains and installation of
temporary features in case unknown conditions are discovered.
Project Schedule
Phase One of the project, which consists of the installation of seven ADA-compliant curb
ramps in the City, is mostly complete, although some minor corrective work remains.
Phase Two, which includes the installation of nine more ADA-compliant curb ramps within
the City, a northbound right-turn lane at Westmont Drive/Delasonde Drive, and the
aforementioned bicycle lanes, is now scheduled to commence construction in January
2023 and complete construction by April 2024.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On October 4, 2022, Staff is scheduled to brief the City Council on all projects and
activities related to Western Avenue, as well as coordination across those projects. The
projects include the following:
• Western Avenue Beautification Project
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• Western Avenue Traffic Flow Improvements Project
• Caltrans Western Avenue Re-Paving Project (scheduled to begin in 2026)
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file a presentation of updates from
Caltrans on its proposed Western Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project
and direct Staff to continue to work with Caltrans to implement the City Council’s vision
for Western Avenue.
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1A-1
22/1/20229 CURB RAMP LOCATIONS IN RANCHO PALOS VERDES53 CURB RAMP LOCATIONS – PHASE 21200’ NEW PAVED SIDEWALK3 PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGSW/ HIGH INTENSITY CROSSWALK BEACONNB RIGHT-TURN ONLY LANE AT WESTMONT/DELASONDEMEDIAN FENCE AT 242NDPLA-2
2/1/20223Mileage within Rancho Palos VerdesSouthbound Lanes (SB) 2.0 miNorthbound Lanes (NB) 0.5 miTotal Project (NB+SB) 15.0 miGBR4A-3
2/1/20224Not able to implement this proposed configuration under this project. We will have Class III bike and the parking. We will evaluate to implement this configuration under our pavement project.SB WESTERN FROM CRESTWOOD TO SUMMERLANDA-4
52/1/2022Tentative Construction ScheduleStart Construction January 2023End Construction February 2024A-5
9/30/20216A-6