TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
Helen Shi, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of the Preliminary Design Concept for the Manhattan Beach Boulevard Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project (Public Works Director Lee).
APPROVE
Line
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council approve the Preliminary Design Concept for the Manhattan Beach Boulevard Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
On July 5, 2022, City Council approved an appropriation that established the Manhattan Beach Boulevard (MBB) Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project in the Measure M Fund with a total estimated cost of $1,200,000. Expenditures for the project are fully funded by a grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) which is anticipated to cover the cost of engineering design, environmental clearance, and construction. There are no anticipated fiscal implications for the project at this time.
BACKGROUND:
On September 23, 2021, LACMTA granted Measure M funding of $1,200,000 to South Bay Measure M Multi-Year Sub-Regional Programs - Transportation System & Mobility Improvements Program for the project.
On July 5, 2022, the City Council approved the funding agreement and appropriation of $1,200,000 for the MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project. On September 6, 2022, LACMTA staff executed the final funding agreement.
On October 4, 2022, the City Council awarded a professional services agreement to KOA Corporation for Engineering Design Services. Soon after, the consultant assisted the City in developing several improvement options for discussion with residents, businesses, visitors, and communities.
Currently, the eastbound left-turn pocket length on MBB at Aviation Boulevard is 200 feet, which accommodates approximately 10 queueing cars. Due to the high demand for eastbound left-turning traffic, especially during the peak commuting periods, and insufficient storage capacity in the eastbound left-turn lane, vehicles are queued into the number one eastbound through-lane impeding through traffic. Below are two improvement options being considered to improve the capacity, which were discussed with the funding agencies:
1. Construct a second eastbound left-turn lane by reducing the widths of the raised center median and eastbound and westbound travel lanes to accommodate the second left-turn lane. Option 1 would require the removal of four on-street parking spaces along the north side of MBB west of the Trader Joe’s driveway, and prohibit the currently allowed eastbound U-Turn activities.
2. Elongate the existing eastbound left-turn lane pocket from approximately 200 feet to 330 feet. The scope of the project includes the reconstruction of the median island located on MBB west of Aviation Boulevard. Option 2 would not require the removal of on-street parking and would keep the currently allowed eastbound U-Turn activities. It also would require the removal of a cluster of small palm trees.
The proposed improvement options at this intersection will relieve the congestion during peak commuting periods and allow smooth traffic flow along MBB, which will ultimately relieve traffic congestion along the MBB and Aviation Boulevard traffic corridors.
DISCUSSION:
The improvement options listed above might require the removal of on-street parking spaces and prohibit eastbound U-Turns, which could affect the businesses located on the north side of MBB west of Aviation Boulevard. The project team has communicated with all these potentially affected businesses and presented the improvement options in January 2023 via emails and phone calls.
Based on these communications with nearby businesses, staff recommends moving forward with Option 2, optimized, as the preferred improvement option and provided as the Preliminary Design Concept (attached). The purpose of the improvement is to increase eastbound left-turn capacity by elongating the existing eastbound left-turn pocket, modifying the median island, installing state-of-the-art infrastructure, and optimizing signal operations. Operation of the signal at this intersection will improve the progression of the eastbound traffic and alleviate the delay and blockage along MBB, especially during peak commute periods. Specifically, the proposed improvements include:
• Elongate the existing eastbound left-turn lane pocket from approximately 200 feet to 330 feet;
• Reconstruct the median island located on MBB west of Aviation Boulevard to accommodate the elongated left-turn pocket;
• Adjust the existing detection camera, or install a new camera if necessary, to cover the elongated eastbound left-turn pocket; and
• Optimize the intersection signal operation by adjusting the signal timing assignment.
In summary, staff recommends that the City Council approve Option #2 Preliminary Design Concept for the MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project. Once approved by Council, the design consultant will continue with its design work and develop documents for formal construction bidding.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Public outreach has been conducted during the design phase of the MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project to inform the businesses adjacent and most directly affected by the project improvement options. Additional public outreach will be conducted during the remainder of the design process. All public comments and recommendations regarding the intersection design and equipment details will be considered, as appropriate, during the design phase. Targeted outreach will occur before the start of construction for residents and businesses located near and/or adjacent to construction activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Selecting an option is not a project under CEQA. As part of KOA Corporation’s scope of work included in the Professional Services Agreement, all potential environmental impacts will be reviewed and discussed with City staff. Once the issues have been closely studied and evaluated, the appropriate findings in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) will be prepared in connection with consideration of the Project.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Budget and Expenditures Summary Report
2. Preliminary Design Concept