TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Richard Thompson, Director of Community Development
Nhung Madrid, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Title
Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study Final Report
RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study Final Report.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study Final Report has been submitted to the City of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. The total cost of the report was $30,000. Vitality City funded $15,000 of the study, and the three Beach Cities each contributed $5,000. The next phase of the project, which entails preparing a more comprehensive scope of work for the traffic and parking impact analysis, does not require funding at this time. However, once that scope of work is identified, staff will have a better understanding of the level of detail required, and will seek out grant opportunities to move forward. Since this is a joint effort between Manhattan Beach, Vitality City, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach, it is expected that any financial obligations will be distributed equitably among the participating agencies. Staff will return to City Council at a later date if matching funds are required as part of a future grant application.
BACKGROUND:
This project is consistent with the City's Strategic Plan Goal: "Maintain and enhance city facilities, programs and the infrastructure". Further, the installation of bicycle lanes on Aviation Boulevard is a project of the Healthways/Blue Zones Vitality City initiative.
The purpose of the initiative is to improve the well-being of the Beach Cities by optimizing the physical environment, policy and social connections (city, restaurants, schools, businesses). The initiative aims to make the Beach Cities more walkable, bicycle friendly, healthy, and socially engaged, with an overall goal of improving citizens' health. The Cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach are choosing to create a community where people can live longer and better by encouraging simple lifestyle changes that will make lasting changes in physical, mental and social health. The Vitality City Program will run from 2011 to 2013.
Bicycle lanes on Aviation Boulevard were identified as a future need in the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2011. Aviation Boulevard was strongly recommended as a result of feedback received at workshops held by Vitality City. Aviation Boulevard is one of the few streets that provide a continuous north-south connection, and bicycle lanes on this roadway would create a highly visible bicycle facility along a major roadway corridor within each of the participating Beach Cities.
DISCUSSION:
On February 23, 2012, representatives from Vitality City and their consultant Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Services, Inc., presented the Aviation Bicycle Lane Preliminary Engineering Study-Draft Report to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission. Based on input received at that meeting as well as Vitality City's other meetings with the Public Works Commission for Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, Vitality City staff and Nelson/Nygaard revised the Study's recommendations and included additional information to produce the Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study-Final Report (Attachment A) and accompanying Frequently Asked Questions addendum (Attachment B).
The Final Report also identified and responded to the City Traffic Engineer's comments and concerns regarding how the proposed recommendations and options would impact traffic flow, parking, turn movements, residents and businesses along the corridor, and long term travel patterns and habits in the area. It has been stated throughout the study that this entire process will require a substantial amount of additional analyses, public outreach and participation.
The Final Report and "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) addendum was presented to the Redondo Beach Public Works Commission on June 26, 2012, to the Hermosa Beach Public Works Commission on July 18, 2012, and to the City's Parking and Public Improvements Commission on July 26, 2012 (Attachment C). All three Commissions held public hearings and received comments (Attachment D) which will all be incorporated into the next phase of the project-preparing a detailed scope of work for the traffic and parking analysis study. All three commissions were also supportive in moving forward with preparing the scope of work for the traffic and parking analysis study. These recommendations to the City Council to move forward to the next phase of the project are as follows: Hermosa Beach will be presenting this information to their City Council on September 11, 2012 and Redondo Beach will be presenting this information to their City Council on September 18, 2012. Once the scope of work is finalized, Vitality City will work with staff to seek out grant opportunities to fund the next phase of the project, which includes hiring a consultant to perform the traffic and parking analysis study.
CONCLUSION:
The Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study Final Report provides a good starting point to determine whether or not bicycle lanes on Aviation Boulevard are possible. As indicated in the report, a substantial amount of traffic and parking impact analyses is still required, as well as obtaining public input and support throughout the entire process. At this time, staff is requesting that City Council receive and file the Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study Final Report. Staff will continue to work collaboratively with Vitality City and the other Beach Cities staff on this project.
Attachments:
1. Aviation Boulevard Preliminary Engineering Study-Final Report
2. Frequently Asked Questions Addendum
3. PPIC SR and Minutes 7-26-12 Aviation Blvd Bike Lanes
4. Public Comments