presented that concluded stop sign controls or traffic signals were not warranted per State guidelines or recommended at any of the intersecting streets (Woodland Drive, Loma Linda Drive, Cabrillo Drive, Lindacrest Drive, Lago Vista Drive, and Monte Cielo Drive). Speed humps were also evaluated and determined to not be safe or appropriate due to the traffic volume, speed limit and grade of the street. March 2021: The City distributed a community survey to residents along Coldwater Cañon Drive with two options for a new striping plan in the long-term, including (1) a two-way center turn lane and (2) on-street parking with left turn pockets, as the roadway is not wide enough to support both options. April 2021: The TPC reviewed community feedback and expressed support for the on-street parking option, as most residents participating in the survey requested this option.
September 2022: City staff held a community meeting regarding the upcoming water main replacement project, during which residents (1) requested the new striping plan be implemented as soon as possible and (2) provided a petition requesting at least two crosswalks be installed between the existing controlled intersections at Beverly Drive and Heather Road, which are approximately one mile apart.
November 2022: City Council directed staff to implement the new striping plan in advance of water main construction (completed March 2023) and explore the addition of new crosswalks.
August 2023: Crosswalk and left-turn lane studies and recommendations were presented to the TPC. The meeting was publicly noticed through mailings as well as signs and banners along Coldwater Cañon Drive. TPC supported developing designs for the three locations identified as feasible. Crosswalks are discussed in more detail in the next section.
April 2024: Water main construction concluded. City installed a test of centerline curb where the street curves at Woodland Drive to further address community traffic safety concerns.
July 2024: Staff held a community meeting to discuss the roadway rehabilitation project design and construction impacts. Although the majority of residents in attendance were in favor of the crosswalks, a few expressed concerns that the crosswalks were unnecessary or would be less safe than no crosswalks at all.
DISCUSSION
Between February 2023 and April 2024, the City completed the installation of more than 10,000 lineal feet of water main on Coldwater Cañon Drive between Rexford Drive and Monte Cielo Drive. Construction involved continuous trenching that meandered along the alignment of the street to avoid existing underground utilities. Wide areas of the pavement were removed, covered with steel plates, and patched as this work progressed.
The old pavement combined with the construction to replace the water main necessitated a rehabilitation of the full width of pavement along Coldwater Cañon Drive. The final pavement design (Attachment 1), which includes the new striping plan and three new crosswalks, was completed in May 2024, and bids were received on July 23, 2024. City Council consideration of award of the construction contract is agendized for the August 6, 2024, City Council Formal Meeting.
Recommended Crosswalks
As discussed above, many residents asked City staff to install crosswalks “at 2 or more intersections” along Coldwater Cañon Drive. The traffic engineering firm, Fehr & Peers, Meeting Date: August 6, 2024
prepared a feasibility study (Attachment 2) that investigated five possible locations for crosswalks. The study evaluated sight distance, proximity to driveways and other infrastructure (e.g., utility poles, catch basins), trees and lighting. The following three locations were identified as feasible for installation of crosswalks:
Loma Linda Drive;
Lindacrest Drive; and
Monte Cielo Drive.
In response to feedback received at the August 3, 2023, Traffic and Parking Commission meeting, the crosswalk locations were slightly modified to eliminate the need for tree removal. However, some tree pruning may still be needed for pedestrian visibility.
Installation of the crosswalks would not impact on-street parking, as parking is already restricted at these locations. While the Loma Linda Drive and Monte Cielo Drive locations are not anticipated to result in significant reductions in vehicle speeds, the Lindacrest Drive location may have a traffic calming effect due to the pedestrian refuge island. If the crosswalks are approved, staff will work with the City of Los Angeles to install advanced warning signage, and possibly additional flashing warning lights, to alert drivers of crosswalks ahead.
Distances Between Crosswalks
Distance is a primary factor in a person’s initial decision to walk. The distance between existing controlled crossings at Beverly Drive and Heather Road is just about 5,280 feet (27 minutes walking time1). The distances and walking times between the three proposed crosswalks are shown below:
Proposed Locations Distance
Between
Crosswalks
Walking
Time
N. Beverly Drive (Fire Station #2) to Loma
Linda Drive
2,150 feet 10 min.
Loma Linda Drive to Lindacrest Drive 950 feet 5 min.
Lindacrest Drive to Monte Cielo 1,650 feet 8 min.
Enhanced Crosswalk Designs
The proposed crosswalks would have high-visibility “continental” markings and ADAcompliant curb ramps. Based on traffic volume and speeds on the street, in accordance with federal design guidance and best practices, the proposed crosswalks would be enhanced for improved visibility and conspicuity pedestrian-activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) on both sides of the street and overhead in the center of the street. RRFBs consist of pairs of rectangular-shaped, yellow LED arrays that flash with a high frequency when activated. RRFBs are identified by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a proven safety countermeasure with the ability to significantly minimize vehicle-pedestrian crashes and increase driver yielding rates. The FHWA reports that RRFBs can increase motorist yielding rates up to 98% (compared to marked crosswalks without them) and are particularly effective on streets with speed limits less than 40 mph. RRFBs have been installed at numerous locations in Beverly Hills, including at South Santa Monica/Lasky, 400 block N. Camden Drive, Robertson/Chalmers, and 1 Typical walking speeds range from 2.0 to 4.3 feet/second. A walking speed of 3.5 feet/second was used for this report.
Meeting Date: August 6, 2024
Burton Way at Palm and at Oakhurst. The Coldwater Cañon/Lindacrest crosswalk is also proposed to include a pedestrian refuge island, also a proven safety countermeasure, to allow pedestrians to cross one direction of traffic at a time. Pedestrian islands are not included at Loma Linda or Monte Cielo due to constraints near the left turn lanes.
The three crosswalk locations are consistent with recommendations from a 2023 citywide study, supported by the Traffic and Parking Commission, which identified locations for new crossings on arterial and collector streets with long distances (e.g., greater than 1,000-1,200 feet for collectors with lower levels of pedestrian activity, such as Coldwater Cañon) between existing traffic control (traffic signals, flashing beacons, etc.) that present an obstacle or deterrent to pedestrian travel. The three recommended locations are also consistent with national best practices to provide marked crosswalks at intervals that discourage crossing midblock. For example, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) states that, in general, if it takes a person more than three minutes to walk to a crosswalk, wait to cross the street, and then resume their journey, they may decide to cross along a more direct, but unsafe or unprotected, route.
In addition, the proposed crosswalks are consistent with guidance from the U.S.
Department of Transportation FHWA, which states, “Pedestrians are legitimate users of the transportation system, and they should, therefore, be able to use this system safely and without unreasonable delay. Pedestrians have a right to cross roads safely, and planners and engineers have a professional responsibility to plan, design, and install safe and convenient crossing facilities. Pedestrians should be included as design users for all streets.”2
FISCAL IMPACT
The requested total purchase order amount, including a 10% construction contingency allowance, for the Roadway Rehabilitation Project on Coldwater Cañon Drive is $5,780,000. The cost of the three proposed crosswalks totals approximately $300,000, or about 5% of the total construction cost. Funds for this project are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Capital Improvement Program in CIP No. 00195 Street and Sidewalk Improvements.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the plans and specifications and award of contract for the Roadway Rehabilitation Project (Project) on Coldwater Cañon Drive at the August 6, 2024, Formal Meeting.
If City Council wishes to modify the plans for the Project, staff recommends that City Council approve the award of the contract as presented and direct staff to negotiate with the Contractor on specific changes following execution of the contract.
Shana Epstein,
Director of Public Works
Approved By
2 Safety Effects of Marked Versus Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Locations. Report HRT-04-100, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC. September 2005.