Downtown Burbank
San Fernando Boulevard
Reconfiguration
Phase 1
City Council
January 24, 2023
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Background
• Project consists of two phases
• Project goal: Enhance safety for all modes of
transportation
• Project area: San Fernando Blvd., between Olive
Ave. and Magnolia Blvd.
• Change vehicular flow of traffic to be one-way
only traveling northbound on San Fernando
Blvd.
Background
• This supports other City planning efforts:
• Burbank2035 General Plan
• Downtown Burbank Transit Oriented
District Specific Plan
• Proposed NoHo to Pasadena BRT
• Phase 1 would be a short-term test project, 12-
month pilot
Project Benefits
• Reduce conflict points between vehicles and
pedestrians
• Slow vehicle speeds
• Reduce pedestrian exposure
• Wider sidewalk areas
• Better access to on-street parking
• Support continuation of outdoor dining parklets
Project Milestones
2020
Complete Our
Streets Plan
adoption
Jul.2020 –
Nov.2020
Temporary closure of
San Fernando Blvd.
June 2022
City Council directs
staff to explore full
street closure
Nov.- Dec.2022
Concept design and
outreach
Feb. – July 2023
Final design plans
January 2023
City Council design
approval
August 2023
Pilot implementation
Sept.2023 –
Sept.2024
Transportation
analysis
Existing Conditions
Existing Conditions Issues
• No designated loading parking space
• Illegal parking
• Double parking
• Poor line of sight at mid-block crossings
• Poor crosswalk yield compliance
• Illegal U-turns
One-way Traffic
Palm Avenue
Magnolia Boulevard
One-way Traffic
Conceptual rendering of the one-way design alternative at the intersection of San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue, facing northbound
Full Street Closure
Palm Avenue
Magnolia Boulevard
Project Public Input in 2022
• November 3rd
• - Property Business Improvement District
• November 9 th
- Community Meeting
• November 21 st
- Transportation Commission Meeting
• December 1 st
- Community Meeting
• December 2 nd
- Downtown Burbank Cultural Market
• December 3 rd
- Downtown Burbank Farmer’s Market
Staff Recommendation:
One-way Traffic
• Balanced approach to improving safety
• Lower risk of traffic collisions
• Retains existing on-street parking
• Improves curb management
• Opportunities to fully close street during special
events
Conceptual rendering of the one-way reconfiguration design of San Fernando Boulevard, between Magnolia Boulevard and Palm Avenue, facing northbound
Staff Recommendation:
One-way option provides same benefits without
negative impacts of full street closure
Source: Fox 11 Los Angeles
• Restricts access to commercial businesses
• Requires significant programming to attract visitors
while discouraging nuisance street uses
• Additional resources, funding and staff time would be needed for a full street closure
• Exacerbates impacts to adjacent parking garages and
loading areas
• San Fernando businesses oppose a full street closure
Staff Recommendation and Next Steps
• Staff recommends the approval of the One-way conceptual design
• Improve walkability and quality of life of resident and visitors of Downtown Burbank
• Next steps: finalized engineering designs and implement in August 2023
• 12-month pilot, post implementation analysis, and further recommendations for second phase in September/October
2024
Questions?
Marcos Fuentes
Senior Transportation Planner
(818) 238-5270
[email protected]