Downtown Burbank
San Fernando Boulevard
Reconfiguration
Phase 1 Project Update
City Council
October 29, 2024
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
1 Background
• Complete Streets Plan Priority Project
• Project consists of two phases, first
phase is a 12-month pilot
• Project area: San Fernando Blvd.,
between Olive Ave. and Magnolia Blvd.
• Project goal: Enhance safety for all
modes of transportation
• Change vehicular flow of traffic to be
one-way only traveling northbound on
San Fernando Blvd.
2 Project Post-Installation
• Project installed in March 2024
• More pedestrian areas
• Retained on-street parking
• Introduced new loading spaces on
San Fernando Blvd. and adjacent
streets
• Downtown PBID branding
3 Post-Installation Evaluation
Two project evaluations (before and after project installation) Project evaluation criteria:
• Implementation of proven pedestrian safety countermeasures • Improvement of yield compliance at midblock crosswalks • Maintenance of auto speeds at or below 25 miles per hour • Reduction of illegal commercial loading incidents (double parking and parking in red)
4 Post-Installation Evaluation
Criteria based on Caltrans crash reduction factors (CRF):
• Conversion from two-way to one-way traffic: CRF of 35% for all collisions
• Installation of delineators, reflectors, and/or object markers: CRF of 15% for all collisions
• Installation of curb extensions at crosswalks: CRF of 35% for pedestrian and bicycle collisions
• Modification of signal phasing to add a Leading
Pedestrian Interval: CRF of 60% for pedestrian and bicycle collisions
5 Post-Installation Evaluation:
Crosswalk Yield Compliance
63%
51%
63%
85% 83% 86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Between Orange Grove Ave and Olive
Ave
Between Palm Ave and Orange Grove
Ave
Between Magnolia Blvd and Palm Ave
% of Vehicles Yielding for Pedestrians at Mid -
Block Crossings
Pre-Implementation Post-Implementation
6 Post-Installation Evaluation:
Vehicular Speeds
20 21
19 21
19 19
0 5
10 15
20 25
Between Orange Grove Ave and Olive Ave Between Palm Ave and Orange Grove Ave Between Magnolia Blvd and Palm Ave 85th Percentile Auto Speeds
Pre-Implementation Post-Implementation
7 Post-Installation Evaluation:
Vehicular Volumes
No significant changes in travel
patterns were observed across the 15
screen line locations.
• 35% decrease on San Fernando Blvd.
• 15% increase on Magnolia Blvd.
• 25% decrease on Palm Ave.
• Longer queues at four intersections
Vehicle Volumes
8 Post-Installation Evaluation:
Commercial Loading
• Nearly 60% of loading activity occurred
between 6 AM and 3 PM before and after
installation
• Two new loading zones were established
on San Fernando Blvd.
• These new zones significantly increased
legal loading activity within the designated
areas
• Loading still occurs illegally in red curb
zones, newly painted zones, double
parking, or blocking crosswalks and roads
Pre- and Post -Installation Loading Activity
9 Post-Installation Evaluation:
Downtown Merchant Survey
Survey conducted in July 2024
54% agree the one-way has benefited Downtown
41% agreed the one-way helps attracts more customers
72% agreed the level of safety is appropriate
69% agreed or neutral on making the reconfiguration
changes permanent
62% very satisfied, satisfied, or neutral about the overall changes made by the reconfiguration
10 Next Steps
Ongoing collaboration with Fire and
Police Departments as pilot progresses
Additional public outreach
2nd round of data collection in late
2024 - early 2025
Pilot period completion: March 2025
Pilot completion recommendation to
City Council Summer 2025
11 Downtown Parking Management Strategy
• Parking Management Strategy focused on parking availability, congestion, and curb space efficiency in the City’s Downtown
• City Council Presentation on November 19, 2024
• Issues to be addressed: limited parking regulations cause low turnover and high demand, especially on San Fernando Blvd.
• Strategy targets 145 high-demand on-street parking spaces to maintain 80% occupancy, encourage turnover, and reduce congestion
• Mobile payment options, kiosks, and enhanced enforcement measures • Excess revenue could be reinvested into parking infrastructure 12 Conclusion
• Project improved pedestrian safety with a 20% increase for pedestrians using mid-block crossings
• Positive feedback: 54% see benefits, 41% report increased customer attraction, with 72% approving safety measures and 69% supporting permanent changes
• Increased foot traffic and bike activity between Palm Ave. and Magnolia Blvd. • Ongoing challenges: illegal parking, emergency access concerns, and traffic queuing require continued enforcement and monitoring
• Upcoming Parking Management Strategy for Downtown Burbank 13 Questions or Comments?
Marcos Fuentes
Senior Transportation Planner
Community Development Department
(818) 238-5270
[email protected]
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