RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE TELEGRAPH CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT CONCEPT PLAN; AUTHORIZING STAFF TO RELEASE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR DESIGN SERVICES AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH REMOVAL OF UNCONTROLLED MARKED CROSSWALKS ON TELEGRAPH AT FERRIS AND DUNCAN AVENUE PURSUANT TO REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE.
WHEREAS, Telegraph Road from west City limit to Atlantic Boulevard is a concrete 4-lane major road with 2 lanes in each direction, left turn lanes at some intersections, and a posted speed limit of 45 MPH; and WHEREAS, the west side of the Telegraph Corridor does not provide adequate sidewalk width to accommodate pedestrians despite the presence of multiple bus stops; and WHEREAS, accessing the bus stops located at Telegraph Road at Ferris Avenue and Telegraph Road at Duncan Avenue requires crossing Telegraph Road at a marked but uncontrolled crosswalk and at Telegraph Road at Clela Avenue requires crossing Telegraph Road at an unmarked, uncontrolled crosswalk; and WHEREAS, there is an additional marked, but uncontrolled crosswalk across Telegraph Road at Duncan Avenue in between controlled crosswalks at Arizona Avenue and at Eastern Avenue; and WHEREAS, both uncontrolled crosswalks and the unmarked crossing at Clela Avenue put pedestrians at risk due to low visibility and high vehicle speeds; and WHEREAS, on January 11, 2022, the City Council awarded a contract to Gibson Transportation Consulting Inc (Gibson) for engineering services for the preparation of a Complete Corridor Study along Telegraph Road from Marianna street (west city limit) to Atlantic Boulevard; and WHEREAS, Gibson conducted a transportation study and investigated potential improvements to portions of the Telegraph Road corridor that can increase pedestrian safety while not adversely affecting vehicular circulation; and WHEREAS, a number of potential roadway configurations were considered and analyzed before a preferred alternative was selected; and WHEREAS, the preferred alternative includes replacing one lane of northbound vehicle traffic with a painted center median along with the installation of southbound left-turn lanes and curb bump-outs at the minor street intersections; and WHEREAS, the preferred alternative would remove uncontrolled marked crosswalks, install continental crosswalks at all remaining marked crossings, enhance street lighting using the existing decorative lights, if possible, improve landscaping with new street trees, and install storm water discharge elements to improve drainage; and WHEREAS, in summary the study resulted in the following recommendations:
Removal of one northbound traffic lane (southbound traffic would keep two travel lanes).
Installation of painted center lane.
Installation of curb bulb-outs at 14 side streets along the Telegraph Corridor (to reduce crossing distance for pedestrians).
Removal of the uncontrolled painted crosswalk on Telegraph Road at Ferris Avenue for pedestrian safety.
Removal of the uncontrolled marked crosswalk across Telegraph Road at Duncan Avenue.
Installation of continental crosswalks at all marked crossings.
Consolidation of the underutilized bus stops at Ferris Avenue and at Clela Avenue with Arizona Avenue and Atlantic Avenue which will allow the City to remove the painted crosswalk at Ferris Avenue and will eliminate the need for pedestrians to cross at locations not protected by a signal to board the Metro transit; and WHEREAS, on Feb 21, 2023, City Council received and filed a Presentation from Richard Gibson at Gibson Transportation Consulting Inc., the City’s Project Consultant on Telegraph Corridor Improvement Study; and WHEREAS, during and at the conclusion of the presentation, City Council raised questions and concerns associated with transition from two northbound through lanes to one northbound lane and potential traffic congestion impacting Mixmaster and entrance to the I-5 and requested to return with additional studies; and WHEREAS City Council inquiries have been addressed; and WHEREAS, staff recommends that the City Council approve the Telegraph Corridor Improvement Concept Plan; authorize staff to release request for proposal (RFP) for design services and authorize staff to proceed with removal of uncontrolled marked crosswalks on Telegraph at Ferris and Duncan Avenues pursuant to requirements of California Vehicle Code 21950.5.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE AND DETERMINE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. All of the recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein as if set forth in full.
Section 2. Approve the Telegraph Corridor Improvement Concept Plan and authorize staff to release a request for proposal (RFP) for design services.
Section 3. Authorize staff to proceed with removal of uncontrolled marked crosswalks on Telegraph at Ferris and Duncan Avenues pursuant to requirements of California Vehicle Code.
Section 4. Authorize the Mayor to execute the Resolution for and on behalf of the City of Commerce.
Section 5. This Resolution shall take full force and effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 28th day of March 2023.
ATTEST:
_ Oralia Y. Rebollo, Mayor
Lena Shumway, City Clerk