CITY OF COMMERCE AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
Item No.
SUBJECT: Telegraph Corridor Improvements from West City Limit to Atlantic Boulevard MEETING DATE: March 28, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider:
Receiving and filing a Presentation from Richard Gibson at Gibson Transportation Consulting Inc., the City’s Project Consultant on Telegraph Corridor Improvement Study; and Adopting a resolution approving the Telegraph Corridor Improvement Concept Plan; authorizing staff to release request for proposal (RFP) for design services and authorizing staff to proceed with removal of uncontrolled marked crosswalks on Telegraph at Ferris and Duncan Avenues pursuant to requirements of California Vehicle Code BACKGROUND:
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 45 MPH posted speed limit. There is an approximately 12-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of the street and approximately 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side. The sidewalk on the east side is within the City of Commerce’s Jurisdiction. There are approximately 14 side streets that intersect Telegraph Road on the east side and one 4-way intersection at Eastern Avenue. Along this segment of Telegraph Road there are 3 traffic signals, a number of obsolete decorative streetlights, operating wooden and steel streetlights, trees, 2 uncontrolled crosswalks, and Metro bus stops. There are red curbs throughout this stretch of Telegraph Road at some of the intersecting streets, parking is allowed along the east side of Telegraph Road and prohibited along the west side.
The west side of the Telegraph Corridor does not provide adequate sidewalk width to accommodate pedestrians despite the presence of multiple bus stops. 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. 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. Both uncontrolled crosswalks and the unmarked crossing at Clela Avenue put pedestrians at risk due to low visibility and high vehicle speeds.
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.
ANALYSIS:
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. 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 staff return with additional studies.
Gibson conducted additional studies and investigated potential improvements to portions of the Telegraph Road corridor that can increase pedestrian safety while not adversely affecting vehicular circulation. A number of potential roadway configurations were considered and analyzed before a preferred alternative was selected. 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. 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. Gibson prepared a technical memorandum summarizing their analysis and findings with recommendations.
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 and increase visibility for pedestrians). This would require minimal loss of on street parking.
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 controlled and 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.
It is also important to note that Gateway Council of Government (COG) through an agreement with Cities of La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Downey, Pico Rivera, Commerce, and Montebello as unincorporated County of Los Angeles has begun a complete street study of Telegraph Corridor. The COG study is mostly funded by Metro and will take about one year to complete. Complete streets are designed to maximize the efficiency of not only automobile, truck, and bus traffic, but also bicycle and pedestrian. Although the COG is aware of the City’s study that begun last year, staff plans to share the approved plans with the COG upon approval.
Richard Gibson will be making a follow up presentation on their study, findings, and recommendations this evening. Upon City Council approval of the concept plans, staff will proceed with the RFP for the design phase and request Measure AA funding at a subsequent Council meeting. The design phase is expected to take 9-12 months and construction is expected to take 6-9 months to complete. The Engineer’s estimate will be known after design is completed. Staff will investigate grant opportunities for this project. Staff has been and will continue to be in communication with Los Angeles County on this project.
Staff recommends that upon conclusion of Gibson’s presentation, City Council receive and file Gibson’s Presentation and adopt a resolution approving the Telegraph Corridor Improvement Concept Plan; authorize staff to release request for proposals (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.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve staff recommendation
2. Disapprove staff recommendation
3. Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Impact to City’s General Fund by approval of the concept plan. Staff will return to City Council for design phase funding allocation and approval at a later date.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
This agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan, Infrastructure and Facilities:
Guiding Principle 3: Maintain and prioritize improvements to city facilities and infrastructure in accordance with adopted master planning documents including the Green Zone Implementation Plan to accomplish achievable annual and long-term goals.
Guiding Principle 4: Develop and invest in infrastructure and beautification projects that support economic growth.
Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager Approved by: Gina Nila, Department of Public Works
Fiscal impact reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
ATTACHMENT:
Resolution
Concept Plan
Gibson’s Presentation