9770 CULVER BOULEVARD, CULVER CITY, CA 90232-0507
MEMORANDUM DATE: January 18, 2024 TO: Honorable MAYOR and Members of the CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY FROM: Members of the CULVER CITY BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUBJECT: 2023 Accomplishments 07-12/2023 and Proposed Activity/Upcoming Agenda Items for the next 6 months CC: John Nachbar, City Manager Yanni Demitri Public Works Director / City Engineer Andrew Maximous, Mobility & Traffic Engineering Manager On January 18, 2024, the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) approved the transmittal of the following information to the City Council: July – December 2023 Accomplishments Communications to City Council • Approved BPAC Bylaws and authorized transmittal to City Council. • Requested City Council fund Fox Hills Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan and Bikeways Project and expedite the project schedule. • Provided multiple in-person reports to City Council regarding BPAC priorities. • Approved biannual report covering period January – June 2023 and authorized transmittal to City Council. • Requested commendation for Art Nomura recognizing his work in the community. • Requested copy of statement read by the City Council prior to public comment or following hate speech. Events & Activities • Members attended celebration event to mark the opening of new bike access ramp to Ballona Creek Bike Path at the re-opened Higuera Street Bridge. • Attended City Council meetings.
BPAC Accomplishments and Work Plans: Jul – Dec 2023 Page 2 of 5 Administration • Welcomed new members Joel Falter, Jack Galanty, and Dorothy Sadd. Thanked Robyn Tenensap and Art Nomura for their service. • Selected new Chair Travis Morgan and Vice Chair Jack Galanty. • Recognized resignation of Student Member Sophia Lowey and discussed measures to advocate for a local high student to assume remainder of term. • Dissolved West LA College Subcommittee and Elenda Safety Subcommittee. Tabled future discussion regarding alternate methods to engage with West LA College. • Established new Ad Hoc Elenda Safety Subcommittee though June 2024 with the objective to hold discussions with residents, parents, students, community members, Culver City School District administration, and City staff regarding safety concerns and mobility challenges on Elenda St between Farragut to Culver Blvd and around the three adjacent schools. • Reviewed and discussed in detail draft bylaws re-submitted by staff and approved final draft for submission to City Council. Review, Discussion & Advisory Feedback • Received update by staff, received public comment, and discussed extended closure of Culver Blvd median for repairs. Recommended detours for future long-term projects. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed planned improvements at Ince and Lucerne and proposal to open a gate to the Ballona Creek Bike Path at Ince. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed improvements planned for Fox Hills Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan and Bikeways Project, cost estimates, and schedule. Requested prioritization of project. • Received presentation by staff and later update, received public comment, and discussed changes to Move Culver City based on City Council direction, including extension and new connections, as well as splitting project into two sections. Expressed support and concerns, made recommendations regarding specific plan elements, and suggested future improvements. • Discussed and expressed support for opening additional gates along the Ballona Creek Bike Path and the process to get them opened, in particular the gate at Beloit, which is outside Culver City jurisdiction. Voted to compose and send a letter to the agency identified as responsible for the Beloit gate to request it be opened. • Received presentation by CCUSD students, received public comment, and discussed CCUSD New Green Deal Transportation Infrastructure Plan presented by students and their requested safety and mobility proposals. • Received presentation by staff and later update, received public comment, and discussed Complete Streets Design Guidelines, including project goals, timeline, and community engagement plans. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed planned improvements at intersection of Jackson and Farragut.
BPAC Accomplishments and Work Plans: Jul – Dec 2023 Page 3 of 5 • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed status update of Overland Avenue Bike Lane Project. Recommended protected bike lanes for this project and wherever possible. Expressed need for north/south bike arteries through city. Requested connectivity to Fox Hills Project. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed annual maintenance of Ballona Creek Bike Path, including specific areas of concern along bike path. Requested small sweeper be purchased for use on Ballona Creek Bike Path and along bike lanes throughout city. Requested additional signage at new Higuera St Bridge ramp. Recommended addressing bike lane challenges, including street sweeping and blockages from illegal parking and deliveries. Expressed support for new and proposed bike infrastructure in addition to Ballona Creek Bike Path that would provide safe passage to all areas of Culver City and prioritization of connectivity of bike infrastructure across the city and connecting to the region. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed Mobility Element of the Draft General Plan. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed signalized crossing at Jefferson and Cota and other intersections with only three-way crossings. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed update regarding progress of crosswalk enhancements at Elenda/Garfield and Elenda/Franklin. Recommended staff reconsider plans and return to original proposal to install stop signs as safer option than flashing beacons. Recommended additional crossing guards. • Received presentation by staff, received public comment, and discussed IT applications to record “close calls” and other technology available for mobility tracking. • Received presentations by staff, received public comment, and discussed regular status updates on other current mobility related projects being managed by Public Works Department. Requested earlier input on work plans for annual budgeting process. Community Engagement • Provided community forum for reporting issues, proposing improvements, and providing input on agendized and non-agendized topics, such as: distribution of mobility funding; resurfacing Centinela, expediting projects in Fox Hills area; signalized crossing and other improvements at Culver Blvd and Canfield; bike lane on Ince; safety concerns regarding tri-school area; pick up and drop off options for tri-school area; residents’ concerns regarding proposed improvements for tri-school area; adding crossing guards at tri-school area; traffic accident in Fox Hills area; digital wayfinding and Downtown Kiosk Project proposed by Economic Development Division; signalized crossing at Jefferson and Cota and other intersections with limited crossings; phasing out city-wide right-turn-on-red; opening Ballona Creek Bike Path at Beloit; extended timeline of construction repairs on Culver Blvd median and closure of bike lanes; community event announcements; safety at intersection of Ranch/Kelmore/Overland and request for light and removal of island; Overland bike lane project support and opposition; close calls; gates at Huron and Harter; flashing lights at crosswalks on Elenda; graffiti along Ballona Creek Bike Path; all-ages, all-capability routes through city; prioritizing connecting Culver BPAC Accomplishments and Work Plans: Jul – Dec 2023 Page 4 of 5 City with the entire westside; pedestrian access and safety on private commercial properties. January – June 2024 Proposed Plans Communications to City Council • Make updates and recommendations to City Council as appropriate on topics requested by City Council and on agenda items coming before City Council. • Make recommendations to City Council as appropriate on topics initiated by Committee. • Submit bylaws for Council consideration and approval. Community Engagement • Receive community input through public comment on mobility related topics. Events & Activities • Attend City sponsored mobility related events. • Attend City Council, Mobility, Traffic and Parking Subcommittee, and mobility related community meetings. Administration • Consider reforming the West LA College Subcommittee and/or assigning a delegate. • Form ad-hoc subcommittees as needed. • Produce biannual report to City Council covering period July – December 2023 and authorize transmittal to City Council. • Welcome new Committee members and thank leaving members. Review, Discussion & Advisory Feedback • Compose and send a letter to the agency identified as responsible for the Beloit gate to request it be opened. • Review budget work plans and advise staff. • Receive updates and/or presentations from staff, receive public comment, and discuss proposed and ongoing projects and mobility issues, including: progress of Fox Hills Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan and Bike Lanes Project; progress of bike lane installation and safety improvement projects along Overland Ave; progress of proposed expansion of phase two of Move Culver City on Sepulveda; update regarding improvement project planned for Ballona Creek Bike Path and project to extend Ballona Creek Bike Path; possibility of making all bike paths protected; possibility of implementing no-turn-on-red city-wide; expanded detail regarding Complete Streets Project. • Receive regular updates from staff, receive public comment, and discuss other active mobility projects: View Active Project List – Mobility & Traffic Engineering Division posted on Culver City website • Examine scoring process for Short-Range Mobility Plan. • Explore mobility-related grants and Olympics-related funding opportunities.
BPAC Accomplishments and Work Plans: Jul – Dec 2023 Page 5 of 5 • Explore close-call technology. • Receive an update on CCUSD Green New Deal Plan once progress is made. • Review and discuss impacts of new legislation. • Discuss and advise staff regarding new and upcoming development projects and construction and concerns regarding resulting bicycle and pedestrian impacts. • Review and discuss ongoing progress of plan elements and future priorities for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan, NTMPs, Fox Hills Master Plan, Farragut Drive Bike Blvd Plan, and the Local Road Safety Plan. • Recommend repairs and maintenance and potential projects and activities throughout City to improve mobility, and especially safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.