EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 16, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Melvin E. Gaines, City Manager
BY: Batool Zaro, Associate Engineer
Humza Javed, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Mini-Roundabout Design on Pulgas Avenue
Recommendation
1. Waiving the formal bid procedures under section 2.84.070 of the East Palo Alto Municipal Code
2. Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a design services contract with ALTA Planning + Design Inc. to design a mini-roundabout in the amount not to exceed $13,000.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Implement the Comprehensive Transportation Mobility Plan Background
In 2021, the City of East Palo Alto staff applied to take part in the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) School Travel Fellowship Program (Fellowship Program). The City was selected to participate in the fellowship program. The goal of the program was to help improve safety for students walking and biking to school.
This item was presented to the Public Works and Transportation Commission (PWTC) at the 9/21/2022 meeting. Staff accepted feedback and received support from the PWTC for the project. In October 2021, the temporary traffic circles were installed.
In 2023, once again, staff applied for the Student Travel Fellowship and was selected to participate in the program. As part of the 2023 fellowship, the City will receive technical assistance and one preliminary mini-roundabout design. The schools also get to receive one Safe Route to School (SRTS) activity as part of the program.
Analysis
As part of last year’s project, two temporary traffic circles were installed at two intersections of concern in the City that are also nearby schools. Locations are as follows:
• Pulgas Avenue and Runnymede Street
• Pulgas Avenue and Beech Street
Pulgas Avenue is a 25-mph neighborhood collector street with one lane in each direction.
Along most of the Pulgas Avenue corridor, parking is permitted on both sides. Additionally, along the Pulgas Avenue corridor, there is sidewalk on one or both sides. Several schools are also located along the corridor, so it is traveled by a lot of students. Moreover, in 2010, as part of a pedestrian safety analysis, these two intersections were selected as candidates for a mini roundabout installation.
During the data-gathering process as part of the 2022 fellowship, the team received a lot of feedback recommending/requesting traffic calming measures along Pulgas Avenue. The existing stop controls and perpendicular alignment of these intersections made them ideal candidates for this pilot project.
The traffic circles that were installed as a part of this program are temporary and will remain in place for the near future. If the community is supportive of the traffic circles, they can be converted from temporary traffic circles to permanent mini-roundabouts which would serve as a more permanent traffic calming measure.
As part of the project, a survey was posted online and feedback was gathered in person. Some of the survey results are listed below:
• We received 37 responses to the survey
• 88% felt positive about the change becoming permanent, 6% negative, 6% unsure or neutral
• 24 people said they felt the project helped make walking feel safer and easier • Received feedback on what people liked/ didn’t like
• Received recommendations and suggestions on changes people would make Because the two locations are ideal for mini-roundabouts, staff is recommending both locations be upgraded to permanent mini-roundabouts from temporary traffic circles. Once the designs are complete, staff will seek construction funding.
Staff is recommending waiving the bidding process and award the contract to ALTA for the following reasons:
• ALTA has been the designer on contract with the SMCOE who has been leading the Fellowship program
• ALTA did the design/build for the two traffic circles under the Fellowship program for the City last year
• The City has been selected for the Fellowship program for the second year and has been granted design for a single location which ALTA will be designing.
Because ALTA is familiar with the project and the conceptual design layout, they will be able to complete this project fast while keeping costs low to the City.
Next Steps:
As part of the 2023 fellowship, the City will receive one preliminary design for the conversion of the traffic circle to a mini roundabout. ALTA Planning + Design will be performing the preliminary design; the project scope of work is attached as Attachment #2. Staff presented the information in this report to the Public Works and Transportation Commission and solicited feedback on the performance of the traffic circle and other design considerations. On April 19th 2023, staff received support from the PWTC to allocate City funds for the consultant to design the second location since only one will be funded through the fellowship.
Fiscal Impact
Because the fellowship grant will cover the design for one location, staff is requesting additional funds through Measure M to design the other location which will cost approximately $13,000.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) (rehabilitation or reconstruction of an existing roadway), as it involves rehabilitating existing roadways by erecting certain improvements to enhance safety. All improvements are proposed within the existing right of way and no expansion will occur of existing facilities.
Attachments
1. Resolution - Mini-Roundabout Design
2. East Palo Alto_SMCOE Fellowship Scope of Services