DATE:
December 19, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Approving Parking Removal And An Extension Of The Red Zone On The East Side Of Shellmound Street Between 65th Street And 64th Street For The Purpose Of Installing Class IV Bike Lanes (CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c)) Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Transportation Committee’s recommendations to remove parking and extend the red zone on the eastern side of Shellmound Street between 65th Street and 64th Street as part of the Sustainable Streetscapes 2024 paving program.
Background
In June 2023, the City Council adopted the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program which appropriated approximately $12 Million for Sustainable Streetscapes projects (CIP #SUT-01) over five years, or $2.4 Million per year. This new Sustainable Streetscapes project combines the City’s annual paving project with previous smaller projects to implement larger holistic upgrades in the public right of way during repaving.
Annual paving maintenance involves various tasks such as base repairs, crack sealing, slurry seals, rubberized chip seals, pavement overlays, complete street reconstruction, and pavement delineation. The additional work that will happen in tandem with paving includes upgrades that match the City’s Complete Streets Policy and Active Transportation Plan (ATP). These upgrades could include transit stop improvements, filling sidewalk gaps, addressing greenway trail routing gaps, re-building curb ramps, installing the latest types of bike facilities, pedestrian crossing improvements, green infrastructure, lighting enhancements, signage and landscaping.
The Transportation Committee is authorized to designate parking restrictions, and the Committee may forward proposed no parking restrictions to the full City Council for approval per Emeryville Municipal Code (EMC) sections 4-9.01(a) and 4-9.17(a)(4).
Discussion
The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) adopted by Council in October 2023 indicates there should be Class IV protected bike lanes on all of Shellmound Street in Emeryville. The upcoming paving maintenance work on Shellmound Street between 62nd and 65th Streets provides an excellent opportunity to achieve the goals of the City’s ATP by reconstructing and reconfiguring the roadway with new multi-modal infrastructure. This project will close a gap on Shellmound by connecting the protected infrastructure north of 65th Street at the recently completed construction by the Quiet Zone Project (CIP #T-04) and the future improvements south of 62nd Street implemented by private development improvements, the Loop Project (CIP #SUT-04), 40th Street Multimodal Project Phase 2: Bay Trail Cap Closure (CIP #SUT-05), and 40th Street Multimodal Project (CIP #T-13).
On October 16, 2023, Public Works staff presented the Shellmound paving section to the Transportation Committee and provided two high-level design options to install Class IV protected bike lanes on Shellmound between 65th Street and the stop sign between 63rd and 62nd Streets. Both options included Class IV protected bike lanes on this section of Shellmound Street by removing all parking on the eastern side of Shellmound between 65th Street and 64th Street. Option 1 left the remaining block as is with no new parking for a total net loss of approximately 17 parking spaces (out of 34). Option 2 included adding new parking along the corridor on the blocks of Shellmound between 64th and 62nd Streets for a total no net loss of parking. There was no public comment, and the Transportation Committee adopted a motion to approve Option 1, which includes the removal of approximately 17 parking spaces.
On November 6, 2023, Public Works staff presented the Shellmound paving section to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to get their input on the parking removal. Committee members were excited about the Class IV bike lanes and also preferred Option 1 (with a net loss of approximately 17 parking spaces). Committee members will be able to provide specific input on the design at a later date.
Fiscal Impact
None at this time.
Staff Communication with the Public
To increase awareness of the upcoming project to members of the public directly adjacent to the work, informational posters were placed on Shellmound Street (see Attachment A), 64th Street, and 65th Street on 11/9/2023. As of 12/4/2023, staff have only received one comment (see Attachment B) and that comment refers to a location outside of the project area. Staff also shared information via City Newsflash and on X (formerly known as Twitter). Additionally, the Transportation Committee and BPAC provided input on the changes as discussed above and both expressed support for the option that includes a net loss of parking.
Conflict of Interest
N/A
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed removal of parking and extend the red zone on the eastern side of Shellmound Street between 65th Street and 64th Street for the purpose of installing class IV bike lanes as part of the Sustainable Streetscapes 2024 paving program.
PREPARED BY: Josie Ahrens, Management Analyst
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Attachment A – Project Outreach Poster
Attachment B – Public Comments Received as of 12/4/2023 Draft Resolution
Parking Removal and Class IV Bike Lanes for Shellmound Street (October 2023) City Council Meeting | December 19, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM