Agenda Item D.1
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
Meeting Date: July 16, 2024
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Luz “Nina” Buelna, Interim Public Works Director PREPARED BY: Derek Rapp, Contract Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT: Selection of Cathedral Oaks Road Bike Lane and Parking Striping Alternative
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Receive an update on Sheriff and Fire Department feedback and public outreach regarding bike lane and parking striping alternative along Cathedral Oaks Road between Paseo del Pinon and Northgate Drive; and
B. Direct staff to implement City Council’s preferred alternative as a part of the 202 3 Pavement Maintenance Project.
BACKGROUND:
On June 4, 2024, City Council received a report on the existing conditions and proposed striping alternatives on Cathedral Oaks Road between Paseo Del Pinon and Northgate Drive. While not unanimous, f eedback from public speakers and City Council was generally positive, with a preference for Alternative 3. However, City Council directed staff to seek input from the Sheriff and Fire Departments and notify affected residents of the proposed changes prior to making any decision.
Cathedral Oaks Road has one travel lane in each direction, varying in width from 46 to 84 feet between Winchester Canyon Road and Paseo del Pinon. A separated bike path connects this segment of Cathedral Oaks Road to Calle Real. Approximately 850 feet of 16-foot-wide raised median exists east of Paseo del Pinon, with 34 feet of roadway on either side of the median.
There are 78 on-street parking spaces along this portion of Cathedral Oaks Road (52 spaces to the north and 26 to the south). On-street parking is prohibited along the south side of Cathedral Oaks Road between Brandon Drive and Evergreen Drive. No residences front Cathedral Oaks Road along the south side of the street, suggesting that drivers that park along the south side live in the multi-family units north of Cathedral Oaks 1 Meeting Date: July 16, 2024
Road. Much of the existing on -street parking on the south side is not located near the protected crossing at Brandon Drive and likely results in pedestrians crossing Cathedral Oaks Road mid-block or at the unprotected crossing at Paseo del Pinon.
Three striping alternatives are being considered for inclusion in the 2023 Pavement Maintenance Project this summer to improve conditions for cyclists:
Alternative 1: Existing configuration with striped bike lane buffers.
Advantages:
Striped buffer provides additional comfort and separation from traffic. No loss of on-street parking.
Can add up to 8 on-street spaces on the south side of Cathedral Oaks Road.
Disadvantages:
No increase in on-street parking on the north side of Cathedral Oaks Road. Striping provides less protection to cyclists than physical barriers.
Alternative 2: Bike lane adjacent to the curb and move parallel parking between bike and travel lanes. Relocate south side on-street parking to the east as in Alternative 1.
Advantages:
Placing on-street parking between bicycle and vehicular traffic provides greater separation and protection for cyclists from traffic.
Disadvantages:
Loss of approximately 10 on-street parking spaces on the north side of Cathedral Oaks Road due to sight distance obstructions created by moving parking spaces away from the curb.
Less space for parallel parking maneuvers may increase conflicts with through vehicle traffic.
Alternative 3: Same as Alternative 2 with angled parking on the north side, where road width allows.
Advantages:
Maximizes separation and protection for cyclists from vehicular traffic. Increase of approximately 9 to 13 on-street parking spaces. 6 to 10 spaces on the north and 3 spaces on the south side of Cathedral Oaks Road. Parking count is subject to street sweeping considerations (see discussion).
Disadvantages:
Angled parking requires maneuvers that may conflict with through vehicle traffic. 2 Meeting Date: July 16, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Public Works and Sheriff’ s Department staff met on June 5, 2024. The Sheriff’s staff expressed no issues and was supportive of any of the proposed alternatives.
Exhibits and other supporting information were sent to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department on June 1 3, 2024. The Fire Department supports Alternative 1 without additional comments. Th e Fire Department provided comments on Alternative 2 and 3 due to their preference of 20 feet clearance between vertical obstructions. In this case, between the median curb and parked vehicles. Alternatives 2 and 3, as proposed, provide 16 feet clear ance. After further discussion, given the relatively short length of existing median (850 feet), the Fire Department could accept a minimum of 17 feet clearance, to allow emergency vehicles to pass a broken-down or pulled-over vehicle. This additional foot of width between the median and parking lane would re quire reducing the bike lane and buffer width from 10 to 9 feet.
Staff also reached out to Goleta West Sanitary District (GWSD), who provides street sweeping in this area . GWSD sweeps this po rtion of Cathedral Oaks Road every other Monday. Their street sweeper ha s a minimum width of 8 feet. The proposed bike lane adjacent to parallel parki ng meets this minimum width requirement. The bike lane adjacent to the proposed angled parking needs to be widened by 3 feet to 12 feet, to allow for vehicle overhang and street sweeping operations. This would reduce the number of parking spaces added on the north side from 10 to 6 spaces. An alternative would be to restrict the angled parking during street sweeping days, but this would be a challenge to enforce.
Nearby residents were mailed a notice in advance of this City Council meeting, indicating a decision on a striping alternative would be made. This notice was also posted for two weeks on barricades along the affected portion Cathedral Oaks Road.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The fiscal impacts vary, depending on the alternative selected. Alternative 1 is included in the bid price for the 2023 Pavement Maintenance Project. Alternative s 2 and 3 are estimated to increase the project construction costs by up to $15,000. These additional costs can be covered with the existing project funding. If back-in angled parking and/or street sweeping parking restrictions are selected, up to an additional $7,000 would be required for signage.
GOLETA STRATEGIC PLAN:
This work effort meets the following City Strategic Goals:
Strategic Goals:
3 Meeting Date: July 16, 2024
5.2 - Encourage use of alternative transportation methods that reduce vehicle miles traveled
5.6 - Incorporate Vision Zero plans into transportation project design
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Striping Alternative 1
2. Striping Alternative 2
3. Striping Alternative 3
4. Cathedral Oaks Bike Lane and Parking Alternatives Staff Presentation
4 ATTACHMENT 1
Striping Alternative 1
5 6
7 8
ATTACHMENT 2
Striping Alternative 2
9 10
11 12
ATTACHMENT 3
Striping Alternative 3
13 14
15 16
ATTACHMENT 4
Cathedral Oaks Bike Lane and Parking Alternatives Staff Presentation
17 Selection of
Cathedral Oaks Road
Bike Lane & Parking
Alternative
City Council Meeting
July 16, 2024
18 Outline
2 • Background / Existing Conditions
• Striping Alternatives
• Discussion
• City Council Direction
July 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
19 Background /Existing Conditions
• Staff reviews streets to be maintained to determine whether striping changes
can be made to improve safety
• 84-feet wide, 34-feet on either side of 16-foot median • 78 on-street parking spaces
• North side = 52 spaces
• South side = 26 spaces (all west of Brandon Drive)
• Transit stop eastbound, east of Brandon Drive
• RRFB-Protected Crosswalks at Brandon Drive and Evergreen Drive • No parcels fronting Cathedral Oaks Road on south side 3July 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
20 Striping Alternatives
• Alternative 1 – Add bike lane buffers to existing
configuration.
Relocate south side parking closer
to protected crossings
• Alternative 2 - Move bike lanes between the curb
and
on-street parking
• Alternative 3 - Alternative 2 + angled parking
where
roadway width allows
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21 Alternative 1
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22 Alternative 1
Advantages
•Painted buffer provides additional comfort and separation from traffic •Can add up to 8 on-street spaces on the south side of Cathedral Oaks Road
Disadvantages
•No increase in on-street parking on the north side of Cathedral Oaks Road
•Striping provides less protection to cyclists than physical barriers 6July 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
23 Alternative 2
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24 Alternative 2
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Advantages
•Greater separation and protection for cyclists from traffic •Vison Zero Element
Disadvantages
• Loss of approximately 10 of 84 on-street parking spaces (- 12%) due to sight distance obstructions created by moving parking spaces away from the curb
• Less space for parallel parking maneuvers may cause greater conflict with through vehicle traffic
25 Alternative 3
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26 Alternative 3
Advantages:
•Maximizes separation and protection for cyclists from vehicular traf
fic
•Increase of approximately 9 to 13 on-street parking spaces +6* to 10 spaces on the north side
+3 spaces on the south side
*Contingent
on street sweeping decisions
Disadvantages:
•Angled parking requires maneuvers that may conflict with throu
gh vehicle traffic
10July 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
27 Sheriff and Fire Department Input
• Sheriff's Dept. supports all alternatives.
• Fire Dept. desires 20' clear on roadways.
• Fire Dept. accepts 17' clear in some instances.
• Alternatives 2 and 3 can provide 17' by taking 1'
from
bike lane.
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28 Street Sweeping Considerations
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•Performed by Goleta West Sanitary District
•Occurs every other Monday
•Minimum equipment width = 8 feet
•Reduces Alt. 3 parking count (+13 to +9 spaces).
29 Questions?
13July 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
30