1 TO: City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Carla Dillon, P.E., Director of Public Works MEETING DATE: July 18, 2023
SUBJECT: Bus Loading Zone on Eshelman Avenue
RECOMMENDATION:
Establish a bus loading zone from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on school days on the east side of Eshelman Avenue between a point 65 feet and a point 125 feet south of 255th Street and between a point 150 feet and a point 305 feet south of 255th Street; post bus loading signage; and install 30 feet of red curb on the east side of Eshelman Avenue, at its intersection with 255th Street as shown on attached drawings.
BACKGROUND:
Staff received requests from Fleming Middle School staff and City Parking Enforcement to modify the signage and curb markings on the east side Eshelman Avenue from 254th Street to 257th Street to support the bus loading safety of the school. City staff has previously worked with Fleming Middle School staff to improve the bus loading and traffic on Walnut Street. Three to four buses drop off and pick up students in these locations along Eshelman Avenue and since this is not clearly marked bus loading, there are often cars parked along the curb causing the buses to extend into the driving lanes. In addition, school staff have placed traffic delineators to prevent cars from taking these spaces. The full report from Lomita’s Traffic Advisor follows.
Staff from the City, LA County Sheriff Department, LA County of Public Works Traffic Advisor, and Fleming met on site during bus loading to observe. Based upon the conditions including student path of travel and number of buses, LA County Public Works recommended the segments totaling 205 feet of bus loading zone. The 30 feet of red curb was recommended near the intersection and cross walk as drivers had been observed parking in the intersection and backing up into the cross walk. This red curb will also provide additional protection for pedestrians.
Item No. 7m
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
2 The Public Safety and Traffic Commission reviewed this item on June 21, 2023, and recommends approval by the City Council. Fleming Middle School staff and St. Margaret Mary Church were informed of the proposed changes.
FISCAL IMPACT
Minimal to implement signage and curb paint changes by City staff.
OPTIONS
1. Approve recommendations.
2. Request staff consider alternate solutions.
ATTACHMENT
1. LA County (Traffic Advisor) Memos
Reviewed by: Approved by:
Gary Y. Sugano Ryan Smoot
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
Carla Dillon, PE
Public Works Director
June 8, 2023
TO: Carla Dillon
City of Lomita
FROM: Sharad Robertson
Los Angeles County Public Works
REQUEST FOR SCHOOL BUS LOADING ZONE ON ESHELMAN AVENUE
BETWEEN 254TH STREET AND 257TH STREET
BACKGROUND
The City of Lomita received concerns regarding parking of school buses along Eshelman Avenue between 254th Street and 257th Street. The City would like to investigate if a school bus loading zone could help to mitigate the parking concerns along Eshelman Avenue between the subject limits.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Eshelman Avenue is classified as a Minor Arterial roadway per the Federal Highway Administration California Road System maps. Eshelman Avenue runs in the north-south direction and is 60 feet wide. It is improved with curb, gutter, and sidewalk along both sides of the roadway. There is one travel and one bicycle lane in each direction, separated by a two-way left turn lane. Parking is allowed along both sides of the roadway, except during street sweeping hours. Fronting developments consist of single-family residential homes, a church, and school grounds along the west side of the roadway. Alexander Fleming Middle School’s grounds front the east side of the roadway. The posted speed limit on Eshelman Avenue is 30 miles per hour (mph).
DISCUSSION
A review of the collision history on file with the Lomita Sheriff for the 5-year period ending January 31, 2023, revealed no midblock collisions along Eshelman Avenue between 254th Street and 257th Street.
A field review conducted on May 16, 2023, revealed that the existing signs and pavement markings were visible and unobstructed. Additionally, it was noted that there are existing school crosswalks at the intersections of Eshelman Avenue and 254th Street; and Eshelman Avenue and 255th Street. Furthermore, there is an existing white curb loading zone on the east side of Eshelman Avenue, between a point 74 feet and a point 164 feet south of 254th Street. Curbs are intermittently painted red along both sides of the roadway. It was noted that motorists were parked along both sides of the roadway, and that school buses were parked on the east side of Eshelman Avenue, south of 255th Street.
Attachment No. 1
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend the following:
• Adopt a traffic regulation order establishing a school bus loading zone from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., school days only, on the east side of Eshelman Avenue between a point 65 feet and point 125 feet south of 255th Street; and between a point 150 feet and a point 305 feet south of 255th Street • Install school bus loading signs as shown on attached sketch • Install 30 feet of red curb on the east side of Eshelman Avenue, at its intersection with 255th Street as shown on attached sketch
LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY MOBILITY DIVISION
PHOTOGRAPHIC VISUAL FILE
Bus Loading Zone Request on Eshelman Avenue (City of Lomita) PHOTOS BY: SR Date Taken: May 16, 2023
1 Eshelman Avenue, north of 255th Street, facing southwest 2 Eshelman Avenue at 255th Street facing southwest
LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY MOBILITY DIVISION
PHOTOGRAPHIC VISUAL FILE
Bus Loading Zone Request on Eshelman Avenue (City of Lomita) PHOTOS BY: SR Date Taken: May 16, 2023
3 Eshelman Avenue at 255th Street facing west
4 Eshelman Avenue, south of 255th Street, facing northwest
LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY MOBILITY DIVISION
PHOTOGRAPHIC VISUAL FILE
Bus Loading Zone Request on Eshelman Avenue (City of Lomita) PHOTOS BY: SR Date Taken: May 16, 2023
5 Eshelman Avenue, south of 255th Street, facing northwest 6 Eshelman Avenue, south of 255th Street, facing south
Los Angeles County Public Works
Traffic Collision History Report
Midblock Collisions
5/17/2023
Arterial: ESHELMAN AVENUE
Limit 1: 254TH STREET
Limit 2: 257TH STREET
Date Range Reported: 02/01/2018 - 01/31/2023
Total Number of Collisions: 0
Total Number of Persons Injured: 0
Total Number of Persons Severely Injured:: 0
Total Number of Persons Killed: 0
Map data ©2023 100 m
S
eq.
No.
Date TimeLocationDist.Dir.
Collision
Pattern
Motor Veh
Involved With
Dir. of
Travel 1
Movement
Prec. Coll. 1
Dir. of
Travel 2
Movement
Prec. Coll. 2
PCFInjSevereKill
No recordsto display.
CALIFORNIA ROAD SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION