Administrative
Report
N.3., File # 22-4012 Meeting Date: 4/19/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE MOBILITY AND PEDESTRIAN
MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT IN THE RIVIERA VILLAGE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item is presented in response to the objective in the Strategic Plan directing staff to report on mobility and pedestrian movement in the Riviera Village. While the public health restrictions during the pandemic severely reduced activity in the commercial areas of the Riviera Village and initially made it hard to complete the mobility assessment, the Village is busier than ever today and staff have now completed the requested review.
Expanded outdoor dining opportunities, increased use of bicycles, e-bikes and walking, and reprioritization of personal values have all contributed to changes in transportation activity in the Village. In response, it makes sense to explore ways to rebalance the level of street/right-of-way infrastructure committed to the various modes of transportation. As such the analysis provided in the background section of this report focuses on improvements that can be made to enhance the pedestrian experience for residents and visitors to the area.
The Riviera Village is an active multi-modal public space all year long, with traditional increases in activity during the summer months and on weekends throughout the year. Changing patterns and modes in travel force a thoughtful evaluation of how the right-of-way is apportioned among vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other modes of active transportation to and within the corridor. Reducing points of conflict, improving pedestrian crossings and inviting a more slow-moving atmosphere should all be considered during efforts to create a more comfortable and predictable experience for all users.
Staff has acquired data (collision data and traffic count for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians) for both weekday and weekend timeframes along Catalina Avenue, the primary travel corridor through the Riviera Village, to support the discussion. Exhibits displaying traffic counts at four intersections along S. Catalina Ave. are included as attachments. Numeric data, however, does not always tell the whole story. Public input is an important part of the process. As such, staff presented several concepts to the Public Works Commission on March 28, 2022 and received valuable feedback. Draft minutes from that meeting are included in this report as an attachment.
The Public Works Commission noted that some improvements are easier to implement than others.
There was certain support for presented improvement concepts to midblock crossings, while more
N.3., File # 22-4012 Meeting Date: 4/19/2022
There was certain support for presented improvement concepts to midblock crossings, while more cautious support for intersection crossings, recommending a broader review with area business owners before implementing. Vehicle circulation changes were also discussed, including introduction of one-way travel on limited blocks. There was general support for the consideration of one-way travel on certain blocks of Avenida Del Norte and a general preference against a one-way travel concept along Catalina. The Commission supported their own idea for closing certain blocks of Catalina to vehicles, to consider creating a pedestrian plaza.
The ideas presented below have different pros and cons and some would require additional study before implementing. It is staff’s recommendation that the City Council consider the below concepts and provide direction on which mobility improvements to implement and/or continue to study.
BACKGROUND
The assessment can be broken into three concept groupings 1) mid-block crossings, 2) pedestrian mobility improvements along Catalina Avenue, and 3) possible vehicle circulation modifications.
MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS:
The following concepts were presented regarding two specific mid-block crossings. Mid-block crosswalks facilitate crossings to places that people want to go but that are not well served by the existing traffic network. These two locations are presented as enhancements to safety where pedestrians are already crossing mid-block.
Avenue I Mid-Block Crossing
The existing mid-block crosswalk along Avenue I between S. Catalina Ave. and S. Elena Ave. is needed due to its location roughly half way along the 800-foot block. The proposed enhancement would highlight the crosswalk, making drivers more aware of pedestrians while crossing Avenue I. Potential options include in-pavement pedestrian flashers, rapid flashing beacons with pavement crossing warning signs and/or standard pedestrian activated HAWK (High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk beacon) pedestrian signal and the "yield here to pedestrians" signs. In-crosswalk signage could also be included to increase awareness of the pedestrian crossing.
Trader Joe's/Triangle Parking Lot Mid-Block Crossing
While no crosswalk currently exists along Avenida Del Norte between S Elena Ave. and Via El Prado, the pedestrians who regularly cross Avenida Del Norte between the triangle parking lot and the shopping center anchored by Trader Joe’s make this location an excellent candidate for a mid-block crossing. The proposed improvement is a mid-block speed table that would focus and guide pedestrian crossings, enhance pedestrian visibility when crossing and potentially reduce speeds along this segment of Avenida Del Norte. It is likely that a single parking spot would have to be removed from the north side of the roadway. Additional crosswalk demarcation and stop sign installation could also be considered. A complimenting modification for consideration as part of this mid-block crossing option, is the possible use of a one-way circulation pattern to further reduce potential conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles along Avenida Del Norte between Via El Prado and Elena. More on that below.
PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG CATALINA AVENUE:
N.3., File # 22-4012 Meeting Date: 4/19/2022
Table 1 below shows pedestrian activity at four intersections along Catalina Avenue for the peak midday and afternoon hour long periods on a Saturday in March 2022. The counts demonstrate the relatively active pedestrian movements in this stretch of Catalina Avenue and support improving the pedestrian crossings at any of the intersections.
Table 1 - Pedestrian Count at Four Catalina Avenue Intersections @ Avenue I @ Ave. Del
Norte
@ Vista Del Mar @ Elena
Noon PM Noon PM Noon PM Noon PM
North Leg 36 27 167 101 125 88 36 27
South Leg 55 78 24 15 111 116 22 38
West Leg 57 62 n/a n/a 116 112 n/a n/a
East Leg 62 46 181 110 93 106 65 62
Total 210 213 372 226 445 422 123 127
Similar data was collected for bicycle movement but the counts were much smaller on this day.
Counts in the 10’s and 20’s (total of four legs) occurred at three of the four intersections. Roadway width along Catalina Ave through the Riviera Village allows only a Class 3 bike route (sharrows) if parking is to be maintained. The improvements for pedestrian movement proposed below would not impair the existing bicycle movement and are located along Catalina Avenue, from the Avenue I intersection to the Elena Avenue intersection. These are presented as possible options to increase pedestrian comfort and driver awareness of pedestrian activity. These elements can be considered collectively which can frame the “village” feel along Catalina Ave or independently to improve walkability at more highly crossed intersections, such as at Vista Del Mar where 445 and 422 pedestrians cross during the noon and afternoon peak hours, respectively.
Catalina at Avenue I
There aren't many intersection configuration alternatives here (e.g. mini traffic roundabout) that wouldn't incur significant costs due to the skew of the roadway. There are, however, options to enhance pedestrian safety by reducing a lane in each direction of Avenue I west of Catalina, thereby allowing for bulbouts. The segment of Avenue I between Catalina Ave and Esplanade could then be modified to support angled parking, adding three or four parking spaces in the Village.
Catalina at Avenida Del Norte
A pedestrian bulbout has already been constructed as part of a previous project, reducing crossing distance for pedestrians crossing Avenida Del Norte. A similar treatment may be considered like the future bulbout at Elena Avenue, but demands for improvements at this location seem far less than the Elena Avenue intersection.
Catalina at Vista Del Mar
This intersection is a good candidate for bulbouts all around to enhance pedestrian visibility
N.3., File # 22-4012 Meeting Date: 4/19/2022
This intersection is a good candidate for bulbouts all around to enhance pedestrian visibility and reduce pedestrian exposure on Catalina Ave. Another alternative could be the installation of a mini traffic roundabout; this alternative could achieve its greatest benefit when Vista Del Mar remains stop-controlled. The former alternative would focus on the pedestrian enhancement, while the latter would focus on vehicle speed reduction at the intersection.
Speed reduction may not directly enhance pedestrian mobility, but does create a calming effect in the corridor.
Catalina at Elena
Design of the pedestrian enhancements at this location is currently underway. The concept includes a bulbout on the west side and a dual ramp on the east side of the north leg. As part of this enhancement, accessibility will be provided and pedestrian crossing distance will be reduced.
POSSIBLE VEHICLE CIRCULATION MODIFICATIONS:
In addition to improvements to the pedestrian experience, there are potential changes to vehicle circulation patterns that may improve overall multi-modal mobility. These are conceptual in nature only and would require broader traffic count and speed data collection and analysis before implementing.
Avenida Del Norte One-way Circulation
As part of the Trader Joe’s Midblock Crossing alternative, the City could consider the use of a one-way circulation pattern to the west between Elena Avenue and Via El Prado. This alternative presents insignificant vehicular circulation impacts while significantly reducing potential conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles along Avenida Del Norte between Via El Prado and Elena Avenue.
Avenida Del Norte at Via El Prado All-Way Stop Controls Introduction of an all-way stop control at Avenida Del Norte and Via El Prado is also a consideration that would benefit pedestrians and motorists. Currently the three leg (“T”) intersection is only stop controlled for northbound Via El Prado. Site lines for vehicles stopping at the stop bar are limited, especially to the west. Addition of all way stop controls would give northbound drivers more certainty about turning left or right, as the east and west bound vehicles would be required to stop. The addition of stop signs in the east west directions, also provides an opportunity to improve the pedestrian crossing on the west leg with the addition of a crosswalk. Currently, the pedestrian curb ramps direct pedestrians to cross at this location, but the lack of a crosswalk misses the chance to make drivers more aware of the crossing. The eastern leg, which does not have ramps, could be improved to add ramps and a crosswalk, but that is likely to require the elimination of a parking space.
Catalina Ave One-way Circulation
A one-way circulation scenario that has been initially considered for the Catalina corridor involves restricting vehicle traffic on Catalina to the northbound direction only for the block between Vista Del Mar and Avenida Del Norte, creating more space for other modes of travel
N.3., File # 22-4012 Meeting Date: 4/19/2022
between Vista Del Mar and Avenida Del Norte, creating more space for other modes of travel and outdoor dining. As a secondary arterial roadway, impacts to vehicle traffic along this segment of Catalina Ave and potential consequences, such as trip diversions, may be significant and would require further study, as well as significant public input, before consideration of implementation.
COORDINATION
Staff presented the mobility assessment to the Public Works Commission for review and input before preparing this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated costs for the implementation of the most immediate improvement options are as follows:
· Trader Joe's/Triangle Parking Lot Mid-Block Crossing
o $50,000 - Design and construction of speed table
· Catalina at Elena Pedestrian Mobility Improvements
o $80,000 - Design and construction of concrete bulb outs o $40,000 - Design and construction of mini traffic circles · Catalina at Vista Del Mar Pedestrian Mobility Improvements o $120,000 - Design and construction of concrete bulb outs o $60,000 - Design and construction of mini traffic circles · Avenue I Mid-Block Crossing
o $20,000 - Rapid Flashing Beacon Purchase and Installation APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Public Works Commission Meeting Minutes, March 28, 2022
2. Traffic count exhibits along S. Catalina Ave.