Date: October 23, 2023
To: Public Works and Sustainability Commission
From: Department of Public Works
Subject: EDGE LINE STRIPING GUIDANCE AND POLICY
TITLE:
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING POLICY AND PROCEDURE
RELATIVE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EDGE LINE STRIPING AS A TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE.
SUMMARY:
In response to general resident requests regarding speeding, City staff explored various traffic calming measures used in other cities. One low-cost countermeasure identified is the striping of a white edge line adjacent to the right-most travel lane. Installation of this edge line visually narrows the travel lane and encourages slower speeds. Traffic Calming measures typically require a discussion with the City Council because they involve changes to the way the roadway operates. However, edge line striping only enforces roadway controls already in place, and therefore staff believes edge line striping could be applied administratively on a case by case basis, with a one-time policy approval to this approach by the City Council. The ability for staff to install edge line striping without City Council approval would shorten the timeline from request to implementation. Therefore, staff recommends a discussion regarding whether to allow the administrative implementation of edge line striping as a potential traffic calming measure where feasible and is seeking the input of the public and the Public Works and Sustainability Commission for this policy approach. With the support of this Commission, staff would advance the matter to City Council.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City of Redondo Beach regularly receives resident requests to control speeds along roadways. Often the residents request all-way stop (AWS) controls or speed cushions. For a variety of technical and political reasons, these solutions are not be feasible or appropriate to address excessive speed in all cases. Other traffic calming measures involve relatively expensive capital improvements like bulbouts, radar feedback signs, or raised medians and cross walks. Staff also has at its disposal several low cost and discretionary options like installation of speed limit signs, pavement markings and deployment of the Police Department’s radar feedback “speed” trailer. This change in policy would add edge line striping to the list of staff’s discretionary options.
Administrative Report
City staff believes that because edge lines do not constitute a change in traffic controls or the number of lanes available to use they can be installed where feasible without needing City Council approval on a case-by-case basis. This would improve response times to resident requests and allow staff to propose and implement more appropriate traffic calming measures in hopes of reducing less appropriate solutions requested by residents.
Edge lines, sometimes known as shoulder striping, consists of a solid white 4-inch or 6-inch line that delineates the edge of the travel lane. Depending on roadway width, parking and/or bicycle lanes can be present adjacent to edge lines. Cross hatching could be added depending on the location. Edge lines help narrow travel lanes to widths such as 10-11 feet, which reduces the width available for driving without removing whole travel lanes. Narrower travel lanes have been shown to reduce speeds by creating visual friction for drivers.
Reduced speed improves safety by reducing the number and severity of collisions, especially those affecting vulnerable roadway users. Edge lines have been implemented in many cities around Southern California, as well as on a case-by-case basis, with City Council approval, in Redondo Beach. Attachment A shows a before-after example of a 4- inch and 6-inch edge line on a 30-foot wide street in Pasadena.
If this policy change is approved by the City Council, staff would begin considering the installation of edge line striping on streets that will potentially benefit from them. Two streets recently brought to the attention of staff are Avenue H (PCH to Catalina Avenue) and Rindge Lane (190th Street to Artesia Blvd.). Others will be considered as they are brought up and as resources allow.
ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE:
1. Recommend staff advance to the City Council a policy change to allow administrative consideration and installation of edge line striping by staff as a general (where feasible) traffic calming measure.
2. Do not support the recommendation from staff.
3. Other actions as determined by the Public Works and Sustainability Commission.
COORDINATION:
Coordination and preparation of this report took place within the Public Works Department.
Prepared by:
Ryan Liu, Transportation Engineer
Submitted by:
Ted Semaan, Public Works Director
ATTACHMENT:
1. Before-After Example of Edge Line