City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2024 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 1
SUBJECT: ORANGE STREET BETWEEN MISSION INN AVENUE AND UNIVERSITY AVENUE – TEMPORARY ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND CIRCULATION PILOT PROJECT ISSUE:
Approve a temporary one-way traffic circulation pilot project on Orange Street between Mission Inn Avenue and University Avenue.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve the temporary one-way traffic circulation pilot project for approximately 24 months on Orange Street between Mission Inn Avenue and University Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
The Museum of Riverside (Museum) is located at 3580 Mission Inn Avenue in a building designed in 1912 as a U.S. Post Office by James K. Taylor, a principal draftsman at the United States Architects’ Office. The Neo-Classical style of the building was common for early twentieth-century government structures; the building also reflects the Mission Revival materials and details typical of its Southern California location. The Museum has operated this facility since 1948, when it occupied the basement and shared the facility with the Police Department. In 1965, after the departure of the Police Department, the Museum began to maintain and operate the entire structure. The building was augmented or altered in 1928, 1954, and 1967. Since September 5, 2017, the structure at 3580 Mission Inn Avenue has been temporarily closed to the public in preparation for the proposed renovation and expansion.
The main Museum project was born of a desire and perceived need to create a dynamic space for 21st -century programming in Riverside centered on the Museum of Riverside’s mission, which emphasizes nature, culture, and history. Envisioned as a place to educate engagingly as well as attract tourism to Riverside, the new facility will also be a stellar example of a vibrant community museum, earning many repeat visits as its exhibitions and programs change throughout the year.
The project’s approach to renovate and expand the downtown combines the twin goals of preserving the core 1912 structure and creating a stylistically compatible, 12,000-square-foot purpose-built expansion within the existing downtown footprint. In the schematic design phase, the concept that ultimately met with approval and supported the Museum’s entire program included a two-story addition with a roof terrace, flexible galleries able to meet professional climate-control and security standards, a dedicated classroom, and other functional features not previously part of the Museum’s facility. The design includes:
1. Sustainable features, such as a photovoltaic array forming the roof terrace shade structure,
2. A loading dock and freight elevator,
3. Non-collections storage,
4. An expanded Nature Lab, including a fenced outdoor teaching space,
5. Retail space, and
6. Careful preservation of such historic elements as the Mission Inn Avenue entrance lobby, the northwest stairwell and spiral staircase, and the skylight Throughout the process, the Museum has offered numerous community engagement opportunities, both to targeted groups and neighborhoods and in the form of open public invitations to events. Attendees have volunteered their overwhelming support for moving forward with the project as it has been designed.
The construction period is estimated to be 18-24 months. The grand reopening is anticipated in 2026. The Museum of Riverside looks ahead to 2026 and reassuming its role among the dynamic cultural sites that characterize Riverside.
DISCUSSION:
Business owners surrounding the Riverside Metropolitan Museum have engaged with the Ward 1 City Council Office and the Public Works Department regarding construction impacts including the closure of Riverside Parking Lot 16. As part of the Museum’s construction, the Riverside Parking Lot 16 (located on the east side of Orange St south of Mission Inn Avenue) will be temporarily closed to allow staging of construction materials and equipment. All twenty-six (26) existing off-site parking spaces from Riverside Parking Lot 16 will be unavailable during the construction phase and the loss of available downtown parking spaces will have an impact on the surrounding businesses and patrons.
The Riverside Museum construction project prompted the Public Works Department to consider creative alternatives to mitigate traffic and parking impacts. A 24-month pilot project is proposed to convert the traffic circulation on Orange Street between Mission Inn Avenue and University Avenue from two-way circulation to a one-way southbound circulation & simultaneously increase on-street parking availability by constructing diagonal parking spaces.
Figure 1. Conceptual one-way southbound circulation along Orange St between Mission Inn & University.
The proposed pilot project will increase the on-street parking capacity along this segment of Orange Street from seven (7) existing parallel parking spaces to a combined total of twenty-five (25) parallel and diagonal on-street parking spaces which is an increase of eighteen (18) total parking spaces. Additional parking improvements include a new 45-foot commercial loading zone on the east side of Orange Street and north of University Avenue.
Figure 2. Parking Summary Inventory.
The new one-way southbound circulation will require the closure of the existing eastbound left turn lane along University Avenue at its intersection with Orange Street. Traffic signage, striping and signal operations to accommodate the one-way southbound circulation along Orange Street will be constructed as part of the pilot project. Orange Street is currently oriented in a southbound one-way direction only south of University Avenue which aligns with the pilot project’s southerly circulation orientation.
The Public Works Department consulted with the City’s Fire Department, Solid Waste Division, and Parking Division regarding the potential pilot project.
At the completion of the Riverside Museum’s construction project along with the additional off-street parking spaces as part of the expanded site plan, the Orange Street pilot project will be returned to its original two-way circulation configuration or consideration will be given to making the pilot project modifications permanent.
The Museum Director concurs with this report.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4 - Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – This 24-month temporary one-way southbound direction Orange Street pilot project will support the business community involvement in seeking alternative potential parking and traffic solutions during the Riverside Museum’s construction expansion project while still allowing businesses and visitors to continue to have adequate parking and traffic flow in the downtown area.
Equity – The proposed temporary 24-month one-way southbound Orange Street pilot project improvements would balance the needs of the immediately impacted businesses and customers.
Fiscal Responsibility – City awarded contractors would install necessary signage and striping to implement the temporary 24-month one-way southbound Orange Street pilot project. The temporary improvements are fiscally responsible in response to the impacts from the Riverside Museum’s construction project, to allow for further assessment of effectiveness and overall impacts prior to considering more costly permanent improvements.
Innovation – This project supports innovative measures to mitigate traffic and parking impacts and preserve community safety and quality of life in highly impacted areas. The temporary pilot project permits staff and the community to evaluate impacts, if any, and make an informed decision to remove improvements or to make the improvements permanent.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed temporary improvements are easily maintained by City Streets Division crews throughout the proposed 24-month pilot project period.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $27,500. The estimated total project cost including construction costs for signage, striping and traffic signal operational modifications is $27,500 as displayed in Table 1. A portion of these costs will be incurred as part of the recently awarded Bid No. 8081 for the Fiscal Year 2024/24 Street Preservation Project, whereas the remaining costs will be charged to the account displayed in Table 2. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available in the expenditure accounts shown in Table 2 below. Additional minor costs to include staff time for adjustments to nearby traffic signals can be accommodated as part of staff’s ongoing project and maintenance work.
Table 1 – Project Costs
Task
Amount
Incidental Costs (Mobilization, Traffic Control, Stormwater Pollution Prevention) $2,500
Traffic Improvements
$25,000
Total
$27,500
Table 2 – Project Funds
Fund
Project Description
Account Number
Amount
Measure Z Capital
Museum Rehabilitation Project
9901709-462300
$25,000
Pavement Rehab. & Ped. Facilities
9902709-470734
$2,500
Total
$27,500
Prepared by: Philip Nitollama, City Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Site Map
Aerial Map
Pilot Project Exhibit
Presentation
Orange Street 24-month One-way Southbound Circulation Pilot Project ● Page 2