DATE: APRIL 18, 2023
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION & TRAFFIC DIVISION FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
TITLE: GARNER AVENUE AT PACIFIC AVENUE/ACOSTA PLAZA INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution authorizing a Garner Avenue at Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza Intersection Improvements project as part of the Salinas Recovery Plan under the American Rescue Plan Act.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council on December 6, 2022 adopted the Salinas Safe Routes to School Plan. The City of Salinas Safe Routes to Schools Plan provides community-identified needs as well as recommendations for infrastructure projects and programs that support walking, bicycling, and carpooling to 45 schools in Salinas. The plan also identifies implementation priorities (ranked priority list Attachment 1). The recommendations in this plan aim to support a healthy community, improve affordable transportation options for low-income and vulnerable residents, and help the City achieve its Vision Zero Goal and the statewide goals to address climate change by reducing vehicle miles traveled Prior to the Salinas Safe Routes to School plan, staff received a request from the superintendent of the Alisal Union School District, Jim Koenig, to evaluate the intersection of Garner Avenue at Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza for a crosswalk. Staff conducted an analysis of the intersection and determined that in accordance with the City’s Crosswalk Policy (Attachment 2) a marked crosswalk could be installed. However, a new crosswalk would require additional enhancements and must be connected to ADA compliant pedestrian ramps, as required by Title II regulations.
In order to quickly respond to the request, an interim plan was approved through City Council Resolution No. 22471 (Attachment 3) to install an all-way stop application at the intersection of Garner Avenue at Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza. The stop signs were installed in October 2022. Staff developed a conceptual design (Attachment 4) for the ultimate improvements, applying the design guidelines from the City’s Crosswalk Policy and considering ADA requirements. The new ramps will require the relocation of a drainage inlet, which will require surveying and engineering design. Additionally, two Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) stops are located at the intersection and must be considered as part of the design. Staff coordinated with partners at MST and the Alisal Union School District to develop a conceptual design that worked for each stakeholder. The conceptual design is also consistent with the Safe Routes to Schools Plan recommendations (Attachment 5) adopted by City Council in December 2022.
Staff is requesting the appropriation of funds to proceed with the design and construction of the improvements. The actual costs are not yet known and the request for $330,000.00 is only an estimate based off of limited initial information. The exact scope and extent of the construction project will not be determined until the survey and design are complete. As a result the final construction may differ from initial estimates.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). The City of Salinas will need to certify a CEQA document when the final plan is approved, prior to construction.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The proposed all way stop at the intersection of Garner Avenue at Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza improves walking conditions and safe routes to school. This action supports the Council of “public safety” and “infrastructure and environmental sustainability”.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Public Works Department, Community Development Department and Police Department all participated in the development of the Safe Routes to Schools Plan. Public Works Department will manage the design and construction phases of the project, and the Finance Department will provide the project accounting. Additionally, the design will be coordinated with Monterey-Salinas Transit in regard to the bus stops.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no impact to the General Fund. The estimated cost to design and construct the Garner Avenue at Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza Intersection Improvements is $330,000.00, and there is sufficient funding available in the American Rescue Plan Act Street Repair / Traffic Safety CIP (3911.50.8180).
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Ranked Safe Routes to School Plan priority List Attachment 2: City of Salinas Crosswalk Policy
Attachment 3: Resolution No. 22471
Attachment 4: Garner Avenue and Pacific Avenue/Acosta Plaza Improvements Conceptual Design Attachment 5: Safe Routes to Schools Plan Recommendations Page | 2
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