Planning Commission March 4, 2009 Ocean Park Boulevard Green Street Project Alternatives & Trade Offs
Purpose of Tonight s Meeting Review concept plans and options Provide input on alternatives and trade-offs
CORE CITY PRINCIPLES: Open Space, Green Streets & Pathways, Neighborhood Enhancement, Connectivity, City as Park, & Pedestrian Orientation Project Objectives Prepare conceptual streetscape alternative designs utilizing community input and green street principles. Improve walkability and bikeability. Enhance pedestrian safety. Implement environmental sustainability. Provide for beautification and enhanced greenery. Calm traffic and conflicts at intersections. Maintain views from the 4th Street overpass. Address noise and vibrations at bus stops (i.e. 4th Street overpass). Provide gateways, landmarks, and public art (save the whale mural). Project Objectives
COMMUNITY PRIORITY: Reclaim Ocean Park Boulevard as Open Space 65 75 Typ. 126 143 Typ. Typical curb widths at the 4 th Street Overpass Comparable Curb Widths in Santa Monica Santa Monica Blvd. between Lincoln & 26 th 80 Wilshire Blvd. between Lincoln & City limits 100 San Vicente Blvd. between Ocean & 7 th 130 Typical Curb to Curb Widths
EXISTING PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS 1 Main St / Neilson Way 2 3 RD Street 3 4 th Street 1 2 3 4 5 4 6 th Street 5 Lincoln Boulevard Note the lack of marked crosswalks between 6 th Street & Lincoln Boulevard Existing Pedestrian Crossings
EXISTING CONDITIONS Single-purpose infrastructure to accommodate cars for former density Narrow sidewalks Conflicts between pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles Unused / underutilized 20 right-of-way Potential for green relief Narrow sidewalks at overpass Ocean Park Boulevard Today
TREE CANOPIES AND OPEN SPACES Limited tree canopy from 12 year old Cassia trees Austere streetscape Missing trees Pocket parks with no amenities & limited landscaping Existing Conditions
COMMUNITY OUTREACH 2 Public Workshops 4,000 Invitations Residents Business community Bicycle and pedestrian advocates School District representatives 3/3/08 over 60 participants 4/23/08 over 40 participants Address walkability and bikeability Enhance pedestrian safety Implement environmental sustainability Provide for beautification and enhanced greenery Calm traffic and conflicts at intersections Maintain views from the 4th Street overpass Address noise and vibrations at bus stops (4 th Street overpass) Provide gateways, landmarks, and public art (save the whale mural) Presentation of three alternatives; A, B & C Alternative A based upon OPB Task Force approach Alternative B maximize medians approach Alternative C gradeseparated bikeway approach Presentation of options - 4th Street viewing deck, traffic circles and bus stops below overpass Alternative C not pursued after input Community Outreach
PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS CITY COUNCIL (1.27.09) Mix and match best features from both plans Re-examine issues addressed by public speakers related to additional crosswalks, bike lane features, and traffic circles. RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION (2.19.09) Maximize opportunities to expand green areas: Expand community forest and increase tree canopy Maximize landscaping in center medians Explore hybrid approach to combing both concepts Public Hearing Comments
The Alternatives & Trade Offs
Alternative A Sidewalk extensions Landscaped medians east of 5 th St. New crosswalks Class II bike lanes Pedestrian lighting Vehicular turn constraints Benches, bike racks, trash Bus stops relocated to 4 th St. overpass $3.2M $4.2M construction cost ALTERNATIVE A: Adapted from the OPB Task Force Consensus Plan
Landscaped Medians 6 ft. to 14 ft. width, 96 ft. avg. length 5 ft. Curb Extensions (bioswale or parkway) Marked Crosswalks with pedestrian refuge ALTERNATIVE A: Concept Design Features
1.1 ALTERNATIVE A: Typical Section
Project will collect runoff from over 55 acres in 3 watersheds
ALTERNATIVE A: View West from 4 th Street Bridge
ALTERNATIVE Alternative A Features: B Landscaped medians Limited curb extensions New crosswalks Class II bike lanes Pedestrian lighting Benches, bike racks, & trash cans Vehicular turn constraints Bus stops relocated to 4 th St overpass $2.5M $3.5M construction cost ALTERNATIVE B: Maximize Median Opportunities
Landscaped Medians 12 ft. to 20 ft. width, 105 ft. avg. length Marked Crosswalks with pedestrian refuge ALTERNATIVE B: Concept Design Features
2.1 ALTERNATIVE B: Typical Section
ALTERNATIVE B: View west from 4 th Street Bridge
ALTERNATIVE B: View east to 4 th Street Bridge with optional viewing platform
Sustainability Measures Bioswales with infiltration - Alternative A only Increased tree canopy - Greater on Alternative B Water-retaining tree wells Alternative A and Alternative B Class II Bike Lane Alternative A and Alternative B Utilization of permeable concrete Alternative A and Alternative B Optional permeable concrete sidewalks Alternative A and Alternative B @ $285,000 Optional permeable concrete curb and gutters Alternative A and Alternative B @ $80,000 Optional permeable asphalt roadway Alternative A and B @ $500,000 Options Viewing Deck at 4 th St. Overpass Greater feasibility with Alternative B @ $400,000 Alternatives A & B: Sustainability Measures and Options
ALTERNATIVE A ALTERNATIVE B Closely matches OPB concept Introduces Class II Bicycle lanes Calms traffic with medians and additional crosswalk control 650 linear feet of center medians 2000 linear feet of curb extensions used for bioswales (4 5 width) Captures more rainwater Moves traffic away from homes and buffers pedestrians from vehicles Higher cost ( +/- $650,000) Maximizes median opportunities Introduces Class II Bicycle lanes Calms traffic with medians and additional crosswalk control More tree canopy 1500 linear feet of center medians 250 linear feet of curb extensions Captures rainwater at medians Provides greater opportunity for viewing platform option Lower Cost (w/viewing platform same cost as Alternative A) ALTERNATIVES A & B: Comparison Summary
Community Issues Crosswalk at 5 th Street Crosswalk at 2 nd Street Dedicated bike lane Roundabouts and Circles Next Steps April/May 2009 - Community Meeting #3 May/June 2009 - Completion of Summary Concept and Report and Endorsement by City Council FY 2008/2009 - Construction Documentation: $350 - $450K, CIP Approved FY 2009/2010 Buildout: estimated cost $4.1M, CIP Approved Community Issues and Next Steps
Summary Points Alternative A and Alternative B realize Project objectives differently, both Enhance walking and biking Increase pedestrian safety Promote environmental sustainability Beautify streetscape and enhance greenery Calm traffic and resolve conflicts at intersections Improve intermodality along Ocean Park Blvd. and at bus stops Provide opportunities for gateways, landmarks, and public art Alternative A Capture more storm water runoff Costs approximately $250,000 - $650,000 more Alternative B Better creates opportunity to enhance view from the 4th St. overpass Maximizes green median identity options ALTERNATIVES A & B: Summary
Purpose of Tonight s Meeting Review concept plans and options Provide input on alternatives and trade-offs
We are here The Planning Process and Next Steps
The Planning Process and Next Steps XX
5 th Street Crosswalk
2nd Street Crosswalk and/or Compact Traffic Circle
2 nd Street Crosswalk and/or Compact Traffic Circle
Firehouse #2 2 nd Street Compact Traffic Circle
Dedicated Bicycle Lane Analysis
Source: San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program Why Choose Vegetated Swales: Widely-accepted stormwater strategy Simple to construct Relatively low-cost to implement Potential Constraints: Need long, continuous spaces which can be difficult to find in retrofit conditions Difficult to incorporate other streetscape elements within swales (lighting, signage, etc.) More difficult to provide good pedestrian circulation through swales Often designed to be too deep and, as a result, are not aesthetically pleasing Long-term maintenance requirements Bioswales and Infiltration Planters XX
Residential School Steep Grade Boulevard Arterial Parking Lot Bioswales and Infiltration Planters