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Title:
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Consideration of the Installation of Shared Lane Markings (“Sharrows”) in the Sepulveda AIP Along Sepulveda Boulevard from Culver Boulevard to the City-limit Line South of Franklin Avenue
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 09/24/2012 Item Number: A-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of the Installation of Shared Lane
Markings (“Sharrows”) in the Sepulveda AIP Along Sepulveda Boulevard from
Culver Boulevard to the City-limit Line South of Franklin Avenue
Contact Person/Dept.:
Todd Tipton/CDD; Helen Kerstein/Public
Works
Phone Number:
(310) 253- 5783; (310) 253-5618
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (09/20/12); (E-Mail)
Chamber of Commerce (09/19/2012); (E-Mail) Culver City Bicycle Coalition (09/19/2012);
(E-Mail) Bicycle and Pedestrian Listserv (09/19/2012)
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (09/19/12)
Charles D. Herbertson (09/19/12)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (09/19/12)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (09/18/12)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (09/19/12)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council consider the installation of shared lane markings
(“sharrows”) in the Sepulveda Area Improvement Plan (AIP) along Sepulveda
Boulevard from Culver Boulevard to the City-limit line south of Franklin Avenue and
direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
On March 12, 2012, the City Council considered the award of a construction contract
for Sepulveda Boulevard AIP Phase III. During the public comment period, concerns
were raised regarding the placement of sharrows along Sepulveda Boulevard, which
is a designated truck route, as part of the Sepulveda AIP. The City Council directed
staff to return with more information regarding sharrows.
To date, the Sepulveda AIP has included the installation of the following streetscape
enhancements, which were funded in-part by a grant from the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA):
• New street trees;
• Mexican feather grass planters;
• Benches and trash receptacles;
• Sidewalk and curb ramp repair; City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
• Crosswalk safety enhancements;
• Decorative concrete paver crosswalk at the Lindblade intersection; and
• Bicycle parking.
On November 8, 2010 the City Council adopted the Culver City Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP). The BPMP identifies nearly ten miles of primary
and secondary roadway suitable for sharrow improvements with over two miles
designated along a stretch of Sepulveda Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and
Jefferson Boulevard (Attachment 1). Construction of a bicycle sharrow route along
the Sepulveda AIP will link the City’s bicycle network from the Culver Boulevard
Bicycle Path to the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path.
The first sharrows in Culver City were installed in summer 2011 along a designated
route that connects East Culver City and the Expo Light Rail Station to Downtown
Culver City (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION:
On June 8, 2012, staff met with representatives from the Culver City Chamber of
Commerce to discuss the topic of sharrows on Sepulveda Boulevard from Culver
Boulevard to the City-limit line south of Franklin Avenue. Following the meeting, we
were informed that the Chamber will not be taking a position on the installation of
sharrows on Sepulveda at this time.
Bicyclists are currently traveling on Sepulveda Boulevard. Per the California Vehicle
Code bicyclists have all the same rights and responsibilities on the roadway as
motorists, including roadways designated a truck routes. Sharrows are traffic control
devices designed to communicate to motorists and bicyclists that they must share
the road. They remind motorists to be aware of cyclists, and remind cyclists to ride
with traffic and to position themselves in a way that reduces their chances of being
hit by an opening door of a parked vehicle and where they are visible to traffic
approaching them from behind.
The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) provides
uniform standards and specifications for sharrows and all other traffic control devices
in California
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. The City Attorney’s office has reviewed liability issues concerning the
placement of sharrows along Sepulveda Boulevard, as well as elsewhere in the City,
and determined that the City is not liable provided that the improvements are built to
CA MUTCD standards.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Former Redevelopment Agency tax exempt bond proceeds from the Sepulveda AIP
budget were used to fund the purchase of the thermoplastic sharrow markings and
related signage (Program 48592910). Public Works staff will perform the installation. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Cost of Shared Lane Marking Improvements for Sepulveda AIP
MUTCD Shared Lane Markings (“Sharrows”) $7,619.62
Related Way-Finding Signage $2,236.16
Total Cost $9,855.78
Thermoplastic sharrows are more durable and longer lasting than painted sharrows.
However, there will be some on-going maintenance associated with the sharrows,
including the reapplication of thermoplastic at the end of its useful life of
approximately five years and the removal of graffiti on the related signage. This
maintenance will be performed by Public Works staff as needed. Maintenance of
the landscaping that is part of the Sepulveda AIP will be provided through the
existing contract with Marina Landscape, Inc.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Excerpt from the Culver City Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan
2. Photographs of Sharrow Installation
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Consider the installation of shared lane markings (“sharrows”) in the Sepulveda
AIP along Sepulveda Boulevard from Culver Boulevard to the City-limit line south
of Franklin Avenue and direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
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Section 9C.07 of the CA MUTCD stipulates that sharrows may be used to:
• “Assist bicyclists with lateral positioning in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking in
order to reduce the chance of a bicyclist’s impacting the open door of a parked vehicle,
• Assist bicyclists with lateral positioning in lanes that are too narrow for a motor vehicle and a
bicycle to travel side by side within the same traffic lane,
• Alert road users of the lateral location bicyclists are likely to occupy within the traveled way,
• Encourage safe passing of bicyclists by motorists, and
• Reduce the incidence of wrong-way bicycling.”
MEETING DATE: 09/24/2012
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of the Installation of Shared Lane Markings
(“Sharrows”) in the Sepulveda AIP Along Sepulveda Boulevard
from Culver Boulevard to the City-limit Line South of Franklin
Avenue.
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1 Excerpt from the Culver City Bicycle & Pedestrian Master
Plan
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2 Photographs of Sharrow Installation
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City of Culver City | Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan
Alta Planning + Design | 75
Map 5-1 Proposed Bicycle Network