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Title:
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Continued Discussion Regarding Dynamic Message Signs for the Downtown Real Time Motorist Information System Project.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: _03/12/12_ Item Number: J-1
JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD AGENDA ITEM:
Continued Discussion Regarding Dynamic Message Signs for the Downtown Real
Time Motorist Information System Project
Contact Person/Dept.:
Christopher Evans / CDD;
Todd Tipton / CDD;
Gabe Garcia/PW;
Phone Number:
(310) 253-5744
(310) 253-5783
(310) 253-5633
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 (USPS) All Downtown Businesses within the Commercial Downtown
Zone (03/01/12); All properties located within 500’ of the proposed sign locations; (E-Mail)
Meetings and Agendas – City Council/Authority Board (03/08/12); Chamber of Commerce
(03/01/12); Downtown Neighborhood Association (03/01/12); Downtown Business
Association (03/01/12), Gateway Neighborhood Association (03/01/12).
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (03/06/12)
Charles D. Herbertson (03/06/12)
City Attorney/Authority Counsel Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (03/07/12)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by N. Kimball) (03/07/12)
City Manager/Executive Director Approval:
John M. Nachbar (03/07/12)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council and the Culver City Parking Authority Board
(Authority Board) provide direction regarding the type and location of Dynamic
Message System (DMS) signs that should be included in the Real Time Motorist
Information System Project (Project) bid specifications.
BACKGROUND:
On November 7, 2011 the City Council and former Culver City Redevelopment
Agency Board considered DMS sign locations and sign design and expressed
concerns regarding the proposed sign locations and the information the signs would
convey (Attachment No.1).
The Project is partially funded through a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (Metro). The Project grant is categorized by Metro as a Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) project. TDM projects are designed to reduce traffic
congestion by utilizing technological innovations, ridesharing incentive programs and
parking management programs.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The Project grant requires that Parking Guidance Signs be installed at the Watseka,
Cardiff and Ince Parking Structures and the planned Washington/National Transit
Oriented Development (TOD) site. Further, the Project grant also requires that
Parking Guidance Signs also be placed at four strategic locations on Washington
and Culver Boulevards as part of the DMS. The DMS will communicate with the
parking structures via fiber-optic cable. The DMS will then display to motorists in real
time the availability of parking spaces. Real time information will allow motorists to
make informed decisions about where they will park in downtown or at the Expo
Light Rail or TOD facilities.
City engineering consultant Kimley-Horn is now working to finalize specifications for
parking sign locations and their functionality (see Attachment No.2, Project
Schedule).
DISCUSSION:
Prior to Kimley-Horn completing the sign specifications, staff is requesting that the
City Council / Authority Board provide direction regarding DMS locations, design and
functionality.
Sign Locations
The initial DMS locations considered on November 7, 2011 were (see Attachment
No.3 for the previous location map):
• Culver Boulevard median in front of the Ince Parking Structure (westbound)
• Washington Boulevard at Wesley Avenue (westbound)
• Washington Boulevard at Mentone Avenue (eastbound)
• Culver Boulevard at Jasmine Avenue (eastbound)
The City Council previously expressed concern that the Mentone and Jasmine
Avenue locations were too far from downtown to be of benefit to motorists and that
they would detract from the adjacent residential neighborhoods. Staff worked with
Kimley–Horn to relocate the proposed location of the signs to Hughes Avenue and
Madison Avenue (see Attachment No.4 for the revised sign location map).
Alternative Sign Design
To increase visibility and reduce the risk of damage/vandalism to the DMS’s, the City
Traffic Engineer and Consulting Traffic Engineer recommend mounting the signs 17’
feet over the roadway; however, the visual impact of the signs at this height is
considerable.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
To reduce the visual impact, DMS’s may be located over the sidewalk instead of the
street (see Attachment 7) at approximately 9’-10’ (rather than 17’) above the
sidewalk and with a smaller display area (6’-9” X 3’-3” without aesthetic
improvements|1010|) than an over-the-roadway DMS (8’ X 4’ without aesthetic
improvements).
Sign Functionality
The City Council was also concerned that the messages displayed on the signs
would not adequately direct motorists to available parking and address the
availability of parking.
As proposed, the DMS’s will primarily function to inform motorists of the availability
of parking. Only in the case of road closure or emergencies would the DMS display
other information. Each DMS will be programed to display parking information
relevant to its location (see Attachment 5).
Parking Guidance Signs (PGS)
PGS will be located in front of and within the parking structures. The PGSs will
display parking occupancy information only (see Attachment 8 for PGS examples).
The signs have a standardized appearance with minor variation between suppliers.
The aesthetic appearance of the signs could be improved with enhanced finishes
and graphics, but would result in additional Project costs.
Next Steps
Upon approval of sign locations and design by the City Council/Authority Board, staff
will proceed with final bid documents and Project specifications. The bid documents
and specifications will then be submitted to Caltrans and the Federal Highway
Administration for review and approval.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The total cost of design and installation of the Real Time System is estimated to be
$1,072,000. The grant requires applicants to provide 20 percent of the total cost,
which results in a City contribution of $214,000 ($858,000 + $214,000 =
$1,072,000). The City’s matching portion ($214,000) has been appropriated in the
Community Improvement Fund’s Real Time Motorist Information System project
(48795200) and the Grant portion ($858,000) has been appropriated in the Grants
Capital Fund (42300929) in the Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Budget.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Maintenance costs for the Real Time System have been estimated to be
approximately $13,700 annually for all locations. Maintenance costs are not eligible
for grant funding reimbursement. Such costs will be requested as part of the
City’s/Parking Authority’s budget in future fiscal years.
Utility costs (electricity, internet connection) for the Real Time System have been
estimated to be approximately $4,700 annually for all locations. Utility costs are not
eligible for grant funding reimbursement and will be paid for as an operational cost
by the City.
Staff recommends that ongoing maintenance and utility/operational costs be
funded from parking related revenues (i.e. revenues from City owned and operated
structures, lots, and metered spaces).
The Director of Public Works/City Engineer proposes to enhance the DMS’s by
installing static signs that will direct motorists to their final parking destination. Static
signage is not funded through the Project grant. Therefore, the Director of Public
Works/City Engineer will return to the City Council and Authority Board with a static
parking sign plan and budget prior to Project completion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report, dated Nov. 7, 2011
2. Project schedule
3. Proposed DMS & PGS location map (Nov. 7, 2011)
4. Proposed DMS & PGS location map (Mar. 3, 2012)
5. Real Time System proposed sign comparison
6. Skyline Products DMS sign photo examples & plan set
7. TCS Products DMS sign photo examples & plan set
8. PGS sign examples
MOTION:
That the City Council and Authority Board:
Provide direction and input regarding which type of Dynamic Message System
signs should be included in the Real Time Motorist Information System Project
bid specifications.
NOTES:
|1010| The over-the-sidewalk sign display area as shown in Attachment No.7 measures approximately 7’-4 ¾” X 4’ ¾” with
the additional graphics ( “Downtown Parking” and “P”).
MEETING DATE: 03112112
AGENDA ITEM: JOINT CITY COUNCIL and PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD
AGENDA ITEM: Continued Discussion Regarding Dynamic
Message Signs for the Downtown Real Time Motorist
Information System Project
ATTACHMENTS
Item Description
1. Staff Report, dated Nov. 7, 2011
2. Project schedule
3. Proposed DMS & PGS
location map (Nov. 7, 2011)
4. Proposed DMS 8, PGS
location map (Mar. 12, 2012)
5. Real Time System proposed sign comparison
6. Skyline Products DMS sign photo
examples & plan set
7. TCS Products DMS sign photo
examples & plan set
Pages
1 - 4
5
6
7
8
9-10
11 -12
8. PGS sign examples 13 ATTACHMENT 1
1 ATTACHMENT 1
2 ATTACHMENT 1
3 ATTACHMENT 1
4 HMENT 2
5 ATTACHMENT 3
6 ATTACHMENT 4
7 ATTACHMENT 5
8 ATTACHMENT 6
9 ATTAC H M E NT 7
1 1 ATTACHMENT 8
1 3