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MOBILITY - ACTION ITEM: (1) Receive an Update and Discuss the Tri-School Area Mobility Study, Including Findings and Potential Interventions; and (2) Provide Input to Staff.
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Meeting Date: June 30, 2026
Contact: Andrew Maximous, Mobility & Traffic Engineering, Public Works
Phone: (310) 253-5628
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: E-Mail via GovDelivery (06/25/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Mobility Subcommittee, Parking Authority; Notify Me - Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Stay Informed - Bicycle & Pedestrian / Culver CityBus / Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Culver city Business License List, Economic Development Newsletters
Dept Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (06/25/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff will provide an update regarding the Tri-School Area Mobility Study. Members may discuss findings, ask questions, and provide input to staff. This meeting will also serve as another opportunity for community feedback.
BACKGROUND
The Tri-School Area Mobility Study is evaluating transportation circulation, safety, and mobility conditions in the neighborhood surrounding Farragut Elementary School, Culver City Middle School, Culver City High School, and Veterans Memorial Park. The study area experiences significant school-related traffic activity, pedestrian crossings, bicycle travel, student drop-off and pick-up operations, and neighborhood cut-through traffic.
The purpose of the study is to identify opportunities to improve safety, reduce conflicts among transportation modes, enhance access to schools and parks, and improve overall neighborhood livability. The study has been conducted through a combination of community engagement, field observations, traffic data collection, collision analysis, near-miss observations, school travel assessments, and transportation operations analysis.
Outreach and Engagement
The study has conducted three rounds of community engagement and provided multiple opportunities for public participation.
Community Workshop 1 - Listening Workshop - Nov 13, 2025
The first workshop focused on understanding how residents, students, parents, school staff, and visitors travel within the study area. Community members identified concerns related to:
• School drop-off and pick-up congestion
• Excessive vehicle speeds on neighborhood streets
• Difficult pedestrian crossings
• Traffic circulation around school campuses
• Bicycle connectivity and comfort
• Cut-through traffic on residential streets
• Student access to schools, parks, and neighborhood destinations
The project team compiled and evaluated this feedback alongside traffic counts, turning movement counts, speed data, collision records, near-miss observations, school travel information, and origin-destination data.
Community Workshop 2 - Findings - March 4, 2026
During this workshop, the project team presented:
• Existing circulation patterns
• Traffic and mobility findings
• Locations with recurring safety concerns and conflicts
• Areas with opportunities for improvement
• Potential traffic calming and mobility improvement tools
Community members provided feedback regarding various traffic calming strategies and mobility improvements that could be implemented throughout the study area.
The project team subsequently refined potential interventions based on community input, technical analysis, and feasibility considerations.
Community Workshop 3 - Draft Concepts - May 27, 2026
City staff presented draft neighborhood traffic calming concepts developed using community feedback, mobility data, and safety analysis. The open-house format allowed participants to review exhibits, discuss alternatives with project staff and consultants, and provide detailed feedback on proposed improvements.
BPAC and Mobility Subcommittee
Staff presented an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on March 19, 2026. The presentation summarized the results of the first round of community engagement, traffic data collection efforts, safety analyses, and the findings presented during Community Workshop #2.
BPAC members discussed pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns throughout the study area, including student travel routes, crossing opportunities, traffic calming measures, bicycle connectivity, and opportunities to improve access to schools and Veterans Memorial Park. Committee members provided feedback regarding potential interventions and emphasized the importance of improving conditions for people walking and bicycling.
Comments received from BPAC were provided to the consultant team and considered during development of the draft traffic calming concepts presented during the third round of engagement.
Staff presented an update to the Mobility Subcommittee on March 31, 2026. Similar to the BPAC presentation, staff summarized community feedback, existing conditions findings, and the potential intervention toolbox developed during the second round of engagement.
During discussion, Subcommittee members expressed interest in improving bicycle connectivity within the study area and specifically requested that staff and the consultant team evaluate the feasibility of a protected bicycle facility along Elenda Street. The Subcommittee noted that Elenda Street serves as an important north-south connection between schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods and requested further analysis of potential bicycle improvements.
Online Engagement
In addition to in-person meetings and workshops, the City maintained an online engagement portal throughout the study process to provide information, collect feedback, and allow participation from community members unable to attend public meetings.
Throughout all phases of engagement, project information, presentation materials, workshop announcements, surveys, interactive mapping tools, and opportunities for public comment were available through the project website.
DISCUSSION
At the May 27 workshop, staff presented three conceptual alternatives identified as Concepts A, B, and C. The concepts represent progressively greater levels of investment and physical infrastructure improvements within the study area. The improvements shown in each of the concepts are intended to be mix and match and not mutually exclusive.
Concept A - Targeted Operational and Safety Improvements
Concept A focuses on lower-cost operational improvements and targeted safety enhancements that could generally be implemented through signing, striping, operational modifications, and limited capital improvements.
Potential improvements include:
• All-way stop control at selected intersections
• Enhanced crosswalk treatments
• Pedestrian-scale lighting improvements
• Designated student drop-off and pick-up improvements
• Loading zone optimization
• Additional curb ramps and accessibility improvements
• Targeted curb extensions at key crossing locations
Concept A generally minimizes impacts to parking and roadway geometry while addressing identified safety concerns.
Concept B - Neighborhood Traffic Calming and Active Transportation Improvements
Concept B builds upon Concept A and includes additional infrastructure improvements intended to reduce vehicle speeds, improve pedestrian visibility, and enhance bicycle connectivity.
Potential improvements include:
• Raised crosswalks
• Raised intersections at key locations
• Additional curb extensions
• New marked crosswalks
• Neighborhood traffic calming measures
• Bicycle route improvements and enhanced connections
• Expanded pedestrian improvements
Concept B represents a more comprehensive approach to improving neighborhood mobility and safety conditions.
Concept C - Enhanced Neighborhood Greenway Alternative
Concept C includes all improvements contained in Concept B and adds a neighborhood greenway concept along Elenda Street intended to enhance bicycle connectivity through the study area.
Following direction from the Mobility Subcommittee, Staff and the consultant team evaluated potential bicycle facility alternatives along Elenda Street, including a Class IV protected bikeway concept. The evaluation considered roadway width, parking impacts, school operations, driveway access, tree preservation considerations, traffic operations, anticipated bicycle demand, and national best practices. Based on this analysis, a full Class IV protected bikeway was not advanced as a recommended concept. Instead, the consultant team developed a Neighborhood Greenway alternative that utilizes traffic calming measures, wayfinding, pavement markings, and operational improvements intended to improve bicycle comfort while minimizing impacts to parking, mature trees, and school circulation.
These concepts are intended to serve as planning alternatives rather than final designs.
Next Steps
The project team is currently reviewing comments received through the May 27 workshop and online engagement activities. Staff and the consultant team will use this feedback to:
• Refine the draft concepts;
• Evaluate feasibility, cost, and operational considerations;
• Develop recommended improvements; and
• Prepare a final study report and implementation strategy for future consideration by the City Council.
The June 30 Mobility Subcommittee meeting provides an opportunity for the Subcommittee to review project progress, discuss community feedback, and provide direction regarding refinement of the proposed concepts before final recommendations are developed.
Learn more about the Tri-School Area Traffic Study at the link below:
<www.culvercity.gov/trischoolstudy>
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Future project costs will depend on Council direction.
ATTACHMENTS
2026-06-30-ATT-Mobility-A1-Tri School Study Draft Concepts