City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss potential traffic mitigation measures
on Sawtelle Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and the City boundary at
Ballona Creek and direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
Following a recent pedestrian fatality on Sawtelle Boulevard, members of the
Sunkist Park community expressed renewed concerns regarding the traffic safety on
Sawtelle Boulevard between Ballona Creek and Sepulveda Boulevard.
Subsequently, the City Council directed staff to present a report addressing
concerns expressed by the public, and potential traffic mitigation measures that may
be implemented on this segment of roadway for discussion and consideration.
On July 3, 2012, a local resident using a wheelchair was struck in the City of Los
Angeles at a midblock location, several feet west of the Culver City boundary, by a
vehicle traveling eastbound on Sawtelle Boulevard (see the graphic below for
location). Sadly, the collision resulted in the resident losing his life.
Meeting Date: 08/13/2012 Item Number: A-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT - (1)
Discussion of and Direction Related to Potential Traffic Mitigation Measures on
Sawtelle Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and the City Boundary at
Ballona Creek; and (2) Adoption of a Budget Amendment Associated with any
Desired Traffic Mitigation Measures.
Contact Person/Dept.: Gabe Garcia/PW Phone Number: (310) 253-5633
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: ________________
Public Notification: (Email) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (08/09/12); (Courtesy
Notice) All residents, property owners, and businesses in Sunkist Park (08/07/12).
Department Approval:
Charles Herbertson (08/08/12)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (08/09/12)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (08/08/12)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (08/09/12)
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Subsequent to this tragic event, the City has received renewed requests for a traffic
signal and marked crosswalk on Sawtelle Boulevard.
Staff researched the topic of a traffic signal and crosswalk on Sawtelle Boulevard, as
part of the various Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) efforts since
the 90’s, and found the following:
• In 1996, a Sunkist Park NTMP Residents Committee was formed. This
committee worked until July of 1997 to develop a neighborhood-wide plan.
• Following the guidelines of the NTMP, a survey was distributed to 632
households within the Sunkist Park neighborhood for a vote. 86% of the
surveys were turned in. The results indicated that the required 60% of the
neighborhood did not support the installation of a three-way STOP and
overhead flashing red signal at the intersection of McDonald Street and
Sawtelle Boulevard and a pedestrian crosswalk across Sawtelle Boulevard.
Other items, not related to traffic control or pedestrian crossings on Sawtelle
Boulevard, were supported by the neighborhood.
• The plan was considered by the City Council on August 11, 1997, and with a
unanimous vote, the City Council directed staff to “research finding a place
to cross Sawtelle Boulevard between Braddock Drive and Sepulveda
Boulevard.” Additionally, the City Council, at the same time, also approved
other items that were not related to traffic control or pedestrian crossings on
Sawtelle Boulevard.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
• In July, 1999, to address concerns regarding visibility due to the vertical
curve of the bridge over Ballona Creek, a letter was mailed to then City of
Los Angeles’ Councilmember Ruth Galanter requesting the installation of an
all-Way STOP control at the intersection of Culver Drive and Sawtelle
Boulevard, in the City of Los Angeles. On November 2, 1999,
Councilmember Galanter responded with a letter to Culver City containing a
memorandum in which the Los Angeles Department of Transportation
(LADOT) denied the request for the STOP signs after performing a traffic
signal warrants analysis for the intersection and determining that the traffic
signal warrants were not met.
• In November 2001, a traffic signal plan was designed for the intersection of
Blanco Way and Sawtelle Boulevard, near Hayter Avenue. Subsequently,
the City Council directed that the new traffic signal not be advertised for
construction bids due to opposition from Hayter Avenue residents.
Apparently the major reason for the opposition to a signal at that time was
the concern that a signal would encourage traffic to turn right at Hayter to
avoid delays caused by the signal.
Another Sunkist Park NTMP effort began in November 2002 and concluded in
February of 2004. A proposed speed-control traffic signal and pedestrian crossing
was part of the NTMP plan, but the neighborhood did not show the required support,
and the City Council voted to close this NTMP process for Sunkist Park.
At a City Council Meeting at El Marino School held in August 2004, the City Council
directed staff to work with the Sunkist Park neighborhood to devise a new NTMP.
Traffic data was collected, engineering analyses performed, and several community
meetings took place. The NTMP plan was completed in July, 2006. It contained a
number of proposed mitigations, one of which was a new proposed traffic signal on
Sawtelle Boulevard. An Advisory Survey (ballot) was mailed to the neighborhood.
The results of the survey indicated that the neighborhood did not support the
proposed NTMP as a whole. By not registering the minimum required support for
the NTMP plan as a whole, all of the proposed measures, including the proposed
new traffic signal on Sawtelle Boulevard, were rejected by the neighborhood.
DISCUSSION:
Existing Roadway Conditions:
According to the Circulation Element of the General Plan adopted by the City
Council on May 24, 2004, page C-11, Sawtelle Boulevard is a Secondary Artery City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
within Culver City’s boundaries. It has one lane of travel in each direction, a painted
two-way left turn lane, and a parking lane on each side of the roadway.
In the past several weeks, Engineering Division staff conducted field reviews of
Sawtelle Boulevard. The review was comprised of the following measurements:
width, curvature, curb heights, and grade. Also surface conditions such as signage,
striping, intersections, drive approaches, and parking, were all evaluated. Based
upon this comprehensive review, and in consultation with the City’s traffic
engineering consultants, it was determined that several traffic mitigation measures
can be considered for implementation along Sawtelle Boulevard.
Accident Analysis:
Accident data for Sawtelle Boulevard, between the City boundary east of Ballona
Creek and Sepulveda Boulevard, was analyzed for three time periods: 2008 to 2010,
2005 to 2007, and 2002 to 2004. The State did not have the 2011 collision data
available as of the writing of this report – the most recent full-year data they have is
for 2010, and collision data prior to 2002 was not readily available to include in this
report.
The midblock accident rate was calculated utilizing the following standard traffic
engineering formula:
(No. of collisions) x (1,000,000)
(Daily Volume) x (365 Days) x (Segment Length) x (# Years)
Based on the formula, the following Midblock Collision Rates were determined:
STUDY PERIODS
1/1/2008 TO
12/31/2010
1/1/2005 TO
12/31/2007
1/1/2002 TO
12/31/2004
Years of study period 3 3 3
Total number of collisions 5 2 4
Actual Collision Rate
(acc/MVM):
0.89 0.36 0.71
Statewide expected Collision
Rate (acc/MVM)
1.98 1.98 1.98
The actual midblock collision rate, for each of the study periods, starting with the
most recent, is 45%, 18%, and 36% of the Statewide expected collision rate. This
data indicates that this roadway has an accident history that is significantly lower
compared to similar roadways in California.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Speed Limit:
Based on the Engineering and Traffic Survey adopted by City Council through
Ordinance 2003-001 and Resolution 2003-R073, on August 25, 2003, the posted
speed limit for both directions of Sawtelle Boulevard, between the City boundary
east of Ballona Creek and Sepulveda Boulevard, is 35 miles per hour. Staff was
unable to collect new traffic data to determine the current speed profile of this road
segment, since traffic data is typically collected at times other than the Summer (so
that school-related traffic is reflected in the data collection effort).
The 2003 85
th
percentile speeds were as follows:
SAWTELLE BLVD, BETWEEN SEPULVEDA BLVD AND THE CREEK
EASTBOUND WESTBOUND
2003 85
th
PERCENTILE SPEEDS 39.7 37.8
Absent new traffic data, it is staff’s opinion that the existing posted speed limit on
Sawtelle Boulevard is appropriate.
Having determined that Sawtelle Boulevard is compliant with standard engineering
practice, and that the Collision Rate is significantly below the Statewide expected
rate, the data indicate that the accident potential for Sawtelle Boulevard, between
Sepulveda Boulevard and Ballona Creek, is not excessive.
Nevertheless, if the City Council desires to discuss traffic mitigation actions that are
optional enhancements, staff provides the following list.
OPTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Intersections (without STOP signs or traffic
signal)
In the field of traffic engineering, there has been considerable thought given
to whether providing marked (painted) crosswalks increases or decreases
pedestrian safety at uncontrolled intersections (intersections without a traffic
signal or STOP sign). Research results since the early 70’s of a multi-year,
multi-location study suggests that marked crosswalks, without traffic control,
give pedestrians a false sense of security, (Herms, B. Pedestrian Crosswalk
Study: Accidents in Painted and Unpainted Crosswalks, Record No. 406,
Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board, 1972). According to this
research and more recent studies, this false sense of security often causes City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
pedestrians to step off the curb and into the roadway expecting drivers to
stop. At such crossing locations, pedestrians reduce their prudence, being
less cautious when crossing at uncontrolled marked crosswalks than at
uncontrolled locations where no marked crosswalks exist.
There is a diversity of opinion in the field of traffic engineering in regards to
this topic. For example, some research has suggested that the risk is about
equal at marked and unmarked crosswalks, while other research indicates
that the risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions is three times greater at marked
crosswalks than at unmarked crosswalks. Given this, the City has opted for
the more cautious approach to best protect pedestrians in Culver City. Over
the last three decades, the City’s policy has been that marked crosswalks
may be installed only in conjunction with warranted STOP signs or warranted
traffic signals. In accordance with this policy, in the 70’s and 80’s, the City
removed marked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections.
Therefore, it is not recommended that crosswalks be painted independent of
traffic control.
2. Speed Humps and Speed Tables
Speed Humps are 12 feet wide in the direction of travel, and Speed Tables
are 22 feet wide; both are almost three inches high, and may be installed on
streets that are less than 40 feet wide from curb-to-curb. These physical
devices are intended for residential streets and not for arterial roads, such as
Sawtelle Boulevard.
Often, speed tables are used on residential streets that have a bus route
because they cause a less abrupt vertical deflection. Generally, our
experience in Culver City shows that speed humps reduce the 85th percentile
speeds to near the 25 miles per hour speed limit on residential streets, and
speed tables reduce speeds to about 30 miles per hour.
These devices are not appropriate for secondary arterial streets. Staff does
not recommend them for Sawtelle Boulevard.
3. Transverse Rumble Strip and 35 MPH Pavement Legend and Hill Blocks
View signage.
Rumble strips are created with a series of raised pavement markers in the
roadway. They give the motorist audible and tactile warning of a special
traffic situation ahead, such as the need to reduce speed. Although sizes
vary, rumble strips may be created by a series of three- or four-inch diameter City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
ceramic circles, with a dome-shaped top that is about ¾ of an inch in height,
epoxied onto the roadway surface in rows and columns, and cover an area of
50 to 60 feet, installed at four- to six-foot intervals.
Transverse Rumble Strips could be used in advance of the bridge, to call
drivers to attention and make them aware of the visibility near the vertical
curve at the bridge. For the eastbound approach to the bridge, if this
approach is desired by the City Council, staff would need to request the Los
Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to install the transverse
rumble strips in their jurisdiction for eastbound traffic. To complement the
transverse rumble strip, a “35 MPH” pavement legend can be installed
approximately 100 feet past the Transverse Rumble Strip, and “Hill Blocks
View” and advisory speed limit signs could be installed.
Although Traverse rumble strips can be effective tools, when used in certain
locations, not all locations are appropriate for their installation. Traverse
rumble strips cause noise every time a vehicle drives over them. The noise
can be a disturbance to the surrounding residential neighborhood. For this
reason, staff does not recommend the installation of transverse rumble strips.
4. All-Way STOP Control, Red Flashing Beacon, and Marked Crosswalk on
Sawtelle Boulevard at McDonald Street
The basic purpose of STOP signs is to assign the right-of-way at
intersections. The prerequisite to installing a STOP sign is that the location
must meet the State of California’s warrants (justification criteria), as set forth
in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD), Section
2B.05. Included among several other criteria is a requirement that (1) a
minimum of 300 vehicles enter the intersection from both approaches of the
major road, during each of any eight hours during a typical day, and (2) that
200 units (vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians) enter the intersection from
both approaches of the minor road, for the same eight hours. STOP signs
work best at intersections of two streets that are about equal in traffic volume.
Another criterion is the presence of a crash problem, as evidenced by five or
more reported crashes that are susceptible to correction by STOP sign
installation, such as right angle accidents and accidents caused by left-turn
violations in the previous 12-month period.
These criteria are a relatively high volume and crash history that are not met
in most Culver City intersections, and the criteria to justify STOP sign control
at the intersection of McDonald Street/Sawtelle Boulevard are not met.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The installation of unwarranted STOP signs, for purposes other than right-of-
way assignment, such as to control the speed of traffic, have been found to
have the following characteristics:
A. They don’t reduce speeds, except in the immediate vicinity of the
STOP signs;
B. Because of the lack of side street traffic, they are frequently violated by
drivers who don’t stop or just roll through;
C. Are detrimental to safety in their vicinity;
D. Increase speeds between STOP signs, according to before and after
studies, as drivers try to make up for lost time;
E. May decrease compliance at warranted STOP signs; and
F. May increase the City’s risk of exposure to tort liability.
The use of STOP signs for speed control is not supported by the CA MUTCD.
For the reasons indicated, staff does not recommend the installation of STOP
signs on Sawtelle Boulevard at McDonald Street.
The CA MUTCD, Section 2B.07 Option C, provides that “Locations where a
road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to
negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to
stop” may be considered in an engineering study, to determine if STOP
control is appropriate. While the vertical curvature at the bridge over Ballona
Creek causes a special circumstance that impacts seeing conflicting cross
traffic and therefore allows for further consideration of a STOP sign
installation, it is the same qualifying condition that causes staff to be
concerned about placing STOP signs at McDonald Street.
If a STOP sign were installed at this intersection, traffic on eastbound
Sawtelle Boulevard approaching the bridge may not see cars stopped past
the vertical curvature in time to come to a complete stop. Staff is concerned
that there may be an increased incidence of rear-end collisions if a STOP
sign were installed. Further, a car that is impacted from behind may be
pushed into the crosswalk and potentially collide with crossing pedestrians.
Additionally, during past NTMP efforts, the residents of McDonald Street had
expressed concerns regarding cut-through traffic, in spite of small islands that
make a right turn challenging and signage that prohibits right-turns.
Because of the above reasons, staff does not recommend the installation of
STOP signs and the painting of marked crosswalks at this location.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
However, there are a number of improvements that staff recommends due to the
undesirable sight-distance caused by the vertical curvature of the bridge, and they are
listed at the end of the following section.
OPTIONS FOR DISCUSSION – ITEMS RECOMMENDED
5. Post Additional Regulatory Speed Limit Signs
The installation of additional regulatory speed limit signs would remind drivers
of the legal posted speed limit on Sawtelle Boulevard. If drivers are more
aware of the speed limit, they are more likely to comply with it. Nevertheless,
these types of signs do not have a significant impact on driver behavior, by
themselves. Motorists drive at speeds that they consider reasonable,
comfortable, and safe, under the existing conditions, at the time.
The City Council may wish to consider this option in conjunction with other
options in this section.
6. Install Flashing Beacon Over the Existing Speed Feed-Back Signs
Speed Feed-Back signs with flashing beacons have been shown to influence
the reduction of speeds for only a period of time. Flashing beacons could be
installed over the existing Speed Feed-Back signs. Because over time, the
effect is reduced, the City Council may wish to consider this option in
conjunction with other options in this section.
7. Stripe Bicycle Lanes on Sawtelle Boulevard
Narrower travel lanes have been found to reduce motorists’ speeds. Sawtelle
Boulevard could be striped with a bicycle lane in each direction, from near
Sepulveda Boulevard to Ballona Creek, with the goal of making connections
to existing bike facilities, such as to 1) the Ballona Creek Class I bicycle path,
via the access gate on Culver Drive, located west of the bridge and south of
Sawtelle, at the intersection with Purdue Avenue; 2) the goal of connecting to
the Class I Culver Boulevard Bike Path to the west, and 3) to Sepulveda
Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard to the east.
The lane assignments and roadway profile could be: 7.5’ parking lane + 5’
bike lane + 10.5’ travel lane + 10’ painted two-way lane + 10.5’ travel lane + 5’
bike lane + 7.5’ parking lane, for a total of 56’ curb-to-curb roadway width.
This treatment would require the removal of the existing edge striping,
diagonal pavement arrows, and the restriping of the two-way left turn lane. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The City Council may wish to consider this option in conjunction with other
options in this section.
8. Install Speed-Reduction Striping
The 2012 CA MUTCD, Section 3-B.22, contains a new striping treatment for
speed-reduction, which causes the perception of traveling at high speeds and
is designed to encourage a reduction of traveling speeds. This perception is
created by striping rectangular pavement markings progressively closer to
each other over a length of road where speed reduction is desirable. (See
the graphic below.) Speed-Reduction Striping could be installed on the
eastbound direction of Sawtelle Boulevard, between McDonald Avenue and City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Hayter Avenue and on a westbound direction between the alley near
Sepulveda Boulevard and Blanco Way.
The City Council may wish to consider this option in conjunction with other
options in this section.
9. Install Traffic Signal and High Visibility Marked Crosswalk on Sawtelle
Boulevard at the off-set intersection of Blanco Way-Hayter Avenue
The CA MUTCD, Chapter 4C, establishes the State warrants that must be
met to justify a signal installation. Based on traffic data collected during
previous NTMP efforts, staff’s experience with the neighborhood, and
observations of traffic and pedestrian patterns across Sawtelle Boulevard,
“Warrant 5 – School Crossing” and “Warrant 6 – Coordinated Signal System”
are satisfied.
Based on the above CA MUTCD Warrants being satisfied, and staff’s
engineering judgment, a traffic signal is justified at the offset intersection of
Blanco Way-Hayter Avenue/Sawtelle Boulevard. Additionally, high visibility
marked crosswalks would be installed with the traffic signal. However,
constructing a traffic signal is not within the current fiscal year’s funding; it will
need to be programmed for next fiscal year, or for when the City Council
considers it appropriate.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
In the interim, staff proposes that a three-way STOP be installed on Sawtelle
Boulevard at Hayter Avenue until a traffic signal is constructed. The CA
MUTCD supports this progressive effort in Section 2B.07 Multi-Way Stop
Applications, subparagraph A: “Where traffic control signals are justified, the
multi-way stop is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control
traffic while arrangements are being made for the installation of the traffic
control signal.”
A three-way STOP and high visibility crosswalks could be installed within the
next two weeks without flashing red beacons, or within the next three months
with flashing red beacons, but contingent upon the hiring a contractor for the
installation of poles and beacons. Additionally, STOP AHEAD signs would be
installed on each approach to the new proposed interim STOP.
PW/Engineering has contracts with a few engineering firms to be used on an
on-call basis, when their services are needed. When funding has been
secured, one of these on-call engineering firms can be retained to do the
signal design and preparation of specifications during the first half of the fiscal
year in which funding is allocated for a new traffic signal, and a contractor can
be hired to construct the traffic signal during the second half of that fiscal
year.
When the traffic signal is installed, the proposed operation of the signal would
be to “rest in green” for Sawtelle traffic. When the approaching traffic travels
at a speed of 40 mph or greater, the signal would turn red, and remain in red
for approximately 8 seconds. This red time is sufficient to discourage
speeding, while brief enough to not encourage cut-through traffic to escape to
side streets due to the perceived delay. The signal would be caused to turn
red by the installation of two sets of loop detectors that the signal controller
would use to calculate the approach speed of traffic. If the approach speed is
less than 37.5 mph, the signal would remain in green. (The 2.5 mph
tolerance above the posted speed limit is to accommodate speedometer
variances in calibration). The advantage to this type of signal would be that
the signal would minimize disruption to traffic flow on Sawtelle, help to reduce
the average speed of vehicles while providing for minor street and pedestrian
crossings when called for.
Signage would be installed on both approaches, indicating that the signal is
timed to 35 mph.
From a pedestrian perspective, a traffic signal (and the interim three-way
STOP) at Hayter Avenue would accommodate children and adults who walk
or bike to and from El Marino School on the most direct common route to and City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
from school, plus provide opportunities for others to cross at a mid-point on
this segment of Sawtelle Boulevard.
Concerns regarding traffic volume increase on Hayter Avenue
As mentioned earlier in this report, when the idea of a traffic signal at Blanco
Way was discussed over the last 15 years, several residents on Hayter
Avenue expressed concerns that there will be an increase of cut-through
traffic from eastbound Sawtelle Boulevard to southbound Hayter Avenue, to
eastbound Berryman Avenue, and then, to Sepulveda Boulevard. This
potential cut-through traffic route, unlike other residential intersections with
Sawtelle Boulevard that have peak-hour turn restrictions, could not be
mitigated with peak-hour turn restriction signs because Hayter Avenue is a
common route for traffic to and from El Marino School.
A related concern expressed by Hayter residents when a traffic signal was
proposed on Sawtelle Boulevard at Hayter Avenue was that traffic may
increase on Hayter Avenue, as drivers from within Sunkist Park will use it to
gain access to Sawtelle Boulevard.
The City Council may wish to consider this option in conjunction with other
options in this section.
10. Enhancements near the bridge
This item does not require City Council action and the items listed will be
pursued by staff for installation. They are listed here for your information.
A. To further discourage pedestrian crossings on Sawtelle Boulevard, at
McDonald Street, staff will install larger “NO PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING” signs to replace the two existing signs. Additionally, staff
will install two similar large signs, back-to-back, in the raised median,
facing pedestrians who might be considering crossing at McDonald.
B. Staff recommends that complementary signs be installed, below the
“NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING” signs, and that the new signs direct
El Marino school pedestrian traffic to cross at Hayter Avenue, if the
City Council directs the installation of a traffic signal and an interim
STOP sign and high visibility crosswalk.
C. Staff recommends that the curb face of the raised median on Sawtelle
Boulevard, at McDonald Street be repainted solid white with an
application of retroreflective glass beads. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
D. Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to contact the City
of Los Angeles and work with them to:
1. Post large “NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING” signs at the drive
approaches leading to the service driveways for La Ballona
Creek.
2. Post signs, in advance of the vertical curve at the bridge, that
indicate “HILL BLOCKS VIEW,” plus a complementary sign
advising a traveling speed of 25 MPH.
3. Paint a “25 MPH” advisory pavement legend, in advance of the
bridge.
E. An identical installation of items D.2 and D.3 will be installed in Culver
City for westbound traffic in advance of the vertical curve at the creek.
11. Increased Police enforcement on Sawtelle Boulevard
One final option, in conjunction with others or on its own, is for the City
Council to direct the Police Department to increase enforcement of traffic laws
on the subject segment of Sawtelle Boulevard.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The table below itemizes the recommended proposals and the estimated cost of
each. The items proposed may be installed individually or collectively, as per
Council’s direction. The amount of funding remaining in the Playa Vista/Sunkist
Park Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation account, funding eligible for these
improvements, is $259,577.22.
RECOMMENDED ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ESTIMATE
5. Post Additional Regulatory Speed Limit Signs on both
approaches of Sawtelle Boulevard;
$500
6. Install Flashing Beacon Over the two Existing Speed
Feed-Back Signs;
$3,000
7. Stripe Bicycle Lanes on Sawtelle Boulevard, from near
Sepulveda Boulevard to the City boundary near the
$15,000 City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
bridge of Ballona Creek;
8. Psycho-perceptive Striping – Speed-Reduction Striping
on both approaches of Sawtelle Boulevard, for the
segments proposed in the report;
$2,500
9. Option A: Interim three-way STOP sign and high
visibility marked crosswalks at Hayter Avenue/Sawtelle
Boulevard;
OR
$4,500
Option B: Interim three-way STOP sign, high visibility
marked crosswalks, and flashing red beacons on
Sawtelle Boulevard at Hayter Avenue; and
$19,500
10. Direct staff to explore if funding can be included in next
fiscal year’s budget, and direct the installation of a Traffic
Signal and High Visibility Marked Crosswalk on Sawtelle
Boulevard at the off-set intersection of Blanco Way-
Hayter Avenue, when funding has been secured, and the
removal of the interim three-way STOP control.
$325,000
The total cost of funding the recommended items 5 through 9A or 9B, during the
current fiscal year, is from $25,500 to $40,500, depending on if Item 9A or 9B is
directed by the City Council. There are sufficient funds available to fund either
amount in Sunkist Park/Playa Vista Mitigation Fund account; however, a budget
amendment appropriating the funds will be required.
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the various options presented by staff and provide staff with appropriate
direction;
AND
2. Direct staff to install:
a. Item 5, posting of Regulatory Speed Limit Signs;
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
b. Item 6, installation of yellow flashing beacons over the two existing Speed Feed-
Back signs;
c. Item 7, the striping of bicycle lanes;
d. Item 8, the striping of psycho-perceptive speed-reducing striping; AND
3.A. Direct staff to explore if funding can be included in next fiscal year’s budget, and
direct the installation of a traffic signal and high visibility marked crosswalks on Sawtelle
Boulevard, at the off-set intersection of Blanco Way-Hayter Avenue, when funding has
been secured, and the removal of the interim three-way STOP control; AND
3.B. If staff is directed to install a traffic signal and high visibility marked crosswalks,
then, as an Interim measure,
3.B.i. Item 9, Option A: Direct staff to install Interim All-Way STOP control
and marked high visibility crosswalks; OR
3.B.ii. Item 9, Option B: Direct staff to install Interim All-Way STOP control,
flashing red beacons, and marked high visibility crosswalks;
AND
4. Approve a budget amendment and appropriation of funds from the Sunkist
Park/Playa Vista Mitigation Fund, not to exceed $25,500 if Items 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
Option A are directed for installation; or $40,500 if Items 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 Option B
are directed for installation, in the 2012-2013 fiscal year (a budget amendment
requires a 4/5 vote).