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CC - Consideration of the Expo to Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study and Direction Staff to Take Specific Actions to Further the Development of this Concept and Advance the Project to the Environmental and Engineering Phases.
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Meeting Date: June 12, 2017
Contact Person/Dept: Eric Bruins/Public Works Department
Phone Number: 310-253-5616
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: 01/19/17
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/07/17);
Department Approval: Charles Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (06/02/17)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Receive and file the Expo to Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study;
2. Consider directing staff to condition any future developments with a requirement to dedicate the right-of-way necessary to construct the recommended project;
3. Consider directing staff to coordinate additional community outreach and analysis with the TOD Visioning Study;
4. Consider directing staff to continue developing the project through environmental and engineering phases, contingent upon funding in the fiscal year 2017/18 budget; and
5. Consider directing staff to pursue grant funding opportunities to secure funding for construction.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City Council directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of connecting the Expo Station to Downtown Culver City with a high-quality bike facility. Project goals include: improving bicycle & pedestrian safety in the TOD District, promoting mobility options, increasing access to businesses and local destinations, and promoting community health and sustainability. In June 2016, the City retained TranspoGroup to develop project alternatives that would meet these goals.
TranspoGroup presented an initial concept proposal to the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on September 8, 2016. Based on feedback from the BPAC, TranspoGroup and City staff continued to develop the concept and engage with affected stakeholders. On January 7, 2017, the BPAC hosted a public workshop to gather additional stakeholder input and gauge public support for the proposed project. Approximately 50 people attended the workshop and an additional 19 people submitted comments via email. Additional information about community engagement is included in the attached report.
The recommended project would install a two-way protected bike lane on Washington Boulevard connecting to the Expo Bike Path at Wesley Street, the Expo Line station, and Town Plaza in Downtown Culver City. The project would also install a two-way protected bike lane on Robertson Boulevard from Washington to Venice Boulevard in order to connect the Washington facility to the Expo Phase II Bike Path north of Venice.
On January 19, 2017, the BPAC voted unanimously to support the recommended project concept after additional consultation with affected stakeholders between Ince and Robertson regarding turn lane and access issues. In February and March, staff completed additional outreach with both car dealerships and Sony Pictures. As a result of this supplemental outreach, staff has included a variation of the recommended project that maintains a center turn lane in front of the Sony Imageworks campus and the dealerships.
Additionally, if Council wishes to proceed, staff recommends further evaluation of two alternatives during preliminary engineering. These alternatives respond to concerns raised by stakeholders during the outreach process and merit additional study. One alternative would continue the protected bike lane on the south side of Washington through the entire project area, providing more direct access to the Arts District neighborhood on the south side of Washington. Another alternative would route the bikeway behind the Sony Imageworks campus via Higuera, Lindblade, and Ince, rather than across their front driveway on Washington. Additional analysis is needed to assess the tradeoffs associated with these alternatives. Staff would return to City Council with a recommendation for a final alignment at a future date.
Subsequent to the analysis and outreach conducted as part of this feasibility study, the City initiated a TOD Visioning Study that encompasses a similar project area. Public Works and Community Development have coordinated to ensure that the work completed as part of the Expo to Downtown Bicycle Connector is incorporated into the TOD Visioning Study process. The TOD Visioning Study has benefited from the geometric analysis and alternatives considered as part of the Connector Study. However, it is important to bear in mind that the TOD Visioning Study has yet to produce any recommendations.
If the Council gives direction to proceed with the Expo to Downtown Bicycle Connector, it is recommended that the proposed future engineering and environmental analysis phase would not begin until the conclusion of the TOD Visioning Study, anticipated in August, in an attempt to incorporate any applicable recommendations from that study into the Connector project. Continuing coordination between these parallel efforts is needed to ensure a coherent vision for mobility in the Washington Boulevard corridor.
For additional information about the recommended project, alternatives analysis, and community outreach process, please refer to the attached Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study report, published on May 17, 2017.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The recommended project has a preliminary cost estimate of between $2.7 and $3.75 million. Based on additional community input, the City may consider aesthetic enhancements that may increase this base cost.
If the Council wishes to proceed, staff recommends completing the environmental and engineering phases of this project to make it “shovel-ready” during next fiscal year. This work has been included in the Public Works Department’s FY 2017/18 work plan and budget request.
Concurrently, staff would create a funding plan that evaluates federal, state, and regional grant opportunities as well as City-controlled funding sources, such as the Capital Improvement Program, Measure R Local Return, and Measure M Local Return.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study
2. January 7th Public Workshop Boards
3. January 19th BPAC Presentation
4. Public Comments
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Receive and file the Expo to Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study and consider:
2. Directing staff to condition any future developments with a requirement to dedicate the right-of-way necessary to construct the recommended project;
3. Directing staff to coordinate additional community outreach and analysis with the TOD Visioning Study;
4. Directing staff to continue developing the project through environmental and engineering phases, contingent upon funding in the fiscal year 2017/18 budget;
5. Directing staff to pursue grant funding opportunities to secure funding for construction; and/or
6. Provide other direction as deemed appropriate.