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CC:BPAC - Approval of Revised Striping and Signage Plan for Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project (PZ553, BHLS 5240-026)
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Meeting Date: September 16, 2019
Contact Person/Dept: Sammy Romo/PW
Phone Number: (310) 253-5619
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/10/19);
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (09/04/19)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee approve a revised striping and signage plan for the Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project (PZ553, BHLS 5240-026) will replace the existing 3-lane bridge with a new 4-lane bridge, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. Also a new bicycle ramp from Higuera Street to the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path will be constructed.
The City Council directed staff to explore the possibility of adding bicycle lane buffers and a left turn lane for northbound bicyclists to turn onto the proposed bicycle ramp. The design consultant revised the signing and striping plan to include buffers between the bicycle lanes and traffic lanes for both southbound and northbound directions, as well as added a northbound left-turn pocket for bicyclists to access the ramp. Staff presented the revised plan at the recent Mobility, Parking, and Traffic Subcommittee meeting. After discussion with staff, the Subcommittee approved the bicycle lane buffers but did not recommend adding a left turn lane for bicyclists for the following reasons:
1. Northbound bicyclists would need to exit the buffered bike lane, dodge raised delineators in the buffered area and cross two auto traffic lanes before reaching the left turn queuing position in the center of the road;
2. Northbound motorists will not be expecting such movement by bicyclists, which may adversely impact safety conditions; and,
3. Since the left turn lane is approximately 80 feet south of the intersection of Eastham Drive and Higuera Street, westbound motorists making a left turn from Eastham Drive onto Higuera Street would unexpectedly encounter bicyclists turning across southbound Higuera Street into the bicycle ramp. Similarly, such an unexpected traffic conflict location could potentially negatively impact safety conditions.
Instead, the Subcommittee recommended placing signage along northbound Higuera Street to guide bicyclists to cross at the signalized intersection of Eastham Drive and Higuera Street. Sign wording would say: ‘Bicycles use crosswalk to access Ballona Creek Bicycle Path.’ Additionally, the Subcommittee recommended a push button (similar to a pedestrian push button) for bicyclists to cross Higuera Street at Eastham Drive.
The Subcommittee recommended that staff present the revised striping revisions along with its recommendations to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for its consideration.
If the City Council and BPAC approve the striping and signage revisions per the Mobility, Parking, and Traffic Subcommittee recommendations, staff would include it with the overall project plans. Staff will then return to City Council to approve the revised plans at its meeting in October or November this year. Construction of the bridge is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The additional striping and signage would have minimal construction cost increases to the overall project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2019-09-16_ATT- Higuera Bridge Striping With Left Turn Pocket
2. 2019-09-16_ATT- Higuera Bridge Striping With Signage and Without Left Turn Pocket
MOTION
That the City Council and BPAC:
Approve the signing and striping plan for the Higuera Street Bridge Project (PZ553, BHLS 5240-026) to include bicycle lane buffers and roadway signage directing bicyclists to cross Higuera Street at the nearby signalized intersection with Eastham Drive.