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CC (1) Discussion and Review of Options for the Closure of Main Street, Between Culver Boulevard and the City Boundary South of Venice Boulevard, and the Installation of Bollards; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: January 24, 2022
Contact Person: Andrew Maximous/Public Works Department
310-253-5628
Public Hearing: [ ] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [ ]
Fiscal Impact: [X] General Fund: [X]
Public Notice: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/20/2022)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (01/12/2022)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) discuss and review options for the closure of Main Street, between Culver Boulevard and the city boundary south of Venice Boulevard, and the installation of bollards; and (2) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In July 2020, Main Street was closed to all vehicular traffic and made available for outdoor dining after temporary orders related to the Pandemic disallowed in-door dining at restaurants. In the spring of 2021, Los Angeles County reached yellow tier, the least restrictive level in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and the City staff started discussions regarding re-opening streets and businesses, including opening segments of roadways that had been closed to accommodate outdoor dining and social distancing.
On September 28, 2021, the Mobility, Traffic and Parking Subcommittee received a presentation from staff regarding options for the closure/opening of Main Street. The Subcommittee supported agendizing the topic for discussion to receive direction from the full City Council. This report presents options for discussion and direction.
Options
The options for the City Council’s consideration, including the Staff Recommendation (Option 1B), include:
1A) Closure of Main Street to all vehicular traffic at all times
This option preserves Main Street as a vehicle-free space that is dedicated for use by pedestrians, outdoor dining, and the weekly Farmers’ Market. Outdoor dining installations would be removed by each business every Tuesday for the Farmers’ Market.
1B) Closure of Main Street to all vehicular traffic on Tuesdays and weekends (Staff Recommendation)
This option would close Main Street to all vehicular traffic every Friday at 5 pm and reopen following Monday by 6 am. In addition, the roadway would be closed during the Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 12 pm to 9 pm, and optionally, during special events permitted by the City. Two travel lanes (one in each direction) would be provided at all other times.
This option would preserve curb-side outdoor dining on both sides of the street by removing all 19 on-street parking spaces (10 on the west side and 9 on the east side). All traffic barricades used to protect the outdoor dining spaces from travel lanes would require removal on Tuesdays for the Farmers’ Market, and the outdoor dining installations would be removed by each business.
Or
2A) Removal of on-street parking along Main Street and allow outdoor dining at all times
This option would remove on-street parking spaces and preserve curb-side outdoor dining on both sides of the street and restore two travel lanes (one in each direction) at all times.
As with Option 1B, all traffic barricades used to protect the outdoor dining spaces from traffic lanes would require removal on Tuesdays for the Farmers’ Market, and the outdoor dining installations would be removed by each business. Main Street would be fully closed on Tuesdays from 12 pm to 9 pm for the Farmers’ Market.
Or
2B) Removal of on-street parking along Main Street on select days of the week
This option would allow for outdoor dining to occur on select days of the week as described in Option 2A but allow for on-street parking on other days of the week.
Main Street would be fully closed on Tuesdays from 12 pm to 9 pm for the Farmers’ Market.
Or
3) Restore Main Street to all vehicular traffic with on-street parking
This option would restore Main Street to the configuration that was in place prior to the pandemic. This option does not preserve space for outdoor dining installations within the roadway. If this option is selected, the Farmer’s Market would continue to occur on Tuesdays, with full closure of Main Street.
With the anticipated changes associated with the lifting of pandemic restrictions and the recent re-configuration of Culver Boulevard, Staff recommends Option 1B.
Roadway Barricades
A desire for the installation of roadway barricades was discussed by the Mobility, Traffic & Parking Subcommittee. Types of barricades include manually retractable bollards, automatic hydraulic/mechanical bollards, or vehicle arresting barriers. (A vehicle arresting barrier is a traffic-rated net with cables running across the top and bottom that is designed to catch and stop vehicles without causing serious injury to the driver.) For both types of bollards, City staff would be required to raise and lower them to ensure the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic.
Under Options 1A and 1B, the roadway barricades would be installed along the City boundary at the north end of Main Street and just north of the marked pedestrian crosswalk at the north side of the Culver Boulevard intersection. It is unlikely that the City of Los Angeles would authorize the closure of Bagley Avenue south of Venice Boulevard with bollards within their jurisdiction. However, if the City Council directs the installation of bollards at Venice Boulevard, City staff will contact the City of Los Angeles to explore the idea, and what conditions of approval they would impose, if permitted.
Under Options 1B, 2A and 2B, the middle portion of the roadway barricades could be used on full closure days (weekends and Farmers’ Market Tuesdays) while the outside barricades in front of the outdoor dining installations would remain in place at all times.
Under Option 3, the roadway barricades would be used only during Farmer’s Market Tuesdays.
Timeline
The Option selected by the City Council can be pursued during fiscal year 2022-2023, contingent upon funding being allocated for this project during the upcoming budget process.
While implementation of the selected option occurs, staff also seeks the City Council’s direction on whether to maintain the existing closure.
FISCAL IMPACT
Direction provided to staff as part of this report does not have an immediate fiscal impact. However, staff will request funding through the upcoming FY 2022-2023 budget process to implement the City Council’s direction.
For planning purposes, the cost can vary greatly between the types of roadway barricades. The actual cost will depend on the final design. However, for purposes of discussion, staff feels that costs could be between $160,000 to $350,000 or more, at a spacing of approximately four feet between bollards. Additionally, there would be ongoing costs for maintenance, repairs/replacements, and staff time, all of which cannot be estimated at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Direct the City Manager to implement one of the following options:
a. Option 1A Closure of Main Street to all vehicular traffic all times; or
b. Option 1B Closure of Main Street to all vehicular traffic on Tuesdays and weekends (Staff Recommendation); or
c. Option 2A Remove on-street parking along Main Street and allow outdoor dining at all times; or
d. Option 2B Remove on-street parking along Main Street on select days of the week; or
e. Option 3 Restore Main Street to all vehicular traffic with on-street parking and
2. Direct the City Manager to install:
a. Manual bollards; or
b. Hydraulic/mechanical bollards; or
c. Vehicle arresting barriers.