CITY OF GLENDALE CALIFORNIA

CITY OF GLENDALE CALIFORNIA JOINT REP 0 R T TO CIT Y C 0 U N C I L [, March 29, 2005 REDEVEWPMENT AGENCY AGENDA ITEM Agenda Item: Information Report...
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CITY OF GLENDALE CALIFORNIA JOINT REP 0 R T TO CIT Y C 0 U N C I L [, March 29, 2005

REDEVEWPMENT AGENCY

AGENDA ITEM Agenda Item: Information Report on Construction of an Opening in the Ban-ier Center Median at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersection and to Install Traffic Signals at Brand Boulevard's Intersections with Garfield Avenue, Lomita Avenue, and Palmer Avenue, COUNCIL ACTION

Public Hearing

D

Ordinance

D

Consent Calendar

D

Action Item

[8J

Report Only

D

Approved for March 29, 2005 calendar

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION

Signature Submitted Stephen M, Zurn, Director of Public Works .. ,.,,,,,,,,.:,,.,,,, "",," '1,J-\*1-'i Prepared Jano Baghdanian, Traffic & Transportation Administrator."." ... Approved

James E, Starbird, City Manager."."."""" Reviewed Christina Sansone, Senior Assistant City Attorney,. RECOMMENDATION

Staff respectfully requests the City Council's direction regarding the design and potential construction of an opening in the barrier cenler median at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection, and the desigo and installation of traffic signals at Brand Boulevard's intersections with Garfield Avenue, Lomita Avenue, and Palmer Avenue. As part of the City Council's consideration, staff has provided preliminary cost estimates for each of these potential improvements.

SUMMARY At the joint meeting of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency on November 30, 2004, the City Council directed staff to provide preliminary cost estimates for the following street improvements on Brand Boulevard: •

Construct an opening in the barrier center median on Brand Boulevard at Palmer Avenue and install a traffic signal at this intersection;



Install a traffic signal at the intcrscction of Brand Boulevard and Lomita Avenue; and



Install a traffic signal at the intersection of Brand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue.

FISCAL IMPACT Regarding the design and constructioll ofthe opening in the barrier center mediall at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection (estimated cost of approximately $140, 000), no funding currently is available for this purpose. As a result, a special appropriation by the City Council would be required. The construction of the traffic signal at Brand Boulevard at Palmer Avenue is estimated to cost $175,000. Currently in the Capital Improvement Program Account No. 402-501-0000-51379 ("New Traffic Signal 03-04") and Account No. 402-501-0000-51445 ("New Traffic Signal 0405") there is $200,000 in existing funds. These funds were programmed for installation of traffic si:;nals on the traffic signal priority list. The design and construction of the remaining traffic signals at Brand Boulevard and Lomita Avenue and at Brand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue are estimated to cost $350,000. These locations are not currently budgeted and would require a special appropriation as well. BACKGROUND At the j oint meeting of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency, staff was directed to provide preliminary cost estimates for a median opening at the intersection of Brand Boulevard at Palmer Avenue and installation of traffic signals at Brand Boulevard's intersections with Garfield Avenue, Lomita Avenue, and Palmer Avenue. Each of these improvements is discussed below: Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersection Improvements

Construct an Opening in the Barrier Cel1ter Median at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersection The cost to design and construct an Dpening in the barrier center median at Palmer Avenue is estimated by Public Works-Engineering to be approximately $140,000 based upon current construction costs. Included in this estimate is $10,000 for the removal and salvaging of the existing in-roadway pedestrian warning lights Dn the south leg of Brand Boulevard; however, excluded from this estimate is the cost of $10,000 to re-install these lights at a different location in the city. Page 2 of 5

As conceptually illustrated on Exhibit A, the construction of this median opening would entail: •

The construction of a northbound left-turn lane and a southbound left-turn lane on Brand Boulevard. The northbound and southbound left-turn lanes would contain approximately 75 feet of storage/queuing space and a standard 60-foot-Iong taper. These dimensions are considered to be minimal for an arterial street at a signalized intersection, but they are comparable to existing left-tum lanes at other "minor" streets intersecting Brand Boulevard south of Colorado Street.



The accommodation of left-turn, right-turn, and through movements on all four intersection approaches;



The accommodation of pedestrian movements on all four intersection legs;



The elimination of two auto dealer monument signs (one north of Palmer Avenue and one south of Palmer Avenue); and



The elimination five street trees in the barrier median (two north of Palmer Avenue and three south of Palmer Avenue).

Install a Traffic Signal a/the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersection The cost to design and install a traffic signal at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection is estimated by Public Works-Traffic & Transportation to be approximately $175,000 based upon current construction costs. (Note: As discussed later herein, the current traffic conditions at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection do not satisfy any of the II warrants for signalization recommended by Caltrans. These traffic conditions principally involve minimum thresholds of vehicle traffic volumes, pedestrian traffic volumes, and accident history.) Construct an Opening in the Barrier Center A1edian and Install Traffic Signal at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersec/ion Based upon currcnt construction costs, a total cost of approximately $315,000 is estimated to design and construct an opening in the barrier center mcdian (including opposing left-tum Janes on Brand Boulevard) and, moreover, to design and install a traffic signal at the Brand BoulevardPalmer Avenue intersection. These two improvements would significantly improve Fire Station No. 22 's access to southwest Glendale (Fire Station No. 22 is located one block east of Brand Boulevard in the southwest corner of the Glendale Avenue-Palmer Avenue intcrsection). Furthermore, whereas a traffic signal is 1101 currently warranted per criteria recommended by Caltrans, these improvements nevertheless would enhance overall vehicle 'and pedestrian circulation to-from the commercial areas and rcsidential neighborhoods located east and west of Brand Boulevard in this corridor.

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Lastly, with the creation of a signalized, full-movement Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection, traftic increases on Palmer Avenue arc conceivable. Such traffic increases have the potential of significantly and adversely impacting the intersection of Central Avenue-Palmer Avenue and/or the intersection of Glendale Avenue-Palmer Avenue, neither of which is currently signalized. Depending upon the ultimate impacts, modifications may be warranted at one or both of these intersections. Possible modifications could include, but not necessarily be limited to, imposing turning-movement restrictions on Palmer Avenue; removing on-street parking on Palmer Avenue (near Central Avenue and/or Glendale Avenue) to provide an additional travel lane; and installing a traffic signal. Therefore, following the possible completion of the improvements at the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue intersection, staff (Police and Public Works-Traffic & Transportation) would monitor traffic conditions at Palmer Avenue's intersections with both Central Avenue and Glendale Avenue to determine if modifications are required at either location. Brand Boulevard-Lomita Avenue Traffic Signal The cost to design and install a traffic signal at the Brand Boulevard-Lomita Avenue intersection is estimated by Public Works-Traffic & Transportation to be approximately $175,000 based upon CUlTent construction costs. Although current traffic conditions at the Brand Boulevard-Lomita Avenue intersection do not satisfy any of the 11 warrants for signalization recommended by Caltrans, the installation of a traffic signal nevertheless would enhance overall vehicle and pedestrian circulation to-from the commercial areas and residential neighborhoods located cast and west of Brand Boulevard. Brand Boulevard-Garfield Avenue Traffic Signal The cost to design and install a traffic signal at the Brand Boulevard-Garfield Avenue intersection is estimated by Public Works-Traffic & Transportation to be approximately $175,000 based upon current construction costs. Although current traffic conditions at the Brand Boulevard-Garfield Avenue intersection do not satisfy any of the II warrants for signalization recommended by Caltrans, the installation of a trallic signal nevertheless would cnhance overall vehicle and pedestrian circulation to-from the commercial areas and residential neighborhoods located east and west of Brand Boulevard.

Traffic Signal Priority List In addition to the three unsignalized intersections discussed above, thcre are othcr unsignalizcd intersections in the city that satisfy at least one of Caltrans' 11 traffic-signal warrants. These Caltrans warrants consider vehicle traffic volumes, pedestrian traffic volumes, and accident history, and an intersection's satisfaction of one or more of these warrants may justify the installation of a traffic signal. The following four intersections satisfy Caltran's signal warrants and construction funding has been allocated through state and federal grants. Installations of traffic signals at the following locations are expcctcd to enhancc pedestrian and school safety: Page 4 of 5

• • • •

Verdugo Road-Harvard Street (Community Development Block Grant); Chevy Chase Drive-Garfield Avenue (Community Development Block Grant); Colorado Street-Campus Street (Hazard Elimination and Safety Grant); and Chevy Chase Drive between Boynton Street and La Boice Drive (Transportation Development Act)

There are nine other unsignalized intersections that also satisfy Caltran's signal warrants but for which funding is largely insufficient. Because a traffic signal cost approximately $75,000 to $100,000 to design and install in the 1990s, the city's Capital Improvement Program ("CIP") historically has been unable to fund every warranted signal installation. As a result, a need to prioritize the city's traffic-signal installations has been required. And considering the cost of a traffic signal has increased from $100,000-125,000 to $150,000-200,000 within the last year, an even greater shortfall in ClP-based funding exists. However, the priDritized need tD signalize the following currently unfunded intersectiDns remains: • • • • • • • • •

Doran Street-Balboa Avenue; WilsDn Avenue-Kenwood Street; Monterey Road-Geneva Street; Monterey Road-Jackson Street; Monterey Road-Louise Street; Chevy Chase Drive-Harvard Street; BrDadway-Kenwood Street; Chevy Chase Drive-Harvey Drive; and ColoradD Street-Orange Street.

The CDst to design and install traffic signals at these nine intersections is estimated by Public Works-Traffic & Transportation to be approximately $1,575,000 based upon current cDnstruction costs and has to be programmed into the City's future Capital Improvement Program. As part Df the Annual Capital Improvement Program budget, staff submits a request for the design and constructiDn of traffic signals. In the last two fiscal years, only a total of $200,000 has been approved fDr the construction of traffic signals. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ("CEQA") REVIEW The proposed improvements, including three traffic signal installatiDns and the opening of a ban'ier center median, are considered to be Categorical Exemptions as defined in Section 1530 I (Existing Facilities) of CEQA. Specifically, these are Class I CategDrieal Exemptions involving the minor alteration of existing public facilities. Further, the project would involve a negligible expansion of an existing use. The three signalized intersections would function in a Il1aIUler consistent with other similar intersections in the immediate vicinity as well as other locations within the city. EXHIBITS Exhibit A - Conceptual Design of the Brand Boulevard-Palmer Avenue Intersection With an Opening in the Barrier Center Median.

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MOT ION

Moved by Council Member seconded by Council Member

that the

Council hereby directs Public Works staff to prepare plans and specifications and identify sources of funding for [the construction of an opening in the barrier center median on Brand Boulevard at Palmer Avenue and traffic signal] [installing traffic signals at the intersections of Brand Boulevard and Lomita Avenue and Brand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue] .

Vote as follows: Ayes: Noes: Absent: Abstain:

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,r.tdian Brnntl ancllnffic signal> 111m, wpel

, A

REQUIRED REMOVAL OF IN·ROADWAY PEDESTRIAN WARNING LIGHTS "