CC - Item 7C - Rosemead Boulevard Highway Safety Improvement Program - Status Report:101 O N I
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER fi
DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
SUBJECT: ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM — STATUS REPORT
SUMMARY
As part of the City's Fiscal Year 2010 -11 Capital Improvement Program, the City
Council approved a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project which
involves traffic safety and calming enhancements along Rosemead Boulevard, from the
Union Pacific Railroad Underpass /North City limit to Mission Drive. This project is
funded primarily through the State of California HSIP Program, with a total approved
grant of $450,000 and required City matching contribution of at least 10% ($45,000).
The project includes the installation of wider crosswalks, pedestrian lighting, landscaped
parkways, new traffic safety striping, a bike lane, signage, countdown pedestrian
signals, and traffic signal improvements. Since Rosemead Boulevard is a State -owned
highway, the project was reviewed and supported by Caltrans. In addition, the Traffic
Commission reviewed and provided support for the proposed improvements.
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.
DISCUSSION
On September 3, 2010, Caltrans announced a call for projects for the HSIP Fiscal Year
2010/11 Grant Program. The goal of the HSIP program is to improve traffic safety on
streets and public right -of -way areas. The program has twenty -one project categories,
including intersection safety improvements, road widening projects, traffic calming
improvements, railroad crossing safety improvements, signage /marking /lighting
improvements, and traffic enforcement activities, among others.
Based on traffic studies and accident statistics, it was determined that this area of
Rosemead Blvd. is in need of traffic safety improvements. Improvements in this area
will help widen the existing sidewalk areas and add fencing along railroad crossing
areas, therefore eliminating pedestrian access across the railroad tracks. Pedestrian
lighting and landscaping will be added to beautify this significant City entrance point. In
addition, nearby intersections at Lower Azusa Road and Mission Drive will receive
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: ITEM NO.
City Council Meeting
September 13, 2011
Page 2 of 2
improvements including high visibility striping, traffic signal upgrades, and pedestrian
friendly countdown timer heads.
Coordination with Temple City /Timeline
Over the last several months, City staff has met with both Councilmembers and staff
from Temple City to coordinate improvements and beautification efforts in this shared
border area. As a result of these meetings, both cities have joined together with the
intent of creating a seamless transition with a similar landscape design, sidewalk widths,
bike lanes, and pedestrian lighting.
Due to the proposed project phasing with the Temple City portion of the project and
grant requirements with the Rosemead portion, it was decided that both cities would
execute separate construction contracts to complete improvement work. However both
cities have tentatively agreed to "mirror" each other with a similar finished look.
Attachment 1 is an artist's rendering of the finished project.
Due to the critical nature of these safety improvements and coordination efforts with
Temple City, it is necessary to provide the City Council with project details prior to
finalizing design plans and advertising this project for bids. As currently planned, staff
will begin advertising this project in late fall. It is expected that a contract award will be
recommended to the Council in January 2012 and then construction will begin in
February. It is estimated that work will take 45 days to complete.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Funding for this project was approved by the City Council as part of the City's FY 2010-
11 Capital Improvement Program Budget. The City obtained a grant from the State of
California HSIP Program to fund the majority of the planned improvements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Section 15304 (a) and (f) of the CEQA Implementing Guidelines.
This exemption covers projects involving minor alterations of land that do not have a
significant effect on the environment.
PUBLIC NOTICE
This agenda item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Attachments:
(1) Location Map /Rendering