TC - Item 3A - Walnut Grove Avenue Safe Routes to School Grant Program - Status Report and Parking ModificationsROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
TO: TRAFFIC COMMISSION
FROM: CHRIS MARCARELLO, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 2, 2013
SUBJECT: WALNUT GROVE AVENUE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT
PROGRAM- STATUS REPORT AND PARKING MODIFICATIONS
SUMMARY
The City has been working on a pedestrian safety and traffic calming enhancement project
on Walnut Grove Avenue, between Marshall Street and Valley Boulevard. A portion of this
project is funded through the Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program grant, with a
total grant award of $750,000. Remaining project costs will be funded through
transportation and street lighting monies, with a minimum required City matching
contribution of at least 10% ($75,000).
The project includes the installation of raised landscaped medians, lighting fixtures, new
traffic safety striping, signage, and traffic signal improvements. These improvements will
complement the existing landscaped medians and slopes at Walnut Grove Avenue and the
Interstate 10 Freeway. The project is designed to help reduce vehicle speeding as well as
deter jay-walking across this busy arterial roadway.
In order to accommodate the construction of the proposed medians, parking restrictions will
need to be added on the west side of the street. The medians, as designed, will allow for
parking to remain on the east side of the street. Staff and the City's design consultant have
reviewed and surveyed the existing parking conditions along Walnut Grove Avenue. Field
observations indicate that parking demand on the west side of the street is low due to
available on- street parking on several adjacent residential streets.
Staff Recommendation
That the Traffic Commission recommend to the City Council that parking restrictions be
added along the west side of Walnut Grove Avenue, in between Marshall Street and Valley
Boulevard, in order to accommodate a raised landscaped median that will help increase
pedestrian and traffic safety in the area.
DISCUSSION
As part of the Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program grant, the City applied for
competitive grant funding to improve pedestrian and traffic safety along Walnut Grove
Avenue, from Marshall Street to Valley Boulevard. Based on traffic studies and accident
statistics, it was determined that this area of Walnut Grove Avenue is in need of traffic
safety improvements. In addition, there are two elementary schools in close proximity to
the street, further necessitating the need to install traffic safety improvements.
Traffic Commission Meeting
May 2, 2013
Page 2 of 3
Proposed improvements include the installation of raised landscaped medians, additional
lighting fixtures, new traffic safety striping, signage, and traffic signal improvements. Once
finished, it is expected that these improvements will help slow traffic on Walnut Grove and
create a safer pedestrian crossing area at the intersection of Walnut Grove Avenue and
Marshall Street. Additional enhancements will also be installed directly adjacent to schools,
including sidewalks, flashing signage, and bulb outs. The improvements will also help to
beautify this area and create a welcoming corridor as vehicles head northbound towards
Valley Boulevard.
Walnut Grove Avenue is a main north /south thoroughfare within the City. The street is sixty -
two (62) feet wide, has two lanes of travel in each direction, and has a posted speed of 40
(40) miles per hour. Currently, there is a center lane to allow for turning movements into the
adjacent residential streets. As designed, the proposed median will contain intersection
breaks to allow northbound vehicles to make left turns onto Norwood Place, Shea Place,
Ralph Street, and Guess Street. This will continue to allow residents direct access to their
neighborhood streets.
The proposed median will be 12 feet wide at its widest point, requiring that one lane of
parking be removed in order to accommodate the median and maintain the four existing
travel lanes. City staff its design consultant reviewed the parking conditions for the segment
of Walnut Grove Avenue, between Marshall Street and Valley Boulevard, and determined
that parking on this segment, especially the west side of the street, is sparsely used.
Parking counts were taken twice a day for a week and the number of vehicles parked on
the east side of the street outnumbered those on the West side by nearly a three to one
ratio. The table below summarizes the parking counts that were observed in this area.
1�XY
Monday, April 8
West grcl�cf.
f;tr�e1� _ M
0
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Tuesday, April 9
5
5
16
7
Wednesday, April 10
4
2
18
8
Thursday, April 11
0
5
11
9
Friday, April 12
7
1
15
11
Saturday, April 13
5
4
9
6
Sunday, April 14
3
6
12
9
Totals
24
26
8 1
57
After review of the project and consideration of additional parking restrictions the plans for
this project will be finalized and sent to the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) for review and approval. Since this project is utilizing Federal grant monies, it is
necessary that the City obtain an authorization to proceed from Caltrans prior to initiating
Traffic Commission Meeting
May 2, 2013
Page 3 of 3
construction work. It is anticipated that construction will begin in fall 2013 and take forty-five
(45) days to complete. Attachment 2 is an artist's rendering of the finished project.
In addition, residents were hand delivered notification postcards of the proposed
improvements and parking restrictions. All residential properties directly adjacent to Walnut
Grove Avenue received notifications.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Funding for this project was approved as part of the City's Capital Improvement Program
Budget. The City obtained a grant from the Federal Safe Routes to School 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.
Adjacent residents were also notified of the proposed improvements.
Submitted by:
-- C fw// -
SWAllivan
Management Analyst
Submitted by:
Oz
Chris arcarello
Director of Public Works
Attachments:
(1) Conceptual Layout and Engineer's Assessment
(2) Conceptual Renderings
(3) Resident Notification
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