HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2015 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.C. P LM Sp4
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. 104 City Council Staff Report
DATE: September 2, 2015 NEW BUSINESS
SUBJECT: APPROVE CLASS 2 BIKE LANES AND ELIMINATE ALL ON-STREET
PARKING ON EL CIELO ROAD, BETWEEN RAMON ROAD AND
TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY FOR THE BICYCLE CORRIDORS, PHASE 1,
CITY PROJECT NO. 13-32
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Public Works & Engineering Department
SUMMARY
This action will approve Class 2 bike lanes and eliminate all on-street parking on El
Cielo Road, between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way for the Bicycle Corridors,
Phase 1, City Project No. 13-32 (the Project). This Project is presently under
construction in anticipation of a proposed bicycle facility.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Class 2 bike lanes and eliminate on-street parking on El Cielo Road,
between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way for the Bicycle Corridors, Phase 1,
City Project No. 13-32,
STAFF ANALYSIS:
On October 1, 2014, the City Council considered implementing alternatives to the
various bicycle routes along the El Cielo Road, Alejo Road, Berlardo Road, and Calle
Encilla corridors per recommendations provided by the City Engineer in a meeting on
September 7, 2014 for the Bicycle Corridor, Phase 1, City Project No. 13-32. The
design alternative discussed in this meeting for the El Cielo Corridor was to revise the
original recommendations provided in the 2014 Bicycle Route Plan prepared by Ryan
Snyder and Associates. The original recommendations for the El Cielo Corridor was the
following:
El Cielo Rd. Corridor (Original):
• Install Class 2 buffered bike lanes while maintaining existing two-lane
configuration and on-street parking on El Cielo Road from Escoba Drive to
Ramon Road.
• Install Class 2 buffered bike lanes by implementing a 'road diet' by eliminating
two travel lanes while maintaining existing on-street parking from Ramon Road to
Tahquitz Canyon Way.
Item No. 5.C.
City Council Staff Report
September 2, 2015-- Page 2
El Cielo Road Bike Lanes
As El Cielo Road is a designated four-lane Major Arterial on the City's General Plan,
implementing a "road diet' to convert the existing four-lane configuration into a two-lane
configuration will require a General Plan Amendment. As a result, the following
alternative was shared to the City Council for consideration:
El Cielo Rd. Corridor (Alternative):
• The City Engineer at that time did not recommend installation of Class 2 buffered
bike lanes by implementing a 'road diet' by eliminating two travel lanes while
maintaining existing on-street parking from Ramon Road to Tahquitz Canyon Way,
and recommended an alternative by installing a Class 3 route with Sharrows and
maintaining the 4-lane configuration and on-street parking. The City Council
considered eliminating on-street parking to allow for installation of Class 2 bike
lanes; however, the consensus of the City Council was to maintain on-street parking
and to proceed with installing a Class 3 route with Sharrows.
On March 4, 2015, the City Council awarded a construction contract to All American
Asphalt to proceed with the installation of new bicycle facilities and pavement
rehabilitation improvements along El Cielo Road, Alejo Road, Belardo Road, and Calle
Encilia corridors. However, at that time, on the advice of the Assistant City
Manager/City Engineer, City Council deferred approving any bike lane facilities on El
Cielo Road between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way, to allow staff an
opportunity to further evaluate alternatives. The deferral was recommended due to the
guidance provided in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-
MUTCD), advising against the use of Sharrows on City streets with posted speed limits
over 35 mph (El Cielo Road is posted at 45 mph).
On July 20, 2015, the Assistant City Manager/City Engineer held a meeting with Mayor
Pro Tern Lewin and Councilman Mills, representatives of the Non-Motorized
Transportation Subcommittee, to discuss the proposed bicycle facility on the El Cielo
Road, between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way as the Bicycle Corridor, Phase
1, City Project No. 13-32 is underway in construction. During this meeting, the two
preferred alternatives discussed were installation of Class 2 bike lanes by either 1)
implementing a "road diet' and reducing travel lanes from 4-lanes to 2-lanes, or 2)
installation of Class 2 bike lanes and eliminate on-street parking. After discussion, the
Subcommittee concurred with alternative 2, and agreed that in this case on-street
parking should be eliminated to allow for Class 2 bike lanes.
In order to identify the number of on-street parking spaces eliminated on El Cielo Road
between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way, staff prepared an exhibit that
identifies the approximate number of parking spaces removed, and is included as
Attachment 1. This Exhibit identifies approximately 67 on-street parking spaces
removed on the easterly side of El Cielo Road and approximately 61 removed on the
westerly side of the roadway. Staff expects that a majority of these on-street parking
spaces are used by employees working at the Palm Springs International Airport.
Airport employees are provided with an employee parking lot on-site, but likely use on-
street parking due to its convenient accessibility. 02
City Council Staff Report
September 2, 2015-- Page 3
El Cielo Road Bike Lanes
Staff is recommending the City Council to authorize installation of a Class 2 bike lane on
El Cielo Road, between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way. The installation of a
Class 2 bike lane is a preferred design and will be consistent with the proposed bicycle
facility along the entire El Cielo Road Corridor. In addition, the ability to eliminate on-
street parking is considered feasible given the existing parking facilities available in the
area.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires Guidelines for
Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The Guidelines
are required to include a list of classes of projects which have been determined not to
have a significant effect on the environment and which are exempt from the provisions
of CEQA. In response to that mandate, the Secretary for Resources identified classes
of projects that do not have a significant effect on the environment, and are declared to
be categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental
documents. In accordance with Section 15301 "Existing Facilities," Class 1 projects
consist of the maintenance of existing highways and streets and allows for
implementation of traffic signal modifications and installation of facilities for health and
safety reasons, therefore the Project is considered categorically exempt from CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding has been previously budgeted and approved for the project through the
Measure J Capital Fund (Fund 260), and through the Special Gas Tax Fund (Fund 133).
The cost to install additional bike lane striping and signage will be funded through the
Measure J Capital Improvement Fund, Account 260-4500-59445.
SUBMITTED:
Prepared by: Approved by:
Marcus L. Fuller, MPA, P.E., P.L.S. David H. Ready,
Assistant City Manager/City Engineer City Manager
Attachment:
Bike Lane Exhibit
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ATTACHMENT
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