The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About10/04/2005, BUS 2 - BULB-OUT AT CORNER OF NIPOMO AND MONTEREY STREET IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM council °°Octobera 2005 j agenda 9epoRt �N�$LLts� CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay Walter,Public Works Director and Wendy George, ACAO? Prepared By: Betsy Kiser,Principal Administrative Analyst Tim Bochum, Deputy Director of Public Works SUBJECT: BULB-OUT AT CORNER OF NIPOMO AND MONTEREY STREET IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CAO RECOMMENDATION Maintain requirement for street improvements including the bulb-out installation for the southeast corner of Nipomo at Monterey as part of the Children's Museum project. DISCUSSION Background On July 19, 2005, the City Council took action on a request from the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum to waive the requirement for the installation of bulb-outs .associated with the construction of the new facility at Nipomo and Monterey Streets in San Luis Obispo. Specifically; the Council deleted the requirement for bulb-outs on the north side of Monterey Street. and the west side of Nipomo Street, but upheld the requirement for a Bulb-out to be constructed at the southeast comer of Nipomo and Monterey Streets, in front of the Children's Museum. On July 26, 2005, during Communications, the City Council directed staff to place the matter of the remaining bulb-out at the Children's Museum on a future agenda to reconsider the necessity for the bulb-out given the narrow conditions of the streets. Their concern was that a bulb-out in this location would impede the flow of traffic (particularly buses) when making turns onto Monterey Street. Engineering Review Improvements to the intersection of Monterey and Nipomo are discussed as part of the Conceptual Physical Plan for the City's Center. While this document is not binding, it does offer suggested improvements to consider when reviewing development, redevelopment or capital improvements in the Downtown area. Attachment 1 contains the pertinent language relating to creating pedestrian connections across Nipomo as part of redevelopment in the area. In considering.Council's concems,.staff analyzed the proposed bulb-out to determine its effect on turning movements at the intersection. With the deletion of the two bulb-outs on the northeast corner and west side of the intersection (Council action on July 19th 2005), turning movements by large vehicles can be made at this location; however, for at least one turn, the northbound 02 '_� CAR—Bulb-out at.Nipomo and Monterey Streets Page 2 right turn onto Monterey, the vehicles must swing into opposing traffic lanes to complete the turn. While this maneuver is legal if done safely, it can be problematic if the approach traffic on the side street (Monterey) is heavy. However, traffic exiting Monterey onto Nipomo is light and would not be considered to be a major deterrent to the bulb-out installation. (Attachment 2) Additionally, staff reviewed bus stop locations (and bus access)to the Monterey Street and Broad Street area. Attachment 3 shows the current locations of the tour bus stop locations. Both locations are accessed from Broad Street and not Monterey. Therefore, the installation of the bulb-out on the southeast corner of Monterey/Nipomo will have little, if any, impact on bus access to the stop locations, since buses should not be using this intersection to access these locations. In the future, if the Broad Street "dogleg" closure is ever implemented, tour bus stop locations in the Downtown would need to be moved, since the closure of Broad Street would necessitate their relocation to a more appropriate location. Thus, after reviewing these issues, staff concludes that the installation of the proposed bulb-out would not, in and of itself, restrict access of larger vehicles into the Monterey and Broad Streets areas. Design Issues A potential negative outcome of deletion of the bulb-out at this stage of improvement would be the possible additional cost to redesign the Children's Museum improvement plans. Drainage for this corner is problematic and would need to be revisited if the bulb-out is deleted. This may be a simple reinstallation of most of the current curb and gutter but.could be more depending on the final redesign of the handicap ramps and final grades of the flow lines of the gutter system. Instead of saving money, this could mean additional costs to the Museum, if it is not a simple exchange of current curb and gutter locations, Other Issues There are two other issues Council should consider on this matter. One reason the bulb-out was discussed and ultimately decided for this location was to improve the pedestrian crossings currently taking place on Nipomo. Field observations have shown that many pedestrians crossing Nipomo at Monterey walk off the current curb and instead of crossing perpendicular to the roadway, they cross diagonally in a mid-block fashion. This is most likely due to the fact that there is no pedestrian ramp on the west side of the street and many pedestrians are heading southwest towards the Creamery. The intention of the bulb-out and extended ramps and striping is to focus these crossings in a perpendicular direction for this crossing. Additionally, there are other projects in the vicinity of the Children's Museum that may increase the pedestrian activity along this corridor. Conceptual plans have been submitted to the City for redevelopment of the properties located immediately east of the Children's Museum site. This project proposes to redevelop the site with a.mixture of office and residential uses and create new pedestrian connections between the Creekwalk and Monterey Street corridor. The Art Museum continues to work towards expansion of their facility on the comer of Broad and Monterey. The bulb-out at Nipomo and Monterey will act as a cornerstone in the new pedestrian corridor and G:\Smf%KiisaWgen&Prep Filcs\car children museum bulb outv2.DOC a - a CAR—Bulb-out at N-loomo and Monterey Streets Page would,assist i-n directing pedestrians along the corridor and help to establish appropriate crossing locations for this activity. FISCAL IMPACT There would be no immediate fiscal impact to the General Fund,if Council chooses to delete this improvement. However, because the improvements to the intersection will probably be made at some future time, and the improvements would,be General Fund related, ultimately there could be an impact if/when the Council chooses to implement the improvements. This cost would be exacerbated by the fact that in order to build the bulb-out at a future time, much of the new curb; gutter and possibly sidewalk that the Museum is installing as part of their project, would need to be removed and replaced in order to drain around the bulb-out correctly. This ultimately may mean a more expensive project since the public improvements would need to be done twice. ALTERNATIVES i. Council. may delete the bulb=out installation entirely. Staff does not recommend this alternative because it may ultimately lead to increased costs to the General Fund if and when the bUlb-out is installed. Additionally, the deletion may cause additional design cost to the Museum project. .2. Council could maintain the installation requirement but financially assist the Museum with the installation costs. Staff does not recommend this alternative because of limited General Fund revenue at this time. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1: Excerpt form the Conceptual Physical Plan for the City's Center. Attachment 2: Tour Bus Stop Vicinity Map Council Reading file:Turning templates diagrams of the Intersection L\.Council Agenda Etepom\2005 agenda re.patsWramportation and Develapment Revie* (Bochum)\Developmant Review (Uvirk)\qu children museum buIb ouLDOC G:\Swff%Kiser\Agenda Prep MeAcar.childrens museum bulb 6uiv2.DOC ELI ®nereoa* Attachment 1 ® ' reet should be Public Projects: A new transit center should Public Prgjecbr Pedestrian paths should be Awy Term U with angled be located at Santa Rosa between Monterey and created along the creek;strong pedestrian street 1. Develop a finand aera). Higuera;this center should include a multi-level crossines including changes in yavi�dg materials implementation velopment at the parking structure. The center and parking should be created between this subarea and the property ac( .walk should be structure should have strong pedestrian connec- Heritage Park and the northeast cornet o+ a.A pro P xortion of tions to any county offices located across Santa Nipomo and Monterey,near w ere the par C.I.P., ablic walkways Rosa.Higuera and Marsh should be converted to structure is proposed. A bridge across the creek b.An incentive; ing and seating two-way streets in this area. to Dana Street to connect the Dana Street Adobe private developr The new transit center m be a good location should be included. ;ncouraged on . a3 g Plan and develo m the street for other service commercial uses such as a fuel Standards: The Creamery site should be county assistant lock walkways station The intersection of Higuera and Toro redeveloped to include a walkway on an axis Add landscaped mections to should mark the end of downtown in this area. between a Higuera Street crossing to the Jack between Mill ar acourage:d Higuera should be closed beyond this point to House and to the corner of Nipomo and Monterey. paths,whenever Johnson,with a terminal feature such as a Higuera Street and Nipomo frontages should haye (Acquire Trans ced fountain or public art. commercial uses at the first floor. Commercial 3, Consolidate Cit ® Guidelines: Commercial uses should be uses should orient not only toward the streets, street furniture encouraged along Higuera to its terminus. but also toward all the pedestrian ways,including planters,signir should be Beyond Toro Street,residential uses are explicitly the creekside path. High density residential uses 4. Identify p laces V encouraged,either at grade or above office or should be required in the area shown on the map. this area, downtown- connecting owntown• counco�the retail. The Johnson Street frontage should Guidelines: Parking for the residences should retain older homes as office uses. Higher density be provided onsite,in the commercial and/or 5. Complete Mis: and the mission. residential uses may be behind the office/retail residential buildings. Residential should be Phase 1:Close his aids toward uses buffered from the street. broken down into a number of smaller buildings, Monterey,and irovdded. with small plazas and walkways between Clear and land to allow a large, (Acquire 975 Street. The Public Prgjects Obtain the corner of ding should be Marsh and Santa Rosa fora ark along the creek 6. Redesign Gar :es or retail may p , Public Projects Street crossings should be traffI install is and retail upper extend public walkways along the creek from created on Higuera to connect this area to the -ee;luded These Higuera northward. parking acture in Area 10(see above). These Jr. Build a down 4 and have access Standards: Open the creek wherever should involve changes to the paving materials. on Marsh. ed above. possible and include public seating and viewing The creek in this area should be protected and 8 Repave pede I in this building, areas. Provide a public easement along the creek. rehabilitated,with public paths along the bulb-outs an terrain to accom- Guidelines: Incorporate residential uses southern side. gested in Pla urface lots along the creek in redevelopment between Standards: This area should be devoted to proceed witl illed in with new Higuera and Marsh. tourist serving commercial uses,especially year.(Mars) I abs;path motels. Generous landscaping along Higuera 9. Redesign MI iterey to the should be required as well as significant setbacks and Osos fol paces should be Public Projects: A Heritage Park with a from the creek bank. Pedestrian paths should be functions;c dock.Thehistoric central promenade/service road should c be provided to and along the creek and to the Governmen used for cultural parkinstructure on Carmel.g created in the blocks surrounded by Higuera, end' ed Carmel,Marsh and Nipomo. Property fronting Guidelines: The motels should include drop- 10.Extend w development on Carmel,between Higuera and Marsh,east of off features on Higuera Street as suggested on creek creed p implement the the gas station property,should-be acquired and the map. The development should be not more along used for a parking structure. than three stories in height and broken down 11.Construct ® into smaller buildings rather than one or a few Marsh and The central promenade itself should not be massive buildings. Patios,paths,and similar an Henta ib�,site,owned more than about 12 feet wide,lined with trees features should take advantage of proximity to a and decorative lighting. From the promenade to the creek. 12, store D; fnr(`ifuHall 1+ ;q, c r r r �f�•4 a►n . " N c w 'r;': f 1�+-t '•1F ��>b `�,s.� .,��<J�y rt 3: M� to M1-, n r _�. � mak•. �-`'�r �a+ �� 31 low K's PM ass iw .!�xti I �••::.,o { '�' °fit- � _ ;� T. f,_ C FA -31 jazz as. L t17T, n :tl)�ry7 S.�✓� c � `./ un :,+f. I p y�I �� "� � �', �� `� r I -�.�x ,� �`N�.0 _�, �;�•., � �� E�res ```T � `� '• ■`Iii .Siii. r `7` r r ✓ s l CrJ - r e+}ifs f r.-' . �� 1 Mi I r� a tr Y�p Ir� F. ,-V saK a. ' I .�` - . .- .-!Y w. • -�!^ z ' ewt„!� �..v��i�l+=/�'S:- ,�.� w�� *v _. �1Y �`•�r �Y . r�i �- is. r:coi.via: •�= :•.a.zrJ�.- _ r. t f tr t W r rt: '•�.�CE°r ..t .s .Yl.: ATTADW 2. I t ------------ --------------- it o NIPQMO STREET a Ilk all If 0 1 11 r. I , . r I I I L�_1i II A II I {{ II II 11 II I ii II I -Cf! Attachment 3 Tour Bus Stopping Locations