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Home My WebLink About07/16/1991, 9 - ORCUTT ROAD WIDENING - DESIGN ALTERNATIVES MEETING DATE ;III city Of San LUIS OBISPO July 16, 1991 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM"NUMBER: U FROM: David F. Romero, Public Works Director PREPARED BY: Wayne Peterson, City Engineer/-AIF David P. Pierce, Projects Manager SUBJECT: Orcutt Road Widening - Design Alternatives CAO RECOMMENDATION: By motion, receive report on alternatives, adopt desired alternative and direct staff to follow through with appropriate acquisition and design. REPORT IN BRIEF: The City Council has asked for information about alternatives for providing a more attractive design for Orcutt Road and also the possibility of inclusion of separated bike paths. The staff prepared the following report which gives the cost of providing a more attractive roadway. It takes more right-of-way to allow for landscaped medians and parkways which both look good and can be maintained. The Council is asked to determine which alternative they prefer. The report discusses the possibility of placing a class 1 bike path along the south side of the road and recommends against it. The increased cost to the City of the alternatives are $64,000 for the adopted plan modified to provide a minimal median, and $209, 000, $347,000 and $592,000 for Alternatives 1 through 3 respectively. BACKGROUND: : During the budget session, City Council asked staff to look at options for the development of Orcutt Road which would address traffic, trees, landscaping and bicycles. The basic design for Orcutt Road that the staff has been working with was adopted by the Council in 1964 and it minimally meets all the needs. Orcutt Road is included in the Circulation Element as an Arterial Street. A setback line plan for the street was first adopted by the Council January 2, 1964 and later amended February 16, 1982. Development of the segment from Broad Street to Laurel Lane is being accomplished as development takes place on the fronting properties. The setback line maps provide for the eventual construction of a grade separation structure at the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. The street improvements and plan lines generally conform to requirements established in the City Municipal Code (Section 16.36.140 - Street Requirements) . Currently the Municipal Code requires arterial street right-of-ways to be 86 to 94 feet and the improvements to consist of two travel lanes of 12 ' in each direction, a center left turn lane, 5' bike lanes on each side, no curb parking, and 6' sidewalks on each side, with the right-of-way is to extend 2 ' beyond the back of sidewalk. Since the setback line for Orcutt Road was adopted before this standard was adopted, the right-of-way is slightly narrower and the traffic lanes are only 11 feet wide. II city of San L.41s osispo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Right-of-way on the south side of Orcutt Road between Broad and the railroad has been acquired for the adopted street section. Several years ago the city negotiated the acquisition: of the land required for the future grade separation and has been paying on an option which goes toward the purchase price. The city has paid $125, 000 toward the $256,000 purchase price, with the final $131, 000 payment due next year. I Most of the right-of-way on the north side of the street has been acquired except for a small portion immediately east of McMillan Road. i The 1991-93 budget includes funds to make the final $131, 000 payment for the right-of-way on the south side of Orcutt Road and west of the tracks for the future grade separation. A portion of the remaining current budget request ($60, 000) is to acquire a small portion of the frontage of the Bullock property located on the south side of OiZcutt Road east of the tracks. The eventual construction of a grade separation will require the purchase of the entire site. The current purchase allows the home to remain and the street to be widened to the setback line plan, 64 feet curb to curb as it is to the east of this parcel. The portion of the $60, 000 remaining after the purchase will be available for construction work at this location, for widening and improvement of .the railroad crossing, and for widening the roadway i between these two locations. DISCUSSION: The Council has asked staff to consider the possible inclusion of a class 1 (separated) bike path, and more landscaping in the project. The following discussion considers alternatives. The source of much of the following discussion comes from meetings of a staff committee that has been investigating how we can add landscaped medians to many of our existing arterial streets. The committees actions and recommendations have been delayed because of other pressingactivities in the Community Development Department and the drought. Alternative Right-of-way Widths Cross sections for four alternative right-of-way widths have been developed. The significant difference between the alternatives is the amount of land that can be dedicated to landscaping. The traffic capacity and the amount of asphalt surface is essentially the same, but j divided into .smaller pieces, for each alternative. All plans have two travel lanes in each direction and either a center 2-way left turn lane or median and left turn pockets at each intersection. The Alternatives are listed in the order of increasing right-of-way width from the current standard. v !illill"n1111Vi��l��lljlll`II" CTCy Of San LUIS OBISPO IM COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 3 I ADOPTED SETBACK LINE PLAN - ALTERNATIVE (*1 84. 0 i 6. 0 5.0 11 . 0 11 . 0 10 .0 11 . 0 11 .0 Two-way LANE LANE tuft LANE LANE SIDEWALK SIDEWALK PAINTED MEDIAN BIKELANE� * BIKELANE ALTERNATIVE i RAISED MEDIAN ALTERNATIVE I Adopted Setback Lines - Minimum right-of-way to- handle the traffic. Description: Right-of-way width: 84 feet Travel lanes: Two each 11-foot lanes in each direction Left turn: 10-foot center left turn lane j *or 6-foot wide raised median, except at turn pockets ! Bike lanes: 5-foot Class IIB bike lanes on each side Parking: None Sidewalks: 6-foot sidewalks on each side next to curb Landscaping: Edge - Trees and plantings in 4-foot strip behind sidewalk and on adjacent property *Median - a limited planting is possible on a raised median that would provide a planting area that is 5 feet between the back of curbs. No trees should be planted in this median, since trees in a narrow median create an extra hazard for motorists and the roots disrupt the curbs and pavement. Cost: With the landscaping and median included, this would cost about $64, 000 more than the basic project. (All estimates are for the area between Broad Street and Laurel Lane and are relative to the basic project. ) Pro: Provides effective traffic movement Requires minimum land area dedicated to right-of-way Requires minimum city expenditure Minimizes future city landscape maintenance cost ° IU city of san LaIs osIspo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 4 Con: Strictly a utilitarian design Trees along edge of right-of-way are relatively far from roadway Landscaping is left to the adjacent property owner opportunity to plant trees in median is lost ALTERNATIVE NUMBER 1 - Minimum right-of-way with tree planted median. 93.0 6.0 5. 11 .0 13.0 15.0 13.0 1 11 .0 S. q 6.0 I i LANE LANE MED I AN LANE LANE i i SIDEWALK / i SIDEWALK U BIKELANE ! BIKELANE I Description: Right-of-way width: 93 feet Travel lanes: One 11-foot and one 13-foot lane in each direction. Left turn: 15-foot median with left turn pockets at intersections Bike lanes: 5-foot Class IIB bike lanes on each side Parking: None Sidewalks.: 6-foot sidewalks on each side next to curb Landscaping: Median - Trees and shrubs in center of islands and low shrubs adjacent to left turn pockets. Edge - Trees and plantings in 4-foot strip behind j sidewalk and on adjacent property Cost: Estimated $209, 000 more than basic project. (Includes i added right-of-way. ) j Pro: Provides effective traffic movement Provides narrow raised median to define left turn pockets and to prevent traffic from making left turns except at designated intersections ! Provides a median planting area that is 14 feet wide between left turn pockets. This will allow trees to be planted. Con: New setback line map must be adopted, additional property acquisition required and EIR determinations made. At the left turn pockets the median is only 2 feet wide and will have to be hard surfaced. Future landscape maintenance cost is increased. Trees planted along edges of right-of-way are relatively far from roadway. Property owners may object to limited driveway access. ��w,��N►IV�IIII�IIpn�u�q�U�ll city or San PIS OBISpo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 5 ALTERNATIVE NUMBER 2 Median for significant plantings to include grouping of trees. 100.0 6.0. 5.Q 11 .0 13.022.0 13.0 11 .0 5. 6.0 i LANE LANE MED IAN LANE LANE i i SIDEWALK ! aSIDEWALK BIKELANE i BIKELANE Description: Right-of-way width: 100 feet Travel lanes: One 11-foot and one 13-foot lane in each direction Left turn: 22-foot median with left turn pockets Bike lanes: 5-foot Class IIB bike lanes on each side Parking: None Sidewalks: 6-foot sidewalks on each side next to curb Landscaping: Median - Trees and shrubs in center of islands and low landscaping adjacent to left turn pockets. Edge - Trees and plantings in 4-foot strip behind sidewalk and on adjacent property Cost: Estimated $347, 000 more than the basic project. (Includes right-of-way cost. ) Pro: Provides effective traffic movement Provides a good potential for all types of plantings on the median I Con: Trees along edge of right-of-way are relatively far from roadway. New setback line maps must be adopted, additional property acquisition required and EIR determinations made. Increased costs of landscape maintenance Property owners may object to limited driveway access. I city of san L"IS OBIspo COUNCIL. AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 6 ALTERNATIVE NUMBER 3 Median and edge plantings to include grouping of trees and detached sidewalks. i 114.0 4.0 10.0 B.0 11.0 13.0 22.0 13.0 11.0 8,0 10.0 4. LANE LANE MED I AN LANE LANE � I i SIDEWAL SIDEWALK i BIKELANEBIKELANE � I i Description: Right-of-way width: 114 feet Travel lanes: 11-foot and 13-foot lane in each direction. Left turn: 22-foot median with left turn pockets i Bike lanes: 8-foot Class IIB bike lanes on each side Parking: None Sidewalks: 4-foot sidewalks on each side with a 10-foot planting strip between curb and sidewalk Landscaping: Median - Trees and shrubs in center of islands and low groundcover adjacent to left turn pockets. Edge - Trees and plantings in 10 foot strip between curb and sidewalk. Trees and shrubs between curb and : sidewalk jCost: Estimated $592 ,000 more than the basic project. (Includes right-of-way costs. ) Pro: Provides wider bike lanes which are desirable on streets with high traffic volumes Provides effective traffic movement Provides a good potential for all types of plantings on the j median and at the edge of the street The general appearance of the street is improved. There is sufficient planting area to limit damage to pavements Con: Right-of-way acquisition will be required. j A new setback line map and EIR determination is required. Increased cost of right-of-way Increased costs of landscape maintenance Property owners may object to limited driveway access. 11�1 city Of san WIS OBIspo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 7 CLASS 1 BIRELANES I A Class 1 bikelane is a mini-roadway set aside only for bicycles. Typically these `roadways' are placed in areas where they will not have ; to interact with automobiles on a roadway accept at infrequent intersections. The existence of driveways, minor street crossings and in this case the railroad, will make the design of the bike lane very difficult. Care must be exercised by the motorist and the bike rider at each conflict point. Some of this cross traffic will be coming from behind the bike rider if there is a right-turning car and the bike lane , is near the street. Vehicles entering the street backing out of a driveway will need to be able to observe a bike coming in the bike lane before they can safely enter it and cross it to enter the street. When i the bikes are in the street adjacent to the curb it is a little easier for the motorist to be able to see them and also watch oncoming auto traffic. Before a turning vehicle clears the street intersection it enters a second intersection with the bikelane. The driver making a i left turn must verify that a turn is safe with regards to oncoming ' traffic, cross traffic, and .traffic in both directions on the parallel bikeway. The driver making a right turn must verify that a turn is safe with regards to cross traffic, and traffic in both directions on the parallel bikeway. The same kind of conflicts occur with pedestrians on the sidewalk but with one significant difference--the pedestrian is moving less than one fourth as fast. f If the intersections are signalized, the separate bikeways must be included in the signalization and time must be allowed for the bike movements. This decreases the capacity of the intersection leading to increases in congestion. It also makes the signal project much more j expensive and unique. If a Class I bikelane is provided on one side of the street, bicycles j entering the street at any given point must be given a way to proceed to an intersection that will allow them to get to the Class I bikeway i and to permit travel to destinations that are not adjacent to the Class I bikeway. i i The currently adopted city bike plan reads as follows: "New separated bike paths (Class I) are not proposed because of the safety problems they may create. " Staff does not recommend one in this particular j instance because of conflicts with driveways and intersections. Cal Trans Highway Design Manual section on Bike Paths recommends against a Class 1 bike path adjacent to a street because many bike riders will find it less. convenient and will continue to ride in the street. This is verified by city experience on Madonna Road, South Higueri Street and Tank Farm Road where Class I bike paths exist. If a Class 1 bike path is still desired it can be built. Staff would recommend that it be placed adjacent to the sidewalk on either side i;llr�liluiillilll��l►Illl��,� city of san L.Ais OBlspo Hii% COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT orcutt Road Plan Page 8 the street and that the lanes be one-way only. The entry ramps at intersections should be designed like street entry and not like handicap ramps. The paths should be straight and should have stop signs for the bikes at each intersection. They should be 5 feet wide with a 2-foot shoulder on either side. The path should be 5 feet set back from the curbs and should be between the street and the sidewalk. The additional cost of adding a Class 1 bike path as described is estimated at about $250, 000 if added to any of the alternatives. I i SUMMARY: a In summary, all of the right-of-way alternatives will accommodate the j circulation needs of vehicles and pedestrians. Expanding the right- i of-way will allow for more landscaping and, in the case of Alternative #3 , safer (wider) bike paths. The Council must consider whether the medians, broader parkways and increased landscaping to provide a softening of the visual impact of paved areas are worth the disruption inherent in changing long adopted master plans and the increased cost in acquisition, development and maintenance inherent in the more attractive street section. The Council may also wish to consider whether this is the priority area for expenditure of limited City funds available for street work. FISCAL IMPACT: I The estimated current cost for street work that would be the city's responsibility on orcutt Road between Broad and Laurel Lane is: Pave out $450, 000 - This may be a developer cost. Railroad crossing 250, 000 Area east of railroad 100, 000 Culvert extensions 205, 000 Blanket after widening 385, 000 Total: 11390, 000 I The additional cost to the above costs implied by each of the alternatives is: Add minimum medians $64, 000 Alternative 1 209, 000 Alternative 2 347,000 Alternative 3 592,000 Add Class I bike path 250, 000 on south side of road. The source of the funds for this project is the General Fund. ��il�IiIIfIIlI�1° IIIIIII city of San suis OBISPO COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Orcutt Road Plan Page 9 RECOMMENDATION: If new standards are to be required of this street, it is imperative j that they be established before additional development takes place on the south side of the street making right-of-way more difficult and expensive to obtain. Staff recommends the Council consider the alternatives, advise staff of their choice, direct staff to follow through on implementation. Attachments: Typical cross section options considered. Estimates. Plans of alternatives. Typical landscaping elevations of alternatives. (Full size studies were only done of the existing modified and alternative) nmap-orc„ I I i I I .m 6m ]m IL00 um SW sm 11m Ilm 3.W Bm ..W Tal.glk 6b I I.eM L.w T.er.e Lw II = Troll Lw iroM Lw BL. $tl.w1Y Lw L.i! Tv Lw I II 3m I Sm tj ealaed Median added Typical Cross Section—Adopted Setback Lines 9]m .m aW 3W ILm 13W 7.30 7.30 13m I'm 3W 6m .m S d r.eM L.r r..M Lew Olen - T.aM Lw T.aM Lw d• Ja..YY Ldm� Lw I Alternate 1 Cross Section T lad W .m aW 3m 11W 1]W 11m 11m 130 um sm 'o .W I3.er.eul Low I r.arn Low r.c.n Lew wl.n n.mn t..rN Low T..M Law �"• Sb..ul. Lew Alternate 2 Cross Section 1 11.m .W Lam am II00 I300 11.W 11W I].m II.W B.m 1am .m Fe. • add- i.e.n low i..rw Lew wlan waan rror.e Lw i.a.M Lew a" ..1 °"• ew Alternate 3 Cross Section OVA PRELIMINARY LANDSCAPE COSTS* ORCUTT ROAD EXPANSION Prepared by: Casey Patterson Projects Coordinator ADOPTED PLAN - 4,300 S.F. (Median only) Planting cost at $1.52 per s.f. $ 67536 Irrigation cost at $.53 per s.f. 2,279 TOTAL: $ 8,815 ALTERNATIVE #1 - 121,040 S.F. (Median only) Planting cost at $1.63 per s.f. $ 19,625 Irrigation cost at $.44 per s.f. 5,298 TOTAL: $ 24,923 ALTERNATIVE #2 - 289640 S.F. (Median only) Planting cost at $1.63 per s.f. $ 46,683 Irrigation cost at $35 per s.f. S 10,024 TOTAL: $ 56,707 ALTERNATIVE #3 - 56,570 S.F. (Median & Parkway only, no hardscaping) Planting cost at $1.63 per s.f. $ 92,209 Irrigation cost at $35 per s.f. V 19,800 TOTAL: $ 112,009 * Costs at current market conditions,add price inflation at 6rio- 10%per year. ID Oram Road Alternative Projects All costs are relative to the basic projecitwiitlqut medians ` Altematwe Est Cost H/W Median Pavement Sidewalk CIG C.G&SW Demo landscape Right of Culvert RR Difference Sq.FL FL Sq.FL FL FL Ft. Ft. Estimate Way Cost Extension Crossing Adopted Plan with median 84 foot R/W 569,855 0 1720 -4300 0 0 0 $8,615 $0 Alternate Number 1 93 foot RNV 5209.203 6840 1720 3420 $24.923 523.940 580.500 524,800 Alternate Number 2 100 foot R/W 5346.627 14560 2680 14560 556,707 550,960 $117,200 $76,000 Alternate Number 3 114 foot RAN 5592,269 26040 2680 14560 730 730 730 5112.009 591,140 5219.800 $67,500 All alternative assume the adjacent property wi8 install curb gutter and sidewalk it not already in place. Hight of Way Costa per sq.R $3.50 Curb,gutter and sidewalk per R 578.00 Median curbs per R 532.00 Curb and gutter only per R $1&00 SidewaW4loot wide perlt. $16.00 Pavement-AC per sq.R $10.00 Remove C,GBSW per R 56.00 Estimated maximum cast to the City for the current plan. . These are the basic sects to which the above casts must be added Paveout 450.000 Probably handled be developer Railroad crossing 250,000 Improvements east of nr 100,000 Culvert extensions 205.000 Blanket of after widening 785,000 Total costs 1,390,000 14-Jun-91 s aa ZZ Q _ 21 � % c > 7 O m s e J I .a e i 1 f F , •, • / r a.� ,•tel-.^ � � E:9 taaata a.oaa 3 , 13 .� Z Q W ri a .°ri > m Q00 z0 Cq 00 a o m so .E7 r Q cotoa APft W eia E C6 t- c CL e � r 3 2 c � S e a Y 1 C 4 s can 2 � O ' U 3 ®on p; e � O = •a 2 II'ulll . e of ��I�l®llLll - O CL tA 2i 2 t ! _ O VESSEL 000, a W � Paz ym > � > cc cc go s _ Z x � x � cc, cd a FA L w000 e e a Ci J t � yy O s uo � 3 g•nl 1. O ! j i � O F = � v