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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/06/1991, 7 - BIKE PATH ALONG CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD MEEnNG DATE: '1111111111 IJ city of San LUIS OBISpo August 6, 1991 gilml = 1T°'"NUM ER' COUNCIL AG IVDA REPORT ... 4 FROM: David F. Romero, Public Works Director SUBJECT: Bike Path Along California Boulevard CAO RECOMMENDATION: By motion, direct staff to proceed with plans and specifications for two-way bike path along California Boulevard, between Foothill Boulevard and Stafford Street BACKGROUND: At its meeting of May 7, 1991, the Council directed staff to investigate the possibility of constructing a bike path along the westerly property line of California Boulevard, between Campus Way and Stafford Street. The Engineering report in response to that direction is attached. DISCUSSION: Currently there are Type II-B bike lanes adjacent to the curb along California Boulevard from Campus Way to Foothill Boulevard, and from Stafford Street southerly across the bridge over the 101 freeway. That portion of California Boulevard, between Foothill and Stafford, currently has parking along both sides of the street with a wide bike lane outside of parked cars. It was this risk of conflict with parked cars that prompted the original Bicycle Committee to recommend that parking be eliminated in this area to provide for safer bicycle movement. As can be seen from the Engineer's report, either a one-way or two-way bike path can be constructed westerly of the palm trees from Campus Way to Stafford Street. One-Aa If this bike path is designated for southbound movement only, there are few problems. One area of concern arises. There is already a Type II- B bike lane between Campus Way and Foothill Boulevard, therefore, this facility would appear to duplicate an already adequate bicycle facility. It would appear there are better places to spend bicycle improvement money than in this particular area. The bike path behind the trees, between Foothill Boulevard and Stafford Street, would also duplicate the bike lane on the street, however, there is somewhat greater risk for bicycle riders when the existing bike lane is outside of parked cars. Total costs for a first class one lane facility, including decorative lighting, is $51, 000 between Foothill and Stafford. It would cost approximately $21, 000 to construct such a bike path between Campus Way and Foothill Boulevard. Incidentally, approximately 100 ' of this bike path would be outside of the city on Cal Poly property. Staff assumes Cal Poly would grant permission for the construction without charge. i�liili�liil�►►Ilili�p+ 'IIIIIU city of San L.,JS OBispo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Bike Path Page Two Two-Way The report discusses a two-way bike path, which would be 8 ' wide. This j alternative also duplicates on-street facilities and, in addition, j complicates signal operation at Foothill Boulevard. Two-way operation creates a serious problem for northbound bicycle riders on California j Boulevard, because riders must cross three lanes of traffic between Taft Street and Stafford Street in order to use the northbound bike path. This move would appear to be so difficult that many bike riders would not attempt it but would prefer to take their chances riding outside of parked cars as they head northbound on California Boulevard. i Costs for a two-way bike path between Foothill Boulevard and Stafford Street is $73,500. Costs for a two-way bike path from Foothill Boulevard to Campus Way is $42,500. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION: I Currently there are a number of students who park along the west side j of California Boulevard and walk along the palm trees to the signal at Foothill. Others living west of the tracks also follow the route along the palm trees. Finally, a number of bike riders travel along the railroad right-of-way to and from areas to the south and travel in both directions along the palm trees south of Foothill. At some future time, the City may be able to acquire right-of-way and develop a formal bike path along the railroad right-of-way. FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available for all the alternative improvements within the Capital Program which has set aside $400, 000 for bicycle improvements. RECOMMENDATION: Because of this relatively heavy use and the desirability to provide for a future bike path along the railroad tracks, staff feels it would be appropriate to provide for a two-way bike path between Foothill and Stafford. Attachment: Engineering report blkecelM/dh#30 MEMORANDUM 5/30/91 TO: Dave Romero FROM: Barbara Lynch* SUBJECT: Bike Path, California Blvd. Width: Based on the available right of way between California and the SPRR, the existing terrain and utilities, there is room for up to a 10 foot bike path along the west side of California from the Cal Poly Campus to Stafford. However, the City Limits is south of the connection to Campus Way. The bike path will either have to end at the City Limits or an easement be obtained from the University to extended it to Campus Way. Additional costs to extend the path to Campus Way are indicated separately in the cost break down. There is not adequate right of way to allow for even a one way bike lane between Stafford and Taft. 1 WAY PATH s/B (51AC) (Exhibit A) Channeliaation: As shown in Exhibit B, the bike path is turned and brought out on the California Blvd. frontage to prevent conflicts with the pedestrians on Foothill Blvd. signaliaation: A bicycle push button will be added at the intersection, if the bike path extends north of Foothill Blvd. If the bike path terminates at Foothill, the bikes will use existing ped crossings to return to the correct side of the street. Costs: Bike Path SIO Foothill to Stafford - TOTAL $51,.000 Work Includes: Fill/Excavation/Paving/Ramping for actual path - $2500/$2500/$17,500/$2000 Grade adjustment of utility valves - $400 Lighting - $20, 000 (standard street lights) $23, 000 (decorative) Culvert extension - $5000 Bike Path N/O Foothill to Property line Cal Poly - TOTAL $20,000 Work includes: Excavation/Paving/Ramping for actual path - $1000/$2500/$2000 Culvert Extension/Pipe Extension - $3000/$5000 ATTACH M ENT ��3 Lighting - $4000 (standard street lights) $5000 (decorative) Signal modifications - $1000 Bike Path on Cal Poly Property (assumes there will be no charge for an easement) - TOTAL added - $1300 2 WAY PATH (8' ACI (Exhibit A) Channeliaation: N/B cyclists wishing to enter the 2way path at Stafford must maneuver from the curb side bike lane to a center turn lane across two lanes of traffic north of the busy right turning movement at Taft (Exhibit C) . Signaliaation: There are two options for the control of the intersection of Foothill and California. (Exhibit B) A) Add a crossing on the westerly side of the intersection for bikes which operates with S/B California. In the AM, when traffic out of the campus (S/B California) is light, this will increase the cycle length very little, 5$. In the PM when outbound traffic is heavier the increase should be negligible. OR B) Run a phase for peds and bikes only, between 20 and 30 seconds (depends on crosswalk configuration) which will add approximately 25% to the cycle length. In the off peaks when only one or two pedestrians or cyclists are present, I am concerned the intersection will appear not to be working properly and drivers will drive accordingly. Traffic backs up periodically to Stafford, on California, and Casa, on Foothill during the morning peak. This is also the peak time for bicyclists. Lengthening the cycle length will result in increased delay for automobiles as well as bikes. I would recommend including the bike crossing with the S/B movement. ( A) above ) Costs: Bike Path SIO Foothill to Stafford - TOTAL $73,500 Work includes: Fill/Excavation/Paving/Ramping for actual path - $4000/$4000/$281000/$4000 Grade adjustment of utility valves - $2000 Lighting - $20, 000 (standard) $23,000 (decorative) Culvert extension - $10, 000 Bike Path N/O Foothill to Property line Cal Poly - TOTAL $40,000 Work includes: Excavation/Paving/Ramping for actual path - $1000/$3500/$3000 Installation of storm drain to replace existing swale (+fill) $25,000 Lighting - $4000 (standard) $5000 (decorative) Signal modifications - $2500 Bike Path on Cal Poly Property (assumes there will be no charge for an easement) - TOTAL added - $2500 Attachments: A) Bike Path Detail - B) Intersection of California/Foothill Detail C) Striping Detail for NB Bike traffic to Path D) Preliminary Layout of Bike Path bie/smPftn 01 -way Bike Path on Separat Right of Way r •'� I volt-:_•+%:. _'.'?u• �G/O::ti" '"Fi:.:,y:..i.••r.'•"�r'• �� :21(Min) _ 5' Width - • Grdded'. ' - Paved : Graded ` Two-way Bike Path on Separate Right of Way Z d(min) "•�r0.: .. `:�;::-:;.-a.= ;: :1Y_ .•�vim'.'^•YYG� ~.••VL ,. x•;L`!.T"4..yr.•N:1\.1-�•�" � � f �L..Yc.• --""^L'•-�-i L/V�ti�r�i�Jsr.�y r.��.:ik: � 1 .2�(Min.): 8' Width Grdded'. —Sp - Paved : * Graded . . i EXHIBIT A 0- -0 =MP NB Colifornio ','VB Foothill VVES,Side—Sik-es SB California I EB Foothill ee X ...... Yv' rn Pod P.4 °Othill h Vd .......... I W, ......... ....... .................... .................. ............. EXHIBIT B O O O U Y_ m � m r CL a) Y II m 0 II 3 C`J ISI a N 0 II C W _O I C O C C I :a 7-g EXHIBIT C •: J AIS IIt4looL, +k J y ,r: r M� wo W � I y It VISTA DITTO •k � 11 r a t 6,' a: m a •r: �. ': •,�,~ .�4�;�: r - EXHIBIT D f..l• Itl� .f4!.r Jlr'• Y 4:'.q qi l' 't e . [uryltlH r• .�rt�� �1�) � • PJ ✓.. �q C' +�1'�'1 . l , ..'` • ► d+ i j'1 il•'���.r :i,, a v Y n • , .1 • p �• 1 �!l y P t •31• .Y ";W f ¢ y EXHIBIT D -mEETIN AGENDA lilll�III�I�III�II�I����l�l�II �IUIIIII DATE ffEM # III 11 city osAn luis oaspo 955 Morro Street • San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 August 1, 1991 ��PIEST�aA��, ❑ =nca 0 CDD DR SUMMARY OF MEETINGU-JzCA0 ❑ FIN.MIX LJ.,,A7T � (W PW F DUL FROM: Dave Pierce ❑ CLER /ORIC.TEMA 0 �cD�tRL SUBJECT: Meeting to Review Bike Path on California Blvd. C❑�'�iTnD � �.❑2K21 - _ On July, 29 1991 Dave Romero and Dave Pierce met with the non-staff members of the ad-hoc committee which had recommended priorities for bicycle projects. Wayne Williams of the SLO Bicycle Club and Jim Merkel of the Alternative Transportation Task Force of the Sierra Club were present. Dave Morrow of the Air Pollution Control District was out of town. The subject of the meeting was also discussed with Julie Milsap of the Area Coordinating Council who had not been a part of the original committee. Class 1 Bike Lane on the west side of California Blvd from Foothill to Stafford Comments of these bicycle advocates is as follows: There is no real need for this path. The bike lanes on California adequate. The width of the existing lanes exceeds the standards established by CalTrans. A bike path behind the Palm Trees will create many problems without any improvement in bicycle access through this area. The introduction of a separate bike way into the intersection of Foothill and California will increase the conflicts between bikes and cars. Wayne Williams suggested that to avoid these problems a future bikepath along the railroad could be terminated at Hathway with a signal light at that location which would allow the bicycles to safely move from a Class 1 bikepath to a Class II bikelane from Hathway north. Jim Merkel suggested the following improvements for the existing bikelanes on California. Public Works will pursue implementation. a) Removing two or three parking spaces from each side of California just south of Foothill. Cars parked in these spaces create tight spots within the section where the lane lines are tapered to create turning lanes at the intersection. b) Striping a second line in the bikelane/parking area to encourage the drivers to park as close to the curb as possible. This would be similar to the bikelane on Higuera from Nipomo to Marsh. RECEIVED AU - 91 CI CLERK LU . OBISPO,CA Bike Path Page Two Considerable time was spent on discussion of the ways to improve bicycle flow through the,intersection of Foothill and California. This subject will be reviewed every time work at this location is discusses as there are no accepted practices that work well within the available width of street. Dave Pierce will coordinate a review of possible use of signs or street markings that would better explain to the rider and the driver how a bicycle should negotiate the intersection. Maintenance Needs for the Class 1 bike lane along Madonna Rd. across Laguna Lake Park frontage - Staff has proposed major maintenance work to this path Comments: This path does not go anywhere and encourages wrong way travel on the sidewalk or in the bikelane along Madonna Road from Oceanaire to the start of the path and then from the east end of the path along Madonna Road in front of Carl's Jr. and the Motels. Path should be retained for pedestrians and for riders who wish to use it in its present condition. The main users are pedestrians and riders on fat tired bikes. No improvements need to be made to accommodate bikes and no attention should not be called to the path. Maintenance Needs for the Class 1 bike path through Exposition Park - Staff has proposed minor maintenance work on this path Comments: Construction of ramps across the sidewalks have completed a low traffic street and off-street bikeway from Higuera to Meadow Street. The route follows Bridge Street and the paths through Exposition and Meadow Parks. There are no maintenance needs for this route. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Staff Comments: The bike path along California was recommended during the environmental study of implementation of the bike project previously considered by the Council. Staff, in making its recommendation to construct the path, was attempting to meet the desires of the bicycle community. At this point, staff feels there is not strong. support for the new path and recommends that we not proceed. David Romero, Public Works Dir.