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Home My WebLink About2002-06-24 City Council (2)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE:JUNE 24, 2002 CMR:300:02 SUBJECT:RESOLUTIONS APPROVING INSTALLATION OF NEW MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK ON CHANNING AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT AND WAVERLEY STREETS AND REMOVING AN EXISTING MID-BLOCK CROSSWALK ON HOMER AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT AND WAVERLEY STREETS RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Council approval of a resolution to remove/relocate a crosswalk on Homer Avenue between Bryant and Waverley Streets (Attachment A), and resolution to establish a crosswalk on Channing Avenue between Bryant and Waverley Streets (Attachment B). BACKGROUND On June 3, 2002 Council removed the above item (agenda item 9; CMR:267:02) from the Consent Calendar and expressed concern about removing an existing mid-block crosswalk on Homer Avenue. Staff explained that the removal-was only temporary, as a new mid- block crosswalk would be installed nearby in the future when the new City park was built on the former Palo Alto Medical Foundation parking lot. To address Council’s concerns, staff proposed that the resolution authorizing removal of the crosswalk be revised to clarify that there would be no net loss of an existing mid-block crosswalk; and brought back to Council. Council did not have an issue with the proposed addition of the crosswalk on Channing Avenue. DISCUSSION Attached to this staff report is a revised resolution (Attachment A) authorizing removal of the existing Homer mid-block crosswalk in preparation for its relocation farther east in the same block, in connection with anticipated development of a public park. Thus, there would not be a long-term loss of a mid-block crosswalk in this block. There would, however, be no mid-block crosswalk in this block in the short term until the new park is constructed. Staff does not recommend keeping the existing crosswalk in place in the meantime because the. CMR:300:02 Page 1 of 2 north end of the crosswalk will lead directly into the new curb cut for the underground garage ramp curb for the new Summerhill housing project at the corner of Homer Avenue and Bryant Street. For safety reasons, it is not advisable for the end of a crosswalk to be located in a curb cut, if it can be avoided. The Summerhill project is now under construction. Attachment B of this staff report is the prior, unchanged resolution attached to CMR:267:02 authorizing installation of the new mid-block crosswalk on Channing Avenue. In addition, CMR:267:02 is included as Attachment C. ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Removing a Crosswalk on Homer Avenue Preparatory to Relocation in the Same Block B. Resolution Establishing a Crosswalk on Channing Avenue C. CMR:267:02, June 3, 2002 (without original attachments) PREPARED BY: CARL Transportation Engineer DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: STEVE EMSLIE Director of Planning and Community Environment EMILY HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:300~.02 Page 2 of 2 ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO REMOVING A CROSSWALK BETWEEN INTERSECTIONS ON HOMER AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT STREET AND WAVERLEY STREET PREPARATORY TO RELOCATION IN THE SAME BLOCK WHEREAS, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21106, the City Council, by ordinance or resolution, may remove existing crosswalks between intersections; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to remove an existing crosswalk on Homer Avenue between the Bryant Street and Waverley Street intersections, as shown in Exhibit i, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, preparatory to relocation and improvement of the crosswalk farther east in the same block in connection with anticipated development of a public park; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION I. The Council hereby removes the existing pedestrian crosswalk on Homer Avenue, between the Bryant Street and Waverley Street intersections, as is more specifically shown in Exhibit i. SECTION 2. The Council finds that this project constitutes a minor alteration to existing highways and streets and as such is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA")pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA guidelines. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager 020416 el 0091062 Director of Planning and Community Services Install New Midblock Crosswalk SCOI-r PARK EXHIBIT 1 HOMER AND CHANNING AVENUES CROSSWALK CHANGES ATTACHMENT B RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ESTABLISHING A CROSSWALK ON CHANNING AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT STREET AND WAVERLEY STREET WHEREAS, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21106, the City Council, by ordinance or resolution, may establish crosswalks between intersections; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to approve the establishment of a crosswalk on Channing Avenue between Bryant Street and Waverley Street, as shown in Exhibit i, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The Council hereby establishes a pedestrian crosswalk on Channing Avenue, between the Bryant Street and Waverley Street intersections, as is more specifically shown in Exhibit i. SECTION 2. The Council finds that this project constitutes a minor alteration to existing highways and streets and as such is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA")pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA guidelines. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:APPROVED: Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager Director of Planning and Community Environment 020416 c10091060 ~--~ILLIAM: r~ HOUSE FUTURE PAI~K ~ Install New Midblock Crosswalk SCOI-r PARK EXHIBIT 1 HOMER AND CHANNING AVENUES CROSSWALK CHANGES TO: ATTACHMENT C City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report9 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE:JUNE 3, 2002 CMR:267:02 SUBJECT:RESOLUTIONS APPROVING INSTALLATION OF NEW MID- BLOCK CROSSWALK ON CHANNING AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT AND WAVERLEY STREETS AND .REMOVING AN EXISTING MID-BLOCK CROSSWALK ON HOMER AVENUE BETWEEN BRYANT AND WAVERLEY STREETS RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of: (a)the attached resolution (Attachment A) authorizing installation of a mid-block crosswalk on Channing Avenue between Bryant and Waverley Streets, with bulb- outs on both sides of Channing; and (b)the attached resolution (Attachment B) authorizing removal Of the existing mid-block crosswalk on Homer Avenue between Bryant and Waverley Streets. BACKGROUND The developer of the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) area, Summerhill Homes, included a crosswalk and curb bulb-outs on Channing Avenue midway between Bryant and Waverley Streets in its development plans. The crosswalk is intended to provide a pedestrian-friendly connection between Scott Park and the new City park on Block "B", via the mews that will separate the single and multiple family housing developments. It should also provide wider- area connectivity between the neighborhood south of Channing and the downtown neighborhood. DISCUSSION In July 2000,. Council adopted guidelines for approval of new mid-block crosswalks (stated in quotation marks below). The proposed Channing mid-block crosswalk meets the intent of these guidelines, as follows: CMR:267:02 Page 1 of 3 Traffic Volume Guideline. "Traffic volumes for a two-lane roadway should not be greater than 12,000 vpd..." The volume on Channing is approximately 5000 vehicles per day. Speed Guideline. "Uncontrolled mid-block crosswalks should not be considered where the 85th percentile speed is greater than 40 mph." The prevailing speed on Channing is 31-32 mph. Pedestrian Volume Guideline. "The pedestrian volume should have a minimum of 40 pedestrians per hour or 25 pedestrians per hour for each of 4 hours." Because development is not completed yet, future pedestrian volumes are unknown. However, staff believes that this guideline would probably .not be met in the future, even with the new park. Location Guideline. "Mid-block crosswalks should be located, as much as possible, midway between stop or signal controlled intersections..." This guideline is met because the lo’cation is midway between a stop- and a signal-controlled intersection. Treatment Guideline. "Special treatments include one or more of. the following: raised crosswalks, bulb-outs, median refuges, and actuated warning systems. Each of these treatments shall be considered for possible implementation at any qualifying mid-block crosswalk location." Bulb-outs are proposed to shorten the pedestrian crossing distance and increase visibility between waiting .pedestrians and approaching vehicles. Staff concludes that these guidelines are sufficiently satisfied for this proposed installation. It is not required that all five guidelines be met. California Vehicle Code section 21106 allows local authorities, by ordinance or resolution, to establish crosswdlks between intersections. A resoIution authorizing installation of this crosswalk is included as Attachment A. The existing mid-block crosswalk on Homer Avenue is no longer needed to serve the former PAMF site. A resolution authorizing removal of this crosswalk is included as Attachment B. A mid-block crosswalk is also contemplated in the future on Homer between Bryant and Waverley, when the City develops the new park. This crosswalk would connect the new park with the existing City-owned Williams house. It would be located a few yards east of the existing mid-block crosswalk that used to connect Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) buildings on both sides of Homerl CMR:267:02 Page 2 of 3 RESOURCE IMPACT The Channing Avenue crosswalk and bulb-outs and associated signs will be installed, by Summerhill Homes, and no City funds will be required. The Homer Avenue crosswalk and associated signs will be removed by Public Works Operations as a routine maintenance item. POLICY IMPLICATIONS A mid-block crosswalk on Channing midway between Bryant and Waverley is included and implied in two policies of the Council-adopted South of Forest Area Coordinated Area Plan Phase I: Community Facilities Policy CF-2: Insure that the new park with private development open space (mews) provide a public connection to Scott Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Transportation Policy T- 17: With new development, require.., sidewalk widening, and other improvements to improve pedestrian experience throughout SOFA area. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Installation of crosswalks and related signs is considered to be a minor operational improvement and is therefore categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) section 15301. Therefore, no environmental assessment is required. ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Establishing a Crosswalk on Channing Avenue B. Resolution-Removing a Crosswalk on Homer Avenue PREPARED BY: Engineer DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: STEVE EMSLIE Director of Planning and Community Environment HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:267:02 Page 3 of 3