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Home My WebLink About0478.000- i . . . II L . ,. -'~--"'-~-'''''-'---------''''~-'::' --~,.....-~ ~.----~,,--.... ---~-----.-..:.- Septem~r 6, 1990 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto~ California EXTENSION OF BRYANT __ STllE_ET BICYCLE BQUI&YMm Members of the council: This is an informational report, no Council action is required. As part of the review and approval of the 1990-92 budget~ staff prepared an informational repor~ to the council {CMR:291:0, dated Kay 10, 1990} yhich provide~ some relevant background information on the proposed extension of the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard, including the installation of a traffic siqnal at the intersection of Embarcadero iload and Bryant Street.. A copy of the previous staff report is included as Attachment 1. The earlier report stated that -it the project [traffic signal) is approved as part of the 19'90-1995 'Capital Improvement Program. staff ~ill work with the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory committee and affected residents to develop appropriate measures for extending the bicycle boulevard to the downtown.· It went on to say that the study -is expected to be completed during the next six montbs~· Finally. it stated that ·staff will not proceed ~ith the design and installation of the traffic signal at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Bryant Street until such time as this ~ork [st.ooy] has been completed and staff returns t.o council. wit.h a recommended plan for the extensiQn of the bike boulevard~· Included as Attachment 2 is an outline of the study process and schedule ..... ith which staff is proceeding at the present time~ Our objective is to present a recommended plan to the Council that is consisten~ .... ith the intended objectives of the bicycle boulevard concept:, addresses the ccncerns of affected residents, and .ini.il..es any l'eal or perceived negative effects. One or more staff conducted meetings with residents of the affected neighborhoods, other interested residents, and bicyclists is planned for October. folloW'ing the initial development of concep·tual alternatives~ A second meeting will be held: in Dece1nher~ CHR:478:0 .. , \ • • ( \ \ \ \ \ ~ \.- i I -< --~.:..;' ;-~ ",,,"7' • / ,,"",,-,~,'_,C ____ '---',_C-~~ __ '--', __ ~S'-, __ L ____ .~_~ __ ---'----' __ -_,"' __ ,~ ___ ..;~;;._: .. _«~.~: ...,IIIZ .... o No funds vill be spent for the installation (desiqn plans or construction) of a traffic signal at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Bryant Street until after the subject study is completed (including public meetings), staff returns to Council with a recommended plan tor the exten&ion of the bike boulevard, and Council approves expending the funds~ Respectfully submitted~ I ;(i/l/~'/I( I: k/ird<4 j MARVrN L. OVERWAY Chief Transportation Official '· ..... ~u~?7 WI LLI .EANER City anager I ItEIINETH R. SCHREI BRR .:7 Director of Planning and Community Environment Attachments: 1~ CMR:291:0, dated May 10, 1990 2. study outline for Bicycle Boulevard Extension cc: Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee Current mailing list for study, including speakers at City council oral communications CKR:478:0 9/6/90 Page 2 -,' ·;·L······ .... ". , .. ~ ... ~ . '. :~ 1)1,.> • ~ .. . :~: -. • :1 I I - • --- -- , -• -, -~i:l;E>C_-·· ...... __ ...... -.;~,_,",--_ ".:.. _______ _ -;-~~~;-;~~;--I .... ..- ~.~ . , "-: ~". ':. ,0 May 10, 1990 HONORA8LE CIT~ COUNCIL Palo Alto, California Attentloa: ~i~anc •• n~ Publio Works Co .. ittea ATTACHMENT 1 INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIi;;NAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMBARCADERO RO@~D BRYANT STREET Kembers of the Council: The Finance and Public Works committee is scheduled to review the 1990-95 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at their meeting on May 15 ... 1990.. Included in the CIP ... on page 10') (Utility Project - Traffic Sigpals) iI is the provision. for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Bryant street. This informational report provides some relevant background information intended to facilitate consideration of this project. The purpose of this traffic signal is to provide bicyclists ~ith a controlled" safe., and convenient ;neans to cross £mbarcader-o Road. As such, the installation of this traffic signal is a step in the ?Ontinuing implementation of Bryant street Bicycle Boulevard. At present, the Bryant street Bicycle Boulevard ext~nds a distance of two miles .from East Meadow Drive to Churchill ~venue. Available counts indicate that over 60'0 commuter" student,. and recreational cyclists travel this corridor on an average day. Ho'Wever,. the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard does not presently connect with any major activity center at either end. At Churchill Avenue (which is two blocks south of the intersection of Bryant/Embarcadero) bicyclists are directed one block east to Waverley street where an existing traffic signal provides a controlled cro~siD9 at Embarcadero Road. The lack of a traffic signal at the intersection of Bryant street and Embarcadero Road is a major i~pediment to the use of the Bryant street Bike Boulevard as a through route to do~~town Palo Alto, or travel to Menlo Park. Embarcadero Road is a major street that carries over 21,000 vehicles per day. Crossing Embarcadero Road at Bryant street 'Without the benefit of a traffic signal is partiC'l.llarly difficult durinq the morning and evening commute periods. The iTlstallation of the proposed traffic signal 'Will CMR: 291: 0 " ~ l-, 1'.- I I \ • :.' , , :..- 17' ~ ~'J~ -.. --- . , - '-- / p:-ovide IDOre direct and cOD'/enient aocess froll the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard to all destinations within the downtown business district~ as well as the university Avenue Cal Train Station and the Transit Center. The Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory CoItllllittee (PABAC) favors Bryant street over Waverley Street as a through route because it is more direct, less congested, and void of bus routes. PABAe has and continues to strongly support the installation of a traffic signal at Embarcadero Road and Bryant street in order to facilitate and encourage the further use of the Bryant street Bicycle Boulevard. Such efforts to facilitate ar~ encouraqe the use of alternative transportation modes, including the use of bicycles, ~ill take on increasing importance as the City's involvement ~ith the Golden Triangle, the Congestion Management Planning Agencyr and the Transportation Demand Management (TOM} ordinance matures. During the past two years, the city has also received several petitions from bicycle interest groups suppo,rting the traffic signal project and the extension of the Bicycle Boulevard. The earlier establ ish.ment of the existing; Bryant Street. Bicycle Boolevard and the implementation of its e~tension to the downtown business district.. including the installation of the subject traffic signal .. are viewed as being consistent with r and furthering the development of Transportation Program 34 of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan.. 1rihich calls for the development and implementation of a network of through bicycle boule ... ,ards--streets upon ~bich bicycles have precedence over automObiles. The City has zade a substantial investment in upgradir~ the Bicycle Boulevard since its initial implementation in 1982. In 1986 .. the narrow pedestrian bridge over Matadero Creek waS replaced with t~o new structures; a ~ide bicycle bridge and"a separate pedestrian bridge. This summer the two existing temporary wooden barriers on Bryant street are scheduled to be replaced with permanent raised and landscaped cooccete islands. Both projects were funded through the CIP with grant funding in excess of $8'1 r OOO from the State, through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The subject traffic signal has been in the CIP for several years but it has 31,.,.ays been sbo\ro'Il as a future project... On January 5. 1999. Council authorized staff to file a grant application for 1989-90 Transportation Development Act Funds for pedestrian/Bikeway Projects (CHR.:101:9). The grant application included five projects.. one of which is the traffic signal at the intersection of Bryant street and EJrtbarcadero Road. Thi s grant has 1, '''en approved and an amount of $75~O~O will be available to Palo ~ ~to ~or this purpose as of Jely 1. 1990. The estimated cost for the installation of the traffic signal is $150,-0-0.0 plus $24 .. 0'0,0 for integration with the Cityrs computerized traffic signal coordination system. The remainder of project expenses after use of the $75 r O,OO TDA Grant will come from the City's Electric Fund. CMR: 291: 0 L Page 2 5/10/90 • \. , i , . , , \ \ \ -, \ ~' \: -7 1 1 I "-. ' - o o Tbe traffic signal at Embarcadero/Bryant yill be coordinateQ ~ith the existing traffic signal at the intersection of Embarcadero Read and Waverley street. so as to minimize or eliDinate the need for traffic on Embarcadero Road to stop at both traffic signals. At the City's request, a staff person from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Rlade an evaluation of the impact that the si9nal would have on air quality. Based upon the results of that evaluation, city staff concluded that the project would have no significant environmental impact on air quality. If the project is approved as part of the 1990-95 CIP, staff will 'Work with PABAC and affected residents to develop appropriate measures for extending the bicycle boulevard to the downto'Wn. This viII likely involve {1) changes to Waverley st~eet (removal of bike lanes and signs, as well as restoration of parking on both sides of the street). and (2) installation of appropriate sIgning along Bryant~ It will also include consideration of the issues of potentIal changes to selective stop signs alonq Bryant as ~ell as the possibility of a barrier or otiler control device to favor bicyclists over automobiles and still permit access to adjacent propertIes and local area circulation~ This effort has begun with the collection of field data and is expected to be completed during the next six months. Staff will not proceed with the design and installation of the traffic signal at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Bryant Street antil such time as this work bas been completed and staff returns to Council with a recommended plan for the extension of the bike boulevard. Respectfu~ly submitted, MARVIN L. OVERWAY Cbief Transportation Official &::~~~\l't Assistant City Manager oc: Palo Alto Planning commission 'ir:~ 7f.Jdu~;J KENNETH R. SCHREIBER Director of Planning and Community Environment Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory committee western Wheelers Bicycle Club CKR:291:0 Page 3 Sl10190 • , i t L , • 1- t I . • \ , , ir , t-,- \' , " \' .;;... I , , , ~ 1 ~ , • \ , . , I , i , ~ '. . ", August August September August· September October "oYember " . / o o i.T'tt\CHMENT Z ~IKE BOUl£~ARO EXTENS!ON STUD~ I. Define Pr'!.iect Go.ls II. •. Extend the Bryant Street Bike SouTevard froo Cnurc~jTI Avenue tD San Franc;sQuite Creek ~. DeveTop PI.n that I. consist.nt with the Sike BouTe,ard concept -t~ro~ghwaJ ~hic~ gives precedence to bicycles -direct route that reduces tr.vel tfmc for bicycles -safe corridor ~;c~ mf~imiz!s conflftts wit~. and volume ef. mGtor ve~icle triffic c. Recognize and promote t~e role Qf bicycle transportatfon as i" alternat1ve mode O,t. Collecticn • An~lYSiS 1'. TrafflcmyoTumes-Albareadero, Br,)'ant., Vaverlel, Emerson b. Bike counts -~averlel. Bryant c. Estimate of added delays to traffic on [mbarcader~ d. Parking iDVe"tor~ e. Review accldent .istDry f. Syrvey physkal features Clf roadway. illltersection sigM lines .. etc. g. Identff, aesthetfc issues/cD~cerRs Ill. Develop Conce2!.~_~_1 Alterntives i. Conceptual 'lan for Bryant Street -reversal of stop signs -barrier Jocatfon(s) -changes il downtown parking b. Wa,erley Street 8ike Route -removal of bike Janes -restoration of on-street pa~~t.in9frestrip'[\11 -reversal Df stop signs c. £mbarcaderGJBrya~l Sisnal -perllitted 1!10velTlEnts f{lr bicyc1 fsts -pe~ltted movements for motor ~e~,c1es -triffic signal coordination requirements -alterftat'~~s te s~9nalizatioo (If. C0"!Tiun1.tJ OlJlreaCR i. Review Gf llternatfwes b1 PABAC ~. Sc~edul. public meetings wit •• ffected neighborhoods and flterested residents c. Schedule second series of ~eetin9s if needed ,. EYiluation • Contlisions ':"AIlaT,ze/quantffl!ilpicts: traffic di,ersions, troffic delays., neighborhood access a speeds, aest~etic issues ~. Oete~ine estimated (osts "---..... y=I"' ...... ___ r •• oi!r~ ..... ,~; %:' .... " "-," " 'OF_". L '. '!'. . ' . .. \ • Bile !oulevird [xtenSfcZ[) ,0 Aug"<t 1990 ftoVemN-T Dec.ember January 1991 la.ter - y, ~ ()e.ve lop Prefer-red __ ~ 1 t~rnit 1~ lll. Prep.r~~raft Study Report rIll. ~view of dr.f1-Study Report I. Review by City dep.rtments b. PARAe revie. c. C~nitl revfew II. ft~al Repor' and' Iteconmendation to Ci_f. .. L~ourlci1 I. l~leme.t.tio. of Ap~r.ved fl.n ------."'-