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Home My WebLink About07- Development Department D E V E L O P MEN T D E P A R T M N N T OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO REQUEST FOR COMMISSION/COUNCIL ACTION From: KENNETH J. HENDERSON Subject: "E" STREET DIAGONAL Executive Director PARKING-TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS Date: July 12, 1993 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis of Previous Commission/Council/Committee Action(s): On July 8, 1993 the Redevelopment Committee recommended to the Mayor and Common Council and Community Development Commission conceptual approval of the installation of temporary diagonal parking improvements on both sides of "E" Street between Second and Sixth Streets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended Motion(s): (Mayor and Common Council) and (Community Development Commission) Motion A: That the Mayor and Common Council and Community Development Commission grant conceptual approval for the installation of temporary improvement relative to diagonal parking on both sides of "E" between Second and Sixth Streets. Motion B: That the Mayor and Common Council and Community Development Commission authorize the Executive Director to complete necessary construction drawings and receive bids for completion of temporary improvements for approval of the Mayor and Common Council and Community Development Commission. (!, kU3 CIO cj Admin rator KENNETH J. HENDERSON Executive Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Person(s): Ken Henderson/David J. Norman Phone: 5081 Project Area(s): Central City North Ward(s): One Supporting Data Attached: Staff Report; Drawings FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $ N/A Source: N/A Budget Authority: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commission/Council Notes: DJN:rg:3208J COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Meeting Date: 07/19/1993 Agenda Item Number DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT "E" STREET DIAGONAL PARKING — TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS In this report staff seeks a authorization from the Mayor and Common Council and Community Development Commission that the Development Department, in conjunction with the City's Department of Public Works, develop a specific plan for temporary parking improvements for a diagonal parking trial on "E" Street in furtherance of the Commission's adopted Downtown Plan. Angle parking will enhance both street parking availability and pedestrian access within the downtown central business district. The installation of these temporary diagonal parking improvements on "E" Street will be a critical test of the usefulness and desirability of diagonal parking on this core downtown street as envisioned in the Downtown Plan. The Downtown Plan On July 6, 1992, the City of San Bernardino Community Development Commission adopted the San Bernardino Downtown Plan. This plan is designed to provide policy guidance responsive to the changing demands facing downtown San Bernardino, and it identifies steps that will lead to a quality urban character for the central business district. The goals of the Downtown Plan are as follows: 1. Establish downtown in general as the center of activity which features sites for a variety of possible new development, including office, retail, entertainment, cultural, hotel and residential uses. 2. Focus new development in such a way that it reinforces various downtown districts and, in particular, achieves a strong sense of "Center" in the downtown core. 3. Create highly usable and active public spaces which serve as amenities and attractions for the public and surrounding land uses. 4. Develop a compatible design of new downtown buildings which reinforces a pedestrian orientation and invigorates the street level environment. 5. Develop an overall network of street uses which improves the balance between pedestrians and vehicles on streets within the downtown. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DJN:rg:3208J COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Meeting Date: 07/19/1993 Agenda Item Number DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMEN. TAFF REPORT "E" STREET DIAGONAL PARKING — TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS July 12, 1993 Page Number — 2 — A significant enhancement in street level pedestrian activity must occur to achieve any of these goals. Currently, vehicular traffic dominates downtown streets; streets are wide and vehicular speeds on downtown streets are relatively fast. Prior to adoption of the Downtown Plan, there was no hierarchy of vehicles versus pedestrians in the street network all streets were oriented more to the needs of vehicles than to people on foot. The Plan adopted a new hierarchy for downtown streets and recognized that capacity currently exists for modifying vehicular traffic flow. Time lapse photography of "E" Street and Court Street on a typical week day shows that these streets operate with virtually no congestion, even during peak periods. The time lapse photography demonstrated that space now allocated for moving vehicles is excessive and that reallocation to pedestrian and parking use is possible. Downtown streets are rarely congested by vehicular traffic. Unfortunately, this lack of congestion contributes to increased vehicular speeds and unsafe pedestrian utilization. Higher vehicular speeds also contribute to a lack of visual exposure to retail and leisure elements in the downtown. By implementing diagonal parking (which reduces available vehicular travel lanes), we can effectively slow speeds on key thorough- fares, such as "E" Street, to enhance pedestrian activity and heighten retail and leisure destination exposure. At the same time, although there currently exists some parallel parking on "E" Street, there is not enough parking to serve current retail and entertainment uses. Without adequate parking near high utilization destinations, retail, activity suffers. The installation of diagonal parking will increase overall parking spaces for these retail uses. The Downtown Plan places more emphasis upon pedestrian street level volumes as opposed to vehicular traffic volumes. Diagonal parking is seen an important tool in the establishment of this travel hierarchy. By slowing the traffic flow and increasing street parking, pedestrian activity will be encouraged downtown. The Plan designates Court Street as "Primarily Pedestrian" and it designates "E" Street as "Mixed Pedestrian/Vehicular". By carrying out a trial of angle parking using inexpensive materials (painted medians, etc.), it is possible to gain the direct experience needed to design permanent improvements. This is the approach that has already been started on Court Street. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DJN:rg:3208J COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Ar Meeting Date: 07/19/19993 Agenda Item Number / DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMEN_ -#TAFF REPORT +✓ "E" STREET DIAGONAL PARKING - TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS July 12, 1993 Page Number - 3 - Court Street On July 6, 1992, the Commission approved a pilot diagonal parking experiment on Court Street between "D" and "E" Streets. In October of that same year, the Public Works Department, based upon the recommendation of Project for Public Spaces (PPS) and approval of the Mayor and Common Council, provided temporary diagonal parking striping on Court Street and limited that parking to two hours on the south side of the street. The objectives of this experiment were to slow traffic on Court Street between "E" and "D" Streets, provide additional street parking, and enhance pedestrian activity in the area. This six-month experiment has been received enthusiastically by businesses and customers. Traffic has slowed, parking has increased and pedestrian activity in the area has nearly doubled. Agency staff has now contracted for the engineering of working drawings for permanent improvements on Court Street from Arrowhead to "E" Street. Staff has been encouraged by the show of support from local merchants and business owners in the area who have urged similar efforts on other nearby downtown streets, including "E" Street. "E" Street Diagonal Parking Trial Installation of a temporary diagonal parking experiment on "E" Street, similar to the one performed on Court Street, will allow analysis of levels of pedestrian activity, points and locations of possible pedestrian and vehicular conflicts and vehicle congestion levels. During the Court Street experiment, PPS conducted a time-lapse photography study showing the increased levels of pedestrian and vehicular activity on the stre,�}. Similarly, PPS can perform the same type of study for "E" Street and, at the end of the trial period, return, along with staff, with recommendations for permanent improvements as appropriate. The attached drawings developed by Project for Public Spaces show a preliminary concept for the temporary improvements which includes painted neck-downs at intersection areas, forcing the vehicles into a single lane and allowing space for diagonal parking. The drawings are conceptual and must be studied by the Department of Public Works Traffic Engineering Division before specific decisions are made regarding left turn lanes and related matters. As drawn, the center median on "E" Street will be expanded and temporary planters with flowers will be placed in the median to offer some color and visual bulk to the median. Staff expects the planters to be made from cross-sectioned reinforced concrete sewer pipe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DJN:rg:3208J COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Meeting Date: 07/19/1993 Agenda Item Number DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMEN. TAFF REPORT "E" STREET DIAGONAL PARKING - TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS July 12, 1993 Page Number - 4 - filled with dirt. Also within this plan, a painted crosswalk is provided underneath the overhead pedestrian bridge connecting the City Hall upper court to the Carousel Mall. This crosswalk will allow for improved visibility of pedestrian passage across the street. The plan is only conceptual and, upon Commission approval, staff of both departments will work together to design a specific striping plan and landscaping scheme for the trial. Downtown Circulation and Parking Studv A number of short and long-term problems are raised by the proposed narrowing of "E" Street (and the downtown streets) to two lanes of traffic. One of the questions raised by the Redevelopment Committee was the passage of emergency vehicles on "E" Street. Staff believes that under the current traffic scenario emergency, vehicles (will have adequate access to "E" Street) from intersecting streets, such as Second, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. However, to provide a professional and comprehensive analysis of all the involved factors, staff will advertise the Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals for Traffic Engineering and Planning Services. After a review of the responses and analysis of the resulting proposals, a specific recommendation will be brought to the Commission for consideration. This will allow completion of a circulation analysis and strategy prior to the end of the "E" Street angle parking trial so that the results can be used in designing any permanent improvements. These results will be brought to the Commission and Council for review prior to commencing any final designs Recommendation At this time, staff is determining the most efficient and cost effective means of accomplishing the striping and temporary landscaping for the trial period. Upon conceptual approval by the Commission, Development Department staff and staff from the Department of Public Works will develop plans and specifications for the improvements needed to carry out the trial. Bids will be obtained, allowing a budget and recommended contract to be brought back to the Commission and Council for consideration. Staff recommends adoption of form motions "A" and "B". pq]Law� KENNSTH'J. HEND RSON, Executive Director Development Department --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DJN:rg:3208J COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Meeting Date: 07/19/1993 Agenda Item Number dwu LLN-• � jj 4N STRErr Adolbk V r` o .r � V � � COURt SIRFFf n of 2 t 13�I11L�4�5 t � r. ta�w�c 419 ' f Ou y ' �r� -. f P 344 _133U.LS 4111, 1i P i a of