MO 1996-022 to 1996-030 (1996-021 missing)

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT DATE: June 8, 1996 TO: Mike Oliver, City FROM: Bill Algire, Engin rTer �ransportation Director APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL LLA Mike Oliver City Manager BY: Gary Kruger, Transportation Administrator 7 SUBJECT: First Study Group Presentation to City Council - E. 14th Street Median SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION In October, 1995 the City Council authorized development of a concept design for a landscaped median on E. 14th Street from Hays to Broadmoor. The method used for concept plan development was to have staff and contracting traffic engineers work closely with a group of residents and business owners adjacent to E. 14th Street to arrive at a design concept that avoids unnecessary traffic and parking impacts and yet yields the desired safety and aesthetic benefits sought by the City. The Study Group was formed after the general community workshop in early February, 1996. Participants in that meeting selected members of the Study Group on a geographic basis; staff did not participate in the selection process. Four Study Group meetings were held between April 2nd and May 21, 1996 (including a walking tour) and culminated in a design that the group members wish to test prior to recommending any design to the community at large and to the City Council. Staff believes that such a test is feasible and a necessary next step in gaining community acceptance of the design concept which removes one of the two through lanes in each direction on E. 14th Street. Staff recommends that the City Council approve a limited initial test of the median from Oakes Boulevard to Hays, and if successful, would propose a test of the complete concept over a year starting in late Fall, 1996. The year -long test would be installed by Caltrans when repaving E. 14th Street as they have planned to do for over one year. BACKGROUND Staff has been proceeding with the development of a concept design for a median on E. 14th Street from Davis to Broadmoor as authorized by the City Council in October, 1995. A major part of the concept design process was the involvement of a representative group of nearby neighborhood residents and businesses in the formulation and evaluation of median design options. The major reasons for investigating the feasibility of a median on E. 14th Street include the need: 1) to reduce the significantly -above -average accident rate; 2) to improve the ability of pedestrians to cross at unsignalized intersections; and 3) to improve the urban design and esthetics of the street to stimulate private investment and economic development. A median was also conceived as an integral part of the Civic Center Seismic Retrofit project. Past efforts to develop a median on E. 14th Street have not been successful due to Caltrans requirements for standard sized lanes. At 66 feet, E. 14th Street (also State Route 185) is too narrow to provide parking on both sides (8 feet each side), four standard lanes (12 feet each) and a median (minimum 13 gek: c:\backup\memo.367