HomeMy WebLinkAboutIntersection Modification Concept Development - Main StreetCouncil/Agency Meeting Held:_
Deferred/Continued to:
4Appr ed ❑ Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied
y City rk's gnature
Council Meeting Date: April 16, 2012
Department I Number: PW 12-020
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, PE, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Consideration of Main St. and Ellis Ave. Intersection Modification
Concept Development
Statement of Issue: Studies and practical experience have identified the intersection of
Beach Boulevard, Main Street, and Ellis Avenue as a location experiencing a high degree of
congestion. A review of a treatment concept and the process for developing the project is
being presented to the City Council for direction.
Financial Impact: Implementation of the recommended action would require the
expenditure of $40,000 to $60,000 in the FY 2012/13 budget year. Use of non -General Fund
funding sources will be explored. Future implementation would require the funding of a
capital project for construction with a funding source yet to be determined.
Recommended Action: Motion to:
Direct staff to develop the project concept, identify an appropriate funding source and include
the costs of processing consideration of the project in the upcoming FY 2012/13 budget.
Alternative Action(s):
Direct staff to postpone consideration of this project at this time.
Item 16. - 1 xB -594-
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE: 4/16/2012 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 12-020
Analysis: The existing traffic operations at the intersection of Beach Boulevard, Main
Street, and Ellis Avenue are very complicated and inefficient as a result of the coordinated
operation between the two closely spaced intersections (Main/Ellis and Main/Beach/Ellis).
Staff has reviewed the existing operations and has not been able to identify a treatment that
could be implemented by Caltrans that would significantly benefit the overall operation.
Recent studies, most notably the Beach and Edinger Corridor Specific Plan, identified the
challenges of this area and recommended that the City consider significant modification of
the intersection in order to improve operations and accommodate future traffic growth from
expected redevelopment of parcels.
The primary alternatives identified to date that would benefit this intersection are either the
partial or full closure of access to the west portion of Ellis Avenue from Main Street (between
Denny's and 5 Points). The simplest and least disruptive alternative would be to partially
close the intersection by extending the median separating traffic on Main Street, effectively
prohibiting all left turn access at Main/Ellis. Westbound traffic from Beach Boulevard would
still be allowed to turn right onto Ellis and continue to the west. Traffic would also be allowed
to turn right from Ellis onto Main Street, towards the Florida Street intersection. With this
change, the traffic signal could be removed and the Beach/Main/Ellis intersection could be
adjusted to work in a more conventional manner that is expected to greatly enhance the
intersection efficiency and reduce congestion. A diagram of the intersection area and
illustration of the changes is provided as Attachment 1.
Complete closure of the segment of Ellis would be more significant and provide the potential
for different uses of land. However, the costs and impacts of that approach would likely be
greater. The benefits to traffic operations are expected to be similar to the partial closure
option.
Staff has reviewed the steps it would take to consider the partial closure and the likely costs
associated with them. The following lists the primary elements of the project development
and review process:
1) Develop a concept design including documenting expected operational benefits and
potential impacts due to traffic rerouting (Traffic Study) - $15,000
2) Prepare environmental review documents (predicting a mitigated negative declaration)
including technical reviews (Neg Dec.) - $35,000
3) Process a Master Plan of Arterial Highways amendment/review with OCTA (MPAH
Review) - $5,000
4) Process a General Plan Amendment to address street classifications (GPA) - $5,000
5) Potential mitigation measures to implement project (Mitigation) - $20,000-$40,000
6) Project construction/signal demolition (Construction) - $80,000
As development of the project progresses, it is likely that some of the costs associated with
each effort would change depending on the issues identified and final determination of
processing requirements. We expect the primary issue areas for the environmental analysis
to be in traffic/circulation, air quality, noise and emergency service access. Residents in the
area may raise some concerns, as well as local business owners that could be affected by
the project concept related to impacts to business operations/deliveries and sales.
HB -595- Item 16. - 2
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE: 4/16/2012 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 12-020
Public Works Commission Action:
The project concept has not been reviewed by the Public Works Commission
Environmental Status: The recommended action does not require environmental review.
The recommended action does include significant environmental review efforts as part of
review of the project concept.
Strategic Plan Goal: Improve the City's infrastructure
Attachment(s):
Item 16. - 3 HB -596-
HB -597- Item 16. - 4
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City of Huntington Beach * Public Works I Attachment
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