HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - SR-55 - Newport Boulevard Improvement Study UpdateOF
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NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report Agenda Item No. SS 2
August 9, 2011
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Stephen G. Badum, Public Works Director
949 - 644 -3311, sbadum @newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Antony Brine, City Traffic Engineer
APPROVED:
TITLE: SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update
ABSTRACT:
Public Works staff has been working with the Orange County Transportation Authority
(OCTA) and the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach during the preparation of
an SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study. Representatives of OCTA and the
project consultant will present an update of the study scope, process and schedule.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file status report for the SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item. Funding for the study is from a federal
Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) grant, an OCTA Growth
Management Authority (GMA) grant, and the City of Costa Mesa.
DISCUSSION:
According to current Caltrans planning documents, State Route 55 (SR -55) is
designated as a future six -lane freeway south of 19`h Street. In October 2008, the
OCTA Board approved the SR -55 Access Study which identified potential alternatives to
a freeway extension project which could address mobility and congestion issues along
SR -55 /Newport Boulevard between 19`" Street and Industrial Way. That access study
recommended four (4) alternative projects for further study.
SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update
August 09, 2011
Page 2
This new phase of study will analyze and refine, in greater depth, those alternative
projects which include:
- a "No- Build" option;
- a 'Transportation System Management' (TSM) option which could include
improvements such as optimized signal timing and bus turnouts;
- an "Elevated Turn Lanes" option which could include vertically separated turn
movements at 171h Street and 191h Street and;
- a "Cut and Cover" option which could include a new structure built below
Newport Boulevard from the existing terminus of the SR -55 Freeway at 19`h
Street continuing to Industrial Way.
As part of the study process, OCTA will be soliciting input from community stakeholders.
As the study progresses, Staff will be contacting various groups within the City to
determine their interest in the project study. These groups could include the Chamber of
Commerce, Homeowners Associations, Business Improvement Districts, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find the requirement for environmental review under
the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") is satisfied by the discussion on and
action recommended earlier in this staff report.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
Submitted by:
step &R-63 dum
Public W ks Director
Attachments: A. PowerPoint presentation
B. OCTA Web Page
Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55)/
Newport Boulevard Improvement Study
Public Involvement Program Overview
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• Completed the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55)
Access Study in 2008
• Initiated Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55)/
Newport Boulevard Improvement Study per the
request of the City of Costa Mesa
• Anticipate study completion in 2013
• Funding for potential improvements
not identified
z
• Explore & refine alternatives
• Ensuring viable improvements
for future consideration
• Solicit public input
• Utilizing business impact
assessment
• Securing stakeholder input
3
• Maintain ongoing communication
• Social & traditional media
• Web site and publications
• Establish rapport
• Ascertain baseline perceptions
• Solicit feedback on
concept level improvements
il
• Brief city councils
• Conduct business survey
ummer - Fall 2011 • Initiate stakeholder working
groups
• Host open house
Fall 2011 -Summer 2012 'Refine and analyze alternatives
•Implement outreach phase 2
Summer 2012 - Spring 2013 ' Finalize alternatives
• Host final open house
0
Background I Looking Forward I Study Benefits
The City of Costa Mesa (City) has
identified congestion on State Route
55 (SR -55) /Newport Boulevard as
a significant quality of life Issue for
adjacent residential and business
communities. As a result, the City
requested that the Orange County
Transportation Authority (OCTA)
together with its partner agencies,
the cities of Newport Beach and
'vntington Beach, study alternative
,provements to the extension of
the Costa Mesa Freeway. This study
will analyze and identify potential
transportation improvements for
SR -55 /Newport Boulevard, between
the end of the Costa Mesa Freeway
at 19th Street and Industrial Way.
In 2008, OCTA, at the request of
the City, completed the SR -55
Access Study. That study analyzed
seven conceptual alternatives and
recommended four scenarios for
further analysis. This new phase
of the study will do just that: further
analyze and refine the four alternative
scenarios. At this time, there is
no funding identified for future
improvements in this area. However,
by moving this study forward and
identifying viable alternatives, if
-nding does become available
.he future, viable alternatives
will be ready for development.
Traffic congestion at the end
of the Costa Mesa Freeway
is caused by both local and
regional commuters. Most
SR -55 drivers live in the area
or travel there to visit local
businesses on or near Newport
Boulevard. At the terminus of
the Costa Mesa Freeway, at
19th Street, close to 100,000
vehicles pass through this
area on a daily basis, and
these volumes are projected
to grow in the future.
This study will evaluate those
alternatives that best accommodate
movements of cars, buses, and
pedestrians. The alternatives will
balance the benefits of improved
mobility with potential fiscal, and
business and community impacts,
to arrive at a recommendation
that can be understood and
accepted by the Newport -
Costa Mesa community.
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No Build
The No Build alternative reflects future conditions along SR -55 /Newport Boulevard v; ith no
major improvements. This alternative also provides a "baseline condition" to which the other
alternatives can be compared.
Transportation System Management (TSM)
The TSM alternative includes improvements, such as signal timing and bus turnouts, that
can be made without significant impacts to properties and at a lower cost than the build
alternatives.
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TYPICAL SECTION A-A
Elevated Turn Lanes
The Elevated Turn Lanes alternative features improvements to both ends of the study area.
Some of the concepts under consideration will include vertically separating turn movements
from 17th and 19th Streets to SR -55 /Newport Boulevard, thereby increasing capacity along
the corridor.
Cut and Cover
The Cut and Cover alternative evaluates building a new structure below Newport Boulevard.
This alternative proposes a four -lane extension of the Costa Mesa Freeway under SR -55/
Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to Industrial Way. Newport Boulevard could be reduced
to a six -lane arterial with enhanced
4
medians, parkways, and wider T+ I I I • t 1 t
sidewalks. This alternative is
designed to separate local traffic
from regional through- traffic.
Study Schedule
Data Collection ..........................................
I Business Interviews ........... .......................
Convene Stakeholder Committees
Initial Public Meeting ..................... ..........
Alternatives Development/Analysis ........
Preliminary Environmental Study ............
j Follow -Up Public Meetings ......•.•.
Preparation of Final Report °...... °......•••..
............................................................. ..............................> Mid 2011
..................................................... ..............................> Mid /Late 2011
.......... ...........................-... ...- -
................................. ............................... ....................> Early 2012
.. ....................................................... ..............................> Mid 2013 !
...................... ...............................
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Study Process
This effort is a continuation of the 2008 SR -55
Access Study, which identified four alternatives for
further study (No Build, TSM, Elevated Turn Lanes,
and Cut and Cover). This effort will analyze these
alternatives in greater depth and identify initial
scope, schedule, and cost considerations for the
next phase of the project development process —
completion of an environmental document.
Based upon both technical analysis and public input,
the study team will define the project's purpose
and need, conduct business surveys, examine
traffic data, prepare cost estimates, and consider
potential environmental impacts. Once this study is
complete, it will serve as a precursor document to a
full Project Report and Environmental Document.
At that point, the remaining alternatives are
looked at in even greater detail along with a
full environmental assessment and extensive
,public involvement program, resulting in
selection of a locally preferred alternative.
Currently, no funding has been identified for the
next phase of study or for the ultimate project
improvements selected. This current phase of study
will allow the City of Costa Mesa and OCTA to move
potential improvements through the planning process.
Throughout this effort. OCTA and its partner
agencies will be working with project stakeholders
to collect feedback about the alternatives.
Stakeholder groups will be formed to facilitate
public involvement and encourage dialogue,
which will help inform the technical analysis.
In addition, the project team will conduct interviews
with major businesses to help understand how
they may be affected by project alternatives.
Contact Us
To learn more about the SR- 55/Newport Boulevard
Improvements, visit www.octa.net/55Study or contact
Sarah Swensson, OCTA Community Relations
Specialist, at (714) 560 -5376, swwensson@octa.net.
Ot.. ,ae County Transportitioi, Authority I I - ,,,