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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC-2818 - Central Balboa Parking and Circulation Study• • • 0 TO: CITY COUNCIL 6 May 14, 1990 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NO. F -3(b) FROM: Public Works Department /Traffic Engineering SUBJECT: CENTRAL BALBOA PARKING AND CIRCULATION STUDY S�<< RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an Engineering Services Agreement with the consulting firm of Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. (AFA) for the analysis of traffic circulation and parking in the Central Balboa area. DISCUSSION• The City Council reviewed a draft Scope of Services for a parking and traffic study in the Central Balboa area in February 1990 and directed staff to retain a consultant to perform the study. Four transportation engineering firms were invited to discuss the Scope of Services prior to submitting proposals. All four firms subsequently submitted proposals and a review committee with representatives from the Public Works and Planning Departments has selected Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. This firm has performed a number of various circulation and parking studies in Orange County which have resulted in innovative solutions to local problems. AFA proposes to utilize a committee of residential and business representatives to work with staff and the consultant in order to ensure meaningful public involvement in the study. A questionnaire will be distributed to area residents in order to get broad -based public participation. 1 of 2 r' • A minimum of four public worksh identify the true problems and wo implemented. Workshop participant • written evaluations of the identified through this process. 0 ops are anticipated in order to rk toward solutions which can be s will also be asked to provide various alterative solutions The consultant is prepared to begin work immediately upon approval by the City Council. Data collection would continue through the week of July 4th with ongoing public workshops and a final report to the City Council in August. The fee for the study is $33,700. Staff has reviewed the proposal and believes that the schedule and the fee are reasonable and realistic given the number and complexity of issues to be addressed in the study. Copies of the complete proposal are available for review in the Traffic Engineer's office. • Richard M. Edmonston Traffic Engineer RME:bb WP:A:CCMAY.MEM 2 of 2 a PURCHASE REQUISITION CITE' F \��WPOT BE�H P.O. NO. (if reserve SUGGESTED VENDOR: Austin Foust Assoc 2020 N Tustin Av Santa Ana, CA 92701 DATE DEPT SHIP TO 5 -10 -90 Public Works Traffic Engr QUAN. DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLES OR SERVICES REQUIRED UNIT PRICE TOTAL BUDGET NO. Professional Engineering Services for Central Balboa Parking and Circulation Study, per proposal dated 4- 25 -90. Time and materials not to exceed 33,700. 02- 2797 -380` CODE AMOUNT APPROVED: -L hY�/ DEPT HEAD (or person aut orize to execute requisitions) PURCHASING AGENT UST /Po'- F ®lfST .4SS ®.4TE�S, INC. TPAff /L fNG /NEEF % % /[; .4"D rP4 NSPOA TA] /ON PL ANN ;//G 2020 NORTH TUSTIN AVENUE • SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92701 - TELEPHONE (714) 667 -0496 FAX (714) 567 -7952 April 25, 1990 City of Newport Beach 3300 Newport Boulevard Newport Beach, CA 92663 -3884 ATTENTION: Mr, Rich Edmonston, City Traffic Engineer SUBJECT: PROPOSAL -- CENTRAL BALBOA PARKING /CIRCULATION STUDY Dear Mr. Edmonston: Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. (AFA) is pleased to respond to your RFP to conduct a parking and circulation study of the Central Balboa Peninsula area. We have evaluated the information discussed at the consultant's briefing and have concluded that successful completion of this study requires an approach radically different than the conventional parking and circulation study. AFA has developed a public participation process in conjunction with our residential traffic control program. As you know, residential traffic control is highly controversial and requires development of improvements (actually disincentives, such as traffic diverters, turn restrictions, etc.) which are acceptable to a majority and at least "tolerable" to most of the rest of the residents. We propose adapting this process which has proven successful, while sometimes lengthy, in residential area to the Central Balboa area. One of the "problems" inherent in this process is that the outcome cannot be guaranteed at the outset_ That is, the Final improvement plan may involve features which, while not a violation of traffic engineering principals, may be quite unique and innovative compared with the traffic engineer's normal "bag of tricks ". We would not anticipate nearly the number of unique suggestions coming forth from a public participation program involving issues of parking and circulation in Central Balboa as from purely residential area, but some "unusual' ideas are likely to emerge and all suggestions must be fairly evaluated. At any rate, AFA's approach involves the formation of a steering committee of community interests (business and resident alike) to work with the City Staff and traffic consultant to arrive at first a mutual understanding of the problem and the factors which effect it, and finally, a recommendation of what to do about it. To accomplish this study, we propose the following tasks. These tasks are basically the same used by AFA in a number of neighborhood traffic control studies, but adapted to tit the needs of the Central Balboa Parking and Circulation Study. As will be seen from this proposal, AFA is offering a process whereby an acceptable traffic and parking management plan can be developed jointly between consultant, staff, and the effected community. All of the tasks have considerable flexibility and this flexibility will be necessary to conduct a meaningful public participation program. Overall, these tasks will lead to it traffic and parking plan for the area, but development of this t • ` • 1 final plan is heavily dependent upon participation of businesses and residents and, therefore, cannot be prejudged. We must embark on this study with an open mind. It should be noted that while the proposed study process will identify and evaluate parking and circulation issues much the same as a "conventional' study, the primary difference is that through citizen participation a consensus plan will be developed which addresses and solves the issues, rather than merely becoming another traffic study which only partially satisfies the needs while the basic problem remains and keeps coming back again and again. If you have questions regarding the proposed process or details of individual tasks, please call. We look forward to working with you on this interesting project and applying this unique approach to develop a suitable solution. Sincerely oe E. ust, PE SCOPE OF WORK Task 1 Set Study Context The overall goals and cbjectivcs of the study arc clear from the outset - that is to improve parking availability circulation within access to the Central Balboa area. In order to clearly establish the study procedures, review past history and existing conditions and 'brainstorm" alternative approaches, an initial half -day workshop between staff, consultant and Steering Committee is proposed. The purpose of the workshop would be to examine existing conditions and establish clear cut goals for the project and development of a detailed study methodology to achieve the goals. The consultant would prepare an agenda for advance distribution which will include a description of existing conditions and a suggested study procedure. Input would be solicited at the workshop in the form of ideas and concepts for the conduct of the study. This workshop would allow a free exchange of ideas as well as ensure a complete understanding of the goals, objectives and study methodology. This clear understanding of the process from the beginning is essential to the development of a successful area -wide traffic management plan. We expect that potential solutions to the areas problems will be controversial and the staff and area representatives should clearly understand the process and what to expect, and what is expected of them throughout the study process. The initial workshop will ensure this understanding is present. Task 2 Inventoy and Analvze Existing Conditions Austin -Foust proposes the following data collection effort as part of the study. We are aware that considerable traffic count and parking data is available and we will make use of that data. However, we are proposing to collect additional data to ensure credibility with the business, and a , Cordoned Area Traffic Counts - All traffic entering/existing the study area will be J counted for typical weekdays and weekends. In addition, traffic counts will be collected on the surrounding arterial roadway system. We have estimated 40 additional machine counts will be necessary. raffic Data Services will provide machine traffic counts. ry p o Parking lot accumulation by hour and by day to determine the variation in annual usage. How often is the lot full? o Intersection peak hour turning movement counts will be collected during both spring and summer months. o Daytime and nighttime parking inventory. ® An origin- destination questionnaire and problem identification survey will be developed. A distribution of the questionnaire to all business and residents of the 1 0 area will be made. Austin -Foust has used this technique successfully in Santa Ana, Orange, Garden Grove, and Irvine. The results will be tabulated and analyzed using a special microcomputer program developed by us for this specific purpose. "Chc program runs on an IBbI PC and the data in Dbase III format will be provided to the City for future use on their own computers. ® The trip generation and origin - destination data will be used to identify the extent of travel and parking by residents and businesses in the study area (including Balboa Peninsula). Task 3 Evaluate Existing Parking Lot The Balboa Pier parking lot will be reviewed and evaluated for parking layout, circulation and access. A number of changes to the existing facility have been postulated. AFA will identify and devaluate these proposals along with our own suggestions. It is recognized that the existing facility has many different types of users (customers of local businesses, beach goers, and transit). The lot will be evaluated to ensure all of the users are using the respective areas of the lot most efficiently. For example, is transit using all of their space when the lot is full? This and many other questions on the efficiency of existing, usage, and parking/circulation layout will be investigated. Task 4 Proiect Future Conditions The emphasis of this study is to both identify and address an existing problem as well as assess the impact of proposed development on future travel patterns. Existing plans for development and highway /transit improvements will be identified. The impact of new roadway under construction on area -wide travel patterns will be evaluated. An assessment will be made of the future volume levels in the study area to determine how those could affect both travel and parking demand. For example, potential changes roadways leading to /from the study area will be assessed. In addition, any system improvements needed to balance capacity with demand will be identified. Task 5 Develop Alternative Transportation Strateeies Successful area -wide traffic and parking management requires a delicate blend of "disincentives" t, discourage commuters from using residential street for parking and /or by -pass routes in combi ation with capacity enhancements to surrounding arterial highways. One of the goals of the inival workshop will be to 'brainstorm" traffic improvement schemes for the area. These ideas will be evaluated along with suggestions arising from community input received from workshops and a survey questionnaire circulated to all residents. In addition, Austin -Foust will propose alternative concepts based on our extensive experience with area -wide traffic control plan development and implementation. All the alternative plans identified from any of these sources will be evaluated to predict changes in existing and future travel patterns. Segments of the arterial highways needing increased capacity to satisfy travel demand will be identified and corresponding capacity improvements evaluated. 2 Task (, Evaluate Alternatives A "shopping list" of potential alternatives developed from the workshops (both staff, community, and the list included in the RFP), the neighborhood questionnaire, and the consultant's own suggestions will be reduced to those meeting the goals and objectives through analysis of their impact on travel patterns. Two or three alternatives meeting the goals and objectives and displaying reasonable cost effectiveness will be submitted to the community for acceptance at a public workshop. All comments, suggestions, and criticisms received will be assessed prior to the consultant preparing a final recommendation. Task 7 Recommend Alternative(s) and Devise Implementation Prop_Tam Upon completion of the community workshop for evaluation of alternatives, a final draft recommended plan will be prepared. This plan may include an implementation plan which includes trial installation, initial evaluation and refinement, community evaluation and final adoption and permanent construction. A "trial" implementation program will be developed if results of the community participation indicate immediate action is appropriate. Otherwise, the study will develop an area -wide plan with an implementation schedule phased to keep pace with changes on commercial development in the surrounding area. In either case, the implementation plan will allow for modification of individual elements of the overall area -wide traffic management plan. It is anticipated that a 180 day "after" period will be necessary to fully evaluate all elements of the plan. Since it is inevitable that revisions to any traffic and parking management plan will become necessary during the implementation period, Austin -Foust is also proposing to incorporate this aspect of the project in our proposal. Task 8 Communitv Participation AFA proposes a major effort in the area community participation. Our experience indicates that four meetings should be considered a minimum. We are proposing to conduct at least four workshops (as well as any others required) to develop a plan acceptable to the community. Based on our experience, it is our expectation that additional workshops may be necessary. In addition, we will distribute a survey questionnaire to the entire neighborhood. The public participation program is patterned after the successful, but time consuming, process used in the development of the Santa Ana, Orange, and Irvine Residential Traffic Management Plans. A questionnaire with pre -paid return postage will be sent to all residents informing them of the study and the workshops, and soliciting their attitudes regarding traffic problems and proposed solutions. All input received from the community involvement program will be evaluated and documented in the final report. Residents and business people will be asked to complete written evaluations of altematives at the workshops. Austin -Foust has found this is the only way to determine what the "silent majority" desires. Oral testimony will be solicited, but our finding is that this alone is not sufficient to determine if a consensus exists. Austin- Foust's proposal stresses the importance of community participation to the development of a successful area -wide traffic and parking management. Although we are initially proposing a minimum of four community workshops along with the survey questionnaire, we are prepared to conduct additional public meetings as necessary during the conduct of the study. Austin -Foust is proposing to condu,.:t a complete and comprehensive area -wide traffic and parking 3 management study for the City. Our experience shows community participation is essential, and we are prepared to devote the necessary effort to this phase, even if, as we expect, it requires more than the four workshops proposed. Task 9 Final Report A final report will be prepared documenting the study, the methodology, data collection, analysis, traffic modeling effort, public participation, and findings and recommendations. 4 COST SUMMARY 'I he following per nnncl allocation is proposed to oxnplete the scope of scrviccs: -------------------------------------------------------- PERSONNEL. CLASSIFICATION ------------------------------------------ .----------------- AFA Principal Senior Asst. Trans. Traffic SUBCONSULTANT "ASKS Traf. E Tech. Engineer Tech. (TDS) 1 8 8 8 2 24 16 40 80 3 8 20 d 8 8 20 i 12 8 8 6 12 8 8 '7 24 8 40 40 3 24 16 9 24 10 16 16 TOTAL HOURS 160 80 160 80 HOURLY RATE $90 S 45 $50 S35 COST $14,400 $3,600 $8,000 $2,800 Subtotal $28,000 DIRECT EXPENSES Reproduction: 20 reports @ 510.00 each $200 • Traffic Counts: 10 Machine Counts @ $150 each (Before and After) $1,500 10 TM Counts @ $150 each (Before and After) $1,500 Direct Mailings (Meeting notices, questionnaires, etc.) $?i00 Subtotal $5,700 TOTAL COST $33,700 9