Title:
Title
Environmental Document and Conceptual Plans: Northwood School Access Improvements Project (T15186100)
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01753
Location
Location: Northwood Elementary School Community; El Camino Avenue, Lexington Street, Clay Street, Frienza Avenue, and Taft Street; District 2
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Pass a Motion: 1) accepting the conceptual plans for the Northwood School Access Improvements Projects (T15186100); and 2) approving the Categorial Exemption for the Northwood School Access Improvements Projects (T15186100).
Contact: Qasid Mehirdel, Associate Civil Engineer (916) 808-6842; Nader Kamal, Interim Engineering Services Manager (916) 808-7035, Department of Public Works
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Location Map
3-Draft Conceptual Plans
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Northwood School Access Improvements Project includes new pedestrian improvements to provide better pedestrian access for the community to the Northwood Elementary School and other key destinations. This includes the installation of curb, gutter, and sidewalk, along El Camino Avenue, Lexington Street, Clay Street, Frienza Avenue, and Taft Street. The project also proposes to improve pavement conditions, install pavement markings, new drainage systems, and other minor utility and signal modifications. (See attached Location Map.)
El Camino Avenue and adjacent streets in the project area do not have road frontage: no curbs, gutters, and sidewalks were originally included when the roads were constructed. As a result, pedestrians are deterred from the area or must walk on an unpaved shoulder adjacent to the street. The project area also lacks drainage systems to capture and redirect stormwater.
The project proposes to construct a continuous pedestrian network that connects residents to the Northwood Elementary school, the Swanston Light Rail Station, businesses, and other amenities in the area. The project will enhance pedestrian safety, mobility, and accessibility, and is expected to encourage walking. The project also includes a non-infrastructure component - an outreach program to educate the community on pedestrian awareness and safety. For a summary of improvements, see attached Draft Conceptual Plans.
City Council approval of the Categorical Exemption is required to allow staff to proceed to final design and ultimately construct the project.
Policy Considerations: The actions requested herein are consistent with the City’s goals of improving and expanding public safety, creating walkable communities, and enhancing overall livability. Specific goals the project supports are as follows:
M 1.2.1 - Multimodal Choices: The City shall develop an integrated, multimodal transportation system that improves the attractiveness of walking, bicycling, and riding transit over time to increase travel choices and aid in achieving a more balanced transportation system and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
M 1.3.2 - Eliminate Gaps: The City shall eliminate “gaps” in roadways, bikeways, and pedestrian networks.
M 1.3.5 - Connections to Transit Stations: The City shall provide and improve connections to transit stations by identifying, roadways, bikeways and pedestrian improvements within walking distance (1/2 mile) of existing and planned transit stations. Such improvements shall emphasize the development of complete streets.
M 2.1.6 - Pedestrian Awareness Education: The City shall continue pedestrian safety outreach to the public through the City’s website and develop partnerships with local organizations to develop educational materials and programs that promote pedestrian awareness.
M 2.1.7 - Safe Pedestrian Crossings: The City shall improve pedestrian safety at appropriate intersections and midblock locations by providing safe pedestrian crossings.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The Environmental Planning Services Division has reviewed the project and determined that it is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301(c), 15302, and 15303(d)(e). The project consists of the operation, repair and minor alteration of existing public facilities, mechanical equipment, and topographical features including existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities. The project consists of the replacement of existing traffic signal equipment where the new equipment will be located at the same general area as the equipment to be replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity. The project consists of the construction or relocation of limited numbers of small facilities and equipment, including but not limited to street improvements and utility systems.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): The project team, in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is also preparing documentation for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). No action regarding NEPA compliance is required from City Council.
Sustainability: The project is consistent with sustainability goals of promoting walking by developing a universally accessible, safe, convenient, integrated, and well-connected pedestrian system.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: Approval of the Categorical Exemption and acceptance of the conceptual plans are necessary to proceed with the project.
Financial Considerations: The Northwood School Access Improvements Project (T15186100) has a budget of $458,094 in federal grant funds and local transportation funds for the planning and environmental phases, enough to complete this phase of the project. Construction and construction management for the project is estimated to cost about $3 million. Upon completion of the planning and environmental phase, additional state or federal grant funding will be needed to fully fund construction of the project.
No General Funds are allocated or programmed for the project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.