Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 18, 2017
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: DORAN STREET AND BROADWAY/BRAZIL GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE:
A. The recommended Alternative 2 Northerly Point of Access and Salem Sperry Grade Separation for the environmental documents and preliminary engineering design phase; and
B. Third party costs of up to $2 million for the City of Glendale, City of Los Angeles, Southern California Regional Rail Authority and other third parties and authorize the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or his designee, to negotiate and execute all agreements necessary for this action.
Issue
ISSUE
In June 2015, the Metro Board partially approved the Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil Safety Access Project, Alternative 2 Fairmont Connector and Salem/Sperry Overpass. The Board approved the Salem/Sperry Overpass but Director Najarian amended the motion and directed staff to work with the City of Glendale and the City of Los Angeles to examine the project without the Fairmont Connector and to report back to the Board on furthering the study to develop another feasible alternative to the Fairmont Connector that meets the short term and long term goals of the region and local communities (Refer to Attachment A).
Staff has completed a new traffic study that examined several alternatives, including prohibiting public access, one-way outbound traffic, and two-way traffic solutions. The results of the study indicate that both the Salem/Sperry Overpass and the Fairmont Connector, currently referred to as the “Northerly Point-of-Access”, with a two-way connection to Fairmont Avenue work in tandem, and together these provide a comprehensive solution that addresses the existing and forecasted traffic growth. The two-way traffic solution is critical for the economic vitality of the North Atwater Village businesses while not significantly impacting the intersection operations on Fairmont Avenue. The Salem/Sperry Overpass and two-way Northerly Point-of-Access to Fairmont Avenue will allow for the closure of both the Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil at-grade rail crossings, resulting in a substantial safety and mobility improvement for the community (Refer to Attachment B). Staff is requesting the Board to approve the recommended actions.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The goal of the Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil Grade Separation Project, formerly referred to as the Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil Safety and Access Project, is to significantly improve safety and enhance mobility by closing both at-grade rail crossings. The project as brought to the Board in June, 2015, consisted of two components. First is the Salem/Sperry Overpass which connects West San Fernando Road to San Fernando Road in the vicinity of Sperry Street in Los Angeles and Salem Avenue in Glendale (Refer to Attachment C). The second component was the Fairmont Connector, which would be the extension of West San Fernando Road over the Verdugo Wash with a two-way connection to Fairmont Avenue (Attachment D and D-1). This utilizes Fairmont Avenue as an overpass, resulting in a significant cost savings by using existing infrastructure as part of the solution.
Up to 90 Metrolink, Amtrak and freight trains a day run through the rail corridor which accounts for a total of 8 hours of gate-down time at the two at-grade crossings. Both crossings have considerable traffic volumes in the order of 7,000 vehicles a day crossing Doran Street and 5,000 vehicles a day crossing Broadway/Brazil Street. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) identified the Doran Street at-grade crossing as one of the most hazardous intersection in the City of Glendale and the City of Los Angeles with 14 recorded pedestrian and vehicular incidents by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The CPUC also mandated that Doran Street be converted temporarily to a one-way westbound movement until the at-grade crossing can be closed permanently when the grade separation is built. There are 9 recorded pedestrian and vehicular incidents reported by FRA at the Broadway/Brazil grade crossing.
In response to the amended motion by Director Najarian to find an alternative design in lieu of the Fairmont Connector, staff hired a new traffic consultant, Gibson Transportation, to work with HNTB to conduct a new traffic study (Refer to Attachment E). The new traffic study consists of new traffic counts for up to 35 intersections in the study area including origin- destination counts from the Doran Street at-grade crossing to and from State Route 134 on-ramps and off-ramps. Additionally, this data was integrated into the SCAG regional traffic model for year 2035 to better examine the traffic patterns and future growth in the vicinity of the project area. With this data, staff examined several alternatives for the Northerly Point-of-Access in lieu of the proposed Fairmont Connector. Staff concluded that the Northerly Point-of-Access with a “J-hook” or “P-hook” configuration that includes a two-way traffic connection to Fairmont Avenue with a protected bike lane and sidewalk is the best alternative. The results of the study indicate that the Salem/Sperry Overpass and Northerly Point-of-Access work in tandem to comprehensively address the existing and forecasted traffic growth of the area. While the study identified an increase of traffic on Fairmont Avenue by future year 2035, the increase does not significantly impact the intersection operations, where the projected Level of Service for the intersections will operate at Level B or C. The Northerly Point-of-Access provides a critical connection for emergency vehicles as well as for economic vitality of the businesses in North Atwater Village. By implementing the two project components, the Salem/Sperry Overpass and the Northerly Point-of-Access, both at-grade rail crossings at Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil will be closed, substantially improving safety and enhancing mobility, eliminating the need for train horns, and improving the efficiency of train movement along this busy rail corridor.
Community Meetings
Metro conducted two community meetings on December 7, 2016 to present the results of the new traffic study and the recommended alternative for the project. Over 75 people total attended the community meetings. The comments received from the community meetings were favorable related to the results of the expanded traffic circulation analysis beyond Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil Street and the solutions as presented.
One topic of considerable discussion at both community meetings was the CPUC mandate to convert the Doran Street at-grade crossing to a one-way westbound configuration on an interim basis until such time that a grade separation can be constructed. The community concerns are related to the poor traffic signal operations and congestion at the Broadway/Brazil at-grade crossing. The interim condition at Doran would exacerbate the existing traffic condition at Broadway/Brazil Street. The issue is the limitation of the existing traffic signal controller at this very complex intersection at Broadway/Brazil Street and San Fernando Road. Metro staff is already engaged in discussions with the City of Glendale and Metrolink to purchase and upgrade the traffic signal software which will improve signal operations and alleviate congestion. The community was in favor of this signal upgrade. The recommended action for third party cost will include the design and implementation of the traffic signal software.
In addition, the community expressed interest in foregoing the interim at-grade improvements on Doran Street and instead expedite the construction the Northerly Point-of-Access. Another concern raised is the truck traffic on Fairmont Avenue and the community requested the evaluation of eliminating left-turn truck movements from the Northerly Point-of-Access onto Fairmont Avenue. If the Board approves the recommended actions, staff intends to analyze and implement the aforementioned comments received from the community meetings, if deemed feasible.
Third Party Costs
In May 2011, the Metro Board programmed $6.6 million for the Project for environmental and engineering work. However, third party involvement from the City of Glendale, City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles Public Works, SCRRA and other agencies is necessary in order to complete the environmental and design documents. Up to $2.0 million as listed in the table below is needed to fund third party agencies to participate in meetings, technical inputs, and review of technical and design documents during the environmental and design phases.
|
ITEM |
COST |
|
Traffic signal upgrades at Broadway/Brazil Street an Doran Street |
$500,000 |
|
City of Glendale |
Up to $500,000 |
|
City of Los Angeles |
Up to $400,000 |
|
SCRRA |
Up to $400,000 |
|
All other third party agencies |
Up to $200,000 |
With Board approval of this recommendation, Metro’s total commitment to the Project will increase from $6.6 million to $8.6 million.
Other Engineering and Environmental Cost
Based on the community engagement and feedback the project has received to date, the project will have other cost related to environmental work and engineering design. Staff had to analyze several more engineering alternatives including adding a J-hook configuration for the Northerly Access Point Overpass which delayed the project contract schedule approximately two years resulting in added escalation cost. Staff intends to return to the Board by April 2017 once the new traffic study has been finalized for the additional environmental and engineering work.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This Project will significantly improve safety as it is a grade separation of the roadway from active railroad right-of-way. With the construction of this project, two at-grade crossings at Doran Street and Broadway/Brazil Street will be closed, eliminating the possibility of train to vehicle collisions.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The approval of third party costs will require a $2.0 million increase in Metro’s $6.6 million already programmed to the Project for a total $8.6 million in Measure R 3% funds.
Since this is a multi-year contract, the cost center manager, and Chief of Program Management will be accountable and responsible for budgeting the cost of future fiscal year requirements in department 2415, Regional Rail, Project No. 460065, Tasks 6.3.01.02 and 6.3.01.03.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for this request is Measure R 3% Transit Capital. These funds are not eligible to be used for Metro bus/rail operating or capital budget expenses.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
An alternative would be not to approve the recommended actions. This is not recommended as the Project provides a significant safety improvement to the City of Glendale and Los Angeles, improves traffic flow and the efficiency of train movement along the Metrolink and LOSSAN rail corridor.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will move forward with the environmental and design of the project and hold another community meeting by June 2017. Staff will return to the Board by April 2017 for contract modification for the additional environmental and engineering work.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - June 2015 Board Report
Attachment B - Northerly Point-of-Access and Salem/Sperry Overpass
Attachment C - Recommended Alternative 2 - Salem/Sperry Overpass
Attachment D - Recommended Alternative 2 - Northerly Point-of-Access (J-Hook)
Attachment D1 -Recommended Alternative 2 - Northerly Point-of-Access (P-Hook)
Attachment E - Director Najarian Board Motion
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Jeanet Owens, Senior Executive Officer, Program Management (213) 922-6877
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Nalini Ahuja, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Budget Management (213) 922-2296
Richard Clarke, Chief Program Management Officer, Program Management, (213) 922-7557
