HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 CIP 700144 05-18-98DATE:
MAY l§, 199§
NO. 16
5-18-98
lnter-Oom ,,
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERINGDIVISION
STATUS REPORT: RED HILL AVENUE PEDESTRIAN
OVERCROSSING/RESTRIPING RED HILL AVENUE (CIP NO. 700144)
SUMMARY
The project involves the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the Santa Ana-Santa .Fe (F- 10) Flood
Control Channel west of Red Hill Avenue and an all-weather pedestrian walkway across the
OCTA/SCRRA Railway tracks.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Engineer's estimate indicates that construction of this project will cost approximately $95,000.00
(includes bridge and walkways, traffic signal modifications at Red Hill/Service Road, drainage facility
modifications and construction survey services). Additional costs, approximately $20,000.00, will be
incurred for the work being done within the OCTA/SCRRA right-of-way since the Railway will be doing
project-relatedconstruction within this area with its own contractors. Sufficient funding has been provided
in the City's 1997-98 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget for this project.
BACKGROUND
The project is located along Red Hill Avenue north of Edinger Avenue as shown in attached Figure 1. The
project will construct a pedestrian bridge across the Santa Ana-Santa Fe (F-10) Channel along the west side
of Red Hill Avenue and an all-weather pedestrian walkway across the Orange County Transportation
Authority/Southern California Regional Rail Authority (OCTA/SCRRA) Railway tracks as shown in
attached Figure 2.
Current pedestrian access through the narrowed section of Red Hill Avenue requires pedestrians to walk
within the street along both sides of Red Hill Avenue to maneuver around these facilities.
DISCUSSION
The contract for construction of this project was' awarded to Hondo Company, of Santa Ana, Califomia by
the City Council at their meeting of January 5, 1998. Construction began on March 4, 1998, and is
scheduled for completion by June 30, 1998.
Status Report: Red Hill Avenue Pedestrian OverCrossing/Restriping Red Hill Avenue
May 18, 1998
Page 2
A subsequent project phase will be developed to consider the removal of on-street parking and the
restriping of Red Hill Avenue to provide three through travel lanes between Edinger Avenue and Mitchell
Avenue. The City had previously identified the need to restripe Red Hill Avenue to provide three travel
lanes in each direction to help relieve congestion on Red Hill Avenue. The major obstacle to restriping has
been the need to provide adequate pedestrian access in the area of the channel and the railway crossing. If
restriping were completed without the pedestrian bridge and other sidewalk improvements it would force
pedestrians to walk in the street extremely close to vehicular traffic in the channel area.
To implement the additional lanes on Red Hill Avenue on-street parking spaces would have to be removed.
To evaluate the impacts of the removal of parking City staff conducted a public workshop on February 5,
1997, for residents and businesses in the ar~a to solicit their input. There were many objections from those
who participated and many letters and telephone calls were generated by the meeting expressing concems
regarding the removal of on-street parking and the impacts to the businesses and residents along this
section of Red Hill Avenue.
Residents questioned the need to make permanent changes on Red Hill Avenue when the Eastern
Transportation Corridor (ETC) could offer relief to traffic demand. Studies for the ETC project indicate
that when opened, the ETC will have a positive impact to traffic congestion on Red Hill Avenue.
CONCLUSION
The Red Hill Avenue pedestrian bridge project and sidewalk improvements are currently under
construction and due to be completed by the end of June 1998. Completion of this project will provide the
flexibility to' implement the third through lanes on Red Hill Avenue when needed.
ETC studies have identified positive traffic congestion relief on Red Hill Avenue after opening of the West
Leg of the ETC which is scheduled sometime in December 1998. At that time the City will evaluate the
impacts of the ETC opening on traffic congestion to determine if additional lanes on Red Hill Avenue are
needed.. If traffic congestion has not significantly decreased, staff will modify existing Red Hill Avenue
striping plans to implement the additional lanes. Prior to restriping, the City will conduct a public
workshop to notify residents and businesses in the area and return this item to the City Council.
Status Report: Red Hill Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing/Restriping Red Hill Avenue
May 18, 1998
Page 3
The City is planning to rehab this section of Red Hill Avenue in FY98-99. This project is currently in
design and the City is applying for an OCTA grant to assist in funding the project. As part of the rehab
project Red Hill Avenue will be restriped at. that time. To restripe prior to the rehab project would.
represent a 10st cost.
Tim D. Serlet ( _
Director of Public-Works/City Engineer
TDS:DRA:cCg:status rpt. Red Hill ped crossing
Attachments
Douglf--~R~-Anderson
Transportation Engineer
Figure 1
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EDINGER AVENUE
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Figure '2
SITE P LAN
RED HILL AVENUE
PE.D. ESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.
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