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Home My WebLink AboutSS3 - SR-55 / Newport Blvd Study�gWPp�T CITY OF U a Z N W PO l T BEACH �qMa 'P C ty C®Il. ncH Staff Report A R�tIC��/ St",`�If�)Il �t("IIl genda Item No. SS 3 January 22, 2013 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Public Works Department David A. Webb, Public Works Director 949 - 644 - 3311, dawebb @newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Antony Brine, City Traffic Engineer APPROVED: A TITLE: SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update ABSTRACT: Public Works staff, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Caltrans, and the City of Costa Mesa have worked together on the preparation of an SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvements Study. Representatives of OCTA and the project consultant will present an update of the study findings, and the next steps in the study process. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file this 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 19th Street. In October 2008, the OCTA Board approved the SR -55 Access Study Initial Screening Report which identified conceptual improvement options to the planned freeway extension project which could address mobility and congestion issues along SR -55 /Newport Boulevard between 19th Street and Industrial Way. Page 1 of 12 SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update January 22, 2013 Page 2 This SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study, currently near completion, is a continuation of the 2008 Access Study Initial Screening Report. As part of this study, a total of seven (7) refined alternatives were developed and extensively evaluated. These detailed alternatives include: Alternative 1: No Build /Baseline • Alternative 2 • Alternative 3 • Alternative 4 • Alternative 5 • Alternative 6 • Alternative 7 Transportation System Management (TSM) Newport /Superior Elevated Lane Newport /17th Grade Separation Cut and Cover Tunnel under Newport Boulevard Newport /19th Depressed Turn Lanes Newport /19th Elevated Turn Lanes This document includes a detailed engineering analysis of the seven (7) project alternatives. Traffic operations, implementation schedule, construction impacts, project cost, and environmental impacts were all factors in the consideration of the alternatives. Ultimately, the following four (4) alternatives were recommended to be advanced for further study during the future environmental document phase: o The "No- Build" Alternative. This alternative would maintain SR -55 /Newport Boulevard in its existing condition, which generally includes four lanes in the northbound direction and three lanes in the southbound direction between 19th Street and Industrial Way. The City of Costa Mesa has a planned improvement for the addition of a fourth southbound through lane between 19th Street and Broadway. o The "Transportation System Management" (TSM) Alternative. This alternative includes low -cost traffic flow improvements such as traffic signal synchronization and bus turnouts. This alternative also includes construction of an additional southbound lane on Newport Boulevard, a fifth northbound through lane at the 19th Street intersection, an added southbound lane to Superior Avenue, and a pedestrian bridge near 19th Street. It provides measurable improvement to the Level -of- Service (LOS) at the terminal intersections of 17th Street and 19th Street in the short -term. Although these key intersections will operate at an unsatisfactory LOS in future conditions, this is a favorable alternative when the level of traffic improvement provided is taken into account with the low cost, low impacts to the community, ease of implementation and low Page 2 of 12 SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update January 22, 2013 Page 3 complexity. The implementation schedule would be within three years. The construction costs are estimated to be between $ 9.0 million to $ 13.7 million. o The "Newport Boulevard /Superior Avenue Elevated Lane" Alternative. This alternative would include all of the improvements in the TSM Alternative listed above including signal synchronization, bus turnouts, added southbound lane, added northbound lane at the 19th Street intersection, and pedestrian bridge near 19th Street. In addition this project would include the construction of a single lane elevated roadway with an overcrossing structure that would span the southbound Newport Boulevard lanes to provide a direct connection from northbound Superior Avenue to northbound Newport Boulevard. This project would provide for a satisfactory LOS for the southern terminal intersection at 17th Street. However, the northern terminal intersection at 19th Street would operate at an unsatisfactory LOS in future conditions. This alternative provides traffic improvements along the corridor while minimizing impacts. Although the LOS at the 19th Street intersection would be unsatisfactory, this alternative is a favorable alternative when all elements are considered in comparison to the reasonable construction cost involved. The implementation schedule would be between four to six years. The construction costs are estimated to be between $ 18.7 million to $ 24.0 million. o The "Cut and Cover" Alternative. This project would include construction of a new underground structure with four -lane capacity (two lanes in each direction) built below Newport Boulevard from the existing terminus of the SR -55 Freeway at 19th Street continuing south to Industrial Way. The concept of this alternative focuses on providing a facility that allows traffic destined for locations south of 16th Street to bypass the delays caused by local traffic. This alternative essentially separates the SR -55 /Newport Boulevard through movement traffic from the turn movement traffic at all of the intermediate intersections. Local traffic would remain on a reconstructed at -grade level Newport Boulevard. This alternative provides the best level of traffic improvement in comparison to the other alternatives. The terminal intersections at 17th Street and 19th Street are anticipated to operate at a satisfactory LOS in the future. However, these added traffic improvements will have to be measured against the significantly higher construction costs and impacts related to construction activities. The implementation schedule would be between seven to nine years. The construction costs are estimated to between $ 305.2 million to $ 368.3 million. Representatives from OCTA and the project consultant team will present the project study overview at the study session, answer questions and take comments. Page 3 of 12 SR -55 /Newport Boulevard Improvement Study Update January 22, 2013 Page 4 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). Si ihmiffofl hxr Public Works Uirector Attachment: PowerPoint presentation Page 4 of 12 OCTA • Completed Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55) Access Study in 2008 • Initiated current project study report (PSR) in 2010 at the request of the City of Costa Mesa • PSR completion early 2013 • Funding for potential improvements not identified at this time N • Projected growth in traffic along Newport Boulevard • Significant delays at all major intersections: Newport Boulevard /19th Street 2. Newport Boulevard /Harbor Boulevard 3. Newport Boulevard/] 71h Street 4. Superior Avenue /17th Street V O N 4� O ST IPA L7B AVE. SUP -RIOR 777= SUPER10- ... ........... NEWPORT BLVD. 00 6A 0 r CHURCH 0 0 0 71 Add one southbound lane LEGEND: PROPOSED SIGNAL TIMING 01 -0 MODIFICATION 2. Add fifth northbound lane at 19th Street 7 PROPOSED BUS TURNOUT JjE PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE 3. Add southbound lane to Superior Avenue B] Add bus turnouts Modify signal timing at intersections Add pedestrian bridge near 19th Street a TAC . r N R i� P WAL4REENB FBI 1. Add direct northbound lane 2. Remove northbound left turn at 18th Street Includes TSM improvements 0 i - 1 n' w SOUTHBOUND NORTHBOUND PROPOSED SOUTHBOUND NORTHBOUND EXISTING SECTION A -A 5 ••• .y)au. NEWPORT BLVD ^`- r~' c e 5 O R A - - O n o 0 2 CHURCH ST. FULLERTON AVE, -W PORT BL VO. ORANGE AVE. i ORANGE AVE. �. Add four -lane facility under Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to Commercial Way Includes some TSM improvements m C N BORTHBOUND NORTHBOUND TYRIOAL SECTION A -A =5 LEGEND: Oil PROPOSED SIGNAL TIMING ®I MODIFICATION B PROPOSED BUS TURNOUT PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE �� PPOP � 0 h s s P PP ! ! v v P. ♦ o a _ _ _ !P f 811VEg10R SUPERIOR A AVE. FULLERTON AVE, -W PORT BL VO. ORANGE AVE. i ORANGE AVE. �. Add four -lane facility under Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to Commercial Way Includes some TSM improvements m C N BORTHBOUND NORTHBOUND TYRIOAL SECTION A -A =5 LEGEND: Oil PROPOSED SIGNAL TIMING ®I MODIFICATION B PROPOSED BUS TURNOUT PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE • Interviewed key businesses in study area • Facilitated business /community stakeholder working group meetings • Provided local elected official and policy board briefings • Conducted a public open house a • • Presentation to stakeholder working group (early 2013) Submit final PSR for California Department of Transportation approval (early 2013) I N n y