To: PUBLIC WORKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE
title
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE METRO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROJECT FOR THE REDONDO BEACH BL CORRIDOR & THE NRBB EXTENSION TO GRANT AVENUE AND MOBILITY HUB PROJECT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
After extensive community outreach, engineering analyses, and coordination with partner agencies, staff is bringing forward a discussion and possible recommendation of the conceptual design for the Metro Active Transportation Grant Project (MAT Project) for the Redondo Beach Boulevard (RBB) Corridor. Staff is seeking input on this matter from the public and from the Public Works & Sustainability Commission (PWSC). Specific noticing for this item was provided to the residents living within 700 feet of the Inglewood/Grant intersection. Related to the MAT Project, staff is bringing forward the conceptual design for the North Redondo Beach Bikeway (NRBB) extension project to Grant Avenue, and the proposed mobility hub at the southeast corner of Grant/Inglewood.
MAT Project:
Attachment 1 provides an overview of the project’s goals and objectives from the previous discussion of the MAT Project at the June 26, 2023 PWSC meeting. The City is partnering with Lawndale and LA County on this project. During the project’s outreach and conceptual design phases, the City of Torrance was willing to accommodate the project, which constitutes bicycle facilities along eastbound 190th Street and eastbound Redondo Beach Boulevard. City staff worked with Torrance city staff and provided regular updates as-needed. The Project conceptual design was also reviewed by Torrance staff, who indicated willingness to participate in the project. Torrance residents were also invited to the various outreach events like other residents in the other jurisdictions. However, at the time of drafting this administrative report, the City of Torrance is formally opposing the project and any changes within their City limits. Attachment 2 is the finalized project alternatives report, which summarizes community outreach, alignment alternatives, and shows the recommended project. Appendices to the MAT Project report and the 15% conceptual design can be found on the City’s website, link here:
<https://www.redondo.org/departments/public_works/engineering_services/traffic_engineering/traffic_projects.php>
Note that the conceptual design represents the project when all agencies were participating in the project. Bicycle facilities can still be provided in Redondo Beach, Lawndale, and LA County with or without Torrance’s participation.
Community Engagement
Since the PWSC recommended additional community outreach, staff and the project consultant held additional meetings and conducted surveys to arrive at the proposed alignment and 15% project conceptual design. To date, below is a list of all community engagement events:
• 2022 Phase 1 Priorities Survey - 300+ responses (40% Redondo)
• Alondra Park Halloween Event, October 2022
• South Bay Galleria Pop-Up, November 2022
• North RB Business Association Focus Group, April 2023
• BCHD Youth Advisory Group, April 2023
• Jefferson/Washington ES Open House, May 2023
• Phase 2 Alternatives Survey - 367 responses, District 3 social media, 3 CBOs
• Supplemental survey mailed to residents along Lilienthal and Ripley, RBUSD parents notified - 13 responses
• District 3 Community Meeting, February 2024
• District 4 Community Meeting, March 2025 [Presentation slides on City website]
Sentiments from all community engagement events and surveys showed very strong support for the project, a strong preference for protected walking/biking facilities, and a desire to build the project as quickly as possible.
Alignment
The project aims to connect existing active transportation infrastructure in the coast and inland areas with high quality walking and biking infrastructure, linking a bike trail and sidewalk on the southeast corner of Alondra Park and the City’s bike facility at Beryl/Blossom and 190th Street. The proposed alignment will include intermediate destinations such as Dominguez Park, RBUSD schools, the South Bay Galleria/Social District, a future K Line rail station, commercial frontage along Redondo Beach Blvd., Alondra Park, and El Camino College.
Based on community feedback and engineering analyses, the MAT Project’s preferred alignment from west to east starts along 190th Street at Beryl Street. Beryl Street has existing Class II bike lanes towards Dominguez Park, Redondo Union HS, and the coast. Proposed bicycle facilities along 190th Street include Class IV protected bike lanes on the Redondo side of 190th (westbound), with small sections of Class II bike lanes to accommodate some on-street parking, commercial loading, and a long commercial driveway. At the time of drafting the design, the City of Torrance was willing to accommodate Class II striped bike lanes. However, at this time, the City of Torrance is no longer willing to install bicycle lanes for this project, which includes eastbound bicycle lanes along 190th Street. The alignment turns northerly into Lilienthal Park at Anza Avenue as an off-street path, then utilizes the eastern side of Lilienthal Lane as a bi-directional Class IV cycle track. After connecting with Washington ES, the project turns easterly onto Ripley and continues as a bi-directional Class IV cycle track on the south side to connect with Adams MS. Just west of Inglewood Avenue, the project alignment turns north by way of a raised crosswalk across Ripley, which is proposed to enhance safety and reduce vehicular speeds. The path continues on the west side parkway of Inglewood Avenue to connect with Grant Avenue. Class II bike lanes exist along Grant. The Project will upgrade these to Class IV east of Inglewood, which connects to the South Bay Galleria. As part of the South Bay Social District redevelopment, an off-street path will be constructed along the western frontage of the Galleria property along Kingsdale, and then along its northern frontage along Artesia, replacing the third eastbound through lane between the Kingsdale and Redondo Beach Blvd. (RBB) intersections. The portions of the project along the Galleria will be undertaken by the Galleria project’s developer when the mall is renovated. The MAT Project picks back up by crossing Artesia at RBB and continuing as an off-street path on the south side of RBB. East of Hawthorne Boulevard and outside of Redondo Beach city limits, a mixture of Class II bike lanes and a Class IV bi-directional cycle track will be provided northeasterly along RBB. Since the City of Torrance is no longer willing to accommodate the project, only westbound bicycle facilities will be provided between Hawthorne and Ainsworth. A Class IV bi-directional cycle track will be provided east of Ainsworth. The project will terminate at Dominguez Channel. Overall, the MAT Project will provide greatly improved biking and walking facilities along the RBB corridor, with sections in Redondo Beach designed as protected facilities as much as feasible. Page 22 of the report in Attachment 2 also shows the finalized alignment. The Project’s conceptual (15%) design plans can be found here:
<https://www.redondo.org/departments/public_works/engineering_services/traffic_engineering/traffic_projects.php>
Next Steps
Staff recommends moving forward into the final design phase of this project based on the support heard from the various Districts and community members. At this time, the MAT Project has received $6.6 million in grant funds to construct the project. The current cost estimate, with appropriate contingencies, is approximately $11 million. City and Metro staff are seeking an increase in the grant award to the maximum $8 million. City staff also requested an additional $4 million in Measure M MSP funds to fully fund the project. Staff is optimistic that these funding requests will receive Metro Board approval, as the MAT Project is a multijurisdictional active transportation project that is expected to further the region’s sustainability and mobility goals. If the PWSC recommends this project to move forward, staff will bring forward this item to the City Council for approval of the 15% design, Metro funding agreement, and final design services contract.
NRBB Grant Extension+Mobility Hub:
As a related but crucial companion project to the MAT Project, the City is embarking on an extension of the North Redondo Beach Bikeway (NRBB) to Grant Avenue. The NRBB is a Class I shared-use walking/biking path along the Southern California Edison (SCE) right-of-way, connecting Robinson Street to Artesia Boulevard north-south, then east-west towards Felton Lane. The City recently awarded a construction contract to extend the NRBB from Felton to Inglewood Avenue. This newest NRBB extension project will extend the NRBB as a Class IV bi-directional cycle track southwards along the west side of Inglewood Avenue to connect with Grant Avenue and the MAT Project. This means that if both projects are approved, a continuous north-south Class I/IV walking and biking path will be provided between Robinson Street and 190th Street via the Grant Avenue / Inglewood Avenue intersection, which becomes the “hub” for multiple bike routes in the City. The Inglewood/Grant intersection will serve as a crucial connector for north-south and east-west mobility, and will be redesigned to accommodate the expected increase in bike/ped crossings. It will also address residents’ safety and speeding concerns. In cooperation with the District 4 Councilmember, the City is also proposing a native landscaped rest and gathering area, or “mobility hub”, at the southeast corner of Inglewood/Grant. The City used Metro grant funds to purchase surplus property at this area and will repurpose the land to screen off the adjacent cemetery, provide active transportation related amenities, situated in a purposed rest area beautified with native landscaping. The project will provide much-needed greenspace to the neighborhood, and is intended to serve active mobility travelers. No car parking will be provided. Amenities that City staff have requested include:
• At least 25% native habitat (a pollinator fountain is also being explored)
• Metal or fabric shade structure
• Boulders, bollards, bike racks, and fencing to protect open space from errant vehicles
• Driveway and pad for City maintenance, could double as a roving vendor space
• Bollard lighting and limited lighting structures to reduce light pollution
• Water bottle filling station
• Micromobility wayfinding and interpretative signage
• Bike fix-it station and air pump
• Emergency phone/blue light, security cameras
• Public Wi-Fi
Attachment 3 shows the conceptual design of the proposed project, plant species, and NRBB extension.
Next Steps
If the PWSC recommends moving forward with this project, staff will bring this item to the City Council for authorization to complete final design. The project is expected to cost approximately $4 million. Staff has requested the full construction funding amount from Measure M MSP. It is important to know that both the NRBB+Mobility Hub project and the MAT Project depend on each other to provide a seamless walking and biking experience at the Inglewood/Grant intersection.
COORDINATION
Coordination of this report took place within the Public Works Department.
ATTACHMENTS
1 - PWSC Administrative Report, June 26, 2023
2 - MAT Project Final Report
Supplemental appendices and the Project’s conceptual design can be found at:
<https://www.redondo.org/departments/public_works/engineering_services/traffic_engineering/traffic_projects.php>
3 - NRBB Extension and Native Planting Mobility Hub Project Concept