To: PUBLIC WORKS, SAFETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE
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UPDATE AND FINAL DESIGN FOR PALOS VERDES BOULEVARD PROTECTED BIKE LANES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff has been working on designing and funding the proposed protected (Class IV) bicycle lanes on Palos Verdes Boulevard (PVB) between Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and S Irena Avenue. City Council directed staff to study its feasibility at the December 3, 2024 meeting. Staff analyzed the feasibility and the proposed design to remove street parking on PVB between PCH and S Irena allowing for the installation of protected bicycle lanes and presented findings at the January 27, 2025 Public Works and Sustainability Commission (PWSC) meeting. Noticing of that meeting was provided to the District 1 Councilmember and all addresses within 200 feet of the PVB corridor between PCH and Prospect. Because parking utilization is very low along PVB, the PWSC recommended the City Council approve design and construction of protected bicycle lanes. This work was authorized in the FY 25-26 budget. After funding became available in the City’s Bicycle Transportation Plan CIP project, the City’s consultant prepared design plans. At this time, final design has been completed, and the City is seeking input from the public and the PWSC before bringing the design plans to City Council for final approval as part of a slurry seal of PVB.
BACKGROUND
The January 2025 PWSC administrative report documents the background, analyses, and parking study to determine the feasibility of installing protected bicycle lanes on PVB between PCH and S Irena Avenue (Attachment 1). Public comment was unanimously in favor of these bicycle facilities on PVB. The PWSC voted unanimously in favor of designing and constructing Class IV protected bicycle lanes. Existing Class II striped bicycle lanes are provided on PVB between S Irena and the eastern City border with Torrance.
Since then, as funding became available, the City’s on-call traffic engineering consultant proceeded with preparing a signing & striping plan to construct Class IV bicycle lanes by removing existing street parking on PVB between PCH and S Irena Avenue. The final design plans to be constructed are subject to City Council approval (Attachment 2). Staff proposes to install these bicycle lanes as part of a slurry seal for PVB. This would create a fresh and clean roadway surface for the new roadway striping and protected bicycle lanes materials. At this time, the City is proposing using pre-fabricated concrete curb dividers placed intermittently as the primary vertical delineation for the protected bicycle lane. A limited number of plastic flexible posts will be used for visibility purposes. This material choice will be lower maintenance, offers a higher degree of cyclist protection, and is considered more aesthetically pleasing. Attachment 3 provides existing and proposed cross sections of PVB.
Providing a protected bicycle lane on PVB would close a crucial gap in dedicated bicycle facilities along PVB, improving safety for all roadway users and connecting more residential areas to the Riviera Village. If constructed, continuous bicycle lanes would be provided on PVB between Palos Verdes Estates, Riviera Village, and the City’s eastern border with Torrance. This will further encourage cycling and reduce vehicular parking pressures in the Riviera Village. Traffic counts were taken in March 2026 at the PCH/PVB intersection, when the development at 1700 S PCH was 61% residential leased and 25% commercial leased. Compared to traffic counts taken in 2023 before the development was constructed, vehicular traffic has been relatively flat while walking and biking activity has grown substantially, demonstrating a need for improved infrastructure to meet public demand.
COORDINATION
Coordination of this report took place within the Public Works Department. Noticing for this agenda item was provided again to the same residents as the previous Commission discussion in January 2025.
ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 - 1/27/2025 PWSC Administrative Report and Associated Attachments
• Attachment 2 - Final Signing & Striping Plan - PVB Protected Bicycle Lanes
• Attachment 3 - Existing and Proposed Cross Sections