To: PUBLIC WORKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: Department of Public Works
TITLE
title
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE INSTALLATION OF A MARKED CROSSWALK ON DEL AMO BOULEVARD AT PAULINA STREET
end
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Based on a referral from the Public Works & Sustainability Commission (PWSC) at their regular June 2024 meeting, City staff is bringing forward an analysis and proposed design for a new marked crosswalk at the Del Amo Street & Paulina Avenue intersection.
City engineering staff performed a sight distance and engineering analysis for the proposed crosswalk. Staff also reached out to RBUSD and the South Bay Bicycle Coalition+ (SBBC) on the proposed crosswalk and received favorable sentiments. Notice of this meeting was provided to those two parties and residents along Paulina Avenue within 500 feet north of the Del Amo/Paulina intersection.
Staff is seeking input and direction on this matter from the public and the PWSC. If recommended by the PWSC, staff will take the proposed design to the City Council for approval.
BACKGROUND
At the June 2024 PWSC meeting, staff received a referral to investigate installing a marked crosswalk across Del Amo Street at the Del Amo/Paulina intersection. According to the California Vehicle Code (CVC), legal uncontrolled crosswalks already exist at this intersection and drivers are required to yield to pedestrians with an intent to cross. However, the intersection currently does not have marked crosswalks across Del Amo Street. Marked crosswalks have the potential to encourage usage of specific locations to cross the street on foot. Parallel-marked crosswalk lines are present to cross Paulina Avenue, and curb ramps are present at all four legs of the intersection. The southern leg of this intersection provides roadway and pedestrian access to RUHS/RBUSD facilities, the Patricia Dreizler Continuation High School, and Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) administrative offices.
ANALYSIS
Staff engineers from the City visited the intersection and performed sight distance analyses and laid out potential marked crosswalk options. Staff found adequate stopping sight distance and visibility at this intersection, and that marked crosswalks could encourage more driver yielding compliance when pedestrians are crossing the street. Staff reached out to RBUSD to solicit opinions on striping a marked crosswalk here and RBUSD was favorable to the idea. Staff also reached out to the SBBC, which has expanded its advocacy interests to include all forms of non-driving transport modes. A representative of the SBBC also expressed support for an additional crosswalk at this location.
Staff proposes to install this crosswalk on the west leg of the Del Amo Paulina intersection. Although the pedestrian pathway towards RBUSD facilities and BCHD is located at the east leg of the intersection, the west leg offers a shorter crossing distance and better visibility from Del Amo Street. Crosswalk markings would be yellow due to being within a school area, and would align with the existing sidewalk ramps at the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection. Appropriate crosswalk signage would also be added.
In addition, staff proposes to extend the Class II bicycle lanes on Del Amo Street from its current terminus at Paulina Avenue to Prospect Avenue as part of this striping modification. This would help partially address a gap in bicycle lanes on the Del Amo corridor in Redondo Beach and Torrance. In addition, the installation of bicycle lanes on Del Amo between Prospect and Paulina would provide traffic calming benefits by narrowing the through lanes, especially since westbound Del Amo experiences a significant reduction in posted speed limit and width when crossing Prospect Avenue. By partially addressing the bicycle lane gap and narrowing vehicular lanes on Del Amo Street, this would reduce driving speeds and improve crosswalk conditions for the proposed crosswalk at Del Amo/Paulina. The proposed striping would also create a short, striped median on the east side of the intersection, which allows for the placement of in-road crosswalk signage. This also provides speed reduction and crosswalk yielding compliance benefits. Attachment 1 show the proposed striping and signage plan for the crosswalk and associated bicycle lane extension.
COORDINATION
Coordination of this evaluation and report took place within the Public Works Department and with representatives from RBUSD and SBBC.
ATTACHMENTS
1 - Proposed Crosswalk and Bicycle Lane Striping at Del Amo/Paulina