HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-21; Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street Improvements Project Update (District 1); Gomez, PazTo the members of the:
.PTY COUNCIL
Date '1/ 2J /zzcA ✓ CC ✓
CM _lL ACM ..LocM (3) v
July 21, 2022
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
From: Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager {l;P
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2022085
Re: Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street Improvements Project
Update (District 1}
This memorandum provides an update on the Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete
Street Improvements Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Project Nos. 6019 and 3904
(Project).
Background
The Council Memorandum dated Jan. 21, 2021 (Attachment A), provided background
information on the Project.
In 2015, Underground Utility District No. 20 was formed by City Council Resolution
No. 2015-280 pursuant to Chapter 11.08 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. This district was
formed to address converting overhead utilities to an underground system in the area.
Extensive public outreach efforts on the Project were conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Staff
received public feedback requesting additional parking on Valley Street and increased driveway
accessibility and visibility. Preliminary designs were presented to the Traffic and Mobility
Commission on Dec. 7, 2020.
Discussion
The Project is in the engineering design phase to provide complete street improvements within
the city right-of-way along both sides of Valley Street from Chestnut Avenue to Magnolia
Avenue. The Project will also improve the north side of Magnolia Avenue from Valley Street to
approximately 500 feet east of the intersection. The improvements will provide sidewalk, curb
and gutter, pedestrian curb ramps, improved conditions for bicyclists and additional lighting in
the area.
In addition to these typical street improvements, "green street" or low impact development
design will also be incorporated. This includes drainage features that use vegetation and s~il to
filter and treat storm water before entering the storm drain system where possible. The Project
will also replace an old potable water main and related services in Valley Street, in coordination
with the Carlsbad Municipal Water District.
Public Works Branch
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2730 t
Council Memo -Valley St and Magnolia Ave Complete Street Improvements Update (District 1)
July 21, 2022
Page 2
Staff continue to design the Project and solicit feedback from the community. Preliminary
designs were presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission on Dec. 7, 2020. Based on
commissioners' feedback, staff are updating the design and will provide additional outreach to
nearby property owners regarding this design before staff finalize the design and contract
documents.
Utility Undergrounding
The. Project is being delivered in conjunction with the utility undergrounding effort to convert
overhead utilities to an underground system. This effort will also include the relocation of a San
Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) gas main and service laterals underneath Magnolia Avenue.
Staff are actively coordinating with SDG&E, AT&T and Charter Communications on the utility
undergrounding project. Staff have also informed nearby schools of this undergrounding effort
and schedule and have received feedback on potential school scheduling concerns.
SDG&E will perform construction of the utility undergrounding and gas mainline relocation.
Staff will continue to conduct monthly coordination meetings with SDG&E and communication
companies to finalize design and approvals for the construction phase.
Staff will also coordinate with property owners within the undergrounding boundary to secure
a Permit to Enter, or Right of Entry Agreement. Once the Permits to Enter are signed, SDG&E
and their contractors will be authorized to perform work on private property to underground
their system.
Construction of the SDG&E undergrounding and gas mainline relocation is estimated to start in
summer 2023. Construction of the Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street
Improvements Project must wait until the undergrounding is complete.
Next Steps
To align construction timelines for the Project, SDG&E must first complete construction of the
undergrounding of overhead utilities and gas mainline relocation in the Project area. Staff
'anticipate undergrounding construction will begin in summer 2023 in coordination with nearby
schools. City and SDG&E staff will continue to coordinate with the Carlsbad Unified School
District and keep them apprised of the proposed construction improvements and schedule.
Staff will update the engineering design of the Project and seek public input later this fall. A
critical part of the Project is to progress to final design to provide to SDG&E and the other utility
companies. SDG&E will use the city's design to finalize the utility undergrounding design. This
will help reduce the risk of conflicts between the undergrounding and complete street
elements.
Council Memo -Valley St and Magnolia Ave Complete Street Improvements Update (District 1)
July 21, 2022
Page 3
After receiving feedback from the property owners within the Project area, staff will update the
plans and associated technical documents. Once completed, staff expect to present the final
design to the Traffic and Mobility Commission in mid-2025.
Staff will then request approval of plans and specifications and authorization to advertise for
construction bids from the City Council in late 2025. Consistent with the recent direction from
the City Council, construction of the complete street improvements is anticipated to start in
summer 2026 with completion targeted in 2027.
Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated Jan. 21, 2021
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Mickey Williams, Police Chief
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Cindie McMahon, Assistant City Attorney
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Zach Korach, Finance Director
Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director
Vicki Quiram, Utilities Director
Dave Padilla, Utilities Engineering Manager
Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager
John Kim, City Traffic Engineer ·
Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager
Scott Lyle, Senior Engineer
Lauren Ferrell, Associate Engineer
To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date I fo.1 /::i..1 CA_),/_ CC v
CM _L ACM v DCM (3) V
Jan. 21, 2021
ATTACHMENT A
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council·
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Publis.WRrks
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2021016
Re: Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street Improvements Project
Update (District 1)
This memorandum provides an update on the Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete
Street Improvements Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Nos. 6019 and 3904
(Project).
· Background
In keeping with the Complete Streets Act of 2008 (Assembly Bill 1358) and the city's General .
Plan Mobility Element, the Project provides complete street improvements along both sides of
Valley Street from Chestnut Avenue to Magnolia Avenue and the north side of Magnolia
Avenue from Valley Street to approximately 500 feet east of the intersection of Valley Street
and Magnolia Avenue, as shown in Attachment A. Complete streets are designed and operated
to enable safe access for all users so that pedestrians, bicyclists, .motorists and transit riders of
all ages and abilities can move safely along and across a complete street.
The Project is in a residential area near four schools (Carlsbad High School, Valley Middle
School, Magnolia Elementary School and North County Academy) and is well traveled by
pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. Currently, large portions of the Project area have no
sidewalks or dedicated bicycle paths so pedestrians and bicyclists must share the narrow street
with motorists.
The Project goals are to:
• Enhance mobility for all modes of travel
• Create a balanced road that is safe and attractive for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles
• Increase sustainability by incorporating green street features ·
To meet these goals, the Project will make several improvements to the city's right-of-way
including:
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pedestrian curb ramps and sidewalks
on both sides of Valley Street from Chestnut Avenue to Magnolia Avenue and on the
Public Works Branch
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsb~d, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 t
Council Memo -Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street Project Update (District 1)
Jan . 21, 2021
Page 2
north side of Magnolia Avenue for approximately 500 feet east of the intersection with
Valley Street
• Separated bike paths on both sides of Valley Street in the Project area
• Paved, parallel parking in the existing right-of-way, where feasible
• High-visibility crosswalks in the Project area
• Activated rapid rectangular flashing beacon lights at the intersection of Valley Street and
Brady Circle
• Eight new streetlights in the Project area to increase night-time visibility
• 27 new tree wells and sections of permeable concrete pavers
Additionally, overhead utilities will be placed underground in the Project area, contingent upon
funding availability and coordination with utility companies. In 2015, Underground Utility
District No. 20 was formed by City Council Resolution No. 2015-280 pursuant to Chapter 11.08
of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. The formation of this Underground Utility District was
necessary to utilize the California Public Utilities Commission's Rule 20A funds. However, based
on the most recent cost estimate from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the city's Rule 20A
funds are inadequate to pay for the undergrounding of the overhead utilities.
In addition to the roadway improvements outlined above, the Carlsbad Municipal Water
District plans to replace an old potable water main and services in Valley Street either as part of
the Project or as a separate CIP project.
Discussion
Preliminary designs have been completed for the Project, which were presented to the Traffic
and Mobility Commission on Dec. 7, 2020. Some commissioners expressed concern regarding
the separated bike paths proposed on Valley Street. In response to this feedback, staff will
develop an alternatives assessment to the separated bike paths and obtain public feedback.
After receiving this public input, staff will return to the Traffic and Mobility Commission for
additional feedback and to request support of staff's recommendation to implement the final
design approach.
On the utility undergrounding issue, and as discussed in the Council Memorandum dated
Jan. 14, 2021, SDG&E's most recent cost estimate to underground the overhead utilities in the
Project area is approximately $3.4 million, which significantly increased from the previous
estimate of $1.4 million. The city's current Rule 20A allocation balance is approximately
$1.2 million, and the city is expected to receive approximat ely $160,000 every year hereafter in
additional 20A allocation (the 2020 allocation was approximately $160,000 whereas the 2019
allocation was approximately $80,000). At this rate of allocation, it will take almost 14 more ·
years to receive enough Rule 20A funding from SDG&E to pay for the Valley Street and
Magnolia Avenue Project unless another funding source is identified.
2
I '
Council Memo -Valley Street and Magnolia Avenue Complete Street Project Update (District 1)
Jan. 21, 2021
Page 3
Next steps
Staff will develop an alternatives assessment to the separated bike paths and seek public input
early this year. After receiving public feedback, staff will update the plans and associated
technical documents, if necessary, to ensure the Project features remain aligned with
community needs. Staff will then present the final design approach to the Traffic and Mobility
Commission, which is expected to be later this year.
Additionally, staff will look for additional funding sources for undergrounding the overhead
utilities in the Project area as part of the upcoming fiscal year 2021-22 CIP Budget development
process. Staff anticipates coordinating with utility companies for undergrounding overhead
utilities through late 2021.
Once public feedback on the design of the Project has been received and Traffic and Mobility
Commission support has been obtained, staff plans to finalize the Project plans and
specifications and obtain the necessary permits in early 2022. Staff plans to return to the City
Council in mid-2022 with a request to approve the plans and specifications and_ authorize
advertisement for construction bids. After the bidding process is completed, staff will return to
the City Council to request award of a construction contract in late 2022. Construction is
estimated to begin in early 2023.
Attachment: A. Location Map
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
Tom Frank, Transportation Director
Ryan Green, Finance Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Vicki Quiram, Utilities Director
Dave Padilla, Utilities Engineering Manager
Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager
John Kim, City Traffic Engineer
Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager
Jonathan Schauble, Senior Engineer
3
LOCATION MAP
NOT TO SCALE
PROJECT NAME
. VALLEY STREET AND MAGNOLIA AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS
DRAIIN B't. SCOTT EVANS. CARLSBAD ENGINEERING DEPT. 2IIOID9 C: \CAPITAL \LOCA110N AIAPS\6Dl9.DIIG
ATTACHMENT A
PROJECT
NUMBER
6019