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Home My WebLink About2024-02-08; Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (District 1); Gomez, PazTo the members of the: CITY COUNCIL Da:~~ lZ~ CA ✓ CC ✓ CM ACM _L DCM (3}.L Council Memorandum February 8, 2024 To: From: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Publi~orks Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager Cf::£. Re: Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (District 1) {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2024010 This memorandum provides an update on the Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 3896. Background The city is working on a project to make necessary repairs and upgrades to the stairs and · walkway on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard between Pine Avenue and approximately 30 feet north of Tamarack Avenue. The project includes structural repairs and improvements to the concrete sidewalks, retaining walls and beach access stairways located along Carlsbad Boulevard. These existing features would be replaced with similar materials and designs except for the walkway, which would be widened to better accommodate the large number of walkers, runners, joggers and other users. The sidewalks and stairways were built in the 1980s. The sidewalk between Pine Avenue and Maple Avenue is elevated and cantilevered over the bluff. There are four stairways to the lower sea wall within the project area. Repairs are needed due to deterioration of the sidewalk structure, exposed and rusted steel reinforcements, cracked and broken concrete, and rusting of stairway components. Discussion The repair project was originally considered a maintenance project, but the scope has expanded into an improvement project to address the current engineering standards and building code requirements and to account for increased demand for beach access. Overall, the repairs and additional work for improved access, mobility and aesthetics include: • Widening the upper sidewalk westward, with a further foot of cantilever over the bluffs for more space to walk • Removing the metal beam and timber post guardrail on the east side of the sidewalk to gain a foot of additional sidewalk space (this guardrail is not required based on the Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2730 t Council Memo -Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (District 1) February 8, 2024 Page 2 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Roadside Design Guide -see below) • Replacing existing streetlights with light fixtures on double-masts (i.e., one east and one west), to improve street and sidewalk lighting • Extending the lower sidewalk's eastern retaining walls a short distance to help maintain the slope at the base of the stairways • Replacing four sets of stairs from the upper sidewalk to the lower seawall • Replacing the upper sidewalk platforms Safety along Carlsbad Boulevard As the city implements the policies in the General Plan Mobility Element, approved by the City Council in 2015, safety along Carlsbad Boulevard is a top priority. In the same area as the beach access project, the following changes have been made or are planned: • Improved crosswalks with curb extensions to shorten the walking distance, center medians to provide a place for pedestrians to stop, if needed, and flashing lights to alert drivers when pedestrians are present • Creating buffered bike lanes • Slowing down traffic through restriping lanes and installing curb extensions These changes work together to promote safer behavior among all road users. Guardrail considerations While it may seem counterintuitive to remove a guardrail in an area where we are making safety improvements, there are several reasons why this design is preferred: • The AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, which is used by transportation planners to determine recommended street designs and features based on several factors, including location, traffic, speeds and visibility, does not require a guardrail • The existing guardrail was installed in the 1980s when Carlsbad Boulevard served as Pacific Coast Highway with high speeds, prior to construction of Interstate 5 • Removing the guardrail will provide another foot of space to the walkway, which is one of the most heavily used walkways in the region • Removing the guardrail will make this segment of Carlsbad Boulevard consistent with other similar segments Council Memo -Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (Di_strict 1) February 8, 2024 Page 3 ) ~ Rendering of Carlsbad Boulevard without the guardrail, before striping to one lane with a larger buffer, an approved project that will be implemented in 2024. Examples of other areas along Carlsbad Boulevard that do not have a guardrail 1---tif'_: -1---1-~l-1-• • • • . .. . . .. Council Memo -Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (District 1) February 8! 2024 Page 4 Beach access stairs at Tamarack The project previously included work to the sidewalk around the Tamarack Beach restroom and to the at-grade stairway near Tamarack Avenue. However, these improvements would only replace the existing facilities in kind. Instead, these improvements will be included in the upcoming Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Beach Access CIP project, which will incorporate enhanced accessibility features into the design. This project will improve accessibility by constructing a new ADA-compliant pedestrian ramp from the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue to the existing beachfront walkway along the seawall with connection to the existing Tamarack Beach restroom facility. State Parks right-of-way The project's geographical limits are entirely within the State Parks' right-of-way as shown on the location map provided as Attachment A. As a result, the city must comply with the state's design standards and coordinate design reviews and approvals with State Parks. Additionally, city staff have coordinated with State Parks staff to determine how to reimburse State Parks for its costs associated with plan reviews and construction inspection services. Staff completed the environmental clearance and regulatory permits through the Planning Commission on July 19, 2023, including the local coastal development permit. The remaining effort is completion of the final engineering design; staff have completed review of the 90% design submittal. Staff obtained third-party peer reviews of the 90% design for structural and constructability. The consultant team is addressing comments from the 90%-complete design review, which include State Parks' comments, and preparing for the upcoming 100% design submittal, which is due to the city in spring 2024. Council Memo -Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Updat e (District 1) February 8, 2024 Page 5 Next Steps The following timeline is provided: 2024 Final engineeri ng and State Parks coo rdination • Continue to work on the final engineering design to prepare the construction plans, specifications and cost estimates to advertise the project for construction bids • Continue coordination with the State Parks staff to receive the necessary project approvals, including a right-of-entry permit for construct ion Late 2024-early 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission recommendation and City Council approval • Present final designs with a staff recommendation for the City Council to approve the plans and specifications and authorize advertisement for construction bids Early to mid-2025 City Council approval • Ret urn to the City Council with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to request award of the construction contract Fall 2025-Spring 2027 Construction • Construction of the project has been phased over 15 months to minimize the associated impacts along Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack State Beach during the summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day Attachment: A. Location Map cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief Mickey Williams, Police Chief Allegra Frost, Senior Assistant City Attorney Gina Herrera, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Zach Korach, Finance Director Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager Ed Garbo, Risk Manager Council Memo -Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades Project Update (District 1) February 8, 2024 Page 6 John Kim, City Traffic Engineer Eric Lardy, City Planner Todd Reese, Parks Services Manager Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Eric Zielke, Senior Engineer Lauren Ferrell, Associate Engineer LOCATIO N MAP 0 N PROJECT , SITE PROJECT NAME BEACH ACCESS REPAIRS AND UPGRADES PROJECT ACIFIC GEAN Created By: Sara Jadhav 4/5/2023 J:\SaraJadhav_Customers\LaurenFerre/1\Project\Beach Access Repairs\MXD\LocationMap3896.mxd Attachment A Copyrii:/_ht nearmap CIP No. 3896 Attachment A