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REPORT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> <br />June 3, 2002 <br /> <br />Subject <br />Approval of Plan to modify the traffic lane configuration on Broadway between Brewster <br />Avenue and Arguello Street <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />Approve the plan to modify the traffic lane and parking configuration on Broadway, <br />between Brewster Avenue and Arguello Street, from two lanes in each direction with <br />parallel parking, to a new configuration with one lane in each direction with mostly <br />angled parking. <br /> <br />Background <br />Staff proposes to modify, the lane configuration on Broadway between Brewster Avenue <br />and Arguello Street, (as described in the recommendation above and shown on the <br />attached Plan), to make it more appealing to pedestrians and to customers of the local <br />businesses, to make it a more attractive public space, and to slow down traffic. The <br />new configuration will facilitate and enhance the safety of pedestrian crossings <br />generated by downtown businesses along Broadway, as well as Sequoia High School. <br />The new configuration will also improve the parking conditions by providing an <br />additional nineteen angled on-street spaces in front of the businesses between Arch <br />Street and Perry Street. <br /> <br />Improvements will be installed on a "trial basis" using less permanent painted markings <br />and lane lines. If the new configuration is successful in enhancing pedestrian use, and <br />is supported by the community, the markings can be reapplied using more permanent <br />thermoplastic paint, and some of the painted features may be constructed as <br />"hardscape" improvements in the future. <br /> <br />Reducing the number of lanes across Broadway (from four to two) increases pedestrian <br />safety by: (1) reducing the number of travel lanes to be crossed, (2) reducing the <br />crossing distance, and hence the amount of time a pedestrian is in the vehicular <br />traveled way, (3) by allowing curb "bulb-outs" to be painted at all of the existing <br />crosswalks to help emphasize pedestrian crossing areas, and (4) by slowing down <br />traffic. In addition to the painted "bulb-outs" along Broadway, the existing school <br />crosswalk on Broadway at Arch Street will be repainted as a high-visibility "ladder-style" <br />crosswalk with pavement markings and legends. <br /> <br /> <br />