AgdaPkt 2005-09-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�,�- i REPOR T To the Honorable Mayor and City Council And the Redevelopment Agency Board From the Cifiy Manager and the Executive Director September 26, 2005 Subject Middlefield/Theatre Way II Improvements Recommendation Review, modify if appropriate, and approve the design concept for the pedestrian and wayfinding improvements to Middlefield Road between Veterans Boulevard and Broadway and authorize staff to proceed with the necessary steps to finalize design development and prepare construction drawings and bid packages. Background Improvements to enhance the pedestrian experience on Middlefield Road between Veterans Boulevard and Broadway are part of the original Downtown Funding Plan. The effectiveness of the improvements to this section of Middlefield Road is a more significant issue since the Council's decision not to rename the street. In addition to enhancing the pedestrian experience, the improvements must create an obvious and inviting gateway to the Theatre District, as well as alert vehicular traffic to the free parking available in the County garage. Analysis The design concept is primarily visual in nature, and details will be presented in Power Point format supported by handout materials at the Council meeting on September 26 This report reviews the strategies employed to develop the design concept. This project is regarded as a part of the wayfinding improvement effort in the Downtown. Despite the fact that this route is not one of the four primary intersections identified in the Wayfinding Program, this route is important in two aspects: (1) This intersection offers an easy and direct route to free parking, and (2) it is also the most direct route to the cinema complex and its drop-off area. Three gateways into Downtown off of Veterans Boulevard have been identified: (1) Jefferson Avenue as the primary entrance to Downtown; (2) Middlefield Road as the gateway to the theatres, and (3) Main Street as the gateway, or most direct route, to the Library and City Hall, or what we may call the civic-oriented district. The challenge is to visually orient the visitor by directing them to the most convenient route to their destination. The signage along Veterans Boulevard will graphically depict the relationship between each of these gateways by using different size signs. Page 1 of 3 1:�2005 STAFF REPORTS, AGREEMENTS\09-2005\ MiddlefieldlTheatre Way II Improvements _ _ . . . _ __