1. SUBMITTAL OF A LETTER TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) REGARDING THE STATE ROUTE 710 NORTH EXTENSION EARLY ACTION PROJECTS LIST
City Council
January 29, 2018
Item 6

2. Recommendation It is recommended that the City Council:
Find that the following proposed action is exempt from review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section (b) (3); and
Authorize the Mayor to send a letter to Metro on behalf on the City of Pasadena requesting funding for Early Action Projects within the City of Pasadena in lieu of the State Route 710 North Extension Tunnel Alternative.

3. Background Metro Board action of May 25,2017
Adopted the TSM/TDM Alternative as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the SR-710 North Extension Project
The Metro Board action asked communities in the SR-710 North corridor to identify Early Action Projects (EAPs) to enhance mobility in the corridor
The remaining Measure R funds would be used to design and construct the EAPs
Communities in the corridor were encouraged to jointly develop projects that would work across city boundaries
Restrictions were placed on the EAPs pending resolution of the Caltrans EIR/EIS

4. Background
The Cities of Pasadena and South Pasadena independently retained Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates to coordinate development of the EAPs
Ensure that the combined project lists will have complimentary benefits in both cities and
Minimize the potential for individual projects to result in negative impacts on the adjacent city
The City of Alhambra has been included in development of a comprehensive approach towards maximizing the benefits of the available funding
Joint proposal for Fair Oaks/Huntington/Fremont corridor improvement program

5. Policy Considerations
EAPs are consistent with Mobility Element objectives
Promote a livable community
protect neighborhoods by discouraging traffic from intruding into neighborhoods
Pasadena EAPs are consistent with the Pasadena Preferred Alternative for the SR710 North
EAPs selected by Metro for funding will undergo environmental review
Timing is contingent upon
Caltrans making a decision on the currently unfinished EIR/EIS
Pending City of Rosemead v. Metro court case

6. Fiscal Impact
The costs associated with this action are minor and include ongoing staff work to prepare the transmittal letter for the Early Action Projects list.
Until Metro selects the Early Action Projects and defines the terms under which the projects will be funded, it is not possible to determine the fiscal impact.
It is anticipated that Metro will address each project or category of projects through a funding agreement with individual cities, at which time, the fiscal impact of each project agreement will be known.

7. 710 Early Action Projects
Presented by: Paul Moore
October 2017

8. Overview

9. Background Cities in corridor to submit “wish lists” to Metro
Following completion of environmental study, Metro Board voted in May not to proceed with 710 freeway extension
$780 million had already been allocated to the project as part of Measure R (2008)
Board voted to reallocate funding as follows:
$105 million for “TSM/TDM” projects
Remaining funding for range of improvements – including property sales and state/federal funding, this could total more than $1 billion
Cities in corridor to submit “wish lists” to Metro
Metro action as early as Feb/Mar – but no funding until Caltrans release of FEIR/FEIS
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

10. TSM/TDM What does this mean? Environmental document definition:
“strategies and improvements to increase efficiency and capacity for all modes in the transportation system with lower capital cost investments and/or lower potential impacts”
What does this mean?
Projects to improve traffic throughput on arterial streets (e.g. signal optimization, turn lanes)
Measures to reduce driving (e.g. increased transit service, bike facilities, travel incentives)
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

11. Eligible Projects Eligible Projects
TSM/TDM projects should have direct nexus to SR-710 mitigation (and may be limited to projects in TSM/TDM alternative)
$105M is specified for TSM/TDM projects
Remaining $1 billion or more may be used for other projects
Projects should not prevent 710 tunnel (Caltrans has not yet formally rejected)
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

12. Project Requirements & Categories
Preference for projects that do not require major analysis (“Shovel ready” not required)
Limited funding available for six corridor cities (not clear whether grants will be awarded to projects or cities)
Categories
TSM/TDM (traffic improvements, transit service, bike facilities)
Transit capital projects (light rail transit, bus rapid transit)
Pedestrian safety/neighborhood livability projects (speed management)
Other transportation projects (grade separations, roundabouts, etc.)
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

13. Project Development

14. Project Development High-level evaluation of:
Around two dozen separate projects
Sources:
Environmental document TSM/TDM Alternative
Pasadena Preferred Alternative (SR-710 Pasadena Working Group)
Existing City plans (General Plan, Bike Plan, CIP, others)
Other previously proposed projects (including ideas from Beyond the 710 proposal)
New concepts developed by consultants, staff
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

15. Project Development Coordination with neighboring cities
Nelson\Nygaard also served as consultant to South Pasadena
Coordination with South Pas, Alhambra on improvements to Fair Oaks/Fremont corridor
October presentation to Transportation Advisory Committee
Further refinement by Department of Transportation
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

16. Projects

17. Recommended Projects Gold Line grade separation at California
Modification of 210 ramps:
Removal of ramps at California
Access improvements to ramps at Del Mar
Traffic calming/complete streets projects:
St. John/Pasadena Ave/Orange Grove
Allen
Hill
Ave 64
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

18. Recommended Projects Intelligent Transportation Systems projects
Gold Line crossings performance monitoring
Pedestrian and bicycle automated data collection
High-resolution traffic signal data
Walnut Street corridor signal upgrades
I-210 Connected Corridors expansion
Transit projects
Fair Oaks/Atlantic and Rosemead rapid bus improvements
Rose Bowl shuttle improvements
College & university transit pass program expansions
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

19. Recommended Projects Bicycle projects Mobility hubs
Unfunded projects in Bicycle Transportation Action Plan
Arroyo Link
Metro Bike Share Expansion
Mobility hubs
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

20. Gold Line Grade Separation at California
Preliminary cost estimate of $105 million
Initial request is for larger study of Gold Line grade separations
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

21. Modification of 210 Ramps/Traffic Calming
1) Remove ramps at California/ Bellevue
2) Divert traffic from St. John/ Pasadena Ave to …
3) Del Mar, Fair Oaks & Arroyo
4) Traffic calming on St. John/ Pasadena and Orange Grove
(Alternately, keep California ramps but encourage diversion to Fair Oaks/Arroyo) 3 1 4 3 3 1 2 2
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

22. Fair Oaks/Huntington/Fremont Corridor
Optimize Fair Oaks for traffic flow (adaptive signals, new signal at Bellevue)
Funnel freeway-to-freeway traffic onto California/Arroyo Pkwy (using restriping/signal adjustments)
Speed management on St. John/Pasadena and Orange Grove
Bottleneck removal on Fair Oaks in South Pasadena
Enhance Fremont south of Huntington in South Pasadena and Alhambra
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

23. Additional Recommendations
ITS
Variety of technology upgrades consistent with TSM direction
Rapid bus
Improvements to Metro 762 (Fair Oaks/Atlantic) in conjunction with South Pasadena and Alhambra
Rosemead connection to Sierra Madre Villa
Rose Bowl shuttles
Make all service free
Expanded marketing
Wayfinding signage between Memorial Park Gold Line and shuttle (Parsons) parking lot
Potentially more frequent service
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

24. Additional Recommendations
College transit passes
Make subsidized Caltech and PCC passes free
Expand to ArtCenter College of Design and Fuller Seminary
Request is for one-year pilot
Bicycle projects
Unfunded projects from Bike Plan including El Molino
Arroyo Link path connecting Arroyo to Union/Old Pasadena
Bike Share: full funding for five more stations
Mobility hubs
“First/last mile” access improvements to Gold Line stations
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

25. EAPs FUNDING ESTIMATES
Project
Preliminary Cost Estimate
Gold Line Grade Separation at California Boulevard
$105M
I-210 Stub Ramp Modifications
$10-$50M
Traffic Calming Programs
<$1M/mi.
Pasadena Avenue/St. Johns Avenue Complete Streets
$15M
Allen Avenue Complete Streets
$1.5M
Hill Street Corridor Complete Streets
Avenue 64 Complete Streets
$2M
Gold Line At-Grade Crossing Enhancements
$950k
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Automated Data Collection
$1.4M
High-Resolution Traffic Signal Data
$8.5M
Walnut Street Corridor Upgrades
$4.1M
I-210 Connected Corridors Expansion
$5M
Rapid Bus Improvements
$1-$10M/mi.
Rose Bowl Shuttles (non-service)
<$1M
Rose Bowl Shuttles (ASMAF service and analytics)
$200k/yr.
College and University Transit Passes (Caltech/PCC)
~$5M/yr.
College and University Transit Passes (other)
Bicycle Transportation Action Plan Projects
Arroyo Link
$1-2M
Bike Share Expansion
$400k/yr.
Mobility Hubs
$10M
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

26. Paul Moore 213.785.5500 pmoore@nelsonnygaard.com
Thank You!
Paul Moore
NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES © 2017