HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 149-17RESOLUTION NO. 14 9 - 17
RESOLUTION OF THE BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
REMOVING THE 24TH STREET CROSSWALKS AT
ALDER /A STREETS AND DRAKE /D STREETS.
WHEREAS, the original environmental impact report ( "EIR ") for the 24th
Street Widening Project ( "Project ") maintained the existence of the crosswalks
at Alder /A Streets and Drake /D Streets (collectively the "Crosswalks ") as part of
the Project; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 2015, the City Council certified the EIR,
approved the Project, but eliminated the Alder /A Streets crosswalk from the
Project approval; and
WHEREAS, the EIR was legally challenged, and the Court found that the
EIR's deficiencies required the City to rescind its certification of the EIR and
approval of the Project, which was done on September 2, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City addressed the Court's concerns in a recirculated
environmental impact report ( "REIR "), which did not modify the analysis of the
Crosswalks because the Court did not find that it was deficient; and
WHEREAS, on June 8, 2016, Council certified the REIR and approved the
Project but did not remove the Alder /A Streets crosswalk from the Project; and
WHEREAS, since the Project was reapproved, City staff, along with the
City's design consultant, TYLin International ( "TYLin "), has been working to refine
the designs for the Project, including the Crosswalks; and
WHEREAS, during the design refinement, TYLin expressed its concerns with
the Alder /A Streets crosswalk as currently configured and recommended that it
be removed for the following reasons:
1. Going westbound on 24th Street, there is insufficient distance
between the merge from four lanes to three lanes after the
couplet to allow drivers to successfully navigate the merge and
the potential of pedestrians in the crosswalk meaning that drivers
will be focused on the road while they transition through the
area and not on the upcoming crosswalk and drivers in the
middle lanes may not have adequate sight distance to see a
pedestrian;
2. The flashing yellow beacon and striping does not provide
sufficient notice to drivers going either direction on 24th Street
that a pedestrian is crossing the road;
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3. The volume of traffic on 24th Street makes crossing 24th Street at o`` 9&T
an Alder /A Streets crosswalk unsafe for pedestrians and "
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vehicular traffic alike; and
4. Additional traffic accesses 24th Street from the south at C Street,
close in proximity to the crosswalk; and
WHEREAS, although other designs for the Alder /A Streets crosswalk were
proposed, TYLin refuses to sign the design plans for the Alder /A Streets crosswalk
as the engineer of record primarily because of the crosswalk's location; and
WHEREAS, City staff has also expressed concerns with the Drake /D Street
crosswalk and recommends that it be removed for the following reasons:
1. As defined in the Project, the crosswalk is only striped without any
lights or other signage;
2. Going westbound on 24th Street, the crosswalk is located at the
beginning of the merge from four lanes to three lanes, which
creates multiple points of focus for drivers who will be forced to
prepare for the merge while, at the same time, determining
whether there is a pedestrian crossing the street;
3. Since 24th Street at Drake /D Streets will be four lanes, a
pedestrian in the crosswalk could be shielded from traffic in the
middle two lanes; and
4. The mid -block crosswalk at Drake /D Streets is only 600 feet from
the crosswalk at the signalized intersection at F Street, which is a
much safer crosswalk for pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 21950.5 of the California Vehicle Code, the
City is required to give the public an opportunity to provide comment on the
proposed removal of the Crosswalks, which it accomplished by placing notice
of an October 11, 2017 public hearing at both Crosswalks inviting the public to
provide comments on the proposed removal; and
WHEREAS, during the public hearing, the City Council considered all facts,
testimony, and evidence concerning the removal of the Crosswalks.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Bakersfield City Council as
follows:
The above recitals are incorporated herein by this reference.
2. All required notices have been given.
3. The Crosswalks are hereby ordered to be removed.
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HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the
Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
flf.T 1 i 7017 , by the following vote:
✓ ,/ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
YE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, GONZALES, WEIR, SMITH, FREEMAN, SULLIVAN, EARLIER
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER NZ-,q-
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER NO<'V_-
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER NON1 -i
APPROVED OCT 1 12017
By O
KAREN GOH
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
CITY ATTORNEY
By:
ANDREW HEGLUND
Deputy City Attorn y
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S'.ACCU UOLARex rM 7- I8\24N Street Crosrv,alk Rero 0—
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CHRISTOPHER GERRY
ACTING CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield
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