PERMANENT RETENTION OF OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THIRD STREET, EAST OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY AND OCEAN VIEW AVENUE, BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH STREETS

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Retain the existing raised barricade channelizing 3rd Street, east of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH);
   
2. Retain 3rd Street as a two way street between PCH and 120 feet east of PCH; and
   
3. Retain the closure of Ocean View Avenue between 3rd and 4th Street.

Background:

The City Council at its May 28, 1998, meeting considered a request by concerned residents to close a portion of Ocean View Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets, and to develop a park. Also the residents requested that a barrier be built on 3rd Street so that commercial traffic would be limited to the parking lot behind the buildings on PCH.

The City Council at its August 11, 1998, meeting approved the closure of Ocean View Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets, via raised barricades. They also approved the installation of a barricade on the north one-half of 3rd Street approximately 120 feet east of PCH. Further, 3rd Street, between these limits, was changed to two way traffic from one way traffic.

Analysis:

The City Traffic Engineer has monitored the traffic circulation and access impact of these installations since their inception during September 1998.

Curb parking was removed from the south side of 3rd Street, between the commercial driveways and PCH, during this trail installation. Some curb parking was allowed on the north side of the street.

The only response to the installation to date was the owner of Coast Lighting, located on the southeast corner of PCH and 3rd Street. The owner wished to have the parking reinstated on the south side of 3rd Street.

The Public Works Director and City Traffic Engineer met with the owner in late October 1998 and related that the curb parking removal was necessary for safety purposes. If vehicles were allowed to park on the south curb with the two-way traffic condition, then a right turning vehicle from northbound PCH into 3rd Street would be on the wrong side of the street. This could lead to potential head-on accidents when drivers are coming westbound from the commercial parking lots.

There have been no other negative responses to the operation from the merchants or the residents along 3rd Street.

Conclusions:

In brief, we believe the closure of Ocean View Avenue at "Lot 21" and retaining the barrier on 3rd Street would be a benefit to the residents in the area and is not detrimentally affecting the commercial activities adjacent to PCH.

Further, the circulation and access to the Ocean View Avenue and 3rd Street area has not been adversely circuitous for the users with the closure and barrier.