PROJECT OVERVIEW
What is the project?
The City of Sacramento is leading an effort to design and construct streetscape improvements along Del Paso Boulevard between State Highway 160 and Arden Way. The project encompasses preliminary engineering and environmental documents, which are being currently prepared. The environmental documents will comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Why is the project beneficial?
The streetscape improvement project is being conducted to design and construct community improvements including safer sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, better access to public transit, and new trees and landscaping. Key project goals include:
- Provide improved pedestrian access and aesthetic treatment to the Globe Avenue Regional Transit Station.
- Improve safety and operations for all modes of traffic utilizing the intersection of Colfax Street, Southgate Road, and Del Paso Boulevard.
- Improve sidewalks and pedestrian facilities throughout the cooridor
The project builds upon previous community planning efforts including the North Sacramento Community Plan, Del Paso Boulevard Streetscape Improvement & Beautification Master Plan (2002), and the North East Line Light Rail Stations Project (2007). The project continues the revitalization of the boulevard as can be seen in the recent construction efforts along Del Paso Blvd including median and diagonal parking projects between Arden Way and El Camino, street lighting and public art at key street nodes.
This project is in line with the City’s sustainability goals of encouraging pedestrian and bicycle trips, promoting the use of transit and reducing dependence on private automobiles.
Are you working with Regional Transit (RT)?
Yes. We have had many discussions with Regional Transit and are coordinating closely.
FUNDING
How is the project being funded?
Funding for the preliminary engineering and environmental documents is provided by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). The construction of the project is funded through a $1.46 million grant from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments’ Community Design Grant program.
PROJECT SPECIFICS
What are the various improvements being proposed?
Currently, various improvements are being explored. Preliminary improvements concepts include landscaped bulb-outs along Del Paso Boulevard, improved ADA accessible sidewalks and crosswalks, enhanced planters and shade providing trees and increased illumination at and around the Globe Station.
Why signalize the intersection of Colfax Street, Southgate Road, and Del Paso Boulevard?
Hearing the concerns expressed by many Woodlake residents during last month’s community meeting, it is clear that cut-through traffic under existing conditions remains a major concern for the Woodlake neighborhood.
While sensitive to the concerns expressed by many Woodlake residents, City staff feels that a traffic signal will greatly improve the safety and operations for all modes of traffic, while having little if any affect on the current amount of cut-through traffic. Nevertheless, the City of Sacramento will work with the Woodlake neighborhood to address the concerns of cut-through traffic. Specifically the existing speed humps on both Colfax Avenue and Southgate Road, will be reviewed and reconfigured as necessary with this project. In addition, the City is committed to developing a monitoring program to quantify the amount of cut-through traffic utilizing Southgate Road and if necessary implement additional measures to address it through the NTMP process.
In 1998 the City of Sacramento worked with Woodlake residents to initiate a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP). This NTMP was established primarily to address the community’s concerns with speeding vehicles and cut-through traffic. Several Woodlake residents volunteered to be a part of a traffic calming committee that worked closely with City staff to identify improvements that would be installed at no cost to the community, provided the majority of the neighborhood were in support. This process resulted in the installation of new signage, stop controlled intersections, speed humps and lumps, as well as the temporary conversion of Canterbury Road from two to one-way operation near the Canterbury Inn.
The conversion of Canterbury Road was installed as a pilot project in 2000. Provided the community still supported the conversion after a three month trial, the temporary conversion would be replaced with a permanent fixture. At the end of the trial period, the neighborhood voted and the residents chose to convert Canterbury Road back to the original two-way operation.
Will there be any traffic impacts due to the lane drop in the vicinity of Barstow Street?
There are no significant impacts associated with the proposed lane drop. The summary of the traffic study is available online.
How is this project improving pedestrian and vehicular visibility at the intersections within the corridor?
Bulb-outs are being considered all along Del Paso Boulevard. This would eliminate on-street parking near each intersection and greatly improve the visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, thereby minimizing existing conflicts between pedestrians and automobiles. The desire for bulb-outs reflects the feedback received from the community and continues the existing streetscape character along Del Paso Boulevard between Arden Way and El Camino Avenue.
Does this project provide wider sidewalks along the boulevard?
Due to constrained right-of-way, the existing sidewalk width will remain the same.
Does this project include the installation of marked crosswalks east of the intersection of Southgate Road/Colfax Street/Del Paso Boulevard?
No. Based on public input, the City Traffic Engineer investigated the installation of a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Edgewater Road and Del Paso Boulevard. Due to the presence of active RT tracks, any new crossing along this corridor of Del Paso Boulevard would require the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission and Regional Transit. Based on feedback received from both agencies, the determination was made that any new crossing would have to be fully protected, i.e. fully signalized.
Will this project provide additional street lights near the Globe Station?
Yes, this project will improve street light illumination near the intersection of Globe Avenue and Del Paso Boulevard.
Does this project include lowering the posted speed limit on Del Paso Boulevard?
No. Speed limits are based upon various factors which, include but are not limited to, the following:
- Collision history
- Pedestrian and bicycle traffic
- Average traffic volumes
- Speed of traffic
- Type of area (residential, commercial, offices, recreational, etc.)
Traffic engineers considered the above factors to set the speed limit either at or below the speed driven by 85 percent of vehicles surveyed. If any of the above factors change, a new speed survey may be conducted to consider lowering the posted speed limit.
Will this project provide a dedicated bike lane on Del Paso Boulevard which connects to the American River Parkway?
Though the proposed lane drop between Acoma Street and Barstow Street will provide a buffer between the planned on-street parking and the westbound travel lane, the roadway widths along the rest of the Del Paso Boulevard corridor are not wide enough to include a marked bike lane.
Do the proposed landscaping treatments include native plants and large canopy shade trees?
The design team is working with City arborist to identify a variety of trees, shrubs and grasses that thrive in our climate. The proposed array will balance the communities request for shade trees and native vegetation, with the cost of maintenance. Prior to installation, the City will need to identify the responsible party for maintenance.
How is the City planning on limiting the impacts to local businesses during construction?
The City will work closely with business owners to minimize impacts during construction. Some options that may be considered include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Maintaining access to businesses during business hours
- Identifying alternative access to some businesses
- Phasing construction to off peak hours
PROJECT TIMELINE
What is the project timeline?
Preliminary project timeline envisions the following key milestones:
- Approved Environmental Document: Early 2010
- Approved Plans: Spring 2011
- Begin Construction: Summer 2011
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Is the City soliciting community input?
The City is committed to meaningful public input and will ensure the public has the opportunity to review concepts and provide feedback. The City provided public presentations during the April and June 2009 North Sacramento Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings, as well as sponsored/facilitated a community workshop in October. In addition to the public forums, the City met with several stakeholder groups which included business owners, property mangers, and key members of the local neighborhood associations. These meetings enabled the City to interact with the community and hear their comments and concerns. The City plans to present updates at two future RAC meetings. The tentative schedule can be seen below.
Key Community Meetings:
During the course of the project, the City will continue to meet with key stakeholders, including representatives of local business and neighborhood associations to collect feedback and will continue to coordinate with local associations to distribute information.
Do you have a question you would like to ask the project team?
If you would like to provide input on the project, please call Matthew Johns, at 808-5760 or email at mjohns@cityofsacramento.org. We will do our best to respond to your questions; popular questions will be answered and published on this Web page.
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