REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager
VIA: Chau Vu, Director of Public Works
PREPARED BY: Bob Stachelski, Traffic and Transportation Manager
Subject:
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Approve the June 2024 HB in Motion: Huntington Beach Mobility Implementation Plan
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Statement of Issue:
Completion of the Mobility Plan was a Strategic Plan element adopted by the City Council. Staff along with our consulting team led by Sam Schwartz Consulting has recently completed a 2.5-year effort to prepare “HB in Motion: Huntington Beach Mobility Implementation Plan” (Mobility Plan). The Mobility Plan aims to enhance access and mobility in Huntington Beach by accommodating changes in mobility needs and travel patterns, ultimately making Huntington Beach a safer, cleaner, easier-to-navigate city.
Financial Impact:
Approval of the plan will not result in any direct expenditures outside of traditional operating and capital improvement program efforts. However, an approved Mobility Plan will help to support future applications for grants and other outside funding in programs that specifically target comprehensive transportation improvements that address the needs of all users of the street right-of-way.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the 2024 HB in Motion: Huntington Beach Mobility Implementation Plan.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Completion of the Mobility Plan was a Strategic Plan element adopted by the City Council. Over the past 2.5 years, staff and the consultant team led by Sam Schwartz have completed an extensive effort to evaluate the current conditions of the transportation systems within the City of Huntington Beach and identify strategies that will help to better serve the mobility needs of residents and visitors throughout the City. A key principle in the development of this plan is to improve the overall balance of facilities that are available to provide a more equitable system supporting motor vehicles, transit, bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled access, micromobility options, and other emerging forms for mobility.
As part of the development of “HB In Motion: Huntington Beach Mobility Implementation Plan” thorough research, studies, analyses, in-person field observations, and community engagement was conducted by a planning team to assess the city’s existing conditions and identify the community’s mobility needs. The planning team conducted two analyses to evaluate the City’s existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure conditions and level of connectivity. The project team conducted a Pedestrian Crossing Stress Analysis to better understand the current pedestrian experience in Huntington Beach and identify neighborhoods or areas that would benefit from design that promotes or enhances walking trips. The analysis considers several inputs including traffic volume, posted speed limit, number of vehicle lanes (as a proxy for crossing distance), roadway functional classification, traffic control device, mid-block crossing locations, and pedestrian crossing islands to estimate the level of stress a pedestrian may experience while crossing the street at every crosswalk (marked and unmarked) throughout the city. The group identified buffered bike lanes and leading pedestrian intervals as near term or “low hanging fruit” options to address the needs of the community. They also identified
longer term projects like separated bike lanes and mid-block flashers as potential options, in addition to phased projects, or capital improvement projects like a shared use path (separated), and median refuge island. Additional analysis identified options for lowering stress for the bicycle network, including new traffic control options for two-way stops, and high intensity activated crosswalk beacons, or if warranted, full signalization. This plan envisions achieving incremental improvements to the mobility system with time allocated for future community engagement and evaluation in order to gain support for improvements and secure grant funding.
On July 17, 2024 the Public Works Commission adopted a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Mobility Plan. Approval of the plan by the City Council will ultimately bolster efforts by staff to compete for outside funding that targets a balanced approach to street design such as Complete Streets and Active Transportation Funding. Many grant programs either require or provide additional scoring points to applicants that have an adopted plan that supports multimodal transportation system strategies. The Mobility Plan will also help guide the design efforts on some of our traditional street rehabilitation improvement efforts by providing a resource for staff on various treatments/methods that can be incorporated into planned rehabilitation projects. Adopting this Mobility Plan shows the city’s commitment in advancing local transportation and fostering a healthier, more connected, and resilient community.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 6 - Infrastructure Investment, Strategy D - Undertake major planning efforts including Fleet Capital Replacement Plan, Mobility Master Plan and Infrastructure Report Card to adequately anticipate and prepare for future infrastructure needs.
Attachment(s):
1. June 2024 HB In Motion: Huntington Beach Mobility Implementation Plan
2. HB In Motion - Appendix
3. Huntington Beach In Motion Presentation