REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Accept Google LLC’s Donation of Voluntary Midblock Crosswalk Improvements on Borregas Avenue with an Estimated Construction Cost of $126,000 and Finding of an Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act
Report
BACKGROUND
Borregas Avenue is a north-south Commercial/Industrial Collector within the Moffett Park area north of State Route 237. It connects Caribbean Drive, Java Drive and Moffett Park Drive. Borregas Avenue has a speed limit of 35 mph. It consists of one travel lane and an on-street Class II bicycle lane in each direction, with existing on-street parking on the west side of the street and continuous sidewalk on both sides of the street. The land use along Borregas Avenue is mainly office, research and development, and industrial developments.
In 2020, Google LLC (Google) approached the City with a request to install voluntary improvements. The project includes a midblock pedestrian crosswalk on Borregas Avenue, two curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a 10-foot wide high-visibility crosswalk, and a solar-powered rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) system which can be activated by hand waving motion or by a push button. In addition, it will also include the removal of 30 feet of on-street parking on the west side of the street and the installation of pavement markings, signages, and stripping to support the new midblock crosswalk. Google has retained the services of a professional engineering firm to prepare plans suitable for the design and construction of these voluntary improvements.
EXISTING POLICY
In performing the analysis and developing the conclusions identified in this report, the following policies were referenced and considered:
General Plan Chapter 3 Land Use and Transportation:
• Policy LT-1.7: Emphasize efforts to reduce regional vehicle miles traveled by supporting active modes of transportation including walking, biking, and public transit.
• Goal LT-3: An Effective Multimodal Transportation System - Offer the community a variety of transportation modes for local travel that are also integrated with the regional transportation system and land use pattern. Favor accommodation of alternative modes to the automobile as a means to enhance efficient transit use, bicycling, and walking and corresponding benefits to the environment, person-throughput, and qualitative improvements to the transportation system environment.
Resolution No. 793-16 Complete Streets Policy (and Resolution No. 896-18 amending Resolution No. 793-16): The City wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets and desires that its streets form a comprehensive and integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and convenient travel for all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and using the latest and best design guidelines and standards.
Vision Zero Plan
• Reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2029 and to continue improving traffic safety towards zero fatal and serious injury collisions in the ten years that follow.
City Council Policy 7.1.5 Grants, Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships
3. For donations, contributions, or sponsorships with values of $100,000 or more, as estimated by the donor, a Report to Council will be written outlining its purpose and the advantages and disadvantages prior to acceptance. Authority to accept any such donation, contribution or sponsorship shall rest with the City Council. For monetary donations, it will be stated in the Report to Council if the gift is a onetime contribution for a specific purpose or a contribution where the principal could be invested, and the interest used to support all or part of a special project or program for a number of years.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) for existing streets, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and facilities involving negligible or no expansion and that does not create additional automobile lanes. The CEQA document will be filed by the City of Sunnyvale at the County Recorder’s Office prior to the start of construction activities.
DISCUSSION
Google has voluntarily committed to install a midblock, enhanced pedestrian crosswalk on Borregas Avenue (Attachment 1) in the City of Sunnyvale. This proposed crosswalk will be located in between the two existing crosswalks on Borregas Avenue, approximately 520 feet north of the crosswalk at Moffett Park Drive and approximately 800 feet south of the crosswalk at Humboldt Court. With the construction of new office buildings and parking garages along Borregas Avenue and more employees returning to the offices, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in pedestrian crossings at this location. The proposed crosswalk with RRFBs will increase driver awareness of potential pedestrian conflicts and enhance pedestrian safety when crossing Borregas Avenue at this location.
The proposed improvements (Attachment 2) include the demolition of approximately 48 linear feet of public sidewalks, curb, gutter and landscape strip; the removal of one non-heritage tree; and prohibition of 30 feet of on-street parking. Google will install two new ADA curb ramps, stripe a 10-feet wide white continental crosswalk, erect a solar-powered RRFB system which can be activated by the pedestrians with a hand-waving motion or by the push button, and install various pavement markings, signage, and striping to support the new crosswalk. All improvements are entirely within the existing right-of-way or existing City easements and are therefore under the City’s jurisdiction.
The estimated value of these improvements based on the engineer’s probable construction cost estimate is $126,000. Pursuant to City Council Policy 7.1.5 - Grants, donations, Contributions and Sponsorships, authority to accept any contributions with values of more than $100,000 rests with the City Council.
If the City Council accepts this donation, Google estimates that construction may start as soon as spring/summer 2023 and be completed in summer/fall 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
Installation of an enhanced midblock pedestrian crosswalk on Borregas Avenue will be fully funded by Google. Upon acceptance of improvements, the City will take ownership of the crosswalk and be responsible for on-going maintenance. The additional signage and striping improvements will be maintained under the operating budget of the Department of Public Works Street Lights, Signs and Debris Program. Roadways are typically slurry sealed every seven years; therefore, over the span of a 20-year budget cycle, Borregas Avenue will likely be slurry sealed two times. The additional maintenance costs related to the striping improvements include: $4,500 to install thermoplastic striping after the roadway is resurfaced each time; and $200 in material cost for paint every two years to maintain the additional striping improvements. It is anticipated that it would take a two-person crew working two hours every two years to apply the additional paint on the striping improvements as part of the regular maintenance process.
The two new ADA curb ramps will be maintained under the Department of Public Works Pavement and Concrete Maintenance Program. The new RRFB system will be maintained under Department of Public Works Transportation and Traffic Services Program: 13101-521174 Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance program; the additional on-going annual maintenance cost necessary to operate and maintain the new RRFB system is approximately $500 per year. The lifespan of the new RRFB system would be for a period of 20 years. Over the span of a 20-year budget cycle, the RRFB system will likely be replaced one time and the replacement cost is estimated to be $75,000. The replacement costs will be included in Project 825730 - Pedestrian Lighted Crosswalk Maintenance and Replacement during the FY 2025/26 projects budget cycle.
The additional operating costs will be added during the FY 2024/25 operating budget cycle.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Accept Google LLC’s Donation of Voluntary Midblock Crosswalk Improvements on Borregas Avenue with an Estimated Construction Cost of $126,000 and Finding of an Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c).
JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION
Based on Vision Zero principles, the City aims to incorporate the appropriate roadway design to reduce the severity risks of collisions. The proposed midblock crosswalk will encourage employees and others within the area to walk by providing an enhanced crossing to cross Borregas Avenue. The location of the proposed midblock crosswalk is advantageous because it will provide a connection between existing and new office developments and parking structures on both sides of Borregas Avenue. The proposed RRFB system is a safety improvement that has been proven to enhance pedestrian safety at uncontrolled, midblock crosswalks. It will increase visibility and awareness of pedestrians who wish to cross the street. In addition, it will clearly communicate with approaching motorists that someone may be in the marked crosswalk when the beacons are flashing, reducing the threat of a rear-end collision for motorists who are yielding to a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and enhance pedestrian safety by reducing potential crashes between vehicles and pedestrians.
Staff
Prepared by: Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Public Works
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Project Vicinity Map
2. Proposed Improvements