Traffic Takes Center Stage at Town Hall Meeting

Three subjects were on the minds of South Orange Grove Boulevard area residents Tuesday evening as District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison held a Town Hall at Mayfield Senior School: traffic, traffic, and traffic.

Pasadena Department of Transportation Complete Streets Division Manager Mike Bagheri set the tone for the evening by discussing traffic patterns on South Orange Grove Boulevard between Columbia and Green Streets, and explaining a proposed portion of the Pasadena Master Bike Plan which would eventually create bike lanes in both north and south directions, limiting the total number of traffic lanes available on Orange Grove.

As Bagheri explained in his presentation, Orange Grove Boulevard is a 48-foot roadway within a 96-foot right of way. At its peak, it carries 1,700 to 1,900 cars per hour, and a total of 26,000 car trips per day.

While off-peak parking is allowed, much of the parking usage is low. The street also operates as four lanes for most of the day, and most of its intersections are not signalized. This, said Bagheri, creates “hostile conditions” for walkers and bicyclists crossing South Orange Grove.

In addition, he said, traffic speeds on South Orange Grove are too high — with more than half the traffic exceeding the speed limit — making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street safely. To help mitigate and calm the traffic flow, the City recently received a Metro Grant to upgrade all traffic signal cabinets and install detection systems for three corridors which include south Orange Grove Boulevard’s length from Green Street to Columbia Street.

The project will replace all signal cabinets, install new controllers, and if necessary, upgrade access ramps at each corner of all signalized intersections within the corridor. The new project is tentatively scheduled to begin work in January, 2017, pending funding agreements.

Thinking bigger and a little longer into the future, Bagheri told the meeting that a “road diet” plan, already begun in other parts of the city, would help South Orange Grove.

A road diet, explained Bagheri, means that traffic lanes on one or both sides of a street are eliminated, and replaced with buffered bike lanes, set off by painted lines.

As Bagheri told the audience, “Road diet removes car lanes in favor of the most vulnerable users of the road — pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Added Bagheri, “We have this already on Marengo and Cordova, and Halstead, and it’s working out well.” (A new Metro grant was also recently approved to create a dedicated east-west cycle track on Union Street north of Colorado, which will be completed next year.)

The “road diet” and Bike Plan are still just that, plans, said Bagheri, following the meeting.

“The City is always planning,” said City Manager Steve Mermell. “At the same time, it’s always seeking funding for various plans wherever it can find them.”

Once funded, said Bagheri, the new South Orange Grove bike plan would create safer streets by lowering traffic speeds. Bagheri also noted, however, that fewer lanes on Orange Grove might divert traffic to other streets, perhaps creating other traffic issues.

Moving on to another aspect of traffic, Pasadena Police Lieutenant Diego Torres reported that traffic accidents in Pasadena are down by 233 from this time last year, with the most dangerous intersection in Pasadena being the corner of Lake Avenue and Orange Grove, with 135 accidents. Councilmember Madison took that opportunity to remind the audience that the City was still operating with a force of 237 officers, also down from previous years, although the City Council recently voted to hire more.

“We are hoping that at least some of them become motor officers,” said Madison.

Torres also updated the meeting with crime figures. He said that while over crime rates are down, some property crimes, like residential and auto burglaries remain high. Torres cautioned the residents not only to have safety devices at home, such as alarms and safes, but to actually use them.

“I can’t tell you how many times things have been stolen from unlocked safes and cars,” he said.

In addition, Torres also told the assembled residents that the City has developed a new “Credit Team” of police volunteers who will help gather information and follow through on identity theft crimes.

City officials also brought the residents up to date on the new Desiderio Park, to be built just underneath the Colorado Street bridge.

According to Public Works Department Capital Improvements Manager Dale Torstenbo, the park is still in design stage and is scheduled for a ground breaking “later this year.” Torstenbo also spoke to a number of questions raised about a restroom located in the new park, as residents feared the presence of one may attract problems.

“Yes, there will be one, and we are currently working on the most practical and safest design for it.”

Councilmember Madison also assured the meeting that the restrooms would be locked in the evenings as well as during events at the Rose Bowl, saying, “We don’t want that to be a pre-concert hangout spot.”

Representatives from the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and Code Compliance also visited the meeting to report on the 210 Freeway Batch Plant, a quarry-like facility at the base of the 210 Freeway just underneath California Avenue. Councilmember Madison told the residents that he was not originally aware that the plant would be there as long as it has been, but said, “I’ve been told by Caltrans that they will be there another three years.”

Jon Pollard, Code Compliance Manger from the City Planning department said that the noise level from the plant has been measured, and is still at the “ambient” level, meaning it does not yet rise above the surrounding freeway noise. Noise auditors, however, will be visiting the plant and will be measuring noise levels as well.

Should the plant ever be found to be “not in compliance” with noise, dust or particulate levels, the state can “execute due process,” said an AQMD representative.

Madison also informed residents that an “Alternatives to the 710 Tunnel” forum would be held at the Pasadena Convention Center September 15. SaidMadison, “Hopefully, we can finally drive a stake through the heart of the 710 Tunnel.”