Palm Avenue Revitalization Plan Technical Report Final Report | March 2016 Palm Avenue Revitalization Plan Final Technical Report Prepared for: Prepared by: 3900 5th Avenue, Suite 210 San Diego, California 92101 In association with: March 2016 Acknowledgements The Palm Avenue Revitalization Plan was funded by a Caltrans Transpiration Planning Grant for Environmental Justice. This plan greatly benefitted from the participation of the Otay Mesa‐ Nestor Community Planning Group as well as local residents and business owners who provided valuable feedback throughout the plan development. City of San Diego Planning Department Jeff Murphy, Director Tom Tomlinson, Assistant Director Nancy Bragado, Deputy Director Nancy Graham, Project Manager Tanner French, Mobility Planner Brian Schoenfisch, Principal Planner Samir Hajjiri, Senior Traffic Engineer Michael Prinz, Senior Planner Jenny An, Former Associate Planner Page i Palm Avenue Revitalization Plan Final Technical Report Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Background & Purpose .................................................................................................................. 11 1.2 Report Organization ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Project Location and Planning Area ............................................................................................... 12 1.4 Population Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 15 1.5 Relevant Planning Documents and Policies ................................................................................... 16 2.0 Corridor Environment ............................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Existing and Planned Land Uses ..................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Urban Design .................................................................................................................................. 25 2.3 Community Health ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.0 Mobility Analysis Methodology ................................................................................................ 31 3.1 Pedestrian ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Bicycle ............................................................................................................................................ 32 3.3 Transit ............................................................................................................................................ 35 3.4 Vehicular ........................................................................................................................................ 35 4.0 Current Conditions Mobility Analysis ........................................................................................ 42 4.1 Walkability ..................................................................................................................................... 43 4.1.1 Pedestrian Facilities............................................................................................................... 44 4.1.2 Pedestrian Demand ............................................................................................................... 44 4.1.3 Pedestrian Safety .................................................................................................................. 46 4.1.4 Pedestrian Environment Evaluation ...................................................................................... 52 4.2 Cycling ............................................................................................................................................ 56 4.2.1 Bicycle Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.2 Bicycle Demand ..................................................................................................................... 60 4.2.3 Bicycle Safety ......................................................................................................................... 60 4.2.4 Bicycle Level of Stress............................................................................................................ 66 4.3 Transit System ................................................................................................................................ 68 4.3.1 Bus & Trolley Systems ........................................................................................................... 70 4.3.2 Transit Demand ..................................................................................................................... 70 4.3.3 Transit User Safety ................................................................................................................ 71 4.4 Vehicular Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 74 4.4.1 Roadway Geometry ............................................................................................................... 74 4.4.2 Roadway Level of Service ...................................................................................................... 76 4.4.3 Intersection Geometrics and Traffic Volumes ...................................................................... 79 4.4.4 Intersection Level of Service ................................................................................................. 79 4.4.5 Arterial Speed Analysis .......................................................................................................... 83 4.4.6 VISSIM Micro‐Simulation and Intersection Queuing Analysis .............................................. 83 4.4.7 Freeway Segment Level of Service ........................................................................................ 84 4.4.8 Vehicular Safety .................................................................................................................... 85 5.0 Model Forecasting .................................................................................................................... 90 5.1 Series 12 Model 2035 Traffic Volume Forecast ............................................................................. 90 5.2 Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus Expansion Considerations ................................................ 90 5.3 Series 12 Model 2035 Traffic Volume Forecast with Added Naval Traffic .................................... 91 Page ii Palm Avenue Revitalization Plan Final Technical Report 6.0 Preferred Concept Plan ............................................................................................................. 94 6.1 Identification of the Preferred Plan – Community Workshop #2 .................................................. 94 6.2 Preferred Concept Plan .................................................................................................................. 97 6.3 Urban Design Framework & Operational Improvements .............................................................. 99 7.0 Preferred Plan Mobility Analysis ............................................................................................. 100 7.1 Walkability ................................................................................................................................... 100 7.2 Bicycling ....................................................................................................................................... 104 7.3 Transit System .............................................................................................................................. 106 7.4 Vehicular Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 107 7.4.1 Roadway Level of Service .................................................................................................... 107 7.4.2 Intersection Geometry ........................................................................................................ 109 7.4.3 Intersection Level of Service Analysis ................................................................................. 109 7.4.4 Intersection Control Evaluation .......................................................................................... 114 7.4.5 VISSIM Micro‐Simulation and Intersection Queuing Analysis ............................................ 114 7.4.6 Freeway Segment Level of Service Analysis ........................................................................ 115 7.4.7 Parking ................................................................................................................................. 115 8.0 Implementation Strategy ........................................................................................................ 120 8.1 Near‐Term and Long‐Term Projects