Atlantic Avenue could see more aesthetically pleasing and safety-conscious aspects for its outdoor dining program in the near future, while expanded sidewalks and bikeways could come at a later time.
The Monday, Nov. 8 Atlantic Avenue Open Streets community webinar hosted by Councilmember Al Austin II served as a forum for 8th District residents to give input on what they would like to see in the Atlantic corridor.
The Open Streets pilot program was started in spring 2020 in response to pandemic closures and restrictions. It allowed for restaurants to offer outdoor dining to its patrons.
Based on safety concerns observed during the pilot program, Austin noted that Public Works was asked to come up with ideas to calm traffic and increase pedestrian and vehicular safety after a surge in excessive speeding in the corridor.
“We did hear you loud and clear about the concerns, about the calming that needed to take place,” City Traffic Engineer Carl Hickman said, referring to various traffic-related concerns.
Ideas for Atlantic Open Streets
Traffic Engineer Paul Van Dyk led a presentation with two early level ideas for Atlantic’s Open Streets program.
Option 1 features parallel parking in the corridor with landscaping to replace orange plastic k-rails and traffic cones that are usually intended for construction zones.
Bulb-outs with trees, potted plants and asphalt curbs would replace the plastic traffic devices.
A similar concept with potted plants can be seen on 3rd Street and Broadway that features decorative containers and tamper-proof curbs to delineate where cars are not allowed.
“What we’re proposing here is to help improve the aesthetics of the street by making some of those improvements,” Van Dyk said.
The traffic engineer noted that this idea was based on feedback that the corridor looked like a construction zone.
The estimated cost for option 1—which would run from San Antonio Drive to Bixby Road—was estimated at $300,000.
Option 2 features parallel and angled parking with the same landscaping as option 1 from San Antonio Drive to Bixby Road.
The estimated cost for option 2 was also estimated at $300,000.
Resident Alexander Greg asked the panelists during public comment what could be done to improve pedestrian safety, especially in major intersections.
According to Van Dyk, the recommended bulb-outs and temporary asphalt curves will shorten the distance a pedestrian has to cross the street, which would reduce the distance a pedestrian is exposed to vehicles by 20 to 25 feet.
Atlantic Corridor Vision
Van Dyk also presented a future corridor vision for Atlantic Avenue beyond the outdoor dining program that hopes to foster an “easily accessible, calm and climate-conscious environment.”
In rethinking Atlantic Avenue, some of the elements on the table include: increased parking, landscaping, open space, wider sidewalks, outdoor dining and a recreational path.
Van Dyk stressed that the ideas were all early level concepts and a starting place to gather input to help with brainstorming.
“[We] just wanted to have a conversation about what types of elements might be good, but also we want to hear what types of elements are not as desirable,” Van Dyk said.
Option A features a raised bikeway on either side of the street that expands pedestrian space.
Option B features a paseo (walkway for strolling) to expand outdoor dining and a recreational path that would expand sidewalk space on the east side of the street (24 feet for dining and 7 feet for a regular sidewalk). This idea also includes a bike path. One lane of traffic would be maintained going northbound and another southbound on the west side of the street.
This option removes driving lanes and parking on the east side of the street to give way to the paseo but provides a drop-off and pick-up zone or metered parking lane on the west side.
Option B would give the corridor a “local main street” feel and would allow for a more “social environment,” Van Dyk said.
Option C features expanded sidewalks that would allow transit shelters more room while maintaining a wide sidewalk. An alternative features a substantial outdoor dining zone and wide sidewalk.
“The goal of the 8th district is to create a vibrant, cohesive and livable community,” Austin said.
A traffic configuration survey for residents and employees in District 8 can be found at: https://bit.ly/clb_atlanticave and will be open until November 29, 2021 at 11:59 P.M.
Open up Atlantic.