The good news is that many of Arcadia’s biggest and most congested intersections, especially along Santa Anita Avenue, will soon be getting extra left-turn and right-turn lanes and longer pockets to get more cars through on each green light.
The better news is that all this work will cost the City and residents only a fraction of the millions of dollars in costs.
by Scott Hettrick
That’s because City staff, including Engineer and Deputy Director of Development Services Phil Wray, have aggressively pursued and received commitments for about $5 million in grants to cover most of the work. In fact, Wray said during a Sept. 3 presentation to the monthly public Government Affairs Forum at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce that despite the state and federal budget crunch and economy woes, “there is more money than ever for transportation.”
But only for those cities who applied early and often for grants and matching funds, which Arcadia did.
As a result, $2.3 million of a $3 million project to start adding lanes early next year (2010) to three Santa Anita Ave. intersections that will be covered by federal Transportation Grant funds.
Here is a detailed description of work to be done on what is being called the Santa Anita Avenue Corridor Intersections Project:
1. Santa Anita Avenue and Foothill Boulevard Intersection: The project proposes the addition of left turn lanes (to create dual left turn lanes) to all four legs of the intersection. Each left turn lane will be approximately 200 feet in length. The additional lanes will require the removal of the center medians including removals and relocations of traffic signal poles and widening parkways. No additional right-of-way is anticipated.
2. Santa Anita Avenue and Duarte Road Intersection: The project proposes the addition of left turn lanes (to create dual left turn lanes) to the northbound and southbound approaches on Santa Anita Avenue. The left turn lanes will vary in length. The project also proposes the addition of right turn lanes on the eastbound and westbound approaches on Duarte Road. Also, the southbound right turn lane on Santa Anita Ave. will be converted to a through/right turn lane with the through lane carrying through the intersection and continuing 300 feet south. The additional lanes will require the removal of the center medians, widening the parkway, removal and relocation of two 20-foot catch basins and traffic signal modifications. Additional right-of-way is necessary from the City-owned Arcadia Public Library site on the southwest corner.
3. Santa Anita Avenue and Live Oak Intersection: The project proposes the addition of left turn lanes (to create dual left turn lanes) to both the northbound and southbound approaches on Santa Anita Avenue. The left turn lanes will be approximately 200 feet in length. The project also proposes the addition of a through lane for eastbound Live Oak Avenue from 300 feet west of Santa Anita Avenue to 400 feet east of Santa Anita Avenue. The additional lanes will require the removal of the center median, additional traffic signal modifications and the removal and relocation of a catch basin. No additional right-of-way is anticipated.
The traffic signal modification plans for all intersections shall include video detection systems and various other signal upgrades to be compatible with the City’s Traffic Control System.
The City has also recently completed the installation of new traffic lights with video detection systems at Santa Clara on Santa Anita Ave., and will soon began repaving the section of Santa Anita Ave. between Longden and Live Oak Avenues.
Another $2 million in grants will be applied toward additional intersection widening in 2011 at Santa Anita Ave. and Huntington Dr. (extra left turn lanes north/south) and at Duarte Road and Baldwin Ave. in 2012.