Solana Beach to study improvements needed for Lomas Santa Fe corridor

Solana Beach plans to study what changes are needed for the Lomas Santa Fe corridor.

The City Council on Nov. 9 authorized the city manager to sign an agreement with STC Traffic, Inc. for a $50,000 Lomas Santa Fe corridor feasibility study.

There have not been any significant operational changes to the Lomas Santa Fe corridor since the completion of the Interstate 5 and Lomas Santa Fe Drive freeway interchange.

The city’s Comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy study, which the council adopted in June 2015, identified several segments within the Lomas Santa Fe corridor that need improvements. Therefore, the council directed staff to focus on the corridor as part of the city’s 2016-17 fiscal year work plan.

In December 2015, staff solicited proposals from consultants with experienced performing feasibility studies and developing roadway design standards. The city received six proposals. Because the budget for the project and the scope of work had not yet been set, however, the proposed costs ranged from approximately $121,000 to $340,000.

With only $50,000 appropriated for the study, staff revised the scope of work. Based on experience and qualifications, staff selected the top three consultants and asked them to revise their proposals based on the adopted budget for the study.

After conducting interviews and reviewing the revised scope of work from each team, staff ultimately selected STC Traffic.

“They have extensive experience in corridor studies,” City Manager Greg Wade said at the Nov. 9 meeting. “They’ve completed several traffic-related projects in the city, so they are familiar with Solana Beach.”

Under the revised scope, STC Traffic, along with Michael Baker International (MBI), will prepare a base map of the corridor, meet with key stakeholders to identify the high priority needs and deficiencies, assist in applying for grant funding, and prepare a report summarizing immediate, mid-range and long-term improvements. STC Traffic brought MBI on board to provide engineering design services.

City Engineer Mo Sammak said the study should start in January and take about six months to complete. City staff and the consultants, he said, expect to present the study to the council around the end of the fiscal year.