Business & Tech

Fair Oaks Meeting: DAG Transforms, Landscape Deadlines & Bulb-Out Solutions

A recap of the merchant meeting Monday and a look into the history behind the project.

Local merchants, city staff and select Council members met at Monday to continue discussion regarding the Fair Oaks Avenue Corridor Improvement Project.

Due to A.B. 1881 that states municipal landscape projects must be water efficient, landscaping surrounding the project has been redesigned, according to Sam Talebian of DMR Team, a consultant working with the contractor doing the work.

“Because it has a ripple effect, this is a critical element, and that’s why we highlighted it today,” he told merchants.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

With irrigation beginning May 18 and landscaping May 25, now is the time for all stakeholders to come forth, he said.

As Merchants suggested this is of importance to South Pasadena Beautiful as well as the Natural Resources Committee, resident Bob Joe said he would be willing to notify those groups and call a special Freeway and Transportation Commission meeting this week—marking its first gathering since it was established in late 2010 (the meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of ).

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

TRANSFORMING COMMISSIONS

In a controversial December 2010 vote, South Pas City Council dissolved its Design Advisory Group (DAG) transferring its responsibilities to the newly-constituted Freeway and Transportation Commission (which would combine the DAG and Transportation Commission). While DAG members insisted that the vote was outside the city’s jurisdiction and that they were still needed for potential project changes, the vote went through.  

“It [DAG] was put together almost 10 years ago. Design is over with; now it’s up to the project manager to get the work done,” Mayor Mike Ten told Patch in April. “There is no need for another city committee in between again. If there is a problem, come directly to city council. Why put another layer of bureaucracy between it?”

Joe, who was a member of the original DAG and running for City Council this year, thinks the group helps bring transparency to government.

“I want to bring a little more integrity to the city process. We need to be very open in involving public input and getting public participation,” he told Patch in April. “…We need to minimize personal and political agendas.”

HIGHWAY HISTORY

After Congressman Jim Rogan secured $46 million in Federal Transportation Funds for South Pasadena, Pasadena and Los Angeles in the late ‘90s, South Pas was allocated $11.5 million of that money to alleviate traffic congestion. 

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) then established DAG groups to consider the specific mitigation needs of each of the respective communities, said Public Works Project Manager Gabriel Nevarez.

Six years later, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration and Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved South Pasadena’s Maximizing Mobility projects (also commonly referred to as the Rogan Projects). With four projects approved, the Fair Oaks Corridor Improvement Project falls third on the list. This project also received $761,000 in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009. 

“Currently, traffic severely backs up on Fair Oaks Avenue north and south of the SR-110 interchange—mainly due to the high volume of cars exiting and entering SR-110,” said Nevarez. “Adding capacity and improving the circulation pattern for this important regional interchange will reduce congestion and improve local and commuter travel between the I-10 and I-210.”

The city says this phase of the project is meant to improve traffic flow, safety and drainage, but merchants say the negative effects far outweigh the positive.

“While traffic was heavy, I never had a customer complain—or even mention it,” said owner of ! Howard Finkelstein, whose revenue is currently down 30 percent over last year. “The loss of revenue will never be made up. Also, the changes in customer habits will result in a permanent loss of clients.”

The plans in place will continue to contribute to traffic congestion, Finkelstein said, especially without left turns into Fair Oaks Avenue driveways allowed through May 24. 

The first two Rogan projects, which included improvements on Orange Grove Avenue and signal synchronization along Fair Oaks, have already been completed. 

MOVING FORWARD

Many residents and merchants have brought forth concerns about curb bulb-outs asking when they will be painted red. While the city says the intention of the bulb-outs is to shorten pedestrian crossing distance, they have yet to decide how they will improve vehicle safety.

At Monday's meeting, Talebian suggested raised pavement markers, and Ten mentioned decorative planters.

“These [pavement markers] would reflect the light, so you actually see the outline of the bulb-outs at night,” said Talebian.

The topic will eventually go to the Freeway and Transportation Committee, which now has plans to meet regularly.

Deputy Public Works Director Shin Furukawa (who will be filling in as Public Works Director until the city fills the position) says his biggest challenge throughout the remainder of the project will be streamlining information. 

“With input and direction coming from a variety of sources, it has been difficult to present a consistent message regarding construction sequencing and scheduling,” said Furukawa. “But the city will continue to do its best to keep the community informed on the latest developments as things change.”

The next Fair Oaks Construction Corridor community meeting is currently set to take place at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 23 at . Project completion is slated for the end of June.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from South Pasadena