Agenda - City of Santa Monica

Serving the increase in pedestrians and responding to the roadway changes being
made by the Light Rail requires re-consideration of the circulation networks immediately
adjacent and leading to the stations.
The Expo Light Rail will
reconfigure Colorado Avenue
from 17 th to 5 th Streets to onelane
in either direction with
the light rail tracks and
guideway located in the
middle of the street. The vehicle lanes in the block of Colorado between 5 th and 4 th
Streets will become one-way in the westbound direction in order to accommodate the
light rail station and optimal light rail operations. Temporary construction barriers were
installed in February 2013 that initiated the one-way flow. The final westbound-only
configuration will provide one through-lane and a dedicated left-turn lane at 4 th Street.
On February 14, 2012 the Council reviewed the Esplanade schematic design and
circulation alternatives. The Esplanade project traffic analysis determined the benefit of
continuing the one-way traffic from 4 th Street all the way to Ocean Avenue, therefore
reducing the number of turn movements, providing a c orresponding improvement in
flow, and allowing signal timing adjustments to accommodate increased pedestrians
without compromising vehicle flow into the downtown.
The design scope for Peter Walker Partners included the schematic design of the
station plaza to ensure seamless integration with the Esplanade, including connections
and orientation/wayfinding opportunities as passengers both leave and approach the
station. The Downtown Station Plaza will be constructed by Expo as part of the City’s
betterments for the Downtown Station. PWP has coordinated with the major
stakeholders, the City, Metro and Expo, to refine the station design in order to address
access, maintenance, construction cost and Metro operating criteria.
The Esplanade project is supported by Land Use & Circulation Element (LUCE) Goal
D2, to maximize placemaking associated with the Expo Light Rail station and create
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