EN-05-Whittier-Rosemead Bike Path 03-14-13.pdf - Watershed ...

THE EMERALD NECKLACE / Phase 1 Projects 03/14/2013
WHITTIER NARROWS CONNECTIVITY:
Class I Bicycle Path on Rosemead Blvd. to Legg Lake
Project Description
The intent of this project is to improve recreational use from south El Bosque Del Rio Hondo to
Legg Lake, and from the east end of Siphon Road to Legg Lake. This Project calls for the
development a Class I bicycle path on the east side of Rosemead Blvd. from the intersection at
San Gabriel Blvd. and Durfee Ave. to the southwest corner of Legg Lake, allowing bicyclists,
pedestrians and hikers access to Legg Lake from the Syphon Road spur of the San Gabriel River
Trail. The proposed Class I bicycle path will be located on the wide shoulder of Rosemead
Boulevard and will be designed to CalTrans Highway Design manual standards and AASHTO
Guidelines.
Fig. 1. The project site is located on the east shoulder of Rosemead Blvd.
The existing shoulder of Rosemead Boulevard varies in width from 2 feet at the south end of the
project area to approximately 28 feet at the north end of the project area. Excess stockpiled soil
located under and behind a chain link fence that separates the highway from adjacent agricultural
land use will be utilized as fill for the approximately 850 lineal foot length of proposed bicycle
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path including the area around the existing bus stop where the existing roadway shoulder width
is lacking. This area will be an encroachment into the agricultural area as the proposed bicycle
path will need to avoid the existing bus stop location. Cut and fill must be balanced in this area
which may result in the bicycle path being placed below the grade of the roadway in order to
minimize fill. At the north end of the project area, the proposed bicycle path will meet the grade
of an existing driveway into the agricultural area.
The asphalted bike path will be approximately 1,900’ long, 12-foot wide, and striped to
accommodate two way bicycle travel. At Legg Lake an approximately 80 foot long, 15 foot wide
decomposed granite path into the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area will intersect with the
internal pathways of the lake and approximately 1200 square feet of turf will be removed to
accommodate the new path. Approximately 1,900 lineal feet of 6 foot fencing will be removed in
order to construct the bicycle path. New fencing on both sides of the bicycle path will be
required for an approximate total of 3,800 lineal feet of 54 inch tall fencing. Approximately four
signs on metal posts will be removed and relocated. New signage will include two metal
directional and regulatory signs on metal posts.
Fig. 2. Rosemead Blvd. looking north toward Legg Lake area.
Fig. 3. Trail component diagram.
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Fig. 4. Existing pedestrian access to Legg Lake on Rosemead Blvd.
Fig. 5 & 6. The bus stop on Rosemead Blvd. and the embankment behind it.
Two benches and a posted sign indicate a bus stop close to the northeast corner of the
intersection that will have to be accommodated. Alignment of the bicycle path behind the bus
stop will require utilization of the stockpiled soil located directly east of Rosemead Boulevard
for approximately a 150’ foot length in order to construct a new bus stop with the Class I bicycle
path adjacent to it flush to the road elevation.
Project Site and Context
The project area is in a regional recreation setting with both developed and undeveloped
parkland. Land-uses surrounding the site include agriculture—such as nurseries and cropland—
and industrial and infrastructural purposes such as mineral extraction, water transfer facilities,
and electrical power facilities.
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The project site is located between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel Rivers in the Whittier
Narrows Recreation Area. Legg Lake is located northeast of the proposed project. Whittier
Narrows is both bisected and ringed with roads that are inhospitable for recreational users on
bicycle or on foot; and many amenities within the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area are difficult
to get to without a car. Once visitors arrive by car at Legg Lake, it is equally difficult to connect
to the trails and open space attractions on the perimeter.
San Gabriel Blvd. and Durfee Ave. border the project area on the south and separate the active
areas of Whittier Narrows from the natural area around Lario Creek and the Zone 1 ditch. The
site is adjacent to Rosemead Blvd. a State Route that is heavily used, and forms a major barrier
to access into Legg Lake from the Rio Hondo side.
From the San Gabriel River Trail access to the intersection at Durfee Ave. and Rosemead Blvd.
is via the Siphon Road spur; the bicycle path continues on to the northern portion of the Rio
Hondo Bike Path diagonally across the intersection. While the western entry to Legg Lake is in
sight from this busy intersection there is no safe route to travel on except the road shoulder and
emergency lane of Rosemead Blvd.
Fig. 7. The project is located in the southern portion of the Emerald Necklace, a recreation
trail and park system on the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers.
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THE EMERALD NECKLACE / Phase 1 Projects 03/14/2013
Jurisdiction
The project site is located within Los Angeles County District 1 (Supervisor: Gloria Molina)
within unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Fig. 8. County Supervisor District Boundaries Map.
Site Ownership & Easements
The project boundaries encompass two parcels. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
owns both parcels with Southern California Edison transmission line easements on each. The
Legg Lake park area is operated under a long term lease to the Los Angeles County Department
of Parks and Recreation (“Parcel A”).
Los Angeles County Assessor Identification Numbers
AIN
Ownership
8119004901 USA (easement) Southern California Edison Transmission Lines
8119004905 USA (easement) Southern California Edison Transmission Lines
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Fig. 9. Project Area Parcel Map
Constraints
• Obtaining permission from USACE
• Obtaining permission from Caltrans
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Implementation Challenges
• The proposed improvements are outside of the currently permitted water conservation
pool or inundation area within the Whittier Narrows Flood Control Basin. However, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on a feasibility study to allow a significantly
expanded water conservation pool inundation area that will include this area. The
proposed improvements should be coordinated with this study.
• Los Angeles County Flood Control District’s general guidelines for maintenance, rightof-way
issues, operations and landscape will be included in design and implementation.
Related Projects
The Rosemead Class I Bicycle Path Project is one of a series of projects in the Whittier Narrows
Recreation Area that will improve connectivity of in the southern portion of the Emerald Necklace,
a recreation trail and park system on the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers. The purpose of the
Whittier Narrows Projects is to provide direct trail access to the heart of the Whittier Narrows
Recreation Area, Legg Lake. Bicyclists and recreational users of the San Gabriel River Trail, a
Class I bicycle path, and the Rio Hondo Bike Path traveling to Whittier Narrows cannot connect to
this popular park unless they travel in traffic at road grade along busy Rosemead Blvd. or Durfee
Road.
Fig. 10. Whittier Narrows Connectivity Phase I Projects Location Map.
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THE EMERALD NECKLACE / Phase 1 Projects 03/14/2013
The following are part of the Whittier Narrows Connectivity Projects, which seek to connect the
Emerald Necklace to the recreation facilities in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
• Class I Bicycle Path from the Rio Hondo to Legg Lake: Construct a new multi-use trail
through the Southern California Edison Easement and a signalized crossing at Rosemead
Blvd. to link the Rio Hondo Bike Path directly to Legg Lake.
• Class I Bicycle Path from El Bosque Del Rio Hondo to Lincoln Avenue on San Gabriel
Blvd.: Construct a Class I Bike Path on San Gabriel Blvd. to connect the north and south
sections of the Rio Hondo Bike Path.
• Pellissier Village Multi-Use Trail from State Highway 60 to Horseman’s Park: Improve
the multi-use trail on the eastside of the San Gabriel River with a stormwater BMP
component at Pellissier Village for hikers and bicyclists. Improve access ramps to the
Peck Road Bridge.
• Pellissier Multi-Use Bridge at Horseman’s Park: Construct a new multi-use bridge over
the San Gabriel River in the Pellissier Village area that connects the existing equestrian
facilities to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and provides a safe river crossing for all
trail users.
The following projects have been identified for future consideration.
• Provide a bicycle route on Durfee Ave. that will connect to the southern Legg Lake
parking lot, The San Gabriel River Discovery Center, and South El Monte High School.
Fig. 11. Durfee Ave. looking north to the east side of Legg Lake and the proposed
crosswalk connection to the Lario Creek trail.
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