North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island

North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island

DESCRIPTION OF NATURE, PURPOSE, AND BENEFICIARIES OF PROJECT: The North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island project (project) consists of the rehabilitation of a landscaped pedestrian median island on Sepulveda Boulevard between Haynes Street and Lemay Street. The rehabilitation would include construction of a five-foot-wide concrete sidewalk, seven-foot-wide irrigated planting area, including 26 new stormwater parkway swales and 27 new street trees, an improved bus stop with new site furniture, and street improvements including four new curb ramps, three upgraded curb ramps and five new continental crosswalks. The project would benefit the public by providing safer conditions for pedestrians and the surrounding community. Please see the Project Description continuation in the narrative for more details. On July 3, 2024, the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) approved the project design plans. DESCRIPTION OF NATURE, PURPOSE, AND BENEFICIARIES OF PROJECT, CONTINUED This project is proposed to rehabilitate of an existing landscaped pedestrian median island along Sepulveda Boulevard between Haynes Street and Lemay Street for the installation of greenway for stormwater capture and reuse, disabled access features, and a community-friendly environment. This project would provide safety, accessibility, and connectivity for pedestrians. The North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island project would enhance an existing pedestrian island into an urban green passageway providing needed public access and connectivity along the urban dense corridor of Sepulveda Boulevard. Additionally, the project would create an aesthetic landscape buffer to shield pedestrians from on-coming traffic during usage. A new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk path would run the length of the median intersecting a newly constructed seating area and shade covering at the existing Metro bus stop to provide a safe passage and urban respite for local commuters, including the installation of new American with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant access ramps. Dense hedge-like plants and low-growth trees would line the path along the corridor replacing the existing weeds and provide a noise and aesthetic buffer to the adjacent residential neighborhood along this highly urbanized City corridor. This multi-benefit project would provide urban runoff treatment, green space, and improve access to public transit by: 1. Constructing four new ADA-compliant ramps and upgrading three existing curb ramps. 2. Providing five new continental crosswalks. 3. Planting 27 new street trees. 4. Constructing a new five-foot-wide sidewalk. 5. Rehabilitating a bus stop waiting area with new site furniture. 6. Planting vegetated landscaping in a seven-foot-wide planting area to include an active irrigation system. 7. Installing 26 new stormwater parkway swales to improve stormwater management. A walkable, urban green design provides direct public benefits to the community, such as alleviating traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, restoring native habitat, and facilitating healthy lifestyles. The proposed path and seating area would provide necessary safe passage, access, and lighting to reduce inherent safety risks and promote public transportation use. Additionally, the native, drought tolerant landscaping would sequester and store carbon providing lifetime health benefits to a neighborhood bordering a major transportation corridor while enhancing habitat. This project would benefit the surrounding community in various ways by providing a more walkable neighborhood. Some of the benefits this project may provide include recreational health benefits, socioeconomic equity, water quality improvements, increased pedestrian connectivity, and aesthetic community enhancement. The estimated work period for the proposed improvements would be approximately 13 months and is anticipated to begin January 6, 2025, and last until January 30, 2026, and post-construction period to last until August 31, 2026. It is not anticipated that rerouting of traffic would occur during project construction. The project may slightly increase vehicular trips or traffic congestion in the project area during construction; however, any impacts would be temporary and minimal due to construction occurring between 7:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Traffic impacts would be managed the same as other Public Works Street repair projects of this nature. Construction is only expected to last approximately 13 months and all temporary traffic control would be done in accordance with the latest version of the Work Area Traffic Control Handbook (WATCH manual). The project includes project design features (PDFs) that have been incorporated into the Project as best management practices (BMPs) to meet regulatory requirements or applicable standard specifications for Public Works Construction. PDFs included in the Project design include the following: PDF-CUL-1: If unanticipated historical artifacts were encountered during construction, Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, Section 6-6.2, (Greenbook, 2021) states: “If discovery is made of items of archaeological or paleontological interest, the Contractor shall immediately cease excavation in the area of discovery and shall not continue until ordered by the Engineer.” Therefore, during activities in which there would be ground disturbances (i.e., digging, drilling, etc.) if any evidence of archaeological, cultural, or paleontological resources are found, all work within the vicinity of the find shall stop until a qualified archaeologist can assess the finds and make recommendations. No excavation of any finds should be attempted by project personnel unless directed by a qualified archaeologist. Construction activities may continue in other areas. If the discovery proves significant under CEQA (Section 15064.5f; Public Resources Code or PRC 21082), additional work such as testing, or data recovery may be warranted. PDF2-CUL-2: The discovery of human remains is always a possibility during ground disturbances; State of California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the Los Angeles County Coroner has made a determination of origin and disposition pursuant to PRC Section 5097.98. The Los Angeles County Coroner must be notified of the find immediately. If the human remains are determined to be prehistoric, the coroner would notify the Native American Heritage Commission, which would determine and notify a Most Likely Descendent (MLD). The MLD shall complete the inspection of the site within 48 hours of notification and may recommend scientific removal and nondestructive analysis of human remains and items associated with Native American burials. Unless otherwise stated, the proposed project would be designed, constructed, and operated following all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances and formally adopted City standards including but not limited to: - Los Angeles Municipal Code - Bureau of Engineering Standard Plans - Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction “Greenbook” - Work Area Traffic Control Handbook - Additions and Amendments to the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction “Brown Book”

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