Commission recommends City Council fund design, construction of protected bike lanes on Palos Verdes Boulevard

The Redondo Beach Public Works and Sustainability Commission voted to recommend that the City Council fund the design and construction of protected bicycle lanes on Palos Verdes Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Irena, the commission decided by unanimous voice or roll-call vote during its meeting (motion recommended to council; final funding not yet approved).

Staff and commissioners said the recommendation responds to a City Council directive and to traffic-safety concerns on the corridor. Ryan Lewis, city traffic (Public Works), summarized staff analysis and data collected on the corridor, saying the city recorded average daily traffic of about 16,000 vehicles and 85th‑percentile speeds around 35 miles per hour, and that the city’s parking counts showed low midday and evening utilization. Lewis said, “We would either have to remove the parking or reduce Palos Verdes Boulevard down to one lane in each direction” to add bike lanes where the roadway is narrower; staff recommended removing street parking where needed to repurpose curb space for a six‑foot bike lane with a four‑foot buffer and some type of physical barrier.

The recommendation did not appropriate construction funds. Lewis told commissioners the project is “not funded or designed” and that council would need to appropriate design and construction money; staff estimated at least $200,000 for design and implementation of striping and modular barrier treatments but said the figure is an order‑of‑magnitude estimate. Staff also recommended seeking grant funding and noted the Pavement Management Plan and mid‑year CIP discussions as potential funding paths.

Why it matters: The corridor links the Torrance bike network to Riviera Village and local schools and, according to staff, could reduce sidewalk riding and vehicle speeds while improving bicyclist comfort and connectivity. The council direction to study the corridor came after changes in state law that restrict use of “sharrows” on streets with higher speed limits; staff told the commission that the previously proposed sharrow treatment is not appropriate on Palos Verdes Boulevard under the new rules.

Public comment at the meeting was strongly supportive. Liam Walsh, a District 5 resident and volunteer with the South Bay Bicycle Coalition, said, “I am strongly in favor of the proposed new protected bike lanes on Palos Verdes Boulevard,” and argued protected lanes increase safety for people of all ages. Alex Feynman, a District 3 resident, told commissioners the corridor “immediately serves families who bike to Toledo Elementary School and visitors to Riviera Village” and called the proposal “ideal” for the area’s needs. Additional commenters representing or affiliated with advocacy groups (South Bay Forward and the South Bay Bicycle Coalition) also urged the commission to recommend funding.

Commission and staff discussion covered driveway conflicts, parking impacts, barrier types and maintenance. Staff said driveway openings and conflict markings would be included in design, and that modular, more rigid barriers (for durability and aesthetics) are preferred over flexible bollards; staff also said barrier choice affects street‑sweeper access and maintenance and may require smaller sweepers. Commissioners asked about coordination with Torrance, because lane‑count transitions at city borders could create merge or safety problems; staff said any lane‑reduction option would require regional coordination with Torrance and additional study.

The commission recorded a motion recommending council fund design and construction of protected bike lanes on Palos Verdes Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Irena. The motion passed unanimously in roll call/voice vote (all voting commissioners recorded “aye”). The recommendation now goes to City Council, which must decide whether to appropriate funds and direct final design; if council requests design options, staff said they would present a range of cost estimates and conceptual treatments.

Details from staff and public comment: - Traffic data: average daily traffic ~16,000 vehicles; 85th‑percentile speeds ~35 mph (December 2024 counts). - Parking study: hourly counts from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on a weekday and a Saturday showed low utilization (typically 1–2 vehicles per block face during survey hours); nighttime counts showed no more than five vehicles parked on either side of the corridor on sampled nights. - Cost: staff estimated at least $200,000 for design and a initial implementation that emphasizes striping and modular barriers; full costs depend on barrier material and any pavement work. - Funding: project currently unfunded; staff identified grant programs and potential inclusion in pavement or CIP funding as possibilities; council appropriation required before design/construction.

What’s next: The commission will forward the recommendation to City Council for appropriation and direction. If council directs design, staff said they would return with conceptual designs, a range of cost options (concrete curbs or lower‑cost modular barriers), and a proposed funding strategy.