By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

January 31, 2011 -- The Santa Monica Planning Commission will look at updated plans Wednesday for the Colorado Esplanade, which will go forward despite the loss of Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds.

Wednesday's meeting will primarily focus on design issues, and the question of funding may not come up. However, the estimated cost of the project – just over $12 million – was originally expected to be paid for with RDA money.

According to City officials, no decisions will be made until the City Council decides in February how to handle the loss of RDA funds after the State Supreme Court on December 30 upheld Governor Jerry Brown's move to dissolve the local agencies to bridge California's budget deficit.

The proposed plans would turn Colorado Avenue between Fifth Street – the final stop of the coming Expo Light Rail line – and the Pier into a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly route designed to guide visitors toward the heart of Downtown as they get off the train.

Officials estimate that at peak hours as many as 400 passengers will get off the train every five minutes at the Colorado Avenue station.

Currently, Colorado Avenue between Fifth Street and the Pier cannot handle that amount of foot traffic because the sidewalks are too narrow and traffic moves too fast.

The Esplanade is designed both to help the street cope with the massive increase in pedestrian traffic, as well as create a pleasant experience for those walking into Santa Monica, City officials said.

“The Esplanade will be the beginning of an experience of Santa Monica,” Adam Greenspan, a design partner with PWP Landscape Architecture, said during a citizen tour of the Esplanade site last October.

According to the staff report, residents have overwhelmingly shown support for “signature lighting” and “unique paving” along the strip. Those features would also function partly as wayfinding elements, subtly directing foot traffic toward the Promenade, Palisade's Park and the Pier.

Residents also have voiced strong support for a cycle track that would be clearly separate from pedestrian paths, according to staff.

Because Colorado Avenue will become a one-way street between Fourth and Fifth Streets due to the size of the Expo station, one of the scenarios for the Esplanade has two westbound traffic lanes from Fourth Street to the Pier, while the other has one eastbound and one westbound lane.

Staff is expected to present their findings on the benefits and costs of each scenario Wednesday.

One thing is certain, however: no matter what the final design is, everyone agrees it should be unique to Santa Monica.