Reimagining Lincoln Boulevard
After a long struggle with Caltrans, Santa Monica is regaining control of all Lincoln Boulevard within city boundaries.
In Santa Monica there are several key streets that act as spines, shaping and also subdividing the city. Lincoln Boulevard is one of those spines. Its uses, its built surroundings and its traffic volume have changed dramatically over the years, but it hasn’t aged well or successfully adapted to intensification of use over time.
It is not a very pleasant street to walk along. Cars roar, there's poor tree cover, and its development pattern is very automobile-oriented. Lincoln Boulevard can also be outright dangerous, sadly claiming the life of a man walking across it this past week, struck by a hit-and-run driver. Lincoln Boulevard is also technically a “Class III” bicycle route as well, but many cyclists who make their way along the boulevard flee the rush of the heavy car traffic, opting for the sidewalk, further complicating matters for those on foot.
Yet despite all the herculean efforts to accommodate the car on Lincoln Boulevard, it’s not a pleasant drive either, which I can attest to from my memories of driving it many times. At many hours of the day, it feels more like a linear parking lot, particularly at the junction with the 10 Freeway. Moreover, drivers are very aggressive on Lincoln. As a driver who likes to take things chill, it can be very stressful being pressured to go faster by drivers swerving around, and the general atmosphere of competition.
I think much of what Lincoln suffers from can be best described by Charles Marohn. He is a civil engineer who has taken up writing and speaking on urban- and town-planning issues through Strong Towns, an organization he co-founded. During his recent TEDx talk in Minnesota, he eloquently tackled the difference between a road and a street, with further elaboration in a follow-up podcast. As he defines it, a road is, in essence, simply a connection between two places, while a street serves many types of land uses and ways of getting around.
When the characteristics of a road and street become muddled, the result rarely serves either purpose well. Lincoln seems to be a perfect example of a street with an identity crisis, wondering if it is just a transportation throughway for a lot of cars, or something more than that. Lincoln has developed strip malls, supermarkets and various uses, but that all adds on top of the significant amount of traffic just trying to get to end destinations.
So it no longer flows smoothly as a road as Marohn defines it. But the driveway-laden mishmash of auto-centric development leaves a lot to be desired when walking as well, so it doesn't succeed as a street either. Lincoln is also a major transit corridor, with the frequently packed Big Blue Bus #3 connecting Santa Monica to LAX and communities along the way. But it’s a slow grind of a ride on the bus when the cars are gridlocked. The bus delays may be alleviated by proposals set in motion by the LUCE plans to consider a peak-hour bus-only lane, but that would likely come as a trade-off with parking during certain hours.
For decades, much of Lincoln has been controlled, maintained and operated by the California Department of Transportation (or Caltrans), and not the city of Santa Monica. State agencies like Caltrans are more concerned with operating highways for flushing down cars like pipes flushing waste water, not dealing with the subtleties of complex streets. When Caltrans-operated highways start to take on more street-like characteristics, they generally make a blunder of it, largely by not doing much of anything, letting the same old infrastructure serve changing uses.
After a decade of legal struggles, Santa Monica will soon be given ownership and upkeep responsibility of all of Lincoln Boulevard, within the Santa Monica borders, from Caltrans. That will give the city more flexibility in shaping its development and keeping road maintenance up to Santa Monica's standards of surface quality.
So how might we do things differently? I think we should look beyond the precedents of our own region and draw inspiration from other cities and countries of the world as well. As an American, particularly growing up in Southern California, one of the striking things to me about visiting Paris was seeing its grand boulevards. The broad streets are able to simultaneously carry an enormous amount of car traffic while also being delightful pedestrian spaces.
Lincoln Boulevard will probably never become something so grand and memorable as the Champs-Élysées, but if we are going to talk about boulevards, we might as well draw inspiration from those who do it best. It also sticks out in my mind because I used to think of Lincoln as unpleasant to walk on because all of the cars, but the Champs-Élysées carries far more automobiles per block, so there is more to it than that.
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is 10 busy vehicle lanes wide, plus an additional occasional ramp that carries drivers into subterranean parking. Despite this incredible volume of cars traffic, the real estate to live right on the boulevard is very attractive. That’s because moderated speed, and a formal pattern of buffering trees, keeps the roar and fumes of the cars from overly diminishing the quality of life of those living near by. Those same buffering characteristics, combined with ample sidewalks, allows for vibrant pedestrian flow and outdoor café seating.
Even though the Champs-Élysées carries more cars than perhaps any surface street I’ve seen, every single business is oriented to attract the Parisian foot traffic mingling on the grand sidewalks.
So where do all the cars go? Side streets lead to some parking garages, and a few mid-block ramps lead to subterranean parking entrances without crossing pedestrian paths. Some Parisian boulevards also use medians to allow more rows of on-street spaces, calming traffic speeds, separating parking traffic from through traffic and reducing the need for as many expensive off-street garages.
One thing you will not find in Paris that we seem to be so fond of with boulevards in America is sticking curb cuts everywhere we can, breaking the pedestrian space to make room for cars to roll into all the parking lots we spread around like buckshot. The various high-capacity garages in Paris absorb countless vehicles, and typically without creating any significant conflict with the pedestrian realm. That's unlike the mess we have around many of our parking-garage entrances and exits.
Significant changes to Lincoln Boulevard won’t happen overnight, and the public process for major street redesign is sometime off. But new developments are being built on Lincoln all the time, and each one is an opportunity to influence the changing character of the street. But if we want the whole to become greater than the sum of its parts, we need to start imagining how each new step can build toward a new vision for Lincoln Boulevard in its entirety.
Let’s make Lincoln Boulevard a street that serves all users better and more safely, and is more human in character. Incidentally, all of this is ultimately better for local commerce too. As any merchant profiting from doing business on one of our more pedestrian-friendly streets will tell you, regardless of how someone gets around the city, in the end, it’s the foot traffic that is driving sales and powering our local economy.
If you could change Lincoln Blvd., what would you do differently?
Tell us in the comments.
Eddie Greenberg
8:07 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
This article is a great contribution to our understanding of Lincoln Bl. It is so thorough on the problems that are there now and an eloquent rendition of what it can be in the future. I loved reading it, there was so much good sense; it is a keeper! Thank you Gary!!
Abby
7:09 am on Monday, October 31, 2011
We cannot slow traffic on Lincoln. It is already WAY too slow, going both north and south. This pushes traffic onto residential streets (7th and 11th) which are not equipped for anything other than local cars. And please remember we need to have some places in our neighborhoods for car repair and other less attractive uses! If you can maintain Lincoln's uses and simultaneously turn it into the Champs-Elysses, go for it!
Gary Kavanagh
10:54 am on Monday, October 31, 2011
Hey Abby,
It may seem counter intuitive, but moderating traffic speed can actually reduce overall average trip times for everyone. The reason for this is when people drive too fast on a high traffic street, it creates bunch ups of congestion that take time to unwind so to speak. It's not about universally slowing every one, it's about slowing down the speeders closer to average speeds.
This concept is called speed harmonization. Tom Vanderbilt, author of the book "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)" talks about this in his book, and also some new applications on highways in his latest Slate column titled "Go Slow To Go Fast" . I was planning to elaborate more on this, but it added too much to the word count.
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/transport/2011/10/rolling_speed_harmonization_how_colorado_fights_congestion_on_i_.html
Marcus T
8:09 am on Monday, October 31, 2011
"Stinkin' Lincoln" is a horror in nearly every way, as your article points out. And it's very encouraging that there is the potential for a new vision of Lincoln that could transform it. Instead of looking at the Champs-Élysées as an example to follow (it has much more space to work with, and was designed as part of Paris' masterful city plan, which Santa Monica lacks), why not look at more modest examples, such as Broadway in New York? No, not the famous entertainment hub, but Broadway on the Upper West Side, where it remains a two-way, center island divided thoroughfare in a residential neighborhood. Starting at 59th Street/Columbus Circle, B'way (as we natives often call it) represents an enormously successful example of co-existence of a vital transit corridor, complete with tons of buses, eminently walkable pedestrian way, and buzzing retail center. It's really the lifeblood of the UWS, and it does it with relative grace, unlike the one-way, racing traffic freeways of adjacent Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. Granted, the subways running below Broadway dramatically reduce the car load, but still - Lincoln has a lot in common with Broadway, and there's your real model to follow. Who knows - maybe we'll even see a west coast edition of NY's famous Zabar's deli pop up at Lincoln and Ocean Park. Wouldn't that be a neat trick?
Gary Kavanagh
12:08 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Thanks for the tip, I just took a look into that stretch of Broadway in NYC on Google Street view and it is a nice looking street, and like many great streets in France, it's also anchored with a traffic circle. I really like the median on Broadway and how seats are incorporated into little nooks at the cross walks. I have to admit due to a lack of visits to the East Coast growing up, and my honeymoon in France being extended without notice due to an air traffic shut down from the Icelandic volcano eruption, I am more familiar with the streets of Paris than I am streets of New York City.
Though I thought alluding to Paris might be something people in Santa Monica may have more affinity for than New York, because while Paris is a dense city, it is not populated with sky scrapers except further out in La Défense. Paris is mostly mid-rise, and some west coasters are rather disdainful of really big buildings and want more open sky. As reflected in our height restrictions and contentious debates on new developments at the higher range of the heights we do allow. But that is perhaps the subject of another discussion.
An interesting detail that has also stuck with me about cultural preferences in Santa Monica, was I could not help but notice when Netflix data of rentals was mapped out about a year ago, Santa Monica Netflix subscribers seemed more interested in foreign films set in Paris than any other community in Los Angeles region.
Jacqueline Austin
12:37 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I agree with Mark--Broadway is a great model. It's been transformed from a nightmare, into a pedestrian-friendly route which still serves commercial traffic.
LINCOLN
Redesign parking. That will allow a true bike route, pedestrian-friendly bus stops and better plantings. Bury wires. The landscape will immediately improve--a lot. Remove billboards; legislate less intrusive (better designed) commercial displays. Keep Lincoln cleaner and lower the pollution it generates. Post cops at key intersections at high traffic and/or high crime hours; install better security.
Traffic flow is Lincoln's primary functionality. It is the main north-south corridor for many commuters. If banning parking at high traffic hours is impossible, consider ways to decrease or improve the flow of commuter traffic.
SOUTH LINCOLN
On the South side, at Broadway-Pico, bring stronger focus to Lincoln's secondary function--tourism and commerce. If it's impossible to better time lights because of traffic density, construct one or two center islands, with benches and trees. Pico's and Broadway's intersections with Lincoln are gateways to the mall (commerce) and the pier (tourism), and should be given star treatment.
Colette O'Connell
9:04 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
WOW. I don't know when I have laughed as hard! Comparing Lincoln to the Champs-Élysées? Or envisioning it as such?
As a former resident of Paris for 3 years who's local metro stop was George V on the Champs, REALLY?
#1 The Champs-Élysées is about 3 and a half or 4 times as wide as Lincoln Blvd.
#2 Yes, Lincoln is one of the ugliest streets in LA. Why? Look up at those electric power lines and all the telephone poles that exist instead of trees. The lines need to be put underground. And by all means, plant some trees.
#3 The Champs-Élysées is some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Lincoln Blvd? (Gangs thrive nearby. Rehab communities are in the area at Pico Blvd. Residents do have their homes broken into by these communities.)
#4 Now lets get to the traffic issue. And it's an issue for all of L.A.
How about helping the environment and SYNCRONIZING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS?
Why does the traffic move down the Champs? The lights are SYNCRONIZED.
#5 What is Santa Monica doing about the traffic situation? Installing censored traffic lights that back traffic up to places it NEVER existed. (For example the censored light at San Vicente and 7th which is the biggest disaster for the residents of 7th Street and San Vicente who now have exhaust streaming in their windows from backed up traffic especially at rush hour or when Carlthorpe School lets out in the afternoon every week day.)
Gary Kavanagh
11:32 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I realize of course that Champs-Élysées is much wider than Lincoln Blvd., but in promoting pedestrian oriented streets I feel sometimes it is assumed by some that we always have need fewer cars to achieve that. I have made that mistake myself, but looking at the Champs, I was going for contrasts, it has many more cars than Lincoln ever has to manage, but volume of car traffic does not have to diminish pedestrian experience if planned well.
As for traffic synchronization, I am not an expert on finer points of different engineering strategies, but I am all for anything that gets traffic moving without the bottle necks so long as at the same time we address speeding, particularly at off peak hours. High top end speeds is what can become deadly. We need smoother flow, and less speed up and then slamming breaks.
Back to talking road width, it's not feasible for the entire length of Lincoln, but there are opportunities in some places for widening during redevelopment, especially where there are overly large parking lot frontages, a few of which are rarely in full use, that could add sidewalk space without taking from roadway space.
I don't believe Lincoln Blvd. will ever be anything so grand as the Champs-Élysées, but I think there are a lot of lessons we can learn from amazing streets elsewhere. Some people in SoCal have primarily experienced the ugly box typical strip mall roadway garbage style development for major boulevards, and I want people to think beyond that.
Colette O'Connell
9:24 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
#6 And the idea is to put a bike path and a bus path and make the side walks wider?
By the way the Champs doesn't have a bike path.
#7 Okay, Really, I DO agree. Lincoln is the ugliest street in LA but, the traffic does not move too fast, and the street needs to remain an alternative to the 405 for Santa Monica residents trying to get to LAX on time.
#8 Envisioning Lincoln as Broadway in NYC? I'm stumped, once again not wide enough for an island of trees in the middle. Nice idea though. (Oh, and the lights on Broadway? SYNCRONIZED!
#9 In an environment in which the city of Santa Monica does not have enough money for it's school to educate it's children, this plan just seems outrageous.
Where does the writer of this article suggest the money come from?
Or perhaps the big real estate developers in Santa Monica close friends?
#10 Hopefully, city planning will simply be more simple and practical minded.
And, seriously think about syncronizing the lights and banning those silly censored ones that pollute our city.
Gary Kavanagh
11:52 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Concerning paying for improvements, buildings that make better use of land, and mix uses, offer a higher rate of return in tax revenue and circulation of commerce in the local economy. Making the street friendlier for foot traffic would likely draws more business, paying back what ever public investment is spent in improvements for the public right of way if planned in conjunction with private redevelopment and investment.
I would imagine a process of changing Lincoln in any meaningfully significant way is one that would take many years, even decades, and public investment should be prioritized and phased in gradually with pace of private investment in new development. There is not enough capital floating around for doing any grand master planned thing all at once, and I realize that.
Gary Kavanagh
12:15 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
About bikes, I was pointing out Lincoln is listed as a bike route with signage. That doesn't necessarily mean I think Lincoln Blvd. is a good place to put a bike lane, but I think it's a joke that Lincoln is on the city bike map, a few signs put up, and it's called progress. I think there would be enormous challenges to trying fit a bike lane or path with the number of current driveways and the freeway on-ramps and I don't see that being in the cards for a while.
The city LUCE plan indicates Lincoln as a transit priority street, not a bike route, and there has been talk of a peak hour bus lanes that would operate where on-street parking exists currently during commuting hours. The Champs does not have a bus lane, but many streets in Paris do now as they have recently been making significant additions to bus lane network. I think it is an idea worth exploring, and if a sufficient number of people make a shift from driving to taking the bus for some trips, I do not think a peak hour bus lane would impact drivers very much, but help the many people on the packed buses a lot.
Not a lot of people are considering at this point that driving miles are in decline despite population growth in nearly every city in the Western World including LA. It's hard to imagine with traffic so bad and still near the peak, but people are driving less and the trend began in 2004, long before recession hit.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/are-we-reaching-peak-car/article2210139/
Marcus T
2:22 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Actually, Colette - Broadway really is a good model. It's probably LESS wide overall than Lincoln, and the island of trees/benches/plantings is rather narrow yet effective. The lights are not really synchronized either since the traffic is 2-way (I'm talking about the Upper West Side, from 59th St north). You can go maybe 10 blocks (NYC north-south blocks = maybe 1/2 mile) on a single light cycle if you're lucky. But the timing is reliable and you can make decent time unless people are double-parked or there's construction. I cite B'way because it mixes commuter car/taxi traffic, several active bus lines, pedestrians and continuous retail (small shops, restaurants, a few larger chain stores, movie theaters, apartment houses) very well, and manages to be a humane street that is the hub of the neighborhood. BTW, in response to an earlier comment, the building height on B'way, while taller than Lincoln, is not all that high. Most apartment buildings are no more than 15-16 stories (modest for NYC, and there are a few newer much taller ones), and a lot of the buildings are actually 5-6 stories. Check it out on Google Maps street view.
Colette O'Connell
9:44 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Yikes! I forgot the biggest difference between Lincoln and The Champs or Broadway from the pedestrian friendly/please don't have entrances to parking lots angle: the metro / subway systems under both streets. Wonder why these streets are used by pedestrians? They don't need to drive at all and many don't own cars.
Will people necessarily use the pedestrian friendly new and improved Lincoln sidewalks? Maybe but, unfortunately, we will still need the parking.
Misterbee1
9:26 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Lovely dream piece on LIncoln Blvd., but I fear it is completely disconnected from reality. Go head and widen Lincoln, in an effort to make it like the Champs. Let me know what happens when you try.
Gary Kavanagh
9:41 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
As I had mentioned, I am aware there is more width to work with on the Champs, the point is not literally trying to copy it, but learn and be inspired from great streets. The way they manage their parking without conflict with pedestrians, the line of formal trees, buildings that orient toward pedestrian traffic, those are things we can draw from without having to widen Lincoln.
Joe Glitz
12:56 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
It might be helpful if people realized that Lincoln Blvd. was not built and does not exist to serve the City of Santa Monica. The vast majority of people driving on Lincoln are not so fortunate as to live in SM. Have a heart SM. Lincoln is not Lincoln Blvd. to most of us. It is rather the Pacific Coast Highway and needs to be managed as such.