Agenda Item Wording:
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Council presentation for the Houston community connectivity project - Receive a presentation for the Houston community connectivity project along the W. Houston Avenue corridor, between N. Mooney Boulevard and N. Willis Street, as well as the surrounding local streets, and consider approval of the proposed design option.
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Deadline for Action: 5/13/2026
Submitting Department: Community Development
Prepared by:
Rudy Lopez, Associate Engineer, Rudy.Lopez@visalia.gov, 713-4270
Rebecca Keenan, Senior Civil Engineer, Rebecca.Keenan@visalia.gov, 713-4541
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.gov, 713-4495
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council receive the presentation and approve Staff’s recommended design which includes the removal of all on-street parking along the north side of W. Houston Ave., from N. Mooney Blvd to N. Willis St., and replacement with a Class II bike lane. Additionally, the number of parking stalls on the south side of the Houston corridor will be limited and strategically placed to allocate 120 feet of dedicated emergency vehicle parking space and include setbacks from intersections to accommodate large city vehicle turning movements. The on-street parking stalls on the south side will be positioned away from the curb to protect a Class IV bike lane.
Summary:
In response to community concerns regarding pedestrian and bicyclist safety, the City of Visalia applied for and secured $2.3M in Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant funding to make improvements along the W. Houston Avenue corridor, between N. Mooney Boulevard and N. Willis Street, as well as the surrounding local streets.
The preliminary layout prepared by Peters Engineering was presented at a public outreach meeting on January 22, 2026. There were around 22 people from the public that attended this meeting. Following that public meeting staff met and reviewed the project with city emergency service departments which provided additional comments and recommendations. In response to the feedback, city staff conducted traffic counts in targeted areas, performed additional analysis, carried out field design tests, and held multiple meetings with city emergency service departments to revise the preliminary layout and address their concerns and recommendations.
The preliminary layout was updated and presented to emergency service departments on March 16, 2026, who acknowledged that the revised design represented an improvement over the previous version. The updated design was then presented to the Parent-Teacher Association at its weekly meeting on April 16, 2026, where upgrades addressing their suggestions and input from January 22, 2026, public outreach meeting were explained.
A second public outreach meeting was held on April 23, 2026, following the same format as the first. Approximately 3,200 postcard invitations were mailed to the Houston Avenue community, 700 postcards were hand-delivered to Houston Elementary School for distribution, additional postcards were delivered by a council member to local businesses, and the project manager issued press releases and media invitations. There were only 3 people from the public that attended this meeting; however, exhibits were presented and explained to highlight the design improvements for those in attendance.
Staff requests that the City Council review the design layout presented in this report and provide final comments and direction whether to proceed with the presented design.
Background Discussion:
As authorized by the City Council on May 16, 2022, the City Manager successfully submitted a funding application for the 2023 Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 6 and secured a $2.3M ATP grant for the Houston community connectivity project. An improvement project was requested by people in the neighborhood, especially parents, to provide safer access for children walking and biking to schools in the area. The project is located within the Houston Elementary attendance boundary in north Visalia, between Mooney Blvd. and Willis St. and includes some of the surrounding local streets. Acceptance of the grant requires that the city meet ATP goals such as increasing biking and walking trip proportions, increasing safety and mobility for non-motorized users, enhancing public health, and advancing regional agency greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, pursuant to SB 375 (of 2008) and SB 341 (of 2009).
Public Outreach:
Staff conducted public outreach for this project in 2022 during the grant application process and again in 2026 during the preliminary engineering phase of the project. Previous public outreach efforts included online surveys conducted on April 2, 2022, and April 18, 2022, as well as an in-person public meeting held on April 13, 2022, at the Visalia Senior Center. Feedback was consistent across all outreach efforts, with community members identifying vehicle speeding, safer crosswalks, and improved walking & bicycling conditions as the primary concerns they hoped this project would address. This information was used to develop the preliminary layout for the project.
The preliminary layout, consisting of new bulb-out configurations and mountable traffic calming curbs; restriction of right turn movements at some signalized intersections; relocation/removal of on-street parking spaces and the addition of a new separated bike lane along the south side of Houston and the permanent removal of parking along the north side of Houston, were presented at the most recent public outreach meeting held at the Houston Elementary Cafeteria on January 22, 2026. Most attendees expressed approval of the presented design and emphasized their preference for enhanced pedestrian safety and reduced vehicle speeds over retaining on-street parking. There were a few attendees that inquired about the traffic impact. However, overall attendees supported the concepts presented since they would result in calmer traffic, protected bicycle lanes, and improved pedestrian crossings.
In addition, some participants requested that the city consider implementing enhanced crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the following two locations: the intersections of W. Houston Ave & N. Turner St. and W. Houston Ave & N. Rinaldi St. Participants also requested the city add a marked crosswalk at W. Houston Ave. & N. Rinaldi St., where many students from Redwood High School regularly cross.
City Emergency Services Coordination:
The same preliminary layout, along with feedback from those meetings, was subsequently shared with the Visalia Fire and Police Departments for feedback and coordination. The public safety departments expressed concerns with potential conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles, intersection sight visibility, fire response times and the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, and possible hindrances to emergency vehicle access on W. Houston Ave. during peak demand. These concerns were evaluated through a field test on February 5, 2026, where the proposed design was temporarily laid out to simulate its real-world functionality and fire apparatus maneuverability through the model. The field test confirmed that the fire apparatus would be able to maneuver within the preliminary design, even under worst-case conditions, such as double-parked vehicles and encroachment into bike lanes. However, the test highlighted limited access in these scenarios, recommending a reduction and reconfiguration of parking on the south side to maintain at least 120 feet of clear space for emergency response vehicles. Parking was also modified to enhance site visibility and maneuverability for lower-profile emergency vehicles, such as police units, which may need to travel at higher speeds. The repositioning of parking spaces was designed to improve sightlines around corners and entrances, ensuring that emergency vehicles can navigate safely and efficiently under urgent conditions.
Traffic Counts and Analysis
Based on community input and emergency service’s suggestions, staff collected traffic counts in specific areas along the Houston corridor consisting of right-turn movement counts, pedestrian crossing volumes, and parking occupancy. This data was then used to analyze the potential impacts to the corridor. Following is a summary of the findings from this process:
Right-turn movement counts showed that, of the two signalized intersections in this project, the most significant traffic buildup along the Houston corridor, occurs at the intersection of W. Houston Ave. and N. Giddings St. and only during the afternoon peak, with an average of 191 right-turning vehicles out of W. Houston Ave. onto N. Giddings St. Therefore, this location may benefit from signal timing adjustments to reduce wait times, prevent backups and ensure safe and efficient vehicle and pedestrian movements.
Pedestrian crossing volumes collected at N. Turner St. and N. Rinaldi St. indicate that these intersections are candidates for safety enhancements. Based on the counts, rectangular rapid flashing beacons are recommended for N. Turner St. at Houston; and pedestrian crossing warning signs are recommended for N. Rinaldi St. at Houston. Pedestrian volumes at both locations are expected to increase with the implementation of the new project.
The parking counts along W. Houston Ave. demonstrate that weekday and weekend parking demand is relatively low, with averages of 12 and 23 cars on the north and south sides during weekdays, and only 6 and 7 cars on weekends. This indicates that removing all on-street parking on the north side and reducing on-street parking on the south side to accommodate dedicated bike lanes on both sides would have minimal impact on the Houston corridor parking since existing parking areas are being minimally used already.
Public Outreach Design Updates
The design updates to the previously presented preliminary plan incorporated recommendations from emergency service departments and the public.
After several meetings with emergency service departments, a solution in project design was reached to address their concerns regarding adequate space along the Houston corridor for emergency response vehicles to turn, drive through, and park.
Some of the design updates to the preliminary design consisted on;
• Resize the mountable corner islands at the signalized intersections of W. Houston Ave. and N. Giddings St., and W. Houston Ave. and N. Divisadero St., to improve turning movements for fire trucks, trash trucks, and school buses.
• Reshape the raised concrete medians to facilitate easier entry and exit movements along W. Houston Ave.
• Reduce on-street parking along the south side of W. Houston Ave. from approximately 75 spaces to 29 strategically placed spaces, providing 120 feet of clear roadway to improve access for emergency response vehicles.
Public concerns raised during the previous outreach meeting focused on improving pedestrian safety, including enhanced crossing treatments to increase visibility and measures to better manage heavy vehicle traffic at key intersections at W. Houston Ave. and Rinaldi where heavy pedestrian activity was observed, particularly for individuals accessing the local minimart. The other concerns were noted regarding vehicles failing to yield to children crossing to and from school at W. Houston Ave. and Turner.
The design updates to the preliminary design consisted on;
• High visibility crosswalks and pedestrian warning signs for the intersection of W. Houston Ave. at N. Rinaldi St.
• High visibility crosswalks and implementation of Rectangular rapid flashing beacons for the intersection of W. Houston Ave. at N. Turner St.
The second public outreach meeting that was held on April 23, 2026, followed the same format as the first. Approximately 3,200 postcard invitations were mailed to the Houston Avenue community, 700 postcards were hand-delivered to Houston Elementary School for distribution, additional postcards were delivered by a council member to local businesses, and the project manager issued press releases and media invitations. There were 3 people from the public that attended this meeting; however, exhibits were presented and explained to highlight the design improvements for those in attendance. The updated design was also presented to and discussed with the Parent-Teacher Association at its weekly meeting on April 16, 2026. At this time the PTA was invited to attend the second outreach meeting to provide input and address any additional questions or concerns. They expressed optimism regarding the updates and emphasized that child safety remains their primary concern, expressing hope that the project will help reduce vehicle speeds along W. Houston Ave.
Based on the results from the collected data, the interaction and coordination with emergency service departments and the public concerns and input from the outreach meetings, staff adjusted the preliminary layout to optimize multi-use efficiencies and operations, as outlined below.
Updated Layout:
The proposed improvements for design consist of implementing the following measures:
1. Bulb-out configurations including mountable curbs:
The project will construct bulb outs, concrete curb ramps, and/or mountable traffic calming curbs along W. Houston Ave. at the following intersections: N. Leslie St., N. Central St., N. Divisadero St., N. Rinaldi St., N. Giddings St., N. Oak Park St., N. Turner St., N. Jacob St., N. Conyer St., N. Stevenson St., and N. Highland St. The bulb-outs will reduce effective street width to encourage slower vehicle speeds and provide greater safety for pedestrians crossing the street. In this project, mountable concrete corner islands (traffic-calming curbs) are planned for the signalized intersections of W. Houston Ave. at N. Giddings St. and W. Houston Ave. at N. Divisadero St. These curbs are designed to enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians while still allowing large city vehicles such as garbage trucks, fire apparatus, and school buses to navigate turns and travel through the intersections efficiently.
2. Restriction of right-turn movements at signalized intersections
Right-turn movements will be managed through traffic signal phasing and protected intersection improvements at the signalized intersections of N. Divisadero St. and N. Giddings St., including mountable corner islands and raised concrete medians. The restriction of right-turn movement will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the east-west street without conflicts from right-turning vehicles. Vehicles will be permitted to make right turns from the through lane only after all pedestrians and bicyclists have completed their crossings, thereby providing a leading pedestrian interval ahead of turning vehicular traffic. The existing one-lane-in-each-direction configuration operates similarly to the proposed design. When a vehicle is parked near the intersection, through traffic is unable to complete a permissive right turn until it is their turn to proceed. With the implementation of right-turn restrictions and the new configuration, traffic operations will not differ substantially from current conditions, except that pedestrian crossing distances will be reduced, leading to less exposure to moving vehicles and enhanced pedestrian visibility. After implementation, additional traffic signal modifications may be necessary to optimize safety and operations for vehicles and pedestrians.
3. Relocation of on-street parking & addition of new separated bike lanes
On-street parking along the south side of W. Houston Ave., from N. Mooney Blvd to N. Willis St. will be relocated away from the curb face to the area adjacent to the vehicle travel lane. An estimated 75 on-street parking spaces currently exist along the south side of W. Houston Ave.; the proposed design would reduce this total to approximately 29 spaces.
The selected parking stall locations have been strategically determined based on current utilization patterns, while accounting for bus stops, driveways, intersection sight distance, and the space required for emergency response vehicle access and staging. The relocation of on-street parking away from the curb creates a protective buffer for pedestrians and cyclists. When parking is positioned between the travel lane and a protected bike lane, it serves as a physical barrier that shields bicyclists from moving traffic and reduces the potential for conflicts.
4. Permanent removal of on-street parking
The proposed design for the Houston corridor includes permanent removal of on-street parking along the north side of W. Houston Ave., from N. Mooney Blvd to N. Willis St. to incorporate a Class II bicycle lane. Staff reviewed existing parking usage, space availability, traffic conditions, and space requirements for emergency response vehicles; and determined that permanently removing on-street parking along the north side of Houston Ave. and replacing it with a Class II bike lane will best achieve the community’s mobility and connectivity goals while providing desirable maneuverability room for emergency vehicles. Although residents at the public outreach meeting had mixed opinions on parking usage times, the parking counts analysis supports this approach. Emergency services also support removing the northerly on-street parking and adding a Class II bike lane since it allows vehicles to pull over for traffic flow and emergency response.
The proposed removal of on-street parking on the north side of Houston Avenue will result in the following impacts:
• Approximately 2,500 of the 4,300 linear feet between N. Mooney Boulevard and N. Willis Street are already no-parking zones due to red curbs, driveways, and rear access. There are 67 potential 24-foot parking spaces along the corridor, with an average of 16 consistently occupied during peak daytime hours. The remaining 51 spaces are underutilized or used for short-term parking.
Based on the updated design layout, following is a summary of the design parameters recommended to be implemented with this project:
Recommended Design Parameters:
• Permanent removal of all on-street parking along the north side of W. Houston Ave., from N. Mooney Blvd to N. Willis St., and replace with a Class II bike lane.
• Reduce the south side number of parking spots from an estimated 75 to approximately 29 spaces strategically placed to allocate 120’ of dedicated emergency vehicle parking space, with setbacks from intersections to accommodate large city vehicle turning movements.
• Reposition on-street parking stalls on the south side to be set away from the curb to protect a new Class IV bike lane.
Conclusion:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the updated design layout and design parameters incorporating community and public safety input. The updated design layout includes the addition of buffered Class II and protected Class IV bicycle lanes, enhancements of pedestrian crossings, construction of new curb returns, and closure of missing sidewalk gaps, all aimed at improving mobility and safety within the Houston community. While the project will permanently alter on-street parking and the overall corridor configuration, it will help meet the goal of creating continuous walking and biking routes for all residents traveling between home, school, nearby shopping centers, and recreational areas. These improvements will particularly support safer commutes for children traveling to and from school, reinforcing the project’s focus on creating a safer, more accessible community for all residents.
Fiscal Impact: The Houston community connectivity project is funded using the Cycle 6 2023 Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant and the Measure R Local Fund. There are no impacts to the budget at this time.
Ongoing Maintenance Costs
Ongoing maintenance costs are those typical costs associated with street maintenance within City’s right of way.
Prior Council Action:
May 16, 2022
The City Council authorized the submission of funding application for the ATP funding (Cycle 6) and the city was awarded $2,385,000 for the Houston community connectivity project.
April 21, 2025
The City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a one-year contract with civil engineering consultant Peters Engineering Group and place the firm on an on-call list to provide civil engineering and related services in support of the City’s capital improvement projects.
July 21, 2025
The City Council awarded the design contract to Peters Engineering Group for the Houston community connectivity project in the amount of $258,705.00 and authorized an additional appropriation of funds in the amount of $330,000 from the Measure R Local Fund (131) for the plans, specifications & estimates (PS&E) and right of way (ROW) of the Houston community connectivity project.
Other: None
Alternatives:
1. Provide direction on additional changes to the design; however, since there are approved project outcomes through the California Transportation Commission (CTC), additional CTC approval may be required if alterations or reductions to the scope of work are requested. Scope requested changes to the previously approved project outcomes may result in CTC disapproval and could potentially lead to the forfeiture of project funding. Alterations to the project design may require a project extension request to stay within the Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 6 program funding timelines.
2. Discontinue the project entirely to avoid any conflicts with emergency service departments and the permanent removal and relocation of vehicular parking on both the north and south sides of the Houston corridor. However this will not provide the improved pedestrian and bike safety requested by the neighborhood, school and PTA. It would also result in the complete forfeiture of the Active Transportation Program funds. It is important to acknowledge that forfeiting funds from the ATP program may adversely affect the city’s competitiveness in securing similar project funding in the future. Future requests may therefore face stricter requirements, including more detailed project management plans and clear evidence that any required local matching funds are secured in advance.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve staff to proceed with the recommended design option.
Environmental Assessment Status:
CEQA Exemption - 2024-11
Attachments:
1. Project Location Map
2. Presentation
3. Design Exhibits
4. Parking Removal Comparison
5. Traffic Analysis and Counts
Strategic Goal:
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