Median project proposed for Placentia Avenue not just a matter of aesthetics

By beautifying portions of Placentia Avenue, Costa Mesa hopes to also trick the eye and reduce drivers’ speeds.

City transportation officials are proposing to put California native, drought-tolerant landscaping and boulders in Placentia’s now-bare median between Adams Avenue and Wilson Street, with the hope of slowing traffic along the thoroughfare because it will feel narrower.

“Landscaped medians of this magnitude have the psychological effect of reducing speed,” Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz said during a presentation to area neighbors Wednesday.

Officials also hope that the landscaping will deter pedestrians from jaywalking across Placentia, particularly in the portions where it passes through Fairview Park.

Munoz said the landscaped medians won’t make it impossible to jaywalk, but the shrubbery should help.

“We want to make it less comfortable for them to run across the street,” he said.

This median project is part of Fairview Park’s master plan, Munoz noted.

Placentia’s speed limits — 35 mph and 40 mph — will not change, and neither will the width of the street, officials said.

City Hall has secured about $844,000 in federal grant funding to help pay for the bulk of the project, estimated to cost about $1 million.

Getting the grant was competitive, said Raja Sethuraman, transportation services manager.

“They definitely felt this was a worthwhile project to fund,” he said.

In February, the City Council approved $119,670 in funding for the design of the project. Once design work is done and a contractor is chosen by city staff, the contract will be presented to the council.

The plans have also been shown to the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee and will go before the Parks and Recreation Commission on Oct. 23 for the commission’s opinions on the plants and trees.

After final approvals, construction could begin in late summer 2015 and take three to four months.