Newport moves ahead with plan for roundabout on Bayside Drive
Newport Beach city leaders Tuesday night took an initial step forward with a proposal to narrow part of Bayside Drive and install a roundabout in an effort to improve safety.
The City Council voted 4-1 to move toward the design phase of a $2.2-million plan to reduce the number of lanes on Bayside Drive from four to two between Harbor Island Drive and East Coast Highway and install a roundabout at the intersection of Bayside and Harbor Island. Between the roundabout and Marine Avenue, Bayside would stay at four lanes, but their width would be reduced to try to discourage speeding.
The plan also would include installing medians, additional sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
Construction could begin as early as fall 2017.
Bayside Drive residents have long harbored concerns about crashes stemming from cars speeding down the road near their homes. Several residents who spoke during Tuesday’s council meeting described drivers losing control of their cars on Bayside and slamming into homes and parked vehicles.
“The amount of accidents that occur on this road are outside the norm for a road of its type,” Councilman Tony Petros said. “The fact they occur with vehicles, the fact they occur with cyclists and pedestrians, rises to the occasion where if we do nothing it is the height of irresponsibility. We must do something.”
Councilman Scott Peotter was absent Tuesday, and Councilman Ed Selich recused himself because he lives near Bayside Drive.
Councilman Kevin Muldoon dissented in the vote, saying he sees value in the plan but is against the roundabout.
“Maybe it’s my bad experiences in Europe, but roundabouts make me nervous,” he said.
City staff contends the roundabout would reduce speeds and “increase driver attention, thus reducing accident potential.”
An alternate plan presented by staff, estimated to cost $1.8 million, didn’t include a roundabout but would reduce lane widths and install medians.
In addition to motor vehicle traffic, Bayside is commonly used by bicyclists and pedestrians on both sides of the road, though it has a sidewalk on only one side.
Two pedestrians and nine bicyclists were hit on the stretch of Bayside between Marine Avenue and East Coast Highway between 2010 and 2014, according to figures compiled by the UC Berkeley Transportation Injury Mapping System.
Safety improvements there were listed as a high priority on Newport’s bicycle master plan completed in 2014.
Since Bayside is due to be repaved next year, city staff began looking into other improvements that could be done at the same time, said Public Works Director Dave Webb.
“What we’ve heard over the years is there’s a speeding issue and an accident issue here,” Webb said. “People tend to speed on this street. It’s a big, wide-open asphalt plane. We think we can reduce the urban feel of it and add some beautification with medians.”
Dozens of residents, many of whom live on Bayside, spoke in favor of the lane reduction and roundabout, saying they would help slow vehicles and reduce accidents.
Several Linda Isle residents said they’re concerned that the proposal to reduce lanes could affect their access to their homes.
The council directed staff to work with Linda Isle residents on the issue during the design phase of the project.
Council members will have sign off on the design plans before the project can move forward.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
