Rosemont Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

The Rosemont Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Management Program is a Rosemont Avenue focused process that has been used effectively in neighborhoods throughout the City to develop effective and appropriate traffic safety improvements. This improvement development process relies heavily on community participation and input. This flow chart details this process.

Project Timeline and Milestones:

• Community Outreach and Input: June 2020
• Feasibility Analysis, Conceptual Plans, and Cost Estimates: Summer 2021
• Public Presentation and Survey: Summer - Fall 2021

The exhibit below provides initial observations of possible challenges and conflict points for pedestrians along the corridor between Orange Grove Boulevard and Seco Street.  Observations were taken along Rosemont Avenue at Orange Grove Boulevard, Prospect Square, Scott Place, Bellmore Way, Fremont Drive, Prospect Terrace, and Seco Street.  These observations make no conclusions about possible solutions and/or treatments in the project area.  Input from residents, Pasadena Department of Transportation, Pasadena Police Department, and the Rose Bowl Operating Company are important to determine and prioritize necessary improvements to make walking in the area more comfortable for everyday and special events conditions.

The configuration of Rosemont Avenue and the need to accommodate its many users present unique challenges. Rosemont Avenue is part of the Rose Bowl Loop, a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail that is accessible year-round.  Rosemont Avenue also experiences heavy pedestrian traffic on Rose Bowl Stadium event days.  However, Rosemont Avenue does not have a continuous sidewalk along the north side of the street, nor accessible curb ramps on the north and south sides of the street. Rosemont Avenue has roadway widths typically in the range of 50 to 58 feet, although in some areas, the roadway widens to slightly over 70 feet. At the intersection of Rosemont Avenue and Seco Street, four pork chop islands further reduce the accessibility of this path to the newly constructed multi-use path of the Rose Bowl. Other key issues and considerations include, but are not limited to:

Summer 2020 Community Feedback Summary

A total of 30 unique responses from 30 nearby residents were received in summer 2020. Respondents highlighted issues such as vehicular speeding, sidewalk gaps, and lack of pedestrian connectivity along Rosemont Avenue at Prospect Terrace and at Seco Street. A breakdown categorization of concerns and suggested improvements are shown below.

Summary of Report Findings

Rosemont Avenue and Seco Street Intersection

The report recommended a roundabout at this location to improve vehicle, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety while increasing vehicle throughput. Conceptually, a roundabout at this location would provide enough space to maintain existing special events traffic management schemes. A roundabout would also be the most transformative improvement at this location.

Another alternative explored in this report consists of building out sidewalks and crosswalks into the existing islands with gates to close off the existing southeast, northeast, and southeast right-turn channels on non-event days. This concept would be less transformative and approximately maintain existing vehicular patterns and stop signs.

A detailed write up of both options are found in the report.

Rosemont Avenue between Seco Street and Prospect Terrace

The report recommended building a sidewalk along the east side of Rosemont Avenue to provide a continuous sidewalk. No other options were explored.

Rosemont Avenue and Prospect Terrace Intersection

The report recommended building out crosswalks across both Prospect Terrace and Rosemont Avenue at this location with the crosswalk across Rosemont Avenue implemented with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB). The RRFB would provide additional warning to oncoming motorists that pedestrians are using the crosswalk.

The options for this intersection differ depending on how the sidewalk on the southeast corner (the middle in both images below) would be brought down to street grade in order to connect to a crosswalk. The recommended concept would not affect the existing retaining wall behind the sidewalk and would provide a more gradual incline between the proposed crosswalk and sidewalk. The other option would potentially earthwork as the existing retaining wall between the Prospect Terrace and the sidewalk would need to be reconstructed and would result in a steeper incline for pedestrians and wheelchair users.

A detailed write up of both options are found in the report.

Other Findings

Vehicular Speed Reduction

The report recommended the painting of a double yellow line to better define the opposing lanes of traffic. This will have a narrowing effect that can slow vehicles down.

Pedestrian Access

Curb ramps along this section at Fremont Drive, Bellmore Way, Scott Place, and at the gated entry to the Gamble House property along Rosemont are all recommended to be built or rebuilt to current American with Disability Act (ADA) standards.

Bike Access

A dedicated bike lane is recommended on the west side of the street to provide southbound bicyclists traveling up the incline dedicated space outside of vehicular travel. Sharrows are recommended on the east side of Rosemont to denote that northbound downhill traveling bicyclists should be taking the entire northbound lane due to the lack of a shoulder.

Detailed information on these recommended measures are described and illustrated in the report.