Colorado Street Bridge Suicide Mitigation Enhancements Project - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Department of Public Works

Colorado Street Bridge – Suicide Mitigation Enhancements Project

Design Commission November 26, 2019

Department of Public Works

Project Background

• Concept of installing a suicide deterrent

system on the Colorado Street Bridge has been explored at various intervals

• ver the last several decades
• In recent years, number of suicides off

the bridge have dramatically increased

• June 2017 – Temporary 10-foot tall

fencing installed around the bench alcoves

• September 2018 – Temporary fencing

extended along entire length and on both sides of the bridge

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Department of Public Works

Project Background (cont’d)

• Fall 2017 - Colorado Street Bridge Task

Force formed, assessing various permanent deterrent measures based on stakeholder and community input

• On April 23, 2018, the City Council

unanimously approved the Task Force recommendation to deter suicide attempts on the Colorado Street Bridge through the implementation of a vertical barrier system; and, directed staff to further study and return to Council with a proposed project and appropriate environmental review.

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Department of Public Works

Project Goal

• To seek a responsibly designed permanent

barrier as an effective deterrent, while preserving the bridge’s national historic character and significance

• To allow the community to experience and enjoy

the Colorado Street Bridge, as well as the Arroyo as a safe and beautiful environment.

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Department of Public Works

Project Scope

On May 20, 2019, City Council authorized City Manager to enter into a contract with Donald MacDonald Architects for environmental and design services, including:

• Preliminary engineering and development of alternative

designs for a vertical barrier

• Preparation of project-level environmental reports
• Conceptual design development of a preferred vertical

barrier

• Construction plans and specifications to be prepared after

a conceptual design is approved by City Council

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Department of Public Works

Project Site

6 Proposed Project Location

Department of Public Works

Task Force Recommendations

Design and Install:

• Full Length Vertical Barriers
• Minimum height above highest toehold of 7’-6”
• Extend both sides of the bridge for its entire length
• End Treatments
• Deter a person’s ability to walk the outside ledge to a location

where a jump would cause serious injury or death

• Complimentary Measures
• Work in concert with the measures above to mitigate suicides and

suicide attempts from the bridge to the greatest extent possible

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Department of Public Works

Public Meetings

• September 26, 2019 – Community Meeting
• Goals:
• Present the project scope and schedule for the design of a vertical

barrier system

• Solicit comments and public input on potential mitigation

alternatives

• October 29, 2019 – Community Meeting
• Goals:
• Summarize the community’s comments and ideas from the

September 26, 2019 community meeting

• Present guiding principals and concepts for the design of a vertical

barrier

• Solicit community’s feedback on presented design concepts

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Department of Public Works

Public Meetings - Continued

• November 19, 2019 – Historic Preservation Commission
• Goals:
• Summarize comments and ideas from community meetings
• Present guiding principals and concepts for the design of a vertical

barrier

• Solicit Commission’s feedback on presented design concepts

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Department of Public Works

Guiding Principals of Design

Department of Public Works

Guiding Principal - Effectiveness

Department of Public Works

Guiding Principal - Effectiveness

Department of Public Works

Guiding Principal - Effectiveness

Department of Public Works

Guiding Principal – National Register Eligibility and Character Defining Features

Department of Public Works

Guiding Principal – Bridge Aesthetics

Department of Public Works

Concept Study

Department of Public Works

Concept Study

Department of Public Works

Concept Study

Department of Public Works

Concept Study

Department of Public Works

Bridge End Treatment

Department of Public Works

Bridge End Treatment

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh

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A2

Vertical Frame/Flexible Mesh (w/o Intermediate Posts)

14’

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh

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A2

Vertical Frame/Flexible Mesh (w/o Intermediate Posts)

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh

A2

Vertical Frame/Flexible Mesh (w/o Intermediate Posts)

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh

Vertical Frame/Flexible Mesh (w/o Intermediate Posts)

A2

Department of Public Works

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A2

Vertical Frame/Flexible Mesh (w/o Intermediate Posts)

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh Ver 2

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Vertical Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/ Intermediate Posts)

A2

14’

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Mesh Ver 2

Vertical Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/ Intermediate Posts)

A2

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Pickets

A2

Vertical Frame/Rods/Pickets

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Department of Public Works

A2

Vertical Frame/Rods/Pickets

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Pickets

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Pickets

A2

Vertical Frame/Rods/Pickets

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Pickets

Vertical Frame/Rods/Pickets

A2

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards A2 Pickets

Vertical Frame/Rods/Pickets

A2

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards B2 Mesh

B2

Curved Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/Intermediate Posts)

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13’

Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards B2 Mesh

B2

Curved Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/Intermediate Posts)

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards B2 Mesh

B2

Curved Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/Intermediate Posts)

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards B2 Mesh

Curved Frame/Rigid Mesh (w/Intermediate Posts)

B2

Department of Public Works

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Department of Public Works

Comparative Heights of the Options

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Analysis

The project is being designed to avoid significant impacts and is expected to fall under a Categorical Exemption or Statutory Exemption under CEQA, which will be achieved through the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation:

• 2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic

materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.

• 9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials

that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

• 10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner

that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.

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Department of Public Works

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Analysis

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Standard 2 Less in compliance Least in compliance Most in compliance Standard 9 In compliance In compliance In compliance Standard 10 In compliance In compliance In compliance

Department of Public Works

Top of Barrier and Lights

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Department of Public Works

Comparative Table

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Department of Public Works

Connection Concepts

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Department of Public Works

Community Consensus

• Keep all alcoves open
• Position the barrier on top of the existing

balustrade

• Position the barrier on the bridge side of the lamp

poles to increase effectiveness

• Keep the existing lamps but modify the height to

maintain visibility on the bridge

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Department of Public Works

Pros and Cons

46 A2 B2 Flexible Mesh Rigid Mesh Rods/Pickets Curved Rigid Mesh

• Effective
• Fewer vertical posts
• Doesn’t look institutional
• Maximizes transparency
• Contingent on finding an

acceptable flexible mesh pattern that prevents toe holds

• Effective
• Additional vertical posts

compared to flexible mesh

• Doesn’t look institutional
• Maximizes transparency
• Fewer vertical posts at

alcoves

• Contingent on finding an

acceptable rigid mesh pattern that prevents toe holds

• Less effective
• Introduction of

horizontal toe holds

• More traditional look
• Vertical rods present

limited transparency looking down the bridge

• Most effective
• Decorative look
• Contingent on

finding an acceptable flexible mesh pattern

Department of Public Works

Current Project Schedule

• Historic Preservation Commission

November 19, 2019

• Design Commission

November 26, 2019

• Public Safety Committee

December 18, 2019

• City Council

Early 2020

• 100% Plans, Specs & Estimate

July 2020

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