Item 12 - Select Locally Preferred Alternative for the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study

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Select Locally Preferred Alternative for the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study May 5, 2026 Page 3 accommodates a high volume of pedestrians, bicyclists, students, seniors, and transit riders, the corridor's existing design prioritizes vehicular throughput. Existing conditions include high vehicle speeds, long pedestrian crossing distances, limited shade, infrequent protected crossings, and the absence of continuous bicycle facilities. These factors limit its effectiveness as a multimodal corridor and as a connection for neighborhoods to the north and south of the corridor. In 2022, the City Council adopted the updated General Plan Mobility Element, which designates First Street as a Pedestrian Opportunity Zone and calls for rebalancing the corridor to better support walking, bicycling, and transit. The First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study was approved by Council in May 2025 to identify an LPA that advances these policy objectives while remaining feasible within the existing right-of- way. Figure 1: First Street Corridor 11.0 Flower Park Plaza Artists Village ® zoo Study Corridor Santa Ana High School DMV Social Security Office I W SANTA ANA BLVD C 4TH ST 4TH ST Z FIRST STREET �� $ 55 Z v O m O E CHESTNUT AVE D Z ® E MAIN ST y D EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES From the original 12 concepts, three viable alternatives were advanced for detailed evaluation. The three viable alternatives are as follows: Option 1 — Multi-Use Path Concept: Maintains six travel lanes and relies on shared pedestrian and bicycle space on one side of the corridor. This approach limits safety and comfort for both user groups and does not substantively improve corridor conditions. Conceptual View Looking east on First St near Shelton 1 . P C Q \ Q �P I I T T T + ♦.L (North) 10, 76' 14' Sidewalk Roadway 100' First St Right-of-way