Submitting a Traffic Control Plan

If you are planning for new construction or remodeling an existing building, you may be required to submit a traffic control plan or a parking plan.

Traffic Control Plan Submittal Requirements
Use of Traffic Lanes
Use of Alleys
Use of Sidewalks
Use of Curb Parking Lanes
Use of Red Curb Zones
Signs Required for Sidewalk Closure
Excavations on Public Property
Setting up Temporary No Parking
Setting up Temporary No Parking at Metered Spaces

Submittal Requirements
The applicant requesting a permit to use public property (street, sidewalk, alley or other) is required to submit a Traffic Control Plan to the Transportation management Division for review and approval.

The applicant shall submit two copies of the Traffic Control Plan drawing for approval, one of which will be filed with the Transportation Management Division Office and the other will be used for the Engineer’s field reference. The Traffic Control Plan shall include and show the following:
A. The size of the work area (all dimensions).
B. The location of the work area in relation to the cross streets, alleys, or other major reference points (show all distances and dimensions).
C. All temporary traffic control devices (signs, delineators, striping, others) required for work zones.
D. Access to the existing parking facilities (garages, carports, open parking stalls) affected by the proposed work zone.

The Traffic Control Plan shall be drawn to scale, unless otherwise specified by the engineer on the front sheet of the permit. One of the following scales shall be used:
1”=20’ For the road/alley segments up to three hundred feet (300’) in total length shown on the plan.
1”=40’ For the road/alley segments over three hundred feet (300’) in total length shown on the plan.
Or 1”=50’

Use of Traffic Lanes
Traffic controls shall follow the guidelines shown on the Traffic control Plan and as found in the Caltrans Traffic manual. All signs used for vehicular traffic control shall conform to standards found in the Caltrans Traffic Manual. A copy of the Caltrans Traffic Manual is available for review at the City Transportation Management Office.

All temporary traffic delineation used shall be either eighteen inches (18”) tall minimum height traffic cones or twenty-four inches (24”) tall minimum height traffic delineators (see attachments). Delineation shall be smooth and consistent with the approved Traffic Control Plan. Use of “lighted arrow boards” and illuminated traffic delineators will be required during the hours of darkness or inclement weather.

When traffic lanes (not parking lanes) are going to be partially or completely blocked or closed off by the proposed work area, the following information must be shown on the Traffic Control Plan:
A. The existing traffic and parking lane configuration shown in dashed lines.
B. The proposed traffic lane configuration shown in solid lines.
C. When vehicular traffic is moved out of its normal path due to a partial or complete lane closure, a taper (or transition) must always be provided for a smooth and safe lane change. The taper or transition length depends upon the offset and speed at the work area (see attachments). NOTE: CLEARLY SHOW THE OFFSET AND TAPER LENGTH ON YOUR TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN DRAWING
D. Traffic delineators or cones shall be spaced at fifteen foot (15’) intervals in the transition areas where traffic is being shifted and not more than twenty foot (20’) intervals at other locations unless otherwise specified.
E. The width of the temporary traffic lanes. A traffic lane’s minimum width is ten feet (10’) clear. “Clear” means the distance between the cone or delineator bases, not their centers.
F. Complete lane closures are required if the partially closed traffic lane is less than ten feet (10’).
G. The appropriate traffic signs (consult the Caltrans Traffic Manual).
H. For descriptions of the full or partial traffic lane closures and/or relocation lane, the minimum taper lengths and the required signs, consult the Caltrans Traffic Manual. Please note that the information shown relates to twelve foot (12’) wide traffic lanes. The formulas shown are used for partial lane relocation or closures.

Use of Alleys
An eleven foot (11’) wide traffic lane must be maintained in alleys for fire trucks at all times unless approval is given for a complete alley closure. Additionally, the applicant must provide a loading area for all delivery vehicles directly adjacent to the delivery site that does not encroach into the eleven foot (11’) wide traffic lane.

The applicant must notify all impacted businesses and residents a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the proposed work activities.

If the proposed work results in a partial or complete closure of the alley, the following information must be shown on the Traffic Control Plan:
A. Alley width
B. All cross streets and/or alleys.
C. One-way or two-way traffic patterns (show one-way sign locations for one-way alleys).
D. Delineators around the proposed work area.
E. The width of the temporary passage way (minimum required is eleven feet (11’).
F. Appropriate signs along the alley at each entrance point (cross streets, driveways, and parking areas, etc.).
G. Signs at the work area.
H. Barricades, flagmen, or other warning devices.
I. Special signs for affected parking stalls/garages, and for traffic entering the alley if the one-way alley is closed off at the work area (temporarily converted to two-way traffic).

Use of Sidewalks
The closure of public sidewalks requires the approval of the Department of General Services Street Inspector and the Transportation Management Division.

The permittee must maintain a minimum four foot (4’) wide pedestrian walkway, located and constructed to the satisfaction of the City Street Inspector, if work activities encroach into existing walkways. Temporary walkways shall not encroach into any traffic lanes. However, they may be allowed to encroach into the curb parking lanes if that is approved by the Transportation Management Division. See the sign posting guidelines for sidewalk closures on the reverse side of these requirements.
A. Partial Closure of Existing Sidewalk. Show the layout/configuration of a temporary walkway on the Traffic Control Plan (if required).
B. Complete Sidewalk Closure.

1. Show the temporary walkway configuration on the Traffic Control Plan when applicable (show all dimensions).
2. Show the location and size of temporary walkway ramps when applicable.
3. Show all delineators, fences, and/or railings for temporary walkways in the existing parking lanes.
4. Show all appropriate signs as required for pedestrian traffic (as shown on the reverse side).

Use of Curb Parking
Lanes The use of curb parking lanes for the storage of equipment, materials, dumpsters, or any other activities is subject to the approval of the Transportation Management Division. Additionally, a permit must be obtained from the General Services Administration Office for the intended activity. The street width and general public safety are the primary factors used to determine which areas will be permitted for use by the permittee.

Use of Red Zones The use of red zones is prohibited unless special circumstances warrant their use and specific authorization is given by the City Parking and Traffic Engineer.

If the use of a red zone results in the temporary relocation of a bus stop, the applicant/permittee is required to make all necessary arrangements with the appropriate bus company (MTA or Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines) to relocate the bus stop bench, install special signs, etc. Additionally, the permittee will pay any and all costs associated with relocating any bus stops, parking meters, “NO PARKING” signs, painting of any curb zones, and all other costs required for work within that area.

Requests for authorization to use red zones must be submitted with the Traffic Control Plan a minimum of two (2) working days prior to use. Additionally, the Traffic Control Plan must show existing fire hydrants, catch basins, driveways, stop signs, crosswalks, existing and proposed bus stops, and red curbs at these locations.

Signs Required for Sidewalk Closure All Signs shall have:
1. Black letters and arrows on white background
2. 4” tall letters
3. 1/2” to 1” letter stroke width

SIDEWALK CLOSED AHEAD USE OTHER SIDE This sign is to be located at either end of a block with a sidewalk closure.

LOCAL ACCESS ONLY This sign to be used in conjunction with the previous sign at the end of a block.

SIDEWALK CLOSED This sign is to be used at either end of and immediately adjacent to the closed area.

SIDEWALK CLOSED USE OTHER SIDE This sign is to be used at the end of a block whenever the closed area is adjacent to the end of the block or a crosswalk.

Excavations on Public Property A. If the proposed work results in a partial or complete closure of traffic lanes, parking lanes, alleys, or sidewalks, the requirements specified in the following apply to those excavation permits:
TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN REQUIREMENTS
USE OF TRAFFIC LANES USE OF ALLEYS USE OF SIDEWALKS
USE OF CURB LANES
USE OF RED ZONES
TEMPORARY PARKING GUIDELINES
PROHIBITING PARKING AT METERED SPACES
TEMPORARY PARKING PERMITS
B. All roadway and alley excavations shall be steel plated and tapered smooth to pavement with cold mix when work is not in progress. Plates must be sufficiently strong to support all vehicular traffic.
C. Any traffic lanes affected by encroachment activity must be opened to normal traffic flow when work is not in progress.
D. The applicant must provide signs, barricades, personnel, and other traffic control devices and equipment necessary to provide safe pedestrian and vehicular movement around the work area for any emergency situations that may arise. E. The applicant must provide a diagram to the Transportation management Division that indicates potential damage to existing traffic control devices, signs, pavement markings, and parking meters (including poles and other hardware) a minimum of three (3) working days before encroachment. The Transportation Management Division will inspect the job site and the applicant will be charged for, or instructed to repair or replace those traffic control devices.