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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 - Santiago Drive Speed LimitOctober 25, 1999 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NO. 3 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Public Works Department SUBJECT: SANTIAGO DRIVE SPEED LIMIT RECOMMENDATIONS: Adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 12.24 (Special Speed Zones) of the Municipal Code to establish a speed limit of 30 -mph on Santiago Drive between Irvine Avenue and Tustin Avenue. 2. Direct staff to proceed with the Expanded Santiago Drive Implementation Plan. DISCUSSION: This issue has been discussed at City Council meetings on September 13 and September 27, 1999. An ordinance establishing the 30 -mph speed limit was introduced at the September 27"' meeting. The City Council also considered an action plan to be implemented along with the speed limit increase. Councilmembers added several items to this plan to address issues raised by the public. The key actions of the Implementation Plan that were added are: • Expand the study area to analyze the character of traffic on Holiday Road, Francisco Drive and Windward Lane as well as any other street that may be impacted by changes on Santiago Drive. • Develop a comprehensive Traffic Calming program that can be used throughout the City. The discussion of each traffic calming technique will include the likely impact on both traffic volumes and speeds. The safety of pedestrians and bicyclists will also be addressed for each technique. • Develop specific recommendations for Santiago Drive, Windward Lane, Francisco Drive and Holiday Road that could be implemented to change the character of these streets in order to reduce traffic speeds. • Document the methodology used to collect traffic speeds and volumes for analyzing neighborhood traffic. Subject: Santiago Drive Speed Limit October 25, 1999 Page: 2 0 • Analyze the intersection of Santiago Drive and Tustin Avenue for changes that may result in improved compliance with the STOP signs. A copy of the Expanded Santiago Drive Implementation Plan is attached. Respectful) 1 fubmitted, 0 -'L- ebb Public Works Director By: t7� — Richard M. E'dmonston Transportation & Development Services Manager Attachment: Ordinance Expanded Santiago Drive Implementation Plan f:\users\pbvA sharedt coundhfy99- 00bctober- 25lsantiago speed limit.doc 0 SANTIAGO DRIVE SPEED LIMIT CHANGE — IMPLEMENTATION PLAN City Council changes Santiago Drive speed limit from 25 -mph to 30 -mph for 6 -month trial period to allow the Police Department to enforce the speed limit with radar. 2. a. The Traffic Engineer collects 24 -hour speed and volume data for 7 days, including a weekend. Based on the data collected, the times during the day with the highest speeds will be targeted for increased enforcement. The speed data collection devices will remain through the first full week of actual enforcement (in addition to the "conditioning Period" outlined in 3b below), to ensure the Police Department is targeting the correct enforcement times. Two or more 1 -hour, mid -day radar samples will be taken to establish the "before" 8Vh percentile speed. 2. Data collected during the 7 -day period will be shared with those residents who have expressed an interest in the data. 3. In order to evaluate the Plan's impact on adjacent streets, data will be collected, as a minimum, on Santiago Drive, Windward Lane, Francisco Drive and Holiday Road. b. New large speed limit signs with 'radar enforced" lettering will be installed. Speed limit markings will be painted on the pavement where appropriate. C. A press release will be issued indicating increased radar enforcement of the new 30 -mph speed limit will begin on. the effective date of the speed zone change. d. The Traffic Engineer will analyze the intersection of Santiago Drive and Tustin Avenue to determine if changes can be made to get improved compliance with the existing STOP signs. 3. a. The Police Department will assign one officer to be responsible for monitoring the progress of the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) assignment on Santiago Drive. (Additional officers will participate in the actual enforcement). b. During the first week after the speed zone change, the POP officer will ensure that at least 1 officer is assigned each day to use a portion of his available time to conduct speed enforcement. Police Officers will issue warning citations to violators in order to condition 10/18/99 motorists to the change in the speed limit. The assignment time will vary depending upon the data collected with regard to when violations are occurring. C. Using the data collected during the first 2 weeks of the POP assignment (the 'conditioning week" and the first full week of actual enforcement), the POP officer will ensure an appropriate amount of enforcement time is allotted during the second 2 week period at those times when violations warranting citations are occurring. d. One full month of activity monitoring will take place after the speed zone change has been made. At that point in time the data collection services used by the Traffic Engineer will be re- installed on Santiago Drive for an additional 7 -day period to analyze the impact of enforcement, and to determine if resources are being allocated correctly. Enforcement will remain a priority during the next 2 months and adjustments will occur accordingly, based upon the data collected. e. Data collected will be shared with those residents who have expressed an interest in the data. 4. At the end of 3 months, a 7 -day, 24 -hour speed survey and 2 or more 1- hour, mid -day radar samples will be taken on at least the 4 streets identified in 2a. a. If the 85h percentile speed on Santiago Drive has decreased from the information collected in 2a, then for the remaining 3 months speed enforcement will continue on a random basis. During that time the Police Department will monitor their enforcement efforts with data collected periodically using the SMART radar trailer. KV b. If the 85"' percentile speed has increased or stayed the same based on information collected in 2a, enforcement will continue as outlined in 3c. In addition, a Neighborhood Speed Watch (NSW) will be created, and during times that neighbors feel speeds are being violated, a radar unit will be made available and a neighborhood group will be trained to use the unit. This NSW unit will provide a Police representative with the speed observed, license plate number, make of vehicle if possible, color of car, along with the date and time of the observation. The Police Department will send informational notices to the registered vehicle owners informing them of the observed speed violation. 10/18/99 5. During the 6 -month period that the increased speed enforcement program is in effect, a program for implementing traffic calming measures on a Citywide basis will be prepared. This program will include types of traffic calming measures, warrants and guidelines for the implementation and a neighborhood contact program to ensure that the surrounding areas are given an opportunity to comment on possible traffic diversions. Some traffic calming measures that will be considered for inclusion are: Traffic chokers Stop signs Neighborhood Speed Watch Speed bumps Traffic circles Additional signage and pavement markers Photo radar usage Neighborhood education program This program will include discussion of the likely impact on traffic speeds and volumes for each measure. It will also address how the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians can be best accommodated for those measures that result in physical changes to the street environment. OIn addition to the Citywide program, specific recommendations will be prepared for Santiago Drive, Windward Lane, Francisco Drive and Holiday Road. The goal of these recommendations will be change the physical character of the streets in a manner that will induce lower traffic speeds. 6. At the end of 6 months, another 7-day, 24 -hour speed survey will be taken. a. If the 850' percentile speed has dropped, the speeds will be periodically monitored and the Police Department will conduct enforcement on a random basis. xv b. If the 85th percentile speed has increased significantly, additional speed calming measures will be considered in accordance with the City's adopted Speed Calming Measures Guidelines. 0 P.% Users1 PBW1 REdmonstonM=ERS�Sanlago1Santiago Plan_.doe 10/18/99