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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS3 - Neighborhood Traffic Calming UpdateCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION Agenda Item No.SS 3 January 25, 2011 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Public Works Department Antony Brine, City Traffic Engineer 949 - 644 -3329 or tbrine @newportbeachca.gov SUBJECT: NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE ISSUE On September 12, 2006, the City Council adopted Policy L -26; Neighborhood Traffic Management. The Policy outlines certain traffic calming tools that can be implemented including road narrowing (or chokers), speed bumps; traffic circles, etc. Guidelines were also established which defined the process to review specific requests from residents. Since the adoption of Policy L -26, staff has received requests from the residents of several streets to construct traffic calming improvements. This is an update on the status of traffic calming within the City. RECOMMENDATION Review City Council Policy L -26 and provide staff with direction or input regarding the following study locations; 1) Holiday Road; 2) Santa Ana Avenue and Clay Street; 3) Bayside Drive. DISCUSSION The goal of installing traffic calming measures is to address speed concerns, pedestrian safety, and cut - through traffic in residential neighborhoods. City Council Policy L -26 includes a process where residents can submit a petition to request a review and possible implementation of traffic calming measures. After a petition is received, staff collects speed and volume data, completes a field review of the site, and determines if the street qualifies per the established criteria. For consideration of traffic calming measures the street should be primarily a local, residential street with a posted speed limit of 25 mph or 30 mph. The section of roadway shall have no more than one lane in each direction, and be a maximum of 44 feet in curb -to -curb width. Minimum criteria have also been set to determine if the roadway has a "demonstrated speeding concern ". Neighborhood Traffic Calming Update January 25, 2011 Page 2 It is the measured speed and traffic volume data that mainly determines if the street is eligible for traffic calming measures. The volume of traffic shall be between 500 and 4000 vehicles per day. The speed survey must demonstrate that the 85th percentile speed is greater than 32 mph on a posted 25 mph street, or greater than 37 mph on a posted 30 mph street. It is also important to note that any proposed traffic calming measures must be reviewed by the Fire and Police Departments for potential impacts to public safety response times. In the years following the adoption of Council Policy L -26, a few traffic calming projects have been constructed based on the approved criteria. In 2007, medians and bulb - outs /chokers were built on Cliff Drive adjacent to Ensign Middle School, and on Cliff Drive between El Modena Avenue and Aliso Avenue. In addition, bulb- outs /chokers were constructed on 15th Street adjacent to Newport Harbor High School. These streets met the guidelines established in Policy L -26. Three other projects have been brought forth by residents, and have moved through the process to various conclusions. These are Holiday Road from Irvine Avenue to Tustin Avenue; Santa Ana Avenue at Clay Street; and Bayside Drive between Coast Highway and Marine Avenue. A summary of their status is as follows. Holiday Road The history for traffic calming requests on Holiday Road goes back to 2000. During that year, staff met with residents along Holiday Road and Santiago Drive regarding their speed concerns. At that time, a preliminary plan was developed showing chokers along Holiday Road and Santiago Drive. A project did not proceed due to budget constraints and the lack of a formal traffic calming policy within the City. In January 2007, a petition was received requesting stop signs or speed humps at four intersections along Holiday Road. Extensive speed and volume data was collected for Holiday Road, Francisco Drive, Santiago Drive and Windward Lane. Based on data collected in 2007, Holiday Road was the only one of the four streets that met the specific speed and volume criteria as outlined in Policy L -26. A draft plan was developed showing the installation of three speed humps on Holiday Road between Irvine Avenue and Tustin Avenue. At the time, the plan was not supported due to concerns for public safety response times. Santa Ana Avenue at Clay Street The traffic circle at Santa Ana Avenue and Clay Street was installed on a trial basis in August of 2009. Although the streets do not meet the minimum speed criteria, staff decided to use this location for a trial traffic circle installation. In the design, staff used industry standard criteria for the size of the circle and the distance from the adjacent curbs. The installation includes rubber curbs that are nailed into the pavement, together Neighborhood Traffic Calming Update January 25, 2011 Page 3 with synthetic grass in the center. The installation cost was $18,980 and the circle was built so it could be removed in a day. Within the first three weeks after the installation, staff received numerous a -mails and telephone calls with comments and concerns regarding the traffic circle. Some of the initial comments received from residents included: a) people drive the wrong direction around the circle and it is unsafe, b) it would be a positive installation if landscaping were included, c) the temporary synthetic grass and signage is ugly, d) it is unsafe for pedestrians and school children because it brings vehicles nearer to the curb, e) headlights shine into nearby homes as vehicles drive around the circle. Because this is a new type of installation, staff expected the initial comments to focus more on the negative. Traffic data was collected for both Santa Avenue and Clay Street, and staff completed numerous field observations. Staff did note that vehicles drive closer to the curbs at the corners, affecting pedestrian safety. The total number of accidents has not changed, but one accident did occur related to the traffic circle. The data shows that the speeds are statistically unchanged on three of the four legs of the intersection. The only leg of the intersection with a decrease of more than 2 mph is Santa Ana Avenue south of Clay Street. The latest speed measurements were taken approximately 150 feet from the intersection. Speeds: Santa Ana Avenue south of Clay Street Santa Ana Avenue north of Clay Street Clay Street east of Santa Ana Avenue Clay Street west of Santa Ana Avenue Before After 30 mph 25 mph 28 mph 29 mph 30 mph 30 mph 27 mph 25 mph Based on data and observations, there have been no traffic operation improvements in the area of the intersection. The temporary traffic circle did not change the speeds, or number of accidents. In practice, an individual traffic circle installation typically does not reduce volumes on a given street. It does not appear there would be a, significant benefit to a traffic circle other than serving as an aesthetic improvement to the neighborhood (if landscaping were installed). The traffic circle did, however, serve the purpose of providing staff the opportunity of reviewing the impacts and benefits of a typical neighborhood traffic circle in our community. Bayside Drive In April 2007, staff began to receive concerns regarding the speeds of traffic and safety on Bayside Drive between Coast Highway and Marine Avenue. Staff hired a consultant to prepare a traffic calming study for Bayside Drive. The initial task was collecting traffic volume and speed data. The average traffic volume on Bayside Drive is 12,000 vehicles per day. The measured 85th percentile speed ranges from 44 mph to 46 mph. The posted speed limit is 40 mph. The width of the road is 64 feet. The roadway does not Neighborhood Traffic Calming Update January 25, 2011 Page 4 meet the criteria established in Council Policy L -26 because it is a four -lane roadway, the traffic volumes are too high, the width of the roadway is greater than 44 feet, and the posted speed limit is higher than 30 mph. One of the initial ideas discussed was to potentially reduce Bayside Drive from four to two travel lanes. This segment of Bayside Drive is designated as a secondary arterial roadway on the OCTA Master Plan of Arterial Roadways. Any reduction in the number of lanes could impact the City's Measure M funding. After the option of reducing the number of lanes was eliminated, other possible measures were studied. Reducing the striped lane widths was discussed. Studies have shown that narrow lanes (even striped) can reduce the speeds on the roadway. The construction of a median was discussed, but this would eliminate westbound left -turn access to the private driveways. The construction of chokers was discussed, but this would eliminate some parking. Another important issue raised by residents was safety related to bicycles riding on the sidewalk adjacent to the homes. In 2009, a project was completed which included the re- striping of Bayside Drive to add a separate bicycle lane, and to reduce the travel lane widths. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 (c), of the CEQA Implementing Guidelines. This exemption covers the maintenance and alteration of existing public facilities with negligible expansion of the facilities in areas that are not environmentally sensitive. PUBLIC NOTICE The agenda item was noticed according to State Law prior to the City Council consideration of the item. FUNDING AVAILABILITY ►67iLa Prepared by: Antony Brine, P. . City Traffic Engineer Attachments: City Council Policy L -26 Map of Study Locations Submitted by: I��i NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT POLICY The City has developed Neighborhood Traffic Management Guidelines in an effort to provide residents with traffic concerns access to traffic management measures that can serve to alleviate their concerns. It is the intent of this policy to identify traffic calming measures; establish speed and volume thresholds for the implementation of measures and; define step -by -step procedures to address neighborhood traffic concerns. GENERAL The Goals of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program are: A. Manage the speed of vehicles on residential streets with "demonstrated speeding concerns" (as defined in this Policy) to levels consistent with residential speed Iimits, or other posted speed limits as determined by the California Vehicle Code or the City of Newport Beach Municipal Code. B. Discourage the use of local residential streets by non -local (cut - through) traffic by making the streets less attractive as commuter routes. C. Develop and emphasize focused neighborhood educational programs that will address residential traffic concerns. This shall be accomplished by the preparation of a traffic calming pamphlet; holding neighborhood meetings; and public hearings before the City Traffic Affairs Committee and the City Council. D. Implementation of selective police enforcement actions in neighborhoods with traffic related concerns. E. Minimize impacts on emergency vehicle response times, which may potentially be caused by implementation of neighborhood traffic calming measures. F. Limit the potential for shifting traffic from one residential street (or neighborhood) to another when implementing traffic calming measures. G. Respond to complaints in a timely manner. L -26 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TOOL BOX Traffic management measures generally fall into three (3) categories: A. Level 1 Tools are comprised of actions and programs that are primarily educational and enforcement based. These tools include neighborhood meetings, police enforcement, signing, and the use of a speed radar trailer. B. Level 2 Tools include the construction of physical improvements to address documented speed concerns. These tools include road narrowing, chokers, gateways, traffic circles, speed bumps, speed tables, and intersection channelization. C. Level 3 Tools include the construction of physical improvements to reduce traffic volumes on a local residential street. These tools include neckdowns, turn restrictions, cul -de -sacs, diagonal diverters, half - closures. The definitions for the different traffic calming tools are included in the Neighborhood Traffic Management Guidelines document. CRITERIA The implementation of Level 2 Tools will be considered for those public streets meeting all of the following criteria: 1. The street should be primarily a local, residential street with a posted (or prima facie) speed limit of 25 mph or 30 mph. 2. The section of road shall have no more than one lane in each direction, and shall be a maximum of 44 feet in width curb -to -curb. The street segment shall also be at least 800 feet in length, and have no intermediate STOP signs. 3. The volume of traffic on the street shall be between 500 and 4000 vehicles per day. 4. A speed survey must demonstrate that the 85 percentile speed is greater than 32 mph on a posted 25 mph street, or greater that 37 mph on a posted 30 mph street. Speeds above these thresholds indicate a "demonstrated speed concern ". 2 L -26 S. The street must have a sustained longitudinal grade of 6 percent or less. The street must have a horizontal and vertical alignment such that there is adequate sight distance, as determined by the City Traffic Engineer. 6. Level 2 measures will not be installed if, in the opinion of the City Traffic Engineer, they will result in excessive diversion of traffic to parallel local residential streets. Proposed Level 2 measures will be reviewed by the Police and Fire Departments for potential impacts to public safety response times. The implementation of Level 3 Tools will be considered for those public streets meeting criteria 1, 2, 6, and 7 as noted above, and as required by Level 2 Tools. In addition the following criteria must be met: 1. The volume of traffic on the street shall be greater that 4000 vehicles per day. PROCESS The following step -by -step procedures will be used by the City to address neighborhood traffic concerns: A. A resident will inform the City of a potential problem area. Any traffic calming request is required to include a petition signed by at least five (5) residents within the immediate vicinity of the problem area. B: The City will review the roadway conditions and collect the appropriate traffic speed and volume data. If it is determined that an immediate safety issue exists, staff will initiate a project to address the situation. Otherwise, staff will initiate the appropriate Level 1 traffic calming measures. C. The Level 1 measures shall be in place for a minimum of three (3) months. If the Level 1 measures do not address the residents concerns, the City will review the traffic data that has been collected, discuss the issues with the Police and Fire Departments, and determine if the street qualifies for Level 2 or Level 3 measures. The residents will be informed of the results of the traffic analysis. D. If the traffic data indicates that the street(s) may qualify for Level 2 or Level 3 measures, a survey will be mailed out to the neighborhood to identify specific concerns. After responses to the survey are received, a neighborhood meeting 3 l.r2b will be held. This meeting may be used to develop recommended Level 2 or Level 3 implementation measures. A representative of the Public Works Department and the Police Department will attend the meeting. E. A draft improvement plan shall be prepared, and submitted to the residents. The City will schedule a meeting of the Traffic Affairs Committee. The area residents will be invited to the meeting to provide their input. The Traffic Affairs Committee will recommend approval or denial of the project. If approved, the project will be submitted to the residents with an approved petition for signatures. F. A neighborhood representative shall be responsible for circulation of the petition. The petition will be prepared by City staff together with the residents, and shall be approved by the City Traffic Engineer prior to circulation. The City will provide a map of the affected area and a listing of all residents' addresses to the designated neighborhood representative. The petition should include only residents or businesses within the affected area. Person(s) circulating the petition shall attempt to contact all affected residences or businesses. Residents must be at least 18 years old to sign. The petition must include the current address, printed name, and signature for each resident. The petition requesting the neighborhood traffic management measures must be supported by seventy (70) percent of the total number of residential units /businesses. G. If neighborhood support is demonstrated through the petition process, the project will be forwarded to City Council for approval. All Level 2 or Level 3 measures shall be approved by City Council prior to design or construction. If the petition process is unsuccessful, City staff will continue undertaking the appropriate Level 1 actions. 1 -99- Requests for the installation of traffic calming measures using City funds shall be prioritized by the City Traffic Engineer considering the following factors: 1. Date of petition submittal. 2. Volume of traffic using the street. 3. Percentage of traffic exceeding the threshold speed limit. 4 L-26 4. Other factors including, but not limited to, number of houses, presence of parks or schools, street width, and number of residential driveways. The City shall also take into account any letters of interest from the residents (or Homeowners Associations) to provide funding for all or part of the costs of the design and construction of the improvements. Adopted - September 12, 2006 5 Santa '4 @ Clay �n u x n'zlroxNt City of Newport Beach Traffic Calming Locations