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HomeMy Public PortalAbout08) 9.B. TRAFFIC CALMING MASTERAGENDA ITEM 9.13. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DATE: November 20, 2012 MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager Via: Steve Masura, Community evelopment Director By: Bryan Ariizumi, Public Safety Officer Teresa Santilena, Management Analyst SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 12-4872, APPROVING THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC CALMING MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to receive a presentation from RBF Consulting of the Traffic Calming Master Plan highlights, hear public comments, and adopt Resolution No. 12-4872 (Attachment "A"), approving the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan (i.e., Plan) (Attachment "B"). BACKGROUND: 1. On May 19, 2009, the City Council directed staff to review traffic safety at three intersections along EI Monte Avenue (i.e., Daines Drive, Olive Street, and Key West Street/Grand Avenue). Traffic collision statistics from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department (LASD) were investigated at that time. 2. On June 2, 2009, the City Council directed staff to increase traffic enforcement on EI Monte Avenue where a traffic engineering speed survey was authorized. The enforcement period began June 3, 2009 and concluded July 3, 2009. During that time LASD issued 71 citations, 52% of which (a total of 37 citations) were issued for failure to stop at a stop sign. 3. On November 3, 2009, the City Council was provided with the proposed traffic calming measures for EI Monte Avenue. The City Manager requested that the City Council continue the item so that staff could prepare a proposal to proactively address traffic and safety concerns on a citywide basis, instead of individual locations. City Council November 20, 2012 Page 2 4. On December 1, 2009, the City Council was presented with a report prepared by staff to consider undertaking a citywide traffic study and master plan and to approve a 4 - way stop sign at EI Monte Avenue and Dairies Drive to be installed upon completion of the citywide traffic study and master plan. This report indicated the need for a traffic survey to be done prior to the citywide traffic calming study and master plan. 5. On August 3, 2010, the City Council approved Resolution No. 10-4686, adopting the Engineering and Traffic Survey prepared by Crown City Engineers. 6. On April 27, 2011, Community Development staff circulated a Request for Proposals (RFP) with a July 15, 2011 due date, inviting qualified consultants to submit proposals to conduct a citywide traffic calming study and development of a City Wide Traffic Calming Master Plan. 7. On August 4, 2011, Community Development staff (i.e., Community Development Director Steve Masura, Community Development Manager Joe Lambert and Public Safety Officer Bryan Ariizumi) reviewed the nine RFPs received and selected four firms for interviews. 8. On August 26, 2011, Community Development staff (i.e., Community Development Director Steve Masura, Community Development Manager Joe Lambert and Public Safety Officer Bryan Ariizumi) and Public Safety Commissioner Ousama Nimri interviewed the four firms and selected RBF Consulting. 9. On October 4, 2011, the City Council approved the consultant services agreement with RBF Consulting to conduct a citywide traffic calming study and develop a citywide traffic calming master plan. 10. On November 10, 2011, RBF Consulting conducted the first of two public workshops at the Historical Society Hall. The purpose of the workshop was to introduce the concept of traffic calming to the community and present the opportunity for residents and business owners to express local issues, concerns, and ideas regarding traffic safety and speeding issues in their neighborhoods. 11. From November 2011 through December 2011, RBF Consulting analyzed traffic, speed and accident data provided by the City for a period of three years from 2007 to 2010. 12. In January 2012, RBF Consulting collected traffic data at 46 locations and ten study intersections previously identified at the public workshop. 13. On March 29, 2012, RBF Consulting conducted the second public workshop to present the prioritization and ranking of the traffic calming areas and initiate discussion of traffic calming solutions in the highest ranked areas. City Council November 20, 2012 Page 3 14. On April 24, 2012, the RBF Consulting project team conducted three drop-in design sessions to design traffic calming concepts with informal input provided by community members. 15. On April 24, 2012, RBF Consulting conducted two stakeholder meetings: 1) with Temple City Unified School District Administrative staff to discuss concerns regarding traffic and circulation around the school campuses in the City; and 2) with representatives from the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriffs Departments to discuss the concerns of traffic calming improvements on public safety response. 16. On September 12, 2012, RBF Consulting presented the Draft Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan at a special joint meeting of the City Council and Public Safety Commission, during which time, Council Members and Commissioners provided input on the draft plan. 17. On October 24, 2012, a special meeting of the Public Safety Commission was held during which time the Commissioners made final comments on the report and adopted Resolution No. PSC 12-0009 (Attachment "C"), recommending approval of the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan. ANALYSIS: Over three years ago, in response to concerns regarding traffic accidents along EI Monte Avenue, the City Council directed staff to evaluate traffic conditions throughout the City and prepare mitigation strategies to improve street conditions for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The City's Traffic Engineer and staff conducted traffic counts and speed surveys throughout the city and compiled traffic data in preparation of a citywide traffic calming plan. In an effort to avoid piecemeal implementation of traffic calming measures, the City contracted with RBF Consulting to assess conditions throughout the City and provide recommendations to make streets safer for all users. The Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan prepared by RBF Consulting provides a broad vision and a toolbox or menu of strategies and actions to create safer road conditions with minimal impact on traffic congestion in Temple City. The Plan is the result of extensive public engagement and recommends improvements and policies to reduce vehicle speeds, increase multi -modal usage, and improve overall road safety. The Plan provides direction for the coordination of traffic calming with multiple City efforts to improve infrastructure and accessibility throughout Temple City, such as the Safe Routes to School Plan, the Americans with Disabilities Act Ramp Project, and the Bicycle Master Plan. In addition to providing recommendations and design guidelines, the Plan offers a traffic calming toolbox, a ranking of study corridors, and an evaluation process to identify future traffic calming opportunities and requests by neighborhoods. City Council November 20, 2012 Page 4 Furthermore, the Plan has identified 13 Focus Areas throughout the City and has developed a Conceptual Traffic Calming Plan to address the overall traffic concerns within each area. By establishing focus areas rather than corridor plans, a neighborhood -specific traffic calming plan addresses the concerns of the community, and the potential for traffic diversion or spillover effect that may be associated with the implementation of traffic calming devices on a corridor by corridor basis. The focus areas will guide the City in the creation and implementation of the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan (see chapter 6 of the attached Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan, and the map on page 6-2). The established Focus Areas are: • A: Temple City High School & Oak Avenue Intermediate School; B: West of Rosemead Boulevard Cut Through Traffic; • C: East of Rosemead Boulevard Cut Through Traffic; • D: Longden Elementary School; • E: Woodruff Avenue from Encinita Avenue to Eastern City Boundary; F: First Lutheran School; • G: Cloverly Elementary School & St. Luke Elementary School; H: Golden West Avenue; • I: Live Oak Park; • J: Sereno Drive; K: La Rosa Elementary School; L: Olive Drive to Lower Azusa Road Cut Through Traffic; and • M: Cleminson Elementary School. These 13 focus areas provide the City with a toolbox of options that will guide staff implementation of the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan and are designed to provide flexibility in implementation based on available opportunities and grant funding sources. Additionally, other locations may be added to each of the focus areas as circumstances change or additional resident concerns arise. The Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan is a 'living document' that can be adjusted and implemented based on changing needs of the City. Staff will perform an annual assessment to allow for continuous monitoring of traffic conditions and select toolbox strategies that are appropriate for future conditions. As specific projects progress, the City Council will provide staff with guidance and/or funding approvals to implement measures that will optimize safety throughout the City. See the attached fact sheet (Attachment "D") with a summary of all toolbox strategies. The Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan also includes cost estimates of the improvements and potential funding sources. The Plan identifies Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds and grant funding opportunities as the best potential source of funds. City Council November 20, 2012 Page 5 Several upcoming projects will incorporate many of the Plan recommendations including: the installation of sidewalks and crosswalks near schools, as planned in the Safe Routes to School Plan (SR2S); the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp project to create safer sidewalk and street crossing conditions; and the creation of dedicated bicycle lanes throughout the City, planned in the recently adopted Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). These projects allow the City to pursue grant funding opportunities to implement the recommendations in the Plan. Other aspects of the Plan have already begun being implemented. The Rosemead Boulevard Beautification Project will narrow lanes and increase landscaping around the street, two traffic calming measures identified in the Plan. After a presentation by RBF and any public comments, the City Council is requested to review and approve the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan. Upon approval of the Plan, all improvement strategies will undergo thorough staff and engineering review to determine areas of highest priority and greatest feasibility. CONCLUSION: The Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan plays an integral role in planned infrastructure improvements and incorporates strategies from other recent citywide studies. The RBF Consulting team has carefully integrated their recommendations with the Downtown Specific Plan, the Bicycle Master Plan, the Rosemead Boulevard Beautification Project, and the Downtown Parking Strategic Plan. Working in conjunction, these plans will make Temple City a more desirable and safe destination for shopping and dining and will build the City's reputation as a bicycle -and -pedestrian -friendly environment. The coordination of these projects will improve the quality of life for Temple City residents for generations to come. FISCAL IMPACT: Adoption of the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan will not cause an immediate fiscal impact upon the City's budget. Implementation of specific Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan measures will be coordinated with other Capital Improvement Projects, such as Safe Routes to School, street resurfacing projects, and the Bicycle Master Plan. The City has already been awarded SR2S and Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) grants, and will be pursuing other grants to fund future infrastructure improvements. Specific priority traffic calming improvements will also be identified and budgeted during the City's annual and mid -year budget reviews. City Council November 20, 2012 Page 6 ATTACHMENTS: A. Draft Resolution No. 12-4872 B. Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan C. Public Safety Commission Resolution No. PSC 12-0009 D. Traffic Calming — Fact Sheet AI IACHMENTA RESOLUTION NO. 12-4872 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE CITY APPROVING THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC CALMING MASTER PLAN & ) Lt F U WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan (the "Plan") is consistent with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and complies with the 2011 California Complete Streets Act; and WHEREAS, on October 24, 2012, the Public Safety Commission of the City of Temple City received a presentation on the Plan and adopted Resolution No. PSC 12-0009 recommending that the City Council approve the Plan; and WHEREAS, on November 6, 2012, the City Council was presented with the Plan and took public testimony regarding the Plan; and WHEREAS, The City Council recognizes that residents, business owners and persons who patronize businesses in the City may be impacted by excess motor vehicle traffic; and WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan includes goals, policies, and actions to guide implementation of traffic calming improvements, as well as maps identifying new traffic calming facilities; and WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan includes a traffic calming improvements list, cost estimates of the improvements, and a list of potential funding sources; and WHEREAS, adoption of the Plan does not commit the City to construct or undertake any of the proposed traffic calming improvements but rather provides a general strategy for resolving the current traffic issues in the City; and WHEREAS, The proposed traffic calming improvements are consistent with all local, state and federal regulations. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE CITY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan is hereby adopted and shall be used by City Staff for the purpose of planning traffic calming solutions throughout the City; any traffic calming - related projects shall be implemented only after approved by the City Council or, if appropriate, the Public Safety Commission. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED on this 6t" day of November 2012. MAYOR APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY Resolution No. PSC 11-0002 Page 2 ATTEST: CITY CLERK I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution, Resolution No. , was duly passed, approved and adopted by the Public Safety Commission of the City of Temple City at a special meeting held on the 6ffi day of November 2012, by the following vote: AYES: Council Members - NOES: Council Members - ABSENT: Council Members - ABSTAIN: Council Members - CITY CLERK AI IACHMENT C RESOLUTION NO. PSC 12-0009 A RESOLUTION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE CITY U�LLIJn��\JYI�JI�l�ll �LJI OF TEMPLE CITY RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC CALMING MASTER PLAN WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan is consistent with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and complies with the 2011 California Complete Streets Act; and WHEREAS, The Public Safety Commission recognizes that residents, business owners and persons who patronize businesses in the City may be impacted by excess motor vehicle traffic; and WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan includes goals, policies, and actions to guide implementation of traffic calming improvements; and WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan includes maps identifying new traffic calming facilities; and WHEREAS, the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan includes a traffic calming improvements list, cost estimates of the improvements, and a list of potential funding sources; and WHEREAS, The proposed traffic calming improvements are consistent with all local, state and federal regulations. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE CITY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Recommends that the City Council Adopt the Citywide Traffic Calming Master Plan as may be modified through the public and Commission input. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED on this 24h day of October 2012. CHAIRMAN ATTEST: MANAGEMENT ANALYST I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution, Resolution No. PSC 12-0009, was duly passed, approved and adopted by the Public Safety Commission of the City of Temple City at a special meeting held on the 24th day of October 2012, by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner - NOES: Commissioner - ABSENT: Commissioner - ABSTAIN: Commissioner - MANAGEMENT ANALYST What is Traffic Calming? Traffic calming is the process of reducing vehicle speeds through the use of both passive devices, such as signs and striping, and physical devices such as change in road elevation or path. In Temple City, traffic speeds are being reported above the posted speed limit on several streets throughout the City. In order to maintain and enforce existing posted speed limits, measures need to be taken to reduce vehicular speeds to within 5 mph of the posted limit. Part of the Bigger Picture The City is committed to improving mobility throughout the City. The Traffic Calming Master Plan is one element of the overall Complete Streets planning efforts that have been underway in the City for several years. The Traffic Calming Master Plan integrates planned bicycle improvements, safe routes to school projects and other essential planning documents in the design and selection of traffic calming elements throughout the City. www... .. .'J Community Driven Solutions The development of the Traffic Calming Master Plan was driven by input from the community over concerns related to traffic speeds and volumes in this community. Workshops, on-line comments cards, emails and at informal drop-in design sessions are all venues by which the community expressed specific concerns along streets throughout the City over a 12 -month period. Consistently, residents expressed concerns over safety and quality of life. To verify the travel conditions in the City, traffic speeds, accident rates and traffic volumes were collected on a majority of the City's roads. Of the 83 road segments identified and studied in the Traffic Calming Master Plan, 52 segments were included in the final recommendations. Selecting High Priority Areas High priority corridors have both high traffic speeds and high accident rates. A ranking priority system was developed specifically for the City of Temple City to determine high, medium and low priority roadways. Higher points were assigned to roads and intersections near or adjacent to parks and schools, roads where the existing speed exceeds the posted speed limit and locations where the volumes are well below the available road capacity. These factors are triggers that suggest the traffic conditions can be mediated through the implementation of traffic calming. The City was divided into 17 traffic calming areas, each of which contains one or more high priority corridor. Within the 17 traffic calming areas, specific traffic calming tools are recommended to address the key traffic concerns. Traffic calming tools are physical devices that, when implemented, will reduce traffic speed or traffic volume. Traffic Calming Tools Because traffic calming is most effective when installed as part of a traffic calming system, all of the high priority corridors within the traffic calming areas have numerous tools recommended. Implementing a system of traffic calming tools works to both maintain a consistent speed along the corridor and reduces the potential for diversion or cut through traffic on parallel or neighboring streets. Future Traffic Calming Requests Although a number of roadways and intersections are included in the Traffic Calming Master Plan, the plan is intended to be a living document and should be updated on a regular basis. Because Traffic Calming is rooted in the community, changes to the document will likely be triggered by traffic calming requests. When requests from the community are made, City staff will discuss the request with the resident, evaluate the conditions based on criteria TRAFFIC CALMING TOOLBOX Applicable for... -- Radar Gun -- Signage 1-2% Radar Speed Trailer T E T Signing & Striping Education -- Radar Gun -- Signage 1-2% Radar Speed Trailer T Enforcement T Signing & Striping 1-2% Road Diet / Lane P D Diagonal Parking D Speed Lumps P 20% Speed Humps/Speed I P 20% Radar Feedback Signs I 1-2% Chokers I 5% Curb Extensions/Bulb I 5% Chicanes 15% Center Island/Median 5% Traffic Circle 10% Lateral Shifts 15% Raised Crosswalk P I 20% Raised Intersection P 10% Roundabout I 10% Turn Restrictions I I 10% Forced Tum Island I 30% Half Street Closure I 40% Full Street Closure I 45% Median Barricade I 30% Diagonal Diverter P I 35% developed in the criteria worksheet, and either develop a concept plan (if minimum criteria are met) or deny the request (if criteria are not met). Residents will have the opportunity to appeal staff decision to both Traffic Safety Commission and City Council. For more information, please contact the Community Development Department at: (626)285-2171 The full report can be viewed on the Temple City website, www.temolecitv.us.