HomeMy Public PortalAboutCanyon Springs DEIR Public Comment #36 (Bacon)P.O. Box 3378, Truckee, CA 96160 • (530) 583-2805 • www.tahoedesigns.com
Attn: Denyelle Nishimori March 5, 2013
Town of Truckee Planning Department
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Re: Canyon Springs Draft EIR
Dear Ms. Nishimori,
I’ve been a Glenshire and Meadows resident for nearly 26 years, and I’ve been navigating the
Whitehorse Road/Glenshire drive intersection daily for the past 20 years. I’d like to point out
some apparent omissions in the transportation report prepared for that intersection, and I’d like to
relay my own experiences and observations.
As the report notes, the speed limit is not posted on Glenshire Drive between the freeway and the
Glenshire subdivision. Since this roadway section is outside the neighborhood, traffic generally
moves at 45 mph, except at the curve east of Whitehorse Road, which forces drivers to slow. The
report states that the observed speed was 30 mph during the traffic study, which is reasonable for
eastbound traffic leaving the neighborhood, but too low for westbound traffic approaching the
neighborhood. Despite a warning sign advising 25 mph at the curve, I regularly travel and follow
other vehicles moving at 35 mph. I think 35 mph is a more realistic design speed than 30 mph.
The report repeatedly downplays the limited sight distance from Whitehorse Road on to
Glenshire Drive. The intersection summary on page 4.14-28 mentions that drivers on Glenshire
Drive have adequate stopping sight distance to react to a car entering from Whitehorse Road. I
completely disagree with that statement. Item c) on page 4.14-57 states that eastbound drivers on
Glenshire Drive have over 500 feet of stopping distance. That may be true, but the report misses
the fact that eastbound vehicles have potential to be confronted by vehicles entering from
Whitehorse Road at distances as close as 195 feet. Similarly, westbound vehicles on Glenshire
Drive may be confronted by entering vehicles from Whitehorse Road at distances as close 170
feet. Furthermore, as stated above, these westbound vehicles are moving at speeds greater than
30 mph. The traffic analysis should consider 195 feet and 170 feet, eastbound and westbound
respectively, as the available stopping sight distance on Glenshire Drive approaching Whitehorse
Road. Using these numbers for the east and west Glenshire Drive approaches, the intersection
fails in two additional directions with respect to sight distance.
The corner sight distance of 170 feet from Whitehorse Road east on to Glenshire Drive is a best
case number that is true only at one specific location in the intersection. Most of the view from
the intersection is blocked by a guard rail, utility box, and/or wood neighborhood sign. If a driver
on Whitehorse does not take extreme care to find the exact spot that yields the 170 foot sight
distance, his or her view will be limited by the obstructions listed above, or by the cut slope at
P.O. Box 3378, Truckee, CA 96160 • (530) 583-2805 • www.tahoedesigns.com
the edge of the roadway. If the driver misses the sweet spot, then sight distance is significantly
less than 170 feet.
The report states on page 4.14-57 that there have not been any accidents reported for the
Whitehorse intersection since 2006. I wish to inform the report authors that I’ve seen evidence of
accidents at that intersection every year since I started driving in 1992. As I write this, someone’s
busted bumper cover is sitting in the middle of the intersection. I’ve witnessed countless near
misses and have had several near misses myself.
During snow storms, Glenshire Drive immediately east of Whitehorse Road is frequently
impacted by vehicles that can’t make it up the hill and are stuck in the road. Frequently these
drivers will attempt to turn around and drive back to the freeway, thereby blocking both lanes.
Drivers leaving Glenshire heading toward the freeway may be confronted by vehicles in their
lane, and with steep grades and limited sight distance, find it impossible to stop. This is an
extremely hazardous situation that will be made worse by increased traffic from the Canyon
Springs subdivision.
It is clear that significant improvements must be made to the Whitehorse/Glenshire Drive
intersection as a condition of approval for the Canyon Springs project. These improvements
would include removal of the wood sign, relocating the utility box and guard rail, cutting back
the dirt bank, reducing the roadway grades in the intersection, and realigning the roadway.
Sincerely,
Eric Bacon, P.E.
Shelton & Bacon