HomeMy Public PortalAbout10) 7G Approval of Pilot Traffic Circulation Program for Longden Elementary SchoolCity Council
November 17, 2015
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ANALYSIS:
Consistent with observations by the City, LASD , and TCUSD , Transtech found that the
student pick-up and drop-off periods at Longden Elementary Schoo l are heavily
congested due primarily to the following factors :
• A large percentage of students are driven to school rather than walking or biking;
• Many parents do not wait in the designated queues ;
• Many parents double-park , blocking the travel lane ; and
• Many parents opt to park and walk their ch ild into the school.
Based on their observations , Transtech is recommending that the City implement a pilot
traffic circulation program that would include the following measures , as detailed further
in the attached memo: Each of these measures is recommended as part of a pilot
program to determine their effective ness before making them permanent. The success
of the pilot program will also depend heavily on enforcement and parent education.
• Restrict certain turning movements around the school during certain hours;
• Install signage around the school;
• Restrict stopping and parking around the school during certain hours ; and
• Designate a coned student drop-off/pick-up lane.
TCUSD staff reviewed the re comme ndations for the pilot program and stated that they
were pleased with all of them . They had a few questions regarding implementation ,
which staff will address during the implementation process .
CITY STRATEGIC GOALS:
Approving the pi lot traffic ci rculation program would further the City Strateg ic Goal of
Public Health and Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Transtech estimates that the cos t to install signs and other items to implement the
program is about $8 ,000 . Funding for these improvements is not included in the Fiscal
Year 2015-16 City Budget. Staff recommends that the City Council appropriate $8 ,000
from the General Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to be transferred to Account No .
21-960-74-4255 (State Gas Tax Fund ) Traffic Signs & Striping Maintenance ,
Striping/Pavement to fund the recommended improvements .
ATTACHMENT:
A. Transtech Memo dated October 14 , 2015
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Longden Elementary School: Longden Elementary School is part of the Temple City Unified
School District and currently serves kind ergarten through 61h grades. There is approximately
1,078 students attending th e schoo l.
Bell Schedule:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays:
Start Time: 8:00am (K) I 8:15am (P1-61h)
End Time: 2:5 0pm (K) /2:30pm (1 5 t-3rd) /
2:45pm (4th_6th )
ANALYSIS
Wednesdays Only:
Start Time: 8:00am (K) I 8:15am (P1-6th )
End Time: 11:25am (K) I 1:00pm (1 5t-6th )
Lo ngden Elementary School was incl ud ed in o ne of the fo cus areas in Temple City's Traffic
Calming Master Plan that was adopted in November 2012 as part of Focus Area 0: Longden
Elementary School. Focus Area D inclu de s Lo ngden Elemen t ar y School and the fronting road s
surroun ding the sc hool, and i s bounded by Longden Ave nue to t he north, Garibald i Avenue to
th e south, Oak Ave nue to the west, and Golden West Avenue to the east with Temp l e City
Boul eva rd runnin g through th e midd le of the Focu s A r ea.
Longden Eleme ntary School is located in the cente r of thi s focus area. Most of the concerns raised
by the co mmunity focused on traffic and pedes t rian activity surrounding the school. Although
the traffic calm in g plan does not address parki ng issues and schoo l on -site circu lation measures,
traffi c speed and on-street traffic patterns we r e add r esse d th r o ugh th e recom m ended traffic
calming prog r am.
Some of the feedback r eceived from the community at the time of th e study regarding the school
was the following:
• Would like to see speed humps in stall ed on Longden to lower traffic spee ds.
• Acc id ent occurred wit h child cross in g street betwee n cars
• Parent s using Garibald i-heavy ba ckup
• Pickup at parking lot entrance on Lo ngden -co ngestion backs up to in t ersect ion
• Potentia l for fla shing lig hts/more vi sibl e signs
• Mor e visi ble sign s f or turn r es tri ctions
Additio nally, residents in the area expressed th eir concern regarding parents dro ppin g off kids
on Longden Ave nu e to avoid school traffi c at the entran ce of Wendon Avenue. Even though on -
st r eet parking is permitted on Longden Avenue, speeds alo ng th e segment near t h e school r each
upwards of 37 mph bas ed on 85 th percentile speeds collected f orth is study. Com mun ity members
CITY OF TEMPLE CITY I Page 5 of 14
suggested that the City redu ce the speed along the enti re length of Longden to 25 mph to account
for th e h eavy ped es trian activity. In close proximity of the school, students were observe d
j aywalking and darti ng between parked cars during schoo l p ic k-up and drop-off periods.
As a note, Long den Av enue is part of an add e ndum to th e City-Wide Speed Survey conducted i n
2010, w ith a new speed survey be in g conducted alo ng with a review of the enti r e stretch of
Lon gde n Avenue. However, the prima faci e speed f or al l street segments in front of a school
"when ch i ldren are prese nt" is 25 mph pe r the Califo rn ia Ve hicle Code (CVC) 22358.1
The traffic cal m ing report also noted t h at left turn access f rom Longden Ave nu e onto Primrose
Avenue res ulted in traffic congest i o n and de lays. Th e City has already addresse d some of these
concerns w ith "No Left" turns at Primrose Avenue and at Lo ngden Avenue, as well as having the
sc hool sp lit the drop-off loca tio ns for st udents by grade between Longden Avenue and Wendon
Street w ithin their ca mpus parking lots. Ho wever, addit io nal measures are needed.
85 1h PERCENTILE SPEEDS AND EXISTING AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC
Average d ai ly traffic (ADT) vo lumes we re re co rd ed for Lo nd gen Avenue and Oak Avenue, and
were in cluded in the Traffi c Calming Master Plan prepared by RBF . This da t a was collected in
January 2012.
Longden Avenue:
ADT Vo lum e: 6,418-7,141
Post ed Speed: 25-35 mph
85th Percentil e Speed: 37 mph
Oak Avenue :
ADT Vol um e : 3,502
Post ed Speed: 25-30 mph
85th Per ce ntile Speed: 34 mph
ACCIDENT DATA
Accident data was obtained f rom the computerized accide nt records system maintained by the
State of California Statewid e Integra ted Traffic Records System (SWITRS). An ac cid ent r eview of
the streets su rroun din g the sc hoo l was co ndu cted for the foll owi ng segme nts betwee n the years
2010-2015:
1. Long den Ave nu e: Oak Aven ue to Te mpl e City Boulevard: 14 recorded accidents
between 2010-2015 per SWITRS
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" 2 0 1 5 : 0 r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s
" 2 0 1 4 : 6 r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s
" 2 0 1 3 : N O r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s
" 2 0 1 2 : 1 r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t
" 2 0 1 1 : 5 r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s
" 2 0 1 0 : 2 r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s
2 . P r i m r o s e A v e n u e : L o n g d e n A v e n u e t o G a r i b a l d i : N o r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s b e t w e e n 2 0 1 0 -
2 0 1 5 p e r S W I T R S
3 . W e n d o n S t r e e t : P r i m r o s e A v e n u e t o C l o v e r l y A v e n u e : N o r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s b e t w e e n
2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5 p e r S W I T R S
4 . C l o v e r l y A v e n u e : W e n d o n A v e n u e t o F l a h e r t y S t r e e t : N o r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s b e t w e e n
2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5 p e r S W I T R S
5 . F l a h e r t y S t r e e t : C l o v e r l y A v e n u e t o P r i m r o s e A v e n u e : N o r e c o r d e d a c c i d e n t s b e t w e e n
2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5 p e r S W I T R S
C I T Y O F T E M P L E C I T Y I P a g e 7 o f 1 4
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on enginee rin g judgment, field observat ions, concerns f rom the school district and sheriff's
de partment as wel l as i nformation f ro m t he Temp l e City Traffic Calm i ng Master Plan , a pilot
t r affic circ u lat ion prog r am for drop -off and p ick-up of student s at Longden Elementary sch o ol is
r eco m mended. Thi s i ncludes signage, curb markings, and outreach to the parents. The
r ecommendations be low w ill he lp to all ev iate congestion an d guide parents to d r op-off and pick -
up t he students in an efficient manner wh ile mainta i ning traffic flow through the res idential
st r eets, and improving safety for all pedes t rians.
It i s recommended th at these measures be implemented as a "pilot" program t o see if these
m easures will h e lp ease the traffic co ngest ion and increase pedestrian and veh icular safety
su rrounding the sc hool site.
1. Installation of "No Left Turn" signs for EB traffic on Longden Avenue prohibiting left turns
onto Temple City Bou levard d u r in g school hours, as i ndicated (this is allowable per the
California Ve h icle Code (CVC) 22101: Regulation o f Turns at Intersections). Ad v anced
warn i ng signage on cones in the ce nter lane should also be instal l ed informing drivers of
th e res t ricti o n:
../ "No left turn (Monday, Tu esday, Th ursday, Fri day) 7:45am-8:45 p m and 2:15pm -
3:15 pm , and Wednesdays 7:45am -8:45pm and 12:30pm-1:30pm"
../ Benefits:
• Prohibiting EB left turns at the Temple City Bou levard sig nal from Longden
Avenue during sc hoo l AM and aftern oon hours (drop-off/pick-up times)
w ill help keep ve hicl es moving, reduce t he EB back -up on Longden Aven ue,
and increase pedes t r i an safety at the i ntersection .
../ Challenges:
• The no left turn restr iction will re quire enforcement of the turning
restrictions.
• Th e restrictions may impact some no n-re lated school traffic.
• Thi s measure may shift t r affic to other adjacent streets.
2. Instal lation of pil ot program sig nage at entrance of sc hool circulation on Longden Avenue
and We ndon St reet indicating :
../ "App roachi ng Pi lot Progra m f o r Longden Ele m entary School I T ra ffic Calming "
../ Bef ore t he pilot progra m i s i mplemented, Longden Elementa ry Schoo l should do
its part by se ndi ng ou t le t ters and postin g on its website informin g pa r ents of t he
new circ ul ati on plan, es pecia lly in regards to parking and turning left at Temple
City Bou levard. Last name cards for parent s can be made to lay on their car
das hboard that would help identify st udent s to be picked up - t h is way school
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personne l or spotters can easily id entity a name and have the child ready at the
curb before the parent enters the drop-off/p ick-up zone.
3. Installation of "No Stopping" sig ns on both sides of Lon gd en Avenue and Cloverly Avenue
indicating:
../ "No Stopping During School Days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Fr iday) 7:45am-
8:45pm and 2:15pm-3:15pm, an d Wednes day s 7:45am-8:45 pm and 12:30pm-
1:30pm" .
../ Benefits:
• The "no stoppi ng " signs will prevent parents form parking or dropping off
students along Lond gen Avenue and Cloverly Avenue reducing/eliminati ng
doubl e parking, students darting between cars, and vehicles blocking
through lan es.
• The short 1-hour peri od suggested so that area residents are not unduly
impacted . Most school re lated traffic starts and ends 30 minutes prior to
either side of the school bell.
../ Challenges:
• Thi s wi ll require e nforcement and coopera tion between the City, school
staff, school parents, and sher iffs to ensure a smooth transition to the new
conditions for drop-off and pi ck-up. Th e City should determine whether
warnings shou ld be given the 151 week of the progra m.
• Vehicle s co ming to sc hool from the east will ha ve to re -route to enter the
drop-off/pick-up lane s.
• The "no stoppi ng" signs may ca use more parking on eithe r Oak Avenue or
Primro se Avenue.
4. Installation of Right turn on ly signs should be instal led out of the Wendon Street parking
lot.
../ Ben efits : Thi s will prevent ba ck up in t he parking lot .
../ Challenges: Thi s may require some parents to change their route.
5. In sta llation of a Coned off student drop -off/pick-up lane on the south side of Longden
Avenue starting 40 ' east of Oak Avenue and extend ing to the school cu rb cut out with a
sign indicatin g:
../ "Student Drop -o ff and Pick-Up I Please Move Forward I Do Not Leave Veh i cle"
../ Benefits :
• Provides for an order ly queuing lane and process by extending the drop -
off/pick-up lane to the whole curb.
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Th e fol lowing pa ges show:
• Diagram 1 : CURB MARKING AND SIGNAGE RECOMMENDATIONS DIAGRAM
• Diagram 2: SCHOOL SITE CIRCULATION PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DIAGRAM
• Table 1: ACCIDENT HISTORY ALONG LONGDEN AVENUE BETW EE N OAK AVENUE AND
TEMPLE CITY BOULEVARD
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Table 1: ACCIDENT HISTORY ALONG LONGDEN AVENUE BETWEEN OAK AVENUE AND TEMPLE CITY BOULEVARD
Acc i dent History
Coll i si on
Type
A -Head-On
B -Sid eswipe
C -Rea r End
D -Broadsi de Severity
Day E -Hit Object 1 -Fatal
F-Ov erturned 2-lnj (Severe)
Secondary Or G -Ped /Bike 3 -lnj (Oth Vi s) Injured
No Date Primary Road Road Dist . Dir. Time Night H -Oth er 4 -l nj (Co mp Pn) # PDQ Factor PCF Violation
1 3/4/2010 Longden Av OakAv 292 E 14:37 Day A 2 1 WB Thru Veh Hit NB PED 11 -Pedestrian Violation
2 10/28/2010 Temple City Bl Longden Av 0 9:30 Day D 3 4 WB Thru Veh Hit SB Thru Veh 12 -Traffic Signa l s And Signs
3 1/12/2011 OakAv Longden Av 0 15:45 Day D 4 2 NB Thru Veh Hit EB Thru Veh 12 -Traffic Signa l s And Signs
EB Veh On Oppos Ln Hit WB OS-W rong Side Of Road
4 6/14/2011 Lo ngden Av OakAv 353 E 18:34 Day A 1 3 Thru Veh And NB Parked Veh
5 12/1/2011 Temple City Bl Longden Av 0 15:21 Day B 4 2 EB Thru Veh Hit SB Thru Veh 09 -Automob i le Right Of Way
WB Thru Veh Hit WB Parked 08 -Improper Turning
6 12/20/2011 Longden Av OakAv 159 E 10:15 Day B 1 Veh
7 12/28/2011 Temple City Bl Longden Av 0 12 :3 0 Day D 1 WB Lt Turn Hit Eb Thru Veh 09 -Automobile Right Of Way
8 9/28 /2012 Templ e City Bl Lo ngden Av 0 14:54 Day D 4 1 SB Thru Veh Hit WB Thru Veh 1 2 -Traffic Signa ls And Signs
9 1/22/2014 Temple City Bl Lo ngden Av 0 11 :15 Day H 4 2 SB Thru Ve h Hi t EB Thru Veh 12-Traff i c Si gna ls And Signs
10 3/8/2014 Longden Av OakAv 0 18 :17 Nig ht A 1 EB Lt Veh Hit WB Thru Veh 09 -Automobil e Right Of Way
WB Thru Veh Hit WB Parked
11 8/16/2014 Longden Av Oa k Av 157 E 14:41 Day B 1 Ve h 08 -Improper Turning
12 8/23/2014 Temple City Bl Longde n Av 0 18:30 Day D 4 2 SB Thru Veh Hit EB Thru Veh 00 -Unknown
EB Unsafe Turn Veh Hit EB
13 10/19/2014 Longden Av Temple City Bl 195 w 20 :26 Night H 1 Parked Veh 08 -Improper Turning
NB Lt Veh Hit SB Thru Veh
14 11/30/2014 Temple City Bl Longden Av 0 17:54 Night D 4 1 (X 2) 09 -Automobile Right Of W ay
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