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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-06-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - ENGR AND TRAFFIC STUDY (2)4 AGENDA REPORT % City Manager Approval Item to be presented NEW BUSINESS John E. Medina DATE: June.12, 1990 SUBJECT: CITY-WIDE ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC STUDY RESOLUTION 90-112 DEPARTMENT: Public Works The Public Works staff has -completed a City-wide Engineering and Traffic Study. This Study (copy .attached) forms the basis for recommended speed limits on nearly every major, secondary and collector roadway in the City. The Study was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the California Vehicle Code and as recommended by the Caltrans Traffic Manual. When adopted, the Study establishes prima facie speed limits on every highway segment included in the Study. When appropriate signs are posted in accordance with this Study, the Sheriff's Department can enforce each ofthese speed limits by radar. Enforcement of speed limits by radar is the safest and most effective form of • speed enforcement. Without radar, speed enforcement is made more complicated, is more time-consuming and is less safe because of the need to pace offending vehicles with a police unit. Rather than one speeding vehicle on the highway, we would have two: the offender and the police unit. An effective radar speed enforcement program can: • Lower prevailing vehicle speeds • Lower vehicular accident rates, and • Enhance overall highway safety. The results of this City-wide Study are presented in one report. It includes individual surveys on 90 highway segments. The purpose of this presentation is to include all engineering and traffic surveys in 'one volume. As such, every surveyed street will have virtually the same date from which the five-year cycle would begin. These surveys must be conducted every five years to validate the continued use of radar for enforcement. The report is divided into three parts. Part I explains the basic purpose and methodology of speed -zone. studies. Part II summarizes the recommended speed limits for each highway studied. Part III contains the applicable California Vehicle Code sections. The appendix contains specific speed measurement data, accident statistics and roadway information. The report contains a number of significant adjustments to existing posted speed limits. These adjustments are recommended based on the results of the Study and are essential to the overall success of the program. They are listed below: D - Continued To: y _71 Agenda Item: CITY-WIDE ENGINEERINPAND TRAFFIC STUDY Page 2 • Bouquet Canyon Road - Magic Mountain to Seco Canyon Road Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 40 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • Bouquet Canyon Road - Alamogordo Road to Steve Jon Street Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 45 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h. • Lyons Avenue, Orchard Village Road to San Fernando Road Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 35 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. • McBean Parkway, from Valencia Boulevard to North City Limit Reduction of 5 m.p.h. from 50 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • Nadal Street, from Camp Plenty Road to Whites Canyon Road Reduction of 5 m.p.h. from 35 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. • Orchard Village Road from Lyons Avenue to McBean Parkway Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 40 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • Magic Mountain Parkway from Valencia Boulevard to Bouquet Canyon Reduction of 5 m.p.h. from 50 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • San Fernando Road from Magic Mountain to 13th Street Adjustments from a mix of 35, 40 and 50 m.p.h. and constant 45 m.p.h. • Seco Canyon Road from Bouquet Canyon Road to Copper Hill Drive Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 40 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • Soledad Canyon Road, from 1,000 feet east of Bouquet Canyon to Golden Oak Road. Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 50 m.p.h. to 55 m.p.h. • Soledad Canyon Road from Kenroy Avenue to East City limit Reduction of 5 m.p.h. from 50 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. • Whites Canyon Road from Nadal Street to Soledad Canyon Road Increase of 5 m.p.h. from 35 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. • Wiley Canyon Road from Lyons Avenue to Orchard Village Drive Increase of 10 m.p.h. from 35 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. These adjustments are recommended primarily because of observed speeds on the highway segments. These observed speeds are the result of driver comfort with the roadway. This comfort level is selected by the individual driver, often without regard for the posted speed limit. It is not at all likely that these adjustments in the speed limit will result in higher prevailing speeds. In fact, these adjustments, when combined with an effective enforcement program, can result in lower prevailing speeds on the highway. The Sheriff's Department has carefully reviewed each recommendation of this Study and concur with its findings. The State Department of Transportation will need to review and concur with those recommendations on the State routes. • Adopt the attached resolution establishing prima facie speed limits on each highway segment included in the attached City-wide Engineering and Traffic Study, and • Direct the City Clerk to certify the Study as to the effective date of the individual surveys, and • Direct staff to implement the necessary signing changes brought about by adoption of this Study, and • Request the Sheriff's Department to begin an aggressive radar enforcement program on the City streets and highways covered in the Study as soon as the signing changes are made. ATTACHMENT Copy of Study Resolution No. 90-112 • ' i 0 RESOLUTION NO. 90-112 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHING PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS ON 90 HIGHWAY SEGMENTS WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code (Sections 22357 and 22358) permits local authorities, upon the basis of an Engineering and Traffic Survey, to establish prima facie speed limits on highways within their jurisdiction, and WHEREAS, Section 40802(b) of the California Vehicle Code requires that speed limits be justified by an engineering and traffic survey every five years in order to use radar for enforcement, and WHEREAS, the effective and efficient use of radar for traffic speed enforcement can enhance highway safety.within the City; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita does resolve as follows: 0 Section 1. That prima facie speed limits shall be established on 90 highway segments in the City-wide Engineering and Traffic Study. Section 2. That the City Clerk certify the Study and make copies available to the local Sheriff's Department and courts. Section 3. That the Public Works staff effect the necessary signing changes to implement the provisions of the Study. Section 4. That the City's Police Department (Sheriff) conduct appropriate enforcement of the prima facie speed limits established by this resolution. 1990. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of UNi,i �J 0 e 0 ATTEST: CITY CLERK I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the day of , 1990 by the following vote of Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS -2- CITY CLERK