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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-08-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - TRAFFIC ISSUES WILEYCYN (2)City Manager Item to be presented Bahman Janka U�.; DATE: August 27, 1996 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC ISSUES ON WILEY CANYON ROAD DEPARTMENT: Building and Engineering Services During the public participation portion of the regular City Council meeting.on June 11, 1996, Mr. Dennis Horn addressed the City Council and expressed traffic safety concerns along the s -curve of Wiley Canyon Road south of Wabuska Street. Mr. Horn is requesting that the City consider realigning the roadway to eliminate the s -curve and thus improve traffic safety along that segment of Wiley Canyon Road.. The City Council directed staff to prepare a report that identifies the short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to address the traffic and realignment issues on Wiley Canyon Road. Accidents: Staff reviewed the accident history along this roadway, at the s -curve of Wiley Canyon Road. There were no reported collisions in 1993 and 1994. In 1995 seven accidents occurred at or near the s -curve. Speeding was identified as the primary collision factor for six of those accidents. There have been two accidents along this segment since January of this year and the primary factor for both accidents was identified as driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs. Staff has thoroughly evaluated the causes for the unusually high number of accidents in 1995. There were no logical explanations or a specific pattern of accidents except for speeding. It appears that the situation has stabilized. as evidenced by the decrease in the number of accidents over the past seven months. Short -Term Measures: City staff met with Mr. Horn and discussed the following issues: 1. Signin trining: Staff has evaluated the existing conditions and believes that additional signing and/or striping can be added within the curve area of the road to increase the visibility of the curve and enhance the driver's attention to the sharp curves. The upgraded signing/striping may also include delineators along the curve area. These additional devices will be installed within one month. TRAFFIC ISSUES ON WILEY CANYON ROAD August 27, 1996 - Page 2 2. Rumble Strips: Rumble strips are a series of raised buttons that are placed across the travel lane to alert the motorist to an unusual roadway condition. Unfortunately, rumble strips are noisy when cars travel over them and especially disturb nearby residents at night. Until about two years ago, rumble strips existed for the southbound direction but were removed at the request of Mr. Horn and other area residents. Staff does not recommend installation of rumble strips. 3. Curb/Gutter. Mr. Horn has suggested that the City install curh/gutter and sidewalks in the curve area to have a separate facility for pedestrians and help keep motorists in their lane. Unfortunately, without significant drainage improvements in the area, the installation of curbs will only add to the flooding problems that occur almost every year on Wiley Canyon Road. Additional right-of-way would also be required for any sidewalk installation. Staff does not recommend installation of curbs at this time. 4. Flashing Beacons: Flashing beacons could be installed on either side of the S-curve to supplement the existing curve warning signs and advise motorists of the need to reduce their speed. Installation of two flashing beacons would cost about $25,000. Staff does not recommend this device at present. However, staff recommends that the pattern of accidents be monitored over the neat six months, and should it continue to a significant level, flashing beacons be considered for installation. Mr. Horn did not embrace this idea, especially that the beacon would have to he installed very close to his house. 5. Street Sweeping: Mr. Horn has voiced a concern that street sweepers do not adequately clean the shoulder areas, and as a result the debris and gravel in the shoulder areas block the passage of water to storm drains during the rainy season. Mr. Horn is also requesting that the City sweep the roadway before the roadway is opened to traffic after a temporary closure. The concern is that the dirt and dust following a street closure have caused problems for the area residents in the past. Public Works staff will coordinate these efforts with the street sweepers to improve the sweeping operations in this area. Medium -Term Measures: City staff and Mr. Horn discussed the feasibility of constructing a two-lane roadway that would bypass the existing s -curve and thus would improve the traffic safety in the immediate area. The mqjority of this new roadway link will be along one of the potential future alignments considered for the ultimate widening of Wiley Canyon Road. Staff believes that a significant portion of the money spent toward this improvement could be used toward the ultimate alignment. Based on a preliminary review of this alternative, staff believes the cost of such improvement to be in the range of $700,000. There is no money in the current Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget that could be used for this project. Staff recommendsthat this project be considered for funding as part of next year's CIP budget process. If funding can be secured for such project, the improvements could be designed and constructed within two years. Long -Term Measures: Staff is currently preparing an alignment study for Wiley Canyon Road. The report is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. The ultimate improvements for the roadway have been identified as an unfunded project in the CIP document, the cost of which is about $12,000,000. Staff is planning to submit a grant application to the Metropolitan TRAFFIC ISSUES ON WILEY CANYON ROAD August 27, 1996 - Page 3 Transportation Authority. as part of the next call for projects which will be due next February. It is doubtful that this project would rank high enough to receive any funding. Staff is also working with the property owner and the University of Southern California School of Planning and Development to assist in the design of this roadway link through the Smiser property. Staff believes that it would take 10 to lb years before the ultimate improvements can be implemented unless private development dictates an earlier time schedule. Receive the staff report and direct staff to include the medium-term improvement alternative to address traffic issues on Wiley Canyon Road as part of next year's capital improvement program and budget process. MS:lkl . awWa%Wd.yi.M