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Home My WebLink About1997-10-15 - AGENDA REPORTS - LYONS AVE TRAFFIC (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: abi J. Rahmani DATE: October 15, 1997 SUBJECT: LYONS AVENUE TRAFFIC ISSUES DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Direct staff to prohibit right- and left -turns "out" of the westerly driveways of the Arco gas station (24518 W. Lyons Avenue) and the Texaco gas station (24440 W. Lyons Avenue), prohibit right -turn and left -turns "into" the easterly driveways to the same gas stations, install the necessary signs and markings to prohibit those movements, and install caution signs at all driveways where left -turns are allowed. 2. Direct staff to widen the driveway to Burger King's site located at 24530 Lyons Avenue, within the City's right-of-way to ease the traffic movements in and out of.the site. 3. Direct staff to review and monitor the rate and accident patterns periodically (at a minimum every six months) to determine if any other improvements would be necessary. 4. Provide direction to staff regarding the desire to include $220,000 in the Fiscal Year 1998-99 Five -Year Capital Improvement Program, to widen and modify the I-5 Lyons Avenue northbound off -ramp and traffic signal (all in Caltrans' right-of-way), and/or seek grant funding that may be applicable for these improvements. We"(9flel"Wil On July 7, 1995, the Sheriff's Department notified City staff of their concern regarding the number of accidents on Lyons Avenue between the I-5 northbound off/on ramps and Avenida Dorena. In 1996, the Traffic Division hired a consultant to prepare a report to identify all high - accident locations within the City and potential mitigation measures to address safety issues. The report was finalized in May 1996, and consisted of various intersections and mid -block segments. The segment of Lyons Avenue between the I-5 northbound off -ramp and Avenida Dorena was also evaluated in this report. LYONS AVENUE TRAFFIC ISSUES October 15, 1997 - Page 2 Existing Conditions: Lyons Avenue is considered a major six -lane arterial that runs east/west, which connects Pico Canyon Road (County jurisdiction) at I-5 on the west to San Fernando Road to the east. The City's General Plan Circulation Element suggests all major arterials have a raised median island to reduce the number of turning movement conflicts. The entire Lyons Avenue consists of different lengths of median islands, except the area of concern. This segment includes a painted two-way left -turn lane rather than a raised median island. There are a total of two driveways on the north side for Unocal 76, and six along the south side, which includes one for Burger King, two for the Arco gas station, one for Valencia Plaza, and two for the Texaco gas station (Exhibit 1). The posted speed limit in the vicinity is 40 mph which was surveyed, studied, and approved by the City Council in June 1995. Meetings and Notification: Staff has conducted several meetings since November 1996 (total of eight) with all property owners, business managers, and concerned citizens in the area. During these meetings, several remedies were explored by City staff and the merchants. All property owners, business owners, managers, and concerned citizens who have been part of this process were informed in writing on October 1, 1997, regarding this City Council meeting and the potential recommended action items in this agenda report. Potential Mitigation Measures: A review of the accident history revealed that the majority of accidents along this segment were caused by drivers making left -turns out of existing businesses. In meetings with the Lyons Avenue businesses, it was mutually agreed that in order to reduce the conflicting points and the potential for accidents, an effort should be made to eliminate some of the turning movements at those businesses that have two driveways, namely, the Arco and Texaco gas stations. In order to achieve this concept, additional signing and/or striping could be added at each gas station which would only allow right -turns and left - turns "into" the westerly driveway (entrance only), and right -turns and left -turns "out" of the easterly driveway (exit only). Caltrans Involvement. At several of the meetings, the businesses suggested that modifications to the existing traffic signal at the northbound off -ramp should be considered as part of the overall mitigation plan. It was suggested that in order to create a gap between cars traveling eastbound and provide a better opportunity for drivers exiting the driveways on the south side, the northbound off -ramp "free right -turn lane" should be eliminated and/or be signalized. The City contacted Caltrans to investigate the possibility of this modification, since the area of concern is under their jurisdiction. Caltrans investigated the request and responded in a letter dated August 8, 1997 (Exhibit 2). In summary, Caltrans concluded that there is no concurring evidence that the reconstruction of this off -ramp will reduce accidents on Lyons Avenue. However, Caltrans indicated they will consider signalizing the ramp, provided the ramp is first widened to accommodate additional turning lanes, and the City agrees to finance 100% of the estimated cost, which is about $220,000. They further advised that it would be difficult to seek funding from Caltrans for this project. LYONS AVENUE TRAFFIC ISSUES October 15, 1997 - Page 3 There was also a request by businesses to install an additional advance speed limit sign in Caltrans' right-of-way for the eastbound traffic on Lyons Avenue prior to the I-5 northbound off -ramp. Staff is presently coordinating the installation of an additional 40 mph sign at the requested location. Conclusion: Staff believes that the recommendations in this report should be implemented to help address the safety issues, and the situation be monitored for the effectiveness of the measures. Due to the occurrence of previous accidents along this segment, an action by the City Council is appropriate at this time. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Leave existing situation as is. 2. Other action as determined by Council. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for the implementation of all the signing/striping have been budgeted in Account No. 5211-7335 in FY 1997-98. The estimated cost for this work is $1,000. Funds for the implementation of the widening at Burger King's driveway, located at 24530 W. Lyons Avenue, have been budgeted in Account No. 4322-8001 in FY 1997-98. The estimated cost for this work is $4,000. ATTACHMENTS 1. Diagram for proposed access and allowed movements at existing businesses along Lyons Avenue near I-5. 2. Caltrans letter of August 8, 1997. RJR:Ikl m"61%1 aneage.rjr 1 1 9 !hots,( lr � _" �►'� ! r 11 .� �• �' �.... — ArcoTcxaCo .. ..I �. PROPOSED ACCESS & ALLOWED MOVEMENTS @ EXISTING BUSINESSES ALONG LYONS AVENUE BY 1-5 STATE OF CALIFORNIA—BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION AGENCY PETE WILSON, Gowmor DEPARTMENT OF TRA NSPORTATION Ri E C E[ y E D DISTRICT 7, 120 SO. SPRING Si. ' LOS ANGELES, CA 90014.3606 MD (213) 620-3550 (213) 897-0266 AUG 13 1997 Transportation & Engineering Servi City of Santa Clarita ces August 8, 1997 Mr. George. A. Caravalho City Manager City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355-2196 Dear Mr. Caravalho: 07 -LA -5 - 50.1 NB Golden State Freeway Off Ramp at Lyons Avenue. Per your request, Caltrans has completed an extensive study concerning the northbound off -ramp at Lyons Avenue. We have reviewed the proposal to redesign the off -ramp by eliminating the free right -turn purported to help reduce the number of accidents occurring along the section of Lyons Avenue from the I-5 to Avenida Dorena This intersection is currently operating at a Level of Service B without experiencing any operational delays or safety problems. If we signalize the right -tum movement without widening the ramp, the Level of Service will drop to F. That means during the p.m, peak, each motorists using the off -ramp would experience a 70 second delay. This would result in traffic backing down to the freeway. To alleviate these problems, the off -ramp needs to be widened from 2 lanes to 3 lanes and the right -tum lane restriped to accommodate 2 right -turn lanes. The.right- tumers will then also be signalized. This work is estimated to cost approximately $220,000. This should bring the Level of Service up to a minimum of D. There is no concurring evidence that the reconstruction of this off -ramp will reduce accidents on Lyons Avenue east the off -ramp, but, it will clearly have a negative impact on the off -ramp in the form of delay. However, we are willing to work with the City provided thSy are agreeable to financing 100% of the cost or s wor . It —y tunding orUiis project Is fzxP=Iea LOZOTM frOL1, CWrrans, it wound haveo compete with all the other projects in the prog5m as on nems to our highway sys em. As you can see, will, so L„any uLner quainymg projects already proposed, this project—wo–Uld have a very time to make it above our cutoff line. L ) l RECEIVED +��: �7 � O ►•1 z AUG 1 21997 CITY OF SANTA C�ARITA Mr. Geroge A. Caravalho August 8, 1997 Page Two Finally, since Pico Cyn./Lyons Avenue is also a county highway, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works may have to approve any changes made to this intersection. If you would like to discuss this further, please call me at (213) 897-0266. Sincerely, STEPHEN K. LEUNG, Office of Traffic InvestiR