HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Appro,%
Item to be presented
Tony Nisich
SUBSEQUENT NEED
DATE: April 28, 1998
SUBJECT: FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the Mayor to send the attached letter to Representative Howard P. "Buck"
McKeon requesting a $250,000 authorization as part of the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) reauthorization.
BACKGROUND
The issue of "traffic calming" has become very prevalent in residential.
neighborhoods. In short, traffic calming is a strategy by which local agencies
address traffic issues of particular concern in neighborhoods such as cut -through
traffic, traffic noise, traffic volumes and speeding, to cite a few examples.
The City is interested in developing a pilot program where applicable traffic calming
techniques, suitable for certain neighborhoods, could be implemented to improve
traffic safety and maintain the livability of neighborhoods.
The Congress is currently seeking to consolidate the Senate and House versions of
the ISTEA reauthorization bill. The Conference Committee meetings, currently in
progress, provide an opportunity to include a small $250,000 request for a pilot
"traffic calming" project in Santa Clarita: This request should be forwarded to
Representative McKeon this week to insure timely inclusion into the. final
negotiations.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Make no request for federal funding.
REC E:VED AND E:".ADE A
PART OF THE RECORD AT
cl a93MEETING
REM NO _422
FISCAL IMPACT
This action could result in increased revenues to the City in the amount of $250,000.
ATTACHMENT
Letter from Mayor Heidt to Representative McKeon
AJN/MPMrstea.482
City of
Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd.
Suite 300
Santa Clarita
Califomia 91355.2196
Phone
(805) 259-2489
Fax
(805)259-8125
April 28,1998
The Honorable Howard P. McKeon
Member of Congress
307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative McKeon:
The issue of "traffic calming" has become very prevalent in residential
neighborhoods, and many public agencies are responding to requests to
introduce it to tackle a variety of problems, be they real or perceived. In
essence, perceived problems are as real as those that can be quantified
because they are important to the people who are experiencing the intrusion
that motor vehicles make on their daily lives. These intrusions include
speeding, increased traffic volumes, unwanted or "cut -through' traffic, traffic
noise, and others, to cite a few examples. The issues . that are of utmost
concern to citizens, as a result of these intrusions, include neighborhood
livability, child safety, and overall traffic safety in neighborhoods.
Many agencies have applied a variety of techniques to calm neighborhoods,
reduce traffic speeds and the risk of accidents, as well as acting as a deterrent
to traffic choosing a particular route. These techniques include such
measures as speed radar trailers, striping narrower lanes, traffic circles or
roundabouts, speed humps, street chokers, and intersection divertors.
The City Council has a great interest in developing a pilot program where
applicable traffic calming techniques, suitable for certain neighborhoods,
could.be implemented to improve traffic safety and maintain the livability of
our neighborhoods. On behalf of the City Council, I am asking that $250,000
be authorized for FY 1999 to the City of Santa Clarita as part of the
Conference Committee negotiations presently underway concerning
BESTEAPSTEA reauthorization. The money will be used to develop a study
that identifies and evaluates several traffic calming techniques and their
suitability for use in various neighborhoods, and will implement a pilot
program in one or more neighborhoods, which would meet certain criteria for
applicability of traffic calming techniques on those streets.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
The Honorable Howard P. McKeon
April 28,1998
Page 2
Thank you for your consideration of the City's request at this late date in the
process. Should you have any questions, please contact Anthony J. Nisich,
Director of Transportation and Engineering Services at (805) 259-2489.
Sincerely,
Janice H. Heidt
Mayor
JHH:BJ:lkl
traffic\ trcalmbj.doc
cc: City Councilmembers
George A. Caravalho, City Manager
Anthony J. Nisich, Director of Transportation & Engineering Services
Michael Murphy, Intergovernmental Relations Officer