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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - LEFTTURN BOUQUETCYN (2)CONSENT CALENDAR CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: DATE: September 28, 1999 SUBJECT: PEAK HOUR LEFT -TURN PROHIBITION ON BOUQUET CANYON ROAD MEDIAN OPENING AT THE BEST BUY DRIVEWAY DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve the prohibition of northbound left -turns during the morning peak period, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., on Bouquet Canyon Road at the median opening in front of the Best Buy driveway (Bouquet Canyon Plaza); and direct staff to install the necessary signs and markings to restrict the movement. BACKGROUND The existing median opening on Bouquet Canyon Road north of Newhall Ranch Road provides access into the two shopping complexes on either side of the road. Currently, the southbound left -turns into the Bouquet Center shopping complex are restricted during the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This restriction was implemented because accidents involving northbound through traffic and left -turning traffic into the Bouquet Center complex were occurring frequently during these hours. Staff has identified another similar accident problem at this location. A recent review of the two-year accident history at this median opening shows that a total of 16 accidents have occurred involving southbound through vehicles and northbound left -turning vehicles into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza. Of these 16 accidents, 13 collisions have occurred during the morning peak period of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., when southbound traffic is very heavy. In order to enhance safety at this location and to reduce the identified accident pattern, staff recommends that the left -turn into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza shopping complex be restricted at the median opening between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The left -turn restriction should not have a major impact on access to Bouquet Canyon Plaza during the morning peak hours, as many of the shops are not fully operational during that time. Additionally, the shopping center has better access at the adjacent existing signalized intersections. Patrons of Bouquet Canyon Plaza can utilize the signalized intersections of PEAK HOUR LEFT -TURN PROHIBITION ON BOUQUET CANYON ROAD MEDIAN OPENING AT THE BEST BUY DRIVEWAY September 28, 1999 — Page 2 Bouquet Canyon Road/Espuella Drive and Bouquet Canyon Road/Newhall Ranch Road to make a left -turn into the complex (see attached Exhibit "B"). Staff has contacted the property owner and tenants of the Bouquet Canyon Plaza to inform them of the proposal and has not received any objections (see attached Exhibit "C"). ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for the implementation of all signing/striping have been budgeted in Account No. 5211-7335 in Fiscal Year 1999-2000. The estimated cost for this work is $400.00. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit "A!'— Vicinity Map Exhibit "B" — Diagram of Existing Conditions and Proposed Restrictions Exhibit "C" — Letter to Business Owner/Tenants AN:lkl wunciVboult es.dw 1 EXHIBIT A - VICINITY MAP ESPUELL A DRIVE II 11 1 o HI 11 11 11 0 EXISTING: I 11 III II V SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURNS ARE W CURRENTLY PROHIBITED FROM 3PM-7PM r l O III II � III II ill fl III � III PROPOSED: 3PH-ern I( III PROHIBIT NORTHBOUND III II LEFT TURNS FROM 6AM - 9AM III III ISM 9AM III III IIt III �II III BOUQUET I I I I CANYON PLAZA I l I I 'II III II Iil l BOUQUET III CENTER II III .II III �Ii� III 'll III II III II III II III II III II III II III III • III J NEWHALL «---- RANCH ROAD II tltltf II II EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS EXHIBIT "B" City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300 Santa Clarita California 91355-2196 Website: www.santa-clarita.com September 1, 1999 Phone (661)259-2489 Fax (661) 259-8125 Subject: Left -Turn Restrictions on Bouquet Canyon Road Dear Bouquet Canyon Plaza Tenant: The purpose of this letter is to inform you of an existing traffic safety concern on Bouquet Canyon Road at the Bouquet Canyon Plaza driveway, and staffs proposed solution to enhance the safety issue at this location. As you are aware, the existing median opening on Bouquet Canyon Road north of Newhall Ranch Road provides access into the two shopping complexes on either side of the road. Currently, the southbound left -turns into the Bouquet Center shopping complex are restricted during the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This restriction was implemented due to the fact that during these hours accidents involving northbound through traffic and the left -turning traffic into the Bouquet Center complex were occurring frequently. Staff has identified a similar accident problem involving left - turning vehicles into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza and southbound through vehicles. A recent review of the two-year accident history at this median opening shows that a total of sixteen (16) accidents occurred which involved southbound through vehicles and left -turning vehicles into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza. Out of these sixteen accidents, a total of thirteen (13) collisions occurred during the morning peak period of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. It is during these morning peak hours that the southbound through traffic is very heavy. The large number of southbound through vehicles makes it difficult to turn left into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza. In order to enhance safety at this location and to reduce the identified accident pattern, the City is recommending to restrict the left -turn into the Bouquet Canyon Plaza shopping complex during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The left -turn restriction should not have a major impact on access to Bouquet Canyon Plaza during the morning peak hours, as many of the shops are not fully operational during that time. Additionally, the shopping center has better access at the adjacent existing signalized intersections. Patrons of Bouquet Canyon Plaza can utilize the signalized intersections of Bouquet Canyon Road and Espuella Drive and Bouquet Canyon Road and Newhall Ranch Road to make a left -turn into the complex. Please see the enclosed plan for details. EXHIBIT "C" PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Bouquet Canyon Plaza Tenant September 1, 1999 Page 2 This proposal is tentatively scheduled to be presented at the City Council meeting on September 28, 1999. Please contact me at (661) 286-4060, if you have any questions or comments about the proposed modification. Sincerely, Ariz J. Naqvi, P.E. Assistant Traffic Engineer AN:lkl e a&dariLbgl s st.doc Enclosure cc: Anthony J. Nisich, Director of Transportation & Engineering Services Bahman Janka, City Traffic Engineer