HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS (2)NEW BUSINESS
FI M1I01
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approi
Item to be presented
February 26, 2002
VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS — AMENDMENT TO SECTION 12.48.060
OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
Transportation & Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council introduce and pass to second reading an ordinance, entitled An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California, Amending Section 12.48.060 of the
Santa Clarita Municipal Code Regarding Vehicle Weight Limits.
BACKGROUND
The City's Traffic Engineering staff is in receipt of information from the California
Highway Patrol and California State Transportation Department (Caltrans) that
northbound trucks on Interstate 5 are using Avenue Stanford to avoid the truck weight
scale station located on northbound Interstate 5 between Magic Mountain Parkway and
State Route 126. Both agencies have requested that the City establish a weight limit
restriction on Avenue Stanford between Rye Canyon Road and State Route 126. The letter
from Caltrans is included as Exhibit "A."
The subject roadway is not presently designated as a truck route. Weight limit restriction
signs were installed on this roadway, but were not supported by the City's Municipal Code.
Therefore, the weight restriction on the roadway was not legally enforceable and the signs
were removed. Staff has evaluated Avenue Stanford to determine if trucks should use the
roadway for a freeway by-pass route or be directed to an alternative route.
Avenue Stanford between Rye Canyon Road and State Route 126 is a north/south industrial
collector roadway with four travel lanes. The roadway is fully improved without sidewalks
and runs parallel to Interstate 5 on the east. Avenue Stanford was built as an industrial
collector street able to accommodate local truck traffic, and provides direct access to
businesses along its route. However, it was not built to accommodate freeway by-pass
traffic and their heavy loads. Furthermore, the heavy freeway truck traffic for this roadway
segment is not desirable for the area businesses. Therefore, Avenue Stanford is not
recommended as a truck route.
Continued To:. -n A .2.6, z,oZ Aaenda Item:_w
VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS — AMENDMENT TO SECTION 12.48.060
OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
February 26, 2002 — Page 2
Consistent with the above findings, staff recommends that Avenue Stanford between Rye
Canyon Road and State Route 126 be included in the list of roadways on Section 12.48.060
of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code restricting the use of vehicles exceeding 14,000
pounds.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The work involves the installation of two signs, amounting to approximately $300.00. Funds
are available in Field Service's striping and signing maintenance account.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance
Exhibit "A" — Caltrans Letter
Exhibit `B" — Vicinity Map
IP:tw
council\weight 6mit.doc
STATE OF CALIFORNIA—BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AGENCY GRAY DAMS, Gove
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DISTRICT 7,120 SO. SPRING ST.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-3808 0
February 8, 2002
Mr. Iran Pari
Associate Transportation Engineer
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 300
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Dear Mr. Pari
Per your request, we are sending this letter to the City of Santa Clarita requesting to reinstall the
"No Trucks Over 7 Tons" and "No Trucks Over 7 Tons 3/. mile Ahead" signs which were
previously located on northbound Avenue Stanford in the vicinity of Technology Drive.
It is our understanding that the City of Santa Clarita removed the above existing signs and may
have not realized that these signs assisted in preventing trucks from bypassing the existing
Castaic Inspection Facility (Truck Scale) located on northbound Interstate 5 just north of the Rye
Canyon Undercrossing.
In addition, we received a memorandum dated December 30, 2001 from the Department of
California Highway Patrol (CHP)— Castaic Inspection Facility, regarding their concerns with the
above missing signs and have since noticed an increase of trucks driving north on Avenue
Stanford.
Our concern is with the possibility of having trucks that may be in violation of the regulated
weight loads or improper brakes bypass the truck scales. In the interest of safety for our State
Highway facilities, we are requesting that the above-mentioned signs be reinstalled at their
previous location to help prevent trucks from bypassing the existing truck scales on Interstate 5.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. If you have any questions or need additional
information, please contact Ms. Gabriela Venegas at (213) 897-9146.
Sincerely,
STEPHENY.EUNG, Chief
Office of Traffic Investigations
l,Aw
4