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Home My WebLink About2005-05-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS (2)CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Item: - "k CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: VIA DATE: May 24, 2005 SUBJECT: ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY STUDY FOR DECORO DRIVE, SHANGRI-LA DRIVE, NATHAN HILL ROAD, AND CHARMAINE WAY DEPARTMENT: Building and Engineering RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council direct the City Clerk to certify the May 4, 2005 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (Study) prepared by Albert Grover & Associates; adopt the resolution establishing prima facie speed limits on each highway segment included in the Study; direct staff to implement the necessary signage changes brought about by adopting this Study; and request the Sheriffs Department to continue the radar enforcement program on City streets and highways covered in this Study as soon as the signage changes are made. BACKGROUND Staff has completed an Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (Study), which forms the basis for recommended speed limits on roadway segments that have been recently constructed in and/or accepted by the City. A copy is available in the City Clerk's reading file. Included in the current Study are Decoro Drive, Shangri-La Drive, Nathan Hill Road, and Charmaine Way. Staff performed the Study according to the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) Traffic Manual recommendations. When adopted, prima facie speed limits will be adopted for each highway segment in the Study. Decoro Drive In May 2003, Decoro Drive was opened between Dickason Drive and McBean Parkway. The appropriate prima facie speed limit needs to be established along this new segment of Adopted: Rem• -y9 Decoro Drive. In addition, it is recommended practice to re-establish prima facie speed limits whenever the operating conditions of a roadway experience a significant change. The new segment of Decoro Drive has changed the operating conditions along the existing segments to the east and west, due to the through connection now provided. Between Copper Hill Drive and Rutherford Place, Decoro Drive is under the jurisdiction of both the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles. East of Rutherford Place, it is completely within the jurisdiction of the City of Santa Clarita. The fact that Decoro Drive is within both jurisdictions requires coordination between the City and the County in the establishment of speed limits. In August 2004, the County of Los Angeles completed an Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (copy available in the City Clerk's reading file), which indicated a recommended prima facie speed limit of 45 mph for the County segments of Decoro Drive, between Copper Hill Drive and Rutherford Place. The Study completed by the City also recommends a prima facie speed limit of 45 mph along Decoro Drive, between Copper Hill Drive and Vista Delgado Drive. Based on the results of the Study, it is also recommended that the prima facie speed limit along Decoro Drive, between Vista Delgado Drive and Seco Canyon Road, be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph. Shangri-La Drive, Nathan Hill Road, and Charmaine Way Shangri-La Drive, Nathan Hill Road, and Charmaine Way are part of a new residential development, but have not yet been accepted by the City, due to outstanding drainage issues. It is anticipated that this situation will soon be resolved enabling these streets to be accepted by the City. Shangri-La Drive, Nathan Hill Road, and Charmaine Way were included in this Study in expectation of them soon becoming City streets. The Study recommends that the prima facie speed limit on Shangri-La be established at 35 mph; that the prima facie speed limit on Nathan Hill Road be established at 30 mph; and that the prima facie speed limit on Charmaine Way be established at 30 mph. Conclusion When appropriate signs are posted, the Sheriffs Department can enforce these speed limits via radar or laser technology. Using radar or laser technology to enforce speed limits is the safest and most effective way to control speed. Without radar or laser, speed enforcement becomes more complicated, more time consuming, and less safe because police units must pace offending vehicles. Rather than one, two speeding vehicles are on the roadway, the offender and the police unit. An effective radar or laser program can: Lower prevailing vehicle speeds. Lower vehicular accident rates. Enhance overall highway safety. The results of this Study present all the engineering and traffic surveys of eight individual highway segments in one report. It includes a tabulated summary of the recommended speed limits for each highway segment, a tabulated summary of the traffic accident analysis, a speed survey summary and recommendations. It also includes an appendix containing detailed engineering and survey data. The Sheriffs Department has carefully reviewed each recommendation in this Study and agrees with its findings. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT New sign installations will be required at an estimated cost of $1,000.00. Funds for these expenses are available in the Field Services Signing and Striping Maintenance Account No. 5214-7335. ATTACHMENTS Resolution Exhibit "A" - Vicinity Map for Decoro Drive Exhibit "B" - Vicinity Map for Shangri-La Drive, Nathan Hill Road, and Charmaine Way. May 4, 2005 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study available in the City Clerk's Reading File August 23, 2004 L. A. County Engineering and Traffic Survey Study available in the City Clerk's Reading File z W > _ - Q O �m g O= V X W W 0 z W g W a m m ,TM zW + III Z ui .j Mo z x WLLI 2 CO) Zx UJ 0 m ui .j City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Phone Suite 300 (661) 259-2489 Santa Clarita Fax California 91355-2196 (661) 259.8125 Website: w .sante-clarita.com CITY OF SANTA CLARITA CERTIFICATION BY CITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the attached is a true and correct copy of the May 4, 2005 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study prepared by Albert Grover & Associates, as adopted by reference by City Council Resolution 05-49 on May 24, 2005, which shall remain on file in the Office of the City Clerk. June 27, 2005 9 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Sharon -L. Mwsoix, CNIC r City Cr et ALBERT ROVER & ASSOCIATES May 4, 2005 Mr. Ian Pari Senior Traffic Engineer City of Santa Clarita Transportation & Engineering Services 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302 Santa Clarita, California 91355-2196 RE: Engineering & Traffic Surveys — 8 locations Dear Mr. Pari: This letter report summarizes our findings to establish speed limits on various roadways in the City of Santa Clarita. The study was conducted to comply with existing State regulations concerning increasing or decreasing speed limits within City boundaries. To legally use radar for speed enforcement, Section 40802(b) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that speed limits be established per Sections 22357 and 22358 of the CVC, the limits must be justified by an engineering and traffic survey conducted within five years of the alleged violation. However, according to Section 40802 the time limit can be extended to seven years if the radar operator successfully completes a 24- hour course that was approved and certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. The results of the accident rate calculations, including the expected accident rates for each type of roadway facility are shown in Table 1 and on the speed zone survey form for each roadway segment surveyed. Table 2 shows the surveyed road segments with posted and recommended speed limits, including any increases or decreases. The following is a summary of the recommended speed limits for each segment surveyed. TRANSPORTATION CONSULTING ENGINEERS 211 E. Imperial Hwy., suite 208, Fullerton, CA 92835 (714) 992-2990 FAX (714) 992-2883 E -Mail: a8a@albertgrovereom Street Location Posted 85 Recommended S eed 0 Seed Way - Shan '-La Dr to Nathan Hill Rd 30 34 30 Seco Can on Rd to Vista Del ado Dr VDecoro 35 34 30 Vista Del ado Dr to McBean P 50 48* 45 McBean P to Dickason Dr NP 46 45 Dickason Dr to Copper Hill Dr 1 35 1 44* 1 45 TRANSPORTATION CONSULTING ENGINEERS 211 E. Imperial Hwy., suite 208, Fullerton, CA 92835 (714) 992-2990 FAX (714) 992-2883 E -Mail: a8a@albertgrovereom Mr. Ian Pari May 4, 2005 Page 2 Street Location Posted 85l Recommended 6 Nathan Hill Rd -Shan '-LaDr to Shan '-IA Dh S '-La 135 eed 5 % 34 S eed 30 7 Shan Dr - Soledad Can n Rd to Nathan Bill Rd '-La 37 35 8 Shan Dr - Nathan Hill Rd to End of Street 35 38 *A VPI'A vn RS 35 of lana Clarita and County Of Los Angeles. It is recommended to increase the speed limit on Decoro Drive — Dickason Drive to Copper Hill Drive because Of continuity of speed and the low accident rate. If you have any questions or need further explanations please contact me. Respectfully Submitted, & ASSOCIATES Vice PrW-VS—'Clm I77-OINSped Su ZIVSPr Gr Rpp.du TRAFFIC No. 1575 DATE. 5='4 _OS City of Santa Clarita Table 1. 2005 Speed Zone Survey - Accident Survey Analysis .:;.>:.:.:.:.:.:.:�:�:�:�:�:�i>::;;;:�»:�::�aafic»don:>::•>:»:•::»: '"�'�'� �':•i:::•:::•:•i::•:•::•: :::•: �.:.:�.:: �: : •.•. �.:'::. .. ................................. ... �:......... .. ........ .. ........ .. .::. �:. :..;�tle)::;':::;(Eegc�::� nlltartik:.DlttltleL::j::::;:::<;:; :�:�iiU'f':::3'::::•. :�':'.:` J►uldetiti'i ui:ia' � eat 24W Y(aR! AtG339tK Charmaine Way Deeoro Drive I 2 Shangri-La Drive to Nathan hill Sara Canyon Road to Vista Delgado Drive 0.12 0.12 634 634 1.800 13,700 2 S 12.68 4.17 . 1.83 2.14 Decoro Drive 3 Vista Delgado lhive to McBem Parkway 1.03 5,438 16,300 18 1.47 2.14 Decoro Drive 4 McBean Parkway to Diclmson Drive 0.46 2,429 9,300 0 0.00 2.14 Decors Drive 5 Dickason Drive to Copper Hill Drive 0.48 2,534 13,600 1 021 2.14 Nathan Hill Road 6 Shangri-La Drive (N) w Shangri-4 Drive (S) 0.42 2,218 2,200 0 0.00 1.83 Shangri-La DrWe 7 Soledad Canyon Road to Natlun Hill Road 0.64 3.379 4,100 1 0.52 1.83 Shangri-La Drive 8 Nathan [Hill Road to End of Street 030 1,584 3.000 2 3.04 1•93 'JKcmam nam aam m m ani r 8awu: Oavaty a tas NgeNs Re/aeruSanra f/anr✓fJ_-0IMaaS •SG.d SwpTab4i