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Home My WebLink About2006-01-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - BENZ TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS (2)CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: — �0 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT Andrew Yi City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: January 24,2006 BENZ ROAD TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS Public Works RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve, contingent upon County Board of Supervisors' approval of same, a two-step plan for traffic restrictions on Benz Road to address cut -through traffic; authorize staff to install Step 1 improvements (signs restricting peak period turning movements onto Benz Road, Sue Drive, and Buckhorn Lane); and, if Step I improvements do not result in the desired traffic reduction, authorize staff to install Step 2 improvements (signing and striping restricting all but outbound right -turn movements from Benz Road and Buckhorn Lane onto Copper Ifill Drive). As a result of completion and County acceptance of Copper I -fill Drive to David Way in March 2003, traffic volumes have been steadily increasing on Benz Road. While the intent was for the connection between Copper Hill Drive and Bouquet Canyon Road to be made on David Way, many motorists from outside the area cut through Benz Road to shorten their trip. The study area is shown in Exhibit "A." Traffic volume has increased on Benz Road from a few hundred vehicles a day before the connection to Copper Ifill Drive to over 2,000 vehicles a day immediately following the connection, and currently it is over 3,300 vehicles per day. The Benz residents have requested numerous times that the City close Benz Road at Copper Hill Drive to reduce the high volume of traffic. Staff started working with area residents soon after the connection was made to try to improve traffic operations and reduce cut -through trips on Benz Road. A brief history of the City's involvement regarding traffic issues along Benz Road is included in Exhibit "B." re-ff r* badc- bL/ -',econcC P�ice+ft3 ;'11 Working with residents of Benz Road and surrounding streets, City and County staff have recommended a two-step approach to reduce "cut -through traffic" in their neighborhood. This plan is endorsed by both the City and County, and would work as follows: Step 1 Restrict left -turns from Bouquet Canyon Road onto Benz Road and Sue Drive during morning peak hours. Restrict right-tums from Copper Flill Drive onto Benz Road and Buckhorn Lane during evening peak hours. Step I will be implemented and monitored for four months to see if it achieves the desired trip reduction on Benz Road (to less than 2,000 trips per day). Should Step 1 fail, Step 2 will be implemented (see Exhibit "C"). Stgp 2 Full-time turn restrictions at the intersection of Copper Mll Drive at Benz Road and Buckhorn Lane; allowing only outbound right -turns at these intersections (see Exhibit "D"). While the plan primarily targets cut -through traffic on Benz Road, it does impact other neighborhood residents. The turn restrictions will be inconvenient for many residents, and must have restrictions on adjacent streets to prevent the traffic from shifting over to them (Canterwood Drive/Buckhorn Lane). A letter with a questionnaire and a self-addressed stamped envelope was sent to 209 area residents who would be affected by the project, requesting their feedback on this two-step plan (see Exhibit "E" for map of area surveyed). 119 responses were returned, with 69 (58 percent) in favor of the proposal, and 50 (42 percent) in opposition. A summary of the survey results is included in Exhibit "F." The responses indicate a clear commitment from the residents fronting Benz Road and Canterwood Drive for the implementation of the proposed traffic restrictions. Since the neighborhood and the intersection of Buckhorn Lane at Copper Ell Drive extend beyond the Santa Clarita City limits, this proposal is also being presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. This proposal must be approved by the City Council and County Board of Supervisors to be implemented. County staff is scheduled to present this recommendation to the Board of Supervisors within two weeks following City Council approval. Upon full approval, Public Works staff will order the appropriate signs and post the restrictions at both intersections within approximately 30 days. The Sheriffs Department is prepared to provide the necessary enforcement. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL RVIPACT Cost estimates are approximately $1,200 for Phase 1, and $2,500 for Phase 2. Funds are available in the Striping and Signing Maintenance Account No. 4814-7335. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit "A" - Location Map Exhibit "B" - Project lEstory Exhibit "C" - Step 1 Diagram Exhibit "D" - Step 2 Diagram Exhibit "E" - Survey Area Map Exhibit T" - Survey Results rEXHIBIT pp -g -W , 0151, 1 DaOLTjHY MUE jj�. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Benz Road Area 3 Exhibit "B" Project 11istory Since 2003, the City has installed the following improvements along Benz Road: Installation of centerline and restricting edge lines in June 2003. Installation of supplemental speed limit signs in September 2003. Installation of multi -way stop signs at Canterwood Drive and at Dan Court in January 2004. Installation of weight limits in May 2004. In addition, the City has had continued involvement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for increased enforcement. Since these improvements were installed, staff has continued to receive complaints from area residents regarding high traffic volume, disregard of traffic laws, and overall disruption of their quality of life. The Sheriff's Department has continued to maintain a strong presence on this roadway, and City staff has often deployed the PARET unit to help reduce speeding. The Benz area residents brought their concerns to the City Council's attention at their regular meeting of March 22, 2005. City Council directed staff to work with the residents, the County, and the Sheriff's Department on these issues. Staff has been working with these agencies, as well as with neighborhood residents, to devise the least restrictive plan of action that will be acceptable to them. Staff has completed the following: Met with residents, County staff, and Sheriff in April 2005. Held a public meeting at Rosedale Elementary School in June 2005. Held a follow-up meeting with residents, County staff, and Sheriff in June 2005. Continued to work with residents through July and August 2005 to develop a plan of action. trafficVaMbenz exhibit B.dm cat �Z- W Lu M 2 0- m 0- 8 CWL OR a. EL 8 1�1 W 0 z -C now W V) 12 z Wz ow 12 Mm 10 cl 13 LK E: C: in mom" C) m x Lli 0 w a) L) m zo Olt BOAT im— w \jCy,\AO?'tA gig Ld E&VAMON p - A pho"ol AMIN, K$H ,OWN AV -TIT -F I TTT /I ITITIR I M"NOS M plq� Exhibit 'IF' Survey Results * 69 residents responded in favor of the proposal. 9 50 residents responded against the proposal. 9 90 residents did not respond. Of the residents fronting Benz Road, 23 voted in favor of the proposal, 0 voted against the proposal, and 6 did not respond. Of the residents fronting Canterwood Drive/Crosscreek Drive, between Benz Road and Buckhorn Court, 24 voted in favor of the proposal, 4 voted against the proposal, and 16 did not respond. 22 other neighborhood residents who do not front the "cut -through" paths of Benz Road or Canterwood Drive voted in favor of the proposal, while 46 voted against it. These are the residents who would be inconvenienced by the traffic restrictions, while not benefiting from reduced traffic in front of their residences. Note: Many of the residents, both voting in favor of or against the proposal, would like to see "Neighborhood Traffic Only" signs posted and enforced. traffic\ian\benz exhibit F.dm