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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - TRAFFIC CALMING CANVAS ST (2)Agenda Item: 7 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: Andrew Yi DATE: January 27, 2009 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CALMING IN THE CANVAS STREET/LINDA VISTA STREET NEIGHBORHOOD DEPARTMENT: Public Works RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. City Council discuss the evaluation findings of potential traffic -calming measures for the Canvas Streeftinda Vista Street neighborhood. ; 2. Direct staff to continue to work with the Sheriff s Department to provide an effective traffic enforcement program for said neighborhood. BACKGROUND During the City Council meeting on March 11, 2008, staff presented their findings on traffic concerns brought forward by some residents in the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street neighborhood. At that time, the residents' primary concerns were excessive traffic volumes, speeding, and cut -through traffic on Canvas Street and Linda Vista Street. In addition, the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street residents requested closure of Linda Vista Street north of Canvas Street, but the Council took no action on staff s recommendation against the street closure. Furthermore, staff was directed to gather more information on traffic -calming measures, solicit input from local residents, and present a list of applicable traffic -calming measures to the City Council in June 2008. Subsequently, Council directed staff to delay addressing this subject matter until the Benz Road traffic issue was resolved in anticipation that any outcome for the Benz Road neighborhood would be applicable in resolving traffic matters in the Canvas/Linda Vista neighborhood. Further, the Council directed staff to conduct a public meeting with the Canvas/Linda Vista residents on the selected traffic -calming measures. X3-1 DATA COLLECTIONAND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH SPRING 2008 An extensive amount of traffic data has been collected in the neighborhood over the last two years, including daily traffic volumes, turning movement volumes at local intersections, speed surveys, and license plate surveys. The latest daily traffic volumes and vehicular speeds are provided in Attachment "A." Staff has been working with the residents over the past two years to complete many improvements. A chronology of the studies conducted, completed improvements, and planned improvements are provided in Attachment "B." The list includes evaluation of multiway stop controls at fifteen intersections, installation of multiway stops at two intersections, installation of signs/markings, development of a special permit for privately owned speed feedback signs, Sheriff's enforcement, cut -through traffic survey (license plate survey), parking restriction studies, public surveys, and meetings. PUBLIC MAIL SURVEY— MAY 2008 Staff reviewed all possible traffic -calming measures for the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street neighborhood and in May 2008, a survey was mailed to 1,248 area residents with a list of traffic -calming measures. The City received 361 returned surveys with written comments. Of the 10 traffic -calming measures listed, none received more than 30 percent support from responding residents. The list included speed humps, traffic circles, chokers, lane shifts, electronic speed feedback signs, full road closures, diverters, median barriers, turn restrictions, and stop signs. The results of that survey are Attachment "C." PUBLIC MEETING — MAY 29, 2008 As requested by the City Council, staff held a public meeting with neighborhood residents. Over 1,200 households in the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street neighborhood were invited and 42 residents showed up. Staff presented the survey results to the residents. About half of the 42 residents in attendance were satisfied with the survey. The other half were not satisfied with the survey and stated that asking for a potential financial contribution to pay for such traffic -calming measures might have distorted the survey results. CUT -THROUGH TRAFFIC SURVEY— OCTOBER 2008 To address the cut -through traffic concern expressed by some of the residents, staff conducted a comprehensive evaluation to determine the volume of cut -through traffic in the neighborhood. The survey was conducted on October 10, 2008, for six hours covering both peak and off-peak traffic periods (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Ten City traffic engineering staff observed license plates at six locations throughout the neighborhood. The recorded vehicles represented approximately 45 percent of the average daily total traffic volume in the area. The survey results indicated that more than 95 percent of the trips either began or ended inside the neighborhood. A very small number of trips (less than 5 percent) were using local neighborhood 7-.Z streets (Linda Vista Street, Canvas Street, Winterdale Drive) as a short cut between Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway. PUBLIC MEETING — DECEMBER 17, 2008 Staff conducted another neighborhood meeting with the residents of the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street neighborhood at Mitchell Elementary School. Over 560 invitations were mailed to area households that would be most impacted by the implementation of selected traffic -calming measures in the area of Canvas Street and Linda Vista Street. Approximately 20 residents attended the meeting (14 residents signed the attendance roster) representing a mix of the Canvas Street area and Linda Vista Street area (Sunset Heights Homeowners Association). One resident from outside the neighborhood attended. Six City staff and one Sheriff's Department representative, who also lives in the area, were available to respond to residents' questions. As directed by the City Council, staff reviewed all possible neighborhood traffic -calming measures. Three alternatives considered to be practical and applicable were presented to the residents. The three alternatives included speed cushions, vacation and privatization of Sunset Heights, and targeted speed enforcement. Other alternatives such as bulbouts, chokers, lateral lane shifts, intersection traffic circles, and turn restrictions were considered, but were not selected due to lack of resident support and impracticality for installation in this neighborhood. Such measures may require additional right-of-way, may not work within existing driveway and utility locations, may have significant disruption of local travel patterns, or may just be too intrusive on the neighborhood. With the recently adopted City Council policy not to install diverters or physical barriers or close public streets, as a subsequent action item after addressing the Benz Road traffic issues, staff did not present those traffic -calming measures that divert traffic to other streets or cutoff traffic circulation. However, this policy does not preclude the street vacation requested by the Sunset Heights Homeowners Association. Staff also presented the results of the cut -through traffic survey. Some of the residents voiced concern about the City's definition of cut -through traffic and the validity of the data collected. They stated vehicles traversing from one area of the neighborhood to another (i.e., traffic generated from the Winterdale area traversing Canvas Street to access Sierra Highway or traffic generated from the Linda Vista area traversing Canvas Street to access Mitchell Elementary School off Winterdale Drive) should also be considered cut -through traffic. Other residents indicated a concern that staff missed many vehicles and the six hours of data collected was not adequate to summarize the full daily traffic picture. Staff is confident the data collected is representative of the typical daily traffic for the area. The accuracy of the traffic volumes collected during the license plate survey was validated by comparison to traffic volumes collected during the same hours with mechanical tube counters. The majority of attendees at the December 17 meeting were not supportive of speed cushions, although a few residents did indicate they would like to see the measures installed near their homes. Many of the residents did not seem to have a clear understanding or were not in agreement regarding the possible operation of a gate on Linda Vista Street, should the vacation of the Sunset Heights neighborhood be successful. Furthermore, residents will have to wait until completion of the ongoing public process to determine if the street vacation will be applicable to their concerns. All of the attendees supported additional Sheriff's enforcement. In addition, many residents ,in attendance indicated their primary concern at this time is high traffic volumes, which they maintain could only be corrected by installation of a gate. RECOMMENDATION Based on the outcome of the neighborhood survey, input from residents at public meetings, and recorded traffic data, staff recommends the City Council direct staff to continue working with the Sheriff's Department to provide an effective traffic enforcement program within the neighborhood. In addition, staff recommends that no additional traffic -calming measures be installed in the Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street neighborhood. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as directed by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The Sheriff s Department has been consulted and have indicated that a program of increased enforcement for this neighborhood will be included in their normal operations. ATTACHMENTS Attachment "A" - Map of Traffic Volumes and Speeds Attachment "B" - Chronology of Completed Improvements and Studies Attachment "C" - Traffic Survey Results 17-.4 11 IQ b w w W p_ 'n z R ri U-1 0- z z o m L G T I . ou w 0 AIL p J y � � \�(,�-� � ►fir � RN Dz� s 0 r W rl Q Z1 � r 0 Z it �,� ! r•�i 1Yy - 5a'D L�4 4o'It 1 G� 9c- ., AM \. \7 JB2 f�� QCy��y Al l J A31:iV t 6100�� - 2 4 �13u R^ 1 � 2 CJ y ll l 21 z to ,,, ul tt , z v ge, J 3 LM uH NoV- 4z7d:� 1 CAL W 55�� gQ }�y ! tLyn r00 aga $i�c'C{�'S 8 1 b� s it0 •'- � fV N tn N ,- � f�J � •- r N y W 2 V UJ W 4 \',/ —rv��-rentor-mmCs•-warn 441 Ows Q21 — LNIWt�10. r /7-S Attachment "B" Chronology of Completed Improvements and Studies for the Linda Vista Street/Canvas Street Neighborhoods 1. Review of 15 intersections for the possible installation of all -way stop signs - Work to review the locations has included review of collision histories, collection of traffic volume counts, and site reviews. The information was compared to the City's warrants for the installation of all -way stop signs at residential street intersections. Based on the request, the City has already installed 2 all -way stop sign controls at the intersections of Wmterdale Drive and Goodvale Street and Winterdale Drive at Canvas Street. In addition, staff has provided the residents with many references citing the challenges associated with the installation of non -warranted all -way stop signs. The other 13 reviewed intersections are: ■ Linda Vista Street at Crest Heights Drive ■ Linda Vista Street at Summit Hills Drive ■ Canvas Street at Linda Vista Street ■ Canvas Street at Mount Stephan Avenue ■ Canvas Street at Ladley Court ■ Canvas Street at Robin Crest Court ■ Wmterdale Drive at Bambury Street ■ Wmterdale Drive at Anne Freda Street ■ Kenroy Avenue at Goodvale Street ■ Bainbury Street at Gailxy Avenue ■ Goodvale Street at Lakecrest Avenue ■ Stillmore Street at Lost Springs Road ■ Santa Avenue at Deep Creek Drive 2. Sheriffs enforcement- The Sheriff's Department has provided a strong presence with enhanced traffic enforcement in the neighborhood. 3. Installation of additional signs and markings - Staff has installed 10 new speed limit signs, replaced 4 others with larger signs, and added 25 supplemental pavement markings. A stop sign was installed on the terminating leg of Linda Vista Street at Canvas Street (this is not an all -way stop sign controlled intersection). 4. Other speed related measures - The public awareness radar educational trailer (PARET) has been deployed many times and is scheduled for future periodic deployment. 5. Permit for privately owned PARET - Staff completed working with the City Attorney to develop specific permit conditions currently in place to authorize the placement of privately owned PARET within the road right-of-way of residential streets. Attachment "B" Chronology of Completed Improvements and Studies for the Linda Vista Street/Canvas Street Neighborhoods 6. Neighborhood Survey - In May 2008, a survey was rriailed to 1,248 area residents along with a list of possible traffic -calming measures including speed humps, traffic circles, chokers, lane shifts, electronic speed feedback signs, full road closures, diverters, median barriers, turn restriction, and stop signs. A total of 361 completed surveys were returned. 7. License plate survey and traffic volume study - Staff conducted a license plate survey which did not indicate a problem with motorists "cutting through" between Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway. Staff also conducted extensive traffic volume counts and determined the volume entering and exiting the neighborhood streets is consistent with the number of residences those streets serve. 8. Parking on Galeton Road and Stillmore Street - A parking study was completed for Galeton Road, Strllmore Street, and the surrounding area. The study indicated that any additional no -stopping zones would force parking further into the neighborhood where there is already a fairly heavy use of on -street parking by local residents. Residents further requested the City review the possibility of allowing curbside parking on Soledad Canyon Road along the frontage of the Riverview Condominiums to accommodate their overflow parking. Staff has denied this request due to concerns for the overall safety of both road users as well as the residents while parking along the curb of a high-speed major arterial. 9. Other parking related measures - Overnight parking was restricted along Santa Avenue along the frontage of Canyon Country Park. 10. Speed feedback sign installation - A speed feedback sign is scheduled for installation spring 2009 on Winterdale Drive adjacent to Mitchell Elementary School. 11. Weight limits - Weight limits are scheduled to be installed in this neighborhood. A second reading of the necessary ordinance is scheduled for the January 27, 2009, City Council meeting. Page 2 A C� G 0 M 0 N N N in N N N O O N z N ❑ 0 N tn ^� W H Q. r rl U t�Li O O V� in M N � N N '�. 0 kn t o i N N O0 � •� U O k ro � � � O N4 O ,yy� C U � � .� tU• k � 3 C � U •fl � 'O! aki 'p u�M N O fn d c L� r y RS d N v U k tv 42 v C O SCC .r C•] �^ C O k A7 •� � k Q a� U k �a 5 C% �o V; •L N d V Z N +� V 0 0o Ln A CV ^ k U U °° k ^ � N � o v � w � N rn a 0 0 Attachment "C" 2008 Canvas Street/Linda Vista Street Area Overall Traffic Survey Results Do you feel that there is a traffic issue within your neighborhood? 145(38%. ■ Yes ® No 133(62%) Do you feel that the traffic issues could be addressed through an increased effort of targeted enforcement? ■ Yes 179(49%) 183 (51'%,) ®No If any one of the following solutions, or some other solution, is identified, would you be willing to contribute financially to any necessary construction costs? 57 (17%) ■ Yes ® No 276(83%) Page 2 17.q