02-04-1992 - Traffic Committee Minutes - 01/21/92TO: City Manager and City Council
FROM: David L. Nelson, Secretary
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES
• City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. C-5
DATE February 4, 1992
Attached are the Minutes of the Traffic Committee Meeting held on January 21, 1992.
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Attachments
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David L. Nelson, Secretary
Traffic Committee
REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE,
CITY OF WEST COVINA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1992 AT 2:00 P.M.
POLICE DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE ROOM.
PRESENT: Cmdr. Ken Fields, James W. Gurr and David L. Nelson
I. Request:
City initiated.
THAT CONDITIONS ON CORTEZ STREET EAST OF AZUSA AVENUE
BE REVIEWED.
Summary:
The request was prompted by complaints associated with parked vehicles
obstructing the vision of vehicle operators located'at the drive approach to the
senior -citizens' housing complex located on. the north side of Cortez Street 300
feet east of Azusa Avenue. The installation of 50 feet of restricted parking
east and west of the senior citizens' complex drive approach will provide a
minimum of 283. feet of sight distance.
TRAFFIC -COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT PARKING BE RESTRICTED FOR 50 FEET EAST AND WEST OF
THE DRIVE APPROACH LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF
CORTEZ STREET 300 FEET EAST OF AZUSA AVENUE.
II. Request:
Judy Young, 842 South California Avenue, West Covina 91790-4002.
THAT THE ESTABLISHED SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE
BETWEEN CAMERON AVENUE AND MERCED AVENUE BE
REDUCED.
Summary:
The request was prompted by the perception that the established posted speed
limit is too high and that vehicles often exceed this speed limit. The
established speed limit was approved subsequent to a Traffic and Engineering
Study pursuant ,to the California Vehicle Code and the California State Traffic
Manual. The Traffic Committee recommended that the speed limit along this
segment of California. Avenue be established at 40 mph which is also the
critical. approach speed (85 %).
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REQUEST BE DENIED.
THAT THE POLICE. DEPARTMENT INCREASE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BETWEEN
CAMERON AVENUE AND MERCED AVENUE.
jentcsum
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Traffic Committee Meeting
January 21, 1992
I. R nest:
City initiated.
THAT CONDITIONS ON CORTEZ STREET EAST OF AZUSA AVENUE
BE REVIEWED.
Findin s:
The request was prompted by complaints associated with parked vehicles
obstructing the vision of vehicle operators located at the drive approach to the
senior citizens' housing complex located on the north side of Cortez Street 300
feet east of Azusa Avenue. This segment of Cortez Street has a pavement
width of 40 feet curb -to -curb and parking is unrestricted along the north and
south sides. The critical approach speed (85 %) along this segment of Cortez
Street is 42 mph. The safe stopping sight. distance on wet pavement at 42 mph
is 283 feet.
Staff has conducted a field investigation and constructed a scaled drawing
illustrating visual lines of sight between the vehicle operator at the drive
approach and the operators along the east and westbound approach lanes of
Cortez Street. The intent of this type of drawing is to reveal where curb -
parked vehicles might interfere with these vehicle operators seeing each other.
The: scaled drawing is constructed on a copy of an aerial photograph of the
location. The length of the lines of sight. drawn on the aerial photograph are
directly proportioned to the safe stopping sight distance on wet pavement at the
critical approach speed (85 %), which in this case is 283 feet. The ends of
these lines denote the positions of the vehicle operator at the drive approach
and the operators of the approaching vehicles along Cortez Street at points
where each. can safely see the. other and act accordingly. However, even if the
vehicle operator at the drive approach does begin to proceed into the travel
lane along Cortez Street, 283 feet is still sufficient distance for the operator on
Cortez Street to safely stop and avoid a collision.
This drawing revealed that the installation of 50 feet of restricted parking east
and west of the senior citizens' complex drive approach will provide a
minimum of 283 feet of sight distance from the drive approach in the east and
westerly directions.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT PARKING BE RESTRICTED FOR 50 FEET EAST AND WEST OF
THE DRIVE APPROACH LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF
CORTEZ STREET 300 FEET EAST OF AZUSA AVENUE.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT PARKING BE RESTRICTED FOR 50 FEET EAST AND WEST OF
THE DRIVE APPROACH LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF
CORTEZ STREET 300 FEET EAST OF AZUSA AVENUE.
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Traffic Committee Meeting
January 21, 1992
II. Request:
Judy Young, 842 South California Avenue, West Covina 91790-4002.
THAT THE ESTABLISHED SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE
BETWEEN CAMERON;! AVENUE AND MERCED AVENUE BE
REDUCED.
Findings:
The request was prompted by the perception that the established posted speed
limit is too high and that vehicles often exceed this speed limit. California
Avenue is a residential collector with 40 feet -of pavement curb -to -curb. This
segment of California Avenue has two travel lanes and curb parking permitted
along most of the east and west curblines.
The established speed..limit was approved -subsequent to,a Traffic and
Engineering Study pursuant to the California Vehicle Code and the California
State Traffic Manual. The Traffic and Engineering Study was reviewed by the
Traffic. -Committee on March 14, 1989. The critical approach speed (85 %)
along this segment of California Avenue was 40 mph. The Traffic Committee
recommended that the speed limit along this segment.of California Avenue be
established at 40 mph.
On January 17, 1992, staff conducted a spot speed study for comparison with
the 1989 study. Staff recorded the speeds of 226 vehicles along this segment
of California Avenue. The individual speeds of those vehicles varied between
15 and 48 mph. The critical approach speed (85 %) was 41 mph. The average
speed (50 %) was 37 mph and 82 % of the .vehicles were traveling at speeds
between 32 and 41 mph. 'There has apparently been little change in the speeds
of the vehicles proceeding along this segment of California Avenue.
According to the California State Traffic Manual:
"Speed limits should be established
preferably at or near the 85 percentile
speed, which is defined as . that speed at or
below which 85 percent of the traffic is
moving. Speed limits higher than 85
percentile are not generally considered
reasonable and safe and limits below the
85 percentile do not facilitate the orderly
movement of traffic. Speed limits
established on this basis conform to the
consensus of those who drive.highways as
to what speed is reasonable and safe, and
are not dependent on the judgement of one
or a few individuals. "
One of the most prevalent myths around is that motorists will adjust their
speed in response to the' numbers posted on speed limit signs regardless of
roadway and traffic conditions. Before and after studies consistently
demonstrate that there are not significant changes in traffic speeds following
the posting of new or revised speed limits. Furthermore, no published
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Traffic Committee Meeting
January 21, 1992
II. Re nest: Judy Young ... contd
research findings have established any direct relationship between posted speed
limits and accident frequency, although short-term reductions have resulted
from saturation enforcement efforts directed at speed and other traffic law
violations. Police agencies necessarily rely on reasonable and well recognized
speed laws to control the unreasonable violator whose behavior is clearly out
of line with the normal flow of traffic.
Contrary to popular belief, speed in itself is not a major cause of accidents. In
fact, there is a consensus of professional opinions that many speed -related
accidents result from both excessively low and high speeds.
Realistic speed limits - that is, speed limits that reflect the normal actions of
the reasonable driver, are useful for several reasons:
• They invite public compliance by conforming to the behavior of
the majority.
• They give a clear reminder of reasonable and prudent speeds to
non -conforming violators.
• They offer an effective enforcement tool to the police.
• They tend to minimize the public antagonism toward police
enforcement that results from obviously unreasonable
regulations.
On the other hand, unrealistic speed limits can be detrimental:
• They do not invite voluntary compliance, since they do not
reflect the behavior of the majority.
• They make the behavior of the majority unlawful.
• They create public antagonism toward the police, since the
police are enforcing a "speed trap".
• They create a bad image for a community in the eyes of the
tourists.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REQUEST BE DENIED.
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BETWEEN
CAMERON AVENUE AND MERCED AVENUE.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REQUEST BE DENIED.
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BETWEEN
CAMERON AVENUE AND MERCED AVENUE.
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Traffic Committee Meeting
March 14, 1989
I. Request:
City Initiated
TRAFFIC AND ENGINEERING STUDY
OF CALIFORNIA AVENUE.
Findings:
The following is a summary of
the pertinent items
required
in the Traffic and Engineering
Study.
a. PREVAILING SPEEDS
Limits
Pace 85Th PCT
Posted
Recommended
West Covina Pky-Service
32-41 40
35
MPH
40
MPH
Service -Cameron
32-41 40
35
MPH
40
MPH
Cameron -Vine
30-39 40
35
MPH
40
MPH
Vine -Merced
30-39 40
35
MPH
40
MPH
Merced-Francisquito
29-38 38
35
MPH
35
MPH
b. 1988
ACCIDENT RATES
Mid -Block Accident Rates
Ci ty
Accident
No. of Rate
Limits Accid. A/MVM
West Covina Pky-Service 0 0
Service -Cameron 0 0
Cameron -Merced 1 1.05
Merced-Francisquito 2 1.18
Intersection Accident Rates
Cross Street
West Covina Parkway
Service Avenue
Cameron Avenue
Merced Avenue
Ci ty
Accident
No. of
Rate
Accid.
A/MV
2
0.21
5
1.71
6
0.73
6
0.68
County Expected
Accident Rate
A/MVM
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
County Expected
Accident Rate
A/MV
0.70
0.51
1.10
0.97
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Traffic Committee Meng •
-_ March 14, 1989
County guidelines classify as excessive any accident rate that
is 1.6 times the predicted rate as determined from the county-
wide experience charts. A segment with an excessive accident
rate may justify a 5 MPH reduction in the posted speed limit.
None of the mid -block rates is excessive. The accident rate
at the intersection of California and Service is excessive with
1.71 accidents per million vehicles entering the intersection.
c• Conditions Not Readily Apparent to the Driver
Alignment - The entire length of California Avenue is
a ned—in a single tangent.
Grade - Maximum grade throughout is 0.9%.
Roadside Friction - Most of the adjoining property
is residential with driveway access to the right-of-way.
There are 20 side street "T" intersections, one two-
way stop and four signalized intersections. The sig-
nalized intersections are located at West Covina Park-
way, Cameron, Merced and Francisquito. Sidewalks are
existing along most of the frontage of California
Avenue.
( California School and Wescove School are located along
the westerly frontage. Both schools have elementary
school age children and are posted with a 25 MPH speed
limit when children are present.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BE ESTABLISHED AS
SHOWN BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS:
WEST COVINA PARKWAY TO MERCED 40 MPH
THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BE RETAINED AS SHOWN
BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS:
MERCED TO FRANCISQUITO 35 MPH
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BE ESTABLISHED AS
SHOWN BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS:
WEST COVINA PARKWAY TO MERCED 40 MPH
THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON CALIFORNIA AVENUE BE RETAINED AS
SHOWN BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS:
MERCED TO FRANCISQUITO 35 MPH
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Traffic Committee Meeting
January 21, 1992
III. Request:
Alisa Gailey, Street Printworks, 952 South Glendora Avenue 91790.
THAT A 40-FOOT SEGMENT OF ONE HOUR PARKING LIMITATION
BE INSTALLED AT 952 SOUTH GLENDORA AVENUE.
Findings:
This business is located along the east side of Glendora. Avenue north of Vine
Avenue. The request was prompted by the frequent parking of large trucks
along the curbline abutting this business. The manager feels these large
vehicles block the view of his business from potential customers driving along
Glendora Avenue. The manager also reports many vehicle operators parking
for extended periods while their final destination is the Employment
Development Department located along the west side of Glendora Avenue.
The City has, in the past, installed time limit parking restrictions upon request
provided the owners or occupants of a commercial building feels that extended
duration parking is detrimental to their business. This type of parking
restriction is generally only installed along the segment of curbline abutting the
property of the requester. There are two parking stalls available abutting this
business for a total of 40 feet of curb parking. The vigorous enforcement of a
one hour parking limitation is difficult at best. In many instances the primary
benefit is voluntary compliance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT A 40-FOOT SEGMENT OF ONE HOUR PARKING LIMITATION
BE INSTALLED AT 952 SOUTH GLENDORA AVENUE.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REQUEST BE HELD OVER FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY.
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