02-07-2006 - Traffic Committee Minutes - 01/17/06•
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Shannon A. Yauchzee, Director/City Engineer
Public Works Department
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION:
0 City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. D-5
DATE February 7, 2006
It is recommended that the City Council accept and file the attached minutes of the Traffic
Committee meeting held on January 17, 2006.
&, f, // "
Prepared*: Miguel Hernandez
Civil Engineering Associate
Attachment No. 1
Reviewed/Approved by: Shannon A. Yauchzee
Director/City Engineer
ZAAGENDA - 2006\Traffic Committee Minutes —January 17, 2006.doc
•
• ATTACHMENT NO. 1
REGULAR MEETING.
OF THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
CITY OF WEST COYINA
Tuesday 3:00 p.m.
January 17, 2006 City Hall, Room 314
Management Resource Center
STAFF PRESENT: Miguel Hernandez, Shannon A. Yauchzee,
Sergeant Frank Harden, and Corporal Chris Mohler
OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas Puchalski, West Covina Resident
I. REQUEST:
City Initiated
THAT LEFT TURN LANES BE INSTALLED ON THE NORTHBOUND AND
SOUTHBOUND APPROACHES OF VALINDA AVENUE AT VINE AVENUE.
FINDINGS:
This is a signalized intersection of minor arterial and collector streets. Valinda Avenue
has 60 feet of pavement from curb to curb. There are two 11-foot wide approach lanes
and one 8-foot wide parking lane on both the northbound and souhbound approaches of
Valinda Avenue at Vine Avenue. Vine Avenue has 40 feet of pavement from curb to
curb. There is one 12-foot wide approach lane and one 8-foot wide parking lane on both
the eastbound and westbound approaches of Vine Avenue at Valinda Avenue. There are
no left turn lanes on any of the approaches at this intersection.
The average daily traffic volume on Valinda Avenue is 17,000 vehicles per day, and on
Vine Avenue it is about 4,100 vehicles per day.
The posted speed limit on Valinda Avenue is 40 mph with the 85-percentile speed
measured at 44 mph. On Vine Avenue, the posted speed limit is 35 mph and the 85-
percentile speed is measured at 40 mph.
Attached is a collision diagram illustrating the reported traffic accidents at this
intersection from January 2004 to December 2004. The diagram shows a pattern of
seven north/south left -turn type collisions and three right-angle type collisions. All seven
left -turn collisions occurred due to driver error. The driver's line of sight was restricted
by the approaching vehicle in the number one lane.
Adding left -turn lanes can be a particularly effective accident reduction measure at
signalized intersections that have a relatively high frequency of left -turn type collisions.
Providing left -turn lanes generally improves a driver's view of traffic, which can reduce
rear -end and left -turn collisions, minimizes congestion, and increases intersection
rar�ar;ty
The installation of left -turn lanes normally requires an additional 10 feet of road width.
There are two methods to acquire the needed road width to accommodate the left -turn
lane. One method is to prohibit parking and stopping, usually done by painting the curb
red. The other, though much more costly, would be to widen the street by 10 feet.
Staff has proposed to re -stripe both approaches of Valinda Avenue to accommodate the
left -turn lanes. The re -striping entails shifting of all lanes, including proposed left -turn
lane, easterly along Valinda Avenue to minimize the impact on adjacent residences.
1
ZATRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 2006Vanuary TC 2006 Minutes.doc
0 1 0
The affected residences along the Valinda Avenue and Vine Avenue were notified of the
proposed re -striping. The notice included a self-addressed postcard to facilitate feedback
from the residents. Of the three responses that were received, one was in favor of the
proposal, and the other two were opposed to it.
Also attached is a drawing of the existing and proposed re -striping of Valinda Avenue.
The estimated cost for the re -striping is about $15,000 to be funded from an existing
Capital Improvement Program project (TP-04507—123.85.8441.7800).
Aside from re -striping, another alternative to adding left -turn lanes is to split the existing
northbound and southbound phase into two phases. This would enable the northbound
through and left -turn vehicles to proceed without conflict with the southbound vehicles.
The same would be the case for the southbound through and left -turn vehicles. The
.estimated cost for splitting the northbound and southbound phase is about $40,000 to be
funded from an existing Capital Improvement Program project (TP-04507 —
123.85.8441.7800).
A third alternative is to install protected left -turn phases on northbound and southbound
lanes of Valinda Avenue. This alternative would require the installation of left -turn lanes
on the said street, which would restrict some of the on -street parking. The estimated cost
for installing protected left -turn phasing on Valinda Avenue is about $80,000. Fifty -
percent of the estimated cost can be funded -from an existing Capital Improvement
Program project (TP-04507 — 123.85.8441.7800) and the remaining amount would need
to be appropriated during the 2006-2007 CIP process.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND PHASE OF VALINDA
AVENUE AT VINE AVENUE BE SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PHASES,
THUS PROVIDING PROTECTED LEFT -TURN MOVEMENTS.
2
ZATRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 2006Vanuary TC 2006 Minutes.doc
.,
J
II.
REQUEST:
Edward Gomez, West Covina Resident
THAT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS BE REVIEWED AT THE INTERSECTION OF
MICHELLE STREET AND NEFF AVENUE.
FINDINGS:
This is the intersection of two residential streets, Michelle Street and Neff Avenue.
Michelle Street is 40 feet wide and Neff Avenue is 38 feet wide, both measured from
curb to curb. This intersection is aligned as a "T" type configuration and is controlled by
a stop sign on eastbound Michelle Street. The attached sketch shows the existing
conditions.
A recent study of vehicle speeds indicates the critical approach speed (85th percentile
speed) is 27 mph. Presently, the posted speed limit on Michelle Street and Neff Avenue
is 25 mph.
The traffic volumes on Michelle Street and Neff Avenue are shown in the following
table:
STREET
APPROACH
DIRECTION
TRAFFIC VOLUME
24 HOUR PERIOD
Michelle Street
Westbound
249 vehicles
Michelle Street
Eastbound
231 vehicles
Neff Avenue
Southbound
299 vehicles
There were no reported accidents at this intersection in 2005.
A State's stop sign warrant evaluation form is also attached and shows that none of the
warrants for a multi -way stop are. met. The primary concern of the requester is that
vehicles using Michelle Street and Neff Avenue are traveling at an unsafe speed when
approaching the intersection. There is no stop control on southbound Neff Avenue or
westbound Michelle Street. Vehicles that travel southbound on Neff Avenue or
westbound on Michelle Street may make turns at an unsafe speed when approaching the
intersection, which will cause them to go off-track into the opposing traffic. In order to
minimize the driver conflict, the installation of stop control on the said streets will assign
the right-of-way to each driver.
In accordance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), stop signs
should not be used for speed control, but can be installed at an intersection where a
combination of high speeds and restricted sight distance exists. In addition, the MUTCD
allows the use of a stop ahead sign when visibility is restricted and the stop sign is
unexpected.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
THAT A STOP SIGN, ALONG WITH A
APPURTENANT PAVEMENT MESSAGES,
W1R1-'TB0'FJN", .AF.PR()ArTJ n1P 1%4fd'TJrT i.r
APPROACH OF NEFF AVENUE.
ki
STOP AHEAD SIGN AND
BE INSTALLED ON THE
11 CT7)TL„T , T" C0UTTi1LVV'%T
ZATRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 2006\January TC 2006 Minutes.doc
CITY OF WEST COVINA
MULTI -WAY STOP WARRANT
Date of Traffic Count: July 19, 2005
Intersection of Michelle Street and Neff Avenue
A. VOLUME WARRANT SATISFIED
1 300 or more vehicles per hour (average) entering
intersection from major street approaches (total
from both approaches) for any eight hours , and
2 200 or more combined vehicles and
pedestrians per hour (average) entering
intersection from minor street for the
same eight hours, with
3 An average delay to minor street vehicular
traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle
during the maximum hour
B. SEVENTY WARRANT _ SATISFIED
When the 85-percentile approach speed of
the major street exceeds 40 mph, the
minimum vehicular volume warrant is
70 percent of the above requirements.
C. ACCIDENT WARRANT SATISFIED
Five or more accidents of types
susceptible of correction by multi -way
stops within'a twelve-month period.
D. INTERIM MEASURE WARRANT SATISFIED
Where traffic signals are warranted and
urgently needed
0
NOT SATISFIED X
33
21
N/A
NOT SATISFIED X
85% speed = 27 mph i
N/A
i
NOT SATISFIED X
I
none
NOT SATISFIED X
N/A
ZATRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 2006Uanuary TC 2006 Minutes.doc
III. REQUEST:
Thomas Puchalski, West Covina Resident
TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE FOR DOVE DAY SCHOOL
LOCATED AT 502 S. LARK ELLEN AVENUE.
FINDINGS:
The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the California Vehicle
Code (CVC) provide guidelines to establish a school safety zone. CVC section 22352
establishes the prima facie speed limit adjacent to schools at 25 mph. Chapter seven of
the MUTCD provides the guidelines to install the proper traffic control devices.
Dove Day School is a private school located at 502 S. Lark Ellen Avenue, along the east
side of Lark Ellen Avenue and south of the Walnut Creek Wash. The street in front of
the school is four -lanes wide. Presently, the posted speed limit on Lark Ellen Avenue is
40 mph. A recent study of vehicle speeds along Lark Ellen Avenue shows that the
critical approach speed (85th percentile speed) is 44 mph in the northbound direction and
43 mph in the southbound direction. These speeds are not considered excessive. The
85`" percentile speed is defined as that speed at or below which 85% of the traffic is
moving. The 85 percentile is often referred to .as critical approach speed.
There is an existing bike route crossing located north of the school and runs parallel with
the wash. It has been requested that the bike crossing be converted into a school
pedestrian crossing. Apparently, the parents drop off and pick up their children on the
west side of Lark Ellen Avenue and the children use the bike crossing as a crosswalk. In
order to establish a school crossing, staff will need to conduct pedestrian studies of the
crossing and survey the residents that would be affected by the parking.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
THAT A SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE BE ESTABLISHED ALONG LARK ELLEN
AVENUE FOR DOVE DAY SCHOOL LOCATED AT 502 S. LARK ELLEN
AVENUE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MUTCD GUIDELINES.
THAT STAFF CONDUCT FURTHER STUDIES ON THE CROSSING.
ZATRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 2006Uanuary TC 2006 Minutes.doc