TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, Acting City Manager
FROM:
Richard Thompson, Community Development Director
Nhung Madrid, Senior Management Analyst
Erik Zandvliet, T.E., City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Approve Pedestrian Enhancements at the Intersection of Ardmore Avenue and Flournoy Road as Recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (Continued from June 3, 2014, City Council Meeting) (Community Development Director Thompson).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the following pedestrian enhancements at the intersection of Ardmore Avenue and Flournoy Road as recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission:
1) Paint ladder style crosswalk on the south leg of Flournoy Road at Ardmore Avenue;
2) Construct a widened sidewalk and curb ramp at the Veterans Parkway entrance just north of Flournoy Road;
3) Remove vegetation on Veterans Parkway within the visibility triangle east and west of the widened sidewalk and curb to the satisfaction of the City Traffic Engineer;
4) Install advance pedestrian signage on Ardmore Avenue; and
5) Purchase and install a speed awareness sign for this segment of Ardmore Avenue.
In addition, the Commission also recommends the City Council add a Capital Improvement Project for funding and construction of a curb extension, sidewalk and curb ramp on the southeast corner of Flournoy Road at Ardmore Avenue. The Commission further recommends that the installation of a marked crosswalk on the east leg of Ardmore Avenue at Flournoy Road be considered with other pedestrian improvements along Veterans Parkway as proposed by the Mobility Plan Update.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
As shown in attachment 1, recommendations 1 through 5 could be completed immediately and funded through the existing Public Works Operating Budget. The curb extension, sidewalk and curb ramp on the southeast corner of Ardmore Avenue and Flournoy Road would cost approximately $75,000 and would need to be prioritized and funded through the Capital Improvement Program against other projects.
BACKGROUND:
On December 19, 2013, the City received a traffic request from Ms. Amy Brantly, a local resident, to install a crosswalk and stop signs in all directions at the intersection of Ardmore Avenue and Flournoy Road. The petition states that a crosswalk is needed for pedestrians to cross Ardmore Avenue and a stop sign is needed to control traffic speed and for cars to stop for pedestrians.
In January 2014, the Traffic Engineer evaluated Ms. Brantly's request and recommended no change to the intersection at this time, based on low side street volumes, sufficient sight distance, and absence of an accessible path at the intersection. Following the Traffic Engineer's evaluation, Ms. Brantly filed an Administrative Appeal to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission.
On February 27, 2014, the Parking and Public Improvements Commission reviewed Ms. Brantly's request, discussed the Traffic Engineer's findings and receiving public testimony. The Commission voted unanimously to continue the item, directed staff to take pedestrian counts at the intersection, to evaluate possible enhancements of Veterans Parkway pathway connection, and to explore possible speed reduction measures (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION:
On April 24, 2014, staff returned to the Commission to discuss the Traffic Engineer's findings based on the direction received from the Commission at the February 27, 2014 meeting. The pedestrian counts showed that the pedestrian volumes are low and would not meet standard State guidelines for installation of pedestrian traffic control devices; the traffic collision history for both intersections were analyzed and there have been no collisions reported near the intersection from 2005 to 2011; that based on state guidelines, a multi-way stop signs at this intersection are not warranted; and that a marked crosswalk across Ardmore Avenue is not recommended (Attachment 3).
However, the Traffic Engineer does recommend the following pedestrian enhancements:
· Install a ladder style crosswalk on the south leg of Flournoy Road at Ardmore Avenue
· Construct a widened sidewalk and curb ramp at the Veterans Parkway entrance just north of Flournoy Road
· Remove vegetation on Veterans Parkway within the visibility triangle east and west of the widened sidewalk and curb to the satisfaction of the City Traffic Engineer
· Install advance pedestrian signage on Ardmore Avenue; and
· Purchase and install a speed awareness sign for placement on Ardmore Avenue
· Construct a curb extension, sidewalk and curb ramp on the southeast corner of Flournoy Road at Ardmore Avenue
· Install a marked crosswalk on the east leg of Ardmore Avenue at Flournoy Road with other pedestrian improvements along Veterans Parkway as proposed by the Mobility Plan Update
The Commission took public testimony and received comments from the community related to pedestrian visibility and safety when crossing Ardmore Avenue, speeding on Ardmore Avenue, the recent increase in the speed limit on Ardmore Avenue, and the timing of the proposed enhancements and Mobility Plan.
The Commission discussed the various concerns raised by the speakers and the proposed enhancements and unanimously recommended to approve all of the proposed enhancements as shown in Attachment 1, with the exception of the marked crosswalk across Ardmore Avenue. In order for the crosswalk across Ardmore Avenue to be consistent with the Pedestrian Enhancement Policy that would be a component of the Mobility Plan, the Commission supported the Traffic Engineer's recommendation to exclude that one component pending the adoption of the Mobility Plan to ensure consistency with other crossings along Valley Drive and Ardmore Avenue.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, staff recommends that the City Council approve the above mentioned pedestrian enhancements as recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission.
Attachments:
1. Sketch of Proposed Pedestrian Enhancements
2. Staff Report and Final Minutes for the February 27, 2014, PPIC Meeting
3. Staff Report and Draft Minutes for the April 24, 2014, PPIC Meeting