TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Marisa Lundstedt, Director of Community Development
Erik Zandvliet, T.E., City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Update of El Porto Beach Traffic Circulation Study (Community Development Director Lunstedt).
RECEIVE AND FILE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Traffic counting expenses are included in current fiscal year departmental budget.
BACKGROUND:
Between 1983 and 2009, various neighborhood traffic calming measures were implemented in the neighborhood surrounding the El Porto Beach area pursuant to a series of actions taken by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission and the City Council. These measures were intended to reduce traffic and speeding on Ocean Drive, as well as to reduce the impact of beach traffic on certain streets within the neighborhood. From 1998 to 2009, eastbound vehicles exiting the El Porto Beach parking lot on 40th Street were required to make a left turn onto northbound Ocean Drive, and southbound vehicles on Ocean Drive were required to make a left turn onto eastbound 40th Street between 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on weekdays.
More recently, the City Council’s 2009-2010 Work Plan included an item to evaluate a modification to the turn restrictions on 40th Street at Ocean Drive. On November 16, 2010, the City Council reviewed the initial measures and approved a trial measure to allow drivers to make right turns from eastbound 40th Street onto southbound Ocean Drive, a movement which was previously prohibited. This turn provision was implemented in May 2011.
On February 7, 2012, a follow-up study was presented to City Council that evaluated the trial measure. At that meeting, the Council directed staff to 1) replace existing signs at the Ocean Drive and 40th Street with clearer signs; 2) place a temporary barricade to force left turns on Southbound Ocean Drive onto 40th Street between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 3) replace traffic spikes at the exit of the El Porto parking lot, and 4) bring back a more comprehensive study of all of the issues discussed including using eastbound 40th Street as a possible exit from the El Porto parking lot, and an evaluation of the traffic signals on Highland Avenue to ensure proper timing. Council further requested that the study should include all twelve locations for a period of one year, using weekly intervals, during all four seasons of the year, and on an hourly basis.
Pursuant to City Council direction, items 1 through 3 above have been completed. This staff report is intended to provide the City Council with an update of the work conducted to date, which includes an analysis of Summer traffic counts. A comprehensive analysis will be presented to the City Council at a fully noticed public hearing after Fall, Winter and Spring seasonal traffic counts are conducted and the study is completed.
DISCUSSION:
Since 2008, the City has conducted a series of traffic counts to establish and compare traffic conditions in the El Porto Beach neighborhood. These counts have helped quantify changes to traffic patterns as the result of various traffic calming measures. The most current traffic counts were taken in August 2015. These have been compared to similar counts taken in August 2008 and 2011. Attachment 1 details the traffic volumes on key street segments as well as the intersection of Ocean Drive at 40th Street during these three periods.
Based on a comparison of Summer traffic counts, the key findings are:
• Daily traffic volumes have not significantly changed between 2011 and 2015 on most streets, except on Ocean Drive, 39th Street and 45th Street.
• Traffic volume on Ocean Drive has experienced varying volumes over time.
• Traffic volume increased significantly on 39th Street between 2011 and 2015.
• Traffic volume on 45th Street at the Beach entrance was 15% lower in 2015 than in 2011.
• While weekday volume on Highland Avenue was higher in 2015, there was no corresponding increase in local neighborhood traffic, likely due to existing prohibitions on Ocean Drive at 40th Street.
• Conversely, an incremental increase on local streets corresponded with a higher weekend volume on Highland Avenue in 2015, notably in the absence of weekend turn restrictions at Ocean Drive and 40th Street.
• There is a high violation rate of prohibited movements at Ocean Drive and 40th Street during weekday afternoons in 2015, although it is lower than in 2011.
• Eastbound exiting beach traffic on 40th Street is evenly distributed between left, through, and right turn movements at Ocean Drive, despite existing violation rate.
Staff is not recommending any new actions at this time. A complete comprehensive study with recommendations will be presented to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission and City Council in late Spring.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this report.
Attachment:
1. El Porto Traffic Counts-Summer Comparison