TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Anne McIntosh, Community Development Director
Erik Zandvliet, T.E., City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT: Title
Approve the Prohibition of Left Turns from Northbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto Westbound 11th Street as Recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (Community Development Director McIntosh).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the prohibition of left turns from northbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto westbound 11th Street as recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
In 1997, the City of Manhattan Beach requested that Caltrans consider the prohibition of northbound left turns on Sepulveda Boulevard at 11th Street during the weekday PM peak period. The Caltrans Office of Traffic Investigations concluded that such a prohibition would, 1) adversely impact the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Manhattan Beach Boulevard due to the diversion of left turning vehicles, and 2) result in no anticipated benefit to traffic on Sepulveda Boulevard. However, Caltrans indicated they would consider the turn restriction, if the City first provided dual northbound left turns at Sepulveda Boulevard and Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
On May 19, 1998, the City Council considered a petition by residents on 11th Street to close 11th Street just west of Sepulveda Boulevard due to commuters using 11th Street in order to avoid the congested intersection at Manhattan Beach Boulevard to the north. The City Council approved the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) recommendation on November 11, 1997, to deny the request to close 11th Street west of Sepulveda Boulevard, and to install speed limit signs on 11th Street.
On July 26, 1998, the City again requested that Caltrans impose a turn restriction from northbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto 11th Street between 3pm and 7pm weekdays. The letter indicated that the City was taking steps to obtain street dedications to provide dual northbound left turn lanes on Sepulveda Boulevard onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Caltrans responded on August 18, 1998, stating that no further action would be taken until the City could give a more solid commitment.
On August 5, 2008, the City forwarded a petition to Caltrans from 11th Street residents requesting “No Left Turns from 3pm to 7pm” restrictions for the northbound left turn on Sepulveda Boulevard onto 11th Street. The petition also asked that the northbound left turn be prohibited at all times with a center median at such time as the City constructs dual northbound left turns at Manhattan Beach Boulevard. On August 22, 2008, Caltrans supported the petition request, and installed “NO LEFT TURN 3PM TO 7PM MON-FRI” turn restrictions in 2008.
In March 2018, the City received a petition from residents along 11th Street between Dianthus Street and Sepulveda Boulevard to prohibit left turns from northbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto westbound 11th Street at all times. The residents are concerned about the high volume of traffic and excessive speed of motorists that use 11th Street as a bypass around the intersection at Sepulveda Boulevard and Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
On September 27, 2018, the PPIC considered this petition, reviewed the Traffic Engineer’s analysis, heard public testimony, and recommended prohibiting left turns from northbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto westbound 11th Street at all times. Should the City Council support this petition, staff will make an official request to the State of California Department of Transportation to post signs and markings to prohibit this northbound left turn movement.
Supporting documents for the above actions are included in Attachment #1.
DISCUSSION:
The PPIC staff report (Attachment #1) describes the existing conditions and traffic engineering analysis of the subject area in detail. Northbound left turn movements from Sepulveda Boulevard onto 11th Street are currently restricted between 3-7pm Monday through Friday. Similar northbound left turn movements are also restricted on Sepulveda Boulevard at 10th Street. The analysis found that there were seven total collisions at the intersection, but only one collision involving northbound left turning vehicles during a six-year study period.
Traffic counts conducted in the neighborhood show that approximately 450 trips, or about 50% of the daily traffic on 11th street, originates from the northbound left turn on Sepulveda Boulevard onto 11th Street. If this left turn is prohibited at all times, it would likely result in a diversion of these trips to adjacent streets, including Manhattan Beach Boulevard and 8th, 9th, and 10th Streets. In addition, residents on 11th Street would be forced to drive farther on other neighborhood streets to reach their homes, increasing traffic volumes on those streets. While is it reasonable for left turning vehicles to remain on major streets like Manhattan Beach Boulevard, up to an additional 100 vehicles per day would be expected on 10th Street and other parallel streets. However, this increase in volume would not change the level-of service for surrounding streets or intersections.
The City has a funded capital project to construct dual northbound turn lanes on Sepulveda Boulevard at Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Design is approximately 75% complete, and is scheduled for construction next summer. The design includes a full length raised median on Sepulveda Boulevard through the 11th Street intersection, which will prohibit left turns in all directions. By extending the northbound left turn pocket for Manhattan Beach Boulevard through the 11th Street intersection, it would provide greater left turn capacity, thereby improving the ability for motorists to make left turns onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard. This, in turn, will reduce the inclination for drivers to cut through the neighborhood on 10th Street or 11th Street.
Based on high non-resident traffic volume on 11th Street at all times of the day and pending construction of dual northbound left turn lanes on Sepulveda Boulevard at Manhattan Beach Boulevard, both the PPIC and staff recommend the prohibition of northbound left turns on Sepulveda Boulevard onto 11th Street. If approved by City Council, the City will request that Caltrans post a temporary northbound turn prohibition at 11th Street until such time as the dual left turn pockets at Manhattan Beach Boulevard are constructed. After posting the prohibition, staff will conduct follow-up traffic counts, and if significant traffic diversion is found, the matter will be returned to the PPIC for discussion at a public meeting.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
By way of mailed notices, the residents and affected parties within and surrounding the study area have been invited to the City Council meeting. Public notices have been posted in three public locations and posted online on the City’s website, www.citymb.info.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. PPIC Report with Exhibits (September 27, 2018)
2. Draft PPIC Minutes Excerpts (September 27, 2018)
3. Correspondence Received After Publication of PPIC Report