TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Anne McIntosh, Community Development Director
Erik Zandvliet, T.E., City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Approve the West Marine Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan Initial Measures as Recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (Community Development Director McIntosh).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the West Marine Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan initial measures as recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) on a six-month trial basis.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
On November 19, 2002, the City Council approved the City-Wide Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP). This Program established a set of procedures to evaluate neighborhoods in an effort to improve livability of neighborhood streets. Since 2003, NTMP’s have been completed in the Northeast, Southeast, El Porto and South Valley Drive sections of the City, as well as eight school area neighborhoods.
The NTMP process includes the following seven steps:
Step 1- Identify Candidate Streets/Neighborhoods
Step 2- Preliminary Screening and Evaluation
Step 3- Engineering Analysis/Preliminary Recommendations
Step 4- Neighborhood Meetings and Survey/Petitions
Step 5- Develop, Install, and Evaluate Test projects
Step 6- Determination of Permanent Project
Step 7- Monitoring
The NTMP Program has been followed in developing a comprehensive traffic calming plan and conducting public outreach in the West Marine Avenue neighborhood bounded by 20th Place, Highland Avenue, 23rd / 25th Streets and Valley Drive.
In June 2016, the City received a petition from residents along the 500 block of Marine Avenue asking to address speeding and safety issues on their street segment. The petition is signed by 30 residents in the vicinity of Marine Avenue. The residents are concerned about excessive speeding along Maine Avenue and 21st Place. The petition also notes several blind spots in the area, especially at a short alley between 542 and 544 Marine Avenue that connects 21st Place and Marine Avenue.
In September 2016, the City received a second petition from residents along 600 block of Marine Avenue between Blanche Road and Flournoy Road (Exhibit 2). The residents are concerned about speeding on Marine Avenue and unsafe turns at 25th Street.
On June 22, 2017, the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) discussed the initial findings made by the City Traffic Engineer and heard public testimony from eight (8) residents in the neighborhood who identified concerns and observations about traffic and speeding within the study area.
On September 28, 2017, the PPIC discussed the evaluation of the City Traffic Engineer, reviewed written correspondence, and heard public testimony from 17 residents. The full staff report with exhibits and draft meeting minutes are included in Attachments 1 and 2. Additional correspondence received after the PPIC meeting agenda posting is in Attachment 3.
DISCUSSION:
The West Marine Avenue NTMP area is located in the northwest quadrant of the city, just north of Live Oak Park. The boundaries for this study are 20th Place, Highland Avenue, 23rd / 25th Streets and Valley Drive. There are approximately 280 residential properties within this neighborhood. This study area encompasses at least one parallel street to the north and south of Marine Avenue and includes most streets that could experience traffic diversion if major traffic calming measures were to be implemented on Marine Avenue. Primary access for the neighborhood is via Valley Drive to the east and south, Blanche Road to the north, and Highland Avenue to the west. Live Oak Park and Joselyn Center are located to the south, while Grandview Elementary School is located two full streets to the north. The City Traffic Engineer studied the traffic conditions and summarized them in the PPIC report. (Attachment 1)
Based on the traffic studies, previous findings, citizen comments, and an evaluation of possible NTMP toolbox measures by the Traffic Engineer, staff recommended the following traffic calming measures:
1. Increase enforcement of speeding and other moving violations on a regular basis.
2. Deploy the mobile speed feedback trailer periodically on Marine Avenue to raise driver awareness.
3. Install high-visibility crosswalks at the following locations:
a. West and south legs of Marine Avenue at Blanche Road
b. West and south legs of Marine Avenue at Flournoy Road
c. North leg of 21st Street at Valley Drive
d. North leg of Blanche Road at Valley Drive
e. North leg of Flournoy Road at Valley Drive, and
f. West leg of Marine Avenue at Valley Drive
4. Install pedestrian warning signs on Marine Avenue at Flournoy Road in both directions.
5. Install two 15 mph speed limit signs on 21st Place between Manor Drive and Blanche Road.
6. Realign the intersection of Marine Avenue and 25th Street with a temporary corner bulb-out to reduce speeds through the intersection on a trial basis.
7. Conduct a survey to determine if a majority of residents on 21st Street between Manor Drive and Blanche Road support a one-way eastbound street. If so, a one-way street would be considered at a future PPIC meeting. (Not recommended by PPIC)
8. Install vehicle barricades on the alley west of Blanche Road between Marine Avenue and 21st Place and study the potential impacts during a 6-month trial period. (Not recommended by PPIC)
9. Install an edgeline along the south side of Marine Avenue between Grandview Avenue and 25th Street to provide a separate walking area.
10. Install bike route signs and sharrows on Marine Avenue between Highland Avenue and Valley Drive.
At the September 28, 2017, meeting, the PPIC passed a motion to recommend that the City Council approve all traffic calming measures except 7 and 8 on a six-month trial basis. In addition, the PPIC recommended the installation of stop signs on Marine Avenue at Manor Drive in the eastbound and westbound directions, on a six-month trial basis. The City Traffic Engineer supports this recommendation, due to the limited sight distance at the intersection. A map of the PPIC recommended traffic calming measures is included in Attachment 3.
Upon approval, the NTMP will then follow the remaining steps as identified in the city-wide NTMP procedures. During the trial period, a before-and-after study will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the initial measures. This follow-up evaluation will be then forwarded to the PPIC at a future public hearing for further discussion to determine if the initial measures should be modified or made permanent, and if additional measures should be considered.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
By way of mailed notices, the residents and affected parties within and surrounding the study area were invited to both PPIC meetings. Public notices were posted in three public locations and posted online on the City’s website, www.citymb.info. Residents in the study area were sent mailed notices to the City Council meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. PPIC Staff Report - September 28, 2017 with Exhibits
2. Draft PPIC Minutes - September 28, 2017
3. Correspondence Received After PPIC Meeting Posting on September 22, 2017
4. Map of Initial Traffic Calming Measures as Recommended by PPIC