HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-16 City Council (45)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
6
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:March 16, 1998 CMR:163:98
SUBJECT:RESOLUTION APPROVING PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON
MIDDLEFIELD ROAD BETWEEN OREGON EXPRESSWAY AND
GARLAND AVENUE.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council adopt, the attached resolution approving prohibition of
parking on Middlefield Road, at any time on the east side, for a distance of 200 feet north
of Oregon Expressway, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, on the west side,
for a distance of 300 feet north of Oregon Expressway. .~
BACKGROUND
As part of the Santa Clara County Traffic Congestion Management Plan (CMP), the City is
required by state law to monitor certain intersections annually, including the intersection of
Middlefield Road and Oregon Expressway. The Level of Service (LOS) at this intersection
has changed from LOS E in 1995 to LOS F in 1996. When the intersection reaches LOS F,
the intersection is considered deficient under CMP guidelines, and the City is required to
improve the intersection LOS to E or better, or prepare a deficiency plan.
DISCUSSION
A typical improvement to improve intersection LOS would include widening Middlefield
Road for an approximate distance of 300 feet on both sides of Oregon Expressway, to
include one left-turn lane and two through lanes in each direction, prohibiting parking, and
modifying the operation of the traffic signal from the existing split phase to an eight-phase
operation.
However, based on the current traffic volumes, a less expensive and less drastic solution is
to ensure that there are two lanes of traffic on Middlefield Road in the southbound direction
to accommodate adequate stacking; and two lanes of traffic in the northbound direction for
traffic to properly merge from two lanes into one. In order to accommodate these
improvements within the existing paved area, beginning in November 1997 staff prohibited
parking from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, on the west side of Middlefield for
a distance of 300 feet, and prohibited parking at any time on the east side for a distance of
200 feet, in November 1997.
CMR:163:98 Page 1 of 2
These changes have improved the LOS to E and there is no need to prepare a deficiency plan,
at the present time. The Palo Alto Municipal Code provides that the City Manager may
establish such parking restrictions for periods of time not to exceed four months, at which
time.such restrictions shall no longer be in force unless duly established by a resolution of
the City Council. This allows a period of time for testing and adjustment before reaching a
final decision, and is consistent with past practice staff has followed. Since the installation
of signs in November, no objections have been received. Council adoption of the attached
resolution is essential to establish theseparking prohibitions on a permanent basis.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The recommendation of this report is consistent with existing Comprehensive Plan
Transportation Program 17: Make operational and.intersection improvements to ease traffic
flow on major streets.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Prohibiting parking is a minor operational improvement, and is categorically exempt under,
the California Environmental Quality Act; therefore, no environmental assessment is
necessary.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution prohibiting parking
PREPARED BY: Ashok Aggarwal, Acting Chief Transportation Official
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
KENNETH R. SCHREIBER
Department of Planning and
Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:~’HARRI~"
Assistant City Manager
CMR: 163:98 Page 2 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION,OFTHE COUNCIL OFT HE CITY OF PALOALTO
APPROVING AND ADOPTING "NO PARKING ZONES" ON
CERTAIN PORTIONS OF MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
WHEREAS, as part of the Santa Clara County Traffic
Congestion Management Plan (CMP) the City of Palo Alto is required
to monitor certain intersections annually, including the
intersection of Middlefield Road and Oregon Expressway;
WHEREAS, the Level of Service (LOS) at the intersection of
Middlefield Road and Oregon Expressway has deteriorated to LOS F,
and the intersection is considered deficient under CMP guidelines,
which requires the City of Palo Alto to improve the intersection to
LOS E or better;
WHEREAS, there is a need to establish zones where parking
on Middlefield Road shall be prohibited at any time on the east
side for a distance of 200 feet north of Oregon Expressway, and
from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday on the west
side, for a distance of 300 feet north of Oregon Expressway in
order to: ensure that there are two lanes of traffic on Middlefield
Road in the southbound direction to accommodate adequate stacking,
and two lanes of traffic in the northbound direction for traffic to
merge from~two lanes to one.
WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal Code section I0.44;010 enables
the City Council to establish by resolution such parking
restrictions and prohibitions as may be necessary.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as~follows:
~. The City Council hereby establishes a "No
Parking at Any Time" zone on the east side of Middlefield Road from
Oregon Expressway to a point approximately two hundred feet to the
north, as identified in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated
by reference.
~. The City Council hereby establishes a "No
Parking from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday" zone on
the west side of Middlefield Road from Oregon Expressway to a point
approximately three hundred feet to the north, as identified in
Exhibit A.
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9803041~ 0031942
S~T-~Q~__~. The Council finds that this project is
categorically exempt from the California Environmental’ Quality Act
("CEQA") under Section 15301 (minor alterations to existing
facilities) of the CEQA guidelines.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS :
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
CityManager
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
Chief Transportation Official
980304 la~ 003 ! 942
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EXHIBIT A