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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-31 City Council (5)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE: SUBJECT: MARCH 31, 2003 DOWNTOWN NORTH TRAFFIC INSTALLATION OF SIX-MONTH TRIAL CALMING CMR:192:03 PROJECT- This is an informational report. No Counci! action is required. BACKGROUND The purpose of this report is to inform Council about the upcoming installation of the six- month trial traffic calming pro~am for the Downtown North neighborhood. In December 2000, Council approved a six-month trial of a traffic calming plan for this neighborhood. The plan consists of numerous traffic calming features, including seven street closures and associated signs, as shown in Attachment A. The plan was the result of an intense two-year study of traffic issues in the neighborhood, involving representatives from the Transportation Division and the Downtown North Neighborhood Association. It’s purpose is to reduce the volume of cut-through traffic in the neighborhood, especially on Hawthorne Avenue and Everett Street, and reduce the occurrence of speeding. DISCUSSION Staff advertised this project for construction on January 16, 2003 and received five bids ranging between $91,958 and $49,407, on February 11, 2003. Staff has accepted the lowest bid in the amount of $49,407 and is in the process of executing the contract with the lowest bidder. Since the contract amount is below $65,000, no Council action is required to award the construction contract. The construction is expected to begin in April. This traffic calming project will result in major circulation changes in the entire area north of Lytton Avenue and west of Middlefield Road. The street closures will impede travel through the neighborhood in the east-west direction. However, through routes will still be available from one side of the neighborhood to the other on certain streets, especially in the comers of the neighborhood. The plan purposely does not block all routes through the neighborhood, nor does it prohibit access to/from the neighborhood from the surrounding area. Drivers who still try to traverse the neighborhood in an east-west direction may find it frustrating after encountering one closure after another. Initially, there will be the potential CMR:192:03 Page 1 of 3 for significant confusion and complaints. Accordingly, staff is undertaking a number of activities in preparation for this project, as described below. Baseline Traffic Counts: A total of 35 speed and volume counts are currently being taken in the Downtown North, Lytton and Linfield Oaks (Menlo Park) neighborhoods. The purpose of the counts is to establish the baseline, or "before trial" condition for later comparison to the effects of the trial plan. The City of Men!o Park requested three counts in the Linfield Oaks neighborhood because of its concern that some traffic diverted from Downtown North may end up on Willow Road, .Alma and Laurel Streets. Six counts are being taken in the Lytton neighborhood east of Middlefield, as neighborhood representatives believe that additional traffic on Lytton in the downtown commercial area could end up on the Lytton- Palo Alto-Chaucer route through the Lytton neighborhood. The remaining 26 counts will be done in the Downtown North neighborhood and surrounding arterials. Informational Letter to Residents: A letter was sent to al! residents of the Downtown North and Lytton neighborhoods reminding them of the imminent implementation of the trial project (Attachment B). This follows a letter mailed to Downtown North residents in October 2002 describing the overall plan, the design details, and the approximate construction timetable. Press Releases: Staff will issue press releases to the local newspapers before the trial project construction begins, stressing that through travel in the neighborhood will be difficult and that through drivers should remain on Alma, Lytton and Middlefield to traverse the area. Advisory_ Signs: Prior to the start of construction, advisory and warning signs will be installed at neighborhood entrances along Alma and Middlefield, as well as on southbound Alma and Middlefield just north of the neighborhood. These signs will inform drivers to use caution due to road changes within the neighborhood and instruct drivers that Everett and Hawthorne Avenues are not through routes. The signs will include a Transportation Division telephone number. Lytton Neighborhood Traffic Calming Study: Transportation Division staff recently met ~ith representatives of the Lytton and Crescent Park neighborhoods to begin planning for this study. Council approved this study as part of the Downtown North project. The Lytton study is expected to begin after any impacts from the Downtown North project are known. RESOURCE IMPACT A total of $95,000 was budgeted ($85,000 in FY 2001-02 and $10,000 in FY 2002-03) for implementation of the six-month trial of the traffic calming plan, including before and after data gathering, construction of the traffic calming features, signage, and two Lytton Avenue modifications. Sufficient funds are available to complete the six-month trial traffic calming CMR: 192:03 Page 2 of 3 TIMELINE Construction is expected to begin approximately in mid April 2003 and to be completed by the end of May. The six-month trial period wil! begin when construction has been fully completed, thus running to approximately the end of November. Staff expects to begin the evaluation process at about the fourth month of the trial and to have an evaluation and action report to the Planning and Transportation Commission by early 2004 and to Council soon after. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW A draft environmental assessment was prepared for the six-month tria! traffic claming plan approved by Council in its meeting of December 11, 2000. Staff will gather traffic data before the trial begins and at its conclusion, as well as gather all other pertinent information such as crashes, complaints, and observations, and update the environmenta! assessment. The assessment will be circulated for public review and wilt be considered by Council if Council approves the permanent installation. ATTACHMENTS A. Downtown North Trial Traffic Calming Plan B. March, 2002 letter to Downtown North and Lytton neighborhood residents PREPARED BY: CARL STOFFEL Transportation Engineer DEPARTMENT HEAD: STEVE EMSLIE Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMILY HARRISON Assistant City Manager Planning and Transportation Commission Downtown North Advisory Group Lytton Neighborhood Representatives CMR:192:03 Page 3 of 3