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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-05 City Council (9)City of Palo Alto C ty Manager’s Rep r TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AUGUST 5, 2002 CMR:369:02 PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMISSIONRECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT ARESOLUTION APPROVING NO PARKING ZONES ONARASTRADERO ROAD AT TERMAN DRIVE REPORT IN BRIEF A significant increase in traffic turning left from Arastradero Road onto Terman Drive is anticipated with the opening of the Terman Middle School in September 2003. The Terman Middle School Draft Environmental Impact Report identifies creation of left-turn pockets and left-turn signal phases as a traffic mitigation. At present, delay and traffic back-up occur on Arastradero due to left-turning traffic and there is an accident history of collisions between left-turners and opposing through traffic. Present and anticipated traffic congestion and safety problems can be addressed through implementation of left-turn pockets and left- turn signal phases at the intersection of Arastradero and Donald!Terman. Creation of left-turn pocket requires at least 9.5 feet of pavement width. The Comprehensive Plan, however, discourages increases in curb-to-curb pavement width while at the same time encourages creation or maintenance of cycling facilities such as the existing bicycle lanes on Arastradero which serve schools, libraries, and other community activity centers. Working within these constraints requires re-allocation of pavement width in the vicinity of the Arastradero and Donald/Terman intersection, which is now devoted to parking, to new left- turn pockets. Staff proposes creation of left-turning lanes of minimum acceptable width and length while retaining minimum acceptabl6 bicycle lane width. Nevertheless, this will require removal of approximately eighteen 24-hour parking spaces, which would be eliminated along the fronts and sides of residences on the north side of Arastradero, and 23 night-time spaces on the south side primarily in front of the Terman and Day School sites. Cycling facilities on the south side of Arastradero would be upgraded, however, by providing a 24-hour bike lane where currently there is a daytime-only bike lane. While the parking spaces removed are used infrequently, residents who abut Arastradero near this intersection have expressed CMR:369:02 Page 1 of 7 concern about shifting the travel lane closer to their homes. Staff anticipates enhanced traffic safety for all modes of travel and reduced traffic congestion on Arastradero through the creation of left-turn pockets and signal phases at the Arastradero-Donald/Terman intersection. Staff proposes to do this without widening curb-to-curb pavement width or eliminating the existing bicycle lanes at this location. CMR:369:02 Page 2 of 7 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that City Council approve the attached resolution authorizing the establishment of no parking zones on the north and south sides of Arastradero Road for a distance of 300 feet to the east of the easterly crosswalk at Donald and Terman Drives; and for a distance of 165 feet to the west of the westerly crosswalk. BACKGROUND In the past few years, staff has received multiple complaints about problems due to drivers making left turns from Arastradero Road to Terman Drive and (to a lesser extent) Donald Drive. There are no left-turn lanes or signals at that intersection. Staff reviewed the crash history and found that a substantial number of crashes related to left-turn movements have occurred at this intersection since 1985o In 1997, the Mid-Peninsula Jewish Community Day School submitted a development application for a new facility with access on Terman Drive. Because the Day School was going to substantially increase left-turning traffic to Terman Drive, the City required the applicant to fund its proportional share of new left-turn lanes and signals, which will be constructed by the City. The new lanes will require that parking be prohibited along both sides of Arastradero Road, which requires Council approval. Staff first sent the no parking zones request to Council on October 4, 1999, with a recommendation that Council refer the issue to the Planning and Transportation Commission (Attachment C, CMR:375:99). The Commission discussed this issue at great length on November 10, 1999. The Commission’s primary concern was the impact on residences on the north side of Arastradero Road, especially the removal of parking. Nevertheless, the Commission recommended that Council approve the resolution submitted by staff. The Commission also requested that staff prepare for Council consideration an alternate proposal with narrower lanes in order to preserve nighttime parking on the north side of Arastradero Road. The Commission stated that, if staff believed this alternate proposal was safe and workable, this would become the Commission’s preferred plan. The Commissioners did not request that the alternate proposal be brought back to them. Commissioners also requested that staff prepare several other alternatives that might lessen the parking impacts and provide that information to the Council for its consideration. In April 2000, staff prepared that information, but the left-turn project was halted at that point due to news that Terman Middle School might reopen on the site, replacing the Jewish Community Center (JCC). This major change in use would potentially change the site access and!or trip generation. The site plans and EIR for Terman Middle School have now been completed and approved, with the school scheduled to open in September 2003. The number of peak hour westbound Arastradero left-turns into Terman Drive will be slightly higher than with the JCC occupancy of the site. One of the mitigation measures in the Terman School EIR is that the City install left-turn pockets and signal phasing at the Arastradero/Terman/Donald intersection before the school opens. The Transportation Division has determined that the length of the left-turn pockets proposed earlier in 1999, and hence the length of the proposed CMR:369:02 Page 3 of 7 -no parking zone, will still be sufficient for the change in use, except the length of the pocket and the associated no parking zone to the west of the westerly crosswalk can be reduced from 200 feet to 165 feet. DISCUSSION Staff has determined that the April 2000 alternatives analysis is valid for compariso.n purposes with the new use on the Terman site, and it is included as Attachment B. Staff’s proposed restriping plan recommended for approval by the Planning and Transportation Commission is referred to as Alternative 1. (This alternative is the basis of Exhibit A of the resolution--Attachment 1). The alternative favored by the Commission (if workable), to narrow all lanes in order to preserve some parking, is referred to as Alternative 2. Alternatives 1 and 2 are illustrated in Attachment B and discussed in the following paragraphs. A comparison table of all alternatives is included in Attachment B. Alternative 1: Staff’s Proposed Plan. Arastradero varies in width from 58.3 feet to 60 feet from curb to curb. It is striped with four 10-foot vehicle lanes, a 13-foot bicycle/parking lane on the north side and a seven-foot bicycle lane on the south side. Parking is allowed in the south side bicycle lane only at night (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.). When cars are so parked, it is not usable as a bike lane. Alternative 1 consists of adding a left-turn pocket in each direction on Arastradero Road at the Terman/Donald intersection, with protected left-turn signal phasing. In order to install the left-turn pockets within the existing traveled way, bicycle lane widths would be reduced to five feet on both sides of Arastradero. Parking would be eliminated as shown in Exhibit A. On the north side of Arastradero, approximately eighteen 24-hour parking spaces would be eliminated along the fronts and sides of residences. This parking area is only occasionally used. On the south side of Arastradero, approximately 23 night-time parking spaces would be eliminated, primarily in front of the Terman and Day School sites. The side of one residence would be affected. Again, these spaces appear to be only occasionally used. All traffic lanes would be 10 feet wide (left-turn lanes 9.5 feet), which is the minimum desirable width for an arterial street. Five feet is the minimum acceptable bike lane width; Palo Alto usually provides at least a six foot bike lane width on major roadways. This alternative upgrades cycling facilities, however, by providing a 24-hour bike lane on the south side of Arastradero, where currently it is a daytime-only bike lane. Alternative 2: Planning Commission Proposal--Narrow All Lanes to Preserve Parking on North Side. Given the existing 60-58.3 foot-wide curb-to-curb width of Arastradero, no design with nine or 9-1/2-foot lane widths can provide sufficient width to maintain 24-hour parking on the north, side of Arastradero. With all traffic lanes at 9-1/2 feet in width,’ the south side bicycle lane would still have to be five feet wide as in Alternative 1. Thus, for both Alternatives 1 and 2, 23 night time parking spaces would be lost on the south side of Arastradero in front of the Terman and Day School sites and the side of one residence. The north side bicycle lane with Alternative 2 would be 7 feet wide (versus 5 feet in Alternative 1), which would then allow parking in the bike lane at night only (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.). CMR:369:02 Page 4 of 7 The bike lane is not usable when cars are parked in it. These 18 spaces would still be lost during the day. Alternative 2 gives residents a slightly wider buffer between moving traffic and their homes than Alternative 1 (an issue raised by some residents). Thus, Alternative 2 would partially address the concerns of some Arastradero Road residents about staff’s proposal, and it addresses a Commission concern about maintaining some parking on the north side of Arastradero. However, staff does not support sub-10-foot traffic lanes on an arterial road, especially adjacent to minimum-width bicycle lanes. Safety concerns with regard to such lanes are especially acute as regards trucks and transit buses in the travel lane adjacent to the bike lane. Arastradero Road is a school commute corridor and carries heavy vehicle traffic. Staff concluded that the advantages to residents do not outweigh the potential negative safety impact of narrow lanes on drivers and bicyclists. Other Alternatives. Attachment B discusses four other alternatives that the Commission requested be provided for informational purposes for Council review: Alternative 3: Add new left-turn lane in westbound direction only (i.e., for Terman Drive only). This is an unconventional design which is contrary to. driver expectations and, thus, may be confusing and result in potential safety problems. Alternative 4: Widen south side of Arastradero Road and add east and westbound left- turn lanes while maintaining existing parking. This alternative increases curb-to-curb pavement width and project costs, and is not consistent with Comprehensive Plan policies. Alternative 5: Split the east and westbound Arastradero signal phases so that left turn lanes are not needed and no restriping would be necessary and no loss of parking would result. This alternative would cause excessive back ups, resulting in potential safety problems and traffic shifting to parallel streets. Alternative 6: Consider maintaining the status quo if the crash history is not substantially different from other similar locations and/or if the accident history is mostly minor . property-damage-only. After examining all the alternatives, staff still supports only the original proposal-- Alternative 1. This design maintains minimum desirable and typical design standards for left-turn pockets and phasing at intersections. Alternative 1 is the safest alternative, in that it provides the maximum potential reduction in left-turn and left-turn related accidents, as well as retains safe widths for bike lanes and adjacent through lanes. Alternative parking for residents is available on the side streets, although it is not as .conveniently located. The demand for parking in this area by residents is not high. The north side traffic lane would be eight feet closer to residences, but Alternatives 2 and 3 reduce that impact only marginally. CMR:369:02 Page 5 of 7 RESOURCE IMPACT The estimated construction cost of this project has increased substantially from staff’s estimate provided in CMR:375:99, to a total of $220,000. This estimate is based on bids received recently for a similar project. This includes all signal, striping, signing, gutter and handicapped ramp work. It also includes a new signal controllerand cabinet as well necessary relocation of a utility box. Furthermore, the bxisting signal must continue to function while the new signal is being installed. The full project will be funded from the Electric Utility Capital Improvement Program. As a condition of approval of the Jewish. Community Day School project, the Day School will reimburse the City for $20,300 of the project cost. TIMELINE The timeline to have the new signal installed by August 2003, to be in place before Terman Middle School opens, is already very short. As a result, staff has begun designing the new installation assuming that Council will approve the no parking zones. Any delay in this schedule for consideration of other alternatives would jeopardize the installation date. Staff anticipates that construction would start in July 2003 and be completed by the end of August 2003. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines (minor alterations to existing facilities). CMR:369:02 Page 6 of 7 ATTACHMENTS A.Resolution Approving No Parking Zones on Arastradero Road and Exhibit A B.Discussion of Alternatives Including Illustrations of Alternatives 1, 2 and 3 C.CMR: 375:99 PREPARED BY: DEPARTMENT HEAD: CARL S~OF~L Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: P-Y,EMII~,Y HARRISON Assistant City Manager Arastradero Road residents Mid-Peninsula Jewish Community Day School Palo Alto Housing Corporation Barron Park Neighborhood Association Greenacres I and II Neighborhood Associations Palo Alto Unified School District CMR:369:02 Page 7 of 7 ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING AND ADOPTING NO PARKING ZONES ON ARASTRADERO ROAD WHEREAS, a study of accidents at the Arastradero Road/Terman Drive/Donald Drive intersection indicates that a substantial number of accidents have occurred that are related to vehicles turning left from Arastradero Road; and WHEREAS, new and existing schools near Terman Drive will cause a cumulative fifty, percent increase in peak hour left turns from Arastradero Road onto Terman Drive; and WHEREAS, left-turn lanes and signal phases are required to substantially reduce the number of left-turn related accidents; and WHEREAS, there is a need to establish zones where parking is prohibited at any time in order to accommodate left-turn lanes at this intersection; and WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal Code section 10.44.010 enables the City Council to establish by resolution such parking restrictions and prohibitions as may be necessary. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby establishes "No Parking at Anytime" zones on the north and south sides of Arastradero Road for a distance of 300 feet to the east of the easterly crosswalk; and for a distance of 165 feet to the west of the westerly crosswalk, as indicated in Exhibit A,attached hereto ’and incorporated by reference. // // // // // // // 020724 syn 0091123 SECTION 2. 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: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT:. ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney Mayor City Manager Director of Planning and Community Environment 020711 syn 0091123 2 EXHIBIT A: NO PARKING ANY TIME TERMAN/ARASTRADERO INTERSECTION ATTACHMENT B DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR ADDING LEFT-TURN LANES ON ARASTRADERO ROAD AT TERMAN/DONALD DRIVES Notes: Refer to the comparison table at the end of Attachment B. The data used in this discussion, including crash analysis, has not been updated since it was prepared in April 2000. This does not change the validity of this comparison of alternatives. Alternative 1: Original Staff Proposal-- 10-Foot Lane Widths (Figure 1) This alternative is illustrated in Figure 1 and is the basis for Exhibit A of the resolution approving No parking zones. This alternative is discussed under "Project Description and Alternatives" in this staff report. Alternative 2: Planning Commission Proposal --Reduced Lane Widths (Figure 2) This alternative is illustrated in Figure 2. This alternative is discussed under "Project Description and Alternatives" in this staff report. Alternative 3: Add new left-turn lane in westbound direction only (i.e., for Terman Drive only) (Figure 3). During the AM and PM peak hours, the sum of westbound left turns into Terman Drive (with JCC present) is 279 vehicles, and the sum of eastbound left turns into Donald Drive is only 15 vehicles (the latter is five percent of the total). Of the 32 left-turn and left-turn- related accidents at the intersection, 23 were caused by left turns into Terman, and nine by left turns into Donald (the latter is 25 percent of the total). The volume of eastbound left turns into Donald and the associated accident history do not support a left-turn pocket and phase for this direction. When left-turn pockets and phaSing are installed on a major road, they are typically installed in both directions because they are warranted by the turning volumes or accident history. At Arastradero/Terman/Donald, staff has recommended left-turn facilities in both directions primarily to avoid potential driver confusion. With left-turn facilities only in the westbound direction, some eastbound drivers might think they could make protected left turns because they see westbound drivers doing it. Driver confusion could lead to possible safety problems. There are no locations in Palo Alto where a left-turn pocket and phase are installed in one direction only. At the Alma/Churchill intersection, left-turn pockets are present for north- and southbound Alma. But, up until a few years ago, a protected left-turn signal phase (green arrow) was provided only in the northbound direction because the number of southbound left turns was so small. Over the years, this caused confusion for southbound drivers and caused enough accidents that a left-turn signal phase Was also installed for the lightly- used southbound direction. Commissioners noted that the eastbound Arastradero left-turn pocket and signal phase are not truly necessary for volume or accident reasons, and asked if they could be deleted Attachment B Page 1 of 7 from staff’s proposal. Their hope was that this would enable a portion of the westbound bike lane to remain wide enough for nighttime parking, or even to remain available for full-time parking. Staff therefore prepared Alternative 3, as illustrated in Figure 3. This altemative results in full loss of only ten of the existing 18, 24-hour parking spaces on the north side of Arastradero. Of the eight remaining, six will be for nighttime only and two are 24-hour spaces. On the south side of Arastradero only 15 of the 23 nighttime spaces are lost. In summary, this alternative preserves, in some form, 10 of the existing 18 north side parking spaces that would be lost under Alternative 1. These are the spaces that the Commission and residents were most concerned about. Staff does not believe that the benefits to residents override the concerns of driver confusion and possible resulting negative safety impacts. Alternative 4: Widen south side of Arastradero Road and add east and westbound left turn lanes while maintaining existing parking_ The Commission asked whether the south side of Arastradero Road in front of the Terman and Day School sites could be widened to provide space for the new left-turn lanes. This could allow the existing westbound through lanes to remain where they are, thus reducing or eliminating negative impacts on residents on the north side of Arastradero. Staff estimates that this widening would cost at least $200,000, not including the cost of right-of-way acquisition in froflt of the Day School. This cost would be in addition to that of the signal and restriping work. The landscape strip, which " includes several mature trees, would have to be eliminated. Due primarily to the high cost and lack of right-of-way, staff did not investigate this idea in further detail, and does not recommend this alternative. Alternative 5: Split the east and westbound Arastradero signal phases so that left tun, lanes are not needed and no restriping would be necessary/and no loss ofp~rking wouhl result. The Commission did not promote this alternative design, but staff believes it deserves brief mention. Instead of restriping lanes, removing parking, and performing major signal work, the east-west signal phasing could simply be split. This means that all westbound traffic on Arastradero Road (including left turns) would have an exclusive phase, followed by an exclusive phase for all eastbound traffic (including left turns). The third phase for Donald and Terman Drives would remain as it is. No changes would need to be made to the layout of traffic and bicycle lanes or parking areas. This would be a simple way to eliminate left-turn conflicts on Arastradero Road. Split phasing is commonly used where traffic volumes are high and right-of-way is so constrained that additional lanes cannot be added (examples are the East Meadow Drive and Charleston Road intersections with Alma Street). The primary drawbacks are longer queues and congestion due to the increased signal cycle time. At Arastradero/Terman, existing AM level of service (LOS) A (before arrival of Terman School) would degrade to LOS C (after arrival of Terman School and with split phase). The maximum peak-hour queue for westbound through traffic could reach three blocks, and potentially more when pedestrians are crossing Attachment B Page 2 of 7 Arastradero. Though LOS C is acceptable, the expected long queues would significantly worsen traffic congestion in this area, possibly leading to greater shortcutting traffic along the Maybell corridor. (For comparison, after arrival of Terman School and with staff’s Alternative 1, AM LOS would be B.) Comprehensive Plan Policy T-39 generally supports Alternative 5 ("To the extent allowed by law, continue to make safety the first priority of citywide transportation planning. Prioritize pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile safety over vehicle level-of-service at intersections."). However, staff does not recommend this option, due to the increased potential "for driver frustration and consequent commute traffic intrusion on neighborhood streets. Alternative 6: Possibly consider maintaining the status quo if the crash history is not substantially different from other similar locations and/or if the crash history is mostly minor property-damage-only As requested by the Commission, staff updated and expanded the crash analysis that was presented in CMR:375:99. The Commission did not actually state that they might consider recommending no action. But they seemed to imply that the left-turn pockets should only be installed if the crash history clearly indicated unique and serious problems. Between January 1985 and March 2000, 23 broadside crashes occurred between left-turners and opposing through drivers on Arastradero Road. An additional nine rear-end accidents occurred due to through drivers hitting drivers stopped in the inside through lane to make left turns. Of this total of 32 left-turn and left-turn-related accidents, only five also involved pedestrians or bicyclists in addition to the vehicles. Of the 32, 10 involved relatively minor injury, with the remainder being property damage only.,This ratio mirrors that on a citywide annual basis. During this same 15-year period, a total of 57 accidents of all types occurred on all four legs of this intersection (including the above 32). The breakdown of the types of violations for most of this 57-accident group is shown graphically in Figure 2. "Auto right of way" is the primary type of violation for a left-turn (broadside) crash. The primary type of violation causing left-turn-related (rear-end) crashes is "unsafe speed". The total of 57 accidents, when computed as a rate per million vehicles entering the intersection, places the Arastradero/TermaniDonald intersection at about tenth worst in the City, which is a poor ranking. Installation of the proposed left-turn lanes and signal arrows is a wise improvement for this location, because it directly addresses the largest clearly identifiable causal group of accidents. Attachment B Page 3 of 7 0 0 O~ Figure 1 Arastradero/Terman/Donald Intersection Staff Proposal--Minimum Standard Lane Widths Page 5 of 7 Figure 2 Arastradero/Terman/Donald Intersection Planning Commission Proposal--Reduced Lane Widths Page 6 of 7 Figure 3 Arastradero/Terman/Donald Intersection Left-Turn Lane Westbound Only Page 7 of 7 ATTACHMENT C City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO: ATTN: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING DATE:October 4, 1999 CMR: 375:99 SUBJECT:RESOLUTION APPROVING NO PARKING ZONES ON ARASTRADERO ROAD AT TERMAN DRIVE REPORT IN BRIEF Due to the substantial number of accidents related to left turns from Arastradero Road to Donald and Terman Drives, staff recommends that left-turn lanes and signal arrows be installed on Arastradero Road at this intersection. The accident problem will be exacerbated by added traffic from full occupancy of the Mid-Peninsula Jewish Community Day School adjacent to Terman Drive. In order to provide sufficient width on Arastradero Road to add the left-turn lanes, the gutters must be narrowed and parking must be removed on the eastbound and westbound approaches to this intersection. Council approval is required to establish the new No Parking zones. CMR:375:99 Page 1 of 4 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council refer to the Planning and Transportation Commission the proposed establishment of No Parking zones on the north and south sides of Arastradero Road for a distance of 300 feet to the east of the easterly crosswalk at Donald and Terman Drives; and for a distance of 200 feet to the west of the westerly crosswalk, for discussion and recommendation. BACKGROUND Terman Drive is the only vehicle access to the former Terman school site and the Terman apartments adjacent to the site. Terman Drive is one leg of the four-legged Arastradero Road/Terman Drive/Donald Drive intersection, located approximately midway between E1 Camino Real and Foothill Expressway. At this location, Arastradero Road has four traffic lanes, an eastbound bicycle lane with no parking permitted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. any day (except five minutes for commercial vehicles), and a westbound bicycle lane with. parking permitted at all times. In the past few years, the Transportation Division has received complaints about problems related to drivers making left turns from Arastradero Road to Donald and Terman Drives, where there are neither left-turn lanes nor left-turn signals. Staff reviewed the accident history and found that a substantial number of accidents related to left-turn movements have occurred at this intersection since 1985. Twenty accidents occurred directly between left- turners and opposing through drivers where there are infrequent and/or inadequate gaps of heavy peak period through traffic. An additional eight rear-end accidents occurred due to the interaction between inattentive drivers and drivers stopped in the inside through lanes to make left turns. In 1997, the Mid-Peninsula Jewish Community Day School applied to the City to move and expand its school (currently located on the Terman site) to a new location adjacent to the Terman site. The Transportation Division and the project applicant looked at various driveway options for the new school, and agreed that the best access would be via the existing Terman Drive intersection. Because the expanded school will substantially increase existing left-turning traffic, the City required the applicant to fund its proportional share of the left-turn improvements which will be constructed by the City. DISCUSSION The existing traffic and bicycle lanes on Arastradero Road are already as narrow as possible, so the additional width for the left-turn pockets must be obtained by removing parking on the east and west sides of Arastradero. As shown in Exhibit A of the attached resolution, the length of the new No Parking area will be 300 feet to the east of the easterly crosswalk; and 200 feet to the west of the westerly crosswalk (the distances are proportional to the number of projected left turning vehicles). This parking removal will affect six residences--five on the north side of Arastradero and one on the south side of Arastradero. All six residences are corner properties and have frontages on side streets. Bus stops are located on Arastradero CMR:375:99 Page 2 of 4 Road at this intersection. The addition of the left-turn lanes will result in five-foot-wide bike lanes in which buses will stop, with the bus blocking part of the outside through-traffic lane. This situation is unavoidable and is present in other locations in the City, including other locations on Arastradero Road. In addition to the signing and restriping work that will be needed to add the turn pockets, the width of the gutters on the north and south sides of Arastradero must be reduced by one foot each in order to provide the minimum acceptable width for the bike lanes. All curb, gutter, signing, striping, and signal work will be performed by the City. Staff sent a letter to residents living along the affected portion of Arastradero Road and to residents of Donald and Terman Drives, explaining the project and its impacts and notifying them of the October 4 City Council meeting. Staff also sent copies of this staff report to the six households fronting on Arastradero Road. Staff has heard from three of the notified households (the single affected household on the south side of Arastradero was not notified of the proposed change in time to have any potential response included in this staff report). One ~:esident of Donald Drive is concerned about increased traffic on her street that is already occurring. The other two residents on Arastradero Road nearest t.he intersection are concemed that narrowing the bike/parking lane on the north side of Arastradero will bring traffic closer to their homes, thereby increasing noise and making it harder than it already is to enter and exit their driveways. Left-tum driveway access may also be more difficult for these two households because these residents will have to turn across the new left-tum lane which may have more vehicles queued up than currently is the case. At least one of these residents is also concerned that parking may be more difficult because spill-over parkers from the Terman Community Center already use the north side of Arastradero Road and Donald Drive. When parking is removed from the north side of Arastradero, some of these parkers may move to Donald Drive or one of the other side streets, which are also the only locations where residents of the six directly-affected households will be able to park (other than their own driveways or garages). One of the concerned residents has a driveway that is too short for parking without blocking the sidewalk. Staffhas already received a complaint about the increased back-up of traffic entering Terman Drive as a result of the recent opening of the new school. Staff believes that installation of left-turn pockets and signal arrows is essential to avoid increased safety problems that could result from the added traffic now using Terman Drive. RESOURCE IMPACT The estimated cost of the signal modifications is $65,000, plus $25,000 for the gutter, signing, and restriping work, for a total of $90,000. As a condition of project approval, the Jewish Community Day School will reimburse the City up to $20,300. The signal modifications are budgeted in the Electric Fund. The gutter, signing, and striping work will be implemented as part of the City’s annual resurfacing project, funded by existing Street Improvement fund monies. CMR:375:99 Page 3 of 4 POLICY IMPLICATIONS This project is consistent with Comprehensive Plan Policies T-28 and T-39: Policy T-28: Make effective use of the traffic~carrying ability of Palo Alto’s major street network without compromising the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists also using this network. Policy T-39." To the extent allowed by law, continue to make safety the first priority of citywide transportation planning. Prioritize pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile safety over vehicle level-of-service at intersections. TIMELINE Left-turn pockets will be installed this fall, and left-turn signals will follow as soon thereafter as possible. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") under Section 15301 of the CEQA guidelines (minor alterations to existing facilities). ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Approving No Parking Zones on Arastradero Road ~and Exhibit A PREPARED BY: Carl Stoffel, Transportation Engineer DEPARTMENT HEAD:. G.~E~D W~A~~ Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Assistant City Manager Arastradero Road residents Mid-Peninsula Jewish Community Day School Jewish Community Center Palo Alto Housing Corporation Terman Library Barron Park Neighborhood Association Greenacres I and II Neighborhood Associations Friends of the Palo Alto Library CMR:375:99 Page 4 of 4