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Home My WebLink About0448.0910., •.• '- october 10, 1991 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California Status of Minor I!"l.ter-section Improvements and Resolution Establishing NQ Par~i~nes on Hamilton Avenue and El camino R~ Members ~f the Council: REPORT IN BRIEF The purpose of this report is to advise Council regarding the status of Minor Intersection Improvement projects and to request thzt council adupt the attached resolution (Attachment 1) approving nev no parking zones or. Hamilton Avenue and E'l Camino Real~ BACKGROUND On March 20, 1989, Council approved the Cityw-ide Land Use and Transportation Study. The study evaluated 69 intersections and recommended impr-ovementG at several of them~ For-funding purposes, the improvements were divided into t .... o separate cat~gories. The lower cost projects were identified as nHinor Intersection Improvements·~ and the higher cost projects were included as ~Major Intersection rmprovements." Both categories were included i:1 the 1989-90 capital Icproverr.ent program (CIP). The Minor Intersection Improvements (elP No. 19702) include improvements at nine different locati.::ms. The improvements vary by location and include parkinq prohibitions, restriping turn lanes and traffic signal changes to reduce traffic congestion and ease traffic flow. The improvements at each of the nine locations, and their current statuses, are briefly described below. Hamilton Avenue/Middlefield Rqgg This improvement project includes restripinq the eastbound (Hamilton Avenue) approach to provide a left-turn lane, modifying the north-west corner, and relocating the traffic signal pOles in order to facilitate the flow of traffic. The citylo'ide Study indicated that ten parking spaces ~ould be lost as a result of this I ., , • - improvement. Staft has now determined that only seven be: lost. Pa!'icing on Hamilton, east of Middlefield, prohibited for a ~i9tance of approximately 40 feet • spaces will is already Ex..",itlit C, attached to the Resol'..!ticn, illustrates the improvl:!ments to be. made and the area where parking prohibition is required .. Parkinq prohibition in ~xcess of 120 days requires Council approval. A letter {Attachment 2) explaining the improvements to be made ana the associated parkinq prohibition, was sent to all residents along Hamilton between FUlton and Byron streets, and to all residents on Mi~dlefield in the imlPediate vicinity of the inters~ction. To date, staff has received one phone call obj~cting to the removal of parking. The caller thought that a left-t~rn lane was not essential and prohibitil"g parking 'Would cause hardship to the condominium resident~ at the south~est corner. In addition, the plans were reviewed by the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC), which had no comments. It is anticipated that work at this locatio:'! will begin in Novembe.r. El CaminQ Real at A~astrader2-1Load This improvement project is to prohibit parking on El Camino Real north of Arastradero# in the southbound direction tor a distance of about 200 feet, to facilitate right-turning traffic from southbound El Camino Real to westbound Arastradero. Parkinq has been prohibited at this location since earlier this year, and no objections to the prohibition have been received to date. Approval of the attached resolution will establish a permanent no par~inq zone. E1 camino Real at Serra Street This improvement project is to prohibit parking on the ~est side of El Camino Real north of Ser!"a Street, in the southbound direction, in order to facilitate heavy southbound riqht-turni~q traffic. Parking '~,jas initially prohibited along El Camino Real for a distan=e of 300 feet in September. ~5 a reGult# approximately ten parkir.g spaces were eliminated; but the loss appears to be of little consequence, because several observations have indicated that parking' demar:d on this side is minimaL Approval of the attached resolution .ill establish a permanent no parking zone. Page Mill Express~ay/Deer C~eek This improvement project is to restripe the northbound approach en Deer Creek to provide a second left-tUrn lane for traffic from Deer Creek to 'Westbound Page Mill, including related chal"!ges to the median on Page Mill, ar.d traffic signal loops and poles. This improvement is shown on Attachment 34 CMR:448:91 10/10/91 Page 2 ~ i j I - Page Mill Express~ay/P9rter Qrive This improvement project is to ~estripe existing lanes on Porter Drive to provide one e~clusive left-turn lane and one optional left and right turn l~ne, including r41ated necessary changes to the ~edian on Page Mill and traffic signal chang~s. This i~provement is shown on Attachment 4. The plans tor both of the e.bove locations 'Wer-e reviewed by PABAC. Some memba"Cs of PABAe felt that duel left-turn lanes are hazardous to bicyclists because vehicles in the inside lane sometimes arift ol;t'Ward, ca-tJ.sinq vehiCles in the outside lane to encroach on a bicyclist's path at the far side of the intersection. In additioTl. bicl'clists may have problems determining the pr-oper lane pcsi tion on Porter with the addition of the optional left-turn lane. other me~ers felt the above issues to be only minor, and the consensus was that th~ improve~ents are acceptable. However, the committee would like to review the situation ~ith staff in the field, after the improvements are in, to assess additional changes if needed. Both ot the above locations are within the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. The improvement plans have been submitted to the county for its approval, and it is anticipated that the ~ork at both locations will begin within the next t~o months. El camino Real/Califprnia Avenue This improvement project is to revise the operation ot the traffic Signal to eliminate the existing east/west spllt-Fhase operation. Since El" camino Real is a state high ..... ay, Cal trans is the lead agency and will design and construct the project. currently, staff is negotiating a cooperative agreement .... ith Caltrans, and will bring it to Council for approval at a futUre date. West Bayshore Road/Oregon Expres_sway This improvement project is to lengthen the existing left-turn lane on the West Bayshore approach~ This can be achieved simply by restriping the existing street. Implementation is scheduled for early 1992. University J,venuefEl Camino Real This improvement project includes, (1) restriping the existing two lanes on ttle northbound off-ramp approach (so that throuqh traffic shares the left-tUrn lane and not the right-turn lane); (2J modifying the signal to inclUde a right-turn arrc~; and (3} moving the e::;:i:::;:ti:-.; traffic signal controller to improve visibil ity of the heavy right-t~rnin9 traffic. At the present time, plans are being prepared for this improvement and will be forwarded to caltrans for its approval, since this work is within the jurisdiction of Caltrans. It is anticipated that work at this location l..-ill begin within the n2xt six months4 CMR:448:91 '----.-----~._ ... :I;e ___ "t. 10/] 0/91 Page 3 :. This improvement project is to lengthen the existing lanes a Until actual experience demonstrates the lengthening the left-turu lanes, this project ~ill not be for implementation. left-turn need for scheduled Minor operations improvements are categorically exempt under the California EnvironJll.ent~l Quality Act. Nc... environmental assessment is necessary. RECOMMENQi\TTON start recommends that approving new no parkinq Real. Re6pectfully submitted, m< Mf~U ASIiOK AGGARWAL City Traffic En ineer Council adopt the attached reSOlution zones along Hamilton Avenue and ~l Camino ~x;ltd;P J;/~ KENNETH R. S~HREIBER Director of Planning and Community Environment 1. esolution establishing No parkinq Zones 2. Letter to the residents 3. Page Mill/Deer Creek Intersection Modifications 4. page Mill/Perter Intersection Modifications cc: Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory committee CMR:448:91 10/10/91 Page. I;, • .I , j j I .. - ArT ACID~~T 1 RESOWTION NO. RESOVJTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CIT1 OF PALO A~TO APPROVING "_~D ADOP'l'ING NO PARKING ZONES ON HAMILTON AVENUE AND EL CAMINO REAL WHEREAS, the City Council approved the city-~ide Lahd use and Transportation Study on March 20, 1989; and WHEREAS, the City-wide Land use and Transportation Study included improvements ~t several locations including the intersections o.f Ea:;nilton Avenue and Middlefield Road, El Ca:!llino Real and Arast~adero Road, and El Camino Real and Serra Street; and WHEREAS, the City is propos:inq to construct improvements at the above said three locations; and WHEREAS, ther~ is a need to establish zones where parking st~all be prohibited at ar.y time l (1) iT. order to facil i tate right turning traffic on E1 Camino Real at Serra Street and at Arastradero Road, and (2) in order to provide a left turn lane within the existing paved area on Hamilton AVenue at Middlefield Road to facilitate flow of traffic in the City of Palo Alto l and WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 10.44.010 enables the City Council to es~ablish by resolution such parking restrict10ns or prohibitions as may be necessary. NOW, THEREFOP£, the Council of the city of Palo Alto does resolve as fellows: SECTlON 1. The Council hereby establishes a "No Parking at any time" zone on the ~est side of £1 Camino Real from Arastradero Road to a point app'roximately t~o hundred feet to the north I as identified in Exlubit A, attached hereto ana incorporated by reference. SECTION 2. The Council hereby establishes a IINo Parking at any time-zone on the west side of £1 Camino ~eal trom Serra Street to a point approximately three hundred feet to the north as identified in Exhibit B. ~JL...1. The Council hereby establishes "No Parki.n9 at an}' time ll zones on the north side of Hamilton Avenue to pOlnts approximately 152 feet to the west and 43 feet to the east and on the south side. of Hamilton .a.venue to points approximately 165 feet to the west and 43 feet to the east, as identified in Exhibit C, attachea hereto and incorporated by reference. SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project is categorically exempt from the California Enviror~ental Quality Act under Class 1 (minor al terations to existing public facilities) and no furtbtr environmental assessment is necessary. INTRO~JCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: 1 'llOO4 rya 004060l --- ABSENT: ASSTENTIONS: ATTES'E: C~ty Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORH: Sr. ASSl.stant Cl. ty Attol:ney 9L1OCW rya ~ 2 APPROVED: Kayor C.lty Manager D1rector of planning and Community Environment Ch~ef Transportatl.on Off~cl.al ., EI Camino Real .- /(--------N-O ~{~~ ~ "-G-· -_ .. -- '-.1 \( ( , /; ------------------_..-' EI Camino Real 300' -----7N"DPARKI r, G I .1 _._" / Serra Stieet I .;" . Park Blvd. / Q J: to =i ro • ... • '. \ . , MIDDLEFIELD ROAD & HAMILTON AVENUE {PROPOSAL TO INSTAll EAST BOUND lEFT TURN lANE) PARKING FOR 152 FE;:T 'WEST OF THE: LH..11 T LIJ>;'E T0 BE RESTRrCT EO ,A,N D SUPPLE!I.!ENTED WITH 'NO PAR1<ING' SIGNS THREE EXISTrNG PIl,RKING SPACES WILL BE REMO'~'ED + CUPS Rtl,)',U.s TO BE:. Ir~CqEA..sEO TO Bt:TTER FA(::'LjTATE R'GHT TUq~S SIG1>JAL POLES r,,: BE J MI::DLEFI::LD ROAD ",00"" ,o.~ ...... .-/._- l I --' -----. J I--J /. 7~-I PA~Ki.'..;G FOP 165 FEEl WEST OF THE Llf.IIT LINE TO 8E RESTRICTED A~D S;jPPLEMENTEO WITH 'NO PARKING' SIG~IS FOUR EXISTING F'ARKi.~G SPACES WILL BE REM'JvED I NSU.,Ll. NEW LOOPS f)(lsrlrJI] Cfl\iTERLlrJE TO B= ::1Er.'C".'tO A"'D PEPl.!.CE"D WITH !J, 75 FOC"T LEFT TI_,HiJ lAr>.iE ....... ! .. o ~Aqf<,:~.G S'G~' / ,. I EXISTING PARKlr~i3 .qESTPIGTiONS F'.)A 43 FEE r EAST OF T~E LIMIT LINE TO BE. ~,lAINIA..INt:D )I,ND SUFPl.EMENTED WJTH 'rJO PARKING' SIGNS I A EPA" , 5 FOOT OF CUR BRED _.~J lL EXfSTiNG PARf<:ING ,1S,ST~ICTIO~lS FO'; 43 FEET E .... ST OF THE LIMIT UNE TO BE MAil'JTAI!\:ED MW SUPPLEMENTED wrTH '~JO PARKrNG' SIGNS r I • " .. -.. _-------..... - TrarJ5portatioo Division P.O. Bex 10250 94303-0882 September 13, 1991 City of }'alo l1lto ATTACHMENT 2 250 Harni~Q{1 Avenue Sixth Floor (415) 329·2575 SUBJECT: ADOlTION OF A LEFT-TURN POCKET ON HAMILTON AT MIDDLEFIELD Dear Resident 00 March 20, 1 989 the City Coone" approved the Citywide laM lise and Transportation Study alIer extensive pubflc discussions and tesflmony. The study evaluated 69 intersections in Palo Alto. and recommended making improvements at severa! inter sections, including Middlefield Road at Hamilton Avenue. The impmvements at Middiefield and Hamilton include provision o! a left· turn pocket 00 Hamilton in the eastbound directioo, due to heavy Ie~·turning traffic. The study indicated tha~ as a ,"suft of making thls improveme n~ 10 pa-king spaces would be Iosl on Hamilton (eight west of Mlddleneld, two east of Middlefleld). We have now developed the improvement plans and enclosed a copy lor your infor mation. In order to accommodate the !eft-turn lane within the existing paved srea, while still maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction, parking on Hamnton. west of Middlefiefd needs to be prohibited on Harr.ittDn Avenue. This win resu~ in a loss of seven parking S~C6S. as shown on the encfosed plan. Please note that parking is already prohibtted on Hamiltoo East of the intersectlon, for approximately 40 feet from the comer. There will be no change in parking on the east side, a~hough we will be improving the existing No Parking sig 0$. We anticipate that this work wfll be done laler this year. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call me at 329-2575. Sincerely, A-z.< 41 j ~ 'Y' rJ. Ashok K Aggarwal City Traffic Engineer ----.,----~----.--.. ------. ---~~"" ... ":'-'~.-.-.---~ 7$ • -l 1 -- PAGE !llL..-L ;:,CA:::/ [,E[ ,r:, ~::;'':::'" :'C:/'.,:' ,' ..... T[K5:::[.~ iC, ..... :t;G[,'f:'Cr'2~.5 L • \ 1 t~ • ,"j , 'J L '."oJ. ".::':",- ~ .. '" : " . . " • <t<' '. • I \ \ t