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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0514.093~ * September 30, 1953 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California -------- Bicycle Boulevard--Bryaot street Closure Removal ~nd Replacement M~mbers of the council: REPORT IN BRIEF This is an informational report; no Council action is required. This report descrihes staff's procedure for selecting a temporary traffic circle at the Brl"antJAddison intersection, to replace the Bryant street closure~ BACI<GIIOtJllD At its July 19 meeting, Council discussed the results of the six­ month trial of the Bryant Stree.t closure between Channii,g and Addison, and concluded that the street closure should be replaced with another trat'fic management measure for a six-m~nth trial period a Council gave staff the ~lexibility to choose and implement the most appropriate measure. POSSIBLB TRAFFIC HAKAGEXENT MEASURES Based upon the comments of citizens and Council Members, it appears that the greatest concerns ar~ traffic speeds and the safety of children, especially at the Bryant/Addison intersection. Afte;:­ reviewing a number of possible traff!c ~anaqe~ent measure~, staff has concluded that the two best alternatives would be (a) a traffic circle or (b) two road Dumps. The traffic circle ~ould be located in the center of the Bryant/Addison intersection. The road bu~ps would be installed on aryant, one on each side of Addison, approximately 50 feet in advance of the int&rsection. Only one of these two alternatives would be imp1emented. At the July 19 Council meetinq, residents and staff provided considerable information on conditions at the Bryant/Addison intersection. Staff did not recommend, nor did council direct, ~h~ reinstaV.,ation of stop signs on Bryant at Addison~ The removal of stop signs is one of the primary elements of the bicycle boulevard, so staff does not consider their reinstatement as an option in this current process. CMR:514 :93 , , I ~ o The tra~fic circle and road bump alternatives ~ere reviewed by the Historic Resources Board (RRS) and the Palo \lto Bicycle Advi~ory Committee (PABAe). The HkB did not feel that these measures would be appropriate, due to the additional signing and striping that would be required for either one, and the blockage of the Bryant Street view corridor caused by the traffic circle. The HRB felt that stop signs and gateway features would be most con~i.stent with the bistoric character of the neighborhood. In a split vote, PABAC concluded that the road bumps and the traffic circle would both be acceptable, in that order of preference. PABAC also unanimously passed a motion that "staff consider one or more half barriers, or other alter-natives, to prevent traffic volumes from increasing, if politicallyacceptable.- n:tGKllORROOl> oll'l'ltEACB Sta.!f sent a letter, photographs, and drawings describing the traffic circle and road bumps (Attachme~t I) to all ~esidents of the area. Th2 letter also announced a neighborhood me~ting for September 14. In response, staff received four letters. two of which supported the traffic circle, one which did not support either, and one which expressed no preference. A petition with 24 signatures was also received. It requested that (a) a traffic circle be installed at Bryant/Addison. along with reinstatement of the stop signs on Bryant at Addison, and the removal of all parking restrictions at that intersection; and (b) that the bicycle lane parking restriction on the south side of Addison betwe~n Bryant and Waverley be removed. Fourteen people attended the neighborhood meeting. The unanimous opinion of residents at th~ meeting was that the only acceptabl~ action would be reinstatement of the stop signs on Bryant at Addison. The petitione~s' representative stated that they would accept the traffic circle only if it were accompanied by the reinstatement of the stop signs. Attendees stated ~~at the stop siqns were needed to cont~ol current and future speeding through thE-intersection and to provide increased safety for bic}-~clists and pedestrians, especially children ... alking to school. Attendees 'We.re concerned that the traffic circle would reduce parking; would force drivers close to the curbs where school children could be standing; would not reduce the speed of riqht turns; and would not improve aesthetics, due to accompanying signing and striping. In discussing st~ff's two alternatives, the majority of the attendees ravored road bumps over the traffic circle. SELECTED '!'RIAL MEASlIRE Staff has concluded that a temporary traffic circle at the Bryant/ Addison intersection is the best measure to test for a six-'mont.h period. Stop siqns would remain as they are currently--only on the Addison approaches. CMR: 514: 93 ... --~~-----< 9/30/93 Page 2 • .-.. > ., \ l" 't· ". .. A traffic: circl~ has several important advantages over road bumps for this particular application~ in that a circle fa) does not have the potential to iar injured passengers ~ho may be destined for the Urgent Care Center, (b) improves aesthetics :by providing additional landscaping, and (cl creates the illusion for both Addison and Bryant drivers that the streets are closed, potentially discouraging some through traffic froa using these routes~ Potential traffic diversion c~used by the circle is expected to be minimal and would be significantly less than ~hat has occurred due to the str~et clos~re. The circle will be slightly smaller than the one presented to residents and would thus not require additional "no parking" zones~ beyond those already present at the intersection. The smaller circle would not cause drivers to approach the curb and crosswalk areas as closely as the larger design~ so no special crosswalk markings would he needed or installed. Staff anticipates that the circle 'Would cause drivers to reduce speeds to approximately 20 mph, in order to travel around the circle and continue through the intersection. IfErr SUPS Durinq the month of October~ staff will prepare specifications and select a construction contractcr to remove the street closure and install a temporary traffic circle. This installation ",ill be cOlDplated by mid-November. Respectfully submitted, C.-.t ..J-h ~ 0 CARL STOFFEL D KENNETH R. SCHREIBER Director of Planning and community Environment Attachment 1: september 1, 199) Neighborhood Meeting Announcement (Not curre'[]dy attached to resident's CJpies; mailed previously) CC: Planning Commission Architectural Review Board Historic Resources Board Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce city of Menlo Park stanford University Residents living between Forest; Waverley; Ramona, and Embarcadero CMR:514:93 9/30/93 Page 3 -~- · ~. September I. 1993 ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING BRYANT STREET CLOSURE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT AI its July 19 meeting. the Cit)' Council discussed the bicycle boulevard extension. The Council concluded that the Bryant Street closure should be replaced with some other traffic management measure for a six-month trial period. The Transportation Division has conduded thaI the replacement measure should be focused on the Bryant/Addison intersl~:tion because (a) .-\ddison is a designated bicycle route. (b) it is. ;.n access route to Addison Schoot, and (c) stop signs were removed at Addison in order to implemt:nl the bicycle boulevard. If a problem were [0 arise at annther Jocation on Bryant during the trial period, funher traffic management measures could ~ developed for the new location at that ti me, taill>red !o the specific problem observed. The removal of the closure will h.ave certain predictable impacts, i:rrespecti ve of what measure would replace it. Foremost, the traffic volume on Bryant near Addison would increase to nearly its former le'oieJ before l1le bicycle boulevard extension was. implemented. The proportion uf turns befween Bryam and Addison would decrease to the former level. A ve.rage speeds on Bryan t would not be expected to cbange (nor did they change when the closure was installed in (he first pl,ace). However, speeds would be reduced in me immediate vi-.:.illlty of the replacement tIaffic management device, ~ discussed below. After reviewing a number of possible traffi..: management measures, the Trdflsporta­ tion Division believes mat me two best .alternatives would be {a) a trafflc circle or (b) two road bumps. Th.e traffic circle would be located in l11e center of the Bryant! ALldison interseCtion. The road bumps would be installed on Bryant, one on each side of Addison, z.:pproximate1 y SO feet in advance of the intersection. Only one of these two alrcrnatives would be installed. Attached Exhibits A - F provide illustrations and more detailed descriptions of each measure, including their advantages and disadvantages. We would like to catT). out t!1e Council"s dlrection as soon as possible, and we feel that residents should be involved in the process. Because many people are on 'Vacation in A.ugust, we 'have de\-dope.d the following schedule, wlth public OlJtreach. beginning in September, 29)}lilmil!atA"UlUII! rD.b.laz:;:) PaIoAlto,CA 9U:O 4l5.3:9.~ 4l5. .329.2299 Fax .---~-~.-,------- Bryant Sn eel Closure Septemb"r ;. 1993 Page 2 September I: September 7: September 14: September 15-30: October 1-31: November 1-15: Neighborhood Meeting Histonc Resources Boord m~Ling to discuss the two alternatives. Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the two alternatives. Neighborho.xx) meeting to discuss the two alternatives (refer to meeting details below}. Ci ty departmems review of al tematives; selection of most appropriate a]lernative; prepard.:ion of informa­ tiOl1aJ repon 10 City Coun~il. Preparalion of specifications and contract doctments; selection of contractor. lmtalla.tion of new traHlc management device; removal of temporary closure; beginning of six-month triaJ. A meetin& bas been scheduled ror 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, Septomber 14, ID the Multipurpose Room nr Addison School, 65() Addison A venue. The Multipurpose Room is iu the large-bunding, aCces.'Sible from the school's Webster Street parking 101. The purpose or the meeting is to discuss the road bump and traflk: circle a1tematiYe5. aDd to clJnsider any other i~~ If you are unable 10 attend this meeting, you ma)' mail oC:omments to the Transportation Dh·ision, P.O. Bo. l025(), Palo Alto, CA 94303, or, by racsimiie. to 329-2299. If you have any question~. please ca.n me at 329--2552. Sincerely. CARL STOFFEL Transportation Engineer CS Enc1os'.~res dOIS I I I I I I I r: No Parking Anv lime " " No Parking Anv Tlm().., -0- /' , ,~' I . , , '{ / ' k--... crosswalk m " ~ :r . , Qj =i ;r. '\; ~ " . Bryant No Parking Any Time , r ~~ Any Time ;J "') IIIIIII~, I BRYANT/ADDISON TRAFFIC CIRCLE . L • STOP 11 '" = 15' ~ N • '-­, "," , " i ---, , I t: f' - o '~, . :,=> \ ,.: ";-'''.>:- TRAFFIC CIRCLES Seattle EXHmn c BRYANT/ADDISON TRAFFIC CIRCLE The circle would be installed in the center of the BI)'aml Addison inter.section, as illustrate.d in the axompanying drawing. Local eKample5: Park. Boulevard at Park: Avenu'! (an unusually large and unique application in PaJo Alto); Fair Oaks .A_venue {fair oaks neighborhood :near Atherto.'1,. • Landscapi."1.g provides aesthetic improvement, • From a. rust-a.-i.ce, for both Bryant 'al'.i:! Addison traffic, creates \he illusion that the street is closed, potentially discouraging some traffic from using the streets. • Reduces speeds wlthin 200 feet of iniersection to about 20-25 mph and, through tim intersection, to about 15 mph. • Reduces certain types of intersection accidents. • Circles are a proven, weU~accepted measu!e in some .... itics.. where hundreds have been installeci. DiS8dvM ta&es • Permanent design is ex.pensive ($20.000 to S30,OO)). • All traffic must transition to the right, passing next to curbs, placing walt:mg pedestrians close to nt(lving traffic. • To prevent possible encroachment of vehicles into unmarked crosswafks. crosswalks wouid probabl)l nave to be marked and be located abo!,)t t· ... 'c feet funher from the intersection compared to their 'Usual location. . • Bicyc1es and vehicles required to merge into 12-13-fool lane while approaching and passing the circle. • Landscaping must be weI! designed to insure minimal compromise of sight distance througil the intersection. • Fire engines a.rni large trucks must turn to the left of (ins.ide of) the circle into oppos.ing traffic Janes. For L,is reason, and because Ihrough fire engines would have ,0 slow substantially to pass the circle, the Fire Department does not favor traffic cirdes . • Increased mainterlance is required and, unless an irrigation system is installed,landscaping must be hanel-watered. • Parking would be prohibited on both sides of all fOUT interse;:tion approaches faT about 30 feet in advan.;;:e of tntersectioI1. • Signiog and striping required (2 advance signs, 4 signs in center of circle. possibly 2 00 parking signs on each approach, and possibl:y one ne ..... crosswalk striped or. each approach). • Test installation is required, as this would be the tir.'i.t circle of this type in Palo Atto. • L I' I , \ I f- - ··-r· I') IMAD BliMPS (WeAL STREETS) Mib.1iJ Street Berleeley Oak Avenue Menw Parle , I j ~ . :" -. ->-< ".>"- EXHIBIT F ROAD BUMPS ON BRYANT AT ADDISON Two road bumps would be installed on Bryanl, one on each approach to Addison, approximately 50 feet before the in~""Jon, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Local examples: Midtown area (palo Alto)~ Cambridge and Oak A'ertues (Menlo Park). Advantages • Reduces:speeds 'Within 200 feet cfbump {i.e., within about 250 feel of intersection), and through the intenection, ro about 20--25 mph. Reduces speeds Oil the bump to about is mph. • Relatively inexpenslve ($8,000 [or two bumps). • No parking Iuss due to bumps. • Bicycles and motor vehicles not required to merge, No l1egati\'e impacls identified by Palo Allo Bicycle Advisory Committee. • Very commorily used, with some cities having hundred~ c..f insmllati(ms. • No test installation required, as they are already in use in Palo Alto. Disadvantages • No opportunities. f-or landscaping. • Signing arid striping is required (2 advance signs, 2 signs al each bump, and eaco bump striped with parallcl bars). • Would not reduce or slow Addison traffic. • Occasional noise from cargo bouncing in trllCks passing over the bumps. • Bumps would be located in front of residences (i.e., not in Ihe intersection). • Substantially slows large vehicles, including fire. trucks. Fire. Depanment does not favor bumps for ttjs reason. • AdditionaJ maintenance required. \\'o'Jld have to be remo .... ed and replaced for major street ~urf2cing. .--~-.