Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Lisa Petersen
Assistant Public Works Director/Town Engineer
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Director
of Parks and Public
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 12/17/2019
ITEM NO: 12
DATE: December 11, 2019
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive the Report on the Permanent Installation of Traffic Calming Devices
for College Avenue Between Jones Road and Pageant Way
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report on the permanent installation of traffic calming devices for College Avenue
between Jones Road and Pageant Way.
BACKGROUND:
Residents of College Avenue between Jones Road and Pageant Way submitted a petition in
2016 to be considered for a traffic calming project. Staff reviewed the petition, then collected
speed and traffic count data and determined this street qualified for the traffic calming
program because of vehicle speeds. This project request was placed on a waiting list while
other traffic calming projects were being processed and/or completed.
Staff conducted neighborhood meetings on May 18, July 20, and December 6, 2017 and
residents, including residents of other segments of College Avenue, College Terrace, Jones
Road, Reservoir Road, Prospect Avenue, Oak Grove Avenue and Euclid Avenue were mailed
notices of the meetings. Staff presented the data on the traffic speeds and the Los Gatos -
Monte Sereno Police Department (LGMSPD) and Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD)
were present at each meeting to provide feedback on the impact of the traffic calming devices
on the neighborhood’s streets and to answer residents’ questions and concerns. The attending
neighborhood residents, including residents of College Terrace, Prospect Avenue, Oak Grove
Avenue and Euclid Avenue, discussed their concerns regarding speeding, traffic
enforcement, the behavior of bicyclists and pedestrians on College Avenue and other traffic
issues in the neighborhood. Reducing vehicle speeds on College Avenue was deemed the
highest priority of the residents in attendance.
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SUBJECT: Accept the Report on the Permanent Installation of Traffic Calming Devices for
College Avenue Between Jones Road and Pageant Way
DATE: December 11, 2019
BACKGROUND (continued):
The neighborhood voted on and approved a proposed solution to install two speed humps along
College Avenue between Jones Road and Pageant Way and a short double yellow centerline along
the curve near 59 College Avenue. On April 3, 2018, the Town Council approved the temporary
measures.
DISCUSSION:
Staff gathered traffic data to assess the effectiveness of these temporary traffic calming devices
approximately seven months after the speed hump installation was complete. The posted
speed limit in this neighborhood is 20 mph. The traffic data collected shows an improvement in
slowing down vehicle speeds. The 85th percentile speed data shows a reduction in traffic
speeds of 2 to 3 mph from 28 to 26 mph and from 26 to 23 mph. The data collected
demonstrates that these temporary traffic calming devices have been effective in slowing down
vehicles on College Avenue although the reduced 85th percentile speed near 105 College
Avenue is still slightly over (one mph over) the desired threshold speed per Town’s Traffic
Calming Policy. These results are similar to how speed humps have reduced speeds on other
residential streets in Los Gatos.
This fall, a neighborhood vote was conducted to see if residents supported changing the project
status from temporary to permanent and 12 responses were received from 31 residents polled,
a return rate of 39%. The outcome of the vote exceeded the required super majority support
rate of the Town’s Traffic Calming policy, with 83% approving of the proposal and 17%
disapproving.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council receive the report on the permanent installation of traffic
calming devices for College Avenue between Jones Road and Pageant Way.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatively, the Town Council could direct staff to:
A. Remove the improvements.
B. Extend the evaluation period by a defined timeframe.
Staff does not recommend either of these alternatives as the response from the neighborhood
demonstrates the desirability of the improvements.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: Accept the Report on the Permanent Installation of Traffic Calming Devices for
College Avenue Between Jones Road and Pageant Way
DATE: December 11, 2019
COORDINATION:
This project has been coordinated with the College Avenue residents between Jones Road and
Pageant Way as outlined in this memorandum and with the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police
Department and Santa Clara County Fire Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The improvements have been installed and there is no additional cost for this project .
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA but is Categorically Exempt (Section 15301c). A Notice
of Exemption will not be filed.