Item 14 Staff Report Winchester Boulevard/Daves Avenue Traffic Studyr
MEETING DATE: 09/04/01
ITEM NO. I
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: AUGUST 28, 2001
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN J UNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: WINCHESTER BOULEVARD/DAVES AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY
A. RECEIVE CONSULTANT'S REPORT ON ALTERNATIVE TRAFFIC
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
B. DETERMINE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AND DIRECT STAFF TO
PROCEED WITH DESIGN.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive consultant's report on alternative traffic safety improvements.
2. Determine preferred alternative and direct staff to proceed with design.
BACKGROUND:
On March 19, 2001 the Council authorized the Town Manager to negotiate and execute a
Professional Services Agreement with the firm of CCS Planning & Engineering, Inc. of San Jose to
perform a traffic engineering study for an amount up to $25,000 that would be shared equally with
the City of Monte Sereno. The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate up to six alternatives that
were identified by staff to improve pedestrian safety along Winchester Boulevard in the vicinity of
the Daves Avenue intersection with a particular focus on the children walking to and from the Daves
Avenue Elementary School. Initial work on the study consisting of data collection and analysis
occurred in mid -May, followed by a kick-off meeting of interested stakeholders in mid -June to pin
down the scope of the study, deliverables, milestones, etc. The consultant then facilitated two
Saturday morning public workshops held at the Daves Avenue school on July 14 and August 11 at
which between 30 and 40 participants attended each. Since the second meeting, the consultant has
prepared his report that includes a discussion of the project background and relevant traffic data, a
summary of the two public workshops, and an analysis of two alternatives that have emerged from
the original list of six and that the consultant believes are the most preferred alternatives in terms of
meeting the goals of the project. The consultant is now prepared to present his report to the Town
Council at your meeting, and the Monte Sereno City Council on September 6.
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PREPARED BY: Laarry Perin lv Le White -0-k
Interim Director of Parks & Public Works
Interim Town Engine r
Reviewed by: 9r-- Attorney SC --Finance Revised: 8/31/01 10:47
pm
Reformatted: 5/30/01 N:ISHARE\Winchester-Daves Status Rpt.wpd
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: WINCHESTER BOULEVARD/DAVES AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY
August 28, 2001
DISCUSSION:
The six alternatives initially identified by staff, evaluated by the consultant, and presented at the first
public workshop included the following:
1. Installation of a full traffic signal to control the Winchester/Daves and
Winchester/Farley Rd. West intersections.
2. Installation of a pedestrian activated crossing signal at the Winchester/Daves
intersection.
3. Installation of flashing roadside beacons along Winchester Blvd. on both the north
and southbound approaches to Daves Ave.
4. Installation of one or more median islands on Winchester Blvd. to create a mid -point
refuge area for pedestrians attempting to cross the street.
5. Installation of a traffic circle or roundabout device to slow traffic on Winchester
Blvd. and to shorten the length of the pedestrian crossing.
6. Relocation of the pedestrian crosswalk on Winchester Blvd. from the Daves Ave.
intersection to the Farley Rd. West intersection to reduce the number of conflicting
vehicular movements for pedestrians attempting to cross Winchester.
Based on the consultant's preliminary analysis of each of the six alternatives, and public input
received at the workshop, two alternatives emerged that best meet the primary objective of the
project. These were:
1. Installation of a full traffic signal to control the Winchester/Daves and
Winchester/Farley Rd. West intersections.
2. Installation of flashing roadside beacons along Winchester Blvd. on both the north
and southbound approaches to Daves Ave. combined with installation of one or more
median islands on Winchester Blvd. to create a mid -point refuge area for pedestrians
attempting to cross the street.
Additionally, there were several suggestions made by the workshop participants that the consultant
agreed to explore further and present findings at the second workshop. These included:
• Eliminating one of the northbound vehicular lanes through the project study area.
• Painting the entire bicycle lanes in color (red or blue, for example) through the
project study area to improve their visibility and to narrow motorists' perception of
the width of Winchester Blvd.
• Resolving the difference in posted speed limits along Winchester Blvd. (35 mph in
the NB direction and 25 mph in the SB direction).
• Eliminating gaps in the sidewalks/pedestrian paths along Winchester Blvd.
• Installing landscape/streetscape improvements along Winchester Blvd. to improve
aesthetics and to reduce the perceived width of the street.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: WINCHESTER BOULEVARD/DAVES AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY
August 28, 2001
At the second public workshop, the consultant presented his further analysis of the pros and cons of
the two alternatives that emerged at the first workshop. This will be presented to the Council along
with the consultant's finding that either alternative will achieve the primary objective of the project,
i.e. improving pedestrian safety at the Winchester/Daves intersection. Moreover, the consultant
believes that the traffic signal alternative could be enhanced by including the installation of several
small raised median islands on Winchester Blvd., and by coloring the bicycle lanes with paint.
Further, he believes that the speed limit discrepancy should be resolved by eliminating the 35 mph
speed limit sign on NB Winchester between Blossom Hill Rd. and Shelburne Way, and that
sidewalk/pathway gaps along Winchester Blvd. should be eliminated to the extent that this is
feasible, particularly on the east side of the street between Farley Rd. West and Pleasant View Ave.
Lastly, based on an analysis of current and projected traffic volumes for Winchester Blvd., the
consultant has concluded that either alternative could acceptably accommodate the elimination of
one northbound traffic lane and/or other streetscape features, although there are no compelling traffic
engineering reasons to pursue these at this time. Instead, the consultant believes that these concepts
should be examined further in the context of a broader study of the Town's arterial street system.
Staff agrees with the consultant on this point and feels that the most appropriate time to evaluate
these issues would be once the scope, timing and budget for such a study are determined.
CONCLUSION:
At this point, the consultant has identified two viable alternatives for improving pedestrian safety
at the Winchester Blvd./Daves Ave. intersection. These will be presented to both Councils for
consideration and feedback. Upon determination of a preferred alternative by both the Town and
the City, the consultant is prepared to proceed with the design phase of the project which is expected
to last between 4 and 6 weeks.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is a project as defined under CEQA and may have a possible significant effect. This will be
determined once the preferred alternative is selected.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: WINCHESTER BOULEVARD/DAVES AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY
August 28, 2001
FISCAL IMPACT:
Depending upon design alternative selected, the associated design and construction costs are
estimated by staff not to exceed the funding allocation of $200,000 in FY 2001-02 Capital
Improvement Plan Traffic Calming Project (Project # 85411). The $200,000 allocation in this year's
Traffic Calming project is funded by a $100,000 contribution from the Town's General Fund
Appropriated Reserve Fund (GFAR) and a matching $100,000 from the City of Monte Sereno.
Attachments:
Map of Project Study Area with inventory of existing conditions.
Distribution:
City of Monte Sereno
Workshop Participants
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