08 Staff Report - Speed Humps on Johnson AvenueMEETING DATE: 2/02/04
ITEM NO.
COUNCIL/AGENCY AGENDA REPORT
tos sit°s
DATE: JANUARY 27, 2004
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER/EXECUTIV D TOR
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF SPEED HUMPS ON JOHNSON AVENUE AS A
PERMANENT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of speed humps on Johnson Avenue as a permanent traffic calming measure.
BACKGROUND:
The Johnson Avenue neighborhood formally requested traffic calming for their street three times
between 1987 and 2000. This was requested prior to the Town's Traffic Calming Policy, developed
to provide staff a procedure to respond to neighborhood traffic issues. After the Town's Traffic
Calming Policy was approved in April 2002, staff scheduled a neighborhood meeting to develop
a solution. At this meeting, participants discussed traffic issues and their preferences on measures
to slow, or calm traffic. Participants indicated a strong preference for speed humps and curb bulb-
outs.
In May, 2002, the Town's Traffic Engineer drafted a concept plan for three (3) speed humps and four
(4) bulb-outs located between Cross Way and Johnson Hollow, with the intent for the devices' final
placement to meet the adj acent property owners' approval. A neighborhood vote was then conducted
during June, 2002. The outcome of this vote was 72% of the respondents were in support of the
devices, 25% percent opposed and 2% abstained. The Town's Traffic Calming Policy requires 67%
support vote. The neighborhood vote met this requirement. Staff reported this to Council in
September, 2002. Council approved staff's recommendation to install temporary traffic calming
devices on Johnson Avenue.
Installation of the devices commenced in November, 2002. Staff painted the locations for the speed
humps and the curb bu b-o Notices were placed on the nearby residences' doors of the planned
PREPARED BY: J HN E. CURTIS
irector of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Attorney Clerk'! _Finance
Community Development Revised: 1/27/04 3:38 pm
Reformatted: 5/30/02 N:\B&E\COUNCIL REPORTS\2-2-04 Johnson Ave traffic calming report.wpd
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
SUBJECT: APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS ON JOHNSON
AVENUE AS A PERMANENT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE
JANUARY 27, 2004
installation asking residents to contact staff with any concerns about any of the proposed locations.
Staff received feedback from several residents opposing the location of the curb bulb-outs as it took
away parking.. These residents had voted "yes" for the trial traffic calming proposal, but when they
saw where the bulb-out was to be located, residents who would loose needed on-street parking
changed their minds. Johnson Avenue residences have limited parking, and many homes do not have
driveways. As bulb-outs need to be placed in a location that will be effective, while also meeting
the adjacent property owner's approval (as they take away a parking space), the Town Traffic
Engineer determined it was practical to install the speed humps without the bulb-outs. Asphalt speed
humps were installed, rather than rubberize humps, as a cost-savings approach in December, 2002.
DISCUSSION:
The trial traffic calming period for Johnson Avenue was from January, 2003 through June, 2003.
Original speed data indicated the 85`h percentile speeds for Johnson Avenue were 31 MPH. The
traffic volumes were low, averaging 543 vehicles per day for both directions. For Johnson Avenue,
(a 25 MPH zone), 31 MPH qualified the street for traffic calming. New traffic data was collected
in September, 2003 after school began. Traffic data is typically not collected during the summer as
volumes and speeds are not representative of the `normal' traffic flows. The new traffic data
indicates the 85% speeds are now 25MPH while volumes remain the same. The traffic speeds were
reduced, and staff considers the reduction in speed directly associated with the speed humps.
Additionally, there were concerns that installing devices on one street may divert the traffic problem
to adjacent streets. The volume on Johnson remains low, and did not change significantly. These
devices did not move vehicles over to adjacent streets.
A second, follow-up neighborhood vote was conducted in October, 2003. Staff sent a letter to
residents of Johnson Avenue and Johnson Hollow with updated information on the outcome of new
traffic data, and included a ballot form. The ballot asked if residents were in favor of having the
speed humps become permanent or not. Seventy-seven (77) ballots were sent, of which thirty-nine
(39) ballots were returned, a fifty-one percent (51 % ) return rate. Of these returned ballots, twenty-
nine (29) residents voted "yes" and ten (10) voted "no," indicating seventy-four percent (74%) of
the respondents support having the speed humps become permanent. This neighborhood vote
indicates a good response rate and strong support for this proposal. (Attachments)
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends Council approve the speed humps on Johnson Avenue as permanent
emplacements, and close this traffic calming review. The effectiveness of the temporary devices is
demonstrated by the new traffic data collected.
a._
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
SUBJECT: APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED
AVENUE AS A PERMANENT TRAFFIC CALMING
JANUARY 22, 2004
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
HUMPS ON JOHNSON
MEASURE
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No additional costs for this project are anticipated. The final cost of this neighborhood's traffic
calming project was $7,400, ($12,600 less than originally estimated at $20,000), charged to Capital
Improvement Project, Traffic Calming Program during the FY 02/03 budget, account number 400-
0208. Ongoing maintenance costs to annually repaint the speed humps and replace related signs as
needed are anticipated to be minimal and will be absorbed by the Streets Program operating budget.
Attachments:
1. October 10, 2003 Neighborhood Vote Notice
2. November 11, 2003 Traffic Calming Installation Notice
3. November 13, 2003 Traffic Calming Vote Outcome Notice
4. Permanent Traffic Calming Plan
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Civic Ceqm
5770 110 E. MAN STREET
(408) 399- P.O. Box 949
FAX ( 408) 354-8529 Los GATM, CA 95031
October 10, 2003
Subject: Neighborhood Vote- Concerning Permanent Speed Humps for Johnson Avenue
Dear Johnson Avenue Area Residents,
The temporary speed humps on Johnson Avenue were installed after a neighborhood vote indicated
67% of the neighborhood supported testing them to see if they would slow traffic. Traffic data
collected on Johnson Avenue in 2002 indicated the 85`' percentile vehicle speeds were 28.5 MPH
with volumes at 543 vehicles per day. In September 2002, Council approved installing speed humps
for a traffic calming effort. The speed humps were installed in December, 2002.
The neighborhood has had the opportunity to test the speed humps for almost a year. In September,
2003, new traffic data was collected indicating the-vehicle speeds were lowered: 85 h percentile
speeds are now 25.7 MPH and volumes relatively unchanged, at 529 vehicles per day.
Following the Town's Traffic Calming Policy, the next step is to conduct a neighborhood vote to
determine if 67% support is present to request having the speed humps become permanent. If the
support is present, staffwill prepare a report to the Town Council to obtain their final approval. (The
neighborhood will be notified of the Council report date). If so approved, the traffic calming review
for Johnson Avenue will be completed. Ifthe support is not present, staffwill recommend to Council
for the removal of the speed humps.
A neighborhood `ballot' form is included in this letter. Feedback from each resident/property owner
in the affected neighborhood is being requested to determine if a super-majority (67%) of the
neighborhood supports having these devices become permanent. One vote is allowed per
residence. Please complete the ballot form and return it to this department by October 31St
If you have any need for additional information, please contact the Town's Traffic Engineer, Jessy
Pu at 395-2859 or Public Work's Administrative Analyst, Mary Gillespie-Greenberg at 399-5776.
Sincerely,
a o hn E. Curtis
irector
Enclosure
INCORPORATED AUGUST 10, 1887 t
Attachment 1
1a
JOHNSON AVENUE AREA
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PROPOSAL
BALLOT
Your address Ag 'JSite#
circle response
1) I am in favor of the Johnson Avenue speed humps becoming permanent devices:'
YES NO
Additional Comments:
Please return this "ballot" by October 31, 2003 to:
PPW, 41 Miles Avenue, Los Gatos CA 95030
Thank you for participating in this public process.
Parks & Public Works Department
NOTICE
Concerning Johnson Avenue
Traffic Calming
UPDATE
This week the Town's Traffic Engineer is aiu nting potential sites
for the speed humps and bulb-outs to calm traffic on your street.
The traffic calming devices were approved by Town Council
September 10, 2002., after a neighborhood vote was conducted in
July 2002, (indicating 72.3% of Johnson Avenue residents support
the installation of these traffic calming devices).
Please review the location and if you have any concerns, please
contact the Town's Traffic Engineer, Jessy Pu at (408) 395-2859.
The devices have been ordered and we are awaiting delivery and will
then schedule installation, anticipated for December-January, weather
permitting.
Thank you for your input in this community process. -
11-11-02
Attachment 2
November 13, 2003
INFORMATION NOTICE
Re: Johnson Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Calming Vote Outcome
Dear Resident,
This letter is to update you on the traffic calming review process being conducted on Johnson Avenue.
Residents of Johnson Avenue and Johnson Hollow were recently sent a ballot asking whether or not to have the
Johnson Avenue speed humps become permanent. Many of you may recall these speed humps were installed in
an effort to reduce vehicle speeds. They are the outcome of past neighborhood requests, meetings and a previous
neighborhood vote, all of which were reported to the Town Council, who approved this traffic calming project.
Previous to the speed humps' installation, traffic data was collected several times, indicating speeding on
Johnson Avenue: the 85" percentile speeds ranged from 31 to 29 MPH. The speed limit is 25 MPH. After
the trial speed humps were tested for several months, new traffic data was collected indicating 85" percentile
speeds have reduced to 25 MPH and volumes remained the same. This indicates the speed humps reduced
speeds but not driving patterns, which is what we were trying to accomplish.
The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ballot Proposal:
The recent ballot asked residents to vote "YES" or "NO" on having the trial speed humps become permanent
devices. Additionally, we asked for comments. Of the seventy-seven (77) ballots sent to residents of Johnson
Avenue and Johnson Hollow, (the designated voting neighborhood), thirty-nine (39) ballots were returned,
indicating a fifty-one percent (51%) return rate, (a very good representative vote).
The Vote Outcome:
The voting outcome was as follows: twenty-nine (29) residents voted "YES", and ten (10) voted "No", showing
seventy-four percent (74%) are in favor, or support, the speed humps become permanent. The Town's Traffic
Calming Policy requires a minimum of 67% neighborhood support for traffic calming proposals. The outcome
of the neighborhood vote indicates the required 67% support is present for these devices to become permanent.
Next Steps:
Your neighborhood now has a final traffic calming proposal (permanent speed humps). The next step in the
traffic calming review process is for staff to present a report to Town Council with an update of the outcome of
the test period (new data indicating reduced speeds) and the recent vote (indicating support for devices to
become permanent). This staff report will be scheduled in the next several weeks, for December, 2003, or
January, 2004. If approved by Council, the speed humps will stay permanent and the neighborhood traffic
calming process will be completed. If you would like to be informed of the upcoming Council report date, or
have any other questions, please contact the Parks and Public Works Department Analyst, Mary Gillespie-
Greenberg at (408) 399-5776
Sincerely,
urt~~~
Dire for
and Public Works Department
Attachment 3
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