01 Staff Report - Vista Del Monte Temporary Installation of Traffic calming DevicesMEETING DATE: 12/7/09
ITEM NO:
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: NOVEMBER 24, 2009
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: VISTA DEL MONTE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
A. ACCEPT REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR VISTA DEL MONTE NEIGHBORHOOD
B. AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES UP TO $1,000 IN TRAFFIC CALMING
PROGRAM FUNDS (411-812-9910) FOR THIS PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for Vista del Monte
neighborhood.
2. Authorize expenditures up to $1,000 in Traffic Calming Program funds (411-812-9910) for
this project.
BACKGROUND:
Vista del Monte residents formally submitted a traffic calming petition in 2005, requesting staff
consider their street for a traffic calming project. Over 50% of the residents living on the street
supported the petition. After reviewing the petition, staff collected vehicle speed and volume
data at two intersections on Vista del Monte, Harding and Vista de Sierra, and found the daily
traffic volumes to be approximately 705 vehicles per day. The 85th percentile speeds averaged
31.8 MPH.
In order to qualify for the Town's Traffic Calming program, the 85th percentile speeds of
vehicles traveling through the neighborhood must exceed the posted speed limit by 5 MPH, or
the average daily traffic volume must exceed 1500. Based on the data collected, the Vista del
Monte neighborhood 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.
PREPARED BY: TODD CAPURSO
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: ��Assistant Town Manager /Town Attorney Clerk Administrator
C1Finane Community Development
N:\PPW\MANAGEMENT\COUNCIL\COUNCIL REPORTS\2009 reports\December 7\VistadelMonte.Traffic.Calm.Temp.Devices.doc
PAGE 2
DECEMBER 7, 2009
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VISTA DEL MONTE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
Staff hosted four neighborhood meetings between October 2008 and September 2009 to explain
the Town's Traffic Calming policy process, and to engage residents in a discussion about
possible traffic calming options. Residents were notified of these meetings via US mail. The
average attendance was 17 residents per meeting. The Santa Clara County Fire Department as
well as the Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Depai lucent were present at these meetings to
provide feedback on the impact of the traffic calming devices on the neighborhood's streets.
Residents discussed various traffic issues at these meetings, and speeding vehicles was the
consensus of the attendees.
At the October 21, 2008, meeting, Town staff explained the Traffic Calming policy and process
to residents and also gathered feedback on traffic safety issues in the neighborhood. Through
this meeting discussion residents confirmed that speeding was the number one concern on their
street. Pedestrian crossings at certain locations of Vista del Monte were also discussed at this
meeting. Residents requested the installation of stop signs at three locations on Vista del Monte:
at Worcester, and at both the northern and southern intersections of Vista de Sierra. Town staff
reviewed this request and determined that sign installation is permitted under the road and safety
regulations. In mid -November, staff installed the stop signs. In addition, white edge lines were
painted on the 90 degree turn of Vista del Monte.
On March 3, 2009, staff introduced two possible traffic calming project proposals to the residents
based on concerns received from residents. Staff received comments from the meeting and
agreed to review the comments and revise the proposal as appropriate.
At the May 14 meeting, staff presented a revised traffic calming proposal based on the comments
from the previous meeting. Residents as well as representatives from the public safety agencies
provided feedback on these options. The residents in attendance agreed to conduct a vote on
three proposal options: two speed humps and two stops signs, two stops signs, or none of the
above. Because vehicle speeds are high on Vista del Monte, Town engineering staff
recommended the combination of two devices (two speed humps and two stop signs) as the most
effective method to reducing vehicle speeds.
A neighborhood vote was conducted in June to see if residents favored one of the above traffic
calming options. Ballots were sent to all residents of Vista del Monte, as well as to residents on
the Vista del Monte intersections of Harding and Vista del Campo. Ballots were mailed out to
68 residents, of which staff received 50 responses. The vote breakdown for this traffic proposal
was as follows:
Two stop signs and two speed humps 58%
Two stop signs only 18%
None of the above 24%
PAGE 3
DECEMBER 7, 2009
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VISTA DEL MONTE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
None of the options received the required 67% voter approval. Therefore, the proposal did not
pass. Because of the high voter turnout and the concerns received from neighborhood residents,
staff decided to hold one final meeting in September to review alternative traffic calming
options.
DISCUSSION:
On September 10, staff introduced an alternative option to residents which included three speed
humps and two stop signs. The majority of residents in attendance at this meeting did not
support the installation of speed humps because of the aesthetic impact it would have on the
neighborhood. The consensus of those in attendance was the temporary installation of three stop
signs at three intersections on Vista del Monte: Harding, Vista del Campo and Vista Sierra
(Attachment 1). Residents had the option to vote in favor or against this option.
Ballots were mailed out to 68 residents, of which staff received 48 responses. The Traffic
Calming policy requires 67% approval rating from the votes returned in order to forward the
proposal to Town Council for review. The vote breakdown for the temporary installation of
three stop signs at Harding, Vista del Campo and Vista de Sierra, was as follows:
In favor of three stops signs 71%
Against three stop signs 29%
Upon Council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule installation of the temporary stop
signs for January 2010. Four to six months after installation, staff will conduct another traffic
study at the same two intersections on Vista del Monte, Harding and Vista de Sierra, to
determine the effectiveness of these devices. Additionally, a follow up neighborhood meeting
will be convened to determine if there is majority support for making the temporary stop signs
permanent.
The project will be completed using Town staff and resources, keeping the project cost at a
minimum.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic
calming devices for the Vista del Monte neighborhood, and authorize expenditures up to $1,000
in Traffic Calming Program funds (411-812-9910) for this project.
PAGE 4
DECEMBER 7, 2009
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VISTA DEL MONTE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA, but is Categorically Exempt (Section 15301c). A
Notice of Exemption will not be filed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Sufficient funds are available to pay for this project as demonstrated in the table below.
VISTA DEL MONTE TRAFFIC CALMING
PROJECT 411-812-9910
FY 2009/10 Fiscal Impact
TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM
TOTALS
Attachments:
Available
Budget
Funding
$ 47,653
$ 47,653
Proposed
Project
Amount
Available
Balance
$ 1,000 $ 46,653
$ 1,000 $46,653
Vista del Monte Temporary Traffic Calming Plan (September 2009)
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VISTA DEL MONTE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN (SEPTEMBER 2009)
VISTA
DEL MAR