2011062007 - Short Road Traffic CalmingCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DALE: JUNE 7, 2011
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 6/20/11
ITEM NO: ri
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SUBJECT: SHORT ROAD TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING
DEVICES
ACCEPT REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR THE SHORT ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for the Short Road
neighborhood.
BACKGROUND:
Residents of the Short Road neighborhood submitted a petition in December 2007 to be
considered for a traffic calming project. Staff reviewed the petition, then collected speed and
traffic count data to determine if this street qualified for a project. According to the Town's
Traffic Calming policy, 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 Short Road 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.
Staff hosted a neighborhood meeting on April 19, 2011, 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 this meeting via US mail. There were 10 residents that attended this
meeting. The Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department was present at this meeting to provide
feedback on the impact of the traffic calming devices on the neighborhood's streets. Residents
discussed various traffic issues at this meeting. Reducing vehicle speeds was the highest priority
for those in attendance.
CJ
PREPARED BY: TODD CAPURSO
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: p %) Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Clerk Administrator
c;,i Finance Community De elopment
N:\PPW\MANAGEMENT\COUNCIL\COUNCIL REPORTS\2011 Reports\June 20\Short Road.Traffic.Calm.Temp.Devices.doc
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JUNE 7, 2011
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SHORT ROAD TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING
DEVICES
DISCUSSION:
At the neighborhood meeting, residents expressed an interest in slowing down speeding traffic
on the street. One of the proposed solutions was to create a three-way stop at the intersection of
Old Blossom Hill Road and Short Road. Additionally, the consensus of those residents in
attendance was to install two speed humps on Short Road to slow down speeding vehicles. The
residents in attendance agreed to conduct a neighborhood vote on these three (3) traffic calming
devices as one proposal.
A neighborhood vote was conducted in May to see if residents favored the traffic calming
proposal. Ballots were sent to all residents of Shannon Road, as well as to residents on Angel
Court. Ballots were mailed out to 25 residents, of which staff received 16 responses. The vote
breakdown for this traffic proposal was as follows:
Approve of proposal 75%
Not in favor of proposal 25%
Upon Council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule installation of the temporary devices
during the summer. Four to six months after installation, staff will conduct another traffic study
on Short Road to determine the effectiveness of these devices. Staff will then contact the same
residents to inform them of the new data collected, and also ask for their vote to approve and/or
deny making these devices permanent.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic
calming devices for the Short Road neighborhood.
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:
The cost to install the temporary traffic calming devices for this project will not exceed $13,000.
Funding for this traffic calming project has been allocated through the adopted FY 2010/11-
2014/15 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
Attachments:
1. Short Road Temporary Traffic Calming Proposal
ATTACHMENT 1
SHORT ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING PROPOSAL
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