2011081507 - Belwood Gateway - Traffic CalmingMEETING DATE: 8/15/11
ITEM NO: 7
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: AUGUST 3, 2011
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER 1� U
SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
ACCEPT REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR THE BELWOOD GATEWAY NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for the Belwood Gateway
neighborhood.
BACKGROUND:
Residents of the Belwood Gateway neighborhood submitted a petition in 2004 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 section of Belwood Gateway between Bacigalupi and Blossom Hill Road
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 three neighborhood meetings between October 2010 and May 2011. The purpose of
the first meeting, held on October 27th, was 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 11 residents that attended this meeting.
The Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department was also present at this meeting to provide
PREPARED BY: TODD CAPURSO
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: 9c) Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Clerk Administrator
F✓Finance Community evelopment
N:\PPW\MANAGEMENT\COUNCIL\COUNCIL REPORTS\2011 Reports\August 15\Belwood Gateway.Traffic.Calm.Temp.Devices.doe
PAGE 2
AUGUST 15, 2011
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
BACKGROUND (cont.)
feedback on the impact of the traffic calming devices on neighborhood streets. Residents
discussed various traffic issues at this meeting. Reducing vehicle speeds and cut -through traffic
were the highest priority for those in attendance. Some residents expressed an interest in
installing a traffic device at the intersection of Harwood and Belwood Gateway to restrict cut -
through traffic in the neighborhood. Staff noted this concern and agreed to collect more traffic
data to determine if the cut through traffic volume was high enough to justify placement of such
a traffic device. Staff said they would report back at the next neighborhood meeting on the data
collected.
At the February 17th meeting, staff presented its findings on the cut -through traffic volumes.
There were 13 residents in attendance at this meeting. The data collected showed the number of
vehicles using Belwood Gateway and Almond Blossom Lane — between Blossom Hill and
Camden Avenue — as a route to cut through the neighborhood is minimal. The data collected
demonstrated that the vast majority of the traffic originates and terminates within the local
neighborhood. As a result of these findings, staff did not recommend placement of a traffic
device to restrict traffic movements in the neighborhood. Additionally, if installed, such a device
would likely have impacts on adjacent streets as well. Staff recommended the option of the
installing of a new stop sign and crosswalk at the Bel Blossom/Belwood Gateway intersection
and a speed hump on Belwood Gateway between Bel Blossom and Bacigalupi.
Residents in attendance at the February meeting did not agree with the data presented, and
requested that staff provide additional options to mitigate their concerns regarding cut -through
traffic. Staff suggested that prior to the consideration of a traffic device to restrict certain
vehicles movements, another neighborhood meeting would be necessary in order to solicit input
from a larger neighborhood area. This would be an appropriate next step due to the potential
impacts on adjacent streets. The residents in attendance at this meeting supported staff's
suggestion to hold an additional neighborhood meeting.
Staff held another meeting on May 11th to discuss the options to address the concerns of
speeding and cut -through traffic, and also to try and reach consensus on a temporary traffic
calming proposal for the Belwood Gateway neighborhood. Staff invited residents from
Harwood, Bacigaulupi, Almond Blossom Lane and Sebastian Court. There were 48 residents in
attendance this meeting. Also, the Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department was once again
present at this meeting to provide feedback on the potential impacts of the traffic calming
devices on neighborhood streets. After a lengthy discussion on various options and gathering
neighborhood feedback, a consensus was reached by attendees for a temporary traffic calming
proposal to address both speeding vehicles and cut through traffic in the neighborhood. The
result was a two part ballot proposal: one ballot specifically for Belwood Gateway residents- to
address slowing down traffic on Belwood Gateway; and a second ballot for the larger
neighborhood - regarding the proposal to install a traffic device that would restrict traffic flow
patterns at the Belwood Gateway/Harwood intersection.
PAGE 3
AUGUST 15, 2011
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
DISCUSSION:
At the May 11`h meeting, residents reached a consensus on the two-part ballot traffic calming
proposal to mitigate the concerns of speeding traffic and cut -through traffic in the Belwood
Gateway neighborhood. The first ballot consisted of four components: a three-way stop sign at
the intersection of Belwood Gateway and Bel Blossom Way, a crosswalk at the same
intersection, one speed hump on Belwood Gateway between Belwood Lane and Belwood Court,
and a second speed hump on Belwood Gateway between Bacigalupi and Harwood. It was
agreed upon at the May 1 lch meeting that only residents with property facing Belwood Gateway
would be the voting on this proposal because the impacts of these devices would be limited to
the residents of that street. The Traffic Calming policy requires 67% approval rating from the
votes returned in order to forward the proposal to Town Council for review.
For the first proposal, ballots were mailed out to 57 residents on Belwood Gateway, of which
staff received 21 responses. The vote breakdown for the temporary installation of the four
components on Belwood Gateway was as follows:
In favor of proposal 75%
Against proposal 25%
The second ballot proposal, which was agreed upon at the same neighborhood meeting, was to
consider the installation of a median triangle on Belwood Gateway at Harwood. The purpose of
this device would be to limit traffic flow in and out of Belwood Gateway. This ballot was sent to
90 residents on Belwood Gateway, Harwood, Bacigaulupi, Almond Blossom Lane and Sebastian
Court. Staff received 65 responses. The vote breakdown for the temporary installation of a
median triangle was as follows:
In favor of proposal 25%
Against proposal 75%
The first ballot proposal passed based on the voting requirements of the Traffic Calming policy.
Upon Council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule installation of the four temporary
devices on Belwood Gateway during the fall. Four to six months after installation, staff will
conduct another traffic study on Belwood Gateway 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 pennanent.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic
calming devices for the Belwood Gateway neighborhood.
PAGE 4
AUGUST 15, 2011
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY 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:
Funding for this traffic calming project has been allocated through the adopted FY 2011/12 —
2015/16 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
Attachments:
1. Belwood Gateway Temporary Traffic Calming Proposal