Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 2/21/2017
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE
AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for Wedgewood
Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive.
BACKGROUND:
Residents of Wedgewood Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Avenue submitted a
petition in 2014 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 the Town’s traffic
calming program. According to the Town’s Traffic Calming Policy (Attachment 1), the 85th
percentile speeds of vehicles traveling through the neighborhood must exceed the posted
speed limit by 5 miles per hour (MPH), or the average daily traffic volume must exceed 1,500
vehicles per day. Based on the data collected, Wedgewood Avenue 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 or completed.
DISCUSSION
Staff conducted neighborhood meetings on three dates and residents of Lora Drive, Mulberry
Drive, La Rinconada Drive, and Brown Lane were mailed notices of the meetings. Staff
presented the data on the traffic speeds and the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department
(LGMSPD) and Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) were present at the meetings to
provide feedback on the impact of the traffic calming devices on the neighborhood’s streets
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SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE
AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE
FEBRUARY 6, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\02-21-17\Temporary installation of traffic calming devices on Wedgewood Avenue\Staff Report Traffic Calming
Final.docx
2/16/2017 4:54 PM MM
DISCUSSION (cont’d)
and answer residents’ questions and concerns. The attending neighborhood reside nts
discussed their concerns regarding speeding, vehicles not stopping at stop signs, parking, and
other traffic issues in the neighborhood. Additionally, residents discussed potential traffic
calming options in order to mitigate the speeding with a focus on installing speed humps and
edge striping on Wedgewood Avenue.
Some residents in attendance, who do not live along Wedgewood, were not pleased to learn
that only those residents who live along Wedgewood can vote for the proposed traffic calming
plan, in accordance with the Town’s Traffic Calming Policy and practice. There were also
concerns that the installation of speed humps may change the rural character of the
neighborhood, increase emergency services’ response time, and cause additional wear and tear
on vehicles. The SCCFD provided input on the balance between neighborhood livability and
emergency response and noted they were comfortable with the installation of speed humps.
Ultimately, consensus at the final meeting was to install three speed humps along Wedgewood
Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive and white edge striping along a portion of
the roadway. A neighborhood vote was conducted to see if residents favored this traffic
calming proposal and 32 responses were received from the 38 residents polled. The outcome
of the vote exceeded the required super majority support rate of the Town’s Traffic Calming
Policy, with 84% approving of the proposal and 16% disapproving.
Upon Council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule installation of the temporary devices
on Wedgewood Avenue during spring 2017. Four to six months after installation, staff will
conduct another traffic study in the area to determine the effectiveness of these devices. Staff
will then contact the same residents to inform them of the new data collected, and poll the
residents on making the devices permanent. If the residents vote to retain the traffic calming
measures as permanent, the recommendation to do so will be brought to Council for final
approval.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic
calming devices for Wedgewood Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive.
Acceptance would allow for the temporary installation of traffic calming devices as described in
this report and in Attachment 2.
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SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE
AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE
FEBRUARY 6, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\02-21-17\Temporary installation of traffic calming devices on Wedgewood Avenue\Staff Report Traffic Calming
Final.docx
2/16/2017 4:54 PM MM
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the installation is $20,000 with no additional funds necessary to make the
installation permanent. Removal of the installation would cost an additional $5,000. Funding
for this traffic calming project has been allocated through the adopted FY 2016/17 – 2020/21
Capital Improvement Program Budget as shown in the table below.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA, but is Categorically Exempt (Section 15301c). A Notice
of Exemption will not be filed.
Attachment:
1. Traffic Calming Policy
2. Wedgewood Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive Temporary Traffic
Calming Proposal
Available
Budget Expended/Encumbered Available
Funding To Date Balance
Traffic Calming Projects
812-9910 32,941$ -$ 32,941$
TOTALS 32,941$ -$ 32,941$
TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY:
Blueprint/Copy/Postage -$
Consultation Services -$
Construction -$
TOTALS -$
Traffic Calming Projects
PROJECT 812-9910