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Staff Report PREPARED BY: LISA PETERSEN Town Engineer Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant 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: 04/16/2019 ITEM NO: 3 DATE: APRIL 5, 2019 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE RECOMMENDATION: Accept the report on the permanent 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, which determined the street qualified for the Town’s Traffic Calming program due to vehicle speeds. The project request was placed on a waiting list behind other traffic calming projects that were already being processed and constructed. Staff conducted neighborhood meetings on three dates in 2016. Residents of Lora Drive, Mulberry Drive, La Rinconada Drive and Brown Lane were mailed notices of the meetings. Parks and Public Works staff presented the data on the traffic speeds, and the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department (LGMSPD) and Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) provided information on the potential impacts of traffic calming devices on the neighborhood’s streets. The participating neighborhood residents expressed concerns regarding speeding, vehicles not stopping at stop signs, parking, and other traffic issues in the neighborhood. Reducing vehicle speeds on Wedgewood Avenue was deemed the highest priority of the residents in attendance. All resident questions and concerns were addressed by participating staff. PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE DATE: APRIL 5, 2019 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\04-16-19\Traffic Calming Wedgewood\Staff Report FINAL.docx 4/9/2019 2:11 PM BACKGROUND (continued): The neighborhood voted on and approved a proposed solution to install two speed humps between La Rinconada Drive and Wimbledon Drive, one speed hump west of Lora Drive, and white edge striping along the roadway curve between Granada Way and Lora Drive. On February 21, 2017, the Town Council approved the temporary measures. DISCUSSION: Staff gathered traffic data to assess the effectiveness of these temporary traffic calming devices approximately ten months after installation was complete. The posted speed limit in this neighborhood is 25 miles per hour (mph). The collected traffic data show an improvement in slowing down vehicle speeds. The 85th percentile speed data show a reduction in traffic speeds between Granada Way and Lora Drive of approximately 2 mph after installing one speed hump and white edge striping, and a reduction of more than 4 mph between La Rinconada Drive and Browns Lane with the two speed humps. The data demonstrate that the installed measures have been effective in reducing the vehicle speeds to acceptable levels per the Tow n’s Traffic Calming Policy. This February, a neighborhood vote was conducted to see if residents supported changing the project status from temporary to permanent. 32 responses were received from 38 residents polled, which is a total return rate of 84%. The outcome of the returned votes exceeded the required super majority support rate required by the Town’s Traffic Calming Policy, with 91% approving the proposal and 9% disapproving it. CONCLUSION: Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the permanent installation of traffic calming devices for Wedgewood Avenue between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive. ALTERNATIVES: Alternatively, the Town Council could direct staff to: A. Remove the improvements. B. Extend the evaluation period by a defined timeframe. Staff does not recommend either of these alternatives as the response from the neighborhood demonstrates the desirability of the improvements. PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR WEDGEWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN ROXBURY LANE AND WIMBLEDON DRIVE DATE: APRIL 5, 2019 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\04-16-19\Traffic Calming Wedgewood\Staff Report FINAL.docx 4/9/2019 2:11 PM COORDINATION: This project has been coordinated with the Wedgewood Avenue neighborhood between Roxbury Lane and Wimbledon Drive as outlined in this report, the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department, and Santa Clara County Fire Department. FISCAL IMPACT: The improvements were previously installed and there is no additional cost for this project. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This is a project as defined under CEQA, but is Categorically Exempt (Section 15301c). A Notice of Exemption will not be filed.