08 Staff Report - Massol Avenue Traffic Calming DevicesOw H OF
!ps GA~pg COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2008
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 12/15/08
ITEM NO: (13
SUBJECT: MASSOL AVENUE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING
DEVICES
ACCEPT REPORT ON THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES FOR MASSOL AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report on the permanent installation of traffic calming devices for the Massol Avenue
neighborhood.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 18, 2007, Town Council meeting, the Council approved the traffic calming proposal
for the Massol Avenue neighborhood. The Massol Avenue neighborhood includes the 100 and
200 blocks of Massol, phis homes that border the ends of the 100 and 200 block of Massol
(Massol Court, Bean, and Bachman Avenues). The proposal included temporary installation of a
speed hump on the mid-block 100 block of Massol, curb bulb-outs on Massol at the stop sign of
Nicholson (north side), and a small center median at the stop sign on Massol at Bachman (south
side). The temporary devices were installed in November 2007, with the purpose to slow traffic
mid increase pedestrian safety. Prior to the installation, vehicle speeds averaged close to 30
MPH.
In June 2008, staff collected new traffic data to evaluate the effectiveness of the temporary traffic
calming devices. Data collected indicates vehicle speeds are now below 30 MPH. The last step
in the Traffic Calming policy process is to inform residents of the data findings and conduct a
PREPARED BY: TODD CAPURSO
Director of Parrs and Public Works
MENGINEERINGICOUNCIL REPORTS12008 ReportsNassol Avenue Traffic Calming Permanent Devices.doc
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attoxney Clerk Administrator
~ Finance Community Development
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: MASSOL AVENUE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
DECEMBER 4, 2008
final vote on the devices. A final ballot was sent to residents in September 2008, asking if
residents would be in favor of permanent installation of these traffic devices. A total of 89
ballots were mailed originally, however, due to residential vacancies, 13 ballots were returned.
Out of the 76 mailed ballots, 20 residents responded. 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 permanent installation of these devices was as follows:
Speed hump on mid-100 block of Massol 80% in favor
Curb bulb-outs/islands on 200 block of Massol at Nicholson 85% in favor
Center median island on 200 block of Massol at Baclunan 85% in favor
DISCUSSION:
This neighborhood formally requested traffic calming in 2002 by submitting a petition from the
100 block section of Massol Avenue. It was placed on a waiting list while other projects were
being processed and is the final project to be processed from that time period. The neighborhood
traffic concerns were speeding vehicles and cut-through traffic. An additional petition was
received in 2006 from residents of the 200 block section asking to have their block included in
this traffic calming project.
To qualify for the Town's Traffic Calming program, the 85t1i percentile speeds of vehicles
traveling in the neighborhood must exceed the posted speed limit by 5 MPH, or the average daily
traffic volume must exceed 1500. Town staff conducted a traffic study of the designated section
of Massol Avenue and found the daily traffic volumes to be approximately 1500, and the 85'h
percentile speeds averaged 29.7 MPH. Based on these findings, the Massol Avenue
neighborhood qualified for the traffic calming program. Staff analyzed the issue of cut-through
traffic and concluded that the high volume of vehicles in the neighborhood is due to the fact that
there are a significant number of residences on Massol (including three large multiple units), and
the adjacent streets (such as Bayview and Pennsylvania Avenues). The traffic is most likely
residential-oriented, not "cut-through" traffic.
Staff held two neighborhood meetings with residents from the 100 and 200 block of Massol
Avenue in November 2006 and January 2007. Residents were notified of these meetings by mail
and a subsequent e-mail list was also established. About 15 residents attended each meeting,
including the Cat's Hill Bicycle Race representatives, who attended to provide input on any
impacts to the bicycle race, which runs through the 100 block of Massol Avenue. Residents
discussed the various traffic issues, and speeding vehicles and pedestrian safety was the
consensus of the attendees.
To slow traffic in the 100 block section of Massol, three options were discussed: either a speed
hump, a center median, or two curb-bulb outs, all mid-block. To increase pedestrian safety at the
crosswalks, two options were proposed: either curb bulb-outs or small center medians at the stop
signs of Massol. The meeting attendees found consensus to poll the neighborhood to test their
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: MASSOL AVENUE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
DECEMBER 4, 2008
temporary traffic design, consisting of a mid-block speed hump, curb bulb-outs at the Nicholson
stop sign, and a small center median at the Bachman stop sign. (Attachment # 1).
A neighborhood vote was conducted in February 2007 to see if residents were in favor of this
traffic calming proposal. Ballots were sent to the residences of the 100 and 200 block of Mass61,
plus homes that border the ends of the 100 and 200 block of Massol (Massol Court, Bean, and
Bachman Avenues). The Traffic Calming policy requires the proposal needs to obtain at least
67% support from the returned ballots in order for it to be forwarded to Council for review. The
vote breakdown for this traffic proposal was as follows:
Speed hump on mid-100 block of Massol 69% in favor
Curb bulb-outs/islands on 200 block of Massol at Nicholson 81% in favor
Center median island on 200 block of Massol at Bachman 81% in favor
At the June 18, 2007, Town Council meeting, the Town Council approved the proposal. In
November 2007, the traffic calming devices were temporarily installed on Massol Avenue.
Generally staff collects traffic data approximately three months after the traffic calming devices
have been installed to evaluate their effectiveness. Due to limited department resources,
however, all traffic calming related projects were placed on hold temporarily.
In June 2008, new traffic data was collected to evaluate the temporary traffic calming devices.
The data indicates that vehicle speeds are now below 30 MPH. Staff conducted another
neighborhood vote in September 2008, to inform residents of the new data collected and to also
solicit input on the permanent installation of the traffic devices. Staff also spoke with the Los
Gatos Bicycle Racing Club to confirm the devices have no impact on their annual bike race.
Based on the ballots returned, the Massol Avenue neighborhood residents support the permanent
installation of the three traffic calming devices. Residents were mailed the vote outcome in a
November letter. (Attachment # 2). Upon council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule
the installation of the permanent traffic devices for March 2009.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council approve the pennanent installation of traffic calming devices and
authorize the use of Traffic Calming Program funds up to $20,000 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.
PAGE 4
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: MASSOL AVENUE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES
DECEMBER 4, 2008
FISCAL IMPACT:
The costs for permanent installation of the three traffic devices will be no more than $20,000.
Sufficient fiends are available to pay for this project.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY GATFGORY:
Staff Labor
Materials
Engineering/Design
Construction $ 20,000
Contingency
TOTALS $ 20,000
Attachments:
1. Temporary Traffic Calming Proposal
2. November 5, 2008 Neighborhood Vote Outcome Letter
TovvN O Los GATos
PARKS AND PUBLIC Womcs DEPARTMENT SERVICE CENTER
PHONE (408) 399-5770 41 MILS AvBNUE
FAx (408) 354-8529 LAS GATOS, CA 95030
November 5, 2008
TO: Residents of the 100-200 block area of Massol Avenue
RE: Neighborhood Vote Outcome - Permanent Traffic Cal ring Devices
Dear Resident(s):
in September, residents were sera a ballot asking if the three temporary traffic calming devices
currently installed in your neighborhood should become permanent. The devices were installed in an
effort to see if they would reduce vehicle speeds and traffic volumes, Traffic data collected after the
temporary installation of these devices indicates a reduction in both vehicle speeds and traffic
volumes.
Ballot Proposal
The ballot asked residents to vote "YES" or "NO" on having the three traffic devices become
permanent. Out of seventy-six (76) ballots sent to residents of the designated voting neighborhood,
twenty (20) ballots were returned, indicating a twenty-six (26%) percent return rate,
Outcome
The Traffic Calming Policy regnires a 67% approval rating from the votes returned in order to
forward the proposal to Town Council for review, The vote breakdown was as follows:
Device A: Center median island on 200 block of Massol at Bachman 80% in favor
Device B: Curb islands (2) on 200 block of Massol at Nicholson 85% in favor
Device C: Speed hump on mid-100 block of Massol 95% in favor
Next Steps
Your neighborhood now has a proposal that is supported by more than the required 67% vote, The
next step in the traffic calming review process is to present this proposal to the Town Council for
review. Staff will prepare a report and present it tentatively on December 15. If approved by the
Town Council, the three devices will be permanently installed in March 2009. The island devices
will be made of concrete. The speed hump will remain as asphalt concrete.
If you have any questions, please contact Tim Kawasaki, Administrative Analyst, at (408) 3995776.
Sincerely,
Todd Capurso
Director of Parks and Public Works
ATTACHMENT 1
MASSOL TRAFFIC CALM
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MASSOL TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN
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100-200 BLOCK MASSOL AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD
TRIAL TRAFFIC CALMING PROPOSAL
NEIGHBORHOOD VOTE
See attached map tor crevice locations.
ONE VOTE PER RESIDENCE
Print Your Name:
Print Your Street Address:
, Los Gatos CA
DEVICE A Median at Bachman/Massol Stop Sign
fill in box indicating your vote
I support installing this device ...YES
Or I do not support this device NO
DEVICE B Curb Bulb-Outs at Nicholson/Massol Stop Sign
fill in box indicating your vote
_ I support installing this device... YES
Or I do not support this device NO
DEVICE C Speed Hump Mid-Block, Massol (near 125 Massol)
fill in box indicating our vote
l support installing this device ...YES
Or I do not surmort this device NO
RETURN THIS BALLOT BY MARCH 9, 2007
to the Town of Los Gatos Parks & Public Works Dept.
41 Miles Avenue, Los Gatos CA
Call (408) 399-5776 for more information or questions.
9-Feb-07