Loading...
Belwood Gateway Permanent Installation of Traffic Calming Devices�pW N 0 c c COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT DATE: MAY 24, 2012 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER MEETING DATE: 6/4/12 ITEM NO: 1� SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES ACCEPT REPORT ON THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR THE BELWOOD GATEWAY NEIGHBORHOOD RECOMMENDATION Accept report on the permanent installation of traffic calming devices for the Belwood Gateway neighborhood. BACKGROUND Residents of the Belwood Gateway neighborhood formally submitted a petition to the Town 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 85' 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. Residents were notified of the first meeting, on October 27 via US mail. There were 11 residents in attendance at this meeting that also included staff from the Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department, who provided feedback on the impact of traffic calming devices on neighborhood streets. 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 said they would provide vehicle data from this intersection at the next meeting. PREPARED BY : TODD CAPURSO Director of Parks and Public Works _�mpu.�,� �_, h, �. �,. �,, do�, F,��,��,.�.�uu��u.���,...�.,,�A �.��.x� . �, t�r... �, �. �, .�u,�,,.,n,..��»».W.�����..t�,m Reviewed by: � Town Manager Town Attorney Finance N: \PPW\ MANAGEMENT \COUNCIL \COUNCIL REPORTS\2012 Reports\June 4 \Belwood Gateway. Traffic ,Calm.Pei7nanent.Devices.doe PAGE 2 MAY 24, 2012 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES BACKGROUND (cont'd) Staff presented cut - through traffic data at the second neighborhood meeting, held on February 17, 2011. There were 13 residents in attendance at this meeting. The vehicle data collected showed that the number of vehicles using Belwood Gateway and Almond Blossom Lane — between Blossom Hill and Camden Avenue — as a cut through route is minimal. The data demonstrated that the vast majority of the traffic originates and terminates within the local neighborhood. Based on 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 installing 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 vehicle movements, another neighborhood meeting would be necessary in order to solicit feedback from a larger section of the neighborhood area. This would be an appropriate next step due to the potential impacts on adjacent streets. Residents in attendance at this meeting supported staff's suggestion to hold another neighborhood meeting. Staff held another neighborhood meeting on May 11 2011. 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. Residents from Harwood, Bacigalupi, Almond Blossom Lane and Sebastian Court were also invited to this meeting. There were 48 residents in attendance, as well as a representative from the Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department, to provide feedback on potential impacts of traffic calming devices in this neighborhood. After a lengthy discussion on various options, 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. 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 11 meeting that only residents with property facing Belwood Gateway would be 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 PAGE 3 MAY 24, 2012 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES BACKGROUND (cont'd) recommend the proposal to Town Council for approval. The first proposal received 21 responses out of 57 mailed ballots, and passed with 75% in favor of the traffic calming devices. The second ballot proposal was to consider the installation of a median triangle on Belwood Gateway at Harwood Road. The purpose of this device would be to limit traffic flow in and out of Belwood Gateway. This ballot was mailed to 90 residents on Belwood Gateway, Bacigalupi, Almond Blossom Lane and Sebastian Court. This proposal did not pass, receiving 65 votes of which 75% voted against this proposal. Because the proposal to install four traffic calming components was approved through the neighborhood ballot process with the required 67 % majority approval, this proposal was presented at the August 15, 2011, Town Council meeting to consider temporary installation. At this meeting, Council approved the temporary installation of these devices as described. The devices were installed in the fall 2011 with the purpose to reduce vehicle speeds. DISCUSSION Approximately 10 months after the installation of the devices, new traffic data was collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the devices. Staff compared the data figures collected from 2008, the year the first traffic calming petition was submitted, to the data figures in 2012, after the temporary devices were installed. The traffic data collected shows improvements in slowing down vehicle speeds. On Belwood Gateway south of Bacigalupi, the daily vehicle volumes decreased from 269 in 2008 to 243 in 2012. The 85 percentile speed decreased from 28 mph in 2008 to 25 mph in 2012. On Belwood Gateway north of Bacigalupi, the daily vehicle volumes increased from 548 in 2008 to 604 in 2012. In contrast, the 85 percentile speed decreased from 31 mph to 26 mph. The change in vehicle volumes found is within nonnal fluctuation range of seasonal conditions and other factors. The data collected demonstrates that these temporary devices have been effective in reducing vehicle speeds in the Belwood Gateway neighborhood. The last step in the Traffic Calming process is to inform residents of the data findings and conduct a final vote on the devices. Staff proceeded to conduct a final neighborhood vote to infonn residents of the new data collected and to also solicit input on the permanent installation of the traffic devices. A final ballot was sent to residents in April 2012, asking if residents would be in favor of retaining the traffic calming improvements on a permanent basis. A total of 57 ballots were mailed and 15 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. PAGE 4 MAY 24, 2012 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: BELWOOD GATEWAY PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES DISCUSSION (cont'd) The vote breakdown for permanent installation for these devices was as follows: Approve of permanent installation 87% Not in favor of permanent installation 13% Based on the ballots returned, the Belwood Gateway neighborhood residents support the permanent installation of the devices. Upon Council's acceptance of this report, staff will complete the final steps necessary to make the devices permanent. CONCLUSION Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the permanent installation of traffic calming devices for the Belwood Gateway 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. FIS CAL IMPACT No fiscal impact.