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.