Attachment 08Memorandum
Date: April 16, 2018
To: Mr. Tom Dodge, Surrey Farm Estates, LLC
From: Michelle Hunt
Subject: Traffic Study for the Surrey Farm Estates Development in Los Gatos, CA
Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc. has completed a traffic study for the proposed Surrey Farm Estates
residential development in Los Gatos, California. The project consists of constructing nine new single-family
homes on a vacant site. This report assumes that the project would have two access points. Access for five
new homes would be via Twin Oaks Drive, while four new homes would have access on Shannon Road via
Cerro Vista Court and Cerro Vista Drive. Emergency only access will be provided via Brooke Acres Drive. We
understand that the project size is below the threshold for requiring a traffic study in Los Gatos. However, the
project applicant has requested that a traffic study be prepared because of potential neighborhood concerns.
Hexagon analyzed traffic conditions based on traffic counts and field observations. Cumulative analysis is
taken from the Hillbrook School Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the 401-409 Alberto Way
Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA).
Scope of Study
This study summarizes the traffic conditions that currently exist and the traffic conditions that would exist with
the addition of project traffic. The following roadways were studied:
▪Twin Oaks Drive
▪Clover Way
▪Longmeadow Drive
▪Kennedy Road
▪Olde Way
Cerro Vista Court was not studied because it is a short cul-de-sac street with only five homes and very low
traffic volumes. In total, there are fewer than 20 homes that access Shannon Road from Cerro Vista Drive.
Traffic conditions on study area roadways were analyzed throughout the day and with a special focus on the
weekday AM and PM peak hours of traffic. The AM peak hour of traffic is generally between 7:00 and 9:00
AM, and the PM peak hour is typically between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. It is during these periods that traff ic
volumes are highest on an average weekday. The cumulative analysis includes the intersections of Los Gatos
Boulevard/Kennedy Road and Edgewood Avenue/Kennedy Road.
Existing Conditions
Hexagon conducted 24-hour tube counts on Longmeadow Drive and Olde Wa y for a one-week period in May
of 2012. AM and PM peak hour turning-movement counts at the Kennedy/Longmeadow and Longmeadow/
Clover intersections also were conducted. Existing traffic conditions were observed in the field during the AM
and PM peak hours. Based on the count data and field observations, the traffic volume on the study roadway
segments is very low, and no traffic issues were observed. All count data are included at the end of this
memorandum.
Existing Traffic Volume
Average daily traffic volume on the study roadway segments ranged from approximately 100 vehicles per day
(Olde Way) to 500 vehicles per day (Longmeadow Drive). T he existing traffic volume on these streets is within
the typical range (albeit the lower end of the range) for residential streets in Los Gatos.
ATTACHMENT 8
Traffic Study for the Surrey Farm Estates Development in Los Gatos, CA April 16, 2018
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Existing Intersection Levels of Service
The intersections of Longmeadow Drive/Kennedy Road and Longmeadow Drive/Clover Way were evaluated
using level of service (LOS). Level of service is a qualitative measure of traffic operations, ranging from LOS
A (free-flow conditions) to LOS F (congested conditions). Based on existing counts and field observations,
both intersections are operating well at LOS A. Sight distance at the intersections is adequate, and no
operational issues were observed.
Project Conditions
The magnitude of traffic produced by a new development and the locations where that traffic would appear
are estimated using a three-step process: (1) trip generation, (2) trip distribution, and (3) trip assignment. In
determining project trip generation, the magnitude of traffic generated by the project is estimated. As part of
the project trip distribution, an estimate is made of the directions to and from which the project trips would
travel. In the project trip assignment, the project trips are assigned to specific streets and intersections. These
procedures are described below.
Project Trip Generation
Through empirical research, data have been collected that quantify the amount of traffic produced by common
land uses. Thus, for the most common land uses there are standard trip generation rates that can be applied
to help predict the future traffic increases that would result from a new development. The magnitude of traffic
added to the roadway system by a particular development is estimated by multiplying the applicable trip
generation rates by the size of the development. The trip generation rates published in the Institute of
Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) manual entitled Trip Generation, 10th Edition (2017) for Single-Family
Detached Housing (Land Use 210) were used for this study.
The project proposes to construct nine new single-family homes on a vacant site. As shown in Table 1, the
project is estimated to generate 85 daily vehicle trips with 7 trips occurring during the AM peak hour and 9
trips occurring during the PM peak hour.
Table 1
Project Trip Generation Estimates
Project Trip Distribution and Assignment
The estimated project trips were assigned to the roadway network based on existing travel patterns within the
neighborhood. Four of the nine proposed new homes would have access to Shannon Road via Cerro Vista
Court and Cerro Vista Drive. The other five new homes would be accessed via Twin Oaks Drive. Based on
the layout of the neighborhood roadway network and field observations, Clover Way and Olde Way most
likely would not be used by project-generated traffic. Olde Way is narrow, has speed bumps, and does not
provide any time savings as a cut-through street. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that traffic generated by
the five new homes accessible from Twin Oaks Drive would use Longmeadow Drive on their way to and from
Kennedy Road. Figure 1 shows the AM and PM peak hour project trips that would be added to the roadway
network.
Project Traffic Volumes
The estimated trips generated by the proposed nine-unit residential development were added to existing
volumes to obtain traffic volumes with the project (project conditions). Table 2 shows the increases in traffic
volumes on the study roadway segments as a result of the project. As shown in the table, the project would
not add a considerable amount of traffic to the study roadway segments . However, since the existing volume
of traffic within the neighborhood is low, the new traffic m ay be noticeable.
Land Use Size Rate In Out Total Rate In Out Total
Single-Family Detached Housing 9 9.44 85 0.74 2 5 7 0.99 6 3 9
Source: ITE Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition (2017), Land Use Code 210.
AM Peak Hour PM Peak HourDaily
Rate
Daily
Trips
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Table 2
Traffic Volumes on the Study Roadway Segments
The project would add a total of only seven to nine peak-hour vehicle trips to the surrounding roadway
network. Once these trips disperse, the number of trips at any one street or intersection would become so
small that the traffic increase would not be noticeable outside of the immediate project neighborhood.
Project Intersection Levels of Service
The results of the level of service analysis show that the study intersections of Longmeadow Drive/Kennedy
Road and Longmeadow Drive/Clover Way would continue to operate at LOS A with the project.
Cumulative Plus Project Conditions
In addition to analyzing project impacts to study intersections in the immediate vicinity of the project, the Town
requested a study of two additional intersections on Kennedy Drive under cumulative plus project conditions.
The data for this analysis was obtained from the Hillbrook School EIR, dated February 2014, and the 401-409
Alberto Way TIA, dated August 2016. The cumulative traffic volumes for the intersection of Los Gatos
Boulevard and Kennedy Road were taken from the Alberto Way TIA since it contains the most recent data.
However, the Alberto Way TIA does not include an analysis of the Kennedy Road/Englewood Avenue
intersection. Therefore, cumulative traffic volumes for this intersection were obtained from the Hillbrook
School EIR. The Hillbrook School EIR evaluated only the peak hours of school traffic. The AM peak hour of
school traffic occurs during the morning peak commute hour, which coincides with the peak hour of traffic
generated by the Surrey Farm project. The afternoon peak hour of school traffic occurs between 2:30 – 3:30
PM, which is earlier than the afternoon peak commute hour and the peak hour of project traffic. Thus, the
Kennedy/Englewood intersection was only evaluated during the AM peak hour due to a lack of data during the
PM peak commute hour.
Table 3 shows the increases in traffic volumes on the segment of Kennedy Road west of Longmeadow Drive
as a result of the project. It was assumed that all project trips passing through the intersection of Kennedy
Road/Longmeadow Drive would continue through to Los Gatos Boulevard. Figure 2 shows cumulative and
cumulative plus project traffic volumes at these intersections.
Project Intersection Levels of Service
The project would add only four or five vehicle trips to Kennedy Road during the AM and PM peak hours,
respectively, which is not a significant contribution toward cumulative traffic volumes in the area . Based on the
Alberto Way TIA and the Hillbrook School EIR, the study intersections of Kennedy Road/Los Gatos Boulevard
and Kennedy Road/Englewood Avenue are projected to operate at LOS D and A, respectively, under
cumulative conditions. These intersections would not experience decreased levels of service due to the
Surrey Farm project traffic.
Roadway Segment
AM
Vol
PM
Vol
Daily
Vol
AM
Trips
PM
Trips
Daily
Trips
AM
Vol
PM
Vol
Daily
Vol
Kennedy Rd, w/o Longmeadow Dr 267 194 2,639 1 4 5 47 271 199 2,686
Kennedy Rd, e/o Longmeadow Dr 149 137 1,637 1 0 0 0 149 137 1,637
Longmeadow Dr, n/o Kennedy Rd 118 57 1,002 1 4 5 47 122 62 1,049
Longmeadow Dr, btwn Clover & Twin Oaks 35 31 374 4 5 47 39 36 421
Clover Wy, s/o Longmeadow Dr 6 7 74 1 0 0 0 6 7 74
Twin Oaks Dr, s/o Longmeadow Dr 26 23 281 4 5 47 30 28 328
Olde Wy, btwn Kennedy Rd & Clover Wy 14 13 108 0 0 0 14 13 108
Notes:
1. Daily volume estimated based on AM and PM peak hour volumes.
Existing Conditions Project Trips Project Conditions
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Table 3
Cumulative Plus Project Traffic Volumes on Kennedy Road
The four new homes that are proposed to have access via Cerro Vista Court would add three or four vehicle
trips to Shannon Road via Cerro Vista Court and Cerro Vista Drive during the AM and PM peak hours,
respectively. Cerro Vista Court and Cerro Vista Drive currently experiences very low traffic volumes, so an
increase of four peak-hour trips may be noticeable to nearby residents. Shannon Road experiences much
higher traffic volume, with approximately 320 westbound and 120 eastbound trips during the AM peak hour.
The additional traffic on Shannon Road due to the project would be insignificant and unnoticeable to nearby
residents.
Site Access and Circulation
Based on the proposed site plan, adequate site access and circulation would be provided at the new project
street connections on Twin Oaks Drive and on Cerro Vista Drive. The new project street network would be
built to meet current design safety standards and would be designed to fit in well with the existing
neighborhood street system.
At the new project street connection with Twin Oaks Drive, Hexagon assumes that a new radius will be
constructed at the southwest corner of the intersection. Associated trees and the raised landscape hill will be
removed as a result. Compared to the existing driveway, the proposed project street would intersect Twin
Oaks Drive perpendicularly, which improves sight distance. Twin Oaks Drive is subject to a 25 mile per hour
speed limit. The Caltrans required stopping distance at this speed is 150 feet. With the assumed project
improvements, sight distance on Twin Oaks Drive at its connection with the new project street would be more
than 400 feet in each direction, which is adequate. The sight distance from the proposed new street
connection on Cerro Vista Court also exceeds 150 feet, which meets the Caltrans standard.
The sight distance and accident history at the intersection of Cerro Vista Drive and Shannon Road was
checked in response to resident concerns. According to the Town of Los Gatos, there is no record of any
accidents at the Shannon/Cerro Vista intersection for the three-year period from January 1, 2014 through
December 31, 2016. Shannon Road has a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour. The Caltr ans required
stopping distance at this speed is 200 feet. Vehicles stopped on Cerro Vista Drive at Shannon Road can see
vehicles approaching from the west (left) for a distance of approximately 250 feet, which exceeds the
minimum Caltrans standard. A tree and other vegetation on the southeast corner of the intersection impedes
sight distance to the east (right). In order to see 200 feet to the east, vehicles on Cerro Vista Drive must stop
behind the stop bar and then pull forward and stop again before the front of their vehicle encroaches into the
travelled way on Shannon Road. The sight distance for vehicles stopped behind the stop bar could be
improved by removing the tree and trimming vegetation on the southeast corner.
Conclusions
▪ Existing traffic volume on the study roadway segments is low, and no traffic issues were observed in
the field.
▪ Traffic operations in the study area would continue to function adequately with the project.
▪ The project would result in only a minor traffic increase, but residents in the immediately adjacent
neighborhood may notice the increase.
Roadway Segment AM Vol Daily Vol AM Trips Daily Trips AM Vol Daily Vol
Kennedy Rd, w/o Longmeadow Dr 300 2,828 1 4 47 304 2,875
Notes:
1. Daily volume estimated based on cumulative AM and existing PM peak hour volumes.
Cumulative Conditions Project Trips Project Conditions
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▪ The project would not make a significant contribution toward existing or cumulative traffic volumes in
the area.
▪ The project would provide adequate site access and circulation at the new project street connections
on Twin Oaks Drive and Cerro Vista Court.
▪ Vehicles on Cerro Vista Drive must pull forward past the stop bar at Shannon Road in order to
achieve adequate sight distance. Removing a tree and trimming vegetation on the southeast cor ner
of the Shannon/Cerro Vista intersection would improve the sight distance.
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