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7�pW N OF 1ps^ G A�.'"IQS DATE TO FROM: MEETING DATE: 05/06/13 ITEM NO: 11 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT APRIL 22, 2013 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER -' SUBJECT: CHESTNUT AVENUE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES ACCEPT REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR THE CHESTNUT AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD RECOMMENDATION: Accept report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for the Chestnut Avenue neighborhood. BACKGROUND: Residents of the Chestnut Avenue neighborhood formally submitted a petition to the Town in September 2012 to be considered for a traffic calming project. Staff reviewed the petition and 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 85th 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 Chestnut Avenue neighborhood 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. Parks and Public Works hosted a neighborhood meeting on January 30, 2013 to explain the Town's Traffic Calming policy process and to engage residents in a discussion about possible traffic calming options, along with staff from the Police Department. Residents were notified of this meeting via US snail. PREPARED BY: TODD CAPURSO Director of Parks and Public Works Reviewed by: _Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance 'C N:\PPW\ MANAGEMENT \COUNCIL \COUNCIL REPORTS\2013 Repoits \050613 \Chestnut Avenue. Tiuf fic.Cahn.Tempoiary.Devices.doc PAGE 2 APRIL 22, 2013 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: CHESNUT AVENUE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES BACKGROUND (cont'd): There were 6 residents in attendance at this meeting who provided feedback on the impact of traffic calming devices on neighborhood streets. Residents discussed various traffic issues at this meeting and reducing vehicle speeds was the highest priority for those in attendance. DISCUSSION: At the neighborhood meeting, the consensus of those in attendance was to install a new stop sign at the corner of Hernandez and Chestnut Avenue, and one speed hump on Chestnut Avenue. Some residents requested that the two devices be voted on as two separate options. The residents in attendance agreed to conduct a neighborhood vote on these two traffic calming devices separately. A neighborhood vote was conducted in February to confirm if residents favored the traffic calming proposal. Ballots were mailed to all residents on Chestnut Avenue, as well as the resident that resides on the corner of Hernandez and Chestnut Avenue. Ballots were mailed out to 12 residents, of which staff received 7 responses. The vote breakdown for this traffic calming proposal was as follows: Create a 3 -way stop sign at Chestnut Avenue /Hernandez Approve: 86% intersection by installing a new stop sign Not Approve: 14% Install one speed hump on Chestnut Avenue at Approve: 86% designated location on map Not Approve: 14% Upon Council acceptance of this report, staff will schedule installation of the temporary devices over the next few months. Four to six months after installation, staff will conduct another traffic study on Chestnut Avenue to determine the effectiveness of these devices. Based on this timeline, staff will collect the new traffic data in the fall. Staff will then contact the same residents to inform them of the new data collected, and also ask for their vote to approve or deny making the devices permanent. CONCLUSION: Staff recommends the Town Council accept the report on the temporary installation of traffic calming devices for the Chestnut Avenue 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. PAGE 3 APRIL 22, 2013 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: CHESNUT AVENUE TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FISCAL IMPACT: The cost for this project will be approximately $6,000. Funding for this traffic calming project has been allocated through the adopted FY 2012/12 - 2016/17 Capital Improvement Program Budget. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK