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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 20, 1999 H-03AGENDA TITLE: Report on Evergreen Drive at Elm Street Intersection Study MEETING DATE: January 20, 1999 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: No action. Information only. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The intersection of Evergreen Drive and Elm Street has been studied based on concerns received related to traffic congestion and pedestrian safety. The intersection of Evergreen Drive and Elm Street is a "T" intersection, with Elm Street terminating at Evergreen Drive (Exhibit A). Elm Street traffic is controlled by a stop sign and Evergreen Drive traffic is not controlled. A marked crosswalk was installed across Elm Street and across the south leg of Evergreen Drive in March of this year. Traffic volumes entering the intersection on Elm Street and Evergreen Drive are 1,105 and 1,920 vehicles per day, respectively. These counts were performed on a weekday and include the additional traffic generated at the park due to soccer practice. Available accident records for the four-plus years from 1994 to the present indicate that there have been two accidents at the intersection, both occurring in 1994. Both of these accidents were solo -vehicle accidents occurring during daylight hours; the drivers failed to stop at the posted stop sign on Elm Street at Evergreen Drive, striking the curb in front of the park. One of the drivers was intoxicated, and the other was only 15 years old. Based on these accidents, a warning sign was installed at the west end of Elm Street in May 1995. There have been no accidents at the intersection since that time. Staff's field review of the area adjacent to the intersection of Evergreen Drive and Elm Street indicated that high pedestrian activity and vehicle congestion problems occur primarily during sporting events at Peterson Park. As this neighborhood park has no parking lot, parking demand in the adjacent residential area is high, and there are a number of pedestrians crossing at various locations along Evergreen Drive. Staff also observed that due to the congested conditions, vehicles were traveling very slowly and drivers were yielding to the pedestrians crossing the street. STUDY RESULTS The intersection of Evergreen Drive and Elm Street was reviewed for the installation of multi -way stop controls. State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) guidelines are used when considering the installation of multi -way stop controls. These guidelines consider traffic volumes, accident history, and critical (85`h percentile) speeds. As indicated on Exhibit B, these guidelines are not met. Staff also considered other actions that would improve conditions at the intersection, such as driver and pedestrian visibility. The visibility of drivers stopped on Elm Street at Evergreen Drive can be improved by restricting parking adjacent to the intersection. Also, the removal of parking immediately adjacent to the marked crosswalks will improve pedestrians' ability to see approaching vehicles, as well as the ability of drivers to see pedestrians (Exhibit C). APPROVED: H. Dixon Flynn -- City anager CEVRGRN ELM. DOC 01/12/99 Report on Evergreen Drive at Elm Street Intersection Study January 20, 1999 Page 2 RECOMMENDATION Based on the relatively low traffic volumes, lack of an accident problem, and short congestion periods, staff does not recommend the installation of multi -way stops at this intersection. A multi -way stop control is also likely to lengthen the period of congestion by increasing the time it takes drivers to make drop offs and pick ups because all vehicles will be required to stop at the intersection. However, we do feel that restricting parking in some areas will enhance safety during the congested periods without affecting traffic flow at other times of the day. Based on these factors, we will be installing no -parking zones adjacent to the intersection and marked crosswalks as previously described and shown on Exhibit C. Per Section 10.44.020(F) of the Traffic Ordinance, the Public Works Director has the authority to install lengths of no -parking zones up to 20 feet without Council approval; therefore, no City Council action is needed. As an additional measure to reduce parking congestion and aid pedestrian safety during sporting events, Council may wish to consider expanding the small paved area at the north end of the park to provide an on-site parking lot. As shown on Exhibit D, a parking lot can be accommodated within the area between the fence and Evergreen Drive. The example shown, utilizing the existing driveway for the pump station, provides twenty-five parking stalls. The lot will require the relocation of some picnic tables and immature trees. If the addition of a parking lot is going to be considered, it should either be constructed while the immature trees can still be moved or the trees should be moved now to accommodate the future lot. A more detailed layout and cost estimate can be prepared for presentation at a future meeting at Council's request. FUNDING: Funding for the installation of no -parking zones adjacent to the crosswalks from the Street Maintenance Account at an approximate cost of $100. J0�w Richard C. Prima, r. Public Works Direct Prepared by Rick S. Kiriu, Senior Engineering Technician RCP/RSK/Im Attachments cc: Police Chief Street Superintendent Parks and Recreation Director Parks Superintendent Associate Traffic Engineer Concerned Citizens CEVRGRNELM.DOC 1112199 !11 W O Evergreen Drive 1,040 vehicles per day 880 vehicles per day STOP r- X t (DN N. CD Q 0 3 N rn , 77 N � CD CI CL x 0 CL N CITY OF LODI Public Works Department INTERSECTION OF: Evergreen Drive DATE: November 18, 1998 Exhibit B MULTI -WAY STOP SIGN WARRANTS and Elm Street BY: R. Kiriu Any of the following conditions may warrant a multi -way STOP sign installation. 1. Where traffic signals are warranted and the need is urgent, the four-way stop is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the signal installation. Satisfied Not Satisfied X 2. An accident problem, as indicated by five or more reported accidents of a type susceptible of correction by a multi -way stop installation in a 12 -month period. Types of accidents susceptible of correction include right angle and left turn collisions. Time period Jan - Dec 1997 Number of correctable accidents O Total number of accidents 0 Satisfied Not Satisfied X 3. Minimum volume warrant: a. The total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches must average at least 500 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an average day, and lam Sam 2pm 3pm 4pm Spm bpm 7pm Highest eight hrs lam a.m. to 8pm p.m. 1801 1411 1411 1741 1371 1551 1971 981 Total volume 1922 vehicles 22 441 801 91_L_127L151J 1011 831 Average per hour 240 vehicles b. The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street 61 highway must average at leas 200 units per hour for the same eight hours with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour. Hour lam 8am 2pm 3pm 4pm Spm bpm Minor St Vehs 22 44 80 911 127 151 101 Pedestrians * need 901 peds j113 per hour► to satisfy )m Hiahest eight hrs lam 83 Average per hour — Average per hour Average units per hour Satisfied 4. When the 85 -percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70 percent of the above requirements. a.m. to 8pm p.m. 87 vehicles 0 peds (EST) 87 Not Satisfied X 85 -percentile speed 36 MPH Satisfied Not Satisfied X 1. A four-way STOP sign installation is a useful traffic control measure when other available means of control are not adequate. It should not be used unless the volume of traffic on the intersecting roads is about equal and is undesirable at low volume intersections. Traffic major street 63 % Traffic minor street 37 % Approved by: Warrant Satisfied: YES NO X ADOPTED FROM THE CALTRANS TRAFFIC MANUAL MULTI -WAY STOP SIGN POLICY elm_evergrn I Exhibit C Evergreen Drive at Elm Street I No Parking Zones 4) Not to Scale Lm 4) W Residential 81 Elm Street P: Peterson CM Park 20' Pedestrian Line of Sight (typical) 10, 10, Residential LEGEND Proposed "No Parking" Zones CITY OF •D Public Works DepartmenA, �L d Evergreen Drive Peterson Park Parking Lot Expansion Parking Lot Expansion (25 stalls) +re•• (nm) Bayberry Drive I v� 9 CITY COUNCIL KEITH LAND, Mayor STEPHEN 1. MANN Mayor Pro Tempore SUSAN HITCHCOCK ALAN S. NAKANISHI PHILLIP A. PENNINO CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 9 5241-1 91 0 (2 09) 333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 January 14, 1999 H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk RANDALL A. HAYS City Attorney Kim Manser Tom Scott Rich Ozminkowski 2715 West Elm Street 2639 West Elm Street 2707 West Elm Street Lodi, CA 95242 Lodi, CA 95242 Lodi, CA 95242 SUBJECT: Report on Evergreen Drive at Elm Street Intersection Study Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, January 20, 1999. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street. This item is on the regular calendar for Council discussion. You are welcome to attend. If you wish to write to the City Council, please address your letter to City Council, City of Lodi, P. O. Box 3006, Lodi, California, 95241-1910. Be sure to allow time for the mail. Or, you may hand -deliver the letter to City Hall, 221 West Pine Street. If you wish to address the Council at the Council Meeting, be sure to fill out a speaker's card (available at the Carnegie Forum immediately prior to the start of the meeting) and give it to the City Clerk. If you have any questions about communicating with the Council, please contact Alice Reimche, City Clerk, at 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item itself, please call Rick Kiriu, Senior Engineering Technician, at 333-6800, ext. 668. jw)&z Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCP/Irn Enclosure cc: City Clerk NCEVRGRNELM.DOC