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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 19, 2000 E-07,4 OF <O u` o COUNCIL COMMUNICATION C.VM0Q AGENDA TITLE: Traffic Safety Improvements on Turner Road at Loma Drive MEETING DATE: July 19, 2000 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council approve enhancing the traffic safety devices on Turner Road at Loma Drive and appropriate Transportation Development Act (TDA) Program funds for the improvements. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Public Works Department has recently received complaints about pedestrian safety on Turner Road at Loma Drive near Lodi Lake. There have been several near misses that have heightened the community's concern for pedestrians crossing Turner Road to access the Lodi Lake Park. Staff has prepared the following report that presents existing conditions, alternative solutions, and staffs recommendations. Existing Conditions: The current volume on Turner Road is over 15,000 vehicles per day. The posted speed limit near Loma Drive is 35 miles per hour. For the previous four -and -a -half years (1996 to mid June 2000), there have been a total of twelve collisions at this intersection. The majority have been rear -end collisions resulting from inattentiveness. Staff maintains a database of all the pedestrian collisions that have occurred since 1987 and there have been no pedestrian collisions at this intersection. There was one pedestrian collision east of this intersection in 1990 that involved a three-year-old emerging between parked vehicles. In 1991, City Council approved the installation of the bidirectional flashing beacon and pedestrian improvements, including warning signs and an enhanced diagonally -hatched crosswalk. Although there have been no pedestrian collisions since installing these warning enhancements, we receive frequent complaints of near misses. Alternative Solutions: Staff has researched several pedestrian safety devices by contacting manufacturers and other agencies. The following devices were reviewed: • Crosswalk Warning System — High-intensity inpavement lights that are activated by a pushbutton and/or microwave sensor at both curbs. • Flashing Beacons and Lighted Warning System — Two flashing devices per travel direction and a lighted pedestrian warning sign are activated by a pushbutton and audible system informing the pedestrian that the warning device has been activated. • Lighted Warning System — A lighted pedestrian warning sign is activated by a pushbutton or microwave sensor system located at both curbs. APPROVED: H. Dixon Flynn -- ity Manager CTURN ERLOMA 07/10/00 Traffic Safety Improvements on Turner Road at Loma Drive July 19, 2000 Page 2 Recommendations: After careful review of the pedestrian devices, staff recommends installing additional flashing beacons, lighted pedestrian warning signs, and an activated pedestrian pushbutton/microwave sensor system as shown on the attached exhibit. The proposed system would operate only when activated by pedestrians thereby warning the driving public on a demand basis compared to the existing continual basis. Proper signage will inform the drivers of their obligation to yield to pedestrians when the beacons and signs are activated. To alert drivers, pedestrians would activate the two flashing beacons and two lighted warning signs per direction by pushing a button or crossing a microwave sensor system. An educational sign will be posted informing pedestrians how the system works and that they need to wait for vehicles to stop to allow them to cross. FUNDING: Funding from Transportation Development Act Program for the pedestrian safety improvements will cost approximately $15,000. Funding Available: Vicky McAthie, inance Director v-'�4( Richard C. P ima, r. Public Works Director Prepared by Paula J. Fernandez, Associate Traffic Engineer RCP/PJF/lm Attachment cc: Larry Hansen, Police Chief Carlos Tobar, Transportation Manager George Bradley, Street Superintendent Jess Kerekes, Technical Systems Manager Ron Williamson, Parks and Recreation Director Paula Fernandez, Associate Traffic Engineer Concerned Citizens CTURNERLOMA Turner Road at Loma Drive Modifications to Flashinq Beacon Existing Flashing Beacons fa M E 0 J Sidewalk Lodi Lake Lake Entrance New Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Signs and Additional Flashing Beacons i Existing Flashing Beacons New Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Signs (both sides) New Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Signs and Additional Flashing Beacons • Westbound View on Turner Sidewalk Note: Flashing beacons to be converted to be activated by either a pedestrian pushbutton, similar to traffic signals, or passive activation by microwave sensor device. CITY COUNCIL STEPHEN J. MANN, Mayor ALAN S. NAKANISHI Mayor Pro Tempore SUSAN HITCHCOCK KEITH LAND PHILLIP A. PENNINO Concerned Citizens -- CITY OF LODI PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 EMAIL pwdept@lodi.gov http:\\www.lodi.gov July 13, 2000 SUBJECT: Traffic Safety Improvements on Turner Road at Loma Drive H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager SUSAN J. BLACKSTON City Clerk RANDALL A. HAYS City Attorney RICHARD C. PRIMA, JR. Public Works Director Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, July 19, 2000. 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 consent calendar and is usually not discussed unless a Council Member requests discussion. The public is given an opportunity to address items on the consent calendar at the appropriate time. 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 Susan Blackston, City Clerk, at (209) 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item itself, please call Paula Fernandez, Associate Traffic Engineer, at (209) 333-6800, ext. 2667. Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCP/lm Enclosure cc: City Clerk NCTURNERLOMA TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON TURNER ROAD AT LOMA DRIVE Bob Gorbet 708 N. Loma Dr. Lodi, CA 95242 Jane Lea 1931 Holly Dr. Lodi, CA 95242