1988 04 13 TTC Minutes
DEPARTj~NTAL REPORT
MEMORANDUM
CITY OF LA QUINTA
TO: Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager
FROM: Frank Reynolds, Director of Public Work~-
DATE April 14, 1988
SUBJECT: Technical Traffic Committee
The regular meeting of the Technical Traffic Committee was held
at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 1988. Present were:
Members: Sgt. Stanley Sniff, Sheriff's Department
Roger Hirdler, City of La Quinta
Richard Barrera, Riverside County
Frank Reynolds, City of La Quinta
Absent: Gene Marshall, Caltrans, San Diego
Staff: Bob Weddle, City Project Engineer
Others: John Curtis, Landmark Land Company
Investigator Ron Friedli, Sheriff's Dept.
Sgt. Betty Boyer, Sheriff's Department
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Reynolds reported that the Engineering and Speed Survey
recommended by this Committee and authorized by the City Council
had been completed the previous week and that the Auto Club is
presently tabulating the results. It is expected that their
report will be received in 10 days to two weeks. The Auto Club
also has furnished the City and the Sheriff's Department with
floppy disks which can be used in tabulating the results of
future speed surveys.
TECHNICAL TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
APRIL 14, 1988
PAGE 2
NEW BUSINESS:
The following agenda items were discussed:
1. Traffic Signal at 50th and Park Avenue.
2. Raised median on 50th.
3. Access to 50th.
4. Bikeways.
Mr. Reynolds explained that all of the agenda items arise from a
proposed development across 50th from the school and sports
complex. This development, which is a portion of Duna La
Quinta, is planned for 193 single family dwellings around the
Dunes Golf Course and one multifamily lot with frontage on.
50th.
He then provided the Committee with the background which
resulted in the agenda items, noting the improvements along
Tampico and Park Avenue, the anticipated school and sports
complex traffic along those streets, and the status of the.
school and sports complex development.
On the matter of the need for signalization of the Park Avenue
and 50th intersection, Mr. Barrera stated that without the:
kind of traffic generation numbers that could be developed, from
an independent study of all the various factors involved, it is
not possible at this time to make a clear recommendation ass to
if or when signals should be installed. Therefore, it was. the
consensus of the Committee that a traffic study should be
undertaken by the City, and the development should be
conditioned upon the results of that study.
With respect to the raised median on 50th, Mr. Reynolds
explained that the Circulation Element of the City's General
Plan calls for 50th to be a primary arterial, with a 100'
right of way, four lanes and a raised median. The developer has
suggested that perhaps the presence of the median would cx-eate a
safety problem in that it might encourage jaywalking. The
Sheriff's Department representatives responded that they 2`elt
that the median would discourage bicyclists from crossing
illegally; pedestrians might try to cross whether there i:s a
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TECHNICAL TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
APRIL 14, 1988
PAGE 3
NEW BUSINESS (cont.).
median or not. Their only concern about the presence of a
median on this or any other street is the negative impact
medians have on speed limit enforcement by radar. Since most
modern radar detection units are designed to observe oncoming
traffic, the inability of the officer to make a U-turn hampers
the enforcement.
It was the consensus of the Committee that a General Plan
revision should not be pursued to eliminate the specified median.
The developer's plan showed an access to 50th from the
multifamily lot, and the City staff had recommended again=_.t
it, due to its proximity to the 50th and Park intersection.
Mr. Weddle also mentioned a potential sight distance problem
connected with eastbound traffic coming out of the wash. After
considerable discussion it was decided that the subject of` the
parcel's access to 50th should appropriately be included i.r..
the traffic study which had previously been recommended.
There was a brief discussion on the proposed bikeways alonSf
Tampico and Park Avenue, with the result that the Sheriff"s
Department will check the Vehicle Code and with other
jurisdictions to determine those restrictions which might aipply.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. The next meeting of the
Committee is scheduled tentatively for Wednesday, May 11, 1988.
FR/ lmm
cc: Committee Members
Bob Weddle
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