1988 10 19 TTC Minutes
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager
FROM: Frank Reynolds, City Engineer
DATE: October 20, 1988
SUBJECT: Technical Traffic Committee
The regular meeting of the Technical Traffic Committee was held at
11:00 am on Wednesday, October 19, 1988. Present were:
Members: Sgt. Betty Beyer, Sheriff's Department
Ron Friedli, Sheriff's Department
Charlie Clay, Desert Sands Unified School District
Mr. Sherwood, Desert Sands Unified School District
Frank Reynolds, City of La Quinta
Roger Hirdler, City of La Quinta
Staff: Jerry Coffey, City of La Quinta
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Reynolds reported on the demise of the traffic study at Park
Avenue and Avenue 50. Work by the consultant on that. study was
halted when a Senior Vice President for Landmark Land Company
announced that Landmark would not settle for anything less, than full
access to their proposed 194 lot tract on the south side of 50th
along the old Adams Street alignment. Adams Street previously had
been abandoned in favor of a preferred 4-way intersection at Park
Avenue, and the current study had confirmed that two signalized
intersections within about 550' of each other would be highly
undesirable. Therefore, when Landmark dropped its plans to develop,
the traffic engineer was directed to submit a summary report and do
nothing further.
NEW BUSINESS:
Had the above tract development gone forward, provisions would have
been made to construct a bikeway which would connect tYxe: end of the
existing Calle Tampico with the Park Avenue - Avenue 50
intersection. This would have afforded a much safer route from the
Cove area to the schools than the route presently be.~ng followed
along Washington Street and Avenue 50. It had been noticed that
since the opening of the Middle School this Fall there has been an
increase in the number of bicyclists and skateboards using the latter
route.
Mr. Sherwood felt that the numbers were not large, perhaps a total of
8 bicyclists. He also believes that the school officials can put a stop to the use
of either bicycles or skateboards, but it would take frequent reminders
to enforce the prohibition.
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Technical Traffic Committee
October 19, 1988
Page 2
Mr. Clay expressed the opinion that if there were a safer route to
school, probably the use of bicycles would increase.
It has been observed by the Sheriff Department that some students are
taking a shortcut by entering the Dunes golf course in the area of
the IID substation at the end of Calle Ultimo and traveling down the
levee towards 50th. It also has been observed that students using
this route or the Washington route cross 50th at the bottom of the
wash in order to access the sidewalk on the north side of the
street. It was agreed by all that this crossing is at the worst
possible location due to sight distance problems.
Mr. Reynolds stated that after the death of the previously mentioned
subdivision Landmark was approached regarding the possibility of
obtaining an easement to construct a temporary bike path. generally
along the same route which would have been folloHred had the
development proceeded, and Landmark indicated that this might be
worked out. However, both the school districts' and t:he Sheriff's
representatives opposed this idea due to the remoteness of` the area.
Access by emergency equipment would be extremely difficult, and it
would open up opportunities for rapists and bullies. It was the
concensus of the Committee members that this bike path over a half
mile of open desert would create more problems than it would solve.
It was suggested that such a solution would not be inexpensive, and
the money would be better spent on making whatever provisions are
necessary to widen Washington and 50th to provide bikeways. Two of
the problems in doing this, however, are the need to wide:ri the bridge
on Washington at the Evacuation channel to accommodate cyclists and
pedestrians and the possible encroachment with fill material on
adjacent low-lying properties.
Nonetheless, the City staff will continue to look into possible alternative.
OTHER MATTERS:
Sgt. Beyer reported that there have been some very recent instances
where speeding tickets in the school zone have been dismissed. The
judge's rationale has been that inadequate warning of a speed
reduction is given for 55 mph traffic entering a 25 mph zone. It was
agreed that the City staff immediately will arrange for' additional
signage.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 A.M.