1989 01 11 TTC Minutes
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager /~
FROM: Frank Reynolds, Director of Public Works
City Engineer
DATE: January 13, 1989
SUBJECT: Technical Traffic Committee
The regular meeting of the Technical Traffic Committee was held at
11:00 A.M. on Wednesday January 11, 1989 Present were:
Members: Lt. Ron Dye, Sheriff's Department
Roger Hirdler, City of La Quinta
Dick Barrera, Riverside County
Frank Reynolds, City of La Quinta
Gene Marshall, Caltrans, San Diego
Staff: Jerry Coffey, City of La Quinta
Guest: Flo Richardson, Caltrans, San Diego
OLD BUSINESS: Raised Medians and Safety Lighting
Pursuant to discussions at December's meeting, a memorandum from Sgt.
Byers regarding the safety aspect of center medians and safety
lighting had been distributed with the agenda and a copy is made a
part of these minutes. Each of the items in that memorandum was
discussed.
No exception was taken to the recommendation that raised medians be
no longer than 1,000 feet, but there was considerable: discussion
about how to break the median to accommodate emergency vehicles while
still discouraging motorists from making U-turns through the breaks.
Lt. Dye was asked if he knew of any similar situations in t:he Valley,
and he could only think of one on Bob Hope Drive at: Eisenhower
Medical Center. In that case there's an emergency vehicle only left
turn slot, but except for signage to that effect, there i:: no special
treatment. Suggestions were made regarding the installation of
flexible delineators or some different treatment to the road
surfacing in median breaks to set them apart from normal roadway
surface texture.
While everyone could understand the problem with large boulders or
rocks in median strips, it was noted that in Palm Desert, for
example, the desire for landscape attractiveness won ou.t over the
safety considerations.
The members concurred with Sgt. Byers' in the matter of low
maintenance and sight distance considerations.
No exception was taken to the matter of raised pavement markers,
except that Mr. Reynolds noted that he favors installing the markers
on top of the curb rather than on the pavement alongside the curb for
higher visibility. Lt. Dye concurred, stating that in that position
they are not vulnerable to street sweepers and stay cleaner longer.
The Committee also concurred regarding sprinkler systems. Country
Club Drive was referred to as "The Palm Desert Carwash." It's not
only a nuisance to motorists with clean cars, but it ale,o creates a
hazard where no hazard would exist if different watering techniques
were employed.
The Committee found Sgt. Byers description of the: suggested
intersections to be confusing, so Lt. Dye agreed to get them
clarified.
NEW BUSINESS: Washinaton Street and Miles
Mr. Reynolds stated that with the new traffic signal at. Washington
and Fred Waring now in operation, the predicted congestion at the
Washington-Miles intersection is now a fact. Southbound. Washington
traffic stopped for a red at Fred Waring now approacr, Miles in
platoons of a dozen or more cars, all of which have to stop for the
4-way stop at Miles, In anticipation of this situation the County
had taken counts and determined that the ratio between Washington and
Miles traffic is 4 to 1. A traffic signal could be warranted on the
basis of minimum traffic volumes, but another alternative would be to
remove the Washington stop, thus easing the frustration of the
motorist on Washington.
However, Mr. Hirdler pointed out that Miles traffic might be even
more frustrated and take chances they might not otherwise take. Lt.
Dye concurred. He stated that if Washington traffic gets'. frustrated
to the point where they attempt to pre-empt the Miles right-of-way, a
low speed accident could result. Whereas if the Washinaton stop is
removed and Miles runs the stop, a high speed accident could result
with much higher damage.
Mr. Reynolds advised the members that currently the City is
processing two tentative tract maps, one for each side of Miles at
this intersection. If either of these developments coo forward a
traffic signal will be required. Therefore, the Committee decided to
table this matter for two months so that the dispositior.~ of the two
tracts might be more clear.
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled tentatively for
Wednesday, February 15, 1989, one week later than usual due to
vacation scheduling.
The meeting adjourned at 11:55 A.M.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF
fIF_MORANDUM
TO: Frank Reynolds Director of Public Works/City Engineer
City of L.a @ui!-eta
FROt"; Sqt. Betty Byers, Traffic Services Team
Riverside County SI-reri.'ff-Indio Station
RE: Medians/Street Lighting
DATE: December 21, 1988
Mr. Reynolds, the following are suggestions submitted by ne•mbers
Of the Traffic Team regardr.ng installati.nr~ of medians and street
lights within the City of I_a C~un~ta. My apologies i~or tF,e delay
in forwarding i;he information.
MEDIANS
Suggest tf-rat merlrans he no more than IOOCr f~=et long to f~~ci.litate
access by emergency ~reh isles. The islands could be eh tended by
using double yellow Sires anc! posting the area with "for cse by
emergency vehicles only" signs. These breaks should be large
enough for ve=hicles to make a u~-turn from Zither direction. This
would greatly assist deout:ies using radar to enforce speed
violations. iLong medians make it difficult to get turned ~,-ound
and safely catch up t.o the violators as is experienced nn Dinah
Shore Drive in Rancho h{irage.)
Sugge~~'t no large boulde=rs or roc.-4<s be placed in thc• median as
they r.. t; r, become launch points for the vehicle. or may be ]ar_nched
themselvr>s.
Sugges'~. that vegation >.r~ the medians be of a low maintenance- type
so thdit city crews would only geriodir_ally have to be in ~he
roadway or .clock portions of the roadway durin~~ maintr-~r,anr_e.
`iugges~ that trees and shruba be 4<ept at a height and density
that doesn't interfer with the i-lear view of both lanes as this
could effect enforcement of speed laws 6y radar.
Suggest raised pavement markers 6e used at the sods of each
median as well as intermittently along each edge of t:he me~ditan.
Also sr.aygest the median er-ids be [:.rlainly marl<ed witl_r sigr5 .and
paddle markers.
suggest, that: watering system(s) be of a low height variety tr,
dec_rease~ the driving hazards created by wind blowing wate~~ onto
the roadway.
LIGHTING
Suggest lighks be plar_ed on all major arterials with particulzr
attention given to the following intersections: Washington,
Eisenhower, Avenue 5O, Avenue 52, Durango, Chihuahua, Bermudas,
Tecate, Tampico, S.R. Hwy 111 and Jefferson Street.
Suggest the areas facing onto the street he lighted in front of
the Vista Dunes Mobile Home Park to Adams and in front of the
Dune Palms Mobile Home Park.
Suggest the area near Avenue 59 annj Jefferson Street be lighted.
Respectfully submitted,
Bet:t.y Bye-rs, Sqt,