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1991 05 01 TTC Minutes MEiV10RANDUM T0: Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager FROM: Frank Reynolds, Director of Public Works /~~y/ City Engineer ~j DATE: May 9, 1991 SUBJECT: Technical Traffic Committee A regular meeting of the Technical Traffic Committee was'. held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 1, 1991. Attendance included: Members: Lieutenant Ron Dye, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Indio Gene Marshall, District Local Roads & Streets. Engineer, Caltrans District 11, San Diego Richard Barrera, Traffic Engineer Riverside County Road Department, Riverside Roger Hirdler, Asst. Community Safety Director City of La Quinta Frank Reynolds, Director of Public works City of La Quinta Staff: Jerry Coffey, Engineering Supervisor City of La Quinta Mr. Reynolds brought the meeting to order at 11:00 A.M. OLD BUSINESS: Avenida Bermudas Pedestrian Crossing at Calle Estado. Mr. Reynolds pointed out that this subject had been discussed at a Committee meeting several months ago without any resolution having been reached. To refresh memories, a videotape of the: various intersections involved was shown and a drawing was presented on which to sketch various alternatives. Technical Traffic Committee - May 1991 Page 2 The last time this problem was addressed one possibla: solution put forth was the installation of a pedestrian - activated signal at the post office and real estate office at Estado. Both Lt. Dye and Mr. Barrera indicated they had seen such an installation, one being midblock at the Los Angeles City Hall. Mr. Marshall stated that in his opinion the entire intersection., that is, from Montezuma on the north to the eastbound leg of Estado on the south, has to be treated as a single intersection, and a lone pedestrian activated signal at the Post Office location won't fill the need. The reasoning behind this is that it seems unl.ilcely that pedestrians can be "herded" between the bank and the post office by means of painted crosswalks when they are accustomed to crossing at several locations. It seemed to the Committee members th.e initial attempt to provide for safer crossings would be to install stop signs at Montezuma for southbound Bermudas traffic, at Estado for northbound Bermudas traffic, paint crosswalks across Bermudas at the eastbound leg of Estado and at Montezuma, paint a crosswalk across Estado between the bank and real estate office, and paint a~ crosswalk across Montezuma. (Subsequent to the meeting staff investigated the foregoing possibility and concluded that further study is needed due to alignment problems, possible loss of parking spaces in front of the Post Office, and the lack of handicapped ramps iri appropriate locations. Staff will pursue this matter.;i NEW BUSINESS ITEM NO. 1 - Calle Tampico and Calle Rondo. Mr. Reynolds advised that what has been referred to as the "safer route to school" is now in place with the comp:le:tion of Tampico and Park Avenue and the installation of the traffic signal at Park and Avenue 50, with the result that traffic on those :streets has increased significantly. This is explained by the desire. to avoid the signal at Washington and Avenue 50 and the school zone along Avenue 50. Mr. Barrera recommended that for liability con:;iderations the term "safer route" be eliminated from our vocabulary and instead substitute "suggested route". A citizen has suggested that the intersection of Tampico and Rondo should be a 4-way stop to discourage speeding in thc: area. A video tape of the area was shown. Lt. Dye asked if any traffic counts had been taken. He was advised that there were none, and he commented that he knows oif no incidents in that stretch of roadway. It was agreed tha+; warrants would not be met, and even though the City has used stop signs to control speed, there is no demonstrated problem in this ca:;e. As a matter of fact, the crossgutter on the east side of the intersection probably acts as a better deterrent than a stop sign would. It was agreed, however, that "DIP" signs should be installed anc'~ that the area be monitored as development in the neighborhood continues. Technical Traffic Committee - May 1991 Page 3 NEW BUSINESS ITEM NO. 2 - Washington Street Speed Zone. One of the Sheriff's deputies has indicated some confusion as to the Washington Street speed limits since the widening project took place. It has been determined that subsequent to the widening the 45 mph signs were not re-installed in their original locations. Mr. Reynolds pointed out that the speed survey taken in 1988 established a 45 mph zone between the church and Highway 111. Therefore the 45 mph sign for northbound traffic needs to be relocated northward to the homestead (Burkett) property, and the "END 45 mph" sign positioned just south of the church for southbound traffic. Given the fact that the entire character of that stretch has changed due to the creation of the frontage road, the consensus is that a new speed survey should be made. NEW BUSINESS ITEM No. 3 - Speed Control. Steve Speer's memo, which had previously been presen~tE>d to the City Council, had been distributed to Committee members prior to the meeting. In the general discussion which followed Mr. Barrera pointed out that a County-wide Committee is studying 'the speed control problem, and Mr. Speer's memorandum reflects the thinking of those committee members at this time. With regard to the installation of stop signs on Bermudas, Lt. Dye asked if the City had received adverse comments. Mr. Reynolds responded that at first there were several complaints <ind that hind-sight would indicate that it would have been better had advance notice been given via the City newsletter. However, there: have been no complaints recorded for the past week or so. Mr. Barrera stated that when the County makes a similar drastic change plenty of warning signs and flags are used. Mr. Reynolds replied that the City followed the same procedure and had some dozen flashers and all but one of the flag sets was stolen the first night. The consensus of the Committee was that while Mr. Speer's memo generally was endorsed, they felt that 1) all streets should be posted for 25 mph, and 2) no speed surveys should be made. The rationale was that irrespective of Caltrans criteria, the Cove is a residential area and engineering judgement should prevail. Further, it was felt that we should hold off making a speed survey on Bermudas until the effect of the stop signs can be evaluated, bu+. that a survey should be taken on Eisenhower. .' Technical Traffic Committee - May 1991 Page 4 NEW BUSINESS ITEM NO. 4 - Parking along the north side of Avenue 50 at the school Mr. Reynolds outlined the increased activity at th.e Sports Complex which has resulted in the public ignoring the "no stopping at any time" signage, particularly in the evenings. It was pointed out that if the butterfly gate in the school fencing were to be closed off the problem would go away, but the school officials haven't seen fit to take that action. The present signage was installed to discourage parents from dropping children off on either side of Avenue 50, and in this respect they for the most part have served the intended purpose. However, it really doesn't apply to non-school hours. Bagging the signs in the evening is too labor intensive. The consensus was that staff should check the traffic manual for wording that might apply to this situation which would prohibit parking during school hours only. The meeting adjourned at 12:20 P.M.