1995 Engineering & Traffic SurveyRESOLUTION NO. 95-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING
SPEED LIMIT ON PARK AVENUE FROM AVENUE 50 TO
200 FEET SOUTH OF MUIRFIELD WAY
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code authorizes cities to establish and regulate speed
zones within their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it appropriate to establish speed limits on certain
streets to facilitate safe and orderly traffic flow; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of Title 12.20 of the La Quinta Municipal
Code, an engineering and traffic survey has been performed on Park Avenue between Avenue
50 to 200 feet south of Muirfield Way.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA DOES
HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, RESOLVE AND ORDER THAT:
Section 1. The speed limit on Park Avenue between Avenue 50 to 200 feet south of
Muirfield Way shall be thirty miles -per -hour (30 MPH).
vote:
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of May, 1995 by the following
AYES: Council Members Bangerter, Cathcart, Perkins, Sniff,
Mayor Pena
NOES: None rV.)
ABSENT: None n ,
City of La Quinta, California
Af TEST:
UNDRA L. JUHOr.A, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/l AMeMw=
DAWN C. HONEYWELL, City Attorney
City of La Quinta, California
000234
ATTACHMENT #1
ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY
STREET SEGMENT: Park Avenue (Avenue 50 to 200 feet South of Muirfield Way)
RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT:
Staff recommends this segment of roadway be posted with a prima facie speed limit of 30 miles per
hour (MPH). The recommendation is based on speed survey results indicating the critical speed' is
37.5 MPH. The apparent speed limit would normally be established at the first five -mile -per -hour
increment below the critical speed, which in this case would be 35 MPH. However, an additional
reduction of five -miles -per -hour (to 30 MPH) is justified and recommended based on an evaluation of
the geometric layout as addressed in the Safe Speed Analysis below.
SPEED SURVEY:
Speed data was collected by city engineering staff in an unmarked car on Thursday, March 30, 1995,
between 2:09 and 2:52 p.m. with the results recorded on "Motor Vehicle Speed" forms. The radar unit
used to collect this data was facing north, positioned on Park Avenue 300' south of the Painted Cove
intersection, on the east side of the roadway. Vehicle speeds on Park Avenue were recorded as they
passed a point north of the Painted Cove intersection. The resulting critical speed for the 100 vehicles
surveyed is 37.5 MPH. See attached speed survey data graphs.
ACCIDENT RECORD:
A review of accident reports indicate one accident in 1994 at the intersection of Park Avenue and
Painted Cove. It was a one vehicle "property only" accident in which the vehicle left the scene; the
property damage involved landscaping and was reported after the fact.
STREET CHARACTERISTICS:
• POSTED SPEED LIMIT: 35 MPH
• DESIGN SPEED: 35 mph
• STREET WIDTH: 40 feet between curbs
• CURVE RADIUS: 550 feet
• LANE CONFIGURATION: One lane in each direction
• PARKING STATUS: Posted for no on -street parking
• ACCESS: No direct access from residential properties; access by street intersection only.
• SIGHT DISTANCES (assuming 35 MPH)
Safe Stopping: Available = 297 feet; Minimum Required = 250 feet
Corner: Available = 225 feet; Minimum Recommended = 385 feet;
Minimum required = 250 feet
Critical speed is defined as the eighty-fifth percentile speed, which is the speed at or below, which 85 % of the traffic
is moving.
000235
PW. DC. 950502B
Engineering and Traffic Survey
Park Avenue (Avenue 50 to 200 feet south of Muirfield Way)
Page 2
SAFE SPEED ANALYSIS:
The study segment contains an "S" shaped reverse curve alignment with centerline radii of 550'. The
intersection of Park Avenue and Painted Cove/Dry Creek is located between the reverse curves. East
and west bound vehicles approaching Park Avenue on Painted Cove or Dry Creek are required to stop
prior to entering or crossing Park Avenue. Based on the Caltrans Highway Design Manual, a 550'
radius curve provides a 35 MPH design speed. The safe stopping distance for a vehicle driving on Park
Avenue at 35 MPH is adequate with regard to objects in the travel lane.
However, there is a roadside condition not readily apparent to the drivers traveling on Park Avenue.
Vehicles traveling in excess of 30 mph on Park Avenue are unknowingly allowing side -street traffic
stopped on Painted Cove or Dry Creek an inadequate amount of time to safely gain access to Park
Avenue. The Caltrans Highway Design Manual utilizes a different criteria for evaluating sight distance
at intersections. This criteria is referred to as the "corner sight distance/7.5 second criteria", as noted
in Table 405.1A of the Highway Design Manual. For example, a vehicle stopped on Painted Cove
attempting to turn left onto Park Avenue should ideally have 7.5 seconds to clear the conflicting vehicle
path of northbound traffic on Park Avenue (see attached drawing). However, due to the location of the
Painted Cove intersection between the two curves, a speed reduction to 20 MPH would be required to
allow turning vehicles a full 7.5 seconds. A lesser value of corner sight distance is allowed on private
streets (Painted Cove and Dry Creek are private streets), but at no time can it be less than the safe
stopping sight distance. The field measured safe stopping sight distance for vehicles approaching the
Painted Cove/Dry Creek intersection on Park Avenue is 225 feet.
Since the available safe stopping sight distance is less than the minimum needed for 35 mph traffic, the
speed limit should be reduced to a speed that: complies with the allowable minimum. The maximum
speed limit that complies with the minimum allowable safe stopping sight distance is 30 MPH.
Note: A field review of the site would lead one to believe there is opportunity to improve the
sight distance at this location by trimming and relocating landscaping material. However, the
landscaping material is located on private property.
33`J23G
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