City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: November 6, 2023
Report #:2307-1777
TITLE
Approval to Proceed with Design of Improvements for Permanent Installation of the Traffic Calming Pilot Project in the Crescent Park Neighborhood
RECOMMENDATION
The Planning and Transportation Commission and Staff recommend that the City Council approves staff to proceed with the design of traffic calming improvements with landscaping, and direct staff to seek input from the community and adjacent property owners during the design phase for the permanent installation of the traffic calming project piloted in the Crescent Park Neighborhood.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2018 residents of the Crescent Park area neighborhood raised traffic concerns regarding cut-through traffic, congestion, and speeding in their neighborhood. In response to these community concerns, the Office of Transportation staff initiated the Crescent Park Traffic Calming Project study to evaluate the project area. A pilot project with temporary improvements was developed by consultants, Fehr and Peers, and City staff. With the approval of the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) and City Council in 2020, temporary improvements were installed in the summer of 2021. The temporary installation as a pilot program allowed staff to observe the traffic pattern and the potential changes.
In 2022, an analysis was conducted on both the pre-pilot and post-pilot data to evaluate the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures. The City's consultant performed the analysis, which revealed a decrease in speed and cut-through traffic in the majority of segments.
Additionally, the staff conducted a neighborhood survey to gather feedback from residents, and while not unanimous a supermajority of residents voted in favor of making the treatments permanent. The post-pilot study was reviewed by the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) which recommended moving forward with the design of permanent improvements while seeking input from adjacent property owners. The PTC also suggested incorporating landscaping elements into the design of these traffic calming measures.
Therefore, the staff is now seeking approval from the Council before proceeding with the design of these improvements.
BACKGROUND
In January 2018, residents of the Crescent Park area neighborhood raised traffic concerns to the Office of Transportation staff. The residents cited ongoing cut-through traffic, congestion during the peak hours and speeding in the off-peak hours as recurring issues in this neighborhood. In response to these community concerns, Office of Transportation staff initiated the Crescent Park Traffic Calming Project to study the project area and evaluated the neighborhood for potential traffic calming elements to be placed. Staff retained the services of Fehr & Peers Engineers (Consultant) to assist with the project study and traffic calming evaluation for the neighborhood.
Following the request, comprehensive traffic speed and volume data were collected in the neighborhood. Staff in coordination with the City’s consultant developed initial concepts to implement traffic calming measures. Based on the comments received from the residents through neighborhood outreach and community meetings, the concepts were further refined.
The final improvements included in the pilot project were: 1) curb extension improvements with three-way stop signs at Southwood Avenue & East Crescent Drive and 2) an oval-shaped traffic circle at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue, Center Drive & Southwood Drive, and 3) a 50 foot of protected bikeway on University Avenue eastbound direction at West Crescent Avenue.
The PTC conducted a hearing on the project on September 9, 2020 ( Staff Report ID 11517 1). At this meeting, PTC recommended the approval and implementation of a pilot traffic calming project trial in Crescent Park Neighborhood, to the City Council. The project was then approved by the City Council to proceed with the design and installation of temporary improvements on November 9, 2020 ( Staff Report 11603 2). The recommendation also included that staff would return to the City Council one year after the implementation of the pilot program for direction on whether to make the improvements permanent or modify the alternatives.
The project elements were implemented in the summer of 2021. A year after the installation, traffic data was collected to review the effectiveness of the temporary traffic calming measures at these locations. The protected bikeway improvements on University Avenue are consistent with standard installation at other locations in the City and provide bicycle markings in accordance with the California Manual of Traffic Control Devices. Therefore, staff believes that such bike lane improvements should be continued as a permanent installation irrespective of the traffic calming project.
1 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/planning-and- transportation-commission/2020-agendas-minutes-and-staff-reports/ptc-9.9-transportation.pdf 2 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports- cmrs/year-archive/2020-2/id-11603.pdf?t=49846.12
ANALYSIS
The comparison of the pre-pilot and post-pilot data was analyzed with a focus on travel speeds and traffic volume at key locations. The post-pilot analysis showed the volume on all street segments was reduced and the speeds also reduced on most street segments. The detailed data showing changes to the volumes and speeds of various street segments are depicted in Figures 2 and 3 of Attachment A. The data indicates that the temporary traffic calming measures have been effective in addressing the volume of cut-thru traffic as well as the speeding concerns in the neighborhood. Staff, however, also believes that some of the traffic volume reduction is likely attributed due to the impact of the COVID pandemic and remote work on traffic circulation.
Attachment A to this report provides the Crescent Park Neighborhood Traffic Calming Post Pilot Memorandum compiling study analysis and results.
Following the review of field conditions, staff conducted a neighborhood survey in early 2023 to seek feedback and gain community input before proceeding with permanent improvements. The survey requested feedback from the neighborhood on the specific improvements at the two locations. The majority were in favor of converting the temporary improvements to permanent improvements at these locations. The results from the survey are as follows:
Project Location 1: Southwood Drive & East Crescent Drive: Curb Extensions and Stop Signs 74% of the neighborhood household voted YES to permanently install these calming measures
26% of the neighborhood household voted NO to permanently install these calming measures
Some residents in the immediate vicinity of this intersection raised concerns about the temporary improvements. Therefore, staff conducted an additional review of the survey results in the immediate geographic vicinity of Project Location 1 to determine the neighborhood response. This focused review also yielded 75% favor to continue with permanent improvements results at this location.
Project Location 2: Hamilton Avenue, Southwood Drive, and Center Drive: Oval-Shaped Traffic Circle
78% of the neighborhood households voted YES to a permanent installation of the oval- shaped traffic circle
22% of the neighborhood households voted NO to a permanent installation of the oval- shaped traffic circle
Based on the post-pilot study and feedback from the neighborhood, staff supports the implementation of these improvements on a permanent basis. This matter was discussed by the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) on June 14, 2023 (Staff Report 2304-13813).
The PTC members unanimously endorsed the project and recommended to the City Council that the staff be authorized to proceed with the design of permanent improvements. However, in response to concerns raised by the fronting property owners, the PTC further recommended that the staff work with the adjacent property owners to gather their input for the concerns of those directly affected in designing the permanent improvements. In addition, the PTC suggested that the design of traffic calming features such as traffic circles and curb ramp extensions should incorporate landscaping that blends well with the neighborhood's aesthetics.
The staff is recommending the City Council's approval to move forward with designing the improvements for the permanent installation of the traffic calming project that was piloted in the Crescent Park Neighborhood. The neighborhood residents are notified of the staff recommendation to the Council at this meeting.
Next Steps:
Once the City Council approves, the staff will begin the design process for the permanent improvements which is expected to be completed in 16-18 months. During this phase, the staff will engage with the community and fronting property owners to seek feedback and ensure that the permanent improvements align with planning and engineering standards. The construction of improvements will follow which is expected to take about a year to complete after bidding, following completion of design. In the meantime, the temporary improvements for the pilot traffic calming will remain in place.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The cost estimate for the design and construction of the project could range from minimum of $600,000 with minimum landscaping and can exceed $1.0 Million depending upon the final improvements. The design of project will be funded by the existing Transportation and Parking Improvement Capital Project (PL-12000) that supports neighborhood traffic calming projects. As appropriated in the FY 2024 Adopted Capital Budget, there is sufficient funding available in PL- 12000 to fund the design of these improvements. After City Council approval, Staff will work with City’s on-call Consultant to initiate the design of the permanent improvements and return to Council to award the construction contract as necessary. Depending upon the final cost estimates of the project after the completion of design and other priorities in the CIP; staff will evaluate budget and appropriate funding for construction of the project estimated to occur in FY 26 Budget
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
During the pilot project phase, there were several opportunities for the community to share their opinions with the City. Residents had the opportunity to provide feedback through a voting card that was sent to every household. Additionally, a dedicated website was established 3 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meeting/document/2109.pdf?name=Staff%20Report for the project, aiming to provide information and seek feedback from residents. Furthermore, all households in the neighborhood were notified by mail about the June 14, 2023 PTC meeting for the availability of the staff report and the opportunity to provide comments.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed modifications are minor upgrades to an existing residential street right-of-way and would not result in any new impacts on the existing environment. This project is considered as a minor alteration to the existing street system, and therefore categorically exempt (Class 1 Exemption, Section 15301) from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Crescent Park Neighborhood Traffic Calming Post-Pilot Memorandum APPROVED BY:
Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official