1 Date: April 22, 2024
To: PUBLIC WORKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE:
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION OF A SPEED CUSHION ALONG THE 700 BLOCK OF N JUANITA AVENUE
SUMMARY:
In response to a resident request, staff is bringing forward a recommendation to install a speed cushion along the 700 block of N Juanita Avenue between Beryl Street and Agate Street. In accordance with the City Council’s policy for speed cushion and traffic calming requests, staff provided materials to the petitioner on the block to solicit feedback and approval. Residents initiated a survey of all 59 residences within the block and provided 48 approval signatures (81%), which is above the two-thirds threshold required for further evaluation. The City’s Transportation Engineer performed multiple site visits and a speed survey as part of an engineering study in accordance with the City Council’s policy. Based on these factors, staff recommends the installation of speed cushions (1 set) along the 700 block of N Juanita Avenue is seeking the input of the public and the Public Works and Sustainability Commission before bringing the matter to City Council for final consideration.
BACKGROUND:
Juanita Avenue runs northwest-southeast1, is classified as a local street, and has a 25- mph residential prima facie speed limit. It is approximately 40 feet wide with one travel lane in each direction that is separated by a dashed yellow centerline. The street is sloped uphill (<8%) towards the southeast direction. Parking is allowed on both sides of the street.
The subject block is approximately 650 feet long and is controlled by stop signs at Agate Street to the northwest and Beryl Street to the southeast. Further north, Juanita Avenue terminates at PCH with a cul-de-sac that prohibits vehicular access to and from PCH.
Attachment 1 shows the existing intersection controls in the vicinity of the subject block.
Fronting development along the block is multi-family residential. Beryl Heights Elementary School is further northeast at Lucia Avenue and Beryl Street. Sidewalks, curbs, and gutters are present along the subject block and yellow school zone crosswalks are striped at Beryl Street and Juanita Avenue.
1 Northwest is towards Agate and PCH, southeast is towards Beryl and RUHS.
Administrative Report
2 The process to approve and install speed cushions is based on City Council policy (rev.
March 3, 2021). Resident petitioners are required to seek approval of at least two-thirds of residents on the affected block by reading and signing the City’s standard signature form for these types of requests. Only one vote per dwelling unit is allowed and signatures are spotverified against City records. Under the City’s policy and procedures, signatures received outside of the surveyed street segment are not considered as part of the official approval process. Only after sufficient resident support is reached would the City proceed with further technical study.
DISCUSSION:
Staff received a request for speed cushions along this block in January 2024. The request is due to resident(s)’ concerns with vehicular speeds and traffic safety along this block, approximately 650 feet, that does not have other speed control devices.
Staff provided the City’s official materials in accordance with City policy and resident petitioner(s) proceeded with soliciting neighbor feedback and approval. 59 residences are located within the 700 block of N Juanita Avenue, and 40 signatures are required to advance the request. As of April 2024, the City received 48 approval signatures, of which 38 were verified against City records or with a proof of residence. Attachment 2 shows the petition signatures on the City’s official form, as well as a map. Because 81% of the block’s residences provided signatures, of which the great majority were verified, City staff deemed this step of the process complete.
The City has a list of technically-based installation criteria for speed cushions, which includes street classification, grades, horizontal alignment, speed limit, surveyed 85th percentile speed, and traffic volumes, shown in Attachment 3. Staff determined that the 700 block of N Juanita Avenue would qualify for speed cushions from a technical perspective. The slope of the street does not exceed 8% per City policy. Speed and volume survey were performed for one week (7 days) along the block in March 2024, which showed an average daily traffic volume (ADT) of 590 vehicles per day along the subject block and an average two-way 85th percentile speed of 31 mph. Therefore, the ADT aligns with the City’s policy threshold, as required. Staff would like to note that the northbound (32 mph) and southbound (30 mph) 85th percentile speeds differ due to roadway grade, as the northbound direction towards Agate Street trends downhill, which can result in higher speeds. Speed cushions cannot be installed on just one side of an undivided street.
Although the block’s average two-way 85th percentile speed of 31 mph is 1 mph below the City’s policy threshold of 32 mph, City staff determined that the block would still meet the City’s policy threshold based on the downhill northwesterly speed. Attachment 4 shows a speed and volume summary table based on the data provided by the count vendor. The raw data can be made available if desired.
Based on the performed engineering technical studies and resident approvals in accordance with the City’s policy, staff recommends proceeding with the installation of speed cushions along the 700 block of N Juanita Avenue.
3 After a site visit by the City’s engineers, one set of speed cushions is proposed to be located at the following location:
In front of 714-716 and 715 N Juanita Avenue
This specific location was determined to provide the most effective speed control along the subject block and be located outside of resident driveways. This location is located approximately halfway between the stop controls located at Agate and Beryl, separating the block into (2) 300-foot segments with speed controls, nearly identical to the recently reinstalled speed cushions along the 700 block of N Irena Avenue. Staff would like to note that petition signatures were received from all three street-facing residences on the south side of the street in proximity to the proposed location (713, 715, 717). On the north side, the City only received a signature from 712. According to the resident petitioner, the resident of the street-facing front unit of 716 is in the process of moving out and declined to sign. A signature was not received from the resident of the front unit of 714.
Speed cushions and associated signage and striping would be installed in accordance with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD) and engineering judgement. Street parking removal would not be required upon installation of speed cushions along this block. Attachment 5 shows the proposed location of the speed cushions.
COORDINATION:
Coordination of the resident survey and engineering evaluation and this report took place within the Public Works Department. Noticing for this meeting was provided to the residents of the subject block. Traffic data was collected by an outside vendor.
PREPARED BY:
Ryan Liu, PE, Transportation Engineer
SUBMITTED BY:
Andrew Winje, PE, Public Works Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Existing Conditions Map
2. Speed Cushion Petition Signatures
3. City Speed Cushion Policy and Criteria
4. Speed and Volume Data Summary
5. Proposed Speed Cushion Location
Existing All-Way Stop
Existing Stop Sign ATTACHMENT 1: Existing Conditions Map ~650 ft. length Existing speed cushion
1 234x56789
repeat, not counted
B
10 111213141516171819
20 212223242526272829
30 3132333435X363738 repeat of 712
39 404142434445
46 47
48 City: 48/59 = 81%38 signatures verified
Resident is moving out
according to petitioner
Rev. March 3, 2021 1 of 3
TRAFFIC CALMING - SPEED CUSHION INSTALLATION APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Petition
Residents may begin the petition process for installation of speed cushions by requesting a “Traffic Calming – Speed Cushion Petition” form from the Traffic Engineer. A petition form will be supplied if the proposed speed cushion location is not on one of the predetermined “Exemption Routes” or is otherwise not technically allowable on the block in question. Due to limited funding, the City will only commit resources towards investigating and processing the speed cushion installation request upon receiving the completed petition, which must satisfy the following criteria:
1. At least two-thirds of the residents within the block affected have signed the petition in favor of installing a speed cushion on the street in question.
2. Each signature must be identified by a corresponding typed or printed name, address, and telephone number.
3. Only one vote is permitted per dwelling unit for purposes of tallying the two-thirds majority.
4. The two-thirds majority vote must also constitute no less than 50% of the developed frontage or side-yard of the block submitted for the proposed speed cushion.
5. If the petition includes the address of a large scale complex (such as an apartment or school), the residents must obtain the signature of the principal of the affected school or the owner of the complex for that property to be included as a valid vote.
2. Installation Criteria
The following criteria shall be considered in evaluating a location for the possible installation of speed cushions. Should the criteria not be met, subsequent requests will not be considered for a minimum of one year.
1. Engineering Study/Speed Survey
Speed cushions shall only be installed to address documented safety or traffic concerns supported by traffic engineering studies, and after consideration of alternative traffic control measures. Potential impacts such as traffic diversion, noise and general roadway discomfort of traversing a vertical deflection type device should be taken into consideration.
2. Street Type
Speed cushions shall only be installed on local neighborhood residential streets. Some residential streets have been identified by the Fire Department as critical access routes, and therefore will Public Works Department
Engineering Services Division
415 Diamond Street
Redondo Beach, California 90277
www.redondo.org
tel: 310 318-0661
fax: 310 374-4828
Rev. March 3, 2021 2 of 3
not have speed cushions installed. The emergency access routes and the non-residential streets are identified as being exempt from speed cushion installation, and are shown on Figure 1.
3. Number of Lanes
Speed cushions shall only be used on streets with no more than one travel lane in each direction.
4. Street Grades
Speed humps shall only be used on streets with grades of 8% or less (per the recommendation of the Institute of Transportation Engineer’s Study on speed humps – grades steeper than 8% increase the braking distance thereby resulting in unsafe faster travel over the speed hump).
5. Street Alignment
Speed cushions shall only be placed on horizontal curves with a centerline radius that is equal to or greater than 300 feet, or on vertical curves with more than the minimum stopping sight distance.
6. Speed limit
Speed cushions shall only be installed on streets where the posted or prima facie speed limit is 25 mph or less.
7. Speed Survey
Speed cushions shall only be installed at locations where a 24-hour speed survey indicates that the 85th percentile speed exceeds the posted speed limit by 7 mph or more (85th percentile speed 32mph+).
8. Traffic Volumes
Speed Cushions should only be considered for installation on residential streets with an average daily traffic volume between less than 3000 vehicles per day.
9. Not on Exemption Routes
Speed Cushions shall only be installed on streets without fixed transit routes or not designated as Emergency (Fire) Access Routes.
3. Approval Process
1. When the Engineer determines the street segment requested for speed cushion installation qualifies for speed cushions, he will refer the recommendation of the street segment for speed cushion installation to the Public Works Commission.
2. The Public Works Commission will then conduct a public meeting for said speed cushion installation. Notice of such public meeting shall be mailed to the property owners and to the occupants of each parcel on and adjacent to the street segment recommended for speed cushion installation.
3. The Public Works Commission will submit a recommendation (whether it be an approval or denial of the requested speed cushion) to the City Council. Opposition to the decision should be appealed to the City Council prior to the City Council’s decision. The appeal may be a petition or written letter (or digital correspondence) delivered to the City Clerk’s office or the Traffic Engineer.
4. The City Council will adopt a resolution for implementation upon approving the installation of a speed cushion.
Rev. March 3, 2021 3 of 3
5. The proposed speed cushion will begin the design and implementation phase once City Council has appropriated sufficient funding to cover costs. If funding is not immediately available, the approved speed cushion segment would be placed on a priority list waiting for the next available funding source.
4. Removal Process
1. The Traffic Engineer will supply a petition, upon request from a resident, to remove a speed cushion. The petition shall satisfy the same criteria within Part 1, #1 – 5 of this document.
2. When the Traffic Engineer determines the petition requesting removal of a speed cushion qualifies, he will refer the petition for removal of the speed cushion to the Public Works Commission. The Traffic Engineer’s staff report shall include recent speed and traffic volume data, collected within the previous 9 months, about the neighborhood. The speed and traffic volume data will exclude school summer vacation months.
3. The Public Works Commission will then conduct a public meeting for said speed cushion removal.
Notice of such public meeting shall be mailed to the property owners and to the occupants of each parcel on and adjacent to the street segment recommended for the speed cushion removal.
4. The Public Works Commission will submit a recommendation (whether it be an approval or denial of the removal of speed cushion) to the City Council. Opposition to the decision should be appealed to the City Council prior to the City Council’s decision. The appeal may be a petition or written letter (email) delivered to the City Clerk’s office and the Traffic Engineer.
5. The City Council will adopt a resolution upon approving the removal of a speed cushion.
Any inquiries can be directed to:
City Traffic Engineer
415 Diamond Street, Door 2
Redondo Beach, CA. 90277
(310) 318-0661
ARTESIA BLVD
INGLEWOOD AVE
AVIATION BLVD GRANT AVE
S CATALINA AVE
BERYL ST
ESPLANADE
S PROSPECT AVE
S PACIFIC COAST HWY
RINDGE LN
MARINE AVE
ROBINSON ST
N PROSPECT AVE
ANITA ST
DIAMOND ST
KNOB HILLAVE
HAWTHORNE BLVD
VAILAVE
CAMINO REAL
S BROADWAY AVE
N CATALINAAVE
VINCENT ST
MACKAY LN
N HARBOR DR
182ND ST
AVENUE D
TORRANCE BLVD
N PACIFIC COAST HWY
PALOS VERDES BLVD
MANHATTAN BEACH BLVD
KINGSDALE AVE
HERONDO ST
N BROADWAY AVE
SAPPHIRE ST RUBY ST
VAILAVE
190TH ST
REDONDO BEACH BLVD
REDONDO BEACH AVE
DELAMO ST
J
7/26/2005
City of Redondo Beach - Streets Exempt from Speed Cushion Installation Legend
STREET
TYPE
EMERGENCY FIRE ACCESS ROUTE
COLLECTOR STREET
SECONDARY ARTERIAL
MAJOR ARTERIAL
Redondo City Limit
700 Block N Juanita Avenue
Speed and Volume Summary
DATE NORTHWEST
VOLUME (VEH/DAY)
SOUTHEAST
VOLUME
TOTAL DAILY
VOLUME
NORTHWEST 85TH %
SPEED (MPH)
SOUTHEAST 85TH
% SPEED
TOTAL 85TH %
SPEED
Sunday, 24 March 2024 262 223 485 33 29 32
Monday, 25 March 2024 345 267 612 33 30 32
Tuesday, 26 March 2024 351 351 702 32 30 30
Wednesday, 27 March 2024 345 280 625 32 30 31
Thursday, 28 March 2024 345 314 659 32 29 31
Friday, 29 March 2024 328 276 604 33 30 31
Saturday, 30 March 2024 228 214 442 32 29 31
7-DAY AVERAGE 590
AVERAGE 85TH % SPEED 32 30 31
REQUIRED SPEED FOR SPEED CUSHIONS 32
[a] Northwest is towards Agate, southeast is towards Beryl.
ATTACHMENT 5: Proposed Speed Cushion Location Not to Scale Signature Received According to petitioner, 716 front
unit in process of moving out
Existing speed cushion
Proposed location