Administrative
Report
H.6., File # 24-1658 Meeting Date: 10/15/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED CUSHIONS ON THE 700-800 BLOCK OF N PAULINA AVENUE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In response to a resident request, staff is bringing forward a recommendation to install speed cushions along the 700-800 block of N Paulina Avenue between Anita Street and Beryl Street. In accordance with the City Council’s policy for speed cushion requests, staff provided materials to the petitioner on the block to solicit feedback. The number of returned resident signatures met the twothirds threshold required for the City to proceed with an engineering study. The City’s Transportation Engineer performed multiple site visits and speed surveys as part of the study, the details of which are attached.
The block meets the City’s policy thresholds. Staff recommends three sets of speed cushions and provided a report to the PWSC on September 23, 2024. Notice of the PWSC meeting and this City Council agenda item was provided to all addresses and property owners along the 700-800 block of N Paulina. Residents and property owners provided both support and opposition of the proposed action. After consideration of these factors, the PWSC unanimously recommended the installation of speed cushions. This item provides the City Council an opportunity to approve the action.
BACKGROUND
N Paulina Avenue runs northwest-southeast, is classified as a local street, and has a 25-mph residential prima facie speed limit. The street is approximately 40 feet wide with one travel lane in each direction. Parking is allowed on both sides of the street, which has a slope no greater than 8%.
The subject block is approximately 1,350 feet (1/4-mile) long and is controlled by stop signs at Anita Street to the northwest and Beryl Street to the southeast.
The attached PWSC Administrative Report provides full detail on the process, criteria, and analyses for this speed cushion request. Per the City’s policy, resident petitioners on the subject block provided the necessary two-thirds signatures required for the City to begin an engineering study for speed cushions.
Staff proceeded with a speed and volume study for the subject block, taken in two locations due to the length of the block. Across a data collection period of 24-hours/7-days (1 week), the average daily traffic volume (ADT) is about 580 vehicles per day with an average 85th percentile speed of 33- 34 mph. Because the subject block met all established policy criteria and thresholds, staff brought
H.6., File # 24-1658 Meeting Date: 10/15/2024
34 mph. Because the subject block met all established policy criteria and thresholds, staff brought forward the surveys and analyses to the PWSC on September 23, 2024. Notice of this meeting was provided to the entire block as well as property owner addresses. Four residents provided supportive feedback at the PWSC meeting. One resident submitted written opposition that was included in the PWSC Administrative Report. After taking public comment, the PWSC unanimously recommended the installation of speed cushions on the subject block to the City Council for final consideration.
Staff is recommending the installation of three sets of speed cushions along the 700-800 block of N Paulina Avenue in front of the following locations:
· 812 & 813-815 N Paulina
· 730-732 & 733-801 N Paulina
· 712-714 & 713-715 N Paulina
These specific locations were determined to provide the most effective speed control along the subject block and will be located outside of resident driveways. There was some input from the public on the precise location of placement, but no firm or sustained opposition to staff’s recommendation. The recommended locations are based on the length of the block, driveway locations, and providing evenly spaced speed controls between the stop-controlled intersections.
The City will reserve the right to choose the exact locations of speed cushions in the public right-ofway to minimize liability.
If approved, the installation would be nearly identical to the speed cushions on 800 N Lucia, 700 N Irena, and 700 N Juanita, parallel blocks to the south that are functionally identical in nature. If speed cushions are installed in the subject block, substantial diversion of vehicular traffic to viable parallel routes is not expected, due to the presence of speed cushions on nearby blocks. The City’s typical speed cushion can be straddled by fire engines and ambulances, thereby not impacting emergency response times.
COORDINATION
The Public Works Department managed the request process and coordinated production of the item with the Councilmember representing District 3.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to install three sets of speed cushions, with associated signage and striping, is estimated to be $22,000, which includes Public Works Operations personnel performing the installation. Funding for installation of speed cushions is available in the City’s FY 2024-25 Traffic Calming budget.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Administrative Report - Public Works and Sustainability Commission, September 23, 2024