Mobility & Infrastructure
Committee Memorandum
TO: MOBILITY & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DATE: JULY 13, 2023 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 4
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF AXLE RESTRICTION – TRAUTWEIN ROAD ISSUE:
Consider establishment of an axle restriction on Trautwein Road between Alessandro Boulevard and Van Buren Boulevard prohibiting cut-through traffic by commercial vehicles exceeding three axles.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mobility & Infrastructure Committee review and recommend that City Council approve an axle restriction prohibiting cut-through traffic by commercial vehicles exceeding three axles on Trautwein Road between Alessandro Boulevard and Van Buren Boulevard.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department may establish weight limit or axle restrictions to prohibit use of select streets by larger commercial vehicles. Weight limit restrictions are often utilized to reduce commercial truck traffic on certain local, residential, or collector roadways by directing truck traffic onto larger collector or arterial roadways and assist in preserving the pavement and promoting safe use of streets which may have distinctive roadway conditions, are residential in nature, or experience cut-through truck traffic. Axle restrictions are utilized to restrict larger commercial trucks which exceed 3 axles from cutting through arterial roadways as an alternative to traveling on local area freeways or to bypass congestion on local freeways. Such restrictions do not prevent use for the purpose of delivering or picking up of materials/merchandise or the performance of services in connection with a property within the specific block.
To monitor commercial truck activity along Trautwein Road between Alessandro Boulevard and Van Buren Boulevard historic classification counts were conducted annually along the segment between 2018 and 2020. Periodic reassessment of truck traffic volumes on Trautwein Road have been supported due to area resident concerns and to evaluate reported increases in commercial truck traffic along the roadway.
DISCUSSION:
A classification count conducted in May 2022 on Trautwein Road between Alessandro Boulevard and Van Buren Boulevard reflected elevated truck activity along the corridor with a combined truck traffic volume of 6.2 percent of total traffic volumes. The May 2022 classification count data showed the percentage of truck traffic on Trautwein Road was over double the maximum 3 percent truck traffic threshold utilized by the City to determine if excessive truck traffic is cutting through a particular arterial roadway. Count data for northbound truck traffic on Trautwein Road showed substantially higher truck use levels at 9.1 percent (over triple the 3 percent threshold) versus the southbound direction which showed 3.2 percent, though both directions as well as combined data exceeded the standard 3 percent threshold. Use of the 3 percent threshold to assess disproportionate commercial truck traffic volumes is consistent with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines. Truck restrictions help to better preserve roadway pavement conditions by reducing measured high volumes of heavy vehicles.
Based on the May 2022 classification count results which indicated that Trautwein Road was experiencing significantly higher than the maximum threshold for commercial truck traffic, the Public Works Department is proposing establishment of an axle restriction prohibiting use by trucks exceeding 3 axles on Trautwein Road from Alessandro Boulevard to Van Buren Boulevard. The proposed axle restriction will restrict larger commercial trucks with more than 3 axles from cutting through Trautwein Road and aid in restoring commercial truck traffic volumes along the roadway to expected levels of 3 percent or less. The proposed axle restriction would also serve to reduce safety and noise concerns generated by large truck use and help to preserve the condition of the roadway by preventing excessive asphalt damage.
Implementation of the proposed axle restriction would aid in regulating heavy truck traffic on Trautwein Road by keeping larger trucks on local area freeways thereby promoting safer operations and reducing impacts to residential neighborhoods which sit adjacent to or back up to Trautwein Road. Trucks which exceed 3 axles directly enroute to business locations in the vicinity and/or engaged in pick-up and/or delivery activities within this area would be compliant with the regulations and not considered in violation of the posted axle restrictions and vehicles with 3 axles or less would not be impacted.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This proposal contributes to Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity and Goal 6.2 - Maintain, protect and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.
This item aligns with each of the Cross-Cutting threads as follows:
Community Trust – Establishment of axle restrictions develop community trust through the assessment of commercial truck activity on public roadways to ensure that commercial truck volume levels do not exceed standards. Excessive commercial truck activity may be the result of cut-through truck traffic associated with elevated traffic volumes, noise, and damage to roadway pavement.
Equity – The establishment of axle restrictions on roadways improves the quality of life within neighboring communities by reducing cut-through commercial truck traffic, resulting noise, and improving safety.
Fiscal Responsibility – Axle restrictions are a cost-effective measure to mitigate cut-through commercial truck traffic and notify commercial truck drivers of the prohibited use by trucks exceeding three axles.
Innovation – This proposed axle restriction represents a continuation of innovative uses of successful axle restrictions implemented in the past.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Axle restrictions help to restore commercial truck traffic to at or below standard levels while allowing for commercial truck activity related to local business and pick-up and delivery of goods and services and enable police enforcement to address trucks in violation. Adopted and posted restrictions help to deter cut-through activity enhancing safety, reducing noise, and helping to preserve roadway pavement condition.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is the cost of sign fabrication and installation is estimated to be $6,250. Funding is budgeted and available in the General Fund, Streets Maintenance Division, Signing Supplies account number 4110100-424143.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Site Map
Truck Analysis
Presentation
Establishment of Axle Restriction – Trautwein Road ● Page 2