City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 7, 2024 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 6 SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF 5-TON WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTION ON SEGMENT OF FILLMORE STREET – ORDINANCE ISSUE:
Consideration of the establishment of a 5-ton weight limit restriction on the segment of Fillmore Street from Indiana Avenue to the southerly City limits.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt an ordinance to establish a 5-ton weight limit restriction on the segment of Fillmore Street from Indiana Avenue to the southerly City limits.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
The proposed 5-ton weight limit restriction on Fillmore Street from Indiana Avenue to the southerly City limits was scheduled for consideration by the Transportation Board on February 7, 2024. Due to lack of quorum the Board meeting was cancelled and this item is being presented directly to City Council to avoid delays in processing. The Transportation Board will be notified of the City Council’s action at their next meeting.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department may establish weight limits or axle restrictions to prohibit use of select streets by larger commercial vehicles. These types of restrictions reduce commercial truck traffic on certain local, residential, and/or collector roadways by directing truck traffic onto arterial roadways. Weight limit restrictions 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. 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.
DISCUSSION:
The Public Works Department is proposing establishment of a 5-ton weight limit restriction on the segment of Fillmore Street from Indiana Avenue to the southerly City limits to prohibit commercial truck traffic from cutting through this neighborhood. This segment of Fillmore Street is a two-lane collector (one lane in each direction) roadway which is residential in nature, has single family residential homes with direct driveway access to the street, and encompasses Orrenmaa Elementary School. Residents have reported a recent increase in commercial truck activity through their neighborhood that is believed to be associated with commercial truck drivers bypassing the recently implemented axle restriction in place on the parallel segment of La Sierra Avenue which prohibits trucks with greater than three axles from cutting through the corridor between the SR-91 Freeway and the southerly City limits. The La Sierra Avenue axle restriction was approved by the City Council on January 10, 2023 and subsequently implemented to address cut-through commercial truck traffic bypassing congestion on the I-15 Freeway to access the SR-91 Freeway. Classification counts on Fillmore Street were taken in October 2023 which resulted in 0.8% of the 4,000+ daily traffic volumes are trucks and heavy vehicles. The 5-ton weight limit restrictions are recommended based on the community’s feedback and cut-through trucks concerns through Fillmore Street.
A very small portion of northbound Fillmore Street from Victoria Avenue just northerly to the southerly City limits is located within the County of Riverside jurisdiction. Additionally, Victoria Avenue from La Sierra Avenue westerly to Fillmore Street which residents indicate is the connecting route for commercial trucks bypassing the La Sierra Avenue axle restriction to access Fillmore Street is also located within the County of Riverside. As a result, the Public Works Department consulted the County regarding the proposed 5-ton weight limit restriction on the designated segment of Fillmore Street and the County Director of Transportation reviewed and is in support of the City’s proposed 5-ton weight limit restriction along Fillmore Street from Indiana Avenue to the southerly City limits.
The County has also agreed to work collaboratively with the City to post advance signage associated with the weight limit restriction within the County jurisdiction if the proposed restriction is approved. Weight limit restriction advance signage within the County jurisdiction would be fabricated by the City and subsequently installed and maintained by the County. Advance notification signs in the County jurisdiction are intended to inform commercial truck drivers that they are approaching a weight limit restricted street providing ample opportunity to take an alternate route. The joint effort between the City and the County is anticipated to deter cut-through commercial truck traffic from bypassing the La Sierra Avenue axle restriction by cutting through Fillmore Street to reach Indiana Avenue.
The proposed weight limit restriction would prohibit cut-through commercial truck use of the designated segment of Fillmore Street improving safety and operations within the neighborhood and adjacent to Orrenmaa Elementary School, preserving the residential environment as well as the condition of the asphalt, and addressing noise impacts experienced by residents It is also anticipated that this weight limit restriction in conjunction with the existing axle restriction along the parallel segment of La Sierra Avenue will help to deter cut-through commercial truck traffic along both corridors and encourage use of more appropriate alternate routes including local freeways. Commercial trucks exceeding the 5-ton weight limit which are 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 weight limit restriction.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This proposal contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being, and Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity, and aligns with Goal 2.4, to “Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust,” and Goal 6.2, to “Maintain, protect and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.” Additionally, proposed establishment of a 5-ton weight limit restriction relates to the cross-cutting threads as demonstrated below:
Community Trust - Establishment of weight limit restrictions develop Community Trust by deterring cut-through truck traffic and alleviating the safety, operational, noise, and pavement damage concerns which may result from unnecessary truck traffic. Public Works staff moved quickly to coordinate efforts with the County of Riverside and expedite this action to meet the community needs.
Equity - The establishment of axle restrictions on roadways improves the quality of life within neighboring communities. It is not anticipated that implementation of the proposed 5-ton weight limit restriction will generate commercial truck demand on any nearby neighborhood roadways, however Public Works Staff will continue to work with residents should any related concerns arise.
Fiscal Responsibility - Weight restrictions are a cost-effective means to mitigate cut-through commercial trucks and notify drivers of prohibited use by commercial trucks exceeding 5-tons.
Innovation - This proposed weight limit restriction represents a continuation of innovative uses of successful weight limit restrictions implemented in the past.
Sustainability & Resiliency - Adopted and posted restrictions help to deter cut-through commercial truck activity enhancing safety and operations within the neighborhood and adjacent to Orrenmaa Elementary School, reducing noise, and helping to preserve the condition of the roadway infrastructure and address additional impacts experienced by residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is the cost of sign fabrication and installation is estimated to be $1,050. Funding is budgeted and available in the Measure A Fund, Traffic Signal Project, Planning/Investigations account number 9520830-440313.
Prepared by: Philip Nitollama, City Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Ordinance
Site Map
Presentation
Vehicle Classification Analysis
Establishment of 5-Ton Weight Limit Restriction on Segment of Fillmore Street - Ordinance Page 2