DATE: MAY 10, 2022
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: GERARDO RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT ENGINEER
TITLE: EAST BOLIVAR STREET TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution to implement the East Bolivar Street neighborhood traffic calming plan supported by residents.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that Council approve a Resolution to implement the East Bolivar Street neighborhood traffic calming plan supported by residents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its September 28, 2021 meeting, City Council approved the 2021-2022 fiscal year priority traffic calming projects, whereas East Bolivar Street ranked the highest priority. Staff worked with residents of East Bolivar Street to develop a traffic calming plan and distribute ballots to help determine neighborhood support of the plan. As required by the City’s policy a vote was conducted to gauge community support, and the East Bolivar Street traffic calming plan did not receive the support votes required as prescribed the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. Therefore, Staff did not recommend the approval and implementation of the East Bolivar Street traffic calming plan, but at its meeting of February 10, 2022, the Traffic and Transportation Commission recommended City staff to conduct a second vote for residents on East Bolivar Street. City staff conducted a second vote for the East Bolivar Street Traffic Calming Plan and the neighborhood met the support requirements. Therefore, staff now recommends the approval and implementation of the neighborhood traffic calming plan for East Bolivar Street.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2009, the City Council adopted the City’s Traffic Calming Policy to address residential neighborhood traffic concerns. The program was established initially to address concerns from neighborhoods that could not be supported by traffic enforcement since it was impractical at the time to deploy traffic enforcement officers in residential areas. There had been a growing request for speed reduction throughout the City for which the City had no tools to address the residents’ concerns.
Traffic calming tools are not part of the State and Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The City started accumulating traffic calming studies in 2002 and found there was very few applications in California. To assist in the development of the City’s Policy, the City hired Fehr and Peers, leaders in the traffic calming field, to help develop the City’s traffic calming policy based on best practices.
The resulting policy contained a toolbox of traffic calming measures that would be used to address neighborhood problems associated with speeds and vehicle volume on residential streets. The adoption of the policy also included the adoption of traffic calming tools that can be provided on City streets. The policy also provided the process for consideration of projects under the Traffic Calming Program which is important for securing support from residents of a neighborhood who would be affected by traffic calming implementation.
City staff met with all affected parties including emergency response agencies and other city departments including the City’s Police and Fire Departments. Other service providers including solid waste providers, street sweeping, and ambulance services were also invited in the discussion. The traffic calming program implementation therefore includes considerations and understanding of the program by potentially affected parties. The City’s policy only applies to city streets that have residential uses.
On September 14, 2017, with an influx of traffic calming requests received, the City approved criteria for prioritizing traffic calming requests based on traffic conditions, collision history, nearby land uses, geometrics and facilities. The prioritization provided a transparent way to prioritize requests given the City’s limited resources. Every year, staff presents traffic calming recommended priorities based on the criteria to the City Council. Council proceeds with implementation based on Council approved priorities.
Residents of East Bolivar Steet submitted a petition requesting the City to investigate speeding issues along East Bolivar Street. Traffic studies were conducted in various locations along the street, and the results confirmed high speeds on East Bolivar Street. Results met the criteria for traffic calming implementation.
The Traffic and Transportation Division held one (1) meeting on November 18, 2021, to develop a Traffic Calming Plan with residents of the East Bolivar Street neighborhood to address the speeding concerns of the neighborhood. With residents’ input received at these meetings, a neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan was developed and finalized.
Per the City’s Traffic Calming Policy, the plan was taken for a first round of vote to determine support from residents. Ballots with pre-paid envelops were mailed to residents of East Bolivar Street, and the vote was conducted over a 5-week period. Residents were encouraged to talk to and inform their neighbors. On January 14, 2022, the voting period ended, and the neighborhood did not meet the support vote requirement as prescribed the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. The City received ballots from 33% of all applicable households, not meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of all the ballots received, 93% were in favor of the Plan. However, because the neighborhood did not satisfy the support requirement in the approved policy, staff did not recommend the implementation of the East Bolivar Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan as presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission on its meeting of February 10, 2022 In accordance with the recommendation of the Traffic and Transportation Commission on its February 10, 2022, meeting to conduct a second vote, the plan was taken to vote for a second time to determine if support would be made from residents. Ballots with pre-paid envelops were mailed to residents of East Bolivar Street, and the vote was conducted over a 5-week period. In March 2022, the neighborhood met the support vote requirement as prescribed the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. The City received ballots from 88% of all applicable households, meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of the ballots received 91% were in favor of the Plan, meeting the 67% in favor requirement. Staff is therefore recommending implementation of the East Bolivar Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan.
The proposed East Bolivar Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan includes the installation of three (3) speed cushions and a vehicle speed feedback sign. Speed cushions are vertical traffic calming devices and are similar to speed humps but are made of rubberized material. Speed cushions are designed to have lesser impact on fire department response and are spaced to maintain a speed of approximately 25 mph, which corresponds to the speed limit on residential streets. Vehicle Speed Feedback Sign displays real-time speeds to drivers and flashes when speeds exceed the limit. Attachment 1 shows the approximate locations of the speed cushions and the vehicle speed feedback sign.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION:
The East Bolivar Street traffic calming plan was presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its February 10, 2022, meeting for review and feedback. The Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that a second vote for the East Bolivar traffic calming plan be conducted. After conducting the second vote, staff presented the results to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its April 14, 2022, meeting and the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to recommended approval and implementation of the East Bolivar neighborhood traffic calming plan supported by residents.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Staff has determined that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15301, Class 1). The project consists of the operation, repair, or minor alteration of public streets involving no expansion of use. There would be no significant effect on the environment.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The Traffic Calming Policy supports Council goal of Public Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Public Works Staff coordinate with the Salinas Fire Department on the recommendation of the Traffic Calming Plan. Staff also coordinates with the Salinas Police Department if traffic calming enforcement assistance is necessary.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The estimated total cost of these improvements is $108,000 using the City’s job order contract program. Alternatively, in the past the City’s maintenance crews have been able to assist in the installation of speed cushions as overtime work. If the City’s maintenance crews are willing and available to perform this work the estimated cost to install the speed cushions and the vehicle feedback sign is $40,000. There are sufficient funds available in the Traffic Calming Program budget (CIP 9163) to complete this work. There is no impact to the General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Proposed East Bolivar Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan Page | 3
Page | 1
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