DATE: AUGUST 9, 2022
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
THROUGH: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
BY: GERARDO RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT ENGINEER
TITLE: MADRID STREET TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion recommending that Council approve a Resolution to close the Madrid Street traffic calming request.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that Council approve a Resolution to close the Madrid Street traffic calming request.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its September 28, 2021, meeting, City Council approved the 2021-2022 fiscal year priority traffic calming projects, whereas Madrid Street ranked the second highest priority. Staff worked with residents of Madrid Street to develop a traffic calming plan and distribute ballots to help determine neighborhood support of the plan. A vote was conducted to gauge community support. The Madrid Street traffic calming plan did not receive the support votes required as prescribed in the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. Staff does not recommend the approval and implementation of the Madrid Street traffic calming plan and recommends closure of the Madrid Street traffic calming request. Available funds would be programmed for the next highest priority, Paseo Grande.
BACKGROUND:
At its September 28, 2021 meeting, City Council approved the 2021-2022 fiscal year priority traffic calming projects, Resolution No. 22213, whereas Madrid Street ranked the second highest priority. Staff met with residents of Madrid Street on January 27, 2022, and March 31, 2022, to provide traffic calming options and receive input on the neighborhood traffic calming plan for Madrid Street. Staff drafted a traffic calming plan for Madrid Street from the input received at the community meetings that included the use of speed cushions, restriping of existing striping, and a vehicle speed feedback sign (see Attachment 1).
Speed cushions are vertical traffic calming devices similar to speed humps but are made of rubberized material. Speed cushions are designed to have less impact on fire department response time and are spaced to allow a vehicle to maintain a speed of approximately 25 mph, which corresponds to the speed limit on residential streets. Speed feedback signs provide real-time speeds to drivers and flash when speeds exceed the limit. Attachment 1 shows the plan developed by the community, and the approximate proposed locations of the speed cushions, and speed feedback sign.
In accordance with the City’s Traffic Calming Policy, the plan was taken to a vote to determine support from residents. Ballots with pre-paid envelops were mailed to residents of Madrid Street, and the vote was conducted over a 4-week period. Residents were encouraged to talk to and discuss the plan with their neighbors. On June 30, 2022, the voting period ended, and the neighborhood did not meet the support vote requirement as prescribed by the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. The City received ballots from 31% of all applicable households, not meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of all the ballots received, 86% were in favor of the Plan, meeting the 67% in favor requirement. Because the neighborhood did not satisfy the support requirement in the City Council approved policy, staff does not recommend the implementation of the Madrid Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan and recommends closure of the Madrid Street traffic calming request.
If the Madrid Street traffic calming request is closed, the unused funds will be used to treat the next highest priority. On June 21, 2022, the City Council approved an update traffic calming priority list for fiscal year 2022-2023, Resolution No. 22421. The carry over funds would be used for traffic calming on Paseo Grande.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION:
The Madrid Street traffic calming plan was presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its July 14, 2022, meeting for review and feedback. The Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend to City Council to approve a Resolution to close the Madrid Street traffic calming request.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The Traffic Calming Policy support Council goal of Public Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Public Works staff coordinates 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 the improvements is $66,140. There are sufficient funds available in the Traffic Calming Program budget (CIP 9163) to complete this work.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Proposed Madrid Street Traffic Calming Plan Page | 3
Page | 1
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