DATE: MARCH 7, 2023
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
THRU: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
BY: GERARDO RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT ENGINEER
TITLE: VICTOR STREET NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC
CALMING PLAN
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution approving the Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan supported by residents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its June 21, 2022, meeting, City Council approved the 2022-2023 fiscal year priority traffic calming projects, whereas Victor Street ranked the fourth highest priority. Staff held a community meeting and worked with residents of Victor Street to develop a traffic calming plan. As required by the City’s policy, a vote was conducted to gauge community support, and the Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming plan met the support requirements as prescribed by the City’s policy. Therefore, staff recommends the Traffic and Transportation Commission recommend to City Council the approval of the Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan supported by residents for implementation.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2009, the City Council adopted the Salinas Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (Attachment 1) 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 devices are generally not considered traffic control devices as defined by the State and Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The City began compiling 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 a consultant to help develop the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program 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 program which is important for securing support from residents of a neighborhood who would be affected by traffic calming implementation.
In the development of the City’s policy, City staff met with all affected parties including emergency response providers as well as other service providers such as solid waste collection services and street sweeping. These agencies and providers were all invited in the discussion of the traffic calming policy development. 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. These criteria provide 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. City staff then proceeds with implementation based on Council approved priorities.
Residents of Victor Street submitted a petition requesting the City to investigate speeding issues along Victor Street. Traffic studies were conducted in various locations along the street, and the results confirmed high speeds on Victor Street. Results met the criteria for traffic calming implementation.
The Traffic and Transportation Division held one (1) community meeting on December 14, 2022, to develop a traffic calming plan with residents of the Victor Street neighborhood to address the speeding concerns of the neighborhood. With residents’ input received at this meeting, a neighborhood traffic calming plan was developed and finalized.
In accordance with the City’s policy, the plan was taken to vote to determine support from residents. Ballots with pre-paid envelopes were mailed to residents of Victor Street, and the vote was conducted over a 5-week period. Residents were encouraged to talk to and inform their neighbors. On January 26, 2023, the voting period ended, and the neighborhood met the support vote requirement as prescribed in the City’s policy. The City received ballots from 69% of all applicable households, meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of the ballots received, 96% were in favor of the Plan, meeting the 67% in favor requirement. Staff is therefore recommending the implementation of the Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan.
The proposed Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan includes the installation of four (4) speed cushions and a raised crosswalk along Victor Street between West Rossi Street and Larkin Street. 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. Raised crosswalks are marked vertical traffic calming devices, similar to speed cushions which also allow pedestrians to cross near sidewalk grade, increasing their visibility to incoming vehicles. Attachment 2 shows the approximate locations of the speed cushions and the raised crosswalk along Victor Street.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION:
The Victor Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan was presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its February 9, 2023, meeting. The Commission voted (5-1) recommending City Council approve a Resolution to implement the Victor Street neighborhood traffic calming plan supported by residents. Commissioners Howell, Hernandez, Canseco, Davis and Cox voted in favor of the recommendation and Commissioner Quigley vote against the recommendation.
Commissioner Quigley provided comment that the traffic study showed low speeds and volumes on the southern end of Victor Street and therefore there should be no need for traffic calming devices. The Commissioner did not acknowledge other segments in the traffic study where measured speeds were higher and met the criteria for traffic calming. Commissioner comments also suggested that traffic calming funds would be better spent on roadway maintenance. The Traffic and Transportation Commission was reminded that the City Council approves the appropriation of funds and funds assigned to the traffic calming program cannot be transferred to maintenance without City Council approval.
The District 4 appointment is currently vacant.
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 support Council’s 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 $134,670. Using the City’s job order contract program, the cost for installation of the speed cushions is $109,670. 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 available to perform this work the estimated cost to install the speed cushions and layout centerline striping is $40,000. The design of the raised crosswalk will be done in house, and the City may use a job order contractor to install the raised crosswalk. The total estimated total cost to design and construct the raised crosswalk is $25,000. There are sufficient funds available in the Traffic Calming Program budget (CIP 9163) and/or the Street Repair/Traffic Safety budget (8180) to complete this work.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Salinas Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Attachment 2: Victor Street Proposed Traffic Calming Plan Attachment 3: Victor St Traffic Study
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