DATE: APRIL 9, 2024
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
GERARDO RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT ENGINEER
TITLE: COVENTRY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution approving the Coventry Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan supported by residents for implementation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its June 13, 2023, meeting, City Council approved the 2023-2024 fiscal year priority traffic calming projects, which ranked Coventry Street as the third highest priority, as requested by the Traffic and Transportation Commission. Staff held a community meeting and worked with residents of Coventry Street to develop a traffic calming plan. A vote was conducted to gauge community support, and the Coventry Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan met the support requirements as prescribed by the City’s policy.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2009, the City Council adopted the Salinas Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to address residential neighborhood traffic concerns. The program was initially established to address traffic concerns from residential neighborhoods. 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 were very few applications in California. To assist in the development of the City’s policy, the City hired a consultant to develop the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. The resulting Policy contains a toolbox of traffic calming measures that can be used to address neighborhood problems associated with speeding and vehicle volume on residential streets. The adoption of the policy also included the adoption of the traffic calming tools. The policy also provides the process for consideration of projects under the program which is important for securing the residents’ support.
While developing the policy, City staff met with affected parties including emergency response providers, as well as other service providers such as solid waste collection services and street sweeping. Therefore, implementation of the Traffic Calming Program includes considerations and understanding of the program by potentially affected parties.
On November 7, 2017, following an influx of traffic calming requests received, the City Council approved criteria for prioritizing traffic calming requests based on traffic conditions, collision history, nearby land uses, roadway geometrics and facilities. These criteria provide a more holistic way of analyzing and prioritizing requests given the City’s limited resources. Given the number of pending requests, staff annually presents a recommended traffic calming priorities list, based on the criteria, to the City Council. City staff then proceeds with implementation based on Council approved priorities.
In April 2022, residents of Coventry Street submitted a petition requesting the City to investigate speeding issues along Coventry Street. Traffic studies were conducted in various locations along the street, and the results confirmed high speeds on Coventry Street which met the criteria for traffic calming implementation.
The Traffic and Transportation Division held one (1) community meeting on December 6, 2023, to develop a traffic calming plan with residents of the Coventry Street neighborhood to address the speeding concerns. With residents’ input received at the meeting, a neighborhood traffic calming plan was developed. The plan includes a traffic circle at the intersection of Coventry Street and Danbury Street along with four (4) speed cushion on Coventry Street. In addition to balloting the residents of Coventry Street, the City also notified other residents in the neighborhood of the proposed traffic circle as this may impact them. The majority feedback received was positive. Attachment 1 shows the approximate locations of the speed cushions and the traffic circle.
In accordance with the City’s policy, the plan was taken to vote to determine support from residents. The vote was conducted over a 4-week period. On February 22, 2024, the voting period ended, and the neighborhood met the support vote required. The City received ballots from 58% of all households, meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of the ballots received, 81% were in favor of the Plan, meeting the 67% in favor requirement. Staff is therefore recommending the implementation of the Coventry Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan.
Traffic and Transportation Commission
The Coventry Street Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan was presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its March 14, 2024 meeting. The Commission voted (3-2) on an alternative motion made by Commissioner Quigley recommending City Council approve a Resolution to implement the Coventry Street neighborhood traffic calming plan supported by residents and re-adding language about traffic enforcement to staff report.
Modification of the staff report is not within the purview of the Commission and as such the requested language was not modified as requested by Commissioner Quigley.
The District 1 and District 6 appointments are 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 using the City’s On-Call Contract for Traffic Control Devices and bidding for the traffic circle is $167,700. Funding is available and appropriated in 5800.50.9163 and 3911.50.8180. 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 staff is available to perform the installation of the speed cushions, the estimated cost of the improvements is $101,700.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Coventry Street Proposed Traffic Calming Plan Page | 3
Page | 1
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