Department of Public Works - Traffic Engineering
1500 Warburton Avenue ł Santa Clara, CA 95050 ł Phone: 408-615-3000 ł Fax: 408-985-7936 ł www.SantaClaraCA.gov May
, 2025
RE: Traffic Calming on Harold Avenue Between Forest Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard Dear Property Owner or Current Occupant:
The purpose of this letter is to notify you about, and request your feedback on, the proposed traffic calming measures along Harold Avenue between Forest Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. As property owners or occupants on Harold Avenue, it is important that we receive your feedback because the proposed traffic calming devices may affect frontage to your property and neighborhood.
The City of Santa Clara Department of Public Works held two Community meetings, on October 30, 2024 and February 27, 2025, to present a traffic safety study completed for the South of Forest Neighborhood.
During these meetings, City staff shared traffic data, discussed existing conditions and prior improvements, presented sample illustrations of potential traffic calming measures, and received community feedback.
A project website URL and QR code are provided at the end of this letter, where you may view the presentations, recordings of the meetings, and supplemental information.
The City is planning on moving forward with the following improvements along Harold Avenue:
x Pedestrian safety signage and markings at Harold Avenue and Forest Avenue. x Curb extensions on the northwest and northeast corners of Harold Avenue and Forest Avenue. o Note: These curb extensions will be constructed using pavement striping and plastic channelizers.
x Intersection visibility analysis at Harold Avenue and Forest Avenue The City will not be moving forward with the following improvements along Harold Avenue:
x All-way stop at Harold Avenue and Forest Avenue, as the intersection does not meet the criteria for an all-way stop under State and Federal Standards.
x Traffic Circle at Harold Avenue and Forest Avenue, as the intersection cannot accommodate a traffic circle due to the existing curb extensions. These curb extensions will not be removed, as pedestrian safety was a key concern raised by the neighborhood, and curb extensions are generally considered to offer greater visibility and protection than a traffic circle for this intersection.
With the survey attached to this letter, the City is requesting your feedback on the following mid-block traffic calming measures:
x Chokers (Level 2) (Recommended by City)
x Speed humps (Level 3) (Suggested by Community)
x Vehicle speed feedback signs (Level 1) (Recommended by City) $77$&+0(17
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What's Possible
Department of Public Works - Traffic Engineering
1500 Warburton Avenue ł Santa Clara, CA 95050 ł Phone: 408-615-3000 ł Fax: 408-985-7936 ł www.SantaClaraCA.gov Please note that the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program requires 100 percent concurrence from residents within 100 feet of Level 2 or 3 devices. If 100 percent concurrence is not met for a device, the device will not be installed. If 100 percent concurrence is met for a Level 2 or 3 device, City staff will schedule a City Council meeting for discussion and approval. Residents will be notified in advance of the scheduled meeting.
Prior to completing the attached survey, please make sure you have read and fully understood both the positive and negative aspects of the traffic calming measures. Also, review the conceptual drawings, be aware that on-street parking may need to be removed, and take note of the visual characteristics of a vehicle speed feedback sign.
Please complete and return the attached survey to indicate your position by May , 2025. The survey may be mailed via the prepaid envelope included in this mailing or emailed to [email protected]
Sincerely,
Steve Chan, T.E.
Traffic Manager
Department of Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
x Positive and Negative Aspects of Chokers
x Positive and Negative Aspects of Speed Humps
x Conceptual Placement of Chokers or Speed Humps
x Speed Hump Detail Drawing
x Sample Vehicle Speed Feedback Sign Installation
x Survey Response Form
x Pre-addressed Pre-paid Return Envelope
www.SantaClaraCA.gov/SOFN
p.p.
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What's Possible
Picture is for illustration purposes only
(On-street parking removal is required)
Chokers
Level 2
Description: Chokers physically narrow a street either at the intersection, at mid-block or a segment of a street by using curb extensions.
Positive Aspects:
• May reduce speeds by giving motorists the sense of limited space. • Improves motorist-pedestrian visibility of each other. • Intersection crossing distance for pedestrians is reduced. • Allows signs to be located favorably within motorists line of sight. • Creates space for landscaping.
Negative Aspects:
• Impedes emergency vehicle, truck and other service vehicle access. • Bicyclists may feel "squeezed in" due to narrower roadway. • May require modification or reconstruction of drainage features and other utilities. • May become obstacles for motorists to crash into.
• May require part or all of on-street parking removal. • High installation cost.
• Increased maintenance.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
Approved 4-27-99
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Picture is for illustration purposes only.
Photo taken at Briarwood Drive, Santa Clara, CA
On-street parking is not impacted.
Speed Hump Speed Bump
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS – TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION 1500 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050 www.santaclaraca.gov TEL: 408.615.3000 FAX: 408-983-0931 EMAIL: [email protected]
CONCEPTUAL PLACEMENT OF CHOKERS OR SPEED HUMPS
HAROLD AVENUE
STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD
FOREST AVENUE
Proposed locaƟons of
Chokers or Speed Humps
1. Chokers will require on-street parking removal. Dimensions of chokers will be unique to each locaƟon but will be no more than 8 feet wide and 30 feet in length.
2. Speed humps will not require on-street parking removal. Dimensions of speed humps may be found on the Speed Hump Detail Drawing.
3. Chokers and Speed humps shall be placed a minimum of 5 feet from driveways, manholes, drain inlets, water valves, street monuments, and other appurtenance. 293’670’337’
FACE OF CURB
33 SCALE: N. T. S.
SPEED HUMP'(6,*1
CL JUL 2020
NC JUL 2020
TYPICAL SPEED HUMP DETAIL
SHEET OF
TRACING No.
PROJECT No. CE
ACCOUNT No.
DATE No. REVISION BY
DESIGNED BY
DRAWN BY
CHECKED BY
AS BUILT BY
INITIAL DATE
Survey No.
DATE
TITLE
APPROVED BY
R.C.E. No.
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
STRIPING LEGEND
STATE DETAIL 11
STATE DETAIL 22
STATE DETAIL 93
STATE DETAIL 124
STATE DETAIL 215
STATE DETAIL 226
STATE DETAIL 257
STATE DETAIL 27B8
STATE DETAIL 319
STATE DETAIL 3210
STATE DETAIL 3711
STATE DETAIL 3812
STATE DETAIL 38B13
STATE DETAIL 3914
STATE DETAIL 39A15
STATE DETAIL 4016
STATE DETAIL 40A17
STATE DETAIL 4118
12" WHITE19
12" YELLOW20
24" WHITE21
YIELD LINE22
BIKE LANE ARROW AND SYMBOL WITH PERSON23
PAVEMENT MARKING PER CALTRANS A24A TO A24E24
K:\Draft\AutoCAD\City Dwg Template\D-Size Project\Cover Sheet Blocks\SC_Seal_rgb.jpg 1'
12'
3.0"
2.9"
2.7"
2.3"
1.7"
0.9"
FACE OF GUTTER
34' 2'
1' 1' 1' 1' 1'
2'
CENTER OF ROADWAY
CENTER OF SPEED HUMP
5'
6'
6'
1'
1'
CENTER OF TRAVEL LANE
8'10'12'14'16'18'20' 2'
8'
7'
6'
5'
4'
3'
2'
1'
12-INCH WHITE PAVEMENT MARKINGS
PER CaMUTCD FIGURE 3B-31
FACE OF CURB
PER CaMUTCD FIGURE
3B-29, OPTION A
1' 1'
TAPER
I I ~ I I •
B
SECTION A-A
~
SECTION B-B I
- L J
SAMPLE VEHICLE SPEED FEEDBACK SIGN INSTALLATION
Monroe Street & Machado Avenue
Please note a 6-foot-deep foundation is required for the pole and a 2-foot by 2-foot concrete pad behind the sidewalk is required. ~--- -
Install:
• Foundation for Type 1 B
pole (2.5 ft wide, 6 ft deep)
• Housekeeping pad on top of
foundation (2 ft x 2 ft)
• Type 1 B pole (16 ft tall)
• Solar powered speed
feedback sign and solar
panel
• R2-1 (25) sign
DĂLJϵ, 2025
SURVEY RESPONSE FORM
For City’s Intent to Install Traffic Calming Measures Along Harold Avenue Between Forest and Stevens Creek Boulevard By completing and signing this form, you are confirming that you have read and fully understand the potential positive and negative impacts for the traffic calming measures you are voting for. Please select one choice for each section below:
A. Installation of chokers (Level 2) and necessary on-street parking removal along Harold Avenue at the proposed locations.
Yes, I support the proposed installation above.
No, I do not support the proposed installation above.
B. Installation of speed humps (Level 3) along Harold Avenue at the proposed locations.
Yes, I support the proposed installation above.
No, I do not support the proposed installation above.
C. Installation of permanent vehicle speed feedback sign (Level 1) which may abut to my property line.
Yes, I support the proposed installation above.
No, I do not support the proposed installation above.
Note: Additional details and information on potential positive and negative aspects of traffic calming measures proposed are provided in the letter this survey was delivered with.
ADDRESS NUMBER AND STREET NAME
SIGNATURE DATE
PRINTED NAME PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL
If you have any comments, please provide them here (Use additional pages as needed):
Please return the survey response by Friday, May , 2025 in theSUepaid envelope or by email to [email protected]
Department of Public Works - Traffic Engineering
1500 Warburton Avenue ł Santa Clara, CA 95050 ł Phone: 408-615-3000 ł Fax: 408-985-7936 ł www.SantaClaraCA.gov
July 21, 2025
RE: Traffic Calming on Harold Avenue Between Forest Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard
Dear Property Owner or Current Occupant:
The City of Santa Clara’s Department of Public Works issued letters and surveys in May and June of 2025 to obtain your position on three proposed traffic calming alternatives on Harold Avenue. The result of this survey indicates that the Community does not support chokers, and instead supports speed humps. However, staff found that the proposed location for the speed hump nearest to Forest Avenue did not receive 100% support from property owners within 100 feet of the device.
The purpose of this letter is to propose an alternative location for the speed hump and have the Community vote on the two proposed locations. Staff completed a detailed analysis of Harold Avenue and the two proposed locations in this survey are the only two locations that can accommodate a speed hump nearest to Forest Avenue. To assist with this vote and provide a visual for residents, staff will identify the locations of the speed humps along Harold Avenue.
As property owners or occupants on Harold Avenue, it is important that we receive your feedback because the proposed traffic calming devices may affect frontage to your property and neighborhood. If 100% consensus is not obtained for either of the two locations, Staff will present the findings to City Council for discussion and approval. Residents will be notified in advance of the City Council meeting.
Prior to completing the attached survey, please make sure you have read and fully understood the proposed locations of the speed humps, and both the positive and negative aspects of the traffic calming measures.
Please complete and return the attached survey to indicate your position by August 8, 2025. The survey may be mailed via the prepaid envelope included in this mailing or emailed to [email protected]
Sincerely,
Steve Chan, T.E.
Traffic Manager
Department of Public Works
Enclosures
p.p.
www.SantaClaraCA.gov/SOFN
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What 's Possible
Picture is for illustration purposes only.
Photo taken at Briarwood Drive, Santa Clara, CA
On-street parking is not impacted.
Speed Humps
Level 3
Description: Speed humps or undulations are mounds of paving material that extend across the roadway. They generally have a 12-foot base and a gradual rise and fall 2.5 inches to 3.75 inches.
Positive Aspects:
• May reduce speeds.
• May divert traffic to arterial streets.
Negative Aspects:
• Impedes emergency vehicle, truck and other service vehicle access. ~ May divert traffic to adjacent neighborhood streets.
• May be hazardous to an injured patient being transported in an ambulance. • Contents of vehicles can be jarred.
• May encourage speeding between humps.
• Increase in noise adjacent to speed hump.
• Speed humps have to be reinstalled each time street is resurfaced. • Increased liability to City.
• High installation cost.
Speed Hump Speed Bump
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Page 44
Approved 4-27-99
FACE OF CURB
33 SCALE: N. T. S.
SPEED HUMP'(6,*1
CL JUL 2020
NC JUL 2020
TYPICAL SPEED HUMP DETAIL
SHEET OF
TRACING No.
PROJECT No. CE
ACCOUNT No.
DATE No. REVISION BY
DESIGNED BY
DRAWN BY
CHECKED BY
AS BUILT BY
INITIAL DATE Survey No.
DATE
TITLE
APPROVED BY
R.C.E. No.
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
STRIPING LEGEND
STATE DETAIL 11
STATE DETAIL 22
STATE DETAIL 93
STATE DETAIL 124
STATE DETAIL 215
STATE DETAIL 226
STATE DETAIL 257
STATE DETAIL 27B8
STATE DETAIL 319
STATE DETAIL 3210
STATE DETAIL 3711
STATE DETAIL 3812
STATE DETAIL 38B13
STATE DETAIL 3914
STATE DETAIL 39A15
STATE DETAIL 4016
STATE DETAIL 40A17
STATE DETAIL 4118
12" WHITE19
12" YELLOW20
24" WHITE21
YIELD LINE22
BIKE LANE ARROW AND SYMBOL WITH PERSON23
PAVEMENT MARKING PER CALTRANS A24A TO A24E24
K:\Draft\AutoCAD\City Dwg Template\D-Size Project\Cover Sheet Blocks\SC_Seal_rgb.jpg 1'
12'
3.0"
2.9"
2.7"
2.3"
1.7"
0.9"
FACE OF GUTTER
34' 2'
1' 1' 1' 1' 1'
2'
CENTER OF ROADWAY
CENTER OF SPEED HUMP
5'
6'
6'
1'
1'
CENTER OF TRAVEL LANE
8'10'12'14'16'18'20' 2'
8'
7'
6'
5'
4'
3'
2'
1'
12-INCH WHITE PAVEMENT MARKINGS
PER CaMUTCD FIGURE 3B-31
FACE OF CURB
PER CaMUTCD FIGURE
3B-29, OPTION A
1' 1'
TAPER
I I ~ I I •
B
SECTION A-A
~
SECTION B-B I
- L J
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS – TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION 1500 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050 www.santaclaraca.gov TEL: 408.615.3000 FAX: 408-983-0931 EMAIL: [email protected]
CONCEPTUAL PLACEMENT OF SPEED HUMPS
HAROLD AVENUE
STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD
FOREST AVENUE
Proposed locaƟons of
Chokers or Speed Humps
ϭ͘ Speed humps will not require on-street parking removal. Dimensions of speed humps may be found on the Speed Hump Detail Drawing.
Ϯ͘ Chokers and Speed humps shall be placed a minimum of 5 feet from driveways, manholes, drain inlets, water valves, street monuments, and other appurtenance. 293’ 670’ 337’
’ ’ ’
A B
City of
Santa Clara
July21,2025
SURVEY RESPONSE FORM
For City’s Intent to Install Traffic Calming Measures Along Harold Avenue Between Forest and Stevens Creek Boulevard By completing and signing this form, you are confirming that you have read and fully understand the potential positive and negative impacts for the traffic calming measures you are voting for. Please select one choice for each section below:
A. Installation of speed humps (Level 3) along Harold Avenue at LOCATION A.
Yes, I support the proposed installation above.
No, I do not support the proposed installation above.
B. Installation of speed humps (Level 3) along Harold Avenue at LOCATION B.
Yes, I support the proposed installation above.
No, I do not support the proposed installation above.
Note: Additional details and information on potential positive and negative aspects of traffic calming measures proposed are provided in the letter this survey was delivered with.
ADDRESS NUMBER AND STREET NAME
SIGNATURE DATE
PRINTED NAME PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL
If you have any comments, please provide them here (Use additional pages as needed):
Please return the survey response by Friday, August 8, 2025 in the prepaid envelope or by email to [email protected]