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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/12/20001 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OCTOBER 12, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Morris called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Board Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Chairman Morris. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Chairman Roland Morris, Vice Chairman Arun Virginkar and Commissioners Jack Istik and Joseph Kung. Commissioner Joyce Leonard -Colby was excused. Also Present were: David Liu, Director of Public Works; John Easin, Engineering Technician; Sonya Joe, Development Services Assistant; Linda Smith, Development Services Assistant and Sharon Gomez, Administrative Secretary. I APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of September 14, 2000. C/Istik moved, C/Kung seconded, to approve the minutes of September 14, 2000 as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kung, Istik, Chair/Morris NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Virginkar ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Leonard -Colby II PUBLIC COMMENTS: III COMMISSION COMMENTS: None Offered None Offered. IOCTOBER 12, 2000 PAGE 2 III PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered IV CONSENT CALENDAR: None V OLD BUSINESS: A. Discussion of Comprehensive School Safety Study. T&T COMMISSION DSA/Joe presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission review the information and provide input to staff as appropriate. VC/Virginkar asked if it is true that in order to have a crossing guard there needs to be a crosswalk. He cited the example of Forest Canyon Drive at Quail Summit Park. DPW/Liu stated that requests for crosswalks are looked at on a case-by-case basis. In the case of Forest Canyon Drive, it was first identified in the School Traffic Study to relieve the traffic load on Quail Summit Drive. While looking at the possibility of opening up the back side of the school at Forest Canyon Drive it was determined, because of all of the residential homes in the area, that if a crosswalk was provided on a residential street it may present safety concerns. Once crosswalk lines are painted it becomes a permanent feature and pedestrians tend to believe that it is a safe area and that vehicles will automatically stop. In response to Chair/Morris, DPW/Liu explained that with respect to the matter of Golden Springs Elementary School, Walnut Elementary School has also expressed an interest to have a crossing guard. At this time, the City is in the process of gathering input from school principals and from the Sheriff's Department. If the City initiates further action such as conducting a warrant study of the matter it will be with the full concurrence and assistance of the school principals. Chair/Morris stated that if a crossing guard at the rear of Golden Springs Elementary at El Encino Drive the traffic could be eliminated on Ballena Drive if the school would encourage parents to pick up their children next to the school in the curve area. Chair/Morris said he appreciates staff's efforts on this matter. He suggested that staff send letters to the schools once or twice a year to let them know what progress is being made from the City's point of view and solicit their input with respect to how things are going from their point of view. C/Istik again recommended that the City consider having the City's Traffic Engineer review the School Traffic Study and provide a third opinion. IOCTOBER 12, 2000 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION DPW/Liu summarized stating that staff will follow up with Walnut Elementary School and Golden Springs Elementary School. In addition, the Chaparral Middle School principal has requested to meet with staff and staff will follow up with her. Information resulting from these contacts will be shared with the Commission at its November 9 meeting. Monitoring and enforcement are ongoing. Chair/Morris recommended that staff contact the Sheriff's Department to inform them that one week from today the Pomona schools will have a free day for staff development. Therefore, the deputies may wish to concentrate their efforts in the southerly portion of the City. VI NEW BUSINESS: 2. Standardized Policy Regarding Striping of City Streets. ET/Ilasin presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation ' Commission receive public comments and discuss possible mitigation measures. C/Istik commented that the City's centerline striping guidelines for residential streets which discusses a category of observed speeds of 25 mph or greater. Most residential streets in the City are prima fascia 25 mph and he believes it would be good to put in striping at the 25 mph limit. The policy may lead the City to two solid/double yellow lines such as are seen on Laguna Canyon Road and State Highway 133. There may be solid double yellow where there are horizontal curves and vertical curves which applies to nearly every residential street in the City. He believes it would make sense to have solid double yellow lines if there has been a number of accidents or some other safety problem. When the City developed, the horizontal and vertical curve lengths were based upon the County's design manual for residential streets. He referred to the 1991 CalTrans manual which reads: "Center lines should be used on paved highways or portions thereof under the following conditions: in rural areas on two lane pavements 30 to 16 feet or greater in width; in business or residential districts on through highways; on all undivided pavements of four lanes or more; and other locations where an engineering study indicates a need for them" which would apply to Diamond Bar. He would favor a centerline striping guideline that had less of a criteria for striping than the CalTrans manual. VC/Virginkar said he fully endorses the social impact of centerline striping. However, he believes the City should consider using a single broken yellow strip on residential streets as a feature. Ninety-nine percent of residential streets are two-lane streets with parked cars and are ' not appropriate for passing. Depending on the horizontal and vertical curves, a single broken yellow centerline stripe will serve to channelize the vehicular traffic. For example, Forest Canyon Drive near Paul C. Grow Park between Meadowglen Road and Highbluff Drive, contains IOCTOBER 12, 2000 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION a downward slope and turn. In his opinion, that area would be a perfect candidate for a limited single broken yellow striping at the curve and it would deter drivers from crossing the center line. Chair/Morris felt that in residential areas striping should be avoided whenever possible. On some streets where vehicular parking occurs a centerline strip is useless because drivers must cross the center line to avoid the parked car. However, there are a number of streets that do meet the criteria for some type of division. He would like to see reverse Bot dots or some other type of unobtrusive marking for center line markings where safety issues are involved such as curved areas, etc. He strongly urged Commissioners and staff members to attend the Traffic Engineer's workshops on neighborhood traffic problems at CalPoly. VC/Virginkar said it would be helpful for staff to identify the types of streets that might benefit from striping. He commented to Chair/Morris that he believes that the single yellow broken line would not be obtrusive and would likely be a less expensive solution. Chair/Morris said he does not disagree with VC/Virginkar, however, what is obtrusive is in the ' eye of the beholder. Some residents have very strong feelings about yellow lines on residential streets. C/Istik suggested that if a resident requests a yellow center line that it would be a good idea that the stripe be the skip yellow line which he believes would be appropriate for a residential street if a stripe is needed. Chair/Morris pointed out that if the City installs a yellow line and a motorist is forced to cross over the yellow line to avoid a parked vehicle/motor home, or is forced to stay within the line, it may create an even greater problem. He favors minimizing striping in residential areas and the City needs to look at alternatives prior to deciding to stripe a street. Alternatively, striping is the easiest and least expensive to define a roadway center in an area where safety is a concern. VC/Virginkar suggested that staff obtain an opinion from the City's Attorney with respect to liability for a single broken yellow line versus a solid yellow line. DPW/Liu responded that state criteria is very clear with respect to broken line. Broken lines are permissive in character. His concern is that broken yellow lines work only for channelization. If a careless driver decides to pass and an accident occurs one of his arguments could be that it was a broken line, it was meant for passing, and that is what he did. He recommended caution in proceeding to consider this option in making certain that the general public is protected. The next best thing to broken yellow lines may be no lines. Chair/Morris suggested that the Commission and Council consider a policy such as "Unless there OCTOBER 12, 2000 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION is a safety related issue, striping in residential areas (25 mph prima fascia) should be avoided except in cases of safety driven or traffic flow concerns." Commissioner Kung concurred. Commissioner Istik concurred. DPW/Liu suggested that safety concerns ought to be established by a scientific traffic engineering study. Typically, the City is extremely cautious in its approach to establishing this type of mitigation. He suggested that staff prepare a draft policy statement for the Commission's consideration at its November 9 meeting. VII STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: None VIII ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Kung said he counted about 65 cars parked on the east side of Brea Canyon Road near the Metrolink Station on Tuesday morning. Chair/Morris asked if anyone is available on Saturday, November 4 to attend the Traffic Commissioners Workshop at CalPoly Pomona. The City covers the cost for all Commissioners. C/Istik will attend and at least one staff member will attend. IX ITEMS FROM STAFF Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update for September 2000 - Continued to November 9, 2000. X INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Items for follow up from Joint City Council/Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting of September 19, 2000. DPW/Liu presented the Commission with a summary memorandum containing eight items from the September 19 joint meeting minutes. Chair/Morris asked DPW/Liu to convey the Commissions' appreciation for the joint meeting. 1 2. Future Agenda Items. OCTOBER 12, 2000 As listed in the packet. PAGE 6 XI SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As agendized. ADJOURNMENT: T&T COMMISSION There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Morris adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. to November 9, 2000 at 6:00 p.m. Attest: Chairman Roland Morris Ej Respectfully, Da id . Liu Secretary