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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/2002CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OCTOBER 10, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Virginkar called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Pincher led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Virginkar, Vice Chairman Morris, and Commissioners Kashyap, Pincher, and Torng. Also Present: David Liu, Director of Public Works, Sharon Gomez, Management Analyst, and Debbie Gonzales, Administrative Assistant, APPROVAL OF MINUTES: III. IV. V. VI. Minutes of September 12, 2002. C/Torng moved, C/Pincher seconded, to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2002 meeting as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSION COMMENTS: PUBLIC COMMENTS: CONSENT CALENDAR: ITEMS FROM STAFF Kashyap, Pincher, Torng, VC/Morris None Chair/Virginkar None None Offered. None Offered. None A. Traffic Enforcement Update — Report by Deputy Mark St. Amant - Received and filed on the following items: 1. Citations: September 2002 2. Collisions: September 2002 3. Radar Trailer Development 4. Results of Traffic Operations 5. Future Deployment of the Radar Trailer OCTOBER 10, 2002 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION C/Kashyap asked for a separate accounting of street sweeping related citations. Deputy St. Amant felt that the numbers would change. During the second week of enforcement, about 50 percent fewer citations were issued and the numbers are expected to decline over time. VC/Morris said he received complaints about the tone of the officer's language directed toward offenders. He thought the dialogue could be friendlier. DPW/Liu acknowledged that most problems during the first week citations were due to timing difficulties. Mitigation requires cooperation between the City and the schools. C/Kashyap wanted to know if street sweeping around schools could be done on Saturdays and what the additional cost would be. Deputy St. Amant explained that traffic in and around schools is much more troublesome on weekends than on weekdays. The schools suggested street sweeping take place earlier in the day prior to the start of school. VC/Morris felt the two school districts should be contacted and asked to keep the City apprised of times of activities in and around schools. Chair/Virginkar asked the Sheriff's Department to pay closer attention to Diamond Bar High School, particularly in the areas of Evergreen Springs Drive and Birch Hill Drive and coming down Pathfinder Road to Diamond Bar Boulevard. Deputy St. Amant explained that due to changes in traffic patterns around the school everyone who wishes to travel westbound on Pathfinder Road has to go eastbound on Pathfinder Road and make a U-turn. Alternate patterns are being considered that should alleviate the situation. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Diamond Bar Boulevard/Gold Rush Drive. MA/Gomez presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive public comments and discuss the modification to re -stripe the southbound left -turn lane for Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive. Kwang Ho Lee, 23746 Gold Rush Drive, stated that one month ago the City's Public Works Department installed three-way stops between Gold OCTOBER 10, 2002 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION Rush Drive and Chandelle Place. Many neighbors are pleased about this installation that has resulted in an overall reduction of speed on Gold Rush Drive. He explained why he favored staff's proposal to re -stripe the southbound left -turn lane on Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive. C/Pincher moved, C/Torng seconded, to concur with staff's recommendation to re -stripe the southbound left -turn lane on Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive. Commission discussion ensued. C/Kashyap suggested widening lane #1. VC/Morris said that nearly 90 percent of the left turn lane traffic makes U- turns at that location. Would it be possible to have two left -turn lanes with the inside lane being dedicated to U-turn traffic only to which DPW/Liu responded "no" and stated the reasons. VC/Morris asked staff to create a better look to the cross -hatch area and ask Lorbeer Middle School to assist in providing informational flyers to parents and area residents advising them of the changes and seeking their cooperation. DPW/Liu responded to C/Kashyap that he would consult with the City's Traffic Engineer to determine if the cross -hatch area could be narrowed providing room to widen the #1 lane. ChairNirginkar wanted the record to reflect the Commission's concern that staff receive the Commissioners' comments and alleviate unsafe conditions while not introducing new unsafe conditions. C/Kashyap asked the maker of the motion to consider revising her motion to ask staff to review the dimension and concept in order to maximize the number of cars able to turn left onto Gold Rush Drive. ChairNirginkar explained that he previously asked staff to take the Commission's comments under consideration and that there would be no need to modify the motion. Following discussion, motion carried by the following Roil Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kashyap, Pincher, Torng, VC/Morris, ChairNirginkar NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None OCTOBER 10, 2002 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION B. Redflex Report presented by MA/Gomez — Receive and File. C/Torng felt that regional data would be more helpful than data from northern California cities. C/Pincher asked for clarification of the statement "in San Jose, speeding citations are nothing more than glorified parking tickets." MA/Gomez indicated she had left several voice mail messages at the City of San Jose. To date, she had not received a response. DPW/Liu said he believed that San Jose has a photo -radar system. C/Pincher felt that the proposed system was somewhat sophisticated and needed citizen approval. She felt that Mr. Rosenburg's response to question #3 and other questions was inconclusive. C/Kashyap thought the answers were vague. Deputy St. Amant responded to C/Kashyap that the Rowland Heights and San Dimas systems were under the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol. The Commission asked to have Dr. Rosenburg present to answer questions at the next meeting. VC/Morris believed this type of system would be very useful to the community in improving the level of service. ChairNirginkar wanted the following information included in a proposal to the City Council: 1) cost, 2) projected revenue, 3) possible installation location for a pilot program. C. Emergency Vehicle Warning/Preemptive Systems MA/Gomez presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive a staff presentation and concur with staff's continuing efforts to obtain the best and most cost effective early warning/preemptive system. C/Kashyap offered his expertise in this area. He recommended staff exclude the solar panel installation from consideration. VC/Morris felt that Station 121 would make a good location for a solar panel pilot program because it is located in a residential area. OCTOBER 10, 2002 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION VIII. NEW BUSINESS: A. Diamond Bar Boulevard/Cold Spring Lane MA/Gomez presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission concur with staff's recommendation to install the pavement markings and signs for the westbound Cold Spring Lane intersection to allow for right turns only in the curb lane and left -turn and through traffic from the inside lane. Kuei-Chiu (K.C.) Lin, 3315 Falcon Ridge Road reiterated her urgent request for installation of the left turn signal. She believed that installation of the "No U-turn" sign would create a hazardous situation. She was concerned that the change in lane designations on Cold Spring Lane at Diamond Bar Boulevard would create confusion for the residents and she asked that this proposal be reconsidered. C/Torng felt the changes would increase the right turn traffic and more possibility of accidents. He thought the intersection should remain as is. DPW/Liu said that this intersection should be studied during peak traffic hours related to all of the traffic turning movements in order for the Commission to make an informed decision. C/Pincher believed that at one time the proposed measures were in place and the intersection was very unsafe. She felt that the intersection should remain as currently configured with arrows on eastbound and westbound Cold Spring Lane. All of the U-turns are made on Diamond Bar Boulevard and most of the U-turns are initiated from the southbound lanes. DPW/Liu stated that this intersection is a candidate for a left turn signal C/Kashyap said that definitely, there should be no U-turn. He believed that traffic should proceed to Brea Canyon Road to make a U-turn. He concurred with Mrs. Lin that there should be a left turn signal from Cold Spring Lane onto Diamond Bar Boulevard. VC/Morris said he would defer to people who live in the area. He disagreed that motorists would continue down to Brea Canyon Road to make a U-turn. He believed they would pull into a tract at the first opportunity to make a U- turn. ChairNirginkar would find it helpful to have the accident history for the intersection. He wanted consideration of installation of a left -turn lane from Cold Spring Lane onto Diamond Bar Boulevard included in staff's report and recommendation, if warranted. OCTOBER 10, 2002 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION IX. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DPW/Liu reported that at next Tuesday's City Council meeting staff will recommend award of contract to a company for the Grand Avenue design phase project. X. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Torng asked staff to look at the speeding issues around the area of Avenida Rancheros/Temple Avenue and at Golden Springs Drive. Turning onto Grand Avenue from Diamond Bar Boulevard toward Golden Springs Drive, the left turn signal is very short. C/Pincher asked if it would be possible to place the vehicle counter on Pathfinder Road near Presado Drive just west of Diamond Bar Boulevard. She felt that Pathfinder was too close to the high school to allow 45 -mph speed. It seems too fast and dangerous. VC/Morris asked if staff could include information about developer stop signs and traffic lights during "informational items." XI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: DPW/Liu reported on the following items: A. Traffic Concerns at Diamond Bar High School. B. Adelphia Parking C. Joint -Meeting of the Traffic and Transportation Commission and City Council XII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS — as agendized. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chairman Morris adjourned the meeting at 9:56 p.m. Respectfully,_ `vi . Liu, Secretary Attest: Chairman Arun Virginkar ` �'