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Home My WebLink About2/8/2007Agenda No. 6.2 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2007 CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Shay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Lin led the Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL: Commissioners Jimmy Lin, Kenneth Mok and Vice Chairman Michael Shay Absent: Commissioner Liana Pincher and Chairman Jack Shah were excused. Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior Engineer; Kimberly Molina, Associate Engineer, Erwin Ching, Junior Engineer, and Marcy Hilario, Senior Administrative Assistant. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the November 9, 2006 meeting C/Lin moved, C/Mok seconded to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lin, Mok, VC/Shay NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher, Chair/Shah 11 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered III. CONSENT CALENDAR: None IV. ITEMS FROM STAFF A. Traffic Enforcement Update - Received and filed on the following items: 1. Citations: November and December 2006; January 2007 2. Collisions: November and December 2006; January 2007 3. Street Sweeping: November and December 2006; January 2007 FEBRUARY 8, 2007 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION V. OLD BUSINESS: A. Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Pilot Projects AE/Molina reported on the status of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Pilot Project. On February 6t', the City Council approved staffs recommendations to approve modifications to the existing Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Pilot Project areas as identified and continue to monitor the program over the next five months at which time additional speed and volume data would be collected. Once a thorough engineering analysis is completed, staff will return to Council with a final report of the pilot projects. Council also approved staff's recommendations that the City Council receive and file the presentation, approve the proposed modifications, direct staff to continue engineering evaluation of the pilot projects, and approve the modifications to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Manual and Guidelines. VC/Shay asked staff to respond to residents asking why the City would not merely install stop signs rather than implement costly mitigation tools. DPW/Liu responded that stop signs are traffic control devices, not traffic calming devices as the project tools are intended to be. In addition, in order for the City to place stop signs, a warrant study is conducted to see if certain criteria can be met. The intent of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program is to address specific neighborhood traffic issues such as speeding and cut -through traffic and in order to do that, the City has to use traffic calming tools such as speed cushions, traffic circles, etc. PWD/Liu responded to VC/Shay that there are many factors involved when considering whether traffic -calming devices tend to damage vehicles such as the type of vehicle, the speed at which one traverses a calming device and so forth. However, these devices have been used successfully for a number of years by many other jurisdictions and are accepted standards of practice. C/Mok asked if the public was advised about why certain gaps were left between calming devices. DPW/Liu responded that individuals who participated in the public meetings, workshops, and the most recent open house were informed and there was extensive public outreach to the affected residents of the five areas. C/Lin said he concurred with staff about the devices being used to calm traffic. People are resistant to change and when they first see these types of devices they feel inconvenienced. After a while, they become used to the devices and opposition diminishes over time. A very comprehensive nationwide study reveals that if cities install stop signs at intersections where they are not warranted, it actually increases the speed of traffic between stop signs. DPW/Liu is correct that a stop sign is not a traffic -calming device. FEBRUARY 8, 2007 VI. VII. VIII IX PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION C/Mok inquired about residents having stated that they did not receive notices from the City regarding any meetings or providing any information about the pilot project. PWD/Liu responded to C/Mok stating that the City sends information in the form of individual notices and Diamond Bar Newsletters. Recommendation: NEW BUSINESS: Receive and file. None STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS None ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS C/Mok thanked staff for their hard work on the NTMP. VC/Shay and C/Lin echoed C/Mok's sentiments. (INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A B. C. D E. Caltrans 57/60 Freeway Construction Project SE/Yee reported that Caltrans expects to have the HOV lanes open this month. The westbound Brea Canyon on-ramp was re -opened January 19th. Grand Avenue Improvements Project — Phase II SE/Yee stated that Phase II has been completed and a walk-thru is scheduled for next week. Industry's Grand Avenue Bride Widening/Interchange Project SE/Yee reported that the project team is putting together a strategy on how to approach Caltrans to gain their support for one of the preferred alternatives in order to be able to compete for transportation funds. Lemon Avenue On/Off Ramps Project PWD/Liu reported that the application is requesting MTA to utilize regional grants to pay for construction engineering and costs of the improvements being designed for this project. SE/Yee stated that federal appropriations have been set aside for the project and there is a balance of the project that is currently unfunded. Prospectors Road Street Rehabilitation Project AE/Molina reported that changes within the February 6th budget amendment call for adding a portion of landscaping along Prospectors Road, which will be included in the rehab project requiring adjustments to plans and specs before going out to bid the beginning of March. FEBRUARY 8, 2007 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION F. Washington Street Cul -de -Sac AE/Molina stated that this project should go out to bid within the next two weeks. G. Brea Canyon Road ACE Grade Separation Project SE/Yee reported that Brea Canyon was closed from Washington Street to Spanish Lane. The road closure will be extended to Lycoming mid-March for a period of two weeks to provide MWD an opportunity to conduct pipe work. Once the pipe work is completed, the closure will revert back to Washington Street to Spanish Lane. Completion schedule has been extended to Summer, 2008. H. SR57/60 Feasibility Study PWD/Liu reported that, in all likelihood, the study would not be ready until summer because the consultant was waiting for the completion of the HOV project to collect more accurate traffic data. Pomona Valley Intelligent Transportation System (PVITS) SE/Yee reported that the City held its first contract negotiation meeting with Transcore, the preferred consultant. Staff hopes to go to City Council for award of contract the first meeting in April. At the request of Chair/Shah AE/Molina reported on staff's responses to an email from Mr. Lal regarding the NTMP Pilot Project as it related to Jubilee Lane and Rancheria. X. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. PWD/Liu introduced new staff member Erwin Ching, Junior Engineer. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, VC/Shay adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. in memory of Council Member Bob Zirbes. Respec , vid . Liu, Secretary Attest: Vice hair Michael ay