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Home My WebLink About9/13/2007C 1 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Shay called the meeting to order at 7:02 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 Shah led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Jimmy Lin, Liana Pincher, Jack Shah, Vice Chairman Kenneth Mok and Chairman Michael Shay Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior Engineer Kimberly Molina, Associate Engineer, Marcy Hilario, Senior Administrative Assistant and Rock Miller, KOA Corporation Consultant I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of the June 14, 2007 meeting. Chair/Shay moved, C/Shah seconded to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2007 meeting as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lin, Shah, VC/Mok, Chair/Shay NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None E3. Minutes of the July 12, 2007meeting. C/Pincher asked that "staff would look into that left turn" be added to Item 8. C/Pincher moved, VC/Mok seconded to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher, Shah, VC/Mok NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Lin, Chair/Shay ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 11 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION IV. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Traffic Enforcement Update: Citations: June, July & August 2007 2. Collisions: June, July & August 2007 3. Street Sweeping: June, July & August 2007 PWD/Liu stated that due to a computer error the corrected updated report was not available and would be presented to the Commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting. OLD BUSINESS: A. Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) for Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road. SENee and Rock Miller, KOA Corporation Consultant, presented staff's report and recommended that the Traffic and Transportation Commission review the proposed updated action plan, receive public comments and concurwith staff to implement the proposed traffic calming improvements along Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road, and offer its recommendation to the City Council. Kirk Ramirez, 442 Rockridge Road Lane, said it was not clear on the map if the median flows through on Sunset Crossing Road under the SR -57 to Diamond Bar Boulevard. He also noticed that the recommendation for the curb extension on the SR -57 south off ramp was missing. Mr. Ramirez stated that the City of Brea has enforceable restrictive right turn signs at peak hours that exempt residents. Mr. Ramirez said he felt the restrictive right turn signs should be placed at the SR -57 off -ramp at Sunset Crossing for morning peak hour traffic and on the corner of Golden Springs for the left turn onto Prospectors during evening hours Kathy Chavez, 300 S. Rock River Road, felt the bulges and median would create a hardship for the school and that drivers would avoid those devices by traveling down her street and going up Clearview Crest to get to Neil Armstrong School. If the bulges are too large they will prevent residents from making turns onto her street and create extra traffic coming down her street. She requested that the City try placing temporary cones first before implementing bulges and medians. She asked if the City would consider placing cushions away from driveways to help people access their properties. Don Ashman, 119 S. Prospectors Road, was concerned about speed cushions and medians on hills. Something needs to be done and traffic citations are the SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION ' best deterrent; therefore, it seemed to him that assigning a traffic enforcement officer to the area on a random basis would be a lot more cost effective. Angel Rivera, 113 S. Prospectors Road, said it was difficult for him to get in his driveway due to drivers' failure to stop at the stop sign and speeding down his street. He felt the only thing that would slow drivers would be speed cushions or a traffic enforcement officer. David DeMers, 22935 Happy Hollow Road, said that although he does not have the impact that many of the residents have, he visits his in-laws, who live on Montura Drive just off of Golden Springs Drive, three or four times a day and understands the congestion and speeding drivers. He also understood how costly a traffic enforcement officer could be and felt that a one-time cost solution could be much more cost effective. While he believes a traffic enforcement officer's presence is the best solution, he believes speed humps or spe d cushions would be the next best solution to mitigate speeding traffic that tuns into the neighborhood from the SR57. In addition, rumors abound that the City of Industry intends to annex their street to Sunset Crossing, which will create even more traffic. If the City installs speed now, it will reduce the potential for that traffic. Beth Keeler, 404 Gunsmoke Drive, thanked the City for being aware that there is a problem with cut -through traffic in her area. She and herfriends would like to see landscaping in the median similar to what has been done at the north end of Diamond Bar. She travels along Prospectors Road to Golden Springs Drive about 6:10 a.m. and she routinely has cars coming up behind her flashing their bright lights and passing on the wrong side of the street. She has requested police presence from time to time and that has not happened. The residents need to be able to get out of their driveways and proceed to work. If the City plans to install a median, she would like to see it be wide enough and continue all of the way to Golden Springs Drive to slow down the traffic. Chair/Shay asked staff to comment on whether speed cushions slow traffic or not. Mr. Miller responded that speed humps are quite effective in slowing traffic at speeds of 30 mph and higher. The softer devices such as the bulges and curb extensions are not quite as effective at slowing slower traffic but are quite effective at slowing traffic traveling at 35, 40 and 50 mph. He said he was working on a traffic calming program in another city with this type of program wherein residents two years ago thought that islands would not be enough. Now, residents are saying those islands were perfect and they were glad they were not talked into the speed humps. On the other hand, different ' areas are better suited for speed humps and they are particularly suited forthe area recommended because the traffic volumes are lower and the speed humps and islands fit better where there are side yards for parking. He absolutely assured the Commission that with these mitigation measures there would be tremendous reductions in the numbers of vehicles traveling at the higher rates of speeds of 40, 45 and 50 mph. Again, in response to SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION Chair/Shay, Mr. Miller stated that speed humps have been applied on streets with this grade and disruption caused by the speed cushion is not enough to expect a car to launch. The islands will not prohibit movement. People will drive around the end of the island but a u -turn won't be necessary and people will not be prohibited from turning into their driveways. Jack Istik, 22607 Dry Creek Road, said that there has been much talk about law enforcement. It was not in the questionnaire probably because it is not part of the State's grant. He felt the City should not focus on using grant money because it is there; the City should look at what is best for the neighborhood and law enforcement is good for the neighborhood. Also, it has a spin off effect of deterring individuals who want to commit other bad acts. It appears to him that the survey results depend on where one lives. He wishes the survey results had shown law enforcement and the proposal appears to be a little too much in the way of speed bumps and islands. PWD/Liu stated that one of the aspects of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program is enforcement and what the City has been doing is to continue with enforcement as an integral part of this program. What staff understood from the residents was that they were 'asking for additional mitigation efforts. What staff has offered the residents is to work side by side to determine what the residents want in terms of traffic calming devices. Staff feels additional measures would be effective and would be supported by the residents. C/Pincher asked if it was possible to add speed cushions during the evaluation process and PWD/Liu replied "absolutely." Conversely, devices can be removed. This is a program that involves a two-way communication between residents and City Hall and the City will not implement measures that the community does not want. A 22 percent response rate is good and direction has been given. Of course, everyone will not be satisfied that the result is a perfect traffic management program. However, staff understands there is a problem with cut -through traffic and speed. C/Pincher, referring to Exhibit A, said she saw no feedback signs. PWD/Liu explained that those devices are included in the City's inventory and can be considered. Staff knows that those signs work for about a three-month period at any given location and at that point the City will rotate out the signs. C/Lin asked staff to comment on other items brought forth by speakers. DPW/Liu responded that the Sheriff's Department has made clear to the City that there is no such thing as different treatment for residents and believes the law is the same for the City of Brea (in reference to a "no right turn" at the off - ramp with a resident exemption). Mr. Miller said that he knows of no circumstance where a sign can be put up that indicates an exception for residents and enforce it other than in an extreme emergency. SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION C/Shah felt that speed cushions were the best and most economical solution. He recommended that the City look into speed humps and only speed humps and see what kind of response the City gets regarding cut -through traffic. If the restricted right turn is allowed perhaps it should be considered for a pilot program. Mr. Miller confirmed to VC/Mok that the grade of the street would not prohibit speed cushions. VC/Mok asked if this was a permanent solution or a pilot program wherein devices could be removed if the residents asked for their removal. PWD/Liu said that after installation of any device there is a certain evaluation period of at least six (6) months. After monitoring the situation and receiving input from the residents, it is most likely that the devices would remain unless there were safety issues and conditions that established liability concerns. VC/Mok believed he had seen a sign in the City that said "open to local traffic only" and asked if that would deter cut -through traffic. PWD/Liu said there are a couple of signs off of Diamond Bar Boulevard that indicate "local access only." When those signs were first installed it sent a very clear message and he remembers also that it was made very clear by law enforcemeot that such a sign could not be enforced. C/Pincher asked if the area under the freeway was under the jurisdiction of ' Caltrans and whether there was room for a median. SENee said the reason for the placement of these devices is based on speeding and volume data and the devices are intended to address the target areas. Ordinarily, the street under the freeway would be under the jurisdiction of Caltrans. During the evaluation process staff will accommodate needs as they are warranted. PWD/Liu said that parts of Sunset Crossing Road and Diamond Bar Boulevard serve as part of the freeway system (due to missing freeway connectors between SR -57 and SR -60). Chair/Shay felt that drivers should be educated and the best place for their vehicles is in their driveway. He also stated that boats should not be parked on the street. One speaker commented about beautifying the medians, which he felt was a wonderful point. There is a high level of education involved in this process and what residents will find is that some of the primary arguments against slowing traffic will come from the residents with give-and-take between neighbors. C/Shah explained that traffic engineering is an applied science. The survey results clearly indicate that the majority of residents believe speed cushions are the best solution and the only way you can get traffic down to 25 mph is with speed cushion. Although he does not favor a "no right turn" sign, the best way would be to put up a "no right turn between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m". Mangal Gulshan said he noticed that in every area, traffic is a major concern. He suggested that warning signs, flashing lights and Botts dots be installed throughout the City. SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION Pastor Gil lives near the freeway exit and said he believed that law enforcement should be present to ticket vehicles that do not stop especially between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. His house has been hit three times. Drivers that do not stop are a daily problem and there is no let-up. Chair/Shay felt enforcement was important at the corner of the SR -57 and Sunset Crossing Road. C/Lin asked the residents if the opening of the HOV lanes on the SR -57/60 interchange helped to reduce the traffic in their neighborhood. He said after the HOV lanes were opened, he noticed the traffic on Diamond Bar Boulevard thinned out substantially. The audience members responded "no." C/Shah agreed that law enforcement was probably the best deterrent but it was not possible to provide enforcement on a daily basis. The next best deterrent would most likely be the speed humps and, as his colleagues have said, it would help if the residents would slow down in their own neighborhoods. Kirk Ramirez asked why Caltrans does not help with traffic enforcement in their jurisdiction. There are street signs in every city that exempt buses from right hand turns. Also, the overweight signs on Golden Springs Drive to Brea Canyon Road are gone and Golden Springs Drive is now a truck route. Mr. Miller responded that buses are exempted from right turns because buses can clearly be identified as a bus. Conversely, it would be difficult to identify residents as opposed to non-residents. Mr. Miller said he has urged as much landscaping in medians as the City can afford. Whatever the penalty is, he could guarantee the residents would not ask for the landscaping to be removed because residents like landscaping whereas they do not like what they perceive as intrusive mitigation features. Chair/Shay indicated to Mr. Ramirez that staff would look into the matter of the lack of overweight signs on Golden Springs Drive. Kathy Chavez understood the City received federal grant funds for this project and she has heard this evening that budget funds are limited. Was the grant for her neighborhood or for all neighborhoods included in the program? Will this cost residents additional money to have medians with landscape? Can the speed cushions be installed on Sunset Crossing Road and on Prospectors Road past Beaverhead and around the curve of Prospectors Road where the street is wider? How long has it been since a traffic enforcement officerwas in her area to ticket drivers? Why does the City have to hire an outside company to do this study? The City has good engineers who know what to do? She would be willing to go outside her regular travel area to conform to "no right turn" and "no left turn" signs at peak hours. She thanked the Commission for listening to the residents. SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION PWD/Liu responded to Ms. Chavez that he and SE/Yee are registered Civil Engineers, not traffic engineers and the City wants to make sure that it has the best professionals to assist in a program that will benefit the residents. With respect to Sunset Crossing Road, in accordance with the City's General Plan, the street remains a cul-de-sac and the City has no plan to open it through to the City of Industry. SE/Yee responded to Ms. Chavez that the federal grant was specific for both Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road within the limits shown on the map. Staff needs to be sensitive to the budget in its distribution of proposed mitigation. Cost of maintenance and upkeep will fall under the, auspices of the landscape and maintenance districts throughout the City. Currently, the districts are burdened by the costs assessed to the residents. With respect to speed cushions, Mr. Miller indicated that the City has flexibility to add or subtract these devices and spoke about how these temporary devices can be misconceived. C/Shah said he was pleased to hear again that residents are pleased with staff nembers. Chair/Shay thanked Mr. Miller for his contribution this evening and thanked the ' residents for their participation and input. A speaker from the audience asked when this project would go before the City Council. PWD/Liu reiterated that the next step is to present this concept to the City Council for approval in October and the 1200 residents will be notified about the meeting. If Council concurs with the concept, staff will continue to work with the residents to fine-tune the design plan. C/Shay moved, C/Pincher seconded, to recommend City Council approval of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) action plan for Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher, Shah, VC/Mok, Chair/Shay NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Lin ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None V. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: PWD/Liu reported that on August 7, 2007, the City Council awarded the Diamond Bar Traffic Management System contract to TRANSCORE. SE/Yee manages the ' system. Also on August 7, 2007, the City Council approved the crossing guard forthe intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Mountain Laurel with a one-year review, and concurred with the Traffic and Transportation Commission on signage and cross- hatching for the four crosswalks. SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 8 T&T COMMISSION VI. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: VC/Mok said he was pleased that all five Commissioners were able to attend the City Council's study session to receive a report on the conceptual improvements for the SR -57/60. He thanked his colleagues for sending a positive message to the Council and residents that the City is very interested in the ultimate fix. VC/Mok expressed that he and residents were very pleased with the Phase III slurry seal and looked forward to Phase IV. C/Lin said that on Sunday he drove the SR -57 and made a leftturn onto Diamond Bar Boulevard to come down to Golden Springs Drive. It was much faster than turning right and cutting through the neighborhood so he could not understand why drivers would want to make a right turn and cut through a neighborhood. C/Shah said that many times he sees workers working on the streets of Diamond Bar without much protection other than an orange cone. He said he was concerned that the workers should place the cones further away from where they are working to divert traffic away from them so they would not be injured. C/Shah said he appreciated SE/Y-=r's presentation. C/Pincher was curious about the Texas dots on Pathfinder by the bridge. AE/Molina responded that they were scheduled to go in this week; however, due to a delay in receiving the material, the job will be done next week or the following week from crosswalk to crosswalk. C/Pincher said the striping for the crosswalk at Diamond Bar Boulevard and Mountain Laurel Way looks great and the sign gives plenty of warning. She happened to be at the site the day when school was letting out and people were really behaving and paying attention to the crossing guard. At this point, the mitigation appears to be successful. With respect to the northbound SR -57 off -ramp at Grand Avenue across and on the other side of Grand Avenue; there is a signal at a 3 -way intersection and by time vehicles reach the top of the hill, the car is facing northeast and there is no signal directly in front of the vehicles at the intersection. It is confusing to drivers as it appears vehicles are supposed to yield. Staff will look into this and work with Caltrans. VII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. Grand Avenue Improvement Project — Phase III — SE/Yee reported that the project has come to a standstill awaiting federal authorization to advertise the project. B. Industry's Grand Avenue Bridge Widening/Interchange Project — Staff has shared additional findings with the City of Industry team to minimize impacts to local intersections (Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive, and to minimize the right-of-way impacts to the Honda Dealership and the golf course). SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 9 T&T COMMISSION C. Lemon Avenue On/Off Ramps Project — PWD/Liu reported that three alternatives are being considered and the environmental document should be ready toward the end of 2007/beginning of 2008. D. SR -57/60 Feasibility Study— PWD/Liu reported that additional meetings were held with the City of Industry to discuss MTA's ten alternatives. Currently, the two entities are exploring four or five different alternatives and Diamond Bar has suggested additional concepts to be explored. E. Washington Street Cul -de -Sac — AE/Molina reported that this project was completed in August. Staff has been working with Edison to relocate the power pole so that the City can complete the curb, sidewalk and gutter. This is scheduled for September 24th. Notice of Completion is scheduled for City Council's Consideration on Tuesday, September 18th. F. ACE Grade Separation on Brea Canyon Road — SE/Yee reported that the project was scheduled for completion in September, 2008. Staff hopes the re - striping of Brea Canyon Road will take place within the next two weeks to accommodate a truck traffic U -Turn. G. CDBG Curb Ramps at Various School Locations—AE/Molina reported thatthis project was completed on August 9th and City Council approved the Notice of Completion on September 4. H. Annual Slurry Seal Program —AE/Molina stated that the slurrywas completed in Area 3 on September 5th. Striping improvements and raised pavement improvements will continue through September 25th I. Various Traffic Signal Improvements on Golden Springs Drive— SE/Yee stated that this project has been underway since the week of August 20th. J. NTMP Pilot Project — AE/Molina reported that the traffic data counts were taken in June and discovered that the calming measures are effective. The City's traffic engineer is interpreting the data and the outcome will be reported to City Council in October. K. NTMP — Palomino Drive —AE/Molina stated that staff met with the residents in May and took traffic data in July at the request of the residents who believed that there was a year-round traffic problem. The data showed that residents were experiencing speed issues that prompted staff to follow up with another set of data during the school session to gain a full picture of what is occurring in the neighborhood. Staff is targeting a follow up meeting prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Commissioners will be notified of the meeting date. L. Prospectors Road Rehab Project - AE/Molina stated that staff received 14 bids on this project. The apparent low bidder was R.J. Noble with a bid of $644,000. The engineer's estimate was $850,000 so staff sent the bid back to the design engineer to check the low bidder's numbers. The design engineer SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 PAGE 10 T&T COMMISSION is confident the numbers are solid. Staff is in the RFP process to select a construction management consultant to administer construction of the project. PWD/Liu explained that the limits of the project are Sunset Crossing Road to the north and Golden Springs Drive to the south. Traffic calming devices will be installed after the roadway improvements are completed. C/Shah suggested that staff speak on projects by groups. He suggested that staff hold the design engineer's feet to the fire when bids come in more than 10 or 15 percent below the engineer's estimate. C/Lin disagreed because he felt it was a matter of economics. If staff receives many low bids, it is probably because the contractor is hungry. Chair/Shay felt the NTMP program should be moving along at a faster pace so that the residents do not become discouraged. Vlll. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. AWOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Shay adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. Respectf 7 , vid 6. Liu, Secretary Attest: