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Home My WebLink About12/2/2009CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Mok 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: ROLL CALL: Commissioner Shay led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Kevin House, Liana Pincher, Michael Shay, Vice Chairman Jimmy Lin, Chairman Kenneth Mok Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior Civil Engineer; Kimberly Molina, Associate Engineer; Christian Malpica-Perez, Associate Engineer, and Stella Marquez, Senior Administrative Assistant. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of the January 8, 2009 regular meeting. C/Shay moved, C/House seconded, to approve the January 8, 2009 minutes as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: House, Pincher, Shay, Chair/Mok NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN COMMISSIONERS: VC/Lin ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None II. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. Ill. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Received and Filed Traffic Enforcement Updates for: 1. Citations: November & December 2008 and January 2009 2. Collisions: November & December 2008 and January 2009 3. Street Sweeping: November & December 2008 and January 2009 C/Pincher noted a significant decline in tickets between January 2008 and 2009. PWD/Liu explained that one CSO was on vacation in January 2009. FEBRUARY 12, 2009 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Diamond Bar Blvd./Mountain Laurel Way Crosswalk Modification SE/Yee referred Commissioners to the memo at the end of their agenda packets for this item with respect to removal of only the north leg of the crosswalk at this intersection. During the last year and a half there have been several improvements to the intersection to facilitate pedestrian crossing. The intent is to improve traffic flow for vehicles and to help isolate pedestrian crossings to the southerly portion of the intersection. This is an ongoing effort that staff will continue to monitor. Staff recommended that the Traffic and Transportation Commission concur with staff to remove the northerly crosswalk at Diamond Bar Boulevard and Mountain Laurel Way. Chair/Mok summarized the history of modifications to the intersection and asked what modifications would be next if all of the changes do not solve the problems. SE/Yee assured Chair/Mok that operationally the way the intersection is working at this time is working out fairly well. The only reason staff is recommending this step is because every year students will need to relearn the route. In order to avoid the challenge of reeducating the students each year, staff felt it was a better approach to remove that leg of the crosswalk to eliminate a violation of direction from the crossing guard. Chair/Mok said there would be some relearning for the members of the public who are currently using that leg. PWD/Liu said that this will be a precedent setting example because this is the first time in D.B. that a crosswalk is being removed. This recommendation moves to the City Council for their consideration and action. C/Shay felt that it made sense to simplify the intersection. People and especially kids can be creatures of habit. Although there will be stragglers, the changes will definitely inform the public that the northerly leg is no longer available for foot traffic. C/House said that in other cities poles are placed in the. path of the areas that are not to be used. VC/Lin agreed with C/Shay that the simpler the better. He asked how many crossed at the different legs and wondered why staff determined to remove the northerly leg and not the southerly leg. SE/Yee said staff has the information but does not have the information available for this meeting and that he would get back to VC/Lin. PWD/Liu said that most parents prefer to drive their children to school and staff is dialoguing with schools to determine how more automobiles can be taken off of the streets. At this time, there are no official state authorized programs for any schools in the City. SE/Yee explained to Chair/Mok that this process would include a 30 -day notice public hearing process and if there is significant opposition to the recommendation, it would extend the project further out. He said that if the FEBRUARY 12, 2009 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION physical removal was delayed, the City would definitely pursue assistance by the Volunteer Patrol or Sheriffs Department to monitor the area when the fall school session commences. SE/Yee responded to C/Pincher that there is a stop legend at Mountain Laurel Way and Spruce Tree Drive. C/Pincher asked if the students could be forced to cross at Mountain Laurel and Spruce Tree Drive and travel down the side of the street where the crosswalk is. PWD/Liu said the first consideration is a warrant study to see if the area is warranted for a crosswalk. Mr. Chavez, Principal, Chaparral Middle School, stated that as a result of Sheriff's Deputy St. Amant's monitoring of this crosswalk, and because of his assurances about staffs recommendation, he concurs with their assessment and recommendation. VC/Lin moved, C/Shay seconded, to concur with staff's recommendation to remove the northerly crosswalk at Diamond Bar Boulevard and Mountain Laurel Way. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: V. NEW BUSINESS None VI. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS House, Pincher, Shay, Chair/Mok, VC/Lin None None None VII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Pincher thanked staff for the newsletter and reminder to residents about keeping City streets clean. VIII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: A. Diamond Bar TMS/Traffic Signal Interconnect Links — Phase 1 — SE/Yee reported that additional work is needed and staff will be requesting additional funds from the City Council at its February 17th meeting. The project is expected to be completed by the end of February. B. Verizon's FIOS Project — SE/Yee stated that Verizon hopes to complete the full network installation. However, due to the economy, the project has slowed. Area 5 should be completed before the City begins its annual slurry. C. Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road Traffic Calming Project — SE/Yee reported that staff presented this item to the City Council on February 3`d for award of the contract. The contract came in a little more than $50,000 below the engineer's estimate of $400,000. Construction should begin in about two weeks. FEBRUARY 12, 2009 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION D. Traffic Signal Modification Project (FY 2007-2008) - AE/Malpica-Perez stated that staff expects notice of completion to go to the City Council for consideration on March P. E. Diamond Bar Boulevard Median Modification — AE/Malpica-Perez explained that the project consists of modifying the current median layout along the left turn pocket that will improve the line -of -sight distance for vehicles accessing the shoppin� center south of Grand Avenue. Completion is expected for February 18 , if weather permits. F. Industry's Grand Avenue Bridge Widening/Interchange Project — PWD/Liu stated that Industry is awaiting Caltrans project study report approval. D.B. is not ready to sign off on the report. G. Lemon Avenue On/Off Ramps Project— PWD/Liu stated that the project team and consultants are working on a landscape program to upgrade the landscape area at the SR -60 freeway access/locations (Lemon Avenue and Brea Canyon Road). The goal is to provide enhanced aesthetics and serve as a gateway of the western entrance to the City. H. 2008-2009 CDBG Curb Ramp Project - AE/Molina indicated that bids were opened on January 14th for the project. 19 bids were received and the apparent low bidder was Fonseca Construction. A contract was awarded on January 20th by Council and work began on February 2, 2009. This project is for 27 curb ramps in the vicinity of Neil Armstrong Elementary School. I. Residential Area 5/Arterial Zone 3 Slurry Seal Project - AE/Molina indicated that the plans and specifications for this project are under review by staff. Staff expects to go out to bid next week with a bid opening in mid-March. J. Chino Hills Parkway Rehab Project - AE/Molina stated that the City had finally obtained Caltrans Approval to proceed with the design of the proposed project. Five proposals were received from engineering firms interested in providing design services for the project. Staff anticipates making a recommendation to Council for award of contract at their March 3, 2009 meeting. K_ SR -57/60 Feasibility Study— PWD/Liu reported that Metro and their consultant are addressing comments received from Caltrans, City of Industry and Diamond Bar. L. Federal Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act Projects - PWD/Liu stated that staff has submitted seven (7) projects, in ranking order, with a requested Federal funds amount of nearly $8.8 million, to L.A. Metro for programming into the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, as the City's proposed Economic Stimulus Package projects. IX. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Mok adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. FEBRUARY 12, 2009 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this F day of 4#j L- , 2009. Respectfully, j/ i� avid G. iu, ecreta Attest: Chaurm n Kenneth Mok