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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/2019 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM, DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL 21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR JANUARY 10, 2019 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Quan called the meeting to order at 6:35 p,m. in the Diamond Bar City Hall Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Quan led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Michael Gonzalez, Lisa Washington, Vice -Chair Mahendra Garg, and Chair Cynthia Quan Absent: Commissioner Surendra Mehta was excused. Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Kimberly Young, Senior Civil Engineer; Christian Malpica, Associate Engineer; Fabian Aoun, Assistant Engineer; and, Marcy Hilario, Administrative Coordinator. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. T&T Commission Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2018. Due to lack of quorum of those present for the November 8, 2018 meeting, this item was continued to the February 14, 2019 meeting. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered III. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. TRAFFIC STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2018: VC/Garg moved, C/Washington seconded, to Receive and File the October and November 2018 Traffic Statistics. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Gonzalez, Washington, VC/Garg, Chair/Quan NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Mehta JANUARY 10, 2019 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION B. MONTHLY UPDATES OF VARIOUS PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: a) Traffic Signal Infrastructure Upgrade Phase III — AE/Malpica — The Notice of Completion was approved at the November 20, 2018 City Council meeting. The project was completed under the total authorized project budget amount. b) Adaptive Traffic Control Signal System (ATCS) —AE/Malpica — The project kick-off meeting was, held December 17th and staff issued the Notice to Proceed effective January 2"d. This project is tentatively scheduled to be completed within 180 working days. c) Copley Drive/Golden Springs Drive Intersection Improvement — AE/Malpica — The Notice of Completion for this project was filed at the December 18th City Council meeting. This project was completed under the total authorized project budget amount. d) Copley Drive/Gateway Center Drive Striping - AE/Malpica — In response to a traffic concern regarding speeding along Copley Drive causing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians at the crosswalk in front of City Hall, staff has prepared a proposed improvement plan along Copley Drive. The proposed improvements include edge line striping along Copley Drive to narrow the road and slow down drivers; additional warning signs, and new designated right -turn only lanes at the eastbound City Hall entrance approach and at the southbound Gateway Center Drive/Valley Vista Drive intersection. Once all the improvements are installed, staff will monitor the area with the support of the Sheriffs Department and evaluate the performance of the new installed improvements. e) "Keep Clear" Pavement Legend at Diamond Bar Boulevard/ Diamondgate Drive — AE/Malpica — This request is to install a "Keep Clear" pavement legend along Diamond Bar Boulevard in front of the Diamondgate Townhomes entrance to enhance egress turn movements from the townhomes onto Diamond Bar Boulevard during the morning school and commute rush hour. Upon installation of the pavement legend and signage, staff will monitor the location with the support of the Sheriffs Department to evaluate the performance of the new improvements. Nancy Koziara Clark, 1647 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard, a resident of Diamondgate requested to address the Commission. She and others have been working within the community to help with a.m. and p.m. school traffic and appreciate the City's attention to this matter. JANUARY 10, 2019 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION f) City Entry Monument Sign Project — AE/Aoun - Installation of new monument signs within the median has been completed at Diamond Bar Boulevard/Temple Avenue and Golden Springs Drive/Calbourne Drive. This project is substantially complete with punch list items underway. g) Area 6 Residential & Collector Road Rehabilitation Project — AE/Aoun — Work for this project is substantially completed and the contractor is working to complete punch list items. h) Lemon Avenue Interchange Project — SCE/Young — Regrading continues at the permanently closed ramp locations along Golden Springs Drive. Traffic signal modifications, striping changes and a sidewalk will be installed where the previous ramps were located, to provide a continuous path of pedestrian travel along Golden Springs Drive. Grind and overlay work along Lemon Avenue between Golden Springs Drive and Earlgate Street was originally scheduled to be completed this weekend. However, due to the forecasted rain; the contractor has postponed the work and, weather permitting, will likely attempt to complete the work the weekend of January 25. Work is scheduled to be completed by mid -year with landscape improvements to be installed at the new Lemon Avenue ramps and along the medians along Lemon Avenue. i) Grand Avenue/Golden Springs Drive Intersection Improvements — SCE/Young — This project was scheduled to go out to bid in January; however, City of Industry and Los Angeles County have been meeting regarding the required right-of-way from the golf course to widen the intersection. As a result of those meetings, the County is now negotiating additional easements that may be required with the golf course for the right-of-way acquisition. This would probably push off the bid date tol February or, most likely, March/April. Industry continues to target construction to begin in summer 2019. j) Diamond Bar Boulevard Complete Streets Corridor— SCE/Young — Council approved the alternative that would include construction of a five-foot bike lane on the same grade as the pedestrian sidewalk that would be separated from vehicular traffic by a planter between the SR - 57 and Golden Springs Drive. Final design is under way and should be completed by the end of this fiscal year. k) TR63623 -South Pointe Residential Development/Larkstone Park AE/Aoun — Phase 10 is under construction and, once completed, only the buildout phase remains to complete the entire development. Staff continues to monitor traffic in the area and is responding to inquiries as appropriate to make sure traffic is flowing smoothly with the addition of this new development. JANUARY 10, 2019 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION C/Gonzalez shared that he was approached by residents who live near South Pointe who commented that a number of the streets coming down from the school have no traffic controls whatsoever. It appears the vehicles merge onto Lemon Avenue, Blackhawk Drive and Willow Bud Drive without having to slow down or stop. VC/Garg asked if speed limit signs were posted in the area. AE/Aoun responded that typically, when staff receives such inquiries, any concerns will be looked into from a traffic engineer perspective for a determination of action needed. He thanked C/Gonzalez for bringing this item to staff and responded that staff will continue to look at each T -Intersection for possible installation of stop signs, which would require a Stop Sign Warrant analysis. In response to VC/Garg's question, it is state law that the speed limit for residential streets is 25 mph. Staff will verify the neighborhood has appropriate signage. 1) Diamond 'Bar Ranch Shopping Center (Sprouts/Chipotle/Coffee Bean/Ross/The Habit) and McDonald's Redevelopment—AE/Aoun — Construction nears completion on The Habit restaurant which has a tentative scheduled opening date of February 12th. Staff received an update for a proposed salon that may be going into one of the empty tenant spaces next to Ross or Sprouts. VC/Garg moved, C/Washington seconded, to Receive and File the Updates on Various Projects/Programs. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Gonzalez, Washington, VC/Garg, Chair/Quan NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Mehta IV. OLD BUSINESS: None V. NEW BUSINESS: NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (NTMP) —CASTLE ROCK ROAD BETWEEN FOUNTAIN SPRINGS ROAD AND COLD SPRING LANE. AE/Malpica presented staffs report, responded to Commission questions and recommended that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive staff's presentation and public comments on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) — Castle Rock Road between Fountain Springs Road and Cold Spring Lane. Tonight's goal is to have a general consensus of those present this evening on the conceptual plan as this project moves forward. JANUARY 10,2019 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION Once consensus is reached, the captain will need to obtain 67 percent approval of the households in the affected area for the City to move forward with final design and installation of mitigation measures. A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, referred to the slide presentation and said she had no problem with the installation of stop signs and speed bumps on Castle Rock Road. However, she was concerned that if she is stopped on Hidden Pines Drive, where it intersects with Castle Rock Road, and wants to make a left turn onto Castle Rock Road, those cars slowing down for the newly installed speed bumps will prohibit her from being able to turn, as there will be no break in passing cars. As a result, she asked that staff provide further consideration about placement of speed bumps along Castle Rock Road. She was also concerned about another striped line on Sunbright Drive because the street, which is on a curve, is already very narrow due to cars parked on both sides of the street. She felt this would interfere with two-way traffic. Bruce Buller, 2668 Castle Rock Road, thanked the engineers for spending time on this project and he appreciates that they have laid out a very good plan. He recalls that some of the previous traffic calming measures that were installed as a result of the NTMP's in Diamond Bar in 2006 were at the behest of the City and not because residents requested that it be done. Mr. Buller recollects attending a meeting at Castle Rock Elementary back then; however, he was never canvassed and no other information was gathered. He understands that this particular project is being considered for the safety of all who travel up and down these streets, whether by car or on foot. It seems to him that the work that was done on Fountain Springs Road and Cold Spring Lane slows people down and it works well. Unfortunately, once traffic reaches Castle Rock Road, drivers try to make up for lost time. If the striping helps to narrow the street and slows drivers down, it will be a big plus. It seems that previous projects have caused these problems to move to other areas and thus, the problem on Castle Rock Road. Mr. Buller asked staff to please consider this when the Program requires 67 percent neighborhood approval, which may not be obtained. Response to Comments: PWD/Liu responded to Mr. Buller that the traffic calming tools the City implemented many years ago was part of the overall citywide pilot project. Prior to rolling out the NTMP, staff identified a number of neighborhoods throughout the City, including Fountain Springs Road, to test the idea of working closely with neighborhood residents to provide meaningful and useful traffic calming devices installed on a permanent basis. As a result, Fountain Springs Road, and many other neighborhoods, received a set of speed cushions. Since that time, the NTMP was formalized and adopted by the City Council to help guide staff to work closely with residents to obtain criteria and a process to follow. It is a long and involved process because it requires two- way communication. Since adoption of the NTMP, staff has worked with JANUARY 10, 2019 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION individual neighborhood residents on the 67 percent requirement and staff will continue working with Mr. Buller and his neighbors to obtain as many signatures as possible. Staff will continue to look at these recommendations and advise the residents that staff believes that, on a professional level, some measures still need to be implemented. While he cannot guarantee any particular outcome, the idea is that the City wants the neighborhood to have a very successful NTMP and in this case, staff is proposing striping, signage and physical speed cushions. PDW/Liu stated that, with respect to the anonymous speaker's questions and concerns, staff will look at these locations very carefully and, in terms of the exact site of the proposed speed cushions, staff will work with all parties to make sure that they serve their purpose in slowing speeders. At the same time, the implementation of the measures would offer an opportunity for the speaker and her neighbors to exit their neighborhoods a little easier. In conjunction with centerline striping at knuckles (such as on Sunbright Drive), red curbing could be installed and would prohibit parking. Staff will work with the neighborhood residents to understand that if this channelization around the knuckle (curve) is to work, the City needs to install a double yellow centerline and no parking will be allowed along the 70-80 feet length of knuckle. At the conclusion PWD/Liu's response to comments, the anonymous speaker stated that the red curbing would help a great deal in this area (on Sunbright Drive). PWD/Liu shared that staff received a letter from Olivia Lozano, 2810 Castle Rock Road, who does not want to see a speed cushion in front of her house. Staff will follow up with her on this issue. PWD/Liu concluded by stating that the next step in the process is for staff to finalize the design plans and work very closely with the affected properties to obtain concurrence from 67 percent of the residents. Staff hopes to come back to the Commission in March/April with the final recommendations. There are budgeted funds to complete the design and move forward with the physical improvements for this project. VI. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: None VII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: None Offered. VIII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As noted in the Agenda JANUARY 10, 2019 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Quan adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved thisda y of 2019. ���td/i Respectfugy Su mi d, f Da ' G. Liu, Secretary Chair/Cynthia Quan