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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/2012 - MINUTES - Regular Meeting. CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 12, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Carrera called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Diamond Bar City Hall Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ROLL CALL: Also Present: Chairman Carrera led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners Kevin House, Jen "Fred" Mahlke, Liana Pincher, Vice -Chair Kenneth Mok and Chairman Ted Carrera David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior Civil -Engineer; Kimberly Young, Associate Engineer, and Marcy Hilario, Administrative Coordinator, 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of the March 8, 2012 regular meeting. C/Mahlke moved, VC/Mok seconded, to approve the March 8, 2012 minutes as submitted. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: House, Mahlke, Pincher, VC/Mok Chair/Carrera NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 11. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. Ill. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Received and Filed Traffic Enforcement Updates for: 1 Citations: January, February and March 2012 2. Collisions: January, February and March 2012 3. Street Sweeping: January, February and March 2012' C/House said he noticed the numbers had dropped each month and asked if the Sheriff's Department had provided staff with a reason. PWD/Liu said he believed it was because the stats were for weekly street -sweeping during December and January. February is fairly typical and he will heed to check on the March, figures. APRIL 12, 2012 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION IV. OLD BUSINESS: A. Status Update/Presentation of SR57/60/Grand Avenue Confluence Project SE/Yee provided a Power Point presentation with background information on the project as well as the current proposal and status of the proposed three phase project. With respect to Phase I, the westbound SR -60 slip ramp is fully funded thanks to a Metro Call for Projects application that was received favorably in the amount of $8.7 million. Total cost of the project is $16.5 million. Environmental documents have been certified and preliminary flood control realignment work is underway. Design plan and specifications and right-of-way activities are in progress. Phase II is the intersection improvements at Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive, which includes the tunnel reconstruction. Phase I I is fully funded through Metro Call for Projects in the amount of $5.9 million and $9.1 million from City of Industry. The total project cost is estimated at $15 million. For Phase II, the EIR is currently being developed. For Phase III, the remainder of the project improvements, include the bridge widening, by-pass roads, and on/off ramps; funding strategies are under development for public and potential private partnerships. The total cost is $233.5 million. The total cost of Phase 1, II, and III is estimated at $265 million. Project schedule is as follows: Phase l is in design and completion is expected by the end of 2012; construction is anticipated to commence in 2013 and continue through 2014;.Phase 11 anticipates approval of the EIR in early 2013, with design to be completed late 2013 and construction anticipated between 2014 and 2015; Phase III EIR approval is expected in early 2013, design in early 2014 and construction anticipated in 2015 through 2017, pending acquisition of sufficient funds for the project. SE/Yee stated that Commissioners have likely heard this project referred to as the "Big Fix" and/or "Ultimate Solution" for the SR -57/60. What he just presented to the Commissioners is what is known as "The Grand Confluence Project" and is really a subset of what staff feels the "Big Fix" should be. Using the Power Point, he showed the Commissioners what staff feels are the missing pieces to complete the "Big Fix" or "Ultimate Solution." The cost of the missing components is significant; the most significant of which are the missing freeway connectors, which is estimated at $300 million; each of the three remaining components, HOV connectors, westbound SR -60 by-pass off - ramp Grand Avenue, is estimated at $70 million each. Staff will continue to pursue funding options for the "Project Study Report" which would be the next phase to evaluate the alternatives to the missing components. In addition, staff will continue to coordinate and collaborate with the City of Industry as they are taking the lead in seeking local, state and federal grants and other financing opportunities that would aid in funding the balance of this project. C/House asked if, as part of the Environmental Impact Report, when the City of Industry built their commercial center, they were obligated to widen Grand Avenue bridge. PWD/Liu responded that when the scope of work identified the bridge widening as part of the .IBC project, it was a localized bridge widening APRIL 12, 2012 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION project. When DB and the City of Industry entered into discussions, one of the items of discussion was the "Ultimate Fix", which would include the bridge widening. This overrode the EIR's scope of work due to whatever investment was made as a mitigation measure would be a "throw -away" because it was not ultimately a part of the "Big Fix". DB and the City of Industry decided, as a result of that discussion, to pursue the ultimate improvements in the Confluence area. C/House asked if he understood that Grand Avenue would not be widened at anytime and PWD/Liu responded "not in DB. The widening of Grand Avenue from the City of Walnut is already done. The widening of the local street would be the bridge portion only. C/House reiterated that Industry has no plans to widen the bridge at all even though that was a part of the original agreement. PWD/Liu responded that the bridge widening would. be done as part of Phase III of this project. C/House said .he noticed excavation on the slip ramp side of the freeway. PWD/Liu explained that what C/House has observed is the flood control improvements as part of the relocation of the existing storm drain referred to by SENee in his report. C/House said he. did not see.a problem with, people merging to go to Grand Avenue. The main problem is that there are two freeways merging to one small spot and adding another lane to the side of it does not seem like it will solve the traffic volume. He was looking for a bigger fix that would resolve the other issue. SE/Yee explained that the intent of the westbound slip ramp is ' not so much to benefit the freeway as it to benefit the Grand Avenue traffic. C/House said he agreed with the slip ramp and that he was talking about the side road along the side of the freeway: Chair/Carrera repeated C/House's point was that if the freeway is backed up from lack of volume moving through the. area, he believed all of the slip ramps would be congested as well. SE/Yee explained that there has been a lot of research and analysis in terms of the existing conditions. There has also been a lot of simulation models made based. on traffic data. What the design team has identified is that because of the merge movements that are .happening, the frequency and magnitude of the merge movements is what contributes to a lot of the congestion. As the weave movements are removed by adding by-pass roads east and west of Grand Avenue,.it provides for more efficiency of flow on the main line. The information is credible because funding is being received for these projects. C/House remembered the simulations and the response to whether those simulations were based on.actual events was no; they were not, and the study was paid for by the City of Industry:' It showed a lot of cars going off of Grand Avenue which he did not believe offered a realistic assumption on the model that was used. SENee said he understood C/House'spoint.: This is a I j .different consultant than the one who prepared the information C/House is talking about and the new consultant also provided separate simulation studies - for the same confluence area. The consultant who developed the SR -57/60 Feasibility Study started with 10 alternatives and ultimately reduced the number down to three alternatives.' The freeway alternatives included double- decking the freeway, constructing side-by-side freeways, or a series of by-pass PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION roadways, in conjunction with the missing components of the freeways. The conclusion of that study was the same. As far as cost benefit, one can approach it from a simpler by-pass road construction approach versus physically constructing additional freeway lanes across the confluence area. The conclusion of the study was this too was a preferred alternative with which to move forward. VC/Mok asked for an example of a public/private partnership that would be involved in a transportation project such as this project. PWD/Liu said he could not cite an example. He knows that the City of Industry has hired a financial consultant to pursue funding. VC/Mok asked if there might be a toll road considered or if the City of Industry would be responsible for some of the transportation corrections if the stadium was not built. PWD/Liu responded no toll road will be built; however, in terms. of the funding strategies, DB learned from Industry's financial consultant that there are a couple of ideas on the table for consideration. Perhaps LA County could extend Measure R by 20 years, for a total of 50 years, in anticipation of additional revenue during the 20 -year extension period so that perhaps the money could be advanced to pay for a project such as the SR -57/60. Another idea is to work closely with the federal government under the Transportation Reauthorization Act to obtain a loan or compete for funding if this project has national significance. As far as DB is concerned, this is a project of regional significance as well as national significance. C/House moved, C/Mahlke seconded, to receive and file staff's report. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: House, Mahlke, Pincher, VC/Mok Chair/Carrera NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None B. Status Update/Presentation of SR-60/Lemon Avenue Partial Interchange Project AE/Young provided a brief history and update on the Lemon Avenue on/off ramp project. As a result of the construction of this project, the existing eastbound on and off ramps will be removed at Brea Canyon Road. Project milestones include the Environmental Document which was approved in November 2008; the Freeway Agreement between DB and the State approved by the City Council in December 2010; and, the Right -of -Way Cooperative Agreement between the City of DB, City of Industry and the State of California approved by the City Council in September 2011. Staff received the authorization to proceed with right-of-way activities from the State in March 2012.. This project is also included in the City Council Goals and Objectives for Fiscal Year 2011-2012. The partial diamond interchange at Lemon Avenue will consist of:a proposed westbound on-ramp, eastbound off -ramp and eastbound on-ramp. The westbound. off -ramp was not pursued due to APRIL 12,2012 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION extensive right-of-way impacts that would have occurred to the school district property and several residential properties along Moonlake Street. Impacts that will occur as a result of the partial diamond interchange are five partial property takes to residential properties along Flintgate. Drive, one corner landscaped area (commercial property on the northwest corner of Lemon Avenue and Golden Springs Drive) and a portion. of the parking lot (approximately 9 parking spaces) of LA Fitness. The total right-of-way phase of this project can take up to 18 months and is expected to cost just over $2.23 million, which includes capital costs and administrative costs for the acquisitions. Federal SAFETEA-LU funds, have been earmarked for this project and DB will be reimbursed at $1.12 million with the remainder of the funds coming from the City of Industry. Total project cost is anticipated to be just over $19 million. To date, the City of DB has secured $11.29 million in SAFETEA-LU, HSIP funds and Metro Prop C funds. Additionally, the City of Industry has committed $4.9 million toward the project which leaves a shortfall of $2.79 million which the City of Industry has committed to pay in the event that additional funds are needed. Current schedule is as follows: Right -of - Way phase completion expected for December 2013, the project ready to list in 2013, and construction anticipated to, commence. inMay 2014 with completion by December 2015. C/House., asked who owns the property containing the hook ramps and AE/Young responded that the property is state right-of-way property. C/House asked when the landscape would be completed and AE/Young responded that the area is scheduled to be landscaped. There will be some environmental measures in the shoulder of the area including a bio-swale. ' VC/Mok asked if residents would be compensated in restoration for temporary, construction easements as part of the cost of the right-of-way impacts phase. AE/Young responded affirmatively. C/House moved, C/Pincher seconded, to receive and file staff's report. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: House, Mahlke, Pincher, VC/Mok, Chair/Carrera NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None V. NEW BUSINESS: None VI.. STATUS OF PREVIOUS, ACTION ITEMS: None VII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: None A. Traffic Signal Battery Backup System Project — SE/Yee reported that this project has been completed and Notice of Completion was filed with the City Council at their March 3rd meeting: The next step is to coordinate the interface with the City's IT Department so that staff can be notified when the systems go into operation. B. Median Modification — Diamond Bar Boulevard/Clear Creek Canyon Drive — SE/Yee explained that the median width is being narrowed in order to shift the left -turn pocket over which will provide better line -of -sight for left -turning vehicles. This project is about 85 percent complete and staff anticipates full completion within the next couple of weeks. C. Copley Drive Crosswalk Beacon &Foothill Transit Bus Stops Relocation — SE/Yee reported that the City will be installing a solar powered yellow flashing crosswalk beacon which can be actuated by push button when individuals wish to cross. The plans and specs are being finalized for relocating the Foothill Transit bus stops closer to City Hall. Staff hopes to advertise this project for construction within the next couple of weeks. D E. Residential Area 1(a)/Arterial Zone 6 Road Maintenance Project — AE/Young stated that the project is currently out to bid with a bid opening of May 3rd. The Engineer's estimate for this project is $1,141;200. This project will include resurfacing and restriping of the City Hall library parking lot once library construction is completed. Residential Area 1(a) is north of SR -60 in the Prospectors Road/Sunset Crossing Road neighborhood surrounding Armstrong Elementary School. Arterial Zone 6 is Golden Springs Drive from Diamond Bar Boulevard to the City limit at Temple Avenue. CDBG Curb Ramp Project (FY 2011-2012) - AE/Young stated that construction of the 82 curb ramps in the vicinity of Chaparral Middle School and Maple Hill Elementary has been completed. Final construction cost came in just under $185,000 which was within Council's total authorized budget. There was a change order issued fora sidewalk and curb and gutter, as well as enhancement of the truncated dome color at crosswalk locations which was .also authorized by the City.. Notice of Completion is expected to go to City Council on May 17th for approval. Chino Hills Parkway/Chino Avenue Street Rehabilitation Project AE/Young indicated that this project is out to bid with an Engineer's estimate of $643,000. Bid opening is May 2nd. This project is partially funded bySTPL federal funds. Staff expects to be under construction by June and have the work completed prior to the opening of school due to possible impacts to DRHS. APRIL 12, 2012 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION IX. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As stated in the agenda plus notification that the 23" City Birthday Party has been postponed due to weather issues. PWD/Liu shared that he believed the date would be reset for some time in May and Commissioners will be notified. PWD/Liu stated that in addition to the two presentations the Commissioners heard this evening, an item presented to the City Council at its April 3rd meeting was a proposal by Foothill Transit to construct a four-story, 500 -space parking structure. This would be located at the north end of the City, off of Diamond Bar Boulevard near the Diamond Bar Boulevard on/off ramp on the easterly Park `n Ride lot. The intent is to double the existing parking spaces. This proposal is.very preliminary and Foothill Transit is looking at.two other locations as well. PWD/Liu also reported that the League of California Cities has a campaign designed to communicate the importance of local government. This is a joint effort between the California Cities Management Foundation and the League , of California Cities to promote local success stories. Commissioners can learn more about the cities that have been profiled including DB by going online to www.strongcitiesstrongstate.com ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Carrera adjourned the meeting at 8:02 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this /Q day of MA , 2012. Respectfully, David G. Liu, Secretary Attest: ------------ Chairman Ted Carrera - i i