HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1983/12/06 Item 10 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
Item 10
Meeting Date 12/6/83
ITEM TITLE: Resolution j/f1 Approving the removal of parking on East
"L" Street from Monserate Avenue to 232 feet west of Helix
Avenue and restricting left turns on East "L" Street at East
Fortuna Street
I
SUBMITTED BY: City Engineer (4/5ths Vote: Yes No x )
REVIEWED BY: City Manager 144
On October 25, 1983, the City Council considered the removal of parking on "L"
Street from Monserate to Cuyamaca to provide for the installation of a two-way
left turn lane. The Council ' s action on this item was to refer it back to the
Safety Commission and consider various alternatives (see attached Council
minutes) .
At their November 10, 1983 meeting, the Safety Commission reviewed the various
alternatives shown on the attached exhibit. Both the Safety Commission and
the Traffic Engineering Division recommend the installation of a two-way left
turn lane between Monserate Avenue and Helix Avenue, a left turn pocket at
Helix Avenue in an eastbound direction and a raised island at East Fortuna
Street to prohibit left turns. Parking restrictions on "L" Street and turn
restrictions at East Fortuna Street are necessary to implement this traffic
safety project. A sketch showing the recommended installation is attached.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt the attached resolution
approving the removal of parking on East "L" Street from Monserate Avenue to
232 feet west of Helix Avenue, and restricting left turns on East "L" Street
at East Fortuna Street.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: At their meeting of November 10, 1983,
the Safety Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the installation of left turn
lanes, parking restrictions and turn restrictions as outlined above.
DISCUSSION:
As stated in the attached Council agenda statement from the meeting of October
25, 1983, the Traffic Engineer had recommended the installation of a two-way
left turn lane on East "L" Street from Cuyamaca Avenue to Monserate Avenue to
improve traffic safety on this segment of East "L" Street.
In response to questions raised regarding the loss of parking and school age
pedestrian safety, the City Council directed the Traffic Engineering Division
and the Safety Commission to consider other alternatives. These alternatives
included:
A. Installation of a two-way left turn lane between Monserate Avenue and
Helix Avenue, a left turn pocket at Helix Avenue in the eastbound
direction, and access control at East Fortuna Street to prohibit left
turns in or out.
Page 2, Item 10
Meeting Date 12/6/83
B. Installation of a guardrail on East "L" Street along the Cook Elementary
School frontage.
C. Installation of a short term parking zone next to Cook Elementary School
for parents to drop off and pick up children.
Staff's original recommendation to install two-way left turn lanes between
Monserate Avenue and Cuyamaca Avenue would have improved traffic safety, but
would have caused the loss of up to 49 parking spaces. If left turns are
eliminated at East Fortuna Street, the alternative of installing left turn
pockets at just Helix Avenue and Monserate Avenue will provide the needed
traffic safety improvement and will only cause the loss of up to 17 parking
spaces. The Traffic Engineering Division recommends this alternative be
implemented. It is noted that an alternative to provide a left turn pocket at
East Fortuna Street was also considered. This is not recommended because it
would create a short weave area between East Fortuna Street and Cuyamaca
Avenue and would require most of the parking to be removed.
To eliminate left turns at East Fortuna Street, the installation of a raised
median island in "L" Street was considered. This is not recommended because
it would not allow an adequate lane width for through traffic and would create
a new safety hazard. Instead, three types of access control on East Fortuna
Street were considered. These included full closure of East Fortuna Street at
"L" Street, raised island allowing right turn only egress at "L" Street and
raised island prohibiting left turn ingress and egress at "L" Street. All
three of these are acceptable to staff, however, the latter is recommended
since it retains the most access options.
If the above improvements are implemented, the through traffic lanes will
remain in their present location along most of the Cook Elementary School
frontage. Therefore, the installation of guardrail is not needed. For
information, the cost of that installation would have exceeded $25,000.
The matter of providing a short time parking zone on the north side of "L"
Street in front of the school for parents to drop off and pick up children was
discussed by the Safety Commission. It was agreed that staff will work
directly with the school to provide any needed loading zone.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
The installation of a two-way left turn lane between Monserate Avenue and
Helix Avenue, a left turn pocket at Helix Avenue in the eastbound direction, a
raised island that allows right turn in/out only at East Fortuna Street, and
the necessary parking restrictions will cost approximately $800 direct costs.
FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
DWW:nr/
WPC 0761E
Attachments: Recommended Installation
Alternatives
Council Minutes of 10/25/83
Council Item of 10/25/83 / —6 -1
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