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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1993/02/26 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION . Friday, February 26, 1993 6:10 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair Thomas (arrived at 6:35 pm), Vice Chair Padilla, Commissioners Braden, Chidester, Matacia, and Pitts Excused Absence: Commissioner Koester Also Present: Frank Rivera, Associate Traffic Engineer; Shirley Buxton, Recording Secretary; Roberto Saucedo, Senior Civil Engineer, and Alex AI-Agha, Civil Engineer 2. Pledae of Alleaiance/Silent Praver 3. ODenina Statement Read by Vice Chair Padilla 4. ADDraval of Minutes August 13, 1992 No action taken. . MEETING AGENDA 5. REPORT Fourth Avenue and Orange Avenue Street Improvements Frank Rivera reported that the proposed South Chula Vista Library was to be located on the southeast corner of Fourth and Orange Avenues. The library was designed to be 37,000 square feet with parking around the perimeter. Staff was looking for a recommendation from the Safety Commission regarding the street improvements needed in this area. The traffic volumes on Orange Avenue and Quintard Street were reviewed. Mr. Rivera said that staff reviewed several design proposals for this area. The first design proposal was a single left turn lane from westbound Orange Avenue to southbound Fourth Avenue. The proposed median would allow access in and out of the library from Orange Avenue. Currently, the north side of Orange Avenue did not contain street improvements in most areas, but was asphalt berm. The second alternative staff reviewed was also a single left turn lane at Fourth Avenue, but the median proposal was changed to allow for U turns on Orange Avenue at the access driveway to the library. Staff did not recommend this proposal because of the awkwardness of a U-turn at this mid-block intersection. The last alternative reviewed by staff involved dual left turn lanes at Fourth Avenue. The median and all other improvements would be moved to the south to allow for five lanes on westbound Orange Avenue which would narrow the eastbound lanes on Orange Avenue and U-turns would be prohibited. . Mr. Rivera reported that staff preferred the first design proposal, the single left turn lane at Fourth Avenue. He then reviewed the Chula Vista Design Standards regarding four lane major streets and the comments from area residents during a meeting held between staff and residents on February 23, 1993. Dennis McKlesky, 347 Quintard Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911, said he and his neighbor discussed the letter received from the City which stated the library might affect traffic in the area. He said he Safety Commission Minutes February 26, 1993 Page 2 polled the neighbors on Ouintard Street and EI Lugar about making the west end of Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. He said it was almost unanimous to make Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. It would eliminate the awkwardness of the intersection of Ouintard Street and Orange Avenue. It would make Orange Avenue a through street for Third Avenue to Fourth Avenue. Mr. McKlesky reviewed the traffic volumes and commented that there was more traffic westbound on Ouintard Street, which was a residential street, than there was on westbound Orange Avenue. The proposal made by staff to put a median on Orange Avenue would cut off truck traffic travelling from Third Avenue to Fourth Avenue. Rosemary Contreras, 330 Orange Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911 said when she tried to exit her driveway, it was dangerous because the street was narrow and residents of the neighboring apartment complex parked their vehicles on the street. She said she would like to see Orange A venue widened. She said there was nothing to provide safe walking means for the children from Lauderbach School. She said there would be more traffic and pedestrians from Lauderbach School crossing Orange A venue and felt it should be widened. Brad Lanier, 366 Quintard Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911 said there had been two accidents in front of his home. One was a hit and run accident and another damaged his property. This was a residential street and not a four lane major street which Orange Avenue was. Southbound traffic on Third Avenue used Ouintard Street to shortcut to Orange A venue and created a heavy traffic flow. There was more traffic from 5:00 pm to 7:00 am on Ouintard Street than between the hours of 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Traffic was heaviest during the time when children were outside. He said he had taken walks and said Orange Avenue was treacherous. Improvements on the north side Orange Avenue needed to make in conjunction with the library as well as making Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. If improvements were made to wait, Orange Avenue would be a safety hazardous. If Ouintard were made a cul-de-sac, it would cut down the majority of traffic that headed west. It was his understanding that whenever the City wanted to cul-de-sac a street, there was great opposition, but that the residents in this area were united. Clifford Gonzalves, 1369 EI Lugar Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911 was concerned about the speed limit on Orange A venue and said staff had indiciated that if the speed limit were lowered, this area would be considered a speed trap. He said that there would be many children going to the library and crossing a newly widened street, but yet staff did not want to lower the speed limit. He said that a car dealership on Broadway had a yellow flashing crosswalk, but there was nothing provided for children trying to access a library. He said originally, he was not for making Ouintard Street a cul-de- sac, but now he felt this would improve the area. His biggest concern was the speed limit on Orange Avenue, especially since the north side of Orange Avenue was all residential. Mr. McKlesky returned to the podium and said that one block south of the library was Montgomery Elementary School and on Palomar Street and Fourth Avenue was Lauderbach School. He felt as soon as the library was completed, it would be a popular field trip for students. The pedestrian accommodations on the east side of Fourth A venue between Lauderbach School and Orange A venue were inadequate or non-existent in most places. He felt that this could not be ignored and the problem should be addressed at this time, not later. Mrs. Contreras returned to the podium and said that Orange Avenue had different speed limits. She said in the area of the library the speed limit should be lowered because she had difficulty backing out of her driveway on Orange Avenue. Vice Chair Padilla closed the public hearing. Commissioner Matacia said that staff was asking the Commission to address several issues, and wanted to take one issue and address it through to resolution. He asked staff to discuss the cul-de-sac issue on Ouintard Street. Safety Commission Minutes February 26, 1993 Page 3 . Frank Rivera said at this time, Ouintard Street was not part of the library improvement project. The improvement project was limited to the centerline of Orange Avenue south and also the centerline of Fourth Avenue east. The residents requested the City to consider a cul-de-sac as part of the library improvements or the north curb line street improvements on Orange Avenue which would be completed in a few years. The funding for the project was limited to the library improvements and did not include the north curbline. Staff would not ignore the residents request regarding Ouintard Street, but it was not part of the library improvements. Staff requested the Safety Commission make a recommendation regarding Ouintard Street. Commissioner Matacia said that if Ouintard Street were made a cul-de-sac, then the design that staff presented allowing a U-turn mid-block would be unnecessary. He asked if this was a project that could be considered now. Roberto Saucedo, Senior Civil Engineer, said what was before the Commission were the improvements of Fourth Avenue and Orange Avenue. He said the Engineering Division would look at possibility of addressing Ouintard Street in the future. Ouintard Street was categorized a major street and had a potential to impact many other motorists. Staff was not prepared to present pros and cons for making Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. Staff was committed to look at preparing a study on this issue. Chair Braden said if Ouintard Street was made a cul-de-sac, then vehicles would then be pushed onto Third Avenue and would cause congestion. She then asked if Orange Avenue would be widened. . Mr. Rivera said that staff had not prepared a traffic study of the Third Avenue corridor, but that all traffic factors would be included in a study. Orange Avenue would be widened to 80' including street improvements. Commissioner Pitts asked if making Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac would affect Orange Avenue. Alex AI-Agha, Civil Engineer, said staff was designing improvements for Ouintard Street that would match the north side of Orange Avenue. Staff was constructing the southerly half of the improve- ments and in the future would install improvements on the north side of Orange Avenue. At that point, staff would look at the feasibility of making Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. Commissioner Pitts asked speed limit information for the surrounding areas. He said he traveled Ouintard Street and had seen commercial trucks use this street to access Third Avenue. He felt speed limits on Orange Avenue needed to be reduced. On Fourth Avenue in this area, there were no improvements to be used by pedestrians. Children would be traveling to the library and the speed needed to be reduced for the safety of pedestrians in the area. He said students in the various school districts were already talking of the new library and he anticipated that this would be a high volume area where traffic needed to be slowed down. He requested an explanation of the median design and justifications. Frank Rivera reviewed the medians designs and their traffic flows. Commissioner Pitts asked if a motorist existing the library could make a left had turn across Orange Avenue and head west toward Fourth Avenue. Mr. Rivera said that this would be an allowed maneuver. . Vice Chair Padilla verified that there was controlled pedestrian crossings at Fourth Avenue and Orange Avenue. He then said that if staff were to look at a mid-block crossing, would it change the recommendation of the southern improvements. Safety Commission Minutes February 26, 1993 Page 4 Mr. AI-Agha said a mid-block crossing would not be recommended because there were no street improvements on the north side and the road was narrow with no sidewalk and would not want pedestrian traffic on the north side of Orange Avenue. In the future, when the north side was improved, this crossing could be reviewed. Chair Thomas asked if pedestrian traffic to the library was considered as an issue when the library was proposed. Mr. Rivera said the pedestrian traffic was expected to use the intersections of Fourth A venue and Orange Avenue, and Third Avenue and Orange Avenue. Mr. Saucedo informed the Commission that the City would be addressing the improvements on Fourth Avenue from Main Street to l Street through a CIP project. In the next fiscal year, staff hoped to improve Fourth A venue between Del Rey High School to Main Street which would address the pedestrian issue on Fourth Avenue. The library would not be in operation until August 1994. By that time, staff should have a majority of the improvements installed since it was pertinent to the library construction. Chair Thomas presented to the Commission the idea of constructing a modified left turn median on Orange Avenue allowing left turns into the library, but not out of the library. He said if the median were left open, there would be enough room for a vehicle to sit in the middle of the street waiting to make a left hand turn. Vehicles would have to make sure they were out of both lanes of traffic flow. If motorists were turning left into the library, vehicles trying to exit the library trying to make a left hand turn out of the library would bottleneck the opening in the median. He suggested a median that would allow dual left hand turns at Fourth Avenue from Orange Avenue and allowed U-turns. Commissioner Pitts said he preferred to prohibit left turns out of the library, but left hand turns into the library would be acceptable. He said if a left turn was allowed from Orange Avenue into the library, then there would not be a need for a U-turn at Fourth Avenue. Mr. Rivera said that staff could not provide a U-turn with dual left turn lanes at Fourth A venue because of the width of the street and the median. If a single left turn was installed, a U-turn could still be allowed. He also informed the Commission that staff was mandated by the State to re-evaluate the speed of any street which was widened or modified, therefore, staff would be reviewing the speed on Orange Avenue in the future. MSC (Chidester/Pitts) to install a modified left turn median on Orange Avenue in front of the library, thus prohibiting left turns from the library to westbound Orange, install a single left hand turn lane from Orange Avenue to Fourth Avenue. and prohibit U-turns at the intersection. Approved 6-0-1 with Commissioner Koester absent. Commissioner Pitts asked staff why they requested a median extension on Fourth Avenue which prohibited left hand turns into the library parking lot. Mr. Rivera said if a motorist was travelling south on Fourth Avenue, they could make a left turn onto Orange Avenue and access the library from Orange Avenue. If a motorist wanted to exit the library and head south on Fourth Avenue, the motorist could use the west exit and go north on Fourth Avenue and make a U-turn at Orange Avenue to travel south on Fourth Avenue. Mr. Rivera said that there was not enough room on Fourth Avenue to allow for a left turn lane. MSC (ChidesterlThomas) to install a full raised median on Fourth Avenue south of Orange Avenue, prohibiting left turns in and out of the library. Approved 6-0-1 with Commissioner Koester absent. Safety Commission Minutes February 26, 1993 Page 5 . MSC (Matacia/Thomas) to recommend that staff look at the possibility of making Quintard Street a cul- de-sac in conjunction with the Orange Avenue north line improvements CIP project. Commissioner Pitts asked about the residents concern for left turn phasing on Ouintard Street at Third Avenue. Mr. Rivera reported that if a motorist was on Ouintard Street and desired to make a left turn to Third Avenue, there was no green arrow and the residents requested separate left turn phasing. The only modification needed would be to the signal itself, no additional striping would be needed. Commissioner Pitts said that if Ouintard Street were made a cul-de-sac, the traffic through the area would be reduced. Mr. Rivera stated that if this intersection were evaluated for left turn phasing, staff would most likely find that the demand for this function would be decreased if a cul-de-sac was present. Commissioner Pitts asked when funds could be available to make Ouintard Street a cul-de-sac. Mr. Saucedo said if a study showed that a cul-de-sac should be constructed, it would be approximately a few years before it would happen. VOTE ON MOTION: Approved 6-0-' with Commissioner Koester absent. . 6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. STAFF REPORTS 7. Written Communications - None OTHER BUSINESS 8. Commissioner Comments None. 9. RECESS to Regular Monthly Workshop Session (If necessary) ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Padilla adjourned the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, . ~~Xe~ S8:SAFETY/022693.MIN 030393