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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1998 0527 CC ADJ ITEM 06Ar CI i 1" OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA r City Council Meeting of - ACTION 7 AGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK BY ,� fi1✓ To: Honorable City Council From: Nelson Miller, Director of Community Development Prepared by: Wayne Loftus, Planning Manager Date: May 8, 1998 (CC Meeting of 5/20/98) SUBJECT: CONSIDER COMMENTS TO BE PROVIDED TO COUNTY OF VENTURA ON MOORPARK ROAD REALIGNMENT, SOUTH OF TIERRA REJADA ROAD - DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT BACKGROUND: This project proposed by Ventura County will realign Moorpark Road, south of the City limits between Tierra Rejada Road and Santa Rosa Road. This realignment, which is in response to a high accident statistic in the segment identified, was first reviewed by the City in 1996 with subsequent review and comment by City Council action on April 16, 1997. City Council authorized sending a letter to Ventura County with comments on their Draft Negative Declaration and recommending that Moorpark Road retain its present alignment and intersection with Tierra Rejada Road with appropriate safety improvements to be made. The comments sent to the County related to design, alignment, growth inducement, function of the existing roadway alignment which is to be retained, and need for more information within the environmental document. The County has now responded through the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report. (EIR) , with comments due on May 29, 1998. Three alternatives are discussed in the Exhibit 1): Alternative C - Improvement to Alternative B - Alignment with a four -way Drive and Tierra Rejada Road; Alternative C: \l- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS \WAYNE \wl -hcc- agendarpt.wpd EIR including (refer to the existing alignment; intersection at Science A (the County preferred () 0C () 40 Eor_orable City Council Moo_�-Jark Road Realignment May 1998 P 2 _f 5 a.ce :iati e) - Creating a four -way ir- ersec - -r a- Ti` Re- da Roaa and Spring Road. The Spring Road al--nment 7.1jas the Cc-"nty preferred solution in 1997 when Council sent -'eir initial comments supporting retention of the existing Moorpark Road intersection. Funding for road construction is now estimated to cost $3.5 million dollars with $3 million dollars that will come from a grant, the Surface Transportation Program (STP a Federal ISTEA Program) , and the balance from local funds (approximately $300,000 from the County's Norwegian Grade Area of Contribution [AOC] funds.) DISCUSSION: Many of the comments sent to Ventura County on April 28, 1997, (attached) reflecting Council evaluation of the April 7, 1997, staff report (attached) have been responded to in the Draft EIR. Most intersection configurations and proposed traffic movements as recommended by the City have been incorporated including the provision of two lanes to maintain through traffic flow in an east /west direction on Tierra Rejada Road and provision for right turn and left turn lanes in all directions. Traffic flow to and from Highway 23 from the intersection of Spring Road and Tierra Rejada Road is proposed via two left turn lanes for traffic turning onto southbound Moorpark Road from westbound Tierra Rejada Road, and for eastbound Tierra Rejada Road traffic coming from northbound Moorpark Road. This is important since a.m. /p.m. (peak hour) volumes if not adequately handled can hamper the functioning of the intersection. Several intersection comments were included in the April 28, 1997, letter that have not been addressed, concerning separate lanes for left turns and (southbound) through traffic for southbound Spring Road to Moorpark Road and intersection design at Old Moorpark Road. The current proposal uses a single lane for the left turn from southbound Spring Road to eastbound Tierra Rejada Road and for southbound Spring Road to southbound Moorpark Road. This proposed southbound Spring Road /Tierra Rejada Road intersection configuration reflects the intersection design conditions for the Carlsberg Specific Plan and the Marketplace Development (one -left turn eastbound lane and one -right turn westbound lane) but does not C: \l- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS \WAYNE \wl -hcc- agendarpt.wpd 00 041 Honorable Cit-j Council T' o(jr; lark Road tPealic-I lent reL.��ct. the reguesu by let-er of April 28, 19;97, to include one southbound through lane to the -proposed realigned Moorpark Road connection. The Carlsberg and Marketplace projects did not reflect a through lane to the south because the City has not supported this realignment of Moorpark Road to create a four -way intersection at this location, therefore it would have been unnecessary to require the though lane configuration. However, if a four -way intersection does occur, a through lane would seem to be necessary. The City of Moorpark comment letter of April 28, 1997 asked, that at a minimum information be provided to support the conclusion that a through lane for traffic traveling from Spring Road south to the realigned Moorpark Road was unnecessary. This information has not been provided in the EIR. Based upon the current street improvement plans for Spring Road across the Marketplace project site frontage (Exhibit 2) a redesign and possible reconstrution of street improvements would be necessary to accommodate the Moorpark Road realignment intersection assuming a through lane for southbound traffic is required. Exhibit 2 also shows the cross section of Spring Road which indicates that there is additional right -of -way on the east side (Carlsberg project) of Spring Road to add another lane to insure an adequate intersection design. Adding this lane will reduce the width of the parkway from the current design of 20 feet to 8 feet, assuming a standard 12 foot lane dimension. An additional consideration relating to intersection design involves the bicycle lanes on Spring Road and Tierra Rejada Road. Both of these roadways have 8 foot bicycle lanes in both directions, however these bicycle lanes are not referenced in the County EIR. Because there is no mention of the bicycle lanes in the written description of the proposed intersection or street design and no cross section drawing provided, it is unclear if the bicycle lanes have been taken into account. There is mention in the EIR about provision for bicycles on the proposed realigned roadway, that being, that a paved shoulder will be provided for emergency parking and use by bicyclists. C: \l- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS\ WAYNE \wl- hcc- agendarptRevised.wpd OVoo4z _Ionorable City Council Moorpark -Poad Realignment Ma-/ 2 , 19 _tncii in Lne letter of April 1997, craestioned the future function of existing Moorpark Road, only serving local traffic; if the Spring Ro-d (Alternative A) alignment were selected. The City's comment suggested that "Old Moorpark Road" intersection with Tierra Rejada Road be reconstructed with a raised median in Tierra Rejada Road to preclude westbound left turns from Tierra Rejada Road to southbound Moorpark Road or westbound left turns from northbound Moorpark Road. This suggestion was offered because adequate information concerning traffic flow and the assumption that only local traffic would use this road was not available. This comment continues to be important if this alignment becomes secondary to a connection at Spring Road. Allowing left turns at this intersection could create significant problems in traffic flow, and potential for conflicting movements since the signal would be removed and traffic would become accustomed to higher speeds for access to and from freeway ramps. The City's letter concerning environmental issues (dated April 28, 1997), also included concerns relating to growth inducement. The concern is that land along the new roadway might be subject to growth pressures unless access rights from the new alignment were acquired. Based upon the grading solution for the proposed alignment with graded slopes to 65 feet in height, access to much of the existing farm land will be infeasible. The County did not directly respond to City concern about growth inducement. Only a minor statement, that does not adequately address the issue was included, that being that the General Plan and zoning of the affected land is Open Space and it is located within the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt. Council initial comment or suggested mitigation was that access rights along the new alignment should be purchased. Additional agricultural land will be utilized for roadway purposes, Alternative A, the alignment to connect with Spring Road will require the conversion of less prime irrigated farmland at 1.5 acres than the improvement of the existing Moorpark Road alignment which would require 7.56 acres of prime farmland. In addition, according to the EIR the existing Moorpark Road alignment would remain within the 100 -year flood plain whereas the alternatives (connection at Spring Road or Science Drive) would be above the 100 -year flood level. C: \1- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS \WAYNE \w1- hcc- agendarpt.wpd 000-04:1 Honorable City Council Moorpark Road Teal= gr_r -.ent May 8, X998 Pace 5 nf 6 Mo significant advers, impacts %,,,ere identified as a result o= the proposed project and none of the traffic impacts reduced the level of service at any intersection in the City below LOS C, (Level of Service). Where there were impacts to intersection Level of Service criteria it was limited to peak hour operations. Realignment of Moorpark Road to connect with Tierra Rejada Road at Spring Road will. 1. Reduce LOS from A to B at Spring Road and Tierra Rejada Road (a.m.). 2. Reduce LOS from A to B at Science Drive and Tierra Rejada Road (a.m.) . 3. Reduce LOS from B to C at Science Drive and Tierra Rejada Road (p.m. only) . Although these impacts were not considered significant, since they did not decrease level of service below C, it will add additional regional traffic between the freeway and the proposed new Moorpark Road /Spring Road intersection as well as increase the daily traffic volumes traveling on Spring Road north of this intersection by 1,000 trips and on Tierra Rejada Road west of this intersection by 1,000 trips. The number of trips in the segment of Tierra Rejada Road between Spring Road and Moorpark Road shows a daily traffic volume increase from 20,000 to 34,000 vehicles while the segment of Tierra Rejada between Highway 23 and Moorpark Road (existing) rises to 34,000 vehicles from the current volume of 26,000 vehicles. City Council has previously expressed opposition to this project and unless the direction has changed it should authorize the Mayor to execute a letter expressing opposition to the proposed alignment along with reasons for opposition. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor to execute a letter expressing opposition to the proposed Moorpark Road realignment based upon the increased traffic impacts to Spring Road and Tierra Rejada Road and the lack of mitigation measures to deal with prior City Council comments related to intersection configuration, growth inducement, and median improvements to preclude left turns at the existing Moorpark Road /Tierra Rejada Road intersection if a realignment of Moorpark Road occurs. C: \l- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS \WAYNE \wl -hcc- agendarpt.wpd 000044 Honorable City Council Moorpark Road Realignment May 8, 1998 Pag-_ 6 of 6 Ai.ta::rnments : Exhibit 1 Alternative Alignments Exhibit 2 Spring Road Plan and Cross Section Views Attachment 2 Memo to City Manager from Public Works 9/30/97 Attachment 3 City comment letter to Ventura County Negative Declaration dated 4/28/97 Attachment 4 CC Agenda Report dated 4/7/97 on Draft Declaration C: \l- M \WP61 \CDD\ MEMOS \WAYNE \wl -hcc- agendarpt.wpd Director on Draft Negative bJyl t - 3 _ tjT i Arr�• ' ♦,arc ' �. ti r eat , t h f ". r �' Vj J _ X48 . ?P =r`dj � • e _ � � 1. jR :� _.� '« r ... _ '�•za � \ '' moo.` 1. Spring Rd & Los Angeles Av 2. Spring Rd & Tierra Rejada Rd 3. Moorpark Rd & Perm Rejada Rd INTERSECTION CONFIGURATIONS Year 2015 Year 2015 Year 2015 Year 2015 Existing No Project with Alignment A with Alignment B with Alignment C 2 Ong Rd Sprf Rd Q A � r V •Moorpark Rd AfN "Le end: qNJir Stop sign ® Number of signal phases Wr TO foul Spring Rd Some As Existing Some As Existing Same As Year 2015 No Project Propose-4 Spring Rd O �3 err Moorpark Rd Old Moorpark Rd Same As Year 2015 No Project Same As Existing Same As Year 2015 with Alignment A Some As Year 2015 No Project Same As Existing Same As Existing KAKU AS SOCI /RTES m D rn D v D O D v In'...ni. 15 OF X �� rT GRAPHIC SCALL IN FEET ) a 5 � • n cn D Z D rn 0 D o o m C w _ C. x r' i a v T ?3 R/,I SPRING�RM ROAD a. SfE SIiEEl 75 Oi ORS. NO fDR SPRING ROADS IPIN ' 97 u7- -10552 r IN ., WIC 47' (IST. RAW 47 E5Iw17. 8' 66' U-, 20' ' 6' S' g' 12' 12 T T 12' 8' m BIKE BIKE 2% Typ., 3% MAX. � E D E' 0 Z _ 14' MEDIAN < m Ell,YE DiRECTiON DISTANCE SEE SHEET 19 OF DWG. NO. 97 -ML -10552 N m D Li N40- 02.07 "W 45.42 FOR CONSTRUCTION BEHIND CURB IN THIS AREA O Z 17 SPRING ROAD �31 �- 86.69 TO 8 7-f 65.09 00 m o STA. -o NO SCALE 0 0 Z7 —I M E M O R A N D U M TO: Steven Kueny, City Manager FROM: Ken Gilbert, Director of Public Work: DATE: September 30, 1997 SUBJECT: Moorpark Road Realignment The following is a summary of the history and st project. Background 1. County Road Department accident statistics indicate that the subject roadway segment has an accident rate which is too high. The road needs to be upgraded. The County proposed, as a part of that upgrading project, to realign the road to intersect Tierra Rejada Road at Spring Road. 2. The County first proposed this project as a part of the competitive submittals to VCTC is 1992 for a grant under the regional' portion of the federal STP funds. The grant [approx. $3 million) was approved. 3. The County then prepared a preliminary design, a Negative Declaration and a Traffic Study. The Traffic Study indicated that there was now significant differences between the various alignment options on future traffic volumes or traffic patterns on Spring Road and other streets within the City. 4. In April 1997 the City sent a letter (Exhibit 1) to the County raising concerns with the design, the alignment and the Negative Declaration. That letter was sent at the direction of the City Council. A copy of the 4 -16 -97 staff report is attached as Exhibit 2. 5. The County has decided to prepare a full EIR. Distribution of the document is not expected until December. Discussion. 1. Funding: As stated above, the majority of the funding is to come from a $3 million grant from regional STP funds (Surface Transportation Program -- a portion of federal ISTEA). The project is expected to cost approximately $3.5 million. Local funding sources include approximately $300,000 from the County's Norwegian Grade AOC fund. ATTACHMENT 2 .-,. A [ % Moorpark Road Realignment September 30, 1997 Page 2 2. Alternate Alignment: The City's letter to the County pointed out a number of problems which we believe will be created if the road is moved to intersect Tierra Rejada Road at Spring Road. The City suggested leaving the intersection where it is. One area of concern is the amount of crop land which would be taken by the project. The County has suggested that the relocation will take less crop land. It should be pointed out that if a number of small hills in the middle of the existing crop land were to be removed as a part of the road construction, this would generate more crop acreage. 3. Traffic Safety: Safety concerns dictate that this roadway segment be upgraded. This project will be constructed. The only questions to be resolved are those pertaining to design, location and alignment. 4. Traffic Volume: The down side to any road improvement project is that the end product often results in increased vehicle speeds and increased traffic volumes. Such "negative" impacts occurred subsequent to the completion of the Tierra Rejada Road improvements. 5. Santa Rosa Road: Staff has received calls and letters from concerned individuals residing in the Santa Rosa Valley. Those individuals include: Karl Kesler, Mark Burley (491 -1498) and Phil & Linda Reese (491- 2049). 6. Status: The project is on hold until the EIR..is distributed for comment next December. cc: The Honorable City Council Vp \stv \■pkres MOORPARK 017 1V1U 1PCtrK /Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 529 -6864 April 28, 1997 County of Ventura Public Works Agency Transportation Department 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura,CA 93009 Att: Butch Britt, Deputy Director Re: Comments on the Draft Negative Declaration Prepared for the Moorpark Road Realignment Project Dear Butch, This will serve to provide you with the City's comments on the subject Negative Declaration and the alignment 'proposed for the subject project. The comments listed herein include input received from the Moorpark City Council at their meeting of April 16, 1997. Draft Negative Declaration 1. Old Moorpark Road [p. 53]: "...old Moorpark Road would serve -local traffic only and turning movements to and from Old _ Moorpark Road are expected to be negligible.,, - This is an assumption. There,is no discussion of the possibility that this road could or-would be used as a "short -cut" route. There are no mitigation measures mentioned which adequately address this possibility,.' It is recommended, therefore, that the document be revised to include the following requirements: " If Moorpark Road is realigned to relocate the roadway to the west, the final project plans shall include provisions for the construction of a raised center median through the intersection of Tierra Rejada Road and eold Moorpark Road, in order to prevent all left turn traffic movements." ATTACHMENT 3 MPktd5.neq PATRICK HUNTER BERNARDO M. PEREZ Mayor Mayor Pro Tem CHRISTOPHER EVANS DE881E RODGERS TEASLEY JOHN E. WOZNIAK Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember 00005, Moorpark Road Realignment Negative Declaration Page 2 2. Spring Road Westbound Approach [Pg. 53]: "The assumed lane configuration would be as follows: ... [one 400' long] left - turn lane, two through lanes and an exclusive right -turn lane.... As an alternative ... dual left -turn :lanes [could be Provided by eliminating one of the westbound through lanes].,, It appears 'that a DOUBLE -LEFT turn lane for westbound traffic is the preferred option deemed necessary to adequately handle expected peak traffic volume. The project should, therefore, Provide for these improvements. However, this additional left - turn lane should not be provided for by reducing the number of through lanes to only one. The City's Circulation Element classifies Tierra Rejada Road as a four lane arterial street. Any combination of a turn lane with a through lane is inconsistent with this standard. It is recommended, therefore, that the document be revised to include the following requirements: " The final project plans shall include provisions for the widening and realignment of Tierra Rejada Road (to the south) in order ;to provide for two left -turn lanes, two through lanes and an exclusive RIGHT turn lane. Provisions for two left -turn lanes and two through lanes shall also be provided if the final roadway alignment is. at Science Drive or at the present location [Old Moorpark Road]." 3. Spring Road Eastbound Approach [p.53]: ! . "The assumed lane configuration would be as follows: ... [oe] left -turn lane; one through lane and a shared through /right -turn lane....,, There is not sufficient information provided to clearly indicate that an exclusive right -turn lane is not required. The City's Circulation Element classifies Tierra Rejada Road as a four lane arterial street. Any combination of a turn lane with a through lane is inconsistent with this standard. It is recommended, therefore, that the document be revised to include one of the following: mpkrd5.neq a.. "The final project plans shall include provisions for the construction of two through lanes plus an exclusive right -turn lane. Like provisions shall be made should the final roadway alignment be at Science Drive or Old Moorpark Road." -OR- 01000 "i Z Moorpark Road Realignment Negative Declaration Page 3 b. Language shall be added to the document which clearly demonstrates that one through lane and one shared through /right -turn lane is sufficient to accommodate projected traffic volumes. 4. spring Road Southbound Approach [p.53]: "The assumed lane configuration would be as follows: ... [one] left -turn lane [and] one shared through /right -turn lane...'.,,. 'There is not sufficient information provided to clearly indicate that an exclusive right -turn lane is not required. It is recommended, therefore, that the document be revised to include one of the following: "The final project plans shall include provisions for the construction of one through lane plus an exclusive right - turn lane in addition to the left turn ,"lane.. Like provisions shall be made should the final roadway alignment be at Science Drive." 5. Growth Inducement [pg. 491: "[The project]"_ would not be growth - inducing." There is. not sufficient information provided to support this conclusion. In addition, please be advised that during the development of the conceptual design for this project, :the City was assured that'.'-the County of Ventura would, as a part of :this project, acquire access rights from the"farm lands south of Tierra Rejada Road, as a part of its right -of -way acquisition efforts. The 'stated purpose for acquiring these access rights was to clearly preclude development of the properties fronting this new highway'. There is no mention of the acquisition of access rights in the Negative Declaration. Such acquisition would go far to address the City,s concerns regarding the potential growth inducing aspects of the project. It is recommended, therefore, that the document be revised to include. one of the following: mpkrdS.neq a- "Right -of -way acquisition efforts shall include the acquisition of access rights from all of the properties fronting the new highway which shall prevent and /or control points of access to 'said highway." -OR- b. Language shall be added to the document which clearly demonstrates that the acquisition of access rights at the time the street right -of -way is acquired, is not necessary in order to prevent the future development of properties fronting the new highway. 000053 Moorpark Road Realignment Negative Declaration Page 4 Proposed Alignment The City of Moorpark is opposed to the realignment of Moorpark Road to relocate the intersection with Tierra Rejada Road to another location. The City would support a project to realign and reconstruction this County road with the intersection to remain at it present location. It is the view of the City that leaving this alignment will not only result in a lower degree of negative impacts, but is also likely to cost less money. Please call if you should have any questions or wish a clarification of any of the comments provided. Sin Kenneth C. Gilbert - Director of Public Works ,r cc: Honorable City Council - Judy Mikels, County Supervisor Steven Kueny, City Manager Art Goulet, Director County Public Works Agency npkrd5.neq 000054 ITEM . C 3''o AGENDA REPORT C= T Y O F MO ORpARK TO: The Honorable City Council MOM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: April 7, 1997 (Council Meeting 4- 16 -97) SUBJECT: Consider Approval of Comments on the Draft Negative Declaration Prepared by the County of Ventura for a County Project to Realign and Reconstruct Moorpark Road South of Tierra Rejada Road. EXECUTIVE 3U1ff1ARy A copy of the subject document has been distributed to the City Council under separate cover. The County of Ventura has requested that any City comments on this document -be forwarded to them on or prior to April 28, 1997. This report discussed the subject document and recommends that certain comments be forwarded to County. DISCUSSION A . ground One of the Regional Federal STP (Surface Trans Program) y Transportation g ) projects funded b the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) in 1993, was the subject project the County of Ventura. This project calls for the realignment and reconstruction of Moorpark Road between Tierra Rejada Road and Santa Rosa Road. The primary objective of the project is to address certain safety concerns attendant to the present design,. location acid condition of this roadway. Since project funding, the he County has proceeded with efforts necessary to p . preliminary design and to complete the required environmental analysis. In November 1996, the City Council received and filed the Traffic Study prepared for this project by Kaku Associates. Also considered as a part of that action was an analysis of that Kaku report prepared by Austin -Foust Associates at the direction of the City. No action was taken by the City Council regarding the scope or merits of the proposed project. aPkrdS.nag ATTACHMENT 4 Moorpark Road Realignment April 16, 1997 Page 2 B. Proiect Conceptual Design _ The conceptual design for the project developed by the County of Ventura identified a number of alternative alignments. All of these alternative alignments would have the realigned and reconstructed road intersect Tierra Rejada Road at one of three Possible locations depicted on the diagram attached as Exhibit 1 and listed as follows: 1) the present location of the intersection; 2) Spring Road; or 3) Science Drive (future street). If either alternate #2 or #3 is selected, the existing [Old] Moorpark Road would serve local traffic only [this concept is discussed in more detail in Section. C. Environmental'Review.. 1. scope of Analysis: The scope of the environmental analysis focuses on Alternate #2: the relocation of Moorpark Road to intersect Tierra Rejada Road at Spring Road [Please see map attached as Exhibit 2]. Discussed as an option is Alternate #3: the relocation of the roadway to intersect at the future Science Drive. There is no discussion of Alternate #1: leaving the intersection at its present location. It is assumed that environmental impacts associated with this option were not significant enough to warrant the level of analysis required by a Negative Declaration. 2. Traffic Study : - As stated above, a Traffic Study was prepared for this project as part of the environmental analysis. That report was previously received and filed by the City Council. Related to that document was a review prepared by Austin -Foust Associates at the direction of the City. Agaii, no action was taken by the City Council regarding the scope, findings or. conclusions -set forth in that study. A second copy of that document has been re- distributed to the City Council for reference. 3. Negative Declaration: The subject Negative Declaration was prepared for the County of Ventura by Fugro -West, Inc. The remainder of this report discusses and comments upon that report, and the related Traffic Study. apkrd5.n.q o 000s i. Moorpark Road Realignment April 16, 1997 Page 3 D. significant Impacts /Comments Listed below are the significant impacts and proposed mitigation measures identified in the subject document, along with recommended comments /responses from the City: Summary of Selected Impacts / Mitigations Comments Air Quality: The project will not cause any Hone negative long -ten air quality impacts [Pg. 42]. Noise: The project will increase noise levels along Spring Road north of Tierra Rejada Road adjacent to an existing residential area by approximately 13 dBA. However, the resultant noise levels will remain below the 60 dBA maximun allowed at or near a residential area [Pg. 43]. Traffic: Old Moor ark Roa Post- project this road is expected to serve local traffic only. The traffic signal would be removed [p. 531. Spring Road [westbound Approachhl: Proposed lane configuration: one LEFT 400' long turn lane; two THRU lanes; one exclusive RIGHT lane. As an option a DOUBLE LEFT turn lane in place of one of the THRU lanes [p. 531. None All of the traffic projections assume this road will not be used as an alternate "shortcut" route. In, order to assure that the assumed traffic patterns actually occur, it is recommended that the County's project include the construction of a raised center median (east -west) through this intersection to prevent all left turn movements. It should be noted that the additional landscaping afforded by these improvements will off -set the loss of nedian landscaping resulting for the placement of (one or two) left -turn lane(s) for westbound traffic at Spring Road (or at Science Drive). It appears that a DOUBLE -LEFT turn lane is the preferred option deemed necessary to adequately handle expected peak traffic volume. It is recommended, therefore, that the project design call for the widening of Tierra Rejada Road (realignment to the south) in order to provide two LEFT turn' lanes, two THRU lanes and an exclusive RIGHT turn lane. S qring Road Eastbound A roach : Proposed Revise the document to explain why separate THRU and lane configuration: one LEFT lane; one THRU RIGHT lanes are not required. lane; one shared THRO /RIGHT lane (p. 53]. upkrd5.neq 0Q(3i15'7 Moorpark Road Realignment April 16, 1997 Page 4 Spring Road jsouthbound Aporoacb1; Proposed Revise the docuaent to explain why separate THRO and lane configuration: one LEFT turn lane and a RIGHT lanes are not required. - shared THRO /RIGHT lane (p. 53). Spring Road (Northbound Approach]: Proposed None. lane configuration: one LEFT lane and a shared THRU /RIGHT lane [P.53]. Growth Inducement : The project poses no growth inducement aspects (p. 49]. E. Road p, _1 nment 1. The conceptual design for the project tentatively included plans to acquire access rights from the. fan lands south of Tierra Rejada Road, as a part of the right -of -way acquisition efforts, in order to assure that the project would not be growth inducing. It is recommended that the environiental docuaent be revised to reconnend such acquisition or that an explanation be provided explaining why the acquisition of access rights is not required. County's Preferred Alignment: The alignment preferred by the County moves Moorpark Road to align with Spring Road. An alt'ernative alignment discussed in the subject document moves' the roadway to align with the future Science Drive. 2. Environmental Impacts: The County's environmental documents do not make any findings or conclusions which indicate that there are any significant environmental impacts related to either of the two alignments discussed. 3. Analysis: The following is a list of some of the perceived benefits of each of these two alignments: SPRING ROAD a. :,More direct circulation pattern for north -south traffic; b. Requires the take of less property now in Agricultural production. C. Possibly less expensive traffic signal costs. 2Pkrds.neg 00005S r• Moorpark Road Realignment April 16, 1997 Page 5 SCIENCE DRIVE a. Less likely to direct traffic into Moorpark. b. Possibly easier to re -align Tierra Rejada Road at this location to accommodate double left turn lanes for west -to -south traffic. 4. Conclusions: Spring Road extends farther north than does Science Drive. Also, Spring Road has the potential of being extended even farther to the north at some point in the future. This corridor has the potential of providing a more direct route for a larger number of trip destinations than does Science Drive. It provides for a slightly more efficient and more "air quality" 'friendly transportation system. For these reason this option is slightly preferred by staff over the Science Drive option. Although. selection of the Science Drive option (or leaving the intersection at its present location) would not prevent trips o the same destinations in and north of Moorpark, it may serve to do less to facilitate or encourage those trips than the Spring..Road option. If this is of-great concern, the Spring Road option,.-should be avoided. In the view of staff those concerns are not significant enough to outweigh efforts to provide for the most efficient traffic circulation systems possible. i O Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: I. Direct staff to prepare a letter to the County of Ventura providing comments on the subject document as summarized in Section D of this report. 2.• Direct staff to include in said letter, a statement that the City supports the County's preferred alignment: realignment of Moorpark Road to align with Spring Road. aPkrd7.neg 00005S i i Los A t 1 I A I I&W,vtv i r KAKUASSOCiATES FIGURE 1 ALTERNATIVE PROJEC� ALIGNMENTS 3 1 T r4% February 1997 Project No. 95 -61 -3621 CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS ' t 0 5a0 1000 FEET - -�� LE4EHR Proposed Roadway Alignment ~- Alternative Alignment --- — — City umw Properly Ulw ITY OF I`)K�pORPARK FUTURE `I SCIENCE DRIVE PROPOSED ROADWAY ALIGNMENT Moorpark Road Realignment Project Initial Study FIGURE 2