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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1999 0331 CC SPC JNT PC ITEM 05BTO: FROM: DATE: ITEM 668 • CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of 3 Glq ACTION: �GCei vecA CinA led. CITY OF MOORPARK AGENDA REPORT BY: Honorable City Council Planning Commission Wayne Loftus, Acting Community Development Director A-1-0125-0 Prepared by: John Libiez, Principal Planner March 19, 1999 (For 3/31/99 Joint Meeting) SUBJECT: CONSIDER REPORT RELATED TO SR 118 HISTORY BACKGROUND: During the consideration of circulation options for the Moorpark Highland Specific Plan Project (Specific Plan No. 2), City Council indicated that it would like to discuss the SR118 bypass history as a portion of the joint Council /Planning Commission meeting on March 31, 1999. DISCUSSION• The provision of major north /south and east /west freeway links, or alternative highways has historically been a portion of the Caltrans transportation considerations for Ventura County and particularly the Simi Valley /Moorpark area. In May of 1989 the District 7 Director for Caltrans indicated that based upon community concerns and traffic information Caltrans would undertake to prepare a basic design and set right -of -way lines for both the SR 23 and SR 118 Freeways. The California Transportation Commission adopted the SR 23 alignment on October 28, 1964. In 1989, Caltrans produced preliminary 1 "= 100'scaled plans, copies of which are maintained in the Public Works and Community Development Departments, to depict a general horizontal alignment (location on the ground) , potential right - of -way limits, and potential intersection/ interchange locations. These plans depict a continuous corridor from the Princeton Avenue area to the west end of the City (west of Gabbert Road). In May, 1990, Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. (AFA) was asked by the City Council to prepare a traffic analysis for the pending Agenda Report SR 118 Joint City Council /Planning Commission Meeting March 31, 1999 Page 2 Moorpark General Plan update, which included a number of alternatives regarding future circulation corridors and connections between corridors to increase circulation efficiency and maintain the City's level of service for traffic flow at Level of Service "C ", a goal of the Circulation Element of the General Plan. Recommendations included in the Austin -Foust traffic analysis were: 1)Extend Spring Road to connect with the extension of SR 118; 2)create an arterial roadway from the SR 118 freeway terminus near Princeton Avenue to connect to Los Angeles Avenue at the westerly end of the community; and, 3)grade separate SR 118 at Walnut Canyon Road. The AFA report included that: 1) an east -west bypass would be effective in diverting a significant amount of traffic from Los Angeles Avenue (approximately 50K trips), thereby achieving desirable system performance standards (LOS -C) for Los Angeles Avenue and other affected corridors; and, 2) that a Bypass configured as a freeway was no more effective than an arterial road in meeting circulation system needs. In 1991, AFA conducted additional traffic analysis related to a potential Circulation Element amendment and concluded that a large percentage of the trips that impacted the City circulation system were pass through trips (28 %), including a significant ratio of truck traffic. AFA also noted that the westward extension of SR 118 freeway was included within the County Master Plan of Highways. As a result of the traffic analysis related to the city -wide 2010 projections, the extension of SR 118 from SR 23/118 west to Los Angeles Avenue near Buttercreek Road was added to the City's circulation system plan. In the 1992 Circulation Element update adopted by the City, the SR 118 arterial bypass was designated as a six lane arterial from Princeton Avenue to Gabbert Road, and a four lane arterial from Gabbert Road to Los Angeles Avenue. In 1996, Michael Brandman Associates performed additional environmental analysis related to the possible extension of Spring Road in conjunction with the Specific Plan No. 8 considerations. The purpose was to assess the potential connection, other than Broadway, for SP -8 traffic to be distributed to reduce impacts at the Collins /SR -118 interchange and maintain the City's adopted level of service standards. The "no project" traffic scenario contained in the study for the year 2010 determined which City circulation system improvements would be required without Hidden Creek Ranch traffic based on projected General Plan land use build out of 2010(Attachment 5). M: \JLibiez \M \SP2 \SR118history.doc ( "0[111 lf�01_k Agenda Report SR 118 Joint City Council /Planning Commission Meeting March 31, 1999 Page 3 One of the conclusions of this study was the need for extension of SR -118 west from the SR- 118/SR -23 connection to Los Angeles Avenue as a four -lane expressway with at grade intersections at Spring Road, Walnut Canyon Road, "C" Street, and Gabbert Road. This roadway as evaluated by the Brandman Study could be initially constructed as a two -lane facility, with the additional lanes added when needed. Because of deficiencies which would exist for the Collins Drive /Campus Drive and Collins Drive /SR -118 intersections as noted by Brandman in the Spring Road Study, City Council placed specific conditions on Specific Plan No. 8 to mitigate the deficiencies that would result to the adopted Level of Service "C" standard with the approval of Hidden Creek Ranch (SP -8). Specific Plan No. 2 reflects a 200' right -of -way reservation for the SR 118 Bypass which, depending on grading, can be adequate for a six lane facility. Preliminary plans for Specific Plan No.1 (Hitch Ranch) also propose a 200' wide reservation for the SR 118. The Moorpark Regency Development (Pre- application 98- 02, Michael Sanders) immediately west of Walnut Canyon Road, and the SunCal project immediately east of Walnut Canyon Road also propose 200' wide reservations for the SR 118 right -of -way as it passes through these projects. The SR 118 highway corridor illustrated for the referenced projects is generally consistent with the alignment shown by the Circulation Element and as shown on preliminary Caltrans drawings for an arterial bypass route. City Council action on December 2, 1998, with regard to the A &B Properties /Southern California Edison industrial development application west of Gabbert Road included a requirement for connection of the SR 118 corridor to Los Angeles Avenue including provision of a railroad underpass to link this corridor to Los Angeles Avenue. The projects identified in this report which are located along this Bypass corridor represent the potential for reservation /dedication of approximately 98% of the right -of -way needed for the SR 118 Bypass. The City Council in July of 1998, authorized staff to seek professional engineering services related to the potential development of the SR 118 Bypass either as an arterial roadway or freeway. The services sought would provide a study of the SR 118 Bypass corridor which would determine precise horizontal and vertical alignments, improvements and costs for the extension of the SR 118 Bypass from Princeton Avenue to Los Angeles Avenue. The RFP process at that time failed to receive a sufficient number of qualified responses. The Public Works Department M: \JLibiez \M \SP2 \SR118history.doc �� Agenda Report SR 118 Joint City Council /Planning Commission Meeting March 31, 1999 Page 4 subsequently obtained a limited grant that will provide partial funding for the long term study once a qualified consultant is found. In mid - January, 1999, staff solicited specialized engineering services that would look at several options for the location of the Walnut Canyon Road /SR 118 interchange including as an at grade and grade separated corridor. Determination of the location of ramps or an interchange at Walnut Canyon Road or another appropriate locations is critical from a timing perspective since the Sun Cal project, currently under analysis for referral to the Community Development Ad Hoc Committee, would be significantly affected by the current Caltrans preliminary bypass plan for SR 118. The Caltrans plan currently identifies Walnut Canyon Road as grade separated with on and off ramps. If this preliminary plan were to represent the preferred access point to the bypass corridor, it would require the Sun Cal project to undergo a significant redesign and additional right -of -way reservation to include ramps at Walnut Canyon Road. Staff issued a work program document to the selected engineering firm in mid - January for response. A response was received as of the end of February from the prospective engineering firm which detailed an expanded work program to complete the study of the Walnut Canyon Road /SR 118 connection. Staff is currently evaluating the proposed work program submitted by the firm. An abbreviated chronology related to the SR -118 is attached to this report for information. CONCLUSIONS• 1. Based upon the commitments and requirements placed upon pending developments along the SR 118 corridor, the City has the ability to reserve land for almost the entire alignment /corridor for the SR 118 arterial. 2. Traffic impact analysis provided by the City's traffic modeling consultant, Austin -Foust Associates, Inc., has consistently indicated a need for the SR 118 arterial as a means to reduce traffic impacts upon the city -wide circulation system, particularly Los Angeles Avenue, in order to permit the system to function within Level of Service "C" standards adopted. M: \JLibiez \M \SP2 \SR118history.doc �#UU IT3 Agenda Report SR 118 Joint City Council /Planning Commission Meeting March 31, 1999 Page 5 3. A professional engineering study to determine location and costs of Walnut Canyon Road /SR 118 interchange potential may be commissioned by the City and is expected to be completed by the selected consultant within twelve weeks after contract approval based upon the work schedule provided by the consultant. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Figure 2. General Plan Circulation Element -1992 Update 2. SR 118 /Walnut Canyon Intersection - CALTRANS proposal 3. Figure 2. General Plan Circulation Element- SP -2 Amendment 4. Brief Chronology of SR 118 History 5. Extract From Spring Road Extension Study, August 1996 ticC If3 01? M: \JLibiez \M \SP2 \SR118history.doc • •- -TREE- - s` _ 3 i 1 s 1 � .•� C> 41CN —MAL"— � + nr• e WA Wu m N NaO.Or.r soil,* 1 1 i FIGURE 2 CITY OF M OO RPARK GENERAL PLAN CIRCULATION ELEMENT HIGHWAY NETWORK May 1J. 1992 f J 0 19 ATTACHMENT: 1 LEGEND FREEWAY ClTERCHANGE SLX•LANE ARTERIAL FOUR•LA14E ARTERIAL - -- R RURAL COLLECTOR LOCAL COI. LECTOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION AT-GRADE RR CROSSING GRADE SEPARATED RR CROSSING — •— •—• —•—• CITY LIMIT BOUNDARY ■rommuse SR -118 FREEWAY CORRIDOR 4OrE. TAo —p o — p " Ctte4. mpe4n4 11w n,,,... -g. VIILe CONW1 ..w 114 Coq al NtHl % rVn N O.Y p.neetnl - C010mWYfr D -pmtnl Qtpe(t fW 1.Y.I.InH 1N11Ie1.InM N NaO.Or.r soil,* 1 1 i FIGURE 2 CITY OF M OO RPARK GENERAL PLAN CIRCULATION ELEMENT HIGHWAY NETWORK May 1J. 1992 f J 0 19 ATTACHMENT: 1 �`,� � , � N', sue• ��� ♦ kk SO L ♦ � \ IL 1 `: \1 �.` ff.�/ • rle� � EID w RE/AD� 1._._._._._._._._. 0 2000 ow 6= 1.EMIM FREEWAY DYiERCHANGE =-LANE ARTERIAL FOUR -LANE ARTERIAL 'RURAL COLLECTOR LOCAL COLLECTOR SIGNAL= IN ERSEMON O❑ AT -0RADE RR CROSSING GRADE SEPARATED RR CROSSING .... ..•.. CITY L A IT BOUNDARY •ORaIEUR• SR41$ FREEWAY CORRIDOR M •�� hr �•.•MpaiA1•r� a. , f Pk wre aww ••p Oawiry- Dsperu. FIGURE 2 CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN CIRCULATION ELEMENT HIGHWAY NETWORK MAY 13. 1t22 ATTACHMENT: 3 SR -118 ABBREVIATED CHRONOLOGY 1964 California Transportation Commission adopts SR23 alignment. Alignment includes interface with SR -118. 1965/69 Ventura County includes the SR -118 alignment within the County Circulation Element. 1970s County upgrade to Circulation Element reflects potential freeway. 1983 City incorporates and maintains County General Plan as local plan. 1988 County downgrades SR -118 corridor status on County Circulation Element to right -of -way reservation. 1989 City begins discussion on General Plan updating of the Circulation Element. CALTRANS prepares the preliminary alignment drawings for planning consideration. 1990 Austin -Foust Associates (AFA) prepares traffic analysis at City request and recommends that an SR -118 arterial be included in the City Circulation Element and that there be a grade separation at Walnut Canyon Road. 1991 AFA prepares additional traffic modeling that supports need for SR -118 arterial as a means to ensure adopted traffic level of service standards can be achieved and identifies the most significant component of impact to the City Circulation system as pass through and truck traffic. 28% of the vehicle trips on Los Angeles Avenue identified as pass through trips. City adopts a general alignment for SR -118 into Circulation system. 1992 General Plan Circulation Element adopted with SR -118 alignment, signalized intersections, grade separations and street sections defined. 1992- current Major development projects within the tentative alignment of the SR -118 advised of need to incorporate the arterial in their planning. 1998 City Council conditions A &B Properties proposal for industrial development to provide SR -118 dedication, transition arterial roadway to Los Angeles Avenue, grade separated underpass at the Union Pacific Railroad as the westerly connection for the SR -118 arterial and first piece of the SR -118 development. M:\ JLibiez \M \SP2 \SR118chronology399.doc ATTACHMENT:4 Hidden Creek Ranch Specific Plan: Spring Road Connection connection between Walnut Canyon Road and Spring Road that would be constructed as part of the p: oposed Specific Plan No. 2 project. The construction of this roadway link would reduce the traffic volume at this intersection resulting in an acceptable level of service. Construction of this roadway link would preclude the need for the dual left -turn lanes. In order to determine the traffic impact of the Specific Plan project, a year 2010 No Project cumulative growth baseline traffic scenario was developed to which the Specific Plan project in year 2010 Proposed Project could be compared. The year 2010 No Project traffic scenario assumes buildout of the City of Moorpark General Plan Land Use Element and surrounding cumulative growth, without the proposed project. This scenario was developed by using the MTAM. The findings of the year 2010 analysis are as follows. The following circulation system improvements will be required in addition to the year 2000 No Project scenario minimum circulation system in order to accommodate the year 2010 No Project scenario traffic demands. Intersection levels of service are identified in Table 2.6-4. • Year 2000 minimum circulation system with the improvements at Los Angeles Avenue /Spring Road, Los Angeles Avenue/Tierra Rejada Road and one of the options for the Collins Drive /Campus Park Drive intersections. • The Spring Road extension, C Street, the Casey Road extension, and the completion of Science Drive. • Six -lane roadway section along New Los Angeles Avenue /Los Angeles Avenue with intersection configurations (Exhibit 3.6-15 of the Hidden Creek Ranch Specific Plan EIR). • Extension of SR -118 west from the SR- 118/SR -23 connection to Los Angeles Avenue as a four -lane expressway with at -grade intersections at Spring Road, Walnut Canyon Road, C Street, and Gabbert Road. (This roadway can be initially constructed as a two - lane facility, with the additional lanes being added when needed.) • Traffic signal installation at the SR- 118 /Walnut Canyon Road and SR -I 18 /Spring Road intersections. The majority of the traffic study area intersections will maintain LOS C or better, with the exception of two of the 22 study intersections, which are projected to exceed the City of Moorpark LOS C or better objective during the a.m. peak hour time period. The Collins Drive /Campus Park Drive intersection is forecast to operate at LOS E in the a.m. peak hour; the Collins Drive /SR -I 18 westbound ramps are forecast to operate at LOS D in the a.m. peak hour. 000 wiwon6008s.2 -6 2.6-7 ATTACHMENT: 5