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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1995 1004 CC REG ITEM 08GAGENDA REPORT C = TY O F MOORPARK TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth Gilbert, Director of Public Works ITEM • DATE: September 22, 1995 (Meeting of 10 -4 -95) SUBJECT: Consider Request from Caltrans for the Acceptance of Traf f is Signal Improvements at the Intersection of Campus Park Drive and Collins Drive BACKGROUND The scope of work for the Caltrans' project to construct the Route 118 / Route 23 freeway connector project, included the construction of the Collins Drive interchange and the subject traffic signal just north of that interchange. The subject intersection is not within or adjacent to Caltrans right -of -way. It has, therefore, always been the intent of the City and Caltrans to transfer the ownership and maintenance of this traffic signal to the City upon completion of the signal installation by Caltrans and the acceptance of the traffic signal improvements by the City. DISCUSSION A. Traffic Congestion frays City staff has been critical of the design for this traffic signal. The traffic signal controller operation calls for split -phase timing for north -south traffic. It has been the view of Caltrans that this split -phase timing is necessary to accommodate a double right -turn lane for north -to -east traffic. However, this split -phase timing extends the cycle time, delaying the flow of traffic through the intersection. This delay is seen as a contributing factor in causing significant traffic congestion at this intersection. The congestion of southbound traf f is during peak college traf f is hours has been of particular concern. City staff has requested that the split - phase timing be eliminated or that some other remedy be found to alleviate the traffic congestion problems. 000014's Traffic Signal: Campus Park Drive / Collins Drive October 1995 Page 2 B. Caltrans Study Caltrans has prepared a study to evaluate the traffic movements at the subject intersection to determining what, if any, changes to the traffic signal design may be feasible to decrease congestion. One element of that study was the evaluation of the split -phase timing. Based on the findings in that study, Caltrans has concluded that the existing design and configuration of the traffic signal and controller meets their standards and that there is no way to modify the design to improve the traffic capacity at this intersection. Caltrans has requested (Exhibit 1), therefore, that the City accept this traffic signal for maintenance. C. City Traffic Engineer Review The City Traffic Engineer has reviewed the Caltrans study. He does not agree with the conclusions reached by Caltrans that there are no feasible remedies to the traffic congestion problems at this intersection. He has provided the City with a report (Exhibit 2) discussing an number of alternative solutions. A summary of those alternatives is as follows: Alternate #1: Modify the traffic signal and controller by deleting the north -south split phase timing and adding a northbound RIGHT ARROW . Elimination of the split phase timing will improve southbound traffic handling capacity. Addition of the northbound RIGHT ARROW will improve northbound traffic capacity by allowing northbound right turns coincidental with a) northbound traffic movement, b) east -to -south left turning movements and c) southbound traffic movement. A northbound RIGHT ARROW coincidental with southbound left turns will be facilitated by the addition of a sign advising the right turners to yield to oncoming (south -to -east) traffic. Estimated Cost (high end): Engineering: $ 3,000 Construction: $15,000 $18,000 Alternate 12: Widen Collins Drive south of the intersection and Campus Park Drive east of the intersection to provide an additional northbound right turn lane on Collins Drive and an acceleration lane on Campus Park Drive. This will allow the conversion of the existing northbound right /through lane to Prwy5 Traffic Signal: Campus Park Drive / Collins Drive October 1995 Page 3 through only lane, which will, in turn, enabling the elimination of the north -south split phase timing which now causes congestion of southbound traffic during peak traffic periods. Estimated Cost (high end): Engineering: $ 15,000 Construction: $120,000 $135,000 Alternate 13: Direct Reconstruct all four approaches to the intersection to provide additional lanes travel lanes where required, including those discussed in Alternate #2 plus a double left turn lane for west - to -south traffic. Estimated Cost (high end): Engineering: $ 55,000 Construction: $600,000 $655,000 D. Future Increase in Traffic The attached report from the City Traffic Engineer mentions the fact that it is anticipated that the level of Service (LOS), or traffic handling capacity, of this intersection is expected to decline as the volume of traffic in this area increases. Of particular concern is the expected increase in traffic which will be generated by the Hidden Creek Ranch development. It is anticipated that significant modifications to this intersection will be required to accommodate the increase in traffic from this development. CONCLUSIONS Prior to the City accepting the traffic signal improvements at this intersection, it would be preferable if Caltrans would undertake the modifications described in Alternate #1 above. Although Caltrans has stated that they have looked at the problem and do not believe that any feasible changes are possible, Caltrans has not received a formal request from the City with a clearly defined recommended course of action. Pray5 0000f"M Traffic Signal: Campus Park Drive / Collins Drive October 1995 Page 4 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council reject, at this time, Caltrans' request that the City accept the subject traffic signal improvements and direct staff to forward a formal request that Caltrans undertake the modifications described in this report as Alternate #1. frwy5 ExNi 11(T 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA — BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION AGENCY PETE WILSON, Gownw DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT 7, 120 SO. SPRING ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-3606 (213) 897 -0362 July 27,1995 Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Director of Public Works City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA 91307 Subject: Traffic Signal at Collins Drive and Campus Park Drive Dear Mr. Gilbert: In response to your letter of July 12, 1995, enclosed herewith are the traffic counts at the intersection of Collins Drive and Campus Park Drive done in January 31, 1995. Our May 19, 1995 letter indicated that the intersection was designed correctly and no modifications are needed. Further analyses arrived at the same conclusion. We are anticipating that the City of Moorpark will accept this intersection as is since the current conditions do not warrant further improvements. Should you have any questions, please call Mr. A Hamid Rifaat at (213) 897 -0343. Enclosure. Sincerely, Bill Weldele, Chief Office of Traffic Design SENT BY:DWIGHT FRENCH & ASSOC.; 9 -22 -95 ; 9:06AM ;DWIGHT FRENCH & ASOC 805 529 82704 2/ 3 FY'V �vZ Q " -Q Z) ^� MEMORANDUM TO: Ken Gilbert DATE: September 22, 1995 Director of Public Works FROM: John Whitman City Traffic Engin SUBJECT: Potential Improvement at Campus Park Drive and Collins Road Based on your memo of September 13, 1995, 1 have re- examined the Campus Park Drive /Collins Road intersection. You asked me to determine potential remedies for the a southbound queueing problem. In my very limited visits to the intersection, I have not observed this problem. Based on the Caltrans traffic counts, a field review of the intersection and previous discussions which arose from my review of various related traffic studies, there is an additional problem of queueing of northbound traffic from Route 118 to Campus Park Drive during the AM peak. According to the Moorpark Area Transportation Model (MATM), the intersection currently operates at a Level Of Service (LOS) A in both the AM and PM peaks. The MATM also projects a degradation in LOS by the year 2000 to LOS C in the AM peak. With the significant development which is likely to occur to the north of the Intersection, the LOS is likely to worsen. In fact, the Hidden Creek Ranch Traffic Analysis projected an LOS E with the given facts by year 2000. Significant improvements will be required as development is permitted in the Hidden Creek area. The following three remedies have potential to lessen existing short term traffic problems: ALTERNATE 1 - SIGNAL OPERATIONS MODIFICATION This alternate would change the phasing of the traffic signal. Currently, the signal does not permit the northbound right turn lane to make the right turn movement except when the northbound through movement has a green light. The signal phasing would be modified to permit a left turn on all four approaches. A northbound green arrow would be added which would allow northbound right turns during the Collins Drive left turn phase, as well as during the Collins Drive through phase. This would present conflicts for the optional northbound right turn lane, during the leftturn phase, which would need to be signed as a right turn on green with yield. This is a very short term remedy. 006015: SEP 22 '95 09:11 714 860 3476 PAGE.002 SENT BY:DWIGHT FRENCH & ASSOC.; 9 -22 -95 ; 9:06AM ;DWIGHT FRENCH & ASOC- 805 529 82704 3/ 3 �X 2 ALTERNATE 2 - ADQ A FREE FLOWING NORTHBOUND RIGHT TURN DANE This alternate would require construction of a right turn lane on northbound Collins from SR 118 to Campus Park. The lane would need to continue on eastbound Campus Park for a distance of approximately 300 feet, The northbound optional right turn /through lane would be converted to a through only lane. Signal timing and phasing would need to be modified to address the southbound issue you raised. ALTERNATE ,a - RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSECTION This alternate would require reconstruction of the entire intersection and the four approaches to provide extra through lanes on Collins Drive for both northbound and southbound traffic as well as a dual left turn lane on westbound Campus Park and free flowing right turn lanes on northbound Collins and eastbound Campus Park. The following table shows very preliminary estimates of ranges of engineering and construction costs for the three alternates: ALTERNATE 1 - Signal Operations Modification ALTERNATE 2 - Free - flowing Northbound Lane ALTERNATE 3 - Intersection Reconstruction \memo\cmpusprk.Mt RANGES OF ESTIMATED COSTS ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION $1,500-3,000 $7,000-15,000 010,000 - 15,000 580,000 - 120,000 $35,000- 55,000 ' $400,000- 600,000 SEP 22 '95 09:11 714 860 3476 PAGE.003