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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 1002 CC REG ITEM 10ECity of Moorpark Agenda Report TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Dirk Lovett, Assistant City Engineer DATE: September 20, 1996 (Meeting October 2, 1996) ITEM-AD' E. SUBJECT: Consider driveway access onto New Los Angeles Avenue and revisions to specific plan street sections. (Carlsberg) B a ckgrnn n d /Introduction In 1994 the City Council approved the Carlsberg Specific Plan which included street alignment crossections and driveway access locations. The developer is requesting modifications to two items in the specific plan pertaining to the required street improvements. Staff is requesting clarification of certain requirements relating to a proposed driveway on Los Angeles Avenue. These three issues are summarized as follows:. A request from the developer for the deletion of the sidewalk on New Los Angeles Avenue east of Science Drive. A request from the developer for the deletion of the raised median on Spring Road north of Peach Hill Road and a request that the street section on the street segment be modified to delete certain sidewalk improvements. A request from staff for a clarification to the requirements related to a commercial driveway access proposed to be located on New Los Angeles Avenue between Science Drive and freeway. New L.A. Ave. Sidewalk The settlement agreement between the City of Moorpark and Carlsberg requires that Carlsberg widen New Los Angeles Avenue to six lanes. The specific plan also requires the construction of sidewalk on both sides of New Los Angeles Avenue. The Developer has stated that the planned sidewalk between Science Drive and the 23 Freeway (See Exhibit 1) would be seldom used and, if it was, would create a pedestrian hazard by directing pedestrians to cross unprotected freeway on- ramps. Caltrans has offered their opinion that the sidewalk would not be prohibited by their standards at this location. They also emphasized that it is not uncommon for pedestrians to cross free access on- ramps. It is acknowledged by both Caltrans and City Engineering that, as with any intersection, the greater the number of pedestrians crossing a street the higher the number of injuries may be expected. Caltrans did state, however, that it would prefer that the crosswalks remain unstriped to make pedestrians more cautious. 000335 The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in A Policv on Geometric Design of Hig Us and Stre is stated, "Justification for the construction of sidewalks depends upon the vehicle - pedestrian conflict, which is governed chiefly by the volumes of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, their relative timing, and the speed of vehicular traffic . Traffic volume - pedestrian warrants for sidewalks along highways are not established. In general, whenever the roadside and land development conditions are such that pedestrians regularly move along a main or high- speed highway they should be furnished a sidewalk or path area, as suitable to the conditions." The approved street section for New Los Angeles Avenue provides for an 8 foot paved shoulder /emergency parking lane and I l feet of level parkway behind the curb on both sides. It is a common practice where pedestrian traffic is not expected or will be of low volume, to not construct sidewalk. In such cases the relatively few pedestrians traveling such an area would use a dirt path in the maintained parkway. It is Staff's opinion that pedestrian traffic, pursuant to the completion of the Carlsberg and SDI manufacturing projects alone, would not warrant the installation of a sidewalk. However, if the proposed SDI commercial and hotel sites are developed a sidewalk may be desired. In that case appropriate signage and markings would warn motorists to yield to pedestrian traffic and pedestrians to watch for motorists A sidewalk on the south side of New Los Angeles Avenue would be the most direct path to the Carlsberg Commercial site but would require 2 ramp crossings. Staff feels that a sidewalk east of Science Drive, on the north side of New Los Angeles Avenue would never be sufficiently utilized. Sidewalk on the north side of New Los Angeles Avenue would require only one unsignalized ramp crossing but would direct pedestrians all the way to Science Drive before they could cross New Los Angeles Avenue Spring Road Attached as Exhibit 2 is a letter from the developer's engineer requesting a revision to the Spring Road section, between Peach Hill Road and the Arroyo Simi, citing the following safety issues: 1) the raised median will contribute to injuries 2) the 5 foot bicycle lanes do not provide sufficient room for emergency parking, 3) the minimum curb to curb width required by the Fire Department is 20 feet, 4) the guardrail attached to the retaining wall will not protect pedestrians or effectively deflect wayward vehicles. As such the developer's engineer proposes that the raised median be omitted and a 2 foot striped median replace it, that the sidewalk on the east side be deleted and that the guardrail be placed adjacent to the easterly curb (the proposed section is included in the Exhibit 2 letter). 2 oOO;34 (__ The City Engineering Department does not concur with the developer's engineer that this is a situation where number or severity if accidents will be increased by the construction of a raised median, if properly designed. It is also a standard practice to place guardrail along the outside of a sidewalk rather than adjacent to the curb, as their engineer recommends. Bridges and other similar structures have this configuration. The guardrail can be attached to the retaining wall with proper design. Several of the engineer's comments, however, are well noted and should be incorporated into the design. These would slightly alter the section approved in the specific plan. Water draining toward the median due to superelevations should be collected in catch basins at the median. A curb face or traffic grate basin will reduce the risk of steering problems or hydroplaning. City Engineering did contact the Fire Department regarding the minimum curb to curb width on either side of a raised median. Although the Fire Department stated they have no standard for a public road, 20 feet is the minimum for a private road. City Engineering agrees that the width of pavement, both north bound and south bound should be 20 feet. This will provide for a 12 foot travel lane and an 8 foot bicycle /emergency lane. As an alternative to having both sidewalk and landscaping against the retaining wall. We recommend that the landscaping be deleted and the sidewalk widened to 6 feet. This will assist in the maintenance of the parkway and will soften the effect of the guardrail. City Engineering has revised the developer engineer's proposed section which, we believe, will provide a suitable alternative. (See Exhibit 3) L.A. Ave. Driveway An Exhibit in the Specific Plan (see Exhibit 1) shows a commercial access driveway on New Los Angeles Avenue between Science Drive and the freeway. However, there was no discussion in the Specific Plan about the potential negative impacts associated with a driveway in this location, nor was there any discussion of any specific requirements to mitigate those negative impacts. Staff is requesting that the City Council confirm the approval of the construction of a commercial driveway access between Science Drive and SR 23 and, if so, to clarify the design parameters related to same. The developer's traffic engineer submitted an addendum to their traffic study which specifically analyzed the driveway on New Los Angeles Avenue. This addendum concluded that the driveway would increase level of service. The City traffic engineering consultant has reviewed the study. It is the opinion of the City Engineering Department that the driveway should be approved. However, such approval should include an additional requirement that a raised median be constructed on New Los Angeles Avenue to physically protect west bound left turn traffic and to prohibit north bound left turn traffic. Because this driveway and median would be on the State highway, Caltrans approval will be required. Caltrans was contacted regarding the feasibility of this driveway. They provided their informal opinion that the driveway would be allowed if 000342. constructed in the manner described above. They also offered that a traffic signal would not be permitted for a private driveway and that a raised median would be discouraged unless it is of ample length, perhaps from the 23 freeway to Science Drive. Summary New L. A. Ave. Sidewalk Sidewalks along New Los Angeles could serve pedestrian traffic between the areas west of the Carlsberg site and the SDI site. Caltrans and City Engineering would approve the sidewalk pursuant to proper marking and signage. There does not appear to be a need for these sidewalks at this time or even after construction of the Carlsberg commercial site and /or the SDI manufacturing site. However, the future development of the SDI proposed hotel and commercial sites may generate such a need in the future. Even though the specific plan calls for sidewalks on both sides of New Los Angeles Avenue, it is the view of the City Engineering Department that the sidewalk on the north side of the street would seldom, if ever, be utilized at any point in the future. It is recommended, therefore, that the requirement for a sidewalk on the north side of the street be deleted. If approved, the deletion of this requirement, and the attendant cost savings, should be considered in determining the scope of requirements for a sidewalk on the south side of the street. Spring Road A properly designed median can be installed on Spring Road. To facilitate emergency parking both the northbound and south bound barrels of Spring Road should be widened to 20 feet (12 feet of travel lane and 8 feet of bike /emergency lane). Sidewalk and guardrail should be installed on the east. L.A. Ave. Driveway The proposed commercial driveway on New Los Angeles Ave. would be acceptable to Staff and Caltrans should left turns from the site be prohibited by the construction of a raised median of ample length. 4 UV342 Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: Direct Staff to modify the Carlsberg specific plan to: omit the construction of the sidewalk along the north side of New Los Angeles Avenue; omit the sidewalk on the south side of New Los Angeles Avenue east of the access driveway until such time that pedestrian traffic warrants sidewalks. The developer shall pay a cash deposit for all design and construction costs for the sidewalk on the south side of New Los Angeles Avenue east of the driveway access, including the construction of a sidewalk under the freeway overpass. The deposits shall be utilized by the City for construction of the sidewalks or shall be returned to the developer no later than one year after build out of the proposed SDI commercial and hotel sites. 2. Direct Staff to modify the specific plan cross section for Spring Road north of Peach Hill Road to that shown in Exhibit 3 herein. Approve the commercial driveway access as shown in the Carlsberg Specific Plan, subject to construction of a raised median to prohibit left turns out of the Carlsberg site. Chron 84.573 c:092096b.at 0003 .'; EXJ41�IT- 1 AYR z +—POSSIBLE ENTRY /ACCESS POINTS tio.r. Rar. E N024802"M NMI, CM nE —sic CIRCULATION PLAN ow. 44 CARLSBERG SPECIFIC PLAN CITY OF MOORPAFK �AcWAY c ES IF- NCE j-)k, v� EXJ41�IT- 1 AYR z +—POSSIBLE ENTRY /ACCESS POINTS tio.r. Rar. E N024802"M NMI, CM nE —sic CIRCULATION PLAN ow. 44 CARLSBERG SPECIFIC PLAN CITY OF MOORPAFK Wry �o 4r .r r F :J now REJIId1 F"D wsmar G57E11Lr A EAiI►1C omww" sMEW, FAW noun+ or PEMMI o Y Es+rw ra r Won 11011D NCR1N OER HU ROAD ■ ulomx !CEMM mw iLJI *A to mw loom waloar C#Snxy w Law. nowl,lpur�LT W, *• S' VN ,a s r r C J SO01YX PEACH FLJ. MAD OfiF?GM ,Law. ... ,1A.w. ■.G•w• r MDCW" . r SOMA c1 "m Loa moan Now . - TwyL LDCaM Of SOEVKK TO K KTE,wrED ST T11E THE Of 111E Go1�Q1101L OrMA alFM N MOOVAL r„oaa AM wr K LOCATED oN P1aw7E PMDPDM. mr col (REVISED 917/94) iT- 6, E_ RAMSEYER AND ASSOCIATES, INC. • CIVIL ENGINEERS • LAND PLANNERS • SURVEYORS • August 23, 1996 Mr. Kenneth Gilbert, Public Works Director City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 Subject: Spring Road from Tierra Rejada Road to Arroyal Simi Dear Mr. Gilbert: Condition No. 69 for the Carlsberg projects requires the partial widening and reconstruction of Spring Road to include a raised median, bike paths, and a sidewalk along the east side of the road. It is our contention that the requirements for these facilities render the road unsafe for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Our concern is about safety not about cost savings to the developer of the projects. We believe the following issues need to be brought to your attention regarding these improvements. Several traffic studies over the last two decades have shown that a raised median does not prevent headon accidents and may contribute to increased injuries because vehicles become airborne and completely out of control. It is true that medians separate directions of traffic and allow for additional landscaping, but they do not prevent headon collisions that more restrictive structures provide. The 5- foot wide bicycle lane on each side of the road adjacent to a 12 -foot wide travel lane does not provide room for emergency parking of disabled vehicles. No -one expects the road to have routine parking but emergency parking is always a consideration in road widths. The road width (17' curb to curb) does not meet Fire Department requirements (20' minimum curb to curb) considering the median and lack of opportunities for emergency vehicles to turn around. The fact that the road is super- elevated means that storm water will flow adjacent to a raised median in the travel lane, which may cause steering problems for vehicles on that side of the road. If a vehicle jumps the curb it is likely that a pedestrian or bicyclist will be trapped against the guard rail with tragic results. Since the guard rail cannot be connected to the retaining wall supporting the road widening, the guard rail will necessarily be closer to the street. Guard rails should be adjacent to the curb so that they can deflect and absorb the energy of a wayward vehicle. They are not intended to act as a crash barrier but rather a means to bring an out of control vehicle under control and to a stop. Finally, it should be brought to your attention that there may be sufficient down hill speeds adjacent to a narrow bike lane in a road confined between curb, gutter, guard rail, and a center raised median. ()()034f6 1881 KNOLL DRIVE, VENTURA, CALIFORNIA 93003 TELEPHONE: (805)654 -1088 • FAX: (805 )654 -8013 F-XgIBIT 2 ? t cr E Z Mr. Kenneth Gilbert, Public Works Director City of Moorpark August 23, 1996 Page 2 In order to reduce or eliminate these potential hazards it is recommended that the median be 2 -feet wide and painted, the sidewalk on the east side be deleted, and that the guard rail be placed adjacent to the easterly curb along the road (see attached section). If the City believes that the raised median is a requirement, it is recommended that it be constructed by the City using Area Of Contribution funds. We are concerned that these improvements to the road will increase the potential for accidents, accident severity, and that the issue is safety not cost savings. Very truly yours, RAMSEYER AND ASSOICATES, INC. 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