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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 1016 CC REG ITEM 07PIT E M 70 PO AGENDA REPORT C = TY OF MOORPARK TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: October 4, 1996 (Council Meeting 10- 16 -96) SUBJECT: Consider Authorizing a Speed Survey for Certain Streets This report requests authorization to retain a consultant to perform a speed survey on certain designated streets and also requests approval of additional funds for the cost of these professional services. 1. In May 1995 the City Council adopted Resolution No. 95 -1122 rescinding prior resolutions pertaining to speed limits on all City street (excluding State Highways) and reestablishing those speed limits. A map sowing those adopted speed limits is attached as Exhibit 1. 2. The speed limit for most of the street segments listed in Resolution No. 95 -1122 was based on a speed survey performed in June 1994. Those speed limits had been set by a prior resolution and then re- stated in Resolution No. 95 -1122. 3. The speed limit for a few of the street segments listed in Resolution No. 95 -1122 was based on a speed survey performed in March of 1995. In some cases the speed limit for those street segments was adjusted upward or downward to reflect the speed limit recommended by that more recent survey. svy96 iVolqDkE-N Al It is the view of staff (including the Police Department) that the ability to use radar to enforce speed limits is essential to the integrity of the posted speed limit signs. The inability to use radar renders the speed limit unenforceable. It is believed 000130 Speed Survey October 1996 Page 2 •vp96 that this lack of enforcement leads to an increased frequency in the incidents of excessive speed. To be more clear -- it is believed that the 85th percentile speed will be higher when speed limits are not enforced. It is, therefore, the recommendation of staff, the City Traffic Engineer and the Police Department that radar be used on all streets where speeding problems may exist and where speed enforcement is required. It is also recommended speed surveys be performed on any and all street requiring such a survey in support of the posted speed limit. - . s z =0!, - PLOW�•.. 1. Survey Required: Questions have been raised as to whether or not this street segment requires a speed survey for the use of radar speed enforcement. In that there are residents which front this street, it was suggested that this may be a residential street. The California Vehicle Code (CVC) defines a street in a Residential District as one which has at least thirteen (13) dwelling units one side of the street within a distance of one - quarter (h) mile. In that there are only eight (8) residences facing this portion of Peach Hill Road, a speed survey is required in order to use radar speed enforcement. 2. Changed Conditions: It is the view of staff that there may be a changed conditions on Peach Hill Road west of Spring Road since the date the last speed survey was performed, which could have an impact on vehicular speeds. The last speed survey performed on this street was in March of 1995. Mesa Verde School was opened in September 1995. The possible increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic may pose a "changed condition." It is recommended, therefore, that a new speed survey be performed for this street segment. 1 :_ 1 .• • . �• �•.• • There has been no speed survey performed for that portion of Peach Hill Road east of Spring Road. The Police Department is, therefore, unable to utilize radar speed enforcement on this street segment. It is, therefore, the recommendation of the staff and the Police Department that a speed survey be performed on this street segment to enable such enforcement. 0001311 Speed Survey October 1996 Page 3 D. University Drive (Wgst) It has recently been determined that the westerly leg of University Drive (see Exhibit 2) does not conform to the definition of a street in a Residential District. The posted speed limit of 25 MPH is, therefore, not supported by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) . The net result is that the legal speed limit for this street segment is determined by the Basic Speed Law [CVC 22350]. That provision merely states that, "No person shall drive a vehicle ... at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent ...." In order to establish a specific speed limit for this street segment, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the CVC, it will be necessary to perform an Engineering and Traffic Survey (Speed Survey). Although this street segment meets the definition of a Local Street [a) not tore than � the long, b) not more than 40' vide, and c) not pore than one lane in each direction] and therefore, the Speed Trap Law does not apply, the Police Department is unable to utilize radar speed enforcement on this street segment because there is no established speed limit. It is the recommendation of staff and the Police Department that a speed survey be performed on this street segment to establish the legal speed limit for this street and to enable the use of radar speed enforcement on this street. The benefits of radar speed enforcement is discussed in Section A of this report. avy96 Although Commerce Avenue may meet the CVC definition of a street within a Business District (25 MPH prima facie speed limit), this street segment is not a Local Street as defined by the CVC. The Speed Trap Law thus prevents the Police Department from using radar to enforce any speed limit on this street. It is, therefore, the recommendation of staff and the Police Department that a speed survey be performed on this street segment to enable radar speed enforcement. The benefits of radar speed enforcement is discussed in Section A of this report. 00013Z 013Z Speed Survey October 1996 Page 4 The posted speed limit for Tierra Rejada Road east of Spring Road is 45 MPH. That posted speed limit is based on speed survey conducted prior to April 1996 when the new traffic signal at Tierra Rejada Road and Moorpark Road was installed. That survey recommended a posted speed limit more than five miles per hour less than the 85th percentile speed due to certain conditions not readily apparent to the driver. With the installation of the new traffic signal, the conditions not readily apparent to the driver have changed. That speed survey is, therefore, no longer valid. The Police Department, therefore, cannot use radar to enforce the speed limit on this street. It is the recommendation of staff and the Police Department that a new speed survey be performed on this street segment. PT-MM-0 - • • •_ X.�•- _- Although Science Drive may meet the CVC definition of a street within a Business District (25 MPH prima facie speed limit), this street segment is not a Local Street as def fined by the CVC. The Speed Trap Law thus applies and the Police Department may not use radar to enforce any speed limit on this street. However, there does not appear to be a speeding problem on this street segment at this time. It is, therefore, not recommended that a speed survey be performed. 8V"G Although these street segments are within a Business District (25 MPH prima facie speed limit), they are not Local Streets as defined by the CVC. The Speed Trap Law thus applies and the Police Department may not use radar to enforce the speed limit on these streets. However, there does not appear to be a speeding problem on these streets at this time. It is, therefore, not recommended that a speed survey be performed. 000133 Speed Survey October 1996 Page 5 I. Summary It is the view of staff that the following street segments require an Engineering and Traffic Survey (Speed Survey): • Tierra Rejada Road: east of Spring Road • Peach Hill Road: west of Spring Road • Peach Hill Road: east of Spring Road • University Drive: southwest of Griffith Lane • Commerce Avenue J. Fiscal Impact It is recommended that a new Speed Survey be performed on certain street segments. Although the exact cost of these professional services have not yet been determined, it is not anticipated that these costs would exceed $3,000. If approved, the cost for these services will be charged to funds already budgeted for miscellaneous Engineering services (240.801.000.000.9199). Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to retain a Traffic Engineer to perform a Speed Survey for the street segments identified in Section I of this report. evy96 +il00134 1 V 2 \/ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I. ru z Ex lA i e; T t.. SPEED LIMITS a Resolution No. 95 -1122 23 s, ° o B ° E c gg 5A 18 5C VA `e y � �� -1 �. _ •w.v LCLY SAN (Ep - A.. 5�z F1 �S k 8 � / �. �� II8 VALLEY FHWY Ile JA \ w A* ,r `" M 3 .. J, 12 mm H n a 4 LOS AN4ELE5 yn AV n II8 23 LIB T. Souris APPROXIM 1 1. IN MILES 26 13 * 23 Legend . se; n * T Survey Date 6194 M * � �lr s * 19 *., 24 - ** Survey Date 3/95 Survey Date Unassigned #4, #11 _ I4 Speed Limit " \ ` *' aF�,* `a —`1i oa" ^ �° .�• 30 MPH 35 MPH at Tr t� 15A* = rn��.a,�e 40 MPH z� �T�TTTi * * r. 45 MPH IB 20 2g I5B � . � ���_ - - - 1- 10 Q Cam+ ar Cli � 1 ExVA A 2 1' Portion of University Drive which is not a residential street.