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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1997 0305 CC REG ITEM 09DTO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: OVERVIEW AGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK Honorable City Council Baldemar J f fE _� Troche, Public Works Management Anal op MOCWAK CAi.iP©MA chy Cs"d 16861 February 20, 1997 (CC Meeting of March 5, 1997) Traffic Speed Study [Phase III] Presented herewith is the subject report prepared by the City's consultant for certain designated streets within the City. On the basis of this study, it is recommended that the posted speed limits on certain streets be revised and /or re- affirmed by City Council Resolution. 1. Section_ 40802 of California Vehwle Code (CVC): Said section requires, as a prerequisite to the enforcement of any speed law with radar, the preparation, within the past five years, of a traffic speed survey. 2. Enforce m= Staff has been informed by the Sheriff Department that they are unable to use radar to enforce speed violations on certain street segments because the courts have invalidated citations based on speed obdies where the posted speed limit is more than 5 MPH less than the 85th percentile speed as reflected in the speed study. The only legitimate exception to this provision which would allow the posting of a speed limit more than 5 MPH less than the 85th percentile speed, is the existence of conditions which are not readily apparent to the driver. 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 readers the speed limit unenforceable. 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. 3. Ralabifian No. 95 -1122: In May 1995, the City Council adopted said Resolution rescinding prior resolutions pertaining to speed lid on all City street (excluding State Highways) and re-establishing those speed limits. The speed limit for the street segments listed in Resolution No. 95 -1122 was based on two speed surveys performed in June of 1994 and March of 1995. M0114 Speed Survey (III) Page 2 1. Sutmlel Sneed Survey: On October 16, 1996, the City Council directed staff to retain a Traffic Engineer to perform a supplemental speed survey for the street segments shown below. Said report has been completed and a copy has been placed in the City Council office for review. A complete summary of the findings is attached as Exhibit W. Presented below is a summary of the changes. TRAFFIC SPEED STUDY [PIIASE III] Survey Current Recommended Change SCj=en Street From To Sneed Limit Speed L +/ -MPH 26A Peach Hill Road Spring Road Mesa Verde Drive 40 40 0 26B Peach Hill Road Spring Road East Terminus 25 25 0 15A1 Tierra Rejada Road Moorpark Road East City Limit 45 50 +5 15A2 Tierra Rejada Road Spring Road Moorpark Road 45 50 +5 29 Commerce Avenue Gabbert Road Poindexter Avenue 25 30 +5 30 University Drive Collins Drive Griffith Lane 25 30 +5 2. t: A. Peach Hill Road (Spring Road to Mesa Verde Drive): A Residential District is defined by CVC section 515 as a street or highway which has, within a distance of 'h mile, (a) at least 13 dwelling houses or business structures fronting one side of the street or (b) at least 16 dwelling houses or business structures fronting bath sides of the street. Since only 8 residences facing this portion of Peach Hill Road exists, this street is not considered to be in a Residential District. The street also does not meet the CVC section 40802d definition of a local street (local street is defined as (a) not more than 40 feet wide curb to curb; (b) not more than 'h mile long; and (c) have no more than 1 lane in each direction) . A speed survey is, therefore, required in order to use radar enforcement. (Mus Speed Survey (III) Page 3 The traffic speed study performed in March of 1493 recommended a 40 MPH speed limit for this street segment. The new engineering traffic speed study reconfirms said speed limit. B. Peach Hill Road (Spring Road to East Terminus): In order to utilize radar enforcement on this street, a traffic Wood study had to be performed. Although the 85th percentile speed along said segmeat is 32.5 MPH, the tragic engineer recommads posting 25 MPH along said sit due to the school. When this street is ended east of Science Drive, that chang+od condition nay or may not require the segment west of Science Drive to be re- surveyed. C. Tierra R*da Road (East of Spring Road): The previous engineering traffic speed study was conducted prior to the installatin of the traffic signal at Tierra Reyada Road and Moorpark Road. Akhouh the 85th percentile speed of said study was 55 MPH, the recommended speed limit was 43 MPH due to a finding of conditions not readily apparent to the driver (accident rate). With the installation of the traffic signal, conelitions which si fported that finding have changed. As such, this street segment is currently not radar enforceable. Although the 83th percentile speed on Tierra Rejok Road between Spring Road to Moorpark Road is 58 MPH, per the recently conducted engineering traffic speed study, the traffic engineer recommends posting 50 MPH along said segment due to traffic weaving and the Freeway ramp connection which he deemed conditions not readily apparent to the driver. With this finding, the recommended speed, limit of 50 MPH will be radar enforceable. D. Commerce Avenue (Crabbert Road to Poindexter Avenue): Commerce Avenue does not meet the criteria of a Local Street as defined in section 2A of this report. A speed survey is, therefore, required in odder to use radar enforcement. The engineering traffic speed study recomm ends a 30 MPH speed limit. E. University Drive (Collins Drive to Griffith Lane): A 23 MPH Prima Facie speed limit cannot be applied to this street since said street is not within a Residential District (Residential District is defined in section 2A of this report). In order to post a `legal' speed limit sign and allow the Police Department to utilize radar, it was necessary to conduct a traffic speed survey. The engineering traffic speed study recommends a 30 MPH speed limit. OO llfi Speed Survey (III) Page 4 3. New Resolution: The Resolution attached as Exhibit `B' rescinds Resolution No. 95- 1122 and re- establishes speed limits for all street segments in the City based on either prior surveys or the findings of the new speed survey. Upon adoption of this resolution and the posting of new speed limit signs where necessary, the Police Department will be able to use radar to enforce these new speed limits. Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: 1. Approve the Traffic Speed Study; and, 2. Adopt the attached Resolution No. 97- (Exhibit `B') rescinding Resolution No. 95 -1122; re- dishing speed limits which remain unchanged; and, adopting revised speed limits for certain City streets. \c _rptAspeed_1097 (MI17 Exhibit A 0 TRAFFIC SPEED STUDY (PIIASE III) u Notes: A Re -survey of street did not result in a lower speed. B: Current City approved speed limit is not radar enforceable. To be radar enforceable, survey recommended speed limit must be approved. C. Survey identifies certain conditions not readily apparent to the driver which warrant the posting of a speed limit more than 5 MPH lower than the 85th percentile speed. 1997 1997 Survey Existing Survey Recamnd Change Notes/ Street _ From To SW Lnit 85% S12d Lmt (+/-MPH) R Peach Hill Road Spring Road Mesa Verde Drive 40 45.5 40 None A/C Peach Hill Road Spring Road East Terminus 25 32.5 25 None B Tierra Rejada Road Moorpark Road East City Limit 45 51.0 50 +5 B Tierra Rejada Road Spring Road Moorpark Road 45 58.0 50 +5 B/C Commerce Avenue Gabbert Road Poindexter Avenue 25 33.0 30 +5 B University Drive Collins Drive Griffith Lane 25 34.5 30 +5 B Notes: A Re -survey of street did not result in a lower speed. B: Current City approved speed limit is not radar enforceable. To be radar enforceable, survey recommended speed limit must be approved. C. Survey identifies certain conditions not readily apparent to the driver which warrant the posting of a speed limit more than 5 MPH lower than the 85th percentile speed.