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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(C) Date: December 19, 2011 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Yvetteh Ortiz, Engineering Manager Jerry Bradshaw, Public Works Director I City Engineer Subject: Various Traffic and Parking Revisions ACTION REQUESTED Adopt three separate resolutions authorizing the Public Works Director/City Engineer to: 1. Install stop signs on: a. Ward Avenue at Pomona Avenue b. Liberty Street at Schmidt Lane c. Willow Street at Liberty Street d. Junction Avenue at Knott Avenue 2. Modify the white, yellow, and green curb markings on Ashbury Avenue in front of Harding Elementary School located at 7230 Fairmount Avenue as shown in Exhibit A; and 3. Remove 23 feet of the white curb marking on the east side of San Pablo A venue in front of St. John's Church located at 11150 San Pablo Avenue. DISCUSSION Stop Sign Installation at Various Locations The Public Works Department has received requests from concerned citizens to evaluate the safety at several T-intersections (intersections with three legs) including Ward A venue at Pomona A venue, Liberty Street at Schmidt Lane, Willow Street at Liberty Street, and Junction A venue at Knott A venue. The City does not typically use stop signs at T -intersections in residential areas. At T -intersections without stop or yield signs, the right-of-way rules are covered under the California Vehicle Code (Section 21800), which requires that drivers on the terminating leg of the intersection yield to vehicles on the continuing street. However, the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device (MUTCD) indicates that stop signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates that one or more of several conditions exist: • Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable compliance with the law; • Street entering a through highway or street; ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) • Unsignalized intersection in a signalized area; and/or • High speeds, restricted view, or crash records indicate a need for control by the STOP sign. Based on the existing roadway configuration, traffic patterns and surrounding traffic control devices at the subject intersections, Public Works staff determined that a stop sign on the terminating leg of each intersection is an appropriate traffic control device. The proposed stop signs comply with the guidelines provided by the MUTCD. Ward A venue at Pomona A venue The intersection of Ward A venue and Pomona A venue has no traffic control signs on any of its legs. Ward A venue, the terminating street, at 40 feet is significantly wider than Pomona A venue at 28 feet. The condition is atypical and can lead to unexpected speeds of vehicles as they approach the continuing street. Ward A venue is currently controlled by stop signs at all other intersecting roadways east of Pomona A venue including Ramona, Carmel, San Carlos and Santa Fe A venues. Although both Pomona A venue and Ward A venue are local residential streets, they also carry traffic to and from Albany High School located at the southern end of Pomona A venue. Parked vehicles along with the narrowness of Pomona A venue, limit visibility between Ward A venue and Pomona Avenue. Based on the atypical roadway widths, limited visibility, school- related traffic and surrounding traffic control devices, the Public Works Department is proposing installation of a stop sign on Ward A venue at Pomona A venue to improve traffic safety and operations. Liberty Street at Schmidt Lane The intersection of Liberty Street and Schmidt Lane has no traffic control signs on any of its legs. Liberty Street, the terminating street, and Schmidt Lane, the continuing street are both 40-feet wide. This two-way segment of Liberty Street is currently controlled by stop signs at Portola Drive and Moeser Lane. Given the various land uses along Schmidt Lane, it currently functions as a collector street although not classified as such in the General Plan. Schmidt Lane is also a designated pedestrian route in the Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians. Liberty Street is a local residential street and, as such, is relatively wide. This can lead to unexpected speeds of vehicles as they approach the continuing street, as well as encroachments into the pedestrian path along Schimdt Lane. Based on the atypical roadway width on Liberty Street, Schmidt Lane's designation as a pedestrian route, and surrounding traffic control devices, the Public Works Department is proposing installation of a stop sign on Liberty Street and Schmidt Lane to improve traffic safety and operations. Willow Street at Liberty Street The intersection of Willow Street and Liberty Street has no traffic control signs on any of its legs. Willow Street, the terminating street, and Liberty Street, the continuing street are both 30-feet wide. Less than 200 feet to the east, Willow Street has a dogleg and Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) becomes Oak Street. Oak Street is stop-controlled at Central A venue. Both Willow Street and Liberty Street are local residential streets. Because they are in close proximity to the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, they also handle BART commuter parking. The parked vehicles on the east side of Liberty Street and south side of Willow Street where no four-hour parking restrictions exist, limit visibility between Willow Street and Liberty Street. Based on the roadway configuration, limited visibility at the intersection and surrounding traffic control devices, the Public Works Department is proposing installation of a stop sign on Willow Street and Liberty Street to improve traffic safety and operations. Junction Avenue at Knott Avenue The intersection of Junction Avenue and Knott Avenue has no traffic control signs on any of its legs. Junction Avenue, the terminating street, at 32 feet is wider than Knott Avenue, the continuing street at 30 feet. This block of Junction Avenue is currently controlled by a stop sign at its T -intersection with Cutting Boulevard. Both Junction A venue and Knott A venue are local residential streets. Because they are in close proximity to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station, they also handle BART commuter parking and have four-hour parking restrictions on one side of each street. Also, Junction A venue offers an attractive alternative to Key Boulevard between Cutting Boulevard and Knott Avenue and carries more than 1,000 vehicles per day. Based on the existing roadway configuration, traffic patterns and surrounding traffic control devices, the Public Works Department is proposing installation of a stop s1gn on Junction A venue and Knott A venue to improve traffic safety and operations. Parking Modifications at Various Locations Ashbury Avenue in front of Harding Elementary School (7230 Fairmount Avenue) The Public Works Department is proposing to modify parking restrictions on the west side of the Ashbury Avenue in front of Harding Elementary School located at 7230 Fairmount A venue. This is in response to a request from school representatives to modify curb markings to address parking and traffic problems on Ashbury Avenue. It has been the practice of the City of El Cerrito to adjust parking restrictions near schools to improve student drop-off and pick-up activities and traffic circulation. The current parking restrictions arouncl Harding Elementary School have been in place since 2006. Public Works staff evaluated the existing curb markings and use of the curb space for parking during school drop-off and pick-up times. The most significant problems were caused by insufficient space for school buses, which then would double-park and block traffic circulation on Ashbury A venue. The proposed parking modifications are based on the following guidelines to best meet the current school needs: • Maintain existing red curb clearances near intersections for safety purposes; • Maintain existing blue curb for disabled persons parking; • Provide passenger loading zone and bus zone nearest the main school entrances; Page 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) • Provide short-term parking farther away from main school entrances; • Provide material loading zone limited in length and near service delivery entrance; and • Maintain the existing number of unrestricted parking spaces. The proposed curb 'markings from Fairmount Avenue to C Street are as follows and as shown in Exhibit A (in order from north to south): A. 35 feet of Red Curb Marking for clearance at intersection with Fairmount Avenue; B. 40 feet of Green Curb Marking for 30-minute parking; C. 130 feet of White Curb Marking for student drop-off and pick-up (active loading and unloading only, no parking); D. 20 feet of Blue Curb Marking for disabled persons parking; E. 1 00 feet of Red Curb Marking for school buses next to the curb near the main entrance; F. 90 feet of Green Curb Marking for 30-minute parking; G. 20 feet of Red Curb Marking for clearance at driveway; H. 60 feet of Yell ow Curb Marking for material loading and unloading. I. 80 feet of Non-Restricted Curb, this is longer than the existing curb of 75 feet; and J. 20 feet of Red Curb Marking for clearance at intersection with C Street. Related signing will indicate that these parking restrictions will be in effect only during school hours. No unrestricted parking spaces will be lost. The El Cerrito Municipal Code requires City Council approval of any modifications to white, yellow and green curb markings. Because the El Cerrito Municipal Code authorizes the City Engineer to install and remove red curb marking, related modifications to red curb marking do not require action by City Council. In August 2011, an initial notification regarding the proposed parking modifications was sent to property owners and current residents within a 300-foot radius of this location. No comments were received. In October 2011, a final notification was sent to the school. San Pablo Avenue in front of St. John the Baptist Church (11150 San Pablo Avenue) The Public Works Department is proposing to remove 23 feet of the existing 63 feet of white curb marking on the east side of San Pablo Avenue in front of St. John the Baptist Church located at 11150 San Pablo Avenue. This is in response to a request from church representatives concerned with the lack of available on-street parking spaces in front of the church. The existing 63 feet of white curb marking is used as both a passenger and material loading zone. Public Works staff evaluated the on-street curb parking and proposes a modification maintaining 40 feet of white curb marking to continue to provide a safe and convenient loading zone while adding one legal on-street parking space in front of the church. Page4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(C) In April 2011, an initial notification regarding the proposed parking modifications was sent to property owners and current residents within a 300-foot radius of this location. No comments were received. In May 2011, a final notification was sent to the church. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.36.010 requires that any modification of stop signs be approved by City Council Resolution. El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.40.160 requires that any modification of white, yellow and green curb markings be approved by City Council Resolution. Reviewed by: Sc~, C1ty Manager Attachments: 1. Accompanying Resolution for Installation of Stop Signs at ·Various Locations 2. Accompanying Resolution for Parking Modification in front of Harding Elementary School (7230 Fairmount A venue), including Exhibit A 3. Accompanying Resolution for Removal of White Curb Marking in front of St. John the Baptist Church (11150 San Pablo Avenue) Page 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2011-:XX Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION OF THE EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS ON WARD AVENUE AT POMONA AVENUE, ON LIBERTY STREET AT SCHMIDT LANE, ON WILLOW STREET AT LIBERTY STREET, AND ON JUNCTION AVENUE AT KNOTT AVENUE WHEREAS, the Public Works Department has received requests from concerned citizens to evaluate the safety at several T -intersections including Ward A venue at Pomona A venue, Liberty Street at Schmidt Lane, Willow Street at Liberty Street, and Junction Avenue at Knott Avenue; and WHEREAS, all four intersections have no traffic control signs; and WHEREAS, based on the existing roadway configuration, traffic patterns and surrounding traffic control devices at the subject intersections, Public Works staff determined that a stop sign on the terminating leg of each intersection is an appropriate traffic control device to improve traffic safety and operations; and WHEREAS, it is the judgment of the City Engineer that these intersections meet the guidelines of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for a stop sign; and WHEREAS, Section 11.36.010 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code requires that the installation of any stop sign be approved by the City Council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the El Cerrito City Council hereby authorizes the Public Works Director I City Engineer to install stop signs on Ward A venue at Pomona A venue, Liberty Street at Schmidt Lane, Willow Street at Liberty Street, and Junction A venue at Knott A venue. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on December 19, 2011 the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: * * * * * ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(C) Attachment 1 IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City ofEl Cerrito on December_, 2011. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C. Jones III, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2011-:XX Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 2 RESOLUTION OF THE EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING CURB MARKING MODIFICATIONS ON ASHBURY AVENUE IN FRONT OF HARDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATED AT 7230 FAIRMOUNT A VENUE WHEREAS, representatives of Harding Elementary School requested that the Public Works Department modify curb markings in front of the school to improve parking and traffic on Ashbury A venue; and WHEREAS, it has been the practice of the City of El Cerrito to adjust parking restrictions near schools to improve student drop-off and pick-up activities and traffic circulation; and WHEREAS, the parking restrictions around Harding Elementary School have been in place since 2006;and WHEREAS, the proposed parking modifications are expected to best meet the current school needs by providing a passenger loading zone and bus zone nearest the main school entrance; and WHEREAS, the City Engineer is authorizing the modifications to red curb markings as shown in Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.40.160 requires that any modification of white, yellow and green curb markings be approved by City Council Resolution. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the El Cerrito City Council hereby authorizes the Public Works Director I City Engineer to modify the white, yellow, and green curb markings on Ashbury Avenue in front of Harding Elementary School as shown in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on December 19, 2011 the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: * * * * * ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(C) Attachment 2 IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City ofEl Cerrito on December_, 2011. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C. Jones III, Mayor Attachment: Exhibit A ---PAGE BREAK--- Proposed White, Yellow & Green Curb Marking Modifications Require City Council Approval Existing Proposed Exhibit A Parking Modifications on Ashbury Avenue in front of Harding Elementary School (7230 Fairmount Avenue) ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2011-XX Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 3 RESOLUTION OF THE EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE REMOVAL OF 23 FEET OF WHITE CURB MARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN PABLO A VENUE IN FRONT OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED AT 11150 SAN PABLO AVENUE WHEREAS, representatives of St. John the Baptist Church requested that the Public Works Department provide additional on-street parking in front of the church; and WHEREAS, an existing 63-foot long white curb marking currently serves as a passenger and material loading zone in front of the church; and WHEREAS, Public Works staff evaluated the on-street curb parking and proposes a modification maintaining 40 feet of white curb marking to continue to provide a safe and convenient loading zone while adding one legal on-street parking space in front of the church; and WHEREAS, El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.40.160 requires that any modification of white curb markings be approved by City Council Resolution. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the El Cerrito City Council hereby authorizes the Public Works Director I City Engineer to remove 23 feet of the white curb marking on the east side of San Pablo Avenue in front of St. John's Church located at 11150 San Pablo Avenue. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on December 19, 2011, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on December_, 2011. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C. Jones III, Mayor