TC - Item 4A - Hellman Avenue/Ramona Boulevard`~ ,
OSEMEAD ~~AFFIC COMMISSION
T,QFF .REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS
FROM: JOANNE ITAGAKI, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPUTY
DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2008
SUBJECT: HELLI~AN AVENUE/RAi~ONA BOULEVAR® AT WALNUT GROVE
AVENUE -STRIPING REVISION
SU IVI MARY
Commissioner Lewin requested staff revie~~~ the striping at the intersection of Hellman
Avenue/Ramona Boulevard at Walnut Grave Avenue. Commissioner Lewin specifically
was concerned with the striping on the east leg (westbound traffic) of the intersection.
He indicated there appears to be a need to provide additional travel lanes on Ramona
Boulevard to allow right turning vehicles and through traffic the ability to travel around
left turning vehicles.
Staff' Recommendation
It is staffs recommendation that the Traffic Commission concur with the proposed
change in the striping on Ramona Boulevard to provide a westbound left turn lane and a
shared through-right turn lane at Walnut Grove Avenue. it is further recommended that
staff be directed to have the striping modification placed. on the schedule for striping
crews.
BACKGROUND
The intersection of Walnut Grove Avenue and Hellman Avenue/Ramona Boulevard has
.been reviewed and analyzed several times over many- years. More recently, the traffic
signal operation was modified to provide as much time as possible to traffic traveling on
Walnut Grove Avenue. Due to the nature of the intersection and Caltrans' control over
the ramps on Hellman Avenue, the City has made several adjustments to the traffic
signal timing. ,_
As part of the signal modifications, traffic striping was also modified. The northbound
.left turn .pocket on Walnut Grove Avenue at Hellman Avenue/Ramona Boulevard was
lengthened. The Traffic Commission also approved the lengthening of the southbound
left turn pocket which the City Council also approved. The southbound lengthening
i ~,
Traffic Commission Meeting
December 4, 2008
Page 2 of 2
requires modification to the raised center median and was to be included in appropriate
capital improvement projects of the City Engineer.
Discussion
Field review of the intersection of Walnut Grove Avenue and Hellman Avenue/Ramona
Boulevard indicated that westbound vehicles do experience "problems" if left turning
vehicles are stopped. There is no striping to delineate left turning vehicles from through
or right turning vehicles. Therefore, if a left turning vehicle is waiting at the red light, a
right turning vehicle cannot-turn until a green light comes on.
The proposed striping modification on Ramona Boulevard at Walnut Grove Avenue
would provide for two westbound travel lanes. One would be a dedicated left turn lane
and the other would be a shared through-right turn lane. Exhibit A will be available at
the Traffic Commission meeting to depict the recommended striping modification.
Staf'; RECOr~mendation
It is staff's recommendation that the Traffic C~mmISSIOn concur with the proposed
change in the striping on Ramona Boulevard to provide a westbound left turn lane and a
shared through-right turn lane at Walnut Grove Avenue. It is further recommended that
staff be directed to have the striping modification placed on the schedule for striping
crews.
Pl1BLIC fNOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Submitted by:
Joanne Itagaki
Traffic Engineering Deputy
Exhibit A: Striping Modification on Ramona Boulevard at Walnut Grove Avenue (available at the
Traffic Commission meeting)