CC - Item 5F - Review of Traffic Improvements - Hellman Avenue Traffic Calming Improvements iS 14` 1°E M F
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
t P&P n----:,CIVIC PRIDE STAFF REPORT
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/NCoRPORATED,
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER Al
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DATE: JUNE 23, 2015
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS —
HELLMAN AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS
SUMMARY
At the Traffic Commission meeting on June 4, 2015, the Commission reviewed and
discussed the traffic conditions along Hellman Avenue and proposed traffic calming
measures to be implemented. Staff had received multiple requests from residents
regarding traffic conditions along Hellman Avenue, mostly pertaining to vehicle speeds
and difficulty entering and exiting driveways along Hellman Avenue. Staff worked with a
traffic engineer to review the conditions along Hellman Avenue and a number of
improvements, including signage and striping, were recommended. The Traffic
Commission reviewed and approved staff's recommendation to complete striping and
signage improvements along Hellman Avenue.
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended, that the City Council approve the Traffic Commission's
recommendation of improved signage and striping along Hellman Avenue.
DISCUSSION
Hellman Avenue is an east west collector road that spans approximately 1.5 miles across
the City of Rosemead. The roadway is between thirty-five (35) feet and forty. (40) feet
wide and has one travel lane in each direction. Parking is permitted on both sides of the
street with the exception of street sweeping restrictions. The posted speed limit on
Hellman Avenue is thirty (30) miles per hour. Hellman Avenue is mostly residential with
primarily single family dwelling units fronting onto it with some multi-family units and
churches scattered along the street, mostly at the major intersections.
Review of Conditions .
Staff, assisted by a consulting Traffic Engineer, reviewed the conditions in this vicinity in
order to address the concerns expressed by residents. The conditions that were reviewed
include vehicle speeds, accident data, and roadway configuration. .
Vehicle Speeds
The posted speed limit on Hellman Avenue is 30 miles per hour, which was set most
ITEM NUMBER: 5F
City Council Meeting
April 14,2015
Page 2 of 3
recently by an Engineering and Traffic Survey in 2012.. At the time of the survey, the 85th
Percentile speed, which is typically used to generate a speed limit, was 34 miles per hour.
At the time, however, the engineering staff set the speed limit 5 miles per hour lower,
which is permitted by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the Manual for Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), based on the primarily residential land use and existing
accident data. The recent engineering review found the speeds to be consistent with the
data that was found as a part of the 2012 study.
Accident History
The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) records and maintains data
on vehicle accidents: A review of the SWITRS data for this area over a period of four
years (2010-2014) showed that there were fifty(50) reported accidents in this time period.
Segment Total Accidents Accidents Incl. Midblock Intersection
(2010-2014) Pedestrian or Accidents Accidents
Bicycle
New to Jackson 4 - 0 1 3
Jackson to Del Mar 14 0 3 11
Del Mar to San.Gabriel 16 2 5 11
San Gabriel to Walnut 16 0 9 7
Grove
TOTALS 50 . 2 18 32
*Midblock Accidents include speed related,hit parked car,rear-end,hit object,hit car exiting driveway
*Intersection Accidents include turning movements such as broadside, head-on
Average Daily Traffic
Hellman Avenue is a collector road that parallels Interstate 10. As a result of the proximity
to the freeway, Hellman Avenue is.a very busy street. The ADT data was counted in
March 2015 and is expressed below.
Segment Vehicles P,er Day .
New to Jackson 9,409
Jackson to Del Mar . 10,449 .
Del Mar to San Gabriel . 7,800
San Gabriel to Walnut Grove 5,397
Recommendation
In response to the traffic concerns identified through the analysis of this area, conceptual
traffic calming options were examined for these streets. The strategies focused on traffic
calming measures aimed at encouraging slower traffic speeds. The following is a list and
explanation of recommended traffic calming measures for this area
Narrow the Roadway - Install edge line striping to narrow the travel lane down to 10
feet in width. This method has been utilized in other parts of the City as a reduced
lane width has been shown to reduce travel speeds and increase safety. The
narrowing of the travel lane will allow for a shoulder or parking lane to remain.
City Council Meeting
April 14,2015
Page 3 of 3
Improved Signage- It is recommended that additional and larger speed limit signs be
installed along this area. Speed limit signs are one of the most cost effective measures
in increasing awareness of the speed limit and slowing vehicles down. Additionally, it
is recommended that radar enforcement signs also be added to increase awareness
of the speed limit.
Increased Speed• Enforcement — Work with the Sheriff's Department, Traffic
Enforcement Detail to increase the amount of traffic enforcement that is done along
Hellman Avenue.
Engineering staff will continue to monitor the location, after the improvements are made,
to evaluate their effectiveness and determine if additional traffic calming measures are
necessary.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Funding for this type of roadway improvement is included in the annual maintenance and
operations budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 under the Public Works Department, Field
Services Division.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA)
pursuant to Section 15301 (C) of the CEQA Implementing Guidelines.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared By: Prepared By:
Rafael M. Fajardo, P.E. Sean Sullivan .
City Engineer Acting Public Works Manager
Submitted By:
Md--7---j!M atthew E. kesworth
Assistant City Manager/Acting Director of Public Works