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TC - Minutes - 06-01-23Minutes of the Regular ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING June 1, 2023 The regular meeting of the Rosemead Traffic Commission was called to order by Chair Orange at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. FLAG SALUTE: Commissioner Quintanilla INVOCATION: Commissioner Hermosillo PRESENT: Commissioner Hermosillo, Commissioner Lang, Commissioner Quintanilla, Vice Chair Nguyen and Chair Drange ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Contract City Engineer Janka and Commission Liaison Nguyen 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 2. CONSENT CALENDAR Chair Drange asked Traffic Commissioners if anyone would like to make revisions or additions to the minutes of April 6, 2023. Chair Nguyen made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Hermosillo, to accept consent calendar. Vote resulted in: Yes: Hermosillo, Quintanilla, Nguyen, Drange No: None Abstain: Lang Absent: None 3. NEW BUSINESS A. ENCINITA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LOWER AZUSA ROAD AND ENCINITA AVENUE CROSSING GUARD REVIEW Associate Traffic Engineer Richter provided a brief description of the item and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the studies that were conducted. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter explained that the City received a request from the school district regarding the addition of an adult crossing guard at the Encinita Avenue and Lower Azusa Road intersection. As part of this traffic review, an investigation of collision history over a 3 -year period, an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Count, 24-hour Speed Survey, pedestrian movement count, intersection turning movement count, as well as an examination of the existing roadway conditions were completed. After a thorough review of existing field and traffic conditions and per the guidelines in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), California Vehicle Code (CVC), and based on engineering judgement, it was determined that Encinita Elementary School does not qualify for a crossing guard. However, additional intersection improvements are suggested. Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes ofJune 1, 2023 Page I of 6 Chair Drange asked about the northern boundary of Rosemead and whether it was observed if students were using the crosswalks to cross Lower Azusa Road to get to the school. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied during their morning field visit, they noticed few student aged pedestrians using the crosswalks. Vice Chair Nguyen asked if the proposed new school signage identified as 2A on the presentation will help address the speeding along Lower Azusa Road. She also mentioned a sign with flashing lights posted along Mission Drive and asked if something similar could be utilized. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied there is existing speed limit signage west of the high school, as well as existing school flashing signage south of Lower Azusa Road and Encinita Avenue by Pitkin Street. There is also a crossing guard at that location. Contract City Engineer Janka added that the new fluorescent sign will make it more visible to drivers of the school zone ahead, and indirectly reduce their speeds. He explained there are situations where flashing beacons are used, however, they are more costly and typically placed in areas with high pedestrian volume. Based on the warrant study, this location did not meet the criteria for pedestrian volume. Commissioner Quintanilla did not agree with the warrant study and explained why he feels the data is flawed. He did not feel the numbers presented in the pedestrian crossing counts were an accurate representation. Contract City Engineer explained the data collected in the pedestrian crossing counts shows that school age children are likely being accompanied by adults when crossing as opposed to school age children just crossing the street on their own. He agreed with Commissioner Quintanilla that the data could vary each day. Commissioner Quintanilla asked if there was a pedestrian count for the crosswalk with the crossing guard by Pitkin Street and Encinita Avenue. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied there was no count at that crosswalk location because it was not part of the initial request by the school district and there is already a school crossing guard. This intersection also already has a flashing pedestrian sign and yellow bollards to improve visibility and safety. Chair Drange asked why the crossing guard warrant requires at least 40 school pedestrians. He also mentioned that there was a recent crossing guard study for a school within the Garvey School District and the school district would share the cost with the City. He asked if the warrants would determine whether the city would fund the cost of the crossing guard. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied that is from the California Municipal Codes Standards. Contract City Engineer Janka added that the city also follows the guidelines from California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as well as the Highway Design Manual. The school district can still choose to fund for the crossing guard using their own budget. The criteria along with engineering judgement helps determine whether a crossing guard is needed based on high pedestrian volume as opposed to an area with a low number of pedestrians crossing. Commissioner Quintanilla commented he feels even with a low number of pedestrians, that intersection may still need a crossing guard due to the nature of the area being that it is an elementary school. He added that Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of June 1, 2023 Page 2 of 6 by adding crosswalks and placing a crossing guard, people will naturally start to use it. He also asked what percentage of the school population is coming from the north side of Lower Azusa Road as the city border limits stop at the railroad tracks. Vice Chair Nguyen commented about the speed survey for the location at Lower Azusa Road east of Livia Avenue indicating that the 85'" percentile speed was 48 MPH with a posted speed limit of 40 MPH. Chair Drange asked if the city could communicate with the school district to find out how many Encinita Elementary students live on the north side of Lower Azusa Road. Contract City Engineer Janka replied we could ask the school district. Commissioner Lang commented that having 40 of 330 students cross at this intersection seems like a high number. He asked how backed up the traffic along Encinita Avenue in front of the school was during the study. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied the traffic for eastbound vehicles was in the afternoon when parents were waiting to pick up students. Most of the traffic for southbound vehicles was in morning during student drop-offs. There was also some traffic in the morning for westbound vehicles on Lower Azusa Road making a left turn onto Encinita Avenue. Commissioner Lang commented it is because most parents do not feel comfortable with dropping off their children on the north side of Lower Azusa Road, which results in less pedestrian crossing at this intersection. Chair Drange asked if staff could continue to look into this item if the commission decides to approve the staff recommendations. Contract City Engineer Janke replied staff can ask the school district regarding the student population and look into the speed limit on Lower Azusa Road to see if signs need to be updated or changed for added visibility. Commissioner Quintanilla expressed strong opposition to the warrant study and disagreed with the statement that a crossing guard was not warranted at this intersection. He commented there should be safety precautions considering it is an elementary school and was requested by the school district. Commissioner Lang agreed and suggested we should try using the crossing guard for a few months and reassess the data to see if the numbers change. If the number of pedestrian crossings remains low, then it would help the commission understand the need for the crossing guard is not warranted. Chair Drange commented with the current data collected, he would not be inclined to add a crossing guard at this location. He added knowing the school population and how many students live north of Lower Azusa Road would help determine his decision. Vice Chair Nguyen made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lang, to approve staff recommendations, as well as to follow up on the speed limit along east Lower Azusa Road, and to follow up with the school district regarding the student population. Vote resulted in: Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of June 1, 2023 Page 3 of 6 Yes: Hermosillo, Lang, Quintanilla, Nguyen, Drange No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Commissioner Hermosillo made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Quintanilla, to table the discussion on installing a crossing guard at this location and reassess once staff provides further information. Vote resulted in: Yes: Hermosillo, Lang, Quintanilla, Nguyen, Drange No: None Abstain: None Absent: None B. SAVANNAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIO HONDO AVENUE AND MARSHALL STREET CROSSING GUARD REVIEW Associate Traffic Engineer Richter provided a brief description of the item and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the studies that were conducted. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter explained that the City received a request to review the intersection at Rio Hondo Avenue and Marshall Street and determine if the addition of a crossing guard is warranted for the intersection. As part of this traffic review, an investigation of collision history over a 3 -year period, an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Count, 24-hour Speed Survey, pedestrian movement count, intersection turning movement count, as well as an examination of the existing roadway conditions were completed. After a thorough review of existing field and traffic conditions and per the guidelines in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), California Vehicle Code (CVC), and based on engineering judgement, it was determined that Savannah Elementary School does not qualify for a crossing guard. However, additional intersection improvements are suggested. Commissioner Quintanilla commented he feels the warrant is flawed and the pedestrian count should be based on the actual school population size. He added that there are some parents who drop off students on the west curbside of Rio Hondo Avenue and have students jaywalk instead of using the adjacent crosswalk that has no crossing guard. He also added that Marshall Street is often used as an alternative route to avoid traffic along Rosemead Boulevard. He agreed with the staff recommendations to update signage, however, did not agree that this location does not warrant a crossing guard. Chair Drange commented he feels the pedestrian count data may be skewed because more students would be crossing at the crosswalk with the crossing guard than at the crosswalk with no crossing guard. He followed up by saying he does not feel a second crossing guard at this specific intersection would be beneficial. He asked about signage that indicates no student drop off on the opposite side of the street and whether it was noticed how many students were crossing the street not using the crosswalk. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied it was noticed mostly in the morning at the midblock of Rio Hondo Avenue between Marshall Street and De Adelana Street, which is where the school entrance is located. Commissioner Lang commented there needs to be more data collected to see how many students are crossing the street further south of Marshall Street. Rosemead Trak Commission Meeting Minutes ofJune 1, 2023 Page 4 of 6 Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied for the south leg of the intersection of Marshall Street and Rio Hondo Avenue, the pedestrians crossing the street close to the school boundary were counted and included in the data collected. Chair Drange asked if a study can be performed to collect data on how many pedestrians are crossing the street at Rio Hondo Avenue between De Adelena Street and the southern border of the school. Contract City Engineer Janka replied it can be done, however, requires more staff and time. Commissioner Quintanilla asked how many times staff did a field visit. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied she went to the school three times over the past two months. Chair Drange asked if she felt jaywalking was a prominent issue. Associate Traffic Engineer Richter replied most of the jaywalking observed occurred midblock of Rio Hondo Avenue between Marshall Street and De Adelana Street. There were not many pedestrians noticed jaywalking south of Marshall Street along Rio Hondo Avenue. Commissioners agreed that there should be a one school year trial phase for having a crossing guard placed at the intersection of Marshall Street and Rio Hondo Avenue. Commissioner Quintanilla made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Nguyen, to approve staff recommendations. Vote resulted in: Yes: Hermosillo, Lang, Quintanilla, Nguyen, Drange No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Commissioner Quintanilla made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lang, to recommend the city move forward and coordinate with the school to add a crossing guard at the intersection of Marshall Street and Rio Hondo Avenue. Staff to revisit after one school year and conduct a survey to determine if it is warranted for another school year. Vote resulted in: Yes: Hermosillo, Lang, Quintanilla, Nguyen, Drange No: None Abstain: None Absent: None 4. MATTERS FROM STAFF None 5. COMMISSIONER REPORTS Commissioner Quintanilla stated the traffic signal lights at the intersection where Rio Hondo Avenue, Mission Drive, and Valley Boulevard connect are difficult to see and if they could be looked into. Chair Drange agreed and commented that you don't see the light on the traffic signal at the intersection of Rio Hondo Ave and Valley Boulevard until you drive up close. Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of June 1, 2023 Page 5 of 6 Contract City Engineer Janka explained when two intersection lights are close to each other, the lights are positioned at a certain angle to avoid confusing drivers. He commented he can look into it. Chair Drange mentioned the bicycle plan and if the shared lane markings or sharrows could be implemented prior to roads being resurfaced. He also asked if staff could make sure to take into consideration the bicycle plan when resurfacing roads. Contract City Engineer Janka asked Chair Orange to send him the details and will look into it. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The next Traffic Commission meeting is scheduled for July 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. and will take place at the Rosemead City Hall, City Council Chambers, 8838 East Valley Boulevard. /Michael Drange Chair ATTES L-1LAv (A �; r�-�Oon IhJ y Ben Kim On I City Ma (� r 0,0e, Jan 1,P/ Rosemead Trak Commission Meeting Minutes of June 1, 2023 Page 6 of 6