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TC - 04 01-99ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION 8838 E. Valley Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770 CALL TO ORDER Roll Call: Pledge of Allegiance: Regular Meeting April 1, 1999 7:00 p.m. Chairperson Knapp, Vice-Chair Quintanilla Commissioners Ruiz & Baffo Commissioner Quintanilla Invocation: Commissioner Ruiz 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 4, 1999 H. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - This is the time reserved for members of the audience to address the Commission on items not listed on the agenda (Maximum time per speaker is three (3) minutes; total time allocated is fifteen (15) minutes.) III. OLD BUSINESS - None IV. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CONTROLS ON ENCINITA AVENUE V. STAFF REPORTS A. REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS ON HELLMAN AVENUE AT JACKSON AVENUE-UPDATE B. REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS ON RIO HONDO AT MARSHALL STREET - UPDATE VI. COMMISSIONER REPORTS VII. ADJOURNMENT -Thursday, May 6, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Rosemead City Council Chambers, 8838 E. Valley Blvd., Rosemead, CA 91770 ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION MARCH 4, 1999 A regular meeting of the Rosemead Traffic Commission was called to order by Chairperson Knapp at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Knapp Commissioners:, Ruiz, Quintanilla, Baffo, Herrera Absent: None Ex Officio: Administrative Aide: Jessica Wilkinson Deputy Traffic Engineer: Joanne Itagaki CALL TO ORDER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Herrera The Invocation was led by Commissioner Ruiz 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Baffo, seconded by Commissioner Ruiz and carried unanimously to approve the minutes for February 4, 1999. H. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - NONE M. OLD BUSINESS - NONE IV. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS ON RIO HONDO AVENUE AT MARSHALL STREET Deputy Traffic Engineer Itagaki stated that this request came from Commissioner Ruiz, requesting that staff review the intersection of Rio Hondo Avenue and Marshall Street for the installation of STOP signs. A similar request was reviewed by the Traffic Commissior in May and June of 1994. At that time, the staff did not recommend the installation of STOP signs due to the traffic volumes not satisfying Caltrans guidelines. Rio Hondo is a 40-foot wide north/south roadway with residential uses fronting the street. A yellow skip stripe exists on the centerline of the roadway. The posted speed limit is 30 mph. However, Savannah Elementary School is located on the east side of Rio Hondo Avenue and therefore, the speed limit, when children are present, is 25 mph. Rio Hondo Avenue is posted with the 25 mph signs when children are present. Marshall Street is a 40-foot wide east/west roadway with residential uses fronting the street. A yellow skip stripe exists on the centerline of the roadway. The posted speed limit is 35 mph. The eastern terminus of Marshall Street intersects Rio Hondo Avenue forming a T- intersection. Marshall Street is STOP controlled at the intersection. There is a yellow crosswalk on the north leg of the intersection. Advance school crosswalk signs and pavement legends are on Rio Hondo Avenue prior to Marshall Street in each direction. A review of the City's reported accident records from January 1, 1996 through June 30, 1998 was conducted. During this period, two accidents were reported at the intersection of Rio Hondo Avenue and Marshall Street. Traffic count data was collected at the intersection during a normal school day. Pedestrian counts were also collected at the intersection between 7:15 - 8:30 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Caltrans Traffic Manual outlines the guidelines for the intersection of multi-way STOP signs. These guidelines analyze the intersection's accident history, traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes and delay experienced by the side street. For the intersection of Rio Hondo Avenue and Marshall Street, the summary sheet reveals the accident guidelines is not satisfied with only one correctable accident occurring in the 2 '/2 years reviewed. The minimum traffic volume guidelines are satisfied with the total vehicular volume entering the intersection averaging greater than 500 vehicles per hour and the minor street volume averaging greater than 200 units per hours. RECOMMENDATION: Based on the analysis of the intersection, the installation of STOP signs on Rio Hondo Avenue at Marshall Street is recommended. It is further recommended that the appropriate advance warning signs for the proposed STOP signs be installed. Chairperson Knapp asked if temporary warning signs were going to be put up. It was moved by Commissioner Ruiz, seconded by Commissioner Baffo, and carried unanimously to approve the Traffic Engineer's recommendation. V. STAFF REPORTS - NONE VI. COMMISSIONER REPORTS Commissioner Ruiz stated that there is a tree blocking the view of the crosswalk sign at Marshall and Rio Hondo Avenue. Deputy Robles stated that he has scheduled to sobriety check-points in Rosemead, dates are forthcoming. Commissioner Ruiz had a concern regarding motorists not yielding to the right when they hear the paramedics on the road, and wondered if there was something the Sheriff s Department could do, to rectify this situation. Deputy Robles stated that not yielding to an emergency vehicle is against the law. Unfortunately, it's a common occurrence, and there are many factors involved. He also stated that he could make this the "violation of the month" and make the deputies aware of it. In other cities, there are sensors over the street signals that when emergency vehicles are approaching, it automatically shut all other directions to red. Deputy Traffic Engineer Itagaki stated that in the past, they have tried to obtain grants for funding. Commissioner Quintanilla stated that the "end" sign at Marshall and Vane at the school is not up get. Administrative Aide Wilkinson stated that she will check into it. Chairperson Knapp invited everyone to attend the "Peo TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION FROM: JOANNE ITAGAKI, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPUTY DATE: MARCH 23, 1999 TO RE: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CONTROLS ON ENCINITA AVENUE REQUEST A letter, attached, has been received from Ms. Ann M. Bowers, Principal of Encinita School. Ms. Bowers is requesting STOP signs at the intersection of Encinita Avenue and Pitkin Street, speed bumps on Encinita Avenue, repainting of the crosswalks at Encinita Avenue/Pitkin Street and the installation of yellow curb, with appropriate signs, in front of Encinita School. Staff has also received complaints regarding southbound right turning vehicles on Encinita Avenue at Mission Drive disregarding the pedestrians in the crosswalk. There has also been a concern expressed by the Traffic Commission regarding a large vehicle parking on the west side of Encinita Avenue blocking access to the southbound right turn lane at Mission Drive. In 1994, the Traffic Commission approved the installation of STOP signs at Encinita Avenue and Rio Dell Street. The STOP signs were recommended to provide an additional controlled pedestrian crossing in the area. CONDITIONS Encinita Avenue varies in width from 36-feet to 45-feet between Mission Drive and Lower Azusa Road. The intersections of Encinita Avenue/Mission Drive and Encinita Avenue/Lower Azusa Road are controlled by traffic signals. A three way STOP exists at the intersection of Encinita Avenue/Rio Dell Avenue. There is single yellow skip striping along the centerline of the roadway. The posted speed limit on Encinita Avenue is 30 mph. Figure 1 depicts existing conditions on Encinita Avenue. DATA The recent 24-hour traffic volume count on Encinita Avenue indicated about 6,800 vehicles per day travel on Encinita Avenue between Mission Drive and Lower Azusa Road. The average traffic volume of a collector roadway such as Request for Additional Traffic Controls On Encinita Avenue Page 2 Encinita Avenue is generally less than 10,000 vehicles per day. Other collector roadways in the City include Marshall Street, Rio Hondo Avenue and Muscatel Avenue. The reported accident history on Encinita Avenue between Mission Drive and Lower Azusa Road was reviewed for the period between January 1, 1996 through June 30, 1998. The reported accident history revealed three accidents occurring on Encinita Avenue between Mission Drive and Lower Azusa Road. These accidents are summarized below: Location & Description • Encinita at Rio Dell Northbound vehicle proceeding straight rearended an northbound stopped vehicle (unsafe speed). • 321 feet north of Mission Westbound pedestrian collided with a southbound vehicle proceeding straight (pedestrian violation & inattention). • 271 feet north of Mission Northbound vehicle backing rearended 2 northbound parked vehicles (driver alcohol/drugs, starting/backing, & inattention). DISCUSSION and RECOMMENDATIONS Day. Date & Time Sat., 8/16/97, 10:40 a.m. Sat., 8/31/96, 7:45 p.m. Sun., 5/12/96, 7:30 p.m. Due to the number of different requests regarding Encinita Avenue, staff has separated each request and made recommendations accordingly. STOP signs on Encinita Avenue at Pitkin Street Ms. Bowers has requested STOP signs at the intersection of Encinita Avenue and Pitkin Street to provide additional direction for vehicles at this crossing guard controlled location. The estimated traffic volume on Pitkin Street would not satisfy the guidelines set in the Caltrans Traffic Manual for multi-way STOP sign installations. In addition, Pitkin Street is approximately 300 feet south of the intersection of Encinita Avenue and Lower Azusa Road. A STOP sign on Encinita Avenue at Pitkin Street would cause a southbound queue of vehicles between Pitkin Street and lower Azusa Road especially during school start and Request for Additional Traffic Controls On Encinita Avenue Page 3 release times. It is anticipated this queue would create additional potential for traffic accidents. Therefore, the installation of STOP signs on Encinita Avenue at Pitkin Street is not recommended at this time. Speed bumps on Encinita Avenue Speed bumps are not recommended on Encinita Avenue. The City's current policy is not to install speed bumps on public roadways primarily due to the State of California not recognizing the speed bump as an official traffic control device. This is a concern for liability exposure to the City. In addition, studies have shown the speed bumps do not significantly reduce vehicle speed once the vehicle has left the speed bump and often times vehicle speeds increase. Repainting of crosswalk at Encinita Avenue and Pitkin Street Based on field review, the repainting of the yellow crosswalk on Encinita Avenue at Pitkin Street is recommended. Figure 1 depicts this recommendation (see FAA Installation of yellow curb and signs in front of Encinita School The installation of yellow or white curb for loading and unloading of passengers is used in other school locations throughout the City. Yellow curb allows both passenger and freight to be loaded and unloaded at the curb. White curb restricts the loading and unloading to passengers only. The installation of 220 feet of yellow curb directly in front of Encinita School is recommended. It is further recommended that "Passenger Loading Only, School Days" signs be installed. Figure 1 depicts this recommendation (see Southbound right turns and pedestrians on Encinita Avenue at Mission Drive The crossing guard at the intersection of Encinita Avenue and Mission Drive has indicated that southbound right turning vehicles often disregard the pedestrians in the crosswalk on the west leg of the intersection. Staff did confer with Temple Sheriffs Station. A few citations have been issued at this location for vehicles violating the pedestrian right-of-way. There have been no reported accidents at this intersection involving pedestrians. Field review of the location did identify a few vehicles turning right while pedestrians were in the crosswalk. However, the closest pedestrians were at the inside (#1) lane of travel as vehicles turned right. The closer the pedestrians Request for Additional Traffic Controls On Encinita Avenue Page 4 were to the north curb line; fewer vehicles turned right (in the vicinity of the pedestrians). It is recommended that the Temple Sheriffs Department monitor the intersection, when available, specifically for vehicle violating pedestrian right-of-way. Large vehicle blocking access to southbound right turn lane on Encinita Avenue at Mission Drive Field review of the intersection of Encinita Avenue and Mission Drive did identify vehicles legally parking on the west curb line of Encinita Avenue blocking direct access to the southbound right turn lane. It is recommended that an additional 50 feet of red curb be installed on the west side of Encinita Avenue north of Mission Drive. Figure 1 depicts this recommendation (see© Attachments JI\Rsd\Encinita Ave EB--Iri',99[WED) 17:02 CITY OF ROSEMEAD TEL:818-307-9218 Encinita School 4515 N_ Encinita Avenue Rosemead, CA 91770 (626) 286-3155 Ann M. Bowers, Principal Traffic Commission Rosemead City Haff, Rosemead, CA. 91770 Feb, 10, 1999 Dear Sirs: As principal of Enc:irtita Elementary School in the Rosemead School District, I would like to share with you my concerns about the traffic going past my school qa Encinita Blvd. Many parents of students have come to Me with concerns about the speed of traffic on Encinita. Cars barrel around the comer from Lower Azusa Road at 40 or 50 miles per hour. There is nothing to slow them down. The school crossing guard, the children, and their parents are at high risk of injury or death because of this situation. Already, one adult has been hit by a car (in the crosswalk, with the crossing guard!). Luckily, she was not seriously hurt- It is only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed. We are requesting that the traffic comnrission do the following: 1. Put stop signs at the Encinita Blvd. and Pitkin St intersection so that traffic must slow down and stop for the crossing guard. (Create a three-way stop) 2. Put speed bumps on Encinita Blvd. 3. Re-paint the crosswalk at Encinita Blvd. and Pitkin St (across Pitkin) because it has wom away. 4. Paint a yellow curb at the Encinita School parking lot for loading and unloading only. (This will keep motorists from parking there, forcing other cars to pull into the parking lot to drop off students, which creates a hazard for students walking through the parking lot and keeps motorists from seeing students on the sidewalk when they attempt to back out of the parking lot.) 5. Place a "loading and unloading only" sign near the yellow curb. We believe these measures will substantially help improve the safety of students and their families on their way to and from school. We are passing petitions that will be brought to the March 4 meeting of the Traffic Commission, at which time we will expect that these issues be addressed. Sine ely yours, 1 Ann M. 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