TC - Item 3A - Traffic/Parking Concerns along Muscatel Avenue
ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION STAFF REPORT TO: TRAFFIC COMMISSION FROM: CHRIS MARCARELLO, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DATE: MARCH 1, 2012 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC/PARKING CONCERNS ALONG MUSCATEL AVENUE
(BETWEEN VALLEY BOULEVARD AND MISSION DRIVE) SUMMARY At the January 12, 2012 Traffic Commission meeting, the Traffic Commission, staff and local residents discussed the traffic concerns
along Muscatel Avenue between Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive. The main concerns expressed were speeding vehicles, the volume of vehicles, and the lack of available parking. The Traffic
Commission asked staff to investigate these concerns along Muscatel Avenue. At this meeting, staff was asked to develop traffic calming solutions that can help to minimize the issues
of excessive speeding and on-street long-term parking conditions. In mid-January 2012 staff developed a parking demand and traffic study that included traffic counts, parking demand
analysis, and a three-year accident report. At the February 2, 2012 Traffic Commission meeting, the Traffic Commission asked that staff provide a recount of the parking demand study
to analyze parking capacity and usage during non street cleaning days. On Thursday, February 16, 2012 staff consultants recounted the on-street parking along Muscatel Avenue between
Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive. The results are presented below. Staff Recommendation It is recommended that the Traffic Commission approve staff recommended that the Traffic Commission:
1) Provide input on proposed traffic safety measures proposed by staff along Muscatel Avenue between Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive; 2) Authorize the Traffic Commission to recommend
to the City Council that the traffic safety measures be made along Muscatel Avenue between Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive to include the repaint street centerline and install edgeline
striping, repair existing rumble strips, speed feedback signs and additional speed limit signs.
Traffic Commission Meeting March 1, 2012 Page 2 of 4 ANALYSIS In late November 2011, a request was received to evaluate traffic conditions along Muscatel Avenue from Valley Boulevard
and Mission Drive. Residents in this area expressed concerns over the issues of excessive vehicle speeds, long term non-residential parking, and unsafe pedestrian crossing conditions.
In addition, several residents addressed concern over excessive and long-term use of on-street parking spaces. Muscatel Avenue between Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive is a 40-foot,
two-lane (one in each direction), north and south trending roadway with moderate to heavy traffic conditions during morning and evening peak hours. On-street parking is generally open
and unrestricted along this residential corridor with the exception of street sweeping restrictions. Land uses along Muscatel Avenue are mixed, including single-and multi-family residential,
middle school campus, and commercial uses at Valley Boulevard. The speed limit is posted at 30 miles per hour throughout this corridor. Traffic Calming Issues In January 2012 staff initiated
a study to research previous accidents, existing traffic counts and intersection vehicular turning movements, and on-street parking demand field observations to account for long term
uses. In February 2012, staff consultants completed its research and develop an analysis of existing conditions for both traffic and parking along Muscatel Avenue. The study does indicate
a high level of vehicular traffic along this corridor with four accidents occurring during a three-year period. All accidents occurred either on Valley Boulevard or Mission Drive. The
study does support the residents‟ claim as Muscatel Avenue being used as a north-south „short-cut‟ to either use as an alternate to Rosemead Boulevard or as a convenient access to the
I-10 freeway. Due to the high traffic volumes and the relatively narrow roadway (relative to volumes), there is merit to installing traffic calming-type improvements to increase the
general general safety of the residents and nearby school. Based on the recent traffic analysis and the “lessons learned” from the previous Ivar Avenue traffic calming measures, staff
recommends that the Traffic Commission consider the following cost-effective approach to traffic improvement measures: Installation of new edgeline striping along both sides of Muscatel
Avenue; Repainting of the existing centerline striping along Muscatel Avenue; Installation of two speed warning signs; Repair of the existing rumble strips along Muscatel Avenue; and
Repainting of the existing crosswalks to improve visibility. In addition, the Sheriff‟s Department will be notified to heighten enforcement of the speed laws as well as requesting „decoy‟
patrol vehicles as a method of reducing excessive vehicular speeds.
Traffic Commission Meeting March 1, 2012 Page 3 of 4 On-Street Parking Issues In addressing the residents‟ concerns regarding long-term on-street parking usage, the staff consultants
performed a field analysis of parking capacity and demand on Thursday, February 16, 2012 from the hours of 7 am to 7 pm. Traffic Counts and Parking Demand Analysis for Muscatel Avenue
shows moderate use of long term users of the on-street parking along the corridor closest to Valley Boulevard between the hours of 9:00 am continuously and 6:00 pm. There is evidence
that at least 7 vehicles are utilizing the on-street parking longer than 4 hours and of that, at least 5 vehicles are parked continuously between the hours of 9:00 am and 7:00 pm. At
least 2 vehicles occupy space between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm but leave and return at 3:00 pm for an additional 2 hours. The on-street parking capacity for the corridor between
Valley Boulevard and Hovey Street is estimated to be 20 spaces. Although, on-street parking between Valley Boulevard and Hovey Street is considered heavy at times, a majority of the
users of the on-street parking spaces tend to be of shorter time duration (between 30 minutes and 2 hours). The analysis also shows moderate use of long-term users of the on-street parking
between Scott Street and Lawrence Avenue between the hours of 7:00 am to 9:00 am. However, it is assumed that the vehicles are more associated with the local residents than by outside
users. The areas along Muscatel Avenue between Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive that are most impacted by parking demands are along the east side of Muscatel Avenue between Valley
Boulevard and Hovey Street (near the commercial/retail land uses) and also along the west side of Muscatel Avenue between Scott Street and Lawrence Avenue There is evidence that long-term
parking does exist along the southern portion of Muscatel Avenue near the commercial/retail uses, this study did not differentiate whether the long-term parking relates to the local
residents users or commuters using the spaces for park and ride opportunities. Based on this brief 'snapshot' analysis, there seems to be adequate on-street parking along most of the
project corridor and the long term parking are of minimal impact along Muscatel Avenue except between Valley Boulevard and Hovey Street. The on-street parking demand diminishes greatly
north of Hovey Street with one exception, between Scott Street and Lawrence Avenue; most likely due to local resident parking. A more in-depth and focused study of parking demands and
parking restrictions impacts along the most impacted section of Muscatel Avenue may be needed to determine if action is required to improve on-street parking needs or to establish parking
restrictions. Staff will continue to monitor the conditions of the recommended traffic safety measures and report to the Traffic Commission of their effectiveness to reducing vehicle
speed and increasing safety along this corridor.
Traffic Commission Meeting March 1, 2012 Page 4 of 4 Public Notice This agenda item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. In addition, notification postcards
were delivered the week of February 27th to all residents in the Muscatel Avenue corridor area. Submitted by: Chris Marcarello Public Works Director Attachments: 1. Traffic and Parking
Study Field Data Analysis Report 2. Level of Service Descriptions for Roadways 3. Neighborhood Diagrams and Maps