Title
Study Session regarding the Hillside-Sister Cities Traffic Study (Bianca Liu, Senior Engineer)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council receive an update on the Sunshine Gardens and Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Traffic Improvements.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
As part of the City’s continuing efforts to engage residents and solicit community feedback, the City facilitated a series of community meetings, which included multiple meetings for the Sunshine Gardens and Paradise Valley and Pecks lot neighborhoods. City staff also participated in neighborhood “ride-alongs” to observe and discuss the concerns of the residents. Staff utilized the feedback received, combined with historical traffic data, to study the neighborhoods and identify opportunities to address resident concerns and improve safety while maintaining efficiency along commute corridors.
Below is an overview of concerns and proposals by neighborhood. Specific information regarding individual studies and proposals is included in following pages of the staff report.
Sunshine Gardens Neighborhood Concerns
۰ Pedestrian Bicycle Safety around Sunshine Gardens Elementary School
۰ Speeding Vehicles on Hillside Boulevard and Holly Avenue
۰ Vehicle safety entering and exiting the neighborhood from Hillside Boulevard
Sunshine Gardens Studies and Projects
۰ Hillside Blvd Traffic Study - Evaluates modifying the roadway lane configuration to
improve vehicular and bicycle safety, and installation of a traffic signal at the Hillside
Boulevard and Lincoln Street intersection to improve safety and efficiency.
۰ Sunshine Gardens Safety and Connectivity Project - Provides traffic and pedestrian
safety improvements. Currently under construction
۰ Holly Avenue Traffic Calming - Installation of speed cushions to reduce vehicle speeds.
Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Neighborhood Concerns
۰ Cut-through traffic
۰ Speeding vehicles
۰ Bottleneck created by the three-way STOP at the Hillside Boulevard and Lincoln Street
intersection
Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Studies and Projects
۰ Hillside Blvd Traffic Study - Evaluates modifying the roadway lane configuration to
improve vehicular and bicycle safety, and installation of a traffic signal at the Hillside
Boulevard and Lincoln Street intersection to improve safety and efficiency.
۰ Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Traffic Calming - Improvements to improve traffic and
pedestrian safety
Hillside Traffic Study
The existing intersection at Hillside Boulevard and Lincoln Street is the only non-signalized intersection within the Hillside Boulevard-Sister Cities corridor. City staff investigated the feasibility of installing a roundabout and the feasibility of a traffic signal and determined that the installation of a roundabout was infeasible at this location due to existing right-of-way constraints. The City continued to evaluate the traffic signal alternative in the Hillside Boulevard Traffic Study.
The Hillside Boulevard Traffic Study proposes to improve safety for automobiles and bicycles along Hillside Boulevard from Lincoln Street to Lawndale Boulevard. Staff, along with the assistance of DKS Associates (on-call traffic consultant) evaluated existing and future traffic operations for four scenarios:
1. Existing Conditions (No Project)
2. Installation of a traffic signal at Hillside Boulevard and Lincoln Street
3. Roadway Reconfiguration - Reducing Hillside Boulevard to one lane between Lincoln Street and Lawndale Boulevard, installing a two-way center left-turn lane, and separated bike lanes in each direction on Hillside Boulevard
4. Combination of options 2 and 3 - Roadway
The Hillside Traffic Study concludes that the installation of a traffic signal at Lincoln Street combined with the reduction of Hillside to one lane in each direction between Lincoln Street and Lawndale Boulevard and the installation of the center left-turn lane is the best approach to improving vehicle safety while minimizing effects to operational efficiency.
Sunshine Gardens Safety and Connectivity Project
The Sunshine Gardens Safety and Connectivity Improvement Project is currently under construction and will install high-visibility yellow ladder crosswalks, edge lines, bulb-outs, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps and a Class 3 shared bikeway to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and connectivity in the Sunshine Gardens neighborhood. The project location includes Evergreen Dr. between Baywood Avenue and Crestwood Dr., on Crestwood Dr. between Evergreen Dr. and Holly Avenue, on Miller Avenue between Evergreen Dr. and Holly Avenue, and on Holly Avenue between Mission Rd. and Hillside Boulevard. Installing traffic calming measures at this location will encourage students to walk or bike by providing safer pedestrian and bicycle access to Sunshine Gardens Elementary School. Attachment 2 provides an illustration of the proposed improvements.
Holly Ave Speed Cushions
Speed cushions are proposed along Holly Avenue to reduce vehicle speeds. Attachment 3 provides an illustration of the proposed improvements.
Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Traffic Calming Study
The Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Neighborhood Traffic Calming Study investigated neighborhood traffic concerns. Vehicles reportedly cut through the Paradise Valley and Pecks Lot neighborhoods at high speeds to avoid congestion on Airport Boulevard and Sister Cities Boulevard. The study sought to identify the extent of these problems and list specific targets for possible abatement.
Staff, with the assistance of DKS Associates (on-call traffic consultant), evaluated existing traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, collision data and field observations in the Paradise Valley and Pecks Lot neighborhoods. The data collected and reviewed support community concerns regarding speeding and cut-through traffic. Hillside Boulevard is likely serving a significant number of cut-through vehicles. The study evaluated different traffic calming measures that could be utilized and proposed new enhanced pedestrian crosswalk striping, roadway striping, speed cushions, signage and speed feedback signs. Attachment 4 provides an illustration of the proposed improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of all of the improvements is estimated to be approximately $2.79 million. However, we have separated the proposed improvement into two categories: prioritized proposed improvements and additional project opportunities. Below you will find a cost breakdown for the prioritized proposed improvements:
Prioritized Proposed Improvements Estimated Cost
1. Road Re-Striping $360,000
2. Hillside Boulevard/Lincoln Street Traffic Signal $1,100,000
3. Speed Cushions $200,000
4. Speed Feedback Signs $40,000
5. Intersection Improvements $220,000
(Hillside/Franklin, Hillside/Drake,
Hillside/Belmont and Hillside/Arden)
Total Cost: $1,920,000
Below you will find a cost breakdown for the additional project opportunities to construct a sidewalk and trail connection at the Hillside Boulevard and Lincoln Street intersection:
Additional Project Opportunities Estimated Cost
1. Sidewalk Connection $240,000
2. Trail Connection $630,000
Total Cost: $870,000
The proposed improvements are currently not funded, but City staff will be seeking funding as part of the FY20/21 Capital Improvement Program for the prioritized proposed improvements and will be looking for grant opportunities to help fund the additional project opportunities.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
The improvements proposed as part of the Hillside-Sister Cities Traffic Study contribute to the City’s Strategic Plan outcome of improved quality of life by improving traffic circulation and increasing public safety.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council receive an update on the Sunshine Gardens and Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Traffic Improvements.
Attachments:
1. Hillside Boulevard Traffic Study Proposed Improvements
2. Sunshine Gardens Proposed Improvements
3. Proposed Holly Avenue Speed Cushions
4. Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Traffic Calming Proposed Improvements