HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 NO PARKING ON MAIN ARTERIALS (IRVINE, REDHILL) 10-07-08 AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2008 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: TIM D. BEREFT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER SUBJECT: ORDINANCE No. 1357 PROHIBITING PARKING ALONG DESIGNATED PORTIONS OF NEWPORT AVENUE, REDHILL AVENUE, AND IRVINE BOULEVARD SUMMARY In response to a series of public workshops over the last year with City Council regarding traffic congestion along Newport Avenue, Red Hill Avenue, and Irvine Boulevard, it is recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance prohibiting parking along designated portions of each arterial. It has been determined that congestion along each arterial can be relieved by increasing roadway capacity with the addition of a third travel lane in each direction within the existing curb-to-curb width. No additional right of way is required by this action. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council introduce and approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 1357 prohibiting parking along the following designated portions of: 1. Newport Avenue -Sycamore Avenue to First Street; 2. Red Hill Avenue -Sycamore Avenue to Mitchell Street & San Juan Street to Bryan Avenue; and 3. Irvine Boulevard -Prospect Avenue to Holt Avenue. FISCAL IMPACT Sufficient funds are budgeted in this fiscal year's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), No 4074. The estimated cost to remove on-street parking and add a third lane in each direction on the three arterials is: Signing & Striping Signal Detection 1. Newport Avenue ......................................... $19,000 $16,000 2. Red Hill Avenue ........................................... $6,000 $ 3,000 3. Irvine Boulevard ........................................... 5 000 $ 3,000 TOTALS: $30,000 $22,000 DISCUSSION Due to concerns over traffic congestion on three major arterial roadways, studies were conducted to investigate the merits of providing additional roadway capacity by adding a third travel lane in each direction on certain portions of Newport Avenue, Red Hill Avenue and Irvine Boulevard. Each arterial highway has been evaluated individually and it has been determined that specific areas can be improved to a level of service (LOS) consistent with the policies of the Circulation Element of the General Plan by implementing 24 hour "No Parking" zones to provide for additional travel lanes. Ordinance Prohibiting Parking along designated portions of Newport Avenue, Red Hill Avenue and Irvine Boulevard October 7, 2008 Page 2 Prohibiting parking along these specific portions will improve traffic flow, enhance traffic signal management, and reduce vehicle weaving. Lane constrictions/reductions cause traffic to transition from an existing third lane to avoid being trapped when the lane is dropped. This transition or weaving action tends to impede traffic flow, reduce lane utilization and impede intersection signal operations. Striping for a continuous third lane will eliminate this maneuver and provide for more efficient lane utilization and improved Level of Service. Prohibiting parking will also improve street maintenance operations. Presently, sweeper operators have to negotiate parked vehicles or forgo street cleaning entirely due to on-street parking. This negatively impacts the City's attempt to improve storm water quality and West Nile virus abatement. Striping six travel lanes and restricting parking only during AM and PM peak hours (rush hour) was considered in lieu of 24 hour parking restrictions. However, inconsistent use of parking on major arterials could result in rear end collisions with parked vehicles in the third travel lane during off peak hours. Typically, these types of lanes, commonly referred to as flex lanes, are configurations that are implemented in highly urbanized areas or interstate highway applications. For example, in highway applications, flex lanes utilize the emergency and hard shoulder area to provide for additional lane capacity during rush hour only. In gridlock conditions, travel speeds are low, to very low, and the likelihood of a high speed collision with a stalled or parked vehicle in the flex lane is unlikely. In general, highly congested urbanized commercial business districts, such as those found in downtown Los Angeles, use flex lanes along the major arterials as a means to compensate for inadequate off-street parking. Typically, flex lanes involve dedication of substantial resources for traffic enforcement and towing. These major arterials carry 30,000 - 40,000 vehicles per day (vpd). However, the corridor characteristic of Alvarado Street, Cesar Chavez Avenue, Figueroa Street, and Vermont Avenue are conducive for flex lane utilization. The use of flex lanes, particularly along Irvine Boulevard adjacent to Columbus Tustin Sports Park and Intermediate School is undesirable and a condition not commonly or characteristically encountered within Orange County. Consequently, this is a condition that possesses a greater risk for driver error or misinterpretation. Accordingly, the potential for vehicular and/or pedestrian conflict due to driver error and/or misinterpretation outweighs any notable benefit in additional lane capacity by means of a flex lane. Therefore, flex lane installation is not recommended. By eliminating on-street parking within select segments, the existing levels of service on Newport Avenue, Red Hill Avenue and Irvine Boulevard can be improved to provide congestion relief. A specific implementation timetable of one hundred twenty (120) days is recommended to allow for design and construction of modifications on the arterials, and to provide those who will lose the on- street parking spaces time to make new parking arrangements. It is anticipated that the new arterial striping will be completed and operational by February 1, 2009. Tim D. Serlet Douglas S. Stack Director of Public Works/City Engineer Assistant Public Works Director Attachment(s): 1. Map of Existing Lane Configuration 2. Map of Proposed Lane Configuration 3. Ordinance No. 1354 S:\City Council Items\2008 Council Items\Approval of Arterial Highway Restriction_ver1.doc Z OW f= i ~ ~ o o U LA COUNA W WASS ST. W w ~7 Q ~ OLD IRVINE BL ~ IRVINE BLVD o `rib' ` 1 W ~ COUNTY OF = ORANGE Z 3 QQ ^ ~~~ , ` ~'y b. .'~ W ~ CITY OF TUSTIN m v ~ '~J~~ ~~JO .. / FlRST ST. Q ~t~' ~ gRyAN AVENUE ~6, 9 ~ ~aQV ,`~~G 7tj Q ~tr~ SAN JUAN PARI(NEW ST. ~~~~ c~\N~ ~~ ti ~ 5~' ~, `~ ~ FREEWAY s~ Jib ~ '~ bp, 0 N1~ ROAD ~; a ~.~`~' ~~~ ,n MITCHELL AVENUE c~ F~ 5 J~ ' ~ ~ ~~q ~ 7yb Q~ ~ WALNUT O a .~j ,~ °' w yy Z SYCAMORE AV. ° ~s ~ ~ j. Jr~b, ~1 7j~ ~ EDINGER ~ AVENUE J PJ ~ ~~ a 0 d ° VALENgA AVENUE J w Q J = D U O W ~ o z AVENUE F= ~ a8` ~ ~ ~ DYER ROAD BARRANCA PARKWAY V F ~ O F-' Z O U V Z V / W Z Z O O _ 0 U U Z Z W W ~ ~ N L.L N L.I. O O 0 = 2 m m ~ vJ vJ vJ VJ W W W W Z Z Z Z Q Q Q Q J J J J ~ ~~ C~ ~~ N ~~ M LL= y = F y U~ LL }OW F o o U A COIINA W WASS ST. ~ ~ I o W OLD IR~ BL ~ o : „~ ti Q IRVINE BLVD v v' ~ b ,~` W Z COUNTY OF ORANGE z O c4 ~ Tu Z 7 L ~y,~ y b '~ ~ W ~ Q CITY OF TUSTIN ~ m ~ ~ ~ F O O~ ~J FIRST ST. ~ ~O ~ ~ ~~ ~{. dd ~ BRYAN AVENUE ~ ~ ~ ~ s b a~ G ~dfj 1~!' Q~P PARKVIEW ~ tea, J`C `Q. SAN JUAN ST. Q ~~y~b ~P~-aNO RF,~ Z ti~ s' ~~`~ ~w. ~~ FREEWAY ~ JG~b fos. o' ROAD O ~ ` ~ NISSON ~ ~~ ` ~~~ ,n MITCHELL AVENUE a pJ 5~ F Z o ~ ~~0~ ,~aJ ebb Qom`' . ~ WALNUT m ~ a ~ `~ b°~ ,~~ `j~~ W Z SYCAMORE AV. a ~ ~ S' s ~ s~"~y pp~~ EDINGER X ~ AVENUE / ^ v J yf, c~P ~ ~P~ O ~ .~ a ~ 0 ° VALENCIA J AVENUE O w N Q ~ J = W o V ~ o Z AVENUE F ~ Q N ~~ W ~ W ~ Z Z O O U U NWN NWN l.[. L.L O OM W W W W Q J J ~~ ~~ DYER ROAD I BARRANCA PARKWAY ORDINANCE NO. 1357 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 5333 TO PART 3 TO CHAPTER 3 OF ARTICLE 5 OF THE TUSTIN CITY CODE RELATING TO PROHIBITION OF PARKING ON DESIGNATED ARTERIAL STREETS. The City Council of the City of Tustin, California, ordains: SECTION I: The City Council finds and determines that: A. That on October 16, 2007, March 18, 2008, April 15, 2008, and September 15, 2008, the City Council conducted public workshops to review the existing parking regulations including the arterial parking restrictions and consider implementation actions that would improve the quality of life within Tustin and increase the efficiency of the circulation system. B. That the Code amendment to the Tustin City Code will assure availability for use of existing vehicular capacity on the designated arterial streets, and will do so in a manner that is protective of those traveling and parking upon public streets in the City. C. That the Code amendment is regulatory in nature, and the City of Tustin has a substantial interest in protecting the health and safety of the public, including those traveling upon, and parking upon, City streets. D. That on October 7, 2008, a public hearing was duly noticed, called, and held concerning this Code amendment. E. That the Code amendment is for restriping of streets and highways to relieve traffic congestion as set forth in Public Resources Code Section 21080.19 and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15282Q), and as a result is statutorily exempt from CEQA. F. That the proposed amendment is reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Tustin. Ver: 9/24/2008 s9usz.a SECTION II: Section 5333 of Part 3 of Chapter 3 of Article 5 of the Tustin City Code is hereby enacted to read as follows: 5333 PARKING PROHIBITED ON DESIGNATED ARTERIAL STREETS. a. Prohibition. Any other limitation on, or regulation concerning parking contained in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, it is unlawful at any time to stop, stand, park, or leave standing any vehicle in any of the following segments of the following streets, or any portions thereof: 1. Irvine Boulevard between Prospect Avenue and Holt Avenue 2. Newport Avenue between Sycamore Avenue and First Street 3. Red Hill Avenue between Sycamore Avenue and Mitchell Street 4. Red Hill Avenue between San Juan Street and Bryan Avenue. b. Posting of Parking Restrictions On Designated Arterials. The City Engineer is hereby authorized to place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, "No Stopping Any Time" signs on the portions of the streets identified in subsection a. c. Exemptions. The restrictions in subsection a shall not apply to: 1. any ambulance, or to a law enforcement or fire department vehicle parked or left parked during an emergency; or 2. vehicles parked in compliance with a lawful City encroachment permit, which permit authorizes vehicular parking in that segment or portion of segment of that street at that time. d. Penalties 1. Parking a vehicle in violation of this Section shall. be an infraction. All persons designated by the Chief of Police are authorized and empowered to remove or cause to be removed all vehicles parked on a street contrary to the provisions of this Section, and to store the vehicles. The owner or operator of any such vehicle shall be liable for the reasonable towing and storage charges. Ver: 9/24/2008 591552.4 2. In addition, this Section may be enforced in any manner provided in Chapter 1 of the Tustin City Code. SECTION III. This Ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 am on the thirty-first day after passage. The City Council directs that enforcement of this Ordinance shall not commence until February 1, 2009. SECTION IV. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase in this Ordinance or any part thereof is for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid, or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared unconstitutional. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of 2008. JERRY AMANTE, MAYOR ATTEST: PAMELA STOKER, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: DOUGLAS HOLLAND, CITY ATTORNEY Ver: 9/24/2008 591552.4