HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB 2 RED HILL AVE. 08-03-92OLD BUSINESS NO. 2
JAGE ND.A., _ = --- 8-3-92
• AUGUST 3 19 9 2 Inter -Com mac/ s
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TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJECT: RED HILL AVENUE - EDINGER AVENUE TO I-5 FREEWAY
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and File.
BACKGROUND
At a previous City Council meeting Councilman Potts requested a
report relating to the restriping of Red Hill Avenue between
Edinger Avenue and the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway.to accommodate six
travel lanes in each direction.
Red Hill Avenue between Edinger Avenue and the I-5 Freeway was
originally constructed as a primary arterial highway within a 100
foot right-of-way and curbs constructed at 42 feet either side of
the street centerline. This configuration provides for a 14 foot
wide protected left turn lane, two 12 foot wide travel lanes in
each direction and an 8 foot wide parking lane adjacent to each
curb. Since its initial construction, this segment of Red Hill
Avenue has been reclassified to a major arterial highway with a 120
foot wide right-of-way and curbs located 51 feet either side of the
street centerline. The major classification provides for a 14 foot
wide protected left turn lane, three 12 foot wide travel lanes in
each direction and an 8 foot wide parking lane adjacent to each
curb.
Certain segments of Red Hill Avenue have been reconstructed to the
major arterial highway status as a result of private development or
City street improvement projects as follows:
Both sides of Red Hill Avenue between Edinger Avenue and
the A.T. & S.F. Railroad tracks.
° The easterly side of Red Hill Avenue northerly of Walnut
Avenue adjacent to the Nisson property.
Other segments of Red Hill Avenue have been restriped to
accommodate a third lane as follows:
° Westerly side of Red Hill Avenue between Sycamore Avenue
and the A.T. & S.F. Railroad tracks.
Red Hill Avenue - Edinger Avenue to I-5 Freeway
August 3, 1992
Page 2
Both sides of Red Hill Avenue between Mitchell Avenue and
Nisson Road to improve traffic flows through the widened
segment of Red Hill Avenue under the I-5 Freeway
completed by Caltrans.
These six lane segments have no on -street parking and no clear
areas for bicyclists. All bicyclists must share the outside or
number three lane with motor vehicles.
DISCUSSION
Staff has completed a review of the request to restripe Red Hill
Avenue to six travel lanes and has some areas of major concern as
discussed below:
At the location of the A.T. & S.F. Railroad and Orange
County Flood Control crossings of Red Hill Avenue just
northerly,of Edinger Avenue a major restriction exists.
The street paving at this location is of minimal width to
accommodate three eleven foot wide travel lanes. The
easterly side or northbound direction is currently marked
for two 'northbound travel lanes and a paved shoulder
which pedestrians utilize for access across the Flood
Control Channel and the railroad tracks. There is no
access for pedestrians across these facilities other than
in the paved street area. The westerly side or
southbound direction currently has no authorized
pedestrian access between Service Road and the southerly
boundary of the A.T. & S.F. right-of-way.
Any addition of travel lanes in the northbound direction
at this location would result in a hazardous condition
mixing pedestrian activity with a vehicular travel lane.
In the immediate vicinity of Red Hill Avenue and Sycamore
Avenue there are three schools which generate bicycle
traffic along Red Hill Avenue. If Red Hill Avenue were
to be restriped to six lanes the bicyclist would have to
compete with the vehicular traffic in the outside or
number 3 lane adjacent to the curb. This lane would be
marked as a 13 foot wide travel lane for both users.
In order to restripe Red Hill Avenue to six lanes, all
on -street parking would have to be removed. There are
certain segments where parking is already prohibited, but
areas still remain between Sycamore Avenue and Mitchell
Avenue adjacent to the apartment/ condominium developments
that could be impacted by the removal of on -street
parking.
Red Hill Avenue - Edinger Avenue to I-5 Freeway
August 3, 1992
Page 3
° The City is currently reviewing and commenting on the
environmental documentation for the expansion of the
Irvine Business Complex (IBC) development in the City of
Irvine. Staff's comments address the negative traffic
impacts to the City of Tustin (Red Hill Avenue) as a
result of this expansion and requests that they be
mitigated as a condition of the expansion project. One
of the requested mitigation measures is the widening of
Red Hill Avenue between Barranca Parkway and the I-5
Freeway to standards of a major arterial highway with
enhanced intersections at designated locations. This
proposed widening would eliminate the previously
mentioned pedestrian conflict concerns in the vicinity of
the A.T. &.S.F. Railroad and the conflicts with motor
vehicles and bicyclists in the number 3 travel lane.
Any action involving the restriping of Red Hill Avenue at
this time could jeopardize the City's position in
requesting that the IBC Development mitigate the traffic
congestion problems caused by that development.
Staff has monitored Red Hill Avenue since the completion of the
freeway related work by. Caltrans and has found in general that
traffic is moving in an improved manner as compared to previous
years. There'is still one major bottleneck which occurs when the
railroad engages in a prolonged switching activity which usually
occurs in the peak traffic periods. Neither restriping to six
lanes or widening to six lanes will eliminate this type of
congestion. A grade separation would be a possible solution to the
congestions resulting from the railroad switching activities.
Staff would recommend against restriping of Red Hill Avenue at this
time, but if the City Council is desirous of pursuing any project
to increase vehicular activities along Red Hill Avenue, it is
recommended that a complete project report be completed to review
all project alternatives with respect to community impacts, costs
and traffic safety. If desired staff could return at a future
meeting with an estimated cost for the completion of this project
report.
Robert S. Ledendecker
Director of Public Works/City Engineer
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