HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 7 CITIZEN CONCERN 01-03-94REPORTS NO. 7
I-3-94
DATE:
JANUARY 3, 1994
lnter-Com
lO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJEC~ CITIZEN CONCERN REGARDING TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AT TUSTIN RANCH
ROAD AND IRVINE BOULEVARD
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the City Council, at their meeting of
January 3, 1994, receive and file this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
At this time, there is no fiscal impact to the City regarding the
preparation of this report.
BACKGROUND:
At the December 6, 1993 City Council meeting, Mr. James Plesetz, a
resident of the City, expressed concern regarding the northbound
Irvine Boulevard left-turn movement onto westbound Tustin Ranch
Road. Mr. Plesetz indicated that timing for the noted left-turn
movement appears insufficient to accommodate demand for this
movement in the evening peak-hour.
The Engineering Division was requested by the City Council, at the
December 6, 1993 meeting, to investigate the current traffic signal
timing for the left-turn movement and possible left-turn pocket
extension at the subject intersection.
DISCUSSION:
The Engineering Division has completed the investigation of the
subject location. Based upon the investigation of the traffic
signal timing at the noted intersection, it has been determined
that it may be possible to increase the green arrow time for the
subject left-turn movement to accommodate additional vehicles
making this left-turn movement. However, vehicles on Irvine
Boulevard in the eastbound direction may experience delays at the
subject intersection due to this change. At this time, the
Engineering Division is analyzing the current timing program for
the intersection and if feasible will modify the timing to
accommodate additional left-turn vehicles while minimizing delays
to the through traffic.
The Engineering Division has also reviewed the possibility of
extending the left-turn pocket for the subject left-turn movement.
This would be a major capital expense and would require the
reconstruction of the median and restriping of the street.
However, an extended left-turn pocket will allow for additional
storage of vehicles, but may not necessarily increase turning
volume.
During the investigation, it was observed that a large number of
vehicles are exiting the northbound I-5 Freeway at Tustin Ranch
Road, turning left at Irvine Boulevard, and proceeding to the SR-55
Freeway, thereby bypassing the Caltrans construction area of the I-
5/SR-55 junction. Since Tustin Ranch Road is a master planned
major arterial and was constructed as such, it will adequately
accommodate existing as well as future traffic demand. However, it
was not intended to function as an alternate or bypass for freeway
traffic.
It is the Engineering Division's feeling that once freeway
construction is completed, traffic patterns will normalize and the
subject intersection will function as was intended; a major
arterial intersection. Therefore, it may not be prudent at this
time to implement a capital project to extend the subject left-turn
pocket to offer relief for a possible temporary situation.
Engineering Division will monitor this intersection periodically
and modify signal timing as traffic patterns change.
Director of Public Works/
City Engineer
Douglas ~R. Anderson
Transportation Engineer
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