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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 7 BRUCE TRAYWICK 09-05-89TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO COMMENTS FROM MR. BRUCE TRAYWICK RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. BACKGROUND: Mr. Bruce Traywick, 14651 Pacific Street, has expressed several concerns relative to traffic conditions along Yorba Street between Irvine and Seventeenth Street. Of the several paragraphs that were contained in a letter from him dated June 12, 1989 (copy attached), his concerns center on the amount of traffic using the .roadway , the speed of traffic using the roadway, the problems that left-turning traffic encounters, the lack of stop signs on.the roadway, and the fact that Yorba Street should be used only as an access road for local residents and people who work in nearby shops and offices. DISCUSSION: The city's traffic engineer reviewed Mr. Traywick's letter and concerns in detail and prepared a response letter dated June 26, 1989 (copy attached). The following summarizes both the comments of Mr. Traywick and the responses from the city traffic engineer. Comments Mr. Traywick suggested the following: a. Reduce the current four lane roadway to two lanes (one in each direction, 15' wide. b. Install an 8' foot bike lane on each side. c. Install 12' continuous left turn lane. d. Bike lanes could double as right turn lanes. e. Santa Ana traffic should not be allowed to use Yorba Street. f. There should be a stop sign on Yorba at Amagansett. g. There should be more police enforcement and police vehicles should be less visible. Response While the attached letter from the traffic engineer responds to the items mentioned above, it is important to note that a reduction in travel lanes (from 4 to 2 in each direction) as well as the approximate lane configuration suggested by Mr. Traywick (identified on traffic engineer's response letter) creates a new set of problems for the city. RESPONSE TO COMMENTS FROM MR. BRUCE TRAYWICK AUGUST 30, 1989 PAGE 2 The most significant problem is the fact that lane reduction on Yorba Street would violate the requirements of the Arterial Highway Funding Program (AHFP). Since Yorba Street is part of the AHFP county-wide master plan and is identified as an arterial highway, such a change could affect the city's future eligibility for AHFP funding and, indeed, it could affect funding from other sources such as OCUTT and FAU programs. Another problem that relates to the suggested lane configuration concerns the effect that only one lane on Yorba Street would have on are residents. The traffic engineer noted in his June 26th response to Mr. Traywick that the street would become very "busy" under one lane conditions since almost all of the roadway's available capacity would be utilized. This in turn would lead to greater difficulty for side street traffic to enter Yorba Street. · Should a bike lane be installed as Mr. Traywick suggested, the traffic engineer would recommend against that lane being jointly used for bikes and parking. In addition to his reasons that are explained in the attached response letter, such a change would counter the wishes of area residents. Specifically, the residents overwhelmingly rejected an earlier proposal to remove~all parking on Yorba Street between Irvine Boulevard and Seventeenth Street. With respect to a stop sign on Yorba at Amagansett, existing side street traffic volumes are not high enough to warrant the stopping of Yorba Street traffic. Indeed, existing traffic on Yorba itself is only about 10,000 cars a day. This is less than one-half of its full secondary highway carrying capacity. A secondary highway is designed to carry around 25,000 cars a day under a four lane configuration (that which currently exists). It is noted that a safety improvement has already being identified at Yorba Street and Amagansett. That project involves the installation of flashing yellow beacons to improve pedestrian safety. Those devices will be installed both north and south of Amagansett. The final element of Mr. Traywick's concerns along Yorba Street involves the amount and visibility of police enforcement. We have informed the police department of Mr. Traywick's comments and asked that they respond accordingly. Bob Ledendecker Director of Public Works/City Engineer ~Attach. City of Tustin Dept of Public Works Bob Ledendecker 300 Centennial Way Tustin, Ca 92680 JUl'4 1989 -- 'JUSTIN PUgLIC WORKS DEPT- Bruce Traywick 14651 Pacific St Tustin, Ca 92680 838-3225 June 12, 1989 Mr Ledendecker: The subject of this letter is Yorba Street between Irvine and~ Seventeenth Streets. Earlier this year residents on and -near Yorba were asked to vote on a proposal to add a left turn lane to Yorba. This proposal would have eliminated parking on both sides of Yorba. The proposal was defeated, and rightly so. I am making a new proposal for Yorba Street. Yorba Street, between Irvine and Seventeenth Streets, is three quarters of a mile long. SoUth'~ of" Irvi~e and'" north of Seventeenth, Yorba is a two lane road. Drivers use Yorba as an alternate to the 55. freeway...Yorba is heavily.traveled especially from 2:30pm to 7:00pm on weekdays. UPS trucks by the dozen travel north on Yorba each afternoon. Even on Fridays before Christmas and New Years (last), Yorba was loaded with traffic while the 55 freeway was moving at top' speed. Nintyfive percent of the drivers drive into the city on the south and exit on the north without stopping except for traffic control devices. Many drivers try to find how 'fast they can get going by the time they reach Seventeenth Street. Traffic Officers patrol Yorba about two hours a week, usually in the morning. During the afternoon, it is very difficult to turn left from the southbound lane. Often a left turner will block the southbound left lane for a minute or two waiting for a break in trafic. There are fifteen streets and two private drive alleys intersecting Yorba from Irvine to Seventeenth Streets. I do not consider Yorba a major highway thru town even tho it is used that way. To reduce the traffic on Yorba, I. am proposing the following. First, reduce Yorba to two lanes. Use eight feet next to the..curb on each side for bicycles, parking, and right ~turn ..... 0nly at .eac~..~of.~.the seventeen intersecting streets ment.ioned~.· above. The traffic lane'would be sixteen feet wide both north and south. In the center would be a twelve foot wide left turn lane from Irvine to Seventeenth Srteets. The separating lines would make up the remainder of Yorbas sixtythree foot total width. Second, At Amaganset and Vandenberg would be stop signs. Stop signs will .work because they a~e...a-,].,1, along Yorba, north ...of Seventeenth to Chapman. Tustin is'almost void of bicycle lanes. I ride my bicycle frequently up and down Yorba; often feeling like I am riding on a freeway. -The City of Irvine has bicycle lanes on nearly all wide streets. The right and left turn lanes would allow drivers to turn without blocking thru traffic. I have lived at this address for twentyfour years and have sent three daughters thru local schools. My wife and I will probably spend the rest of' our lives here. I am appalled by all the high density development that has been pushed down our throats by corrupt politicians and the resulting high crime that this transient population produces. We can live with that, grudgingly. The things that would force us out of Tustin would -be; noise, traffic, and pollution. Yorba Street is much like the Eastern- Transportation Corridor, which I oppose. Both are or would be used to carry large amounts of traffic thru or near' Tustin and all the local residents get out of it is excessive noise, traffic, and pollution. Yorba Street should be used only ~s an access road for local residents, people that'work in or use-'the' profes'si0n~off~'ce~ or use the Shops south of Seventeenth. A stop sign at Amaganaset would make it safer for school children to cross Yorba. A stop sign at Vandenberg would make that intersection much safer for those of us who shop south of Seventeenth and make a left turn off Vandenberg onto southbound Yorba. cc Ursula Kennedy Richard Edgar Earl Prescot Ronald Hoesterey ....... John Kelly Bill Moses, Tustin News Louise Woo, Orange CountY Register Sincerely Bruce Traywick June 26, 1989 Depart.tent of Public Works/Engineering Mr. Bruce Traywick 14651 Pacific Street Tustin, CA 92680 Subject: Yorba Street between Irvine and Seventeenth Street Dear Mr. Traywick: This letter responds to your correspondence of June 12, 1989. In your letter you described several ideas to improve traffic flow along Yorba Street. Among others, these include a reduction in the number of travel lanes, a joint parking/bicycle lane, and right-turn only lanes. You also mentioned that stop signs would be appropriate at certain locations since other intersections north of Seventeenth have such control at those locations. In response to the above, please be aware that Yorba Street is indeed a major thoroughfare in the city. As such, its current four-lane configuration is .appropriate. Because it"is a 'major roadway and given the level of traffic using the facility, a reduction from four lanes to two as you suggest would create more problems than it-wOuld solve. The--reason for this-centers on the available "capacity" of the roadway. At present, current four-lane traffic volumes on Yorba use up about half its capacity. If we reduced it to two lanes (one in each direction), almost all of its capacity would be utilized. If this were to happen, the street would appear even busier than it is now. More important, because all traffic would be forced to use one lane, traffic from the side streets would be faced with a worse condition as well. Specifically, . they would have-more difficulty gettinq-ontu'Yorba' street. You also mentioned that an eight-foot lane should be installed to serve bicycles, parking, and right-tUrn traffic. Please be aware that such a move could by itself create a problem. If a solid bike lane line were painted on the street, it would necessarily regulate where a person should ride his bike. If, however, a car or truck were parked in that bike lane, the rider would have to leave that area and use the 16-foot through travel lane you mentioned in your letter. The problem is that since the presence of the suggested 12-foot left turn lane (and/or its usage) could either inhibit or prohibit the through driver from "moving over" (to give that bike rider more room), there could be a collision between the two. on 300"Cente,miat Way · Tustin, Califor,,ia 92680 · (714) 5'44-8890 Mr. Bruce~ Traywick June 26, 1989 Page 2 the other hand, were the Same situation to occur under existing conditions, a safer ?situation exists because the' driver in the lane that is shared with bikes and parked cars. at least has the availability of the next adjacent lane to move over. With respect to stop signs on Yorba Street, this element has been evaluated and found not to be-justified. Neither location shows traffic volumes or accidents high enough to warrant a stop sign. I realize that this letter does not give you the response you desired. However, we do understand the effect that high vehicular speeds have on residents who use Yorba Street. Therefore, I will request that the police department enforce the speed limit more often than stated in your letter. Thank you for your correspondence and also for your interest in traffic safety. Should you have other ideas you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to call me. Very truly yours, · Jerry L. Crabill Consulting Traffic Engineer JLC: mv cc: Bob Ledendecker