HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 5 SYCAMORE STDY 03-07-88DATE: FEBRUARY 29, 1988 ~ ........... I
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SYCAMORE AVENUE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDY
· J
RECOMMENDATION:
Pleasure of City Council.
BACKGROUND:
A request was made by City Council to the Engineering Division to perform a traffic
engineering study of Sycamore Avenue between Newport Avenue and Red Hill Avenue.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the need for parking removal and/or
widening as related to emergency vehicle access on Sycamore Avenue. Therefore, the
Engineering Division authorized the Consulting City Traffic Engineer to perform an
'ngineering study which would address. City Council's stated concerns.
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Sycamore Avenue is classified as secondary highway on the County of Orange Master
Plan of Arterial Highways. The standard cross section for this type of roadway
requires 80 feet of right-of-way {R.O.W.) which will allow a curb to curb dimension
of 64 feet and two 8-foot parkways. The 64-foot dimension will allow up to four
traveled lanes (two in each direction).
Presently, Sycamore Avenue is widened to 80 feet of right-of-way only on the
southerly side between Red Hill Avenue and School Road. However, from School Road
to an area approximately 230 feet east of Newport Avenue, Sycamore Avenue only has
a right-of-way width of 60 feet. Hence, it is 20 feet short of the ultimate
required R.O.W. of 80 feet. Furthermore, parking on this street is allowed from
Newport Avenue to Red Hill Avenue (approximately 96 parking spaces are available).
In terms of land use, Sycamore Avenue serves as a collector street for the
residences which are loated along Sycamore Avenue and in the local neighborhood.
The street also provides access to two elementary schools which have frontage on
Sycamore Avenue. Hence, it receives a large amount of vehicular activity
throughout the week. Traffic counts which were conducted duhing the month of
January 1988 indicate that Sycamore Avenue carries an average daily traffic (ADT)
volume of 10,380 vehicles west of Del AmD and 9,160 vehicles west of Red Hill
Avenue.
~lso, it should be noted that a medical facility is located in the northeast corner
.f the Newport Avenue/Sycamore Avenue intersection. In fact, there are plans for
the expansion of this facility which will 'include spot widening on the north side
of Sycamore Avenue for a distance of approximately 350 feet.
~YCAMORE AVENUE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDY
February 29, 1988
Page 2
CAPACITY AND ACCIDENT ANALYSIS:
I-n 'or~er"'to "~luate the carrying capacity and the level of services (LOS) of
Sycamore Avenue under existng conditions, a capacity analysis was performed for the
roadway segments west and east of School Road. Both roadway segments are
considered to be two-lane, two-way roads with parking on both sides. Each segment
has an effective roadway width of 20' for each traveled direction.
Using conventional capacity analysis techniques and the traffic volumes obtained on
January 19, 1988, both segments of Sycamore Avenue are operating at Level of Sevice
"B" during the peak hours. Level of Service "B" is defined as occurring when
traffic volumes equal approximately 70% of the roadway's theoretical capacity.
Hence, the roadway approaches to intersections are almost fully utilized and
drivers begin to feel somewhat restricted within platoons.
To further address the concerns of City Council, a capacity analysis was performed
for Sycamore Avenue taking into account the effects of on-street parking. The
results indicated that the carrying capacity of Sycamore Avenue could be increased
by 44% by removing on-street parking. Such action would increase safety, reduce
accidents, and provide-better emergency vehicle access because of the greater
'treet width. However, it should be stated that a field review of the neighborhood
~as conducted on a Sunday evening and the results indicated that' all on-street
parking spaces are being used.
In addition to a capacity analysis, an accident analysis was made of Sycamore
Avenue between Newport Avenue and Red Hill Avenue. A review of the accident
hi story for a 4-year peri od (1984-1987) along Sycamore Avenue reveal ed that 30
collisions were reported. Of these total collisions, there were 14 property damage
and 16 injury type accidents.
However, it should be noted that only a small percentage of the total accidents
would be correctable by the widening of Sycamore Avenue between School Road and
Newport Avenue.
EVALUATION:
Based on't'he previous discussion, several comments can be made relative to Sycamore
Avenue. First, the street is operating at a high LOS today but could be improved
by removing the on-street parking. This action would improve capacity by 44% but
pose a hardship to the neighborhood if the parking removal was permanent. Second,
in a four year period (1984-1987), there were very few correctable accidents that
would justify a widening project. However, to comply with the long range planning
goals of the City and the Master Plan of Arterial Highways, Sycamore Avenue should
be widened to its ultimate R.O.W. of 80 feet from School Road to Newport Avenue.
The widening could be accomplished as a requirement for new future development or
by the allocation of City funds.
SYCAMORE AVENUE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDY
February 29, 1988
Page 3
In the interim, it is Staff's recommendation that a parking restriction on Sycamore
Avenue from School Road to Newport Avenue be implemented on a selected time basis
between the hours of 7-9 A.M. and 4-6 P.M. during the weekdays of Monday through
Friday. This recommendation would eliminate 43 potential on-street parking spaces
during the hours mentioned.
There are two alternatives that could be~explored to reduce the impacts of such a
recommendation. Alternative A would be to remove all of the existing parking on
both sides of Sycamore Street between Newport Avenue and School Road for the hours
and days mentioned. Alternati-ve B would be to remove the parking on only one side
of the street for the limits, hours and days mentioned. The designated side would
be determined after further study by Staff.
Bob Ledenc~ecker
Di rector of Public Works/City Engineer
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Dennis D. Barnes
City Traffic Engineer