Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 2 INTERSEC STUDY 05-03-82DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: April 29, 1982 NEW BUSINESS 5-3-82 Inter-Corn HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL BILL HUSTON, CITY MANAGER RED BILL & WALNUT AVENUES INTERSECTION STUDY RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council schedule a study session to review the attached Red Hill and Walnut Avenues Intersection Study. DISCUSSION: The City Council has directed staff to prepare a study which identifies alternatives for relieving traffic congestion at this intersection. Because of the cost and other implications associated with an inter- section improvement project, staff is reco~nending that a study session be scheduled. Graphics will be available at the session to assist in delineating the alternative impro~ments. WILLIAM A. HUSTON, City Manager WH: dmt AGENDA DATE: APRIL 22, 1982 TO: Inter-Corn WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: SUBJECT: BOB T.RDESDECKER, DIRECTOR OF P~LIC WOI~KS/CITY ~NGINEER RED HILL AND WALNUT AVENUES INTERSECTION DITE)Y I 1 RECC~gMENDATION: Pleasure of the City Council. BACK~: At the request of Council, staff has prepared three alternate studies to improve the traffic flows at the intersection of Walnut and Red Hill Avenues. These three alternatives are described as follows: PLAN A - PLAN B - Widening of Walnut Avenue within the existing right-of-way except at the intersection where additional right-of-way will be required. This plan will provide an additional eastbound travel lane (total of two travel lanes in each direction) and left pockets for both east and west bound Walnut Ave. This plan would also include a 5 ft. wide pedestrian path. Construction of the ultimate curb return at the northeasterly corner to accomodate the modified traffic signal at its ultimate location. This modified traffic signal would include left turn phasing for both directions of Walnut Ave. Aquisition of right-of-way and the widening of Red Hill Avenue to permit striping of a 14' wide center median and longer left turn pocket to eastbound Walnut Ave. The two northbound travel lanes and pedestrian path on Red Hill Ave. would remain the same except for relocating them easterly. Widening of Walnut Avenue within the existing right-of-way except at the intersection where additional right-of-way will be required. This plan will provide an additional eastbound travel lane (total of two travel lanes in each direction) and left pockets for both east and west bound Walnut Ave. This plan would also include a 5 ft. wide pedestrian path. Construction of the ultimate curb return at the northeasterly corner to accomodate the modified traffic signal at its ultimate location. This modified traffic signal would include left turn phasing for both directions of Walnut Ave. Aquisition of right-of-way and the widening of Red Hill Avenue to permit striping of a 14' wide center median and longer left turn pocket to eastbound Walnut Ave. and 3 travel lanes north bound. RED HILL AND WALNUT AVENUES INTERSECTION STUDY APRIL 22, 1982 PAGE TWO PLAN C - Widening of Walnut Avenue within the existing right-of-way except at the intersection where additional right-of-way will be required. This plan will provide an additional eastbound travel lane (total of two travel lanes in each direction) and left pockets for both east and west bound Walnut Ave. This plan would also include a 5 ft. wide pedestrian path. Construction of the ultimate curb return at the northeasterly corner to acco~odate the modified traffic signal at its ultimate location. This mmdified traffic signal would include left turn phasing for both directions of Walnut Ave. Aq_uisition of minimal right-of-way along Red Hill Avenue to provide for the tapered pavement section between the proposed ultimate curb return and the existing pavement. This plan would not allow for enlargement of the left turn pocket on Red Hill Ave. to eastbound Walnut Ave. and would result in no change to the two northbound lanes and pedestrian path on Red Hill Ave. The concern as presented by the Tustin Meadows Homeowners Association is certainly a valid one, in that personal observance at the Oxford and Walnut Avenues intersection indicate that approximately 50% of the westbound Walnut vehicles turn left at Oxford and assum~dly utilize the loop street and Sycamore Ave. to reach southbound Red Hill Avenue. ANALYS IS: The following is a preliminary cost estimate for the three alternative plans: PLAN A - $274,000 PLAN B - $320,000 PLAN C - $126,000 Preliminary conversations with the County of Orange indicate that Plan "A" would be eligible for the Arterial Highway Financing Program (A.H.F.P.) funding on a 50% basis. Plan "B" would also be eligible for A.H.F.P. participation if the City were to c~,u,~t to restriping Rmd Hill Ave. to three lanes for both directions. This, of course, would require the elimination of all on-street parking and all bicyclists would have to compete with motor vehicles in the third travel lane. Plan "C" may be eligible for A.H.F.P. participation, but as of this date, we have not received confirmation from the County A.H.F.P. representatives. The addition of left turn phasing for Walnut Ave. traffic will i~pact the overall traffic flow on Red Hill Avenue as well as Walnut Ave. This phasing will add between 15-30 seconds to the total required intersection timing. This additional time will eliminate grccn time frcmboth the straight through Red Hill movements and the straight through Walnut wmvements. This phasing will result in a re-evaluation and revision to the Red Hill Ave. interconnect system between Irvine Blvd. and Warner Ave. The estimated cost for the evaluation and field change is estimated at $4,000 and has not been included within the previous estimates. RED HILL AND WALNUT AVENUES INTERSECTION STUDY APRIL 22, 1982 PAGE THREE The signal mDdification and widening of Walnut Ave. and the subject intersection will not guarantee the elimination of motorists utilizing the Tustin Meadows loop street as an alternate route to Red Hill Ave. However, it should help minimize some of the useage as an alternate route. The motorists utilize this alternate route for two reasons: 1. To avoid the problems of negotiating a left turn movement at Red Hill and Walnut Avenues. 2. To avoid a quarter mile stretch of congested traffic along Red Hill Ave. between Walnut Ave. and Sycamore Ave. The requested signal modification will help mitigate Reason No. 1, but will adversely impact the present congestion along Red Hill as noted in Reason No. 2. The requested signal modification will not help the reverse flow of traffic utilizing the Tustin Meadows loop street from northbound Red Hill Ave. to eastbound Walnut Ave. BOB [.RnENDECKER DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ~ORKS/ CITY ~qGINEER db cc: Matt Nisson Kathy Weil