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Minutes of the LA CRESCENTA Meeting Neighborhood Traffic Management Program March 30, 2004
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The first meeting for the La Crescenta Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) project began at 6:40 p.m. on March 30, 2004, in the auditorium of Crescenta Valley High School, 4400 Ramsdell Avenue, La Crescenta, CA. Mike Livingston and Linda Evans, Principals.
2. ATTENDEES AND PRESENTER
The following persons were in attendance: Ms. Rita Hadjimanoukian, representing Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Mr. Joel Falter, Project Manager, Katz, Okitsu and Associates, consultant/presenter Los Angeles county Department of Public Works, Traffic Investigations Section: Justin Schmitz, and Emiko Thompson Mr. Hank Paz, representing Glendale Unified School District Approximately 25 neighborhood residents were in attendance.
The following persons were mailed notices but were not present: Vince Bell, California Highway Patrol Phillip Arrequin, Los Angles County Fire Department
3. MEETING NOTES
Mr. Schmitz began the meeting by welcoming the attendees and introducing the staff and guests in attendance.
Mr. Falter presented a Power Point slide show describing the NTMP goals, objectives and process. He reported on the results of their field observations and input from discussions with area residents that the principal concerns appear to be with respect to excessive speeds and presence of cut-through traffic associated with school activities and other activities. Mr. Falter presented the results of data obtained from traffic counts and speed measurements on several streets around Crescenta Valley High School over several days of observations.
Mr. Falter presented suggestions for various measures to involve education, enforcement, and engineering practices to address the traffic concerns. These measures included: radar speed trailer deployment, installation of neighborhood advisory signs, and the installation of speed cushions, curb extensions, and/or center medians at various locations. The pros and cons of each measure were discussed in terms of effectiveness and restrictiveness. Mr. Falter indicated that implementation of one or more of these measures could be accomplished as Phase 1, which would be followed by an adjustment period and reevaluation of traffic conditions to determine their effectiveness. Based on the results of the Phase 1 actions, those features implemented in a temporary fashion could be converted to permanent installations as Phase 2, including adjusting or augmenting the program as needed.
A period of Questions and Answers followed the slide show presentation. The following questions and comments were received from the audience:
Response: STOP signs are an effective device to use at intersections to define the right of way and reduce potential conflicts or reduce delay when traffic volumes are relatively high. Most traffic engineering agencies and jurisdictions nation-wide discourage the use of STOP signs as a speed-breaker. If placed where traffic conditions do not obviously warrant them, motorists soon lose respect for the sign and dangerously disregard it, deteriorating the signs impact at those locations where they are needed.
2. Can the CHP and sheriff begin to enforce speeding and parking restrictions around Cresenta Valley High School? Response: The CHP does enforce speeding around Crescenta Valley High School and the sheriffs department has a deputy assigned to enforcing the parking restrictions around the school area. We will inform both departments of your concern and representatives from the CHP will be attending the follow-up meeting.
3. The fact that Prospect Avenue does not have striping or sidewalks creates confusion for both drivers and pedestrians traveling on Prospect Avenue, especially during the peak hours, what does the County propose to address this concern? Response: As Joel mentioned in his presentation, one way to reduce the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles and to more clearly define the roadway, the roadway could be striped. The proposal we presented tonight would provide one lane of travel in each direction separated by a double yellow centerline, an 8 parking lane along the south edge of the roadway and a variable width pedestrian walkway along the southside of Prospect Avenue. However, since these changes would obviously create a significant alteration to parking in the area, this is only a proposal for the community to consider.
4. Drivers speed down Prospect Avenue at all times of the day and make it very difficult for us to exit our residence. What can be done to slow traffic on Prospect Avenue? Response: As discussed, striping the street may cause vehicles to slow down as their travel lanes become narrower and better defined. Additionally, several of the tools mentioned in our presentation could also be used on Prospect Avenue. An effective tool would be the installation of speed cushion like they have on Altura Avenue.
The residents in attendance were then given an opportunity to make written comments by marking on a set of maps of the study area indicating the problem locations and their proposals for various solutions. These notations generally related to proposed speed cushion installations, curb bulb-outs, center medians on Ramsdell Avenue, and updating the striping on Prospect Avenue.
Mr. Falter advised that the comments and concerns raised at this meeting will be reviewed by KOA and Public Works, and a second meeting will be convened in approximately five weeks to finalize the proposed Phase 1 actions for the La Crescenta NTMP.
The meeting concluded at 8:30 p.m.
JS:tlpub/invest/inv/ntmp/LaCrescentaminutes |
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