County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

The Second LA CRESCENTA Meeting
May 4, 2004

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The second meeting for the La Crescenta Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) began at 6:45 p.m. on May 4, 2004, at the Crescenta Valley High School Auditorium, 4400 Ramsdell Avenue, La Crescenta.

2. ATTENDEES

The following were in attendance:

Approximately 15 residents

Rita Hadjimanoukian  (Supervisor Michael D. Antonovichs office)

Officer Vince Bell (California Highway Patrol, Altadena office)
Captain Bruce Freeman (L.A. County Fire Department)

Mr. Hank Paz  (Glendale Unified School District)

Mr. Joel Falter  (Katz, Okitsu and Associates, consultant/presenter)
Mr. Justin Schmitz and Ms. Emiko Thompson  (L.A. County Department of Public Works )
 

3. MEETING NOTES

Mr. Schmitz began the meeting by welcoming the attendees and introducing staff and guests.  Mr. Falter presented a Power Point slide show to review the NTMP goals, objectives and processes that were presented during the first meeting. He reported on the results of the comments received from the community through the first meetings discussions and also through the mailings received thereafter. Mr. Falter informed the audience that speed cushions, traffic calming signs, and educational radar speed trailers received the highest number of favorable responses from the community.

Mr Falter presented the Phase 1 recommendations to:

-Install traffic calming signs at key entry points into the community.

-Temporarily deploy radar speed trailers as educational speed reduction tools at strategic locations throughout the community.

-Install short median islands on Ramsdell at its intersections with Altura, Evelyn, and Prospect and install concrete bulges at the curb returns of these intersections.  These facilities will be designed to assist pedestrians, discourage U-turns, and slow speeds at the intersections.

-Install several sets of 6.5L x 6.25W x 3H asphalt concrete speed cushions across Community, between Ramsdell and La Crescenta, and across Prospect, between Glenwood and Rosemont.

-Install sidewalk (on one or both sides), install centerline striping, and possibly restrict parking on one side of Prospect, between La Crescenta and Rosemont. 

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.

4. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following questions and comments were received from the audience :

Q:  "Are the dimensions of the proposed speed cushions going to be the same as those presently on Altura?

A:  Yes.

Q:  There is traffic congestion on Prospect at Glenwood due to the two schools in the vicinity.  Is that going to be addressed?

A:  We will consider it as part of the overall plan in conjunction with the Phase I proposals.

Q:  The traffic calming signs are aesthetically displeasing and may not effectively slow speeds.

A:  This suggestion/comment will be noted when deciding locations & amount of signs.

Q:  What is the timeline on installing these proposals?

A:  This will vary depending on the complexity of each proposal, the level of engineering-design involved, and funding availability.  For instance installing signs or speed cushions will take less time than installing sidewalk.

Q:  What about installing several crosswalks across Prospect?

A:  Studies have shown that uncontrolled midblock crosswalks create a false sense of security resulting in pedestrians using less caution when crossing the roadway.  Therefore, they are not recommended.

Q:  Can you install centerline striping on Prospect?

A:  Yes, we will consider that.

Q:  How about installing sidewalk, curb & gutter, and parking on both sides of Prospect instead of on one side only.

A:  That would probably require widening the roadway to its full right-of-way width and removing any existing landscaping and roadside appurtenances within the right-of-way.  It will also dramatically change the current characteristics of the roadway.

Q:  Can additional enforcement be provided?

A:  Radar speed enforcement is legal only on those roadways where an Engineering and Traffic (E&T) Survey has been conducted, or within school zones when children are present.

Q:  Can radar be used on Prospect?

A:  Currently, there is no E&T for Prospect but we will look into conducting one to allow radar speed enforcement on Prospect.

Q:  I prefer sidewalk only on one side and restricting parking on the other side of Prospect as proposed.

A:  We will take this suggestion into consideration.

Rita Hadjimanoukian thanked Public Works for their efforts and encouraged the members of the community to take advantage of this program to address their traffic concerns.  Mr. Schmitz provided a brief and final overview of the proposals that were being considered and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at about 8:20 pm.

EKT