I. RECOMMENDATION:
This was a future agenda item brought forward by Manny Ramirez. Public Works has no formal recommendations.
II. BACKGROUND:
First/Glenn and Pine street are a popular thoroughfare to reach the East side of the city by Elm Avenue traffic. As such, excessive speeds are observed on these roadways. Glenn is a very wide sweeping street and Pine is narrow street at the base of the curve. Often traffic cuts the corner making the left onto Pine.
III. DISCUSSION:
Staff has worked with our engineers to design a solution that follows the guidelines in our traffic calming handbook. This solution has two parts, first installing a stop sign and small median island on Pine. This is intended to slow traffic making the left turn onto Pine Street.
Second is to install a median on First/Glenn to narrow the lane. This is intended to slow traffic on First/Glenn. Generally, lanes that are narrower serve to slow traffic as they must navigate the tighter boundaries.
However, the median installation on Glenn is estimated to cost nearly $50,000. Staff recommends moving forward with the improvements on Pine and monitor the area for further calming. As the work on Pine Street will be significantly less expensive, coming in at around $8,000.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Move forward with indicated work on Pine.
Complete both the work on Pine and Glenn.
Investigate less costly measures.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of both improvements, as indicated by our engineers, will be nearly $60,000. 50,000 for improvements on Glenn, and 8,000 for improvements on Pine. This would be funded from the Gas Tax funds. Presently, this is not a budgeted item. |