SunnyvaleRTC

February 1, 2005

SUBJECT: Norman Drive Traffic Calming Study and Norman/Bryant 4 Way Stop Sign Warrant – Consideration of Permanent and Trial Traffic Control Installations

REPORT IN BRIEF

Staff has completed transportation engineering studies of Norman Drive and nearby streets that investigate intersection traffic controls and traffic calming thresholds. These studies were completed to respond to resident requests, both recent and historical, for traffic calming in the area.

Two findings requiring City Council consideration and action were made. At the intersection of Norman Drive and Bryant Way, a 4-Way Stop Warrant Analysis determined that the intersection qualifies for a 4-way stop control. Norman Drive also experiences traffic volumes that exceed the City’s threshold for traffic calming.

A series of neighborhood meetings have been held over the past year, and consensus among residents has been reached for a trial traffic calming installation of signing, striping, and a traffic circle at the intersection of Norman Drive and Elizabeth Way. These features would augment the 4-way stop control at Norman Drive and Bryant Way. Staff is recommending Council approval of a permanent 4-way stop sign installation at Norman Drive and Bryant Way, as well as approval of a trial installation of signing, striping and a traffic circle on Norman Drive between Marion Drive and Bryant Way for traffic calming purposes. After a one year period, the calming measures would be evaluated and considered by the City Council for permanent installation.

BACKGROUND

Norman Drive has been the subject of neighborhood traffic concerns for many years. Speeding, high traffic volumes, and “cut-through” traffic to and from Wolfe Road, Homestead Road and El Camino Real are the primary complaints. In 1995 the City conducted a traffic study after receiving three petitions from residents. That study resulted in a recommendation of periodic traffic enforcement. The study preceded establishment of the City’s Traffic Calming Policy. Occasional complaints continued to be received, and last year a formal traffic calming request was received.

EXISTING POLICY

The following documents contain policy direction on this issue:

Land Use and Transportation Element C3: Attain a transportation system that is effective, safe, pleasant, and convenient.

Land Use and Transportation Element N1.5: Support a roadway system that protects internal residential areas from City-wide and regional traffic.

Land Use and Transportation Element N1.5.2: Utilize the City's residential neighborhood "Traffic Calming" techniques to address specific neighborhood traffic concerns.

DISCUSSION

The formal traffic calming request states that primary concerns are heavy traffic volumes and a predominance of cut-through traffic from primary arterials. Motorist violations including speeding and illegal passing are alleged, as well as test driving of vehicles from auto dealers and repair shops, presumably on El Camino Real.

Public Works Transportation and Traffic staff met with residents in Fall, 2003 to suggest Stage I calming measures and collect further input. Residents indicated that issues with speeding and traffic congestion existed on Norman and throughout the neighborhood, and Stage II measures specifically road closures and stop signs were needed. An examination of weekend traffic was requested as well. Staff implemented Stage I measures including radar trailer placement, placement of special signs, and targeted enforcement.

Subsequent meetings on February 25, 2004 and June 23, 2004 involved presentation of additional traffic data, including volume, speed, turning movement and traffic control warrant information. This information showed a weekday traffic volume of 1,152 vehicles/day on Norman Drive, exceeding the traffic calming threshold of 1,000 vehicles/day. To respond to concerns of heavy traffic on other streets in the neighborhood besides Norman Drive, volume counts were done on Hampton Drive, which connects directly to El Camino Real and represents the highest volume street in the Norman Drive area other than Norman Drive itself. These counts showed volumes between 350-560 vehicles/day, which is well below calming thresholds. Norman Drive weekend traffic was also below thresholds, at around 720 vehicles/day. Weekend travel speeds were below those of weekdays. A Stop Warrant Study at Bryant and Navarro did not meet criteria.

The traffic data concludes that traffic issues in the neighborhood are predominantly related to neighborhood-destined traffic, primarily Peterson School. Turning movement and car following data show that a high percentage of vehicles using Norman are bound for the school, as opposed to a very low percentage of vehicles utilizing the street as a short cut. Traffic volumes on Norman Drive exceed the City’s traffic calming threshold, but speeds on Norman and other neighborhood streets are within acceptable levels. Cut-through traffic is low on Norman, and other neighborhood streets have very low overall traffic volumes. Therefore, consideration of a traffic plan for the neighborhood focused on education of drivers destined for Peterson School, periodic enforcement, and consideration of measures that would improve real and perceived traffic safety on the route of the volume of traffic accessing Peterson School along Norman Drive.

A Preferred Route Map with route information, traffic fine information, and other courteous driver tips was prepared and distributed to the Santa Clara Unified School District for patrons of Peterson School and the Patrick Henry School site. Special speed signs have been erected on various streets throughout the neighborhood as well.

Public Safety enforcement occurred during the study period, and continuing Public Safety enforcement is an element of the recommended traffic calming approach. During six months in early 2004, the Public Safety Traffic Unit patrolled the Raynor Park area with the following results:

19 citations issued for speeding violations
19 citations issued for stop sign violations
7 citations issued for other miscellaneous violations
Speed radar trailer deployed for a total of 137 hours since 1/3/04

Periodic radar trailer placement and spot enforcement will continue. It should be noted that traffic law violators are generally residents, and the collision history is very favorable on Norman Drive.

A 4-way stop sign is warranted at the Norman Drive/Bryant Way intersection, based on peak hour traffic volumes and school pedestrian traffic. Installation of this device will address State traffic control warrants, and have the affect of calming the high volumes of turning traffic as well as improving safety for the moderate amount of pedestrians at this location. Installation of high visibility crosswalks is recommended as part of this installation.

Observed traffic speeds on Norman Drive include an 85th percentile speed of about 31 mph and an average speed of about 24 mph. While the overall travel speed of traffic on Norman Drive is not an issue, heavy peak hour volumes and queues create a perceived traffic-unfriendly environment on the street. Given the high level of support observed at neighborhood meetings for further traffic calming measures, staff considered measures that would modulate speed and traffic volumes on the street. A plan for the installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of Norman Drive and Elizabeth Drive (roughly mid-block between Marion Way and Bryant Way), and installation of shoulder striping and special speed signs the length of Norman Drive was presented to residents at the final neighborhood meeting on June 23, 2004. Staff believes that these measures will slow traffic, improve vehicle spacing, increase driver awareness of speed, and have the ancillary benefit of discouraging non-neighborhood destined traffic. At that meeting a majority of residents supported a vote on this plan, and a subsequent poll of residents and property owners showed that 67% of responding residents supported the trial installation of these measures, as opposed to 14% for continued Stage I calming, and 19% favoring no action. Forty percent of mailed ballots were returned. This plan is illustrated on Attachment A.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the permanent installation of 4-way stop control at the intersection of Norman Drive and Bryant Way. Staff further recommends that the City council approve the trial installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of Norman Drive and Elizabeth Way, and signing and striping measures to calm traffic on Norman Drive. This installation will be reviewed and staff will return to Council with a recommendation on permanent installation after a one year period.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact associated with the staff recommendation in the short term. Funds are budgeted for the installation of traffic controls and temporary traffic calming in the Program 115 operating budget. Should a traffic circle be permanently installed at the intersection of Norman Drive and Elizabeth Way, it is likely that new ongoing operating costs for landscaping associated with the circle would be incurred, in an amount of approximately $3,000 per year. The City Council would consider this fiscal impact at such time that a decision on a permanent traffic circle installation is made.

CONCLUSION

Transportation engineering studies on Norman Drive and the surrounding neighborhood streets conclude that traffic control modifications, targeted outreach to school site users, continued enforcement will help to address residents’ concerns about traffic. Staff recommends measures to improve safety, modulate traffic, and discourage non-neighborhood destined trips, including:

4-way stop signs, Norman/Bryant
Installation of crosswalks at Norman and Bryant
Public Safety enforcement
Continued deployment of speed radar trailer
Outreach to school site users
Trial Shoulder stripe on Norman Drive
Trial special speed sign installation
Trial traffic circle installation on Norman/Elizabeth

PUBLIC CONTACT

This item was posted with the Council Agenda. Reports to Council are also available at the City Library and the City’s Web Site. In addition, notices were sent to residents and property owners on Norman Drive, and attendees of neighborhood meetings.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Approve the installation of a permanent 4 way stop sign at the intersection of Norman Drive and Bryant Way.

2. Approve the installation of trial traffic calming measures on Norman Drive.

3. Do not approve the installation of a permanent 4 way stop sign at the intersection of Norman Drive and Bryant Way.

4. Do not approve the installation of trial traffic calming measures on Norman Drive.

5. Approve another course of action not described in this report.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternatives 1 and 2: Approve the installation of a permanent 4 way stop sign at the intersection of Norman Drive and Bryant Way; and, Approve the installation of trial traffic calming measures on Norman Drive.

Reviewed by:

Marvin A. Rose, Director of Public Works

Prepared by: Jack Witthaus, Transportation and Traffic Manager

Approved by:

Amy Chan

City Manager

Attachments:

A. Norman Drive Traffic Calming Plan (144 kb .pdf)