Item 8 - Establishing Speed Warning Devices
AGENDA REPORT SUMMARY
-TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
James L. Bowersox, City Mana~
Niall Fritz, Director of Development Services iP
INITIATED BY:
DATE:
January 18, 2005
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Establishing Speed Warning Devices on Poway Road at the lola Way
Intersection
ABSTRACT
Traffic Engineering staff received a letter from an area resident who expressed some safety concerns
regarding traffic driving over the posted 45 mph speed limit through the signalized intersection of
Poway Road and lola Way, which makes it very difficult to exit lola Way even during the protected
green phase.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to CEQA review.
'- FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds are available in the Signal Revitalization Project Account (1331 A) to cover the costs of
the improvements,
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
Notification has been sent to property owners located on lola Way north of Poway Road.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed Resolution to establish Speed Warning
Devices on Poway Road at the lola Way Intersection,
ACTION
.
M:\engserv\b"affic\Agenda 04\Poway-lola Way Speed Warning Devices'agenda summary.doc
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January 18, 2005 Item # g
CITY OF POWA Y
AGENDA REPORT
This report is included on the Consent Calendar. There will be no separate discussion of the report prior to approval by the City Council unless members of
the Council, staff or public request it to be removed from the Consent Calendar and discussed separately. If you wish to have this report pulled for discussion,
please fill out a slip indicating the report number and give it to the City Clerk prior to the beginning of the City Council meeting.
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
James L, Bowersox, City Man~
Niall Fritz, Director of Development Services ~
Javid Siminou, City Engineer -.6 lJJt
Zoubir Ouadah, Senior Traffic ~ngineer
Carl Hickman, Assistant Engineer, Traffic ·
TO:
INITIATED BY:
DATE:
January 18, 2005
SUBJECT:
Resolution Establishing Speed Warning Devices on Poway Road at
the lola Way Intersection
BACKGROUND
In May 2004, Traffic Engineering staff received a letterfrom a resident of the Poway Portal
area who requested that the City of Poway Traffic Engineering staff investigate the
possibility of reducing the speed limit on Poway Road between Oak Knoll Road and the
Western City Limits from 45 mph to 35 mph (see attachment B). The resident expressed
concerns regarding vehicles driving over the posted 45 mph speed limit through the
signalized intersection of Poway Road and lola Way, which makes it very difficult to exit
lola Way even during the protected green phase.
Traffic/Site Conditions
Poway Road is classified as a four-lane Major Arterial that runs east/west through the City
of Poway with an average daily traffic volume (ADT) of approximately 40,000 vehicles per
day in this area. The roadway width within the subject intersection is 80' from curb to curb.
There are two travel lanes, a bike lane in each direction, and a landscaped median that
provides a left-turn lane at the intersection. There are very few residential driveways along
this section of Poway Road. The posted speed limit is 45 mph; however, the speed limit to
the west in the City of San Diego is 50 mph, and east of Oak Knoll Road the speed limit is
35 mph, The prevailing speed or 85th percentile through this section of Poway Road is 53
mph.
It is important to note that Poway Road west of the subject intersection and within the City
of San Diego is a six-lane Prime Arterial with higher traffic volume and speed. As noted
earlier, the posted speed limit within the City of San Diego's segment is 50 mph. lola Way
is a Local Residential street that provides access to Poway Road from a residential area to
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January 18, 2005 Item # a
Agenda Report
January 18, 2005
Page 2
the north also known as Poway Portal. lola Way is a 25 mph residential speed zone and is
controlled at its intersection with Poway Road by a traffic signal.
Investigation of the accident history reveals that there have been 21 collisions at the
subject intersection in the past 12 years. Four of these collisions involved vehicles
broadsided while turning left from lola Way by vehicles traveling westbound on Poway
Road. These types of collision tend to be severe and could involve injuries and/or
fatalities. Fourteen of the reported collisions were due to unsafe speed.
FINDINGS
Upon investigation, City of Poway Traffic Engineering staff concluded that many concerns
were legitimate and needed additional attention. After performing field investigation and
gathering speed and volume data, staff found that the subject intersection is within a speed
transition zone. The speed limit to the west is 50 mph and to the east (east of Oak Knoll
Road), 35 mph. Therefore, drivers leaving the City of Poway begin accelerating to a higher
speed as they travel westbound and drivers coming into the City need to decelerate in
order to travel at a lawful speed as they enter Poway's City limits. This change in speed
between the two approaches through the subject intersection of Poway Road and lola Way
makes it difficult for drivers to maintain a uniform traveling speed.
The westbound drivers accelerating to reach a higher speed as they approach the City of
San Diego section concern lola Way area residents. Residents complain that it is difficult
to enter this intersection, even on a green phase, because the westbound traffic is moving
and accelerating too fast for them to stop at the intersection for the signal red light. Staff
also noticed that later in the evening, when the sun is setting in the west, the traffic signal
appears less visible to westbound traffic because of glare from the sun.
To address these issues and improve the level of safety at the subject intersection, City of
Poway Traffic Engineering staff has adjusted the traffic signal clearance time (yellow and
all red) to comply with the City's traffic signal clearance time guidelines. The traffic signal
clearance time for the yellow and all-red phases follow the guidelines provided in the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the Caltrans Traffic Manual, and the
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Manual on Traffic Signal Design. Staff found
that the existing clearance time is shorter than what it should be for the existing speed.
This adjustment or correction in clearance time will add approximately 70 feet for the
westbound driver's stopping distance.
In addition to the signal clearance time adjustments noted, staff also proposes the following
safety improvements:
1, Replace the westbound secondary signal head (on the signal pole) from 8" to 12"
lenses;
2. Install a "Signal Ahead" sign with flashing LED lights for westbound traffic; and
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January 18, 2005 Item # 8
Agenda Report
January 18, 2005
Page 3
3. Install a "Variable Speed Warning" (VSW) sign for eastbound traffic.
Changing the secondary signal head to 12" lenses will increase the visibility of this
secondary signal head and the active color from a longer distance. The existing yellow and
green signal lenses are 8" in size, with only the red lens being 12". The improvement in
visibility should help drivers' visibility by giving them more time and distance to see the
yellow or red phase and come to a complete stop before the limit line.
The "Variable Speed Warning" (VSW) sign will remind drivers of their traveling speed as
they approach the intersection from the City of San Diego, where the posted speed limit is
higher, Within the proposed location for the VSW sign is the City's posted "45 mph" speed
limit sign. Important to note is that installation of this type of VSW sign supplemented by
the use of "Reduced Speed Ahead" and speed limit signage has been implemented
successfully to reduce speed on Community Road, just north of Metate Lane, for
northbound traffic. Soon after the installation of the above-mentioned devices, Traffic
Engineering staff received much praise from the Sheriff's Department and residents.
Attachment B shows the proposed safety improvements within the subject area of Poway
Road.
Traffic Safety Committee
At a meeting on October 20, 2004, the Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) concurred with
Traffic Engineering staff's recommendation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to CEQA review.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds are available in the Signal Revitalization Project Account (1331 A) to cover
the costs of the improvements.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
Notification has been sent to property owners located on lola Way north of Poway Road.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed Resolution (Attachment A) to
implement the following safety improvements at the intersection of Poway Road and lola
Way:
1, Replace the westbound secondary signal head lenses (on the signal pole) from 8" to
12" lenses.
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January 18, 2005 Item #~
Agenda Report
January 18, 2005
Page 4
2. Install a "Signal Ahead" (W-41) sign with flashing LED lights for the westbound
traffic and a standard W-41 sign (without LED lights) for the eastbound traffic
approaching the signal.
3, Install a "Variable Speed Warning" (VSW) sign for eastbound traffic approaching the
intersection.
Attachments:
A - Proposed Resolution
B - Site Map
C - Proposed Safety Improvements
M:\engserv\traffic\Agenda 04\Poway-lola Way Speed Waming Devices\agenda report.doc
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January 18, 2005 Item # 8
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA,
ESTABLISHING SPEED WARNING DEVICES
ON POWAY ROAD AT THE 10LA WAY INTERSECTION
WHEREAS, Section 21100 of the California Vehicle Code permits local authorities
to adopt by resolution traffic control measures meeting the requirements set forth under
Section 21351 of the California Vehicle Code; and
WEREAS, Section 21351 ofthe California Vehicle Code permits the establishment
of speed warning devices in the City of Poway; and
WHEREAS, this Council has determined that speed warning devices should be
established.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway as
follows:
Section 1: In accordance with said Section 21351 of the California Vehicle Code the
following safety improvements shall be installed at the intersection of Poway Road and lola
Way:
1. Replace the westbound secondary signal head lenses (on the signal pole)
from 8" to 12" lenses.
2. Install a "Signal Ahead" (W-41) sign with flashing LED lights for the
westbound traffic and a standard W-41 sign (without LED lights) for the
eastbound traffic approaching the signal.
3. Install a 'Variable Speed Warning" (VSW) sign for eastbound traffic
approaching the intersection,
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Poway,
State of California, this 18th day of January 2005.
Michael P. Cafagna, Mayor
ATTEST:
L. Diane Shea, City Clerk
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ATTACHMENT A
January 18, 2005 Item # ~
(-
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Resolution No, 05-
Page 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, L. Diane Shea, City Clerk of the City of Poway, do hereby certify, under the penalty of
perjury, that the foregoing Resolution No, 05- , was duly adopted by the City Council at
a meeting of said City Council held on the 18th day of January 2005, and that it was so adopted
by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
L. Diane Shea, City Clerk
City of Poway
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January 18, 2005, Item #L
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January 18, 2005 Item # 8