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Home My WebLink AboutTSC Packet 01-05-2012CITY OF SARATOGA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION AGENDA DATE: January 5, 2012 TIME: 6:30 PM — 9:30 PM LOCATION: Administrative Conference Room 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order Roll Call: Biester, Bustamante, Coulter, Guichard, Kirk, Musselman and Vita Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on December 22, 2011. Accept Agenda Items: No additional items maybe added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. Oral & Written Communication Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. Approval of Draft Minutes Draft Traffic Safety Commission Minutes for November 3, 2011 Sheriff's Report to the Commission New Business 1. Traffic Matrix #279 Issue: Concerns on Pierce Road Action: TSC will make recommendation 2. Traffic Matrix #280 Issue: Evaluation of crosswalk on Fruitvale at Douglass Avenue Action: TSC will make recommendation 3. Traffic Matrix #281 Issue: Request for Stop sign on Marshall Lane at Marilyn Lane Action: TSC will make recommendation Announcements by Commissioners and Staff Adjournment to Next Regular Meeting Thursday, March 1, 2012 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability - related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 408.868.1269 or ctclerk@saratoga.ca.us Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting. In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of material provided to the Traffic Safety Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the Public Works Department at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made available for public review at the Public Works office at the time they are distributed to the Traffic Safety Commission. Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Kristin Borel, Public Works Analyst for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on Dece,ber 22, 2011 at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us. CITY OF SARATOGA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Draft Action Minutes DATE: November 3, 2011 TIME: 6:30 PM — 9:30 PM LOCATION: Administrative Conference Room 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order at 6:30 p.m. Roll Call: Biester, Bustamante, Coulter, Guichard, Kirk, Musselman and Vita Absent: Biester Staff: Public Works Director Cherbone, Traffic Planner Church and Analyst Borel Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on October 28, 2011. Borel reports Accept Agenda Items: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. No changes Oral & Written Communication Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. No speakers Approval of Draft Minutes Draft Traffic Safety Commission Minutes for September 1, 2011. APPROVED 6-0 Sheriff's Report to the Commission Captain Neusel reports New Business 1. Traffic Matrix #277 (6:42 p.m.) Issue: Crosswalk evaluation on Fruitvale Avenue Action: TSC will make recommendation MOTION: Follow the Traffic Engineers recommendation to place the crosswalk on the south side of each intersection (at both Farwell and Three Oaks) and to add corner striping where needed. APPROVED 6-0. 2. Traffic Matrix 11278 (7:15 p.m.) Issue: Concerns on Canyon View Drive Action: TSC will make recommendation MOTION: The City will provide a cost estimate for the neighborhood representatives for the possibility of creating a lighting district. APPROVED 6-0. Announcements by Commissioners and Staff (7:47 p.m.) Adjournment at 7:50 p.m. to the Next Regular Meeting Thursday, January 5, 2012 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability - related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 408.868.1269 or ctclerk@saratoga.ca.us Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting. In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of material provided to the Traffic Safety Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the Public Works Department at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made available for public review at the Public Works office at the time they are distributed to the Traffic Safety Commission. Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Kristin Borel, Public Works Analyst for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on October 28, 2011 at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us. Traffic Matrix #279 Kristin Borel From: Diane Carter [dianecart@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 2:00 PM To: Kristin Borel Cc: hstellrec@gmail.com; Leo Luan; Andy Carter; Jessie Ma; Sophia K. Luan Subject: Re: -- Pierce Rd dangerous curve Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Red Hello Kristen, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Since we last spoke, I have had the opportunity to share the document with some, not all of the neighbors. There are eight street numbers of residences on Pierce Rd that turn left into home driveways with difficulty seeing the oncoming traffic: 13190, 13194, 131998, 13200, 13204, 13216, 13228 and 13240 Pierce Rd. Marty Mathis at Kathryn Kennedy Winery and his residence and business are also affected. Will these neighbors be contacted regarding discussion or action to mitigate the traffic danger? I want to share some comments in favor of action to slow traffic coming down and around the curve when we are making left turns into our property. In general, residents are concerned for the safety of themselves and visitors. I have received emails below from Leo and Sophia Luan and Jessie and William Ma. As mentioned by William and Jessie, it is particularly difficult and dangerous at night after events or parties. "Thanks, Andy and Diane. These are great ideas and important to address the life-threatening risk of collision accidents at that turn/curve. Leo" "Thank you Diane, Leo and all the people who did this wonderful job to secure our living environment. Especially at Saturday night 8:30 to 10:00 pm after party over which be hosted by somewhere winery yard at top hill, I even can not turn left to going home. Cars over speed one by one driving on the darken Pierce road, sometime I suspect they are drunk. Again, Thanks for your effort. William & Jessie 13216 Pierce Road." We appreciate your efforts to address this. Please let us know if we can help with more photos or information in the future. Thank you and best regards, Diane Carter On Nov 17, 2011, at 10:20 AM, Kristin Borel wrote: Diane, 12/15/2011 I received them, thanks for sending them. Kristin Borel Public Works Analyst City of Saratoga phone/fax: 408-868-1258 website: www.saratoga.ca.us From: Diane Carter [mailto:dianecart@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 8:59 AM To: Kristin Borel Cc: Andy Carter Subject: copy of photos -- Pierce St dangerous curve Hello Kristin, The document with photos is attached. Please let me know if you receive it. If you need another format such as PDF, let me know. Thank you, Diane Carter 408-867-2423 12/15/2011 11 November 2011 To: Department of Public Works, City of Saratoga We are the owners / residents at 13194 Pierce Road in Saratoga. We feel that it is necessary to alert the Saratoga city traffic authorities to an increasingly dangerous situation at a curve on Pierce Road. A number of residents in this area need to turn left against oncoming traffic to access their several driveways in the area of a dangerous curve in the road (see figures). While we have lived here for many years and are fully aware of the danger, recently we have barely escaped collisions that would have caused serious injury or death (from oncoming drivers moving TOO FAST!) There are several factors that make this situation dangerous: 1. Many drivers travelling NE (down hill) ignore the 30 MPH speed limit, often accelerating to 45 MPH after coming to an apparent end of the curvy sections of the road uphill; motorcycles especially enjoy accelerating around this curve often at greater than 50 MPH to blast down the straightaway past Kathryn Kennedy winery. Over the years, there have been many instances of cars veering off the road at that point prompting the residents on the right side of the road to'place large boulders and concrete to protect the landscapes, fences and mailboxes. 2. The landscaping vegetation at the house on the corner of Pierce and Bella Vina has matured and grown to increasingly obscure the critical sightlines of oncoming traffic in both directions. At this time, the traffic can not be seen in time for critical reaction. We suggest the following actions (please see the annotated photos, following): 1. Approach the owners of the corner house and suggest and/or require that the vegetation be trimmed back, and that it be maintained to permit the critical sight lines. 2. Install more prominent "dangerous curve" signs to replace the wimpy one that is now being obscured by nearby oak trees. 3. Install a speed bump, similar to the ones farther north on Pierce, on the downhill lane only, to forcibly calm the oncoming traffic at this critical point. Sincerely, Andy and Diane Carter dianecart@gmail.com 408 867-2423 13194 Pierce Road, Saratoga Existing "Curve" Sign (hidden) Fig. 1 — Overhead View Minimum safe sightline Obscuring egetation'l. -t Fig. 2 — View at Turn Decision Point Pierce Road Heading SW Rbscurative egetation Liken. Collision Pori Fig. 3 — View at Critical Point Pierce Road Heading NE Nat ABRAMS P.O. Box 2067 Saratoga, CA 95070-0067 December 8, 2011 City of Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Re: Stop light at Fruitvale & Douglass Greetings, Traffic Matrix #280 Phone & Fax: (408) 867-5052 e-mail: gkaina@comcast.net I live on Taos Drive. Every evening my wife, myself and our dog cross Fruitvale Avenue both ways at Douglass Lane. Many residents in this area do the same. It is especially dangerous, in the dark, to cross this four lane road when drivers are racing home after work. When crossing from West Valley Collage to Douglass Lane, the cars driving south on Fruitvale see the intersection only after they pass the hump in the road. Very often they do not see us crossing the easterly lanes until they are just a few seconds from Douglass Lane. Many just speed up to cross the intersection before us. When crossing from Douglass Lane to the Collage, the cars traveling north cannot see us because of the trees in the midline. They have a little more time to stop but many just speed up. A stop light that is activated by a pedestrian entering the intersection would make the crossing safer. West Valley Collage might cooperate in this project. Sincerely, Nat AbrakicrtuAk, ms 14264 Taos Drive Traffic Matrix #281 Kristin Borel From: Rita Benton [rita_benton@ymail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 3:54 PM To: Kristin Borel Subject: Traffic/Parking issues near Marshall Lane School Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Green Attachments: Ravenwood Parked car.jpg Dear Kristen, Thank you so much for your quick action in putting in the "No Parking" sign on the corner of Ravenwood and Marylin. Unfortunately, the sign is either being ignored or is not seen. People continue to park their cars there on a regular basis. It would be great if we could get the sign enforced by the sheriff. 2:45pm is a perfect time to catch the offenders. Should I call the sheriffs department or is this something you can take care of? And it would be helpful to move the sign another 10 feet from the corner. The guy who put the sign in was not able to put it where it was originally planned because of a dead tree. Here are some phone numbers for the corner house to get permission to cut or remove the tree: - 18620 Ravenwood house # - (408)379-4836, - Bart Woodward (son of Brandt Woodward) (541)912-6207. I hope I am not over doing my welcome but I have 2 additional concerns that I hope you can help me with: 1 - People do not always stop for pedestrians at the crosswalk on Marshall Lane at Marylin . If they do stop, many enter the crosswalk before people are even half way across the street. One solution would be a crossing guard. I'm not sure if this is something the City is in charge of or the School District. Another solution would be a STOP sign. There is currently no STOP sign at that intersection. Please let me know if this is possible and how soon it can be done. 2. - Because Ravenwood and Marylin are so narrow and there are no sidewalks on Ravenwood, 25mph is too fast. Is it possible to change the speed limit to 15mph? I read an article a while back that said there was talk about changing the speed limit to 15mph on residential streets near schools. We need to do something to slow the cars down. Thank you for your help. Rita Benton 529-4607 12/15/2011