City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 08/08/2011 Item Number: A-3
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of the Installation of Speed Humps, on
a Temporary Basis, on Culver Park Drive and on Segrell Way, between Sawtelle
Boulevard and Slauson Avenue
Contact Person/Dept.: Gabe Garcia/PW Phone Number: 310-253-5633
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (08/03/2011); (Mail)
Residents and property owners of Culver Park Drive and Segrell Way (08/01/11); (E-
mail) Fire Chief Sellers (08/03/2011); (E-mail) Police Chief Pedersen (08/03/2011)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (08/01/11)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (08/03/11)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (08/03/11)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (08/03/11)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the installation of speed humps, on
a temporary basis, on Culver Park Drive and Segrell Way, between Sawtelle
Boulevard and Slauson Avenue.
BACKGROUND/ DISCUSSION:
The Sepulveda Boulevard Widening Project, which is currently under construction, is
widening Sepulveda Boulevard between Green Valley Circle and Jefferson
Boulevard-Playa Street. Upon its conclusion, it will provide a third southbound travel
lane to Sepulveda Boulevard, thereby reducing traffic congestion.
In anticipation of the expected (but temporary) traffic impacts of this project, before
the start of the project, an extensive signage program was implemented that : 1)
provides guidance to motorists through alternate routes, circumventing the project
area and its congestion; and 2) gives notice to the motoring public that adjacent
residential streets are for local traffic only. Compliance with such guidance is
appreciated, but it is not legally enforceable. Despite the City’s best efforts, it has
been observed that some motorists, instead of opting for alternate routes, continue
to use the adjacent residential streets in the vicinity to avoid the project area.
The Public Works Department, at community meetings prior to the start of the
project, committed to protect the residential streets from the consequences of
construction traffic by implementing the following plan: 1) To observe traffic in the
adjacent residential areas during the course of the project; 2) To determine if City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
negative impacts were being experienced; and 3) based on such observations, staff
would consult with the residents in the impacted neighborhoods. Because of the
project congestion on Sepulveda Boulevard, staff has observed that cut-through
traffic has increased on Segrell Way and Culver Park Drive. Additionally staff has
recorded speeds that are higher than desirable on residential streets, ranging from
36 to 38 miles per hour.
Staff held a community meeting with the residents of the two affected streets on
June 30
th
at City Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the residents of
staff’s findings and to present the temporary installation of speed humps to address
the observed high traveling speeds and cut-through traffic. Approximately 22
residents attended the meeting, and they filled out an Advisory Survey to express
their opinion regarding the speed humps. The Advisory Surveys indicated, 77% in
support and 23% against installing temporary speed humps. Additionally, on their
own initiative and in anticipation of the meeting, the residents circulated a petition to
express support for the temporary installation of speed humps. The petition was
signed by 88 of the 158 residences on the two streets, and it indicates 56% in
support. In both cases, a majority of the residents supports the temporary
installation of speed humps.
An effective program to address the observed speeds on the two residential streets
requires a total of five asphalt speed humps per street, distributed over the length of
the each street (approximately 2,200 feet). If the City Council approves, staff will
work with the residents of the adjacent parcels in determining the exact placement of
the speed humps. The graphics on the next page illustrate their potential placement.
Also, attached is a check list used in doing an engineering analysis that determined
speed humps were appropriate for the subject locations.
[Please see the following page]
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
On Culver Park
Drive and on
Segrell Way,
between
Sawtelle
Boulevard and
Berryman
Avenue, two
speed humps
are proposed on
each street
segment.
On Culver Park
Drive and on
Segrell Way,
between
Berryman
Avenue
Slauson
Avenue
speed humps
are proposed on
each street
segment.
On Culver Park
Drive and on
Segrell Way,
between
Sawtelle
Boulevard and
Berryman
Avenue, two
speed humps
are proposed on
each street
segment.
On Culver Park
Drive and on
Segrell Way,
between
Berryman
Avenue and
Slauson
Avenue, three
speed humps
are proposed on
each street
segment. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Generally, speed humps are 12-foot long in the direction of travel, with a height of
approximately 2-5/8 inches to 2-3/4 inches at the crest. They are not installed in
alignment with drive approaches, over man holes, or on top of underground utility
valves. Also, speed humps are not installed into the gutters, so as not to impede
drainage flow.
The investment in addressing this speeding issue on a temporary basis is significant.
Speeding has been documented for many years, but has not been successfully
addressed through the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) on
several attempts over 20 years, due to failure of the neighborhood to reach
consensus numbers, as required by the adopted NTMP guidelines. Because of the
historic speeding and the cost for the temporary solution, staff proposes to return to
the City Council and provide a report on its effectiveness about six months to one
year after the construction project has concluded. If the solution has been
successful at reducing speeds, staff will propose that the City Council consider
authorizing the speed humps to remain permanently installed.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed ten (10) speed humps are estimated to cost about $23,000 ($2,300
each), and related signage striping is estimated at around $3,500 and would be
funded through the Sepulveda Boulevard Widening Project, P-881 local match
funds.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Speed Hump Analysis Check List
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Authorize the installation of speed humps, on a temporary basis, on Culver
Park Drive and on Segrell Way, between Sawtelle Boulevard and Slauson
Avenue; and
2. Authorize the Public Works Director and City Engineer to execute a Change
Order to P-881, in amount not to exceed $23,000 for the construction of 10
speed humps and $3,500 for related striping and signage.
MEETING DATE: 8/8/11
AGENDA ITEM: Authorization to Install Speed Humps, on a Temporary Basis, on
Culver Park Drive and on Segrell Way, between Sawtelle Boulevard
and Slauson Avenue
ATTACHMENTS
Paqes
1 Speed Hump Analysis Check List 1 SPEED HUMP ANALYSIS CHECK LIST
SUBJECT STREETS: Culver Park Drive and Sewell Way
Between Sawtelle Boulevard and Slauson Avenue
Approximately 2,200 feet long, each
1. Are the streets local residential or neighborhood feeders? Yes
2. Is traffic volume between 1000 to 3000 vehicles per day? Yes
3. Do the measured Critical Speeds exceed the speed limit by seven miles Yes
per hour, or more? (Critical Speed is the speed at or below which 85% of
the vehicles travel.)
4. Is the speed limit at or below 30 miles per hour? Yes
5. Are the streets primary or secondary emergency vehicle routes? No
6. - Are the streets transit routes? No
7. Are the roadways 40-foot wide or less? Yes
8. Are the roadways one lane in each direction of traffic? Yes
9. Are the slopes of 7% or less? Yes
10. Are significant volumes going to be diverted to other residential streets? No
11. Can a minimum of two speed humps per block be accommodated? Yes
12. Can speed hump placement have a distance of 250 to 600 feet in Yes
between?
13. Can speed humps be placed from 150 to 200 feet away from Yes
intersections?
14. Will there be an evaluation of this installation? Yes
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