City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss possible traffic engineering actions on National Boulevard, between
Washington Boulevard and the easterly city boundary.
Meeting Date: 08/14/06 Item Number: A-1
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of Possible Traffic Engineering Actions on National
Boulevard, between Washington Boulevard and the easterly City boundary.
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: []
Public Notification:
Master Notifications List on August 9, 2006. On July 28, 2006, 2416 public notification
cards were mailed to property owners, residents, and business owners within the area
bounded by Washington Boulevard to the north and west, Robertson Boulevard-Higuera
Street to the south, and the City boundary-Sentney Avenue to the east. See the graphic
below for an illustration of the area.
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (08/03/06)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (08/09/2006)
City Controller Approval:City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
BACKGROUND:
On March 20, 2006, the City Council approved a motion to hear an informational
report on the fatality of a school teacher and injury of several students of Turning
Point School. The accident occurred on the sidewalk adjacent to northbound
National Boulevard between Hayden Avenue and the easterly city boundary. Staff
stated at that time that a comprehensive report of traffic conditions on National
Boulevard would be presented to the City Council at a later date. This is that report.
DISCUSSION:
Existing Roadway Conditions:
According to the Circulation Element adopted by the City Council on May 24, 2004,
National Boulevard is a Secondary Artery within Culver City’s boundaries. It has two
lanes of travel in each direction. East of Hayden Avenue, National Boulevard has a
raised median island dividing the roadway, which accommodates parking for a
variety of businesses on the west side of National Boulevard.
In the past several months engineering staff and a traffic engineering consultant,
Katz, Okitsu & Associates (KOA), conducted field reviews of National Boulevard.
The review was comprised of the following measurements: width, curvature, curb
heights, grade, and super elevation. Also surface conditions such as signage
striping, signalization, intersections, drive approaches, parking, and types of
businesses and land uses were all evaluated. Based upon this comprehensive
review and discussion of observations, and in consultation with traffic engineering
consultants, it was determined that National Boulevard is in compliance with
standard practices in the field of traffic engineering.
Accident Ratio:
Accident data in the past 6 years was analyzed. Accident data analysis is a
common method of comparing characteristics of a roadway segment and the
accidents experienced on such segment, to other similar roadways in California.
This is called the Collision Rate. The roadway characteristics that the collision rate
compares are roadway segment length, the volume of traffic it carries, and the
number of accidents that have occurred on such roadway within a period of time.
This data is compared to similar data gathered and analyzed by the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for other roadways throughout the state.
Statewide Collision Rates are based on data gathered and published by Caltrans in
their reference document 2002 Collision Data of California State Highways. This is City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
the most recent available data as of the date of this analysis. The accident rate is
calculated utilizing the following traffic engineering standard formula:
(No. of collisions) x (1,000,000)
(Daily Volume) x (365 Days) x (Segment Length) x (5 Years)
Katz, Okitsu & Associates (KOA) were hired to conduct an Engineering and Traffic
Survey of National Boulevard within Culver City. City staff provided collision records
from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) for the period from
January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2005.
The calculated collision rate over the five-year period was then compared to collision
rates for similar streets in California. The results are as follows:
DATE RANGE 1/1/2001 TO 12/31/2005
TOTAL NUMBER OF COLLISIONS 26
ACTUAL COLLISION RATE (acc/MVM): 0.94
EXPECTED COLLISION RATE (acc/MVM) 3.18
The actual collision rate, calculated by KOA for the reference period in the table, is
30% of the expected collision rate. This independent analysis supports staff’s
conclusion that this roadway segment is safer than many similar roadways in
California.
Speed Limit:
Additionally, KOA analyzed traffic volumes and traffic speeds to determine the
number of vehicles traveling on National Boulevard to determine if the existing
posted speed limit should still be 40 miles per hour, as posted after the City
conducted a speed survey of 2003. To accomplish this analysis speed data was
collected on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, and traffic volumes were collected on
Thursday, May 18, 2006.
Speed limits in California are governed by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) in
Section 627 which defines the required components of an engineering and traffic
survey as the following three items:
1) Prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering measurements;
2) Accident records analysis; and
3) Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
Additionally, another authoritative publication, the California Supplement to the
Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices published in 2003 (Supplement),
reiterates that the engineering and traffic survey should contain sufficient information
to document that the required items of CVC Section 627 are provided and that other
conditions not readily apparent to a motorist are properly identified.
Based on the above, in determining and posting the speed limit for a segment of a
roadway, the posted speed limit should be set at the nearest 5 miles per hour to the
85th percentile speed. The 85
th
percentile speed is the speed which 85% of the
observed vehicles do not exceed during the speed survey. In other words, 85% of
the vehicles observed are traveling below this speed.
However, in setting the speed limit, existing conditions must be considered along
with the traffic safety needs of the community as based on the required items in an
engineering and traffic survey. In this regard, engineering judgment may indicate
the need for a reduction of 5 miles per hour below the 85
th
percentile speed. That is,
speed limits are usually set at or near the 85
th
percentile speed, unless there are
other factors that may not be readily apparent to a reasonable driver, which may
justify lowering the limit below the 85
th
percentile.
Based on the Engineering and Traffic Survey adopted by City Council through
Ordinance 2003-001 and Resolution 2003-R073, on August 25, 2003, page 4-3, the
posted speed limit for both directions of National Boulevard, between the north City
limit and Washington Boulevard is 35 miles per hour (mph). The posted speed limit
for both directions of National Boulevard, between Washington Boulevard and the
easterly city boundary is 40 mph. The 85
th
percentile speeds were as follows:
85
th
PERCENTILE SPEEDS, MARCH 2003
LOCATION EASTBOUND WESTBOUND
National Blvd, north City limit to
Washington Blvd
35.6 35.6
National Blvd, Washington Blvd to
easterly city boundary
41.7 44.3
The data gathered in May, 2006 indicates the following 85
th
percentile speeds:
85
th
PERCENTILE SPEEDS, MAY 2006
LOCATION EASTBOUND WESTBOUND
National Blvd, north City limit to
Washington Blvd
40 43
National Blvd near Wesley Avenue 41 40
National Blvd near Hayden Avenue 39 37City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
This data indicates that there has been a decrease in the 85
th
percentile speeds
recorded in March of 2003 as compared to those recorded in May of 2006, for the
segment of National Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and the easterly city
boundary. The decrease in the 85
th
percentile speeds may be due to the new red
light enforcement camera installed at National Boulevard and Hayden Avenue
intersection and the increase in police speed enforcement since the fatality that
occurred in March 2006.
On May 20, 2004, the following amended language was incorporated in the
California Supplement to the 2003 MUTCD regarding speed limits, ‘The speed limit
should be established at the nearest 5 mph increment to the 85
th
percentile speed.
However, in matching existing conditions with the traffic safety needs of the
community, engineering judgment may indicate the need for a further reduction of 5
mph.’ A recent court ruling has stated that the posted speed limit should be rounded
to the nearest 5 mph increment but it may be reduced another 5 mph based on
engineering judgment.
It is staff’s opinion that based on observations and analysis, existing traffic control on
National Boulevard is appropriate. Nevertheless, if the City Council desires to
discuss possible traffic engineering actions that are optional, the following items are
for your consideration:
STRIPING:
Paint edge stripe and cross-
hatch; install white reflectorized
markers
1. In the WB direction, west of the City
boundary, the existing curb lane is 20 feet
wide. Create a 12-foot number two through
lane from the City boundary to the roadway
curvature east of Hayden Ave. Cross hatch
the remaining eight feet. Install reflectorized
markers at the edge stripe.
Stripe Right Turn Lane and
angled arrows
2. In the EB direction, east of Washington
Boulevard., the existing curb lane varies in
width, providing, in certain sections, an extra
wide travel lane. Create a new Right Turn
Lane adjacent to Turning Point School
(where curb lane is greater than 20 feet).
Additionally add 45° pavement arrows to
direct traffic away from the curb and into the
number two through lane.City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
Paint yellow cross walk 3. Working with Turning Point School,
determine if school children will walk to/from
school at the intersection of National
Boulevard/Wesley Avenue. If requested by
the school, paint yellow cross walks at the
National Boulevard/Wesley Avenue
intersection.
SIGNAGE:
Speed feed-back signs
(Displays the speed of a vehicle
as it approaches the sign.)
4. Install a new speed feed-back sign facing
eastbound traffic on National Boulevard,
approximately 300’ east of Hayden Avenue.
5. Install a new speed feed-back sign facing
westbound traffic on National Boulevard,
approximately 300’ west of City Boundary.
School Area Signs 6. Working with Turning Point School and at
their request, install new school area
assembly signs adjacent to Turning Point
School on National Boulevard.
Regulatory Speed Limit Signs 7. In the eastbound direction, relocate existing
40 MPH sign from near Washington
Boulevard to east of Wesley Avenue. (Or
appropriate sign legend depending on
Council-adopted speed limit.)
8. In the eastbound direction install new 40
MPH sign concurrently with the installation
of the Speed Feed-Back sign in item no. 4,
above. (Or appropriate sign legend
depending on Council-adopted speed limit.)
9. In the westbound direction, relocate existing
40 MPH sign from near the City boundary to
the Fay Ave. prolongation.
Radar Enforcement Signs Install two RADAR ENFORCEMENT signs in City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
each direction based on an updated engineering
and traffic survey.
OTHER:
Police Enforcement 10. All along National Boulevard, encourage
frequent but irregular speed limit
enforcement, especially during off-peak
hours.
Sight distance from
perpendicular streets and drive
approaches
11. Study the possible prohibition of some
parking on the south side of National
Boulevard, westerly of all perpendicular
streets and drive approaches in order to
improve sight visibility at intersections.
Considering that National Boulevard is a Secondary Artery, other measures such as
traditional traffic calming tools that may be appropriate on residential streets are not
appropriate for this classification. Among the inappropriate tools for Secondary Arteries
would be speed humps, stop signs and chokers.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Most of the costs associated with the measures described above are soft costs,
which involve the time spent by City staff to paint, install signs and posts, or enforce
traffic laws. The hard costs would be the acquisition and installation of the speed
feed-back signs. The total costs for all the measures described are from $10,000 to
$15,000; excepting the cost for speed enforcement by the Police Department, which
would be ongoing and not a part of this estimate.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the various options presented by staff in the options table and provide the
staff with appropriate direction