TO: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

BY: JACK RYDELL, P.E., T.E., PTOE CONSULTANT TRAFFIC ENGINEER

DATE: APRIL 23, 2007 SUBJECT: PALOS VERDES DRIVE EAST-TEMPORARY LANE MODIFICATION

Attachment A – Conceptual permanent lane modification- North of Ganado Dr.
Attachment A – Conceptual permanent lane modification- Crest Rd.Casalina Dr.
Attachment A – Conceptual permanent lane modification- North of Crest Rd.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Consider public comments regarding the recent modification of travel lanes on Palos Verdes Drive East between San Ramon Drive and Ganado Drive.
2. Approve lane reduction in concept and request approval and funding from City Council for design and installation of permanent lane modifications consistent with the conceptual sketch shown in Attachment A.
3. Remove the temporary controls, including delineators, upon installation of permanent lane modifications, which will consist of only signing, striping and markings.

BACKGROUND

Speeding and traffic safety on Palos Verdes Drive East (PVDE), especially in the four-lane portion between Calle Aventura and Ganado Drive, have been serious issues for several years. City Staff and the Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) have received ongoing complaints from residents regarding this subject for several years. At the January 26, 2004 meeting of the former Traffic Committee, a recommendation was made by Staff to modify the then-existing striping at and near the intersection of Ganado Drive at Palos Verdes Drive East (PVDE). This request originated with citizen concern over motorist behavior and speeding on PVDE, as well as difficulty in exiting Ganado Drive.Staff’s recommendation, which was approved by the Traffic Committee at the July 26, 2004 meeting, generally included the following:

• Restripe the intersection of PVDE and Ganado Drive to provide a clearly delineated southbound right-turn only lane;
• Install northbound and southbound acceleration lanes on PVDE for motorists exiting Ganado Drive;
• Eliminate parking on the west side of PVDE south of Ganado Drive;
• Merge southbound traffic on PVDE starting at Casalina Drive to one lane prior to Ganado Drive.

The striping was installed in late 2004. Based on citizen dissatisfaction, various modifications were made to the striping on PVDE following installation.

As discussed at the October 23, 2006 Traffic Safety Commission meeting, there remained concern that the right-turn pocket was difficult for some motorists to negotiate and a desire to modify the striping between Crest Road and Ganado Drive to one through lane in each direction. During the October 23 meeting, it was agreed that Staff would develop a temporary modification to the channelization in order to test potential solutions to the citizen concerns. The results of this test would be incorporated into the comprehensive traffic solutions for PVDE that will be considered in the near future. Due to uncertainty over the ultimate recommendations for PVDE, it was decided that the test would be installed on a temporary basis and with temporary measures (delineators). This will ensure that substantial funds are not expended on actions that may or may not be consistent with the ultimate improvements for PVDE. The delineators, signs and barricades can then be used as needed in other locations throughout the City without additional expenditures. The layout designed by Staff (and generally in place at present) was approved by the TSC at their January 29, 2007 meeting.

The temporary lane modifications were installed during the week of March 5, 2007. So far, residents, drivers and bicyclists have given Staff helpful comments and input. The majority of these comments are consistent with Staff’s observations. Since the initial installation, several modifications have been made to address operational and citizen issues, including providing additional acceleration lanes at intersections, installing additional signage and markings and enlarging some of the merge areas.

DISCUSSION

The temporary lane modification resulted in reducing PVDE in the subject area from four through lanes (two in each direction) to two through lanes (one in each direction). Based on the methodology contained in the Highway Capacity Manual, a two-lane roadway with characteristics consistent with PVDE has a capacity of approximately 13,000 vehicles per day. Volume counts taken in May 2006 revealed daily volumes as follows:

• North of Crest Rd – 7,700
• South of Ganado Drive – 2,900

Traffic volumes were taken on April 12-14, 2007 between Ganado Drive and Casalina Drive and revealed the following:

• Thursday – 4,092 vehicles per day
• Friday – 4,231 vehicles per day
• Saturday – 3,500 vehicles per day

As indicated, PVDE has sufficient capacity to accommodate current and anticipated future volumes as a two-lane roadway. The extra lanes in this short stretch are unnecessary from a traffic flow perspective. Since PVDE both north of Calle Aventura and south of Ganado Drive is a two-lane roadway, the four-lane portion merely provides an opportunity for motorists to accelerate and pass other vehicles.Speeds on PVDE were also taken in May 2006 and revealed the following prevailing (85^th percentile) speeds:

• North of Crest Rd – 41 mph
• South of Ganado Drive – 41 mph

The posted speed limit in this area is 30 mph. Speed data obtained on PVDE between Casalina Drive and Ganado Drive on April 12-14 revealed a prevailing speed of 46 mph. Southbound speeds are approximately 4 mph higher than northbound speeds. The locations of the May 2006 counts are outside the limits of this test, and those speeds cannot be compared directly with the April 2007 data. However it suggests that speeds are highest on PVDE between Crest Road and Ganado Drive.

A review of the reported accident history for the portion of PVDE between Palos Verdes Drive South (PVDS) revealed 16 reported accidents during the three-year period ending December 2006. Twelve accidents occurred from Ganado Drive south, while four accidents occurred north of Ganado Drive. Eleven injuries resulted from these accidents. Six were specifically associated with excessive speed and another five involved vehicles unable to maintain a direct course of travel, which may also have excessive speed as a factor.The temporary lane modification has enhanced safety in the area by the following means:

1. Reducing speeds in this area would allow the City’s limited enforcement resources to be deployed in other areas needing attention, such as schools.
2. Eliminating the second through lane in each direction removes the need to merge south of Casalina Drive, thus reducing the number of potential conflict points for motorists.
3. Eliminating the southbound outside through lane moves traffic closer to the center of the roadway, which provides better visibility for motorists exiting Crest Road and Casalina Drive since they can see vehicles further north from the intersections.
4. The extension of the southbound right-turn only lane at Ganado Drive provides greater opportunity for motorists to decelerate without making sudden movements to the right.
5. Vehicles on Casalina Drive attempting to make a right-turn have only one lane of southbound traffic to consider instead of two, reducing the number of potential conflicts.
6. The reduction of through travel lanes provides the opportunity to provide additional room for bicyclists out of the vehicle travel lanes as part of ultimate improvements to PVDE.
7. The reduction of the southbound through lanes provides the opportunity to provide a refuge area for motorists whose driveways access PVDE between Calle Aventura and Crest Road, thus allowing motorists to decelerate into their driveways and back out from them into an area without contending with moving traffic.
8. Providing two lanes of travel through this area increases consistency with the remaining portion of PVDE which has only two lanes, thus reducing the potential for motorist confusion.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Consider further changes to the temporary lane modification.
2. Return PVDE to its former lane design.
3. Delay further action pending further data collection and public input.

Recommended for Approval, Respectfully Submitted,

Jack Rydell Siamak MotahariConsulting Traffic Engineer Senior EngineerJR:
PVDE Temporary Lane Modification TSC Report - 4-15-07

Attachment A – Conceptual permanent lane modification