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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11011994 - TC.2 (3) i J Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa o, FROM: Transportation Committee County J" >•i DATE: October 10, 1994 SUBJECT: Report on Peak Hour Tur}i Restrictions on Camino Tassajara in Danville SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Accept report and consider action as appropriate. FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Attached is Resolution 125-94 (Exhibit A) , as adopted by the Town of Danville, prohibiting turns at the intersection of Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Ranch Drive during peak hours. The purpose of this action is to prevent diversion of traffic from Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon Road to Tassajara Ranch Drive and Center Way. Danville's action will also: 1) divert traffic through a critical intersection identified in the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement, 2) -worsen traffic congestion created from development proposals currently under review, and 3) is not consistent with the intent of the provisions of the Settlement Agreement as follows. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S) : Gayle Bishop Tom Torlakson ACTION OF BOARD ON November 1 , 1994 APPROVED -AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X Mark Armstrong,.- attorney, spoke on the position of the Town of Danville as ' referenced in the letter from the Danville Town Manager (dated October 27, 1994) . At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board ACCEPTED the report . VOTE OF SUPERVISORS XX _ _ _ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Orig: Community Development Department ATTESTED November 1, 1994 Contact Person, Steven Goetz, 6-2134 cc: CDD PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF PWD THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Danville O' bj)) AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY �" C1� , DEPUTY Peak Hour Turn Restrictions on Camino Tassajara in Danville October 10, 1994 Page Two BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION (continued) A discussion of relevant sections of the Settlement Agreement follows. Section 3. 8.3: Facilitation of Physical Improvements. ". . .neither San Ramon nor Danville shall take any action to physically constrain the capacity of existing roadways necessary to serve the Project" Congestion at the Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon Road intersection will be a basis for limiting development in the Dougherty Valley. Diverting traffic through this intersection that would otherwise use Tassajara Ranch Drive will increase congestion and the likelihood that Dougherty Valley development will be stopped. Although the Settlement Agreement stipulates that any congestion must be attributed to the Dougherty Valley development in order to limit development, it does not indicate how that will be determined. The Settlement Agreement does however does indicate how congestion will not be attributed to Dougherty Valley development. Section 6. 1: Good Faith Cooperation. "The Parties to this Agreement agree not to take positions inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement and to exercise care in raising issues that may be contentious by first attempting to meet and resolve such issues with the others in good faith. " The turn restrictions on Camino Tassajara affect. a critical intersection that will be monitored by the parties to the Settlement Agreement. Danville staff informed to County staff that they would recommend turn restriction to the Town Council. Danville's action, however, was not referred to the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee or the Board of Supervisors for comment prior to the Town Council ' s action. Danville's action was discussed at the October 10th Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee and considered an issue between Danville and the County, and not an issue for the Oversight Committee to address. Prior to referring their report to the Board of Supervisors, the Transportation Committee requested County staff to review the conditions of approval for the subdivisions in the vicinity of Tassajara Ranch Drive to determine if the configuration of Tassajara ' Ranch Drive anticipated through traffic. The applicant withdrew the application before the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission on June 3 , 1987, and subsequently obtained approval for the development (Tassajara Ranch) by the Town of Danville. Information on specific conditions of approval was not available from Danville. Tassajara Ranch Drive and Center Way do not ' appear on the Danville General Plan as arterial or collector roads, but neither road has residential driveways fronting on them. Condominiums will front the south side of Center Way. After adopting Resolution 125-94 , Danville staff transmitted the resolution to County staff, clarifying its concerns regarding the traffic study for the Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association General Plan Amendment and listed actions taken by Danville to maximize the ability of Crow Canyon Road and Camionot Tassajara to carry traffic from approved projects in the area (see Exhibit B) . Resolution 125-94 was explained as consistent with the Settlement Agreement and would protect the ability of Crow Canyon Road and Camino Tassajara to accommodate future increases in traffic. The County intends to evaluate the use of Tassajara Ranch Drive in the Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association General Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Report and determine what if any adverse impacts would occur on this road due to increased traffic and what if any mitigation measures would be feasible and appropriate. The EIR will also evaluate future traffic impacts assuming implementation of the turn restrictions on Camino Tassajara and the inability of through traffic to use Tassjara Ranch Drive and Center Way during the morning and evening peak hours. If the concern's expressed in Danville's Resolution 125-94 are valid, they will be disclosed in the EIR. This issue is brought to the Board of Supervisors for your information and any action considered appropriate. j "EN=rr All RESOLUTION NO. 125-94 A RESOLLTITON APPROVING PEAK HOUR TURNING MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS AT THE INTERSECTION OF CAMINO TASSAJARA/TASSAJARA RANCH DRIVE WHEREAS, recent traffic studies indicate very busy traffic conditions in the vicinity of the Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon RoadBlackhawk Road intersection; and WHEREAS, traffic studies are currently underway that may inaccurately portray future traffic conditions at the Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon RoadBlackhawk Road intersection; and WHEREAS,.inaccurate portrayal of future traffic conditions at the Camino Tassajara/Crow Car.yon RoadBlackhawk Road intersection could lead to understatement of traffic impacts and mitigation measures; and WHEREAS, the Town's General Plan contains goals and policies discouraging the diversion of through traffic from arterial streets; and WHEREAS, Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive were designed and built to accommodate local traffic rather than through traffic, and both streets lack existing or planned capacity to accommodate through traffic; and WHEREAS, the intersections of Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive with Crow Canyon Road and Camino Tassajara lack existing or future capacity to accommodate through traffic; and WHEREAS, through traffic will negatively impact commercial and residential uses within Tassajara Ranch; and WHEREAS, the Town has designed and constructed Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Roads to high standards so that they can accommodate existing and planned future traffic volumes; and WHEREAS, the Town has a number of existing efforts underway to maximize vehicular capacity on Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road; and WHEREAS, it is in the Town's interest to authorize turn restrictions at this time so that the restrictions can be implemented in a timely manner and so that current traffic studies do not assume through traffic on Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive; and WHEREAS, field observations indicate that speeding and failure to observe traffic control devices are presently occurring, both of which are associated with through traffic; and WHEREAS, area residents report that motorists are short-cutting along Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive; and WHEREAS, traffic and engineering studies indicate that a threshold of thirty peak hour through vehicles, or buildout of Tassajara Ranch in 1997, represent appropriate traffic levels warranting controls on through traffic; and WHEREAS, the proposed turn restrictions will effectively prevent through traffic from utilizing Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive, insuring that through traffic remains on Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon '_load; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Danville has determined and orders as follows: 1. The City Engineer is authorized to post signs and markings prohibiting left turns from westbound Camino Tassajara to southbound Tassajara Ranch Drive for a peak period between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and right turns from northbound Tassajara Ranch Drive to eastbound Camino Tassajara for a peak period between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The specific period will be based on measured traffic volumes. These restrictions will apply Monday through Friday, except holidays. 2. These restrictions shall be implemented in September of 1997,or when through traffic exceeds 30 cars during either peak hour, whichever occurs first. 3. Town staff shall begin monitoring through traffic on an annual basis to ascertain the magnitude of through traffic. 4. Town staff' shall continue existing efforts to optimize signal timing along Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road to insure that these arterials operate at maximum efficiency. 5. Town staff shall continue in multijurisdictional cooperative planning for Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road. 6. Town staff shall forward this resolution to Contra Costa County staff. PAGE 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 125-94 } 7. Town staff shall indicate to Contra Costa County.staff that the Town disagrees with proposed network changes to the Tri Valley Model. Specifically, the addition of Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive to the TriValley Model network is unacceptable to the Town of Danville. 8. Any environmental impact reports or traffic studies should conform to the terms of the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement as it relates to traffic level of service standards for intersection(s) defined therein, and those standards will apply to other developments in the area which potentially impact those same intersection(s). This conformance is based upon Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 94/385. APPROVED by the Town Council of the Town of Danville at a Regular Meeting held on Tuesday, October 4, 1994 by the following vote: AYES: Ritchey, Greenberg, Shimansky, Waldo NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Doyle l� MA APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST: CPIY ATTORNEY CITY CLERK PAGE 3 OF RESOLUTION NO. 125-94 � "t'U�ZtU R�x't72,G"i'tant� � CAM N p t4 - ,�Waw -TA�t?QPt CAt„t;ogNtA SHADDWHAwK ce R i IaG h� V �i~AGKS�Nt~ � DIA&-D vim PAP,K 01 110=IT B" L�'•,Tn Alf yT// DANVIL,L E �FPT October 7, 1994 Mr. Steven Goetz Principal Planner Community Development Department 651 Pine Street 4th Floor, North Wing Martinez, CA 94553-0095 Re: Updates to the Tri-Valley Transportation Model Environmental Impact Reports and Traffic Studies Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road Dear Mr. Goetz: On June 22, 1994 and August 9, 1994 I wrote letters to you summarizing what we believe to be previously agreed-upon procedures and principles that would be adhered to in the County's preparation of traffic studies for environmental documents. (Previous letters attached). Following up on that correspondence, on September 14, 1994 you met with Brian Welch of my staff to discuss updates to the Tri-Valley Transportation Model in the vicinity of the Camino TassajaraBlackhawk Road at Crow Canyon Road intersection. It is my understanding that the following summarizes which issues were discussed, and how the issues were addressed: • Refinements to land use data. It was agreed that updates are warranted, and County staff would provide Danville with a set of revised land use assumptions for proofreading. • Centroid connector refinements recommended by the Town of Danville and the County. It was agreed that additional centroid connectors, and adjustments as well, were necessary to improve traffic assignments. • Proposed addition of residential streets such as Parkhaven Drive, Cloverbrook Drive, Rassani Drive, Dunhill Drive and Mountain Ridge Drive as through streets on 510 La Gonda Way • Danville,California 94526-1722 (510)820-6337 Mr. Steven Goetz October 7, 1994 Page 2 the network. It was agreed by County and Danville staff that addition of these residential streets as through streets (rather than centroid connectors) was inappropriate on an EMME/2 network and would not be supported by County or Danville staff. County staff agreed to provide Danville staff with a copy of the 2010 network in Danville, including any alternatives, for proofreading prior to commencement of any traffic studies or_environmental impact report circulation studies. • An approach to the utilization of gateway constraints. It was agreed that the County and the Town had concerns about the way that the gateway constraints were applied in the Circulation Draft of the Tri-Valley Transportation Plan. However, it was also agreed that Danville and the County would endorse utilization of the gateway constraint methodology in the evaluation of development projects as long as the technical approach was endorsed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. • Addition of Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive as through streets on the Tri- Valley Transportation Model network. County staff indicated a preference to add these streets as through streets, rather than centroid connectors, to the network. Danville staff indicated that through traffic is an existing and anticipated problem on these streets, based upon existing and approved development. Danville staff mentioned that Town Council action would be forthcoming to deal with the existing issues, underlining the Town's opposition to through traffic on these streets. On October 4, 1994, the Danville Town Council unanimously approved Resolution 125- 94 (one Councilmember absent). This resolution (attached) authorizes the imposition of peak hour turning movement restrictions at the intersection of Camino Tassajara at Tassajara Ranch Drive when a specified time frame or through traffic threshold is achieved. The resolution itself provides the detailed rationale for the Council's action. This action effectively guarantees that Center Way and Tassajara Ranch Drive will continue to serve their designed and present function of carrying local, and not through traffic. It would therefore be inappropriate and inaccurate for traffic studies or environmental impact reports to assume that through traffic could utilize those facilities. They should remain coded as centroid connectors, as they have been for a number of years. Mr. Steven Goetz October 7, 1994 Page 3 The Town's resolution also calls for continued multijurisdictional cooperation on routes of regional significance such as Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road. The following information provides an update for County staff on recent Town actions to maximize the capacity of these arterial facilities to carry existing traffic and traffic from approved projects in the County, Danville and San Ramon: • The turn movement restrictions will greatly reduce the possibility of degraded left- turn and right-turn operations at the intersections of Camino Tassajara at Tassajara Ranch Drive, Center Way at Crow Canyon Road and Crow Canyon Road at Tassajara Ranch Drive. By limiting turning traffic at these intersections to local traffic accessing the residential and commercial areas to and from the arterials, Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road will be less likely to operate poorly due to backups caused by through traffic stored in turning pockets. The turn movement restrictions will also complement the Tassajara Ranch Drive bicycle lanes that will be installed per the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement. • The Town required, as a condition of approval for a service station and car wash project, construction of a new exclusive right turn lane on northbound Crow Canyon Road south of Center Way. This right turn lane, which was not included in the construction of Crow Canyon Road, is intended to effectively separate commercial traffic from Crow Canyon Road through traffic. • The Town successfully negotiated at the pre-submittal stage a 50 percent reduction in the size of a commercial project at the intersection of Center Way and Crow Canyon Road. The rationale for the reduction was due in part to the Town's desire to minimize the impact of the project on Crow Canyon Road operations. • The Town Council recently approved a new Seven Year Capital Improvement Program, including $634,551 for Town-wide traffic signal interconnect. The highest priority project is Crow Canyon Road and Camino Tassajara east of Blackhawk Drive/Crow Canyon Road, where approximately $50,000 will be expended to synchronize traffic signals and foster optimal through traffic operations on these arterials. We hope to have the Crow Canyon Road/Camino Tassajara interconnect system up and running by mid-1995. Mr. Steven Goetz October 7, 1994 Page 4 • The Town Council also included in the Seven Year CIP the modifications to-the Crow Canyon RoadBlackhawk Road at Camino Tassajara intersection that are specified in the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement. These modifications are necessary to accommodate future traffic volumes anticipated with the potential development of 8,500 dwelling units in the Dougherty Valley. • Town staff is actively participating in the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee TAC. Current efforts focus on County, Danville and San Ramon coordination and cooperation on South County and Dougherty Valley traffic impact fees. Town staff looks forward to a follow-up meeting with County staff to finalize the above- mentioned centroid connector, gateway constraint, and land use changes to the Tri-Valley Transportation Model. Please contact Brian Welch to arrange the meeting, who can be reached at 820-1080. Very truly'yours, Jostlabrigoger C.: Mayor and Town Council City Attorney Development Services Manager Chief of Planning Tri Valley TAC Members Tri-Valley Council Members Joe Hirsch, Tassajara Valley Citizens Committee Stephen Hough, Barton-Aschman Carolyn Mills, Mills Associates Dan Pulon, Contra Costa County Martin Engelmann, CCTA John Dillon, San Ramon Date: ' REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) Complete thi orm and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: Phone: Address: City: I am speaking for: ❑ Myself OR 0 .Organization: NAME OF ORGANIZATION CHECK ONE: ❑ I wish to speak on Agenda Item # My comments will be: ❑ General ❑ For ❑ Against ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: ❑ I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: - D��-L October 27, 1994 RECEIVE® Chair Tom Powers OCT 3 1 1994 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Room 106 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. Martinez, CA 94553 Re: Report on Peak Hour Turn Restrictions on Camino Tassajara in Danville Dear Chair Powers: We would like to take this opportunity to comment on the above item, and request that our input be considered during Board deliberations. The Town's letter to Steven Goetz dated October 7, 1994 (attached to the County Staff Report for this item) provides the context for Town of Danville Resolution No. 125-94. Please review that letter for a thorough outline of the Town's position. In this correspondence, I would like to re-emphasize that there is no evidence that the peak hour turn restrictions will divert traffic through the Crow Canyon Road/Blackhawk Drive and Camino Tassajara intersection in a manner that would increase congestion at this location, The turn restrictions will prevent vehicles from diverting away from this intersection onto local streets, which is what traffic studies have assumed for nearly 8 years. The traffic study that provided the basis for the Agreement to Settle Litigation Relating to the Dougherty Valley General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report did not include Tassajara Ranch Drive and Center Way. This traffic study in essence assumed that peak hour turn restrictions would be in place as specified in Resolution No. 125-94. Moreover, the traffic study indicated that the construction of 8,500 units in the Dougherty Valley would not exceed LOS D conditions at this critical intersection. Thus, the peak hour turn restrictions are entirely consistent with the Settlement Agreement. In addition, the Settlement Agreement states that the County must gain Danville's approval to change the roadway network in the vicinity of the Crow Canyon RoadBlackhawk Road at Camino Tassajara intersection. The coordinated efforts outlined in Exhibit D of the Settlement Agreement are intended "To mitigate the impacts of cumulative growth in the Tri-Valley subregion and surrounding areas on the local, subregional and regional roadway networks" (Settlement Agreement, page 16). Exhibit D specifies the following: 510 La Gonda Way • Danville,California 94526-1722 (510)820-6337 Chair Tom Powers October 27, 1994 Page 2 of 3 "6. Environmental Impact Reports or traffic studies based on model runs which include analysis of the Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon RoadBlackhawk Road intersection shall be consistent with the Tri-Valley Transportation Model network as of February 1, 1994. Addition or deletion of streets to the roadway network within the vicinity of this intersection shall take place only with the agreement of the affected jurisdiction." "Traffic assignments utilized in those model runs at this intersection shall be based on Tri-Valley Transportation model output, including intersection turning movement adjustments specified in the current Contra Costa Transportation Authority `Technical Procedures,' as it may be amended or replaced from time to time. Manual reassignment of traffic to other nearby streets requires approval of the affected jurisdiction." Settlement Agreement, Page D-i. This language was clearly intended to apply to traffic studies such as the one currently under preparation for the Tassajara Property Owners Association General Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Report. We ask that you reconsider the conclusions reached in the staff report that indicate an intent to add streets not included in the February 1, 1994 network. The turning movement restrictions, addressed in Resolution No. 125-94, are consistent with the February 1, 1994 traffic model network, and are therefore consistent with the language of the Settlement Agreement. As the foregoing and the Town's October 7, 1994 letter indicate, the Town of Danville is fully complying with the letter and intent of the Settlement Agreement. We assume that the County will comply with the Settlement Agreement as well. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input on this matter. Very truly yours, os ph A. Cala Town Manager Chair Tom Powers October 27, 1994 Page 3 of 3 C.: Supervisor Jeff Smith Supervisor Gayle Bishop Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Supervisor Tom Torlakson Mayor and Town Council City Attorney Chief of Planning Development.Services.Manager Steven Goetz City of San Ramon Joe Hirsch Stephen Hough Carolyn Mills Martin Engelmann