HomeMy WebLinkAboutDirect Staff Caltrans' Request for Closure of Thrush Road at Highway 74CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Direct staff regarding Caltrans' request for closure of Thrush
Road at Hwy 74
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E.
City Engineer
DATE: April 14, 2005
Recommendation:
By minute motion, direct staff to the appropriate course of action:
A) Decline Caltrans' request for closure of Thrush Road or
B) Direct staff to prepare a resolution establishing the date,
time and place for a public hearing to close Thrush Road.
Discussion:
At the meeting of May 13, 2004 City Council directed staff to prepare plans for
signalization of the intersection at Highway 74 and Shadow Mountain Drive. At
the October 14, 2004 meeting, Council approved closure of the frontage road at
Shadow Mountain Drive to facilitate this traffic signal.
Staff submitted project plans to Caltrans in November, 2004 for their review. We
received comments from Caltrans in February, 2005 and those comments
included a requirement to close Thrush Road at Highway 74. As justification,
they point to the fact that a recent fatal collision occurred at this intersection.
Staff has used every means available to convince Caltrans that this closure is not
required; however, Caltrans remains firm in their desire for the closure.
Public Works Department staff is not convinced that closure of Thrush Road at
Highway 74 is appropriate or necessary. There is no significant collision history,
other than the recent tragedy, and there may be unintended consequences such
as diversion of traffic onto other streets. We believe that closure of city streets is
entirely at the discretion of the City Council, and while Caltrans may recommend
closure, they have no authority to unilaterally require it.
G:\PubWorks\Staff Reports\2005\April 14\Direct staff regarding Caltrans request for closure Hwy 74 at Thrush.doc
Staff Report -
Continue Public Hearing for Portola Bridge over the Whitewater Channel
Page 2 of 2
April 14, 2005
Therefore, staff requests that the City Council either A) decline Caltrans' request
for closure of Thrush Road, or B) direct staff to prepare a resolution establishing
the date, time and place for a public hearing to close Thrush Road.
Submitted By:
D1
Mark Greenwood, P.E.
City Engineer
Approval:
Homer Croy
ACM for De Croy‘?
Services
/dhl
Department Head:
Michael Errarte, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Carlos Ortega
City Manager
G:IPubWorks1Staff Reports120051.4pril 141Direct staff regarding Caltrans request for closure Hwy 74 at Thrush.doc