HomeMy WebLinkAboutRestriction of Left Turns from Sagewood to Southbound Monterey Ave. 661-02CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Direct Staff on the Restriction of Left Turns from Sagewood Drive to
Southbound Monterey Avenue (Project 661-02)
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., City Engineer
DATE: July 14, 2005
CONTENTS: Vicinity Map
Recommendation:
Direct Staff on the Restriction of Left Turns from Sagewood Drive to
Southbound Monterey Avenue (Project 661-02)
Discussion:
At the April 28, 2005 City Council meeting, Council directed staff to inform the residents
of Sagewood of the plans to restrict left turns from Sagewood Drive to southbound
Monterey Avenue. The letter sent to the residents generated enough comments that
the City and the Homeowners Association held a meeting on June 14, 2005 to allow the
homeowners and the City to express concerns and present information.
Of the 101 homeowners within the Sagewood area, 12 came to the meeting. All the
residents who attended the meeting were opposed to the plans to prohibit the left turn
onto Monterey. Below are several points that were raised by the residents at the
meeting. Staffs response follows each of the points.
• The prohibition of the left turn from Sagewood Drive to southbound Monterey
Avenue creates an undue hardship on the Sagewood residents. The residents
feel overlooked because they have to accommodate Rancho Mirage and newer
developments.
Staff Response: Recommendation for restricting left turns from Sagewood Drive
is by Palm Desert Public Works staff. The City of Rancho Mirage was not
involved in the decision or recommendation.
• The proposed U-turns on Monterey Avenue at the Albertson's center or Country
Club Drive are just as unsafe as the left turn from Sagewood to Monterey.
Because the southbound side of Monterey Avenue has the free right at Country
Club Drive it creates an unsafe area to merge after the U-turn.
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Direct Staff Regarding Restriction of Left Turns Sagewood to Monterey
Page 2 of 3
July 14, 2005
Staff Response: A U-turn movement is safer than a direct left turn because there
are fewer vehicle conflicts to contend with and drivers have a direct view of
opposing high-speed traffic. The U-turn at Monterey Avenue is completed prior
to the merging of the right turn traffic from Country Club Drive.
If the City creates a merging lane where the median is planned, it will give the
drivers a lane to accelerate and merge into the fast lane.
Staff Response: The distance between Sagewood Drive and the southbound left
turn pocket at Hovley Lane West is not long enough to allow for safe high-speed
merging into traffic. Currently, the speed limit is posted at 50 mph.
• The number three lane used to be a dedicated right turn lane to enter the
Sagewood development. The lane should be reverted to that purpose.
Staff Response: Removal of the third northbound through lane will substantially
reduce the capacity of Monterey Avenue, which would result in a change to the
level of service.
• The traffic on Monterey Avenue is too fast. It needs to be slowed down. The left
turn would then become a safe maneuver.
Staff Response: Speed limits are posted per the requirements set forth by the
California Vehicle Code.
Trees and a Southern California Edison utility box restrict the view of oncoming
traffic, creating line -of -sight issues.
Staff Response: The trees have been removed and SCE has been contacted to
provide information regarding the possible relocation of the utility box.
The intersection of Sagewood Drive at Monterey Avenue should be signalized.
Staff Response: Existing conditions at this intersection do not warrant installation
of a traffic signal now nor in the foreseeable future.
Another issue raised by the residents is that while median work is being planned, the
left turn pocket from northbound Monterey Avenue onto westbound Country Club Drive
should be extended to allow for greater stacking capacity. Staff agrees with this
assertion and is redesigning the median accordingly.
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Direct Staff Regarding Restriction of Left Turns Sagewood to Monterey
Page 3 of 3
July 14, 2005
The primary contention made by the City's traffic engineers is that the left turn across
six lanes of traffic is inherently unsafe, and just the fact that there hasn't been a major
accident at that intersection doesn't mean that the City should wait for one to occur
before addressing a potentially unsafe situation.
Staffs recommendation from a safety standpoint is that Council approve the design as it
currently stands. The safety factor outweighs the inconvenience caused by the
prohibition of the left turn.
Therefore, staff requests that City Council direct staff on the restriction of left turns from
Sagewood Drive to southbound Monterey Avenue.
Submitted By:
Mark Greenwood, P.E.
City Engineer
Approval:
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ACM for Dev ment Services
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Department Head:
Michael Errante, P.E.
Director of Public Works
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Carlos Ortev
City Manager
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