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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRestriction of Left Turns @ Civic Ctr DrivewayCITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Restrict Left Turns at Civic Center Driveway on Fred Waring Drive SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., City Engineer DATE: October 27, 2005 CONTENTS: Vicinity Map Recommendation: By minute motion, direct staff to proceed with design of: 1. Median island modification on Fred Waring Drive to restrict left -turn egress from the Civic Center parking lot, 2. Westbound right -turn pocket on Fred Waring Drive at Civic Center, 3. Right -turn improvements from northbound San Pablo Avenue to eastbound Fred Waring Drive, and 4. Resurfacing of eastbound lanes on Fred Waring Drive from San Pablo Avenue to Portola Avenue; and Appropriate $100,000 from unobligated Fund 213 for design of the abovementioned improvements. Discussion: At the August 25, 2005 City Council meeting staff was directed to evaluate left -turn access on Fred Waring Drive at the Civic Center driveway. Staff has completed the evaluation and recommends that left -turn egress be restricted from the Civic Center driveway onto Fred Waring Drive, while maintaining left -turn ingress from Fred Waring Drive into the Civic Center parking lot. The proposed median island modification will result in loss of the westbound left -turn movement into the apartments south of the Civic Center as well. The purpose of these improvements is to increase safety at this location. Restrict Left Turns on Fred Waring Drive at Civic Center Page 2 of 3 October 27, 2005 Although there has been some concerr expressed for maintaining left -turn egress from the Civic Center driveway onto Fred Waring Drive for emergency vehicles, this cannot be practically accomplished without also resulting in public traffic performing this maneuver which would likely result in a less safe condition than exists now. It should be noted that response to emergencies from the Civic Center are a fairly rare occurrence as those emergency responses are made from vehicles already in the field. Therefore, it is the Public Works Department staff's opinion that no left -turn egress should be allowed from the Civic Center driveway. With efficiency in mind, it is recommended that the proposed right -turn improvements from northbound San Pablo Avenue to eastbound Fred Waring Drive be completed at the same time as the median island modification. It is also recommended that this project incorporate repaving of the eastbound lanes of Fred Waring Drive, and construction of a westbound right -turn pocket and deceleration lane on Fred Waring Drive at the Civic Center driveway. Combining all of these improvements will preclude the need for any significant construction projects in this area of Fred Waring Drive for quite some time. Traffic signal modifications are already under design for the intersection of Fred Waring Drive and San Pascual Avenue, and construction will commence prior to these other locations. The estimated costs for construction of these improvements are as follows: Median island modification $ 50,000 Westbound right -turn pocket on Fred Waring at Civic Center driveway $ 70,000 Right -turn improvements on San Pablo at Fred Waring Drive $500,000 Resurfacing eastbound lanes on Fred Waring Drive $200,000 Total $820,000 Because this is a new project, no funds have been budgeted for the design of the median island modification to prevent left turn egress. The same is true for the right turn pocket on Fred Waring at Civic Center. The only portion of work with funding in the five-year Capital Improvement Program is the northbound right -turn improvements on San Pablo Avenue at Fred Waring Drive. It has $100,000 budgeted in fiscal year 2007 for design, and $405,000 in fiscal year 2008 for construction. GAPubWorks\Ryan GaylenWord Files\Staff Reports\Restnct left tums - FW at o"c ctr re�sed.doc Restrict Left Turns on Fred Waring Drive at Civic Center Page 3of3 October 27, 2005 Therefore, staff recommends that Council appropriate $100,000 and authorize the design of median island modification on Fred Waring Drive to restrict left -turn egress from the Civic Center parking lot, westbound right -turn pocket on Fred Waring at Civic Center driveway, right -turn improvements from northbound San Pablo Avenue to eastbound Fred Waring Drive, and resurfacing of eastbound lanes on Fred Waring Drive from San Pablo Avenue to Portola Avenue. Submitted by: I 1 V Mark reenwood, P.E. City Engineer Approval: 1 , Homer Croy ACM for Develop nt Services Carlos Ortega City Manager M Department Head: Michael Errante, P.E. Director of Public Works Paul Gibson Finance Director G 1PubWorkslRyan GayierMord Files\Staff ReportslRestrict left turns - FW at Civic ctr revised doc OZ6 069 0917 OEZ 96L 0 deW uoi;eoo-I i U01.1eoo, I ---� I r I �I NOI1V JOl I `J 3aNVUIN3 NKN30 DInla S1N3W3AOI:IdWI Avmavom a3SOdOMd deW Al!ui31.n