Minutes of the Calle Barcelona, Calle Madrid & Crosshaven Drive Meeting

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

April 1, 2004

1.                  CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The first meeting for the Calle Barcelona, Calle Madrid & Crosshaven Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) project began at 6:30 p.m. on April 1, 2004, at the Rowland Heights Elementary School Cafeteria Room, 2036 S Fullerton Road, Rowland Heights, CA.

2.                  ATTENDEES AND PRESENTER

The following persons were in attendance:

Mr. Joel Falter, Project Manager, Katz, Okitsu and Associates, consultant/presenter

Mr. Pete Flores and Ms. Maria LL. Medrano of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Traffic Investigations Section

Officer Joseph Zizi, representing the Santa Fe Springs,  California Highway Patrol office

Fire Captain Bruce Freeman of the LA County Fire Department, Land Development Unit.

Approximately 30 neighborhood residents were in attendance.

The following persons were invited to the meeting but could not attend:

Captain Sharon Baker of the California Highway Patrol – Santa Fe Springs

            Mr. Dickie Simmons, Field Deputy – Supervisorial District  No. 4

3.                  MEETING NOTES

Pete Flores began the meeting by welcoming the attendees and introducing the staff and guests in attendance.

Mr. Falter presented a Power Point slide show describing the NTMP goals, objectives and process.  He reported on the results of their field observations, and based on previous concerns expressed by area residents, it appears that the principal concerns are that of speeding and cut-though traffic.  Mr. Falter presented the results of data obtained from traffic counts and speed measurements on the project roadways and explained the significance of the 85th percentile speeds as it us used traffic data  analyses.  Mr. Falter also noted that observed speeds within the project limits reached up to a maximum of 65 mph (along the curve formed by Calle Barcelona and Calle Madrid). 

Mr. Falter highlighted several measures that the County has taken to address speeding between the project limits.  These measures included the provision of curve warning signs, advisory speed limit signs, 25 mph speed limit signs, 25 mph pavement markings, and the installation of Radar Enforced” signs along each of the project roadways. 

Mr. Falter then presented suggestions for various measures which would involve education, enforcement, and engineering practices to address traffic concerns.  These measures included:  radar speed trailer deployment, the installation of roadway striping, speed cushions, curb extensions, center medians, and or traffic circles at various key locations, and the installation of other advisory or regulatory signs.  The pros and cons of each measure were also discussed, in terms of effectiveness and restrictiveness.  Mr. Falter indicated that implementation of one or more of these measures could be accomplished as part of the First Phase process, which would be followed by an adjustment period and reevaluation of traffic conditions to determine their effectiveness.  Based on the results of the Phase 1 actions, those features implemented in a temporary fashion could be converted to permanent installations in the Second  Phase of the Program, including adjusting or augmenting of these measures as needed.

A period of Questions and Answers followed the slide show presentation.  Residents at the meeting raised the following questions and/or concerns:

1.        “Will speed cushions affect Ambulance speed?” 

Response:  Yes, since the wheel axle span of an ambulance is nearly equal to that of a regular vehicle, the speed on an ambulance will be affected by a few seconds.

2.        “How can we get speed humps installed on our streets?”

Response: While speed humps were not presented as one of the proposed “tools” to reduce speeding along the project roadways, the criteria for their provision is similar to that of “speed cushions” which were introduced in the presentation.  The design and use of the speed hump has been approved for  public roadways; however, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which is most affected by this traffic control device, is not in favor of their use, especially upon streets serving as primary emergency response routes into a neighborhood.  Unless other measures have proven to be ineffective at reducing speeding, only then will they be considered.

As discussed earlier, “speed cushions” are a variation of “speed humps”, which consist of a number raised pads placed side-by-side and spaced at a distance which would allow them to be easily “straddled” by a fire truck.  Also, the application of speed cushions would be more acceptable to the Fire Department. 

3.        “Can we install a barricade on Calle Barcelona?  This area was closed off to cut-through traffic about 15 years ago until the County opened it up…..  This is what created the traffic and speeding problem that we are experiencing today.

Response:  While we cannot comment on “who” is responsible for opening up the area to through traffic, the purpose of this meeting is to identify and implement traffic control measures to alleviate these problems and that are acceptable to the community.  To create a road closure would not only require the approval of residents along Calle Barcelona, Calle Madrid or Crosshaven Drive, but from the entire community that would be directly impacted by this road closure.  Approval would also have to be obtained from the Supervisor’s office, the various law enforcement agencies and the Fire Department. 

Both the CHP and the Fire Department commented on this request, indicating that a road closure would have a significantly negative impact on their emergency response times to the neighborhood and would not be in favor of such a measure.

4.        “For years we have complained about speeding, why were only two stop signs installed?”

Response:   Stop signs are not installed as a means to control speeding.  Rather, these traffic control devices are used at intersections to define the right of way and reduce potential conflicts or side-street delay when traffic volumes are relatively high.  If placed inappropriately, motorists may disregard their presence and create a dangerous situation at the intersection.

5.        “Why is the CHP not out giving more tickets, we haven’t seen any patrol cars in our neighborhood?”

Response:   Joseph Zizi answered questions about speeding and officer patrol.  He explained that the Santa Fe Springs office has a new captain, Sharon Baker, and she has assigned more units to specifically address speeding.  Officer Zizi further explained that since his arrival at the Santa Fe Springs CHP office, he has not heard from residents in this community concerning speeding until the present meeting.  Officer Zizi provided his and his partner’s contact information and assured the residents that “if they called, he would address their speeding concerns directly”.  Officer Zizi further informed residents that most often, it is the residents themselves that are doing the speeding and warned that he will be surveying this area more frequently. 

6.        “After it is decided which actions are to be taken, how long will it take to implement them?”

Response:   The actual installation will depend on the measures approved and the amount of engineering required, the availability of funds, and time restrictions imposed by prior commitments.  However, the NTMP program is a pilot project approach which the County is committed to evaluating and thus will prioritize accordingly.

Again, after your community has voted, we will install temporary measures, as   are feasible, and will evaluate their effectiveness prior to installation of permanent devices.

7.        “We have had problems with speeding for years and the County has done nothing us.  How can we be sure that the County will actually do something to solve this problem?”

Response: The County’s Board of Supervisors is very interested in the success of NTMP Project.   As this is a “pilot program” , the County is committed to implementing traffic calming measures along Calle Barcelona, Calle Madrid and Crosshaven Drive that are both feasible and appropriate to achieve the desired goal: to control speeding along these roadways. 

4. ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/COMMENTS:

1.      Request for stop signs on Calle Madrid at Calle Los Arboles.

2.      Request for a crosswalk on Calle Madrid at Calle Los Arboles.

3.      The County was thanked for the newly installed traffic signals on Fullerton Road at Crosshaven Drive.

4.      It is difficult for us to enter or exit our driveways without being verbally abused.

Residents in attendance were then given an opportunity to make written comments by marking on a set of maps of the study area indicating the problem locations and their proposals for various solutions. 

Pete Flores closed the presentation by thanking Mr. Freeman, Mr. Zizi, and the residents for attending the meeting.  He informed the residents that they will be receiving a letter in a week or two, which will include a survey of those traffic control devices that the community would like to see the County provide.  He further informed them that a follow-up meeting will be held within 4 to 5 weeks to advise them of the outcome of the meeting and the recommended measures that will be imposed.

The meeting concluded at 8:45 p.m.