SR-052395-9A
9A
PCD:SF:RF:fb:ASHL23RD:WP51
Council Meeting May 23, 1995
Santa Monica, California
HAY 2 3 1995
To: Mayor and City council
From: City staff
Subject: Recommendation to Approve the Removal of stop signs and
Turn Restrictions on 23rd street near Ashland Avenue and
to Direct staff to Develop Measures to Enhance Pedestrian
Safety, Reduce Vehicle Speeds and Manage Traffic in the
Sunset Park Residential Area.
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council approve the removal of
the stop signs on 23rd street at Ashland Avenue and direct staff to
develop measures to enhance pedestrian safety, reduce vehicle
speeds and manage traffic on 23rd street and in other residential
areas in Sunset Park.
Backqround
At a meeting on September 13, 1994, City Council requested the City
Parking and Traffic Engineer to install stop signs on 23rd street
at Ashland Avenue as an interim measure to better serve the needs
of pedestrians at that intersection.
The stop signs along with
appropriate warning signs, pavement markings and orange flags were
installed the following week.
9A
-1-
HAY 2 3 1995
Discussion
The installation of these stop signs resulted in significant delays
to traffic on 23rd Street. Impatient peak hour motorists then
began to divert through the residential neighborhoods adjacent to
that busy thoroughfare. In order to mitigate that problem, Staff
installed peak hour turn restrictions on 23rd street at all cross
streets between Ocean Park Boulevard and the south City Limits.
These restrictions kept most of the traffic on 23rd Street,
resulting in long delays for vehicles approaching Ashland Avenue.
Some drivers became intolerant of the delays and ignored the turn
restrictions or turned through alleys. And, most of them made
these maneuvers at speeds above the 25 mile per hour limit for
res~dential streets. These higher speeds combined with erratic
driving by frustrated motorists resulted in an increased potential
for traffic collisions throughout the area.
At least one resident on Ashland Avenue east of 23rd Street, at his
own expense, had traffic counts and radar speed surveys conducted
on his street. Those studies found that both the speeds and
volumes of traffic had increased significantly. That result is
contrary to the intent of this stop sign installation.
Immediately after the installation of the stop signs on 23rd street
at Ashland Avenue, staff was overwhelmed with complaints from both
local residents and drivers who use that route. While the
frequency of complaints has decreased, staff continues to receive
calls and letters on a daily basis.
-2-
On March 30, 1995 the Sunset Park Associated Neighbors (SPAN) wrote
to the Director of Planning and Communlty Development and the Clty
Parklng and Traffic Engineer, complaining about Ilcut-throughll
trafflc on their residential streets. They also requested
additional police enforcement of the turn restrictions, which was
provided. On April 13, 1995, SPAN wrote to the City Council,
advising that their Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly in
favor of removing the stop signs on 23rd street at Ashland Avenue,
requested that the turn restrictions remain, and that the city
lmmediately pursue alternative measures to provide for additional
pedestrian safety. They also reiterated their concern over the
numerous violations of the turn restrictions, and offered a 78
minute videotape they had made to record these illegal actions by
motorists using 23rd street. And they again requested added police
traffic enforcement in their area. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who
represents the Los Angeles neighborhood immediately adjacent to our
south city Limits has written to the Mayor requesting removal of
the restrictions.
In summary, the installation of stop signs on 23rd street at
Ashland Avenue together with peak hour turn restrictions along 23rd
street between Ocean Park Boulevard and the City Limits near Dewey
Street has not resulted in less traffic on adjacent residential
streets. It appears to have had just the opposite effect. Staff
is prepared to develop alternative measures as requested by SPAN.
However, these measures must be evaluated within the context of the
entire area.
-3-
Therefore, staff is recommending that the Council direct staff to
return with recommended measures that address concerns related to
vehicle speed and pedestr~an safety throughout the neighborhood.
Budqet and Fiscal Imoact
The recommendations in this report will not have any budget or
fiscal impact. Installation, modification or removal of required
signs, markings and controls will be funded under existing budget
line items.
Recommendation
It is respectfully recommended that the stop signs and turn
restrictions be removed and that staff be directed to develop
measures to enhance pedestrian safety, reduce vehicle speed and
manage traffic in the residential neighborhood.
Attachment A: April 13, 1995 letter from SPAN
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning and
Community Development
Ron Fuchiwaki, city Parking and
Traffic Engineer
Frank Barnes, Special Projects Engineer
-4-