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Home My WebLink About04 - Restricting Trucks on Ridge Park Road0 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT COUNCIL AGENDA 3 -ei -O's Agenda Item No. 19 July 26, 2005 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Public Works Department Richard Edmonston, P.E. 949 - 644 -3311 red mo n sto n@ city. newport-beach.ca.us SUBJECT: ORDINANCE RESTRICTING TRUCKS ON RIDGE PARK ROAD RECOMMENDATION: Introduce an Ordinance adding Section 12.32.022 to the Municipal Code to establish a vehicle weight limit of eight thousand (8,000) pounds on Ridge Park Road between Newport Coast Drive and Vista Ridge Road. DISCUSSION: Staff has worked with concerned parents of Newport Coast since before the area was • annexed to the City. These discussions have primarily focused on the traffic issues associated with Newport Coast Elementary School. These numerous meetings have led to the construction of the loop road for pick -up and drop -off of students on campus, relocation of crossing guards, parking restrictions, pedestrian crossing restrictions, and targeted law enforcement efforts. Parents and staff at Newport Coast Elementary School have expressed considerable concern about the number of large construction trucks driving past the School on Ridge Park Road, especially since two trucks have gotten out of control due to driver error and crashed near the school since the first of this year. Both crashes occurred in the intersection of Newport Coast Drive and Ridge Park Road and were single vehicle crashes involving trucks going westbound on Ridge Park Road. Most, if not all, of the trucks currently using Ridge Park Road adjacent to the school are bound for the new home sites at the top of the hill. The proposed Ordinance would divert those trucks to Vista Ridge Road as shown on the attached vicinity map. The two roads intersect above the school site but below the construction area. Residents living in homes off Vista Ridge Road have expressed opposition to this alternative as they feel they have already had to deal with extensive construction traffic for many years as Newport Coast has been developed. Traffic counts were taken earlier this year on both Vista Ridge Road and Ridge Park Road. Large trucks were counted at the same time. These counts clearly show the • impact construction traffic is having on Ridge Park Road which has 6000 vehicles per day with 280 of them being large trucks. By comparison, Vista Ridge Road has 3900 vehicles per day with 80 large trucks. So, in spite of the fact that over twice as many homes have their access off of Vista Ridge Road (655 vs. 268), construction traffic SUBJECT: Ordinance Restricting Trucks on Ridge Park Road July 26, 2005 Page 2 results in both more vehicles of all sizes and over three times as many large trucks on • Ridge Park Road. The main concern is the safety of the pedestrians at the Newport Coast Drive and Ridge Park Road intersection as children and their parents go back and forth to Newport Coast Elementary School several times during the school day. The presence of the school causes the number of pedestrians at this intersection to be many times greater than at any other location in Newport Coast. Staff has considered a variety of options to control trucks in a manner that would reduce the potential of an accident involving children and adults. Time restrictions were considered and dismissed as was the possibility of having trucks go uphill on Ridge Park Road and downhill on Vista Ridge Road. The Police Chief stated that the problem with any restriction short of a total ban is the difficulty drivers would have understanding and following the more complex rules. The proposed solution will leave the workers in their cars and pickup trucks on Ridge Park Road and shift only the large construction trucks to Vista Ridge Road. This spreads the impact of construction traffic on both streets. Roughly 300 additional trucks will use Vista Ridge Road while an estimated 3000 plus other construction - related vehicles will remain on Ridge Park Road. It is important to note that The Irvine Company estimates that construction of the new homes will take roughly another two years, plus or minus, and the truck issue will substantially go away at that time. Subsequent to the initial construction, the only trucks will be those associated with individual property owner's projects. Staff recommends that the weight restriction on Ridge Park Road be permanent, since the • large number of trucks will significantly diminish, but there will still be concentrations of pedestrians at the Newport Coast Drive and Ridge Park Road intersection after the initial home construction period. Staff informed the Newport Coast Elementary PTA, the Newport Mesa Unified School District Office, the Newport Coast Advisory Committee, the Newport Coast HOA managers, the Irvine Company, and others of the Study Session discussion on June 28, 2005. This item was also discussed at the Newport Coast Advisory Committee meeting of July 11, 2005. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Categorically Exempt under Chapter 3, Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1(c) of Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Exemption is for minor alteration of existing facilities not expanding existing uses. Prepared by: Submitt d l ` by- (,Rrchard Edmonston, P.E. Step1ien G. Badum Transportation and Development ,Public Works Director Services Manager Attachments: Vicinity Map • Ordinance Ar 0 Wl wil, .1 U 7 it VL vs, ;w gg �i\S lki . r7 , vc�m 707 ORDINANCE NO. 2005 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ADDING SECTION 12.32.022 TO • THE NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING A VEHICULAR WEIGHT LIMIT OF EIGHT THOUSAND (8,000) POUNDS ON RIDGE PARK ROAD BETWEEN NEWPORT COAST DRIVE AND VISTA RIDGE ROAD. The City Council of the City of Newport Beach does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1: Section 12.32.022 is added to the Newport Beach Municipal Code to read as follows: "12.32.022 Commercial Vehicles over eight thousand (8,000) pounds prohibited. A. When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any commercial vehicle exceeding eight thousand (8,000) pounds gross weight at any time upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in subsection (B) of this section. The City Traffic Engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on those streets affected by this section. B. The following streets are the streets designated by the City Council upon which commercial vehicles exceeding eight thousand (8,000) pounds weight may not be operated: 1. Ridge Park Road, from Newport Coast Drive to Vista Ridge Road." SECTION 2: The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall cause the same to be • published once in the official newspaper of the City, and it shall be effective thirty (30) days after its adoption. SECTION 3: This Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach held on the 26th day of July, 2005, and adopted on the _ day of 2005, by the following vote, to wit: AYES, COUNCILMEMBERS NOES, COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk • 0 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT COUNCIL A EN � A NQ l� 7 z Study Session Item No. ssa June 28, 2005 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Public Works Department Richard Edmonston, P.E. 949 -644 -3311 red monston @city. newport- beach.ca. us SUBJECT: TRUCK RESTRICTIONS ON RIDGE PARK ROAD BACKGROUND Staff has worked with concerned parents of Newport Coast since before the area was annexed to the City. Many of these discussions have pertained to the traffic issues associated with Newport Coast Elementary School. These efforts have led to the construction of the loop road for pick -up and drop -off of students, revised crossing guards, parking restrictions, targeted enforcement efforts, and participation in numerous • school meetings. Recently there have been proposals to ban construction trucks from the segment of Ridge Park Road from Newport Coast Drive to Vista Ridge Road. On two occasions since the first of this year construction trucks have gotten out of control and sped past the elementary school. This has raised considerable concern over the consequences if a vehicle were to lose control during one of the several time periods each school day when large numbers of children and their parents are crossing the intersection of Newport Coast Drive and Ridge Park Road. The great majority of this truck traffic is serving the ongoing, new residential construction at the upper end of Ridge Park Road. This construction is anticipated to continue for another 18 to 30 months. DISCUSSION There is an alternate route to the construction area via Vista Ridge Road. As shown on the attached vicinity map, the two roads intersect above the school site but below the construction area. Residents living in homes off Vista Ridge Road have been opposed to this alternative when it has been suggested previously. They feel they have already had to deal with extensive construction traffic for many years as Newport Coast has been developed. •Traffic counts were taken earlier this year on both Vista Ridge Road and Ridge Park Road. Large trucks were counted at the same time. These counts clearly show the SUBJECT: Truck Restrictions on Ridge Park Road June 28. 2005 Page 2 impact construction traffic is having on Ridge Park Road which has 6000 vehicles per day with 280 of them being large trucks. By comparison, Vista Ridge Road has 3900 • vehicles per day with. 80 large trucks. So in spite of the fact that over twice as many homes have their access off of Vista Ridge Road (655 vs 268), construction traffic results in both more vehicles of all sizes and over three times as many large trucks on Ridge Park Road. Staff has considered a variety of options to control trucks in a fashion that would reduce the potential of an accident involving numbers of school children. Time restrictions were considered and dismissed as was the possibility of having trucks go uphill on Ridge Park Road and downhill on Vista Ridge Road. The chief problem with any restriction short of a total ban is the difficulty drivers would have understanding and following the more complex rules. Council direction is needed to finalize action. Should City Council concur that a truck weight limit on Ridge Park Road is the appropriate way to improve safety for the school children and the parents that accompany them to and from school, staff recommends a weight limit of 8,000 pounds be implemented on a permanent basis. NOTICE Staff informed the Newport Coast Elementary PTA, the Newport Mesa Unified School District Office, the Newport Coast Advisory Committee, the Newport Coast HOA managers, the Irvine Company, and others of today's Study Session discussion. • Prepared by: Submitted by"--� Richard Edmonston, P.E. phe . Badum Transportation and Development Publi orks Director Services Manager 40 AR ZhQ YA �NPN I 7'x'!4 • . . No Sj - C i r" 'r- - • f �i frc; '.vim i y«.• r . >.. 4. • ^ri., _ "RECEIVED AFTER �1 !ENDA PRINTED: "-4 1 `l ' OLG-OS ORDINANCE NO. 2005 - • AN ORDINANCE OF THE CiTY COUNCIL OF THE C[TY OF NEWPORT BEACH ADDING SECTION 12.32.022 TO THE NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING A VEHICULAR WEIGHT LIMIT OF EIGHT THOUSAND (8,000) POUNDS ON RIDGE PARK ROAD BETWEEN NEWPORT COAST DRIVE AND VISTA RIDGE ROAD The City Council of the City of Newport Beach does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1: Section 12.32.022 is added to the Newport Beach Municipal Code to read as follows: "12.32.022 Commercial Vehicles over eight thousand (8,000) pounds prohibited. A. When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any commercial vehicle exceeding eight thousand (8,000) pounds gross weight at any time upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in subsection (B) of this section. The City Traffic Engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on those streets affected by this section. B. The following streets are the streets designated by the City Council upon which commercial vehicles exceeding eight thousand (8,000) pounds weight may not be operated: 1. Ridge Park Road, from Newport Coast Drive to Vista Ridge Road. C. This section shall remain in effect until September 1, 2008 and is repealed as • of that date unless a later enacted ordinance deletes or extends that date. SECTION 2: The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper of the City, and it shall be effective thirty (30) days after its adoption. SECTION 3: This Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach held on the 26th day of July, 2005, and adopted on the _ day of 2005, by the following vote, to wit:. AYES, COUNCILMEMBERS NOES, COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor • ATTEST: City Clerk Harkless, LaVonne F terreverte [terreverte @cox.net] Tuesday, July 26, 2005 7:37 AM To: Harkless, LaVonne "RECEIVE AFTER AGE DA PRINTED'." '05 jiL 26, A7 :48 ppap, 1 of " Subject: Feed back from the Agendas, Minutes OFFICE OF ' Y GLEN onight you will be considering truck weight limits on Ridge Park Drive.P,l(=hp r'liued-bMfT4s a Mdge for ten years. Of course, I )bject to diverting this heavy construction traffic to Vista Ridge Rd. Please do not approve this change. have always thought the Newport Coast Elementary School was a poor location site for a school. It has been a traffic headache since the beginning. And the idea of a neighborhood school with children walking is a joke. I would drive my kid too; it's so tangerous walking across Newport Coast Drive. • • )7!26!2005 "RECEI AFTER AG PREPITEC:" '� 11 � 7()4� Newport Beach City Council August 2, 2005 3300 Newport Blvd. Newport Beach, CA Council Members: I am a resident of the Trovare neighborhood in Newport Coast. My home faces Vista Ridge Road. I have heard construction traffic for the I I years I have lived here. It has been no different than Park Ridge Road. To direct 8,000 lb. vehicles and "all construction trucks and heavy vehicles" to Vista Ridge Road is unfair. To say that Ridge Park Road "has handled more than its share of the construction traffic" is ignoring and disregarding the equally frustrating situation on Vista Ridge Road. The residents of this road also use the streets to walk and our lives are equally important. Please read this letter at your next meeting, August 9, so that you can also consider the rights of the residents on Vista Ridge Road. Thank you. G L�l1tiE%�£ a6 i e� - a a c A y r- "RECEIVED AFTER AGENDA PRINTED:" August 4, 2005 Newport Beach City Council 3300 Newport Blvd. Newport Beach, CA Council Members: I am writing again regarding directing all 8,000 lb. vehicles and construction traffic from Ridge Park to Vista Ridge Road. I don't understand why you think putting this burden on Vista Ridge Road solves the problem. As it is now, both roads share this traffic. To put it all on Vista Ridge Road doesn't make sense or seem fair. And actually, is it legal? As you said at the last meeting, the area is almost built out. Why make a change now? Look at where the problem exists....... the heavy trucks. Check these vehicles for safety and lower the speed limits. There are other more equitable actions that can be taken. Every residents' rights should be considered in this matter. Please do not put this burden all on Vista Ridge Road. Please read this letter at the August 7 meeting. Sincerely, 0