Ponte Vista Traffic Study N O R T H W E S T S A N P E D R O N E I - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

N O R T H W E S T S A N P E D R O N E I G H B O R H O O D CO U N CI L D E C E M B E R 10 , 2 0 12

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Presented by

Introduction

 Linscott, Law, & Greenspan, Engineers (LLG)

 Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering Consultants  Established in Los Angeles in 1966

 David S. Shender, P.E.

 Principal

shender@llgengineers.com

 Licensed Professional Engineer  Over 27 Years of Experience

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Outline of Presentation

 What is a traffic study and who prepares it?  Who decides what goes into a traffic study and who

reviews the final report?

 How does the public participate in the traffic study

preparation?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Outline of Presentation (Cont.)

 What are the elements of a traffic study and how is it

prepared?

 Study Intersections  Traffic Counts  Ponte Vista Trip Forecast  Related Projects  Level of Service Calculations  Significant Impacts  Mitigation

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Outline of Presentation (Cont.)

 What are the findings of the Ponte Vista traffic

study?

 Impacts  Mitigation Measures

 How do the traffic impacts of the Ponte Vista project

compare to the Alternatives?

 What happens next?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

• W h a t i s a T r a f f i c S t u d y ?
• W h o P r e p a r e s t h e T r a f f i c S t u d y ?
• W h o D e c i d e s W h a t G o e s I n t o a T r a f f i c S t u d y ?
• W h o R e v i e w s t h e F i n a l R e p o r t ?
• H o w D o e s t h e P u b l i c P a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e

T r a f f i c S t u d y P r e p a r a t i o n a n d R e v i e w P r o c e s s ?

What is a Traffic Study?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

What is a Traffic Study?

 The traffic study is one chapter of the Draft Environmental

Impact Report (Draft EIR) prepared for the Ponte Vista project.

 As required by the California Environmental Quality Act

(CEQA), the traffic study is required to review the effects of the Ponte Vista project on the existing environment (i.e., existing traffic conditions).

 As also required by CEQA, the traffic effects of the Ponte Vista

project are also reviewed in consideration of forecast future traffic conditions (also called cumulative effects).

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Who Prepares the Traffic Study?

 In the City of Los Angeles, traffic studies are

prepared by pre-qualified traffic engineering consultants, licensed with the State of California.

 The applicant is required to hire the traffic engineer,

with approval from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT).

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Who Decides What Goes Into a Traffic Study?

 The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is the

Lead Agency responsible for defining the Ponte Vista traffic study scope of work, its preparation (including methodology and defining thresholds of significance), and its review and approval.

 In determining the scope of work, LADOT considers comments

and suggestions from other agencies, for example, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, and Caltrans, as well as from members of the community.

 In addition, for the Ponte Vista project, LADOT and LLG had the

benefit of comments and concerns expressed related to the prior (“Bisno”) traffic study, and adjusted the scope and methodology accordingly where appropriate.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Who Reviews the Final Report?

 In the City of Los Angeles, LADOT typically is

required to approve a project’s traffic study before a Draft EIR is released for public review and comment.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

How Does the Public Participate in the Traffic Study Preparation and Review Process?

 Public scoping process during the Notice of Preparation  Outreach with members of the community during traffic

study preparation process

 LLG participated in meetings with the Northwest San Pedro

Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee to receive input on the traffic study preparation and expanded the scope of review to address these comments.

 Comments to the Draft EIR

 All questions/comments answered in the Final EIR  Draft EIR/traffic study revised if new issues arise

 Public Hearings

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

• E l e m e n t s O f A T r a f f i c S t u d y Ch a r t
• S t u d y I n t e r s e c t i o n s
• H o u r s A n d D a t e s O f T r a f f i c C o u n t s
• P o n t e V i s t a T r i p G e n e r a t i o n F o r e c a s t
• F u t u r e T r a f f i c F o r e c a s t s
• L e v e l o f S e r v i c e Ca l c u l a t i o n s
• S i g n i f i c a n c e T h r e s h o l d s

What are the Elements of a Traffic Study and How is it Prepared?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Elements of a Traffic Study Chart

PROCESS ELEMENTS

Existing Conditions Identifying Study Area

Inventory of Existing Traffic

Level of Service Calculations

Existing Plus Project Conditions

Project Traffic Generation & Assignment

Level of Service Calculations Determine Significant Impacts Future Pre-Project Conditions Related Projects Ambient Growth Level of Service Calculations

Future With Project Conditions

Project Traffic Generation & Assignment

Level of Service Calculations Determine Significant Impacts Analysis of Mitigation Measures Identify Feasibility Of Measures Level of Service Calculations Confirm Mitigation Effectiveness Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Study Intersections

 Traffic studies in Los Angeles typically evaluate project

related impacts at signalized intersections, as they are the locations in the street network where motorists experience the most delay.

 The Ponte Vista traffic study evaluates potential

impacts at 56 study intersections.

 Intersections selected for analysis based on LADOT

requirements, comments from nearby cities, and community feedback.

 Additional intersections added to new traffic study based on

comments to the prior Bisno project traffic study.

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Map of Study Intersections

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Hours and Dates of Traffic Counts

 New traffic counts were conducted at all study

intersections in October 2010.

 Local schools in sesson  No road construction

 Counts conducted

 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM – Weekday  3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Weekday

(2:00 PM to 6:00 PM near schools)

 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Saturday (Western Avenue)

 From counts, peak one hour of traffic determined at

each intersection during each period.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Ponte Vista Trip Generation Forecast

LAND USE SIZE DAILY TRIP ENDS VOLUMES AM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES PM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES IN OUT TOTAL IN OUT TOTAL

Single-Family Residential

(ITE Single-Fam ily Detached Housing Trip Rate)

143 DU 1,369 27 80 107 91 53 144 Condominium

(ITE Residential Condom inium / Tow nhouse Trip Rate)

600 DU 3,486 45 219 264 209 103 312 Apartment

(ITE Apartm ent Trip Rate)

392 DU 2,607 40 160 200 158 85 243 Park

(ITE County Park Trip Rate)

2.8 AC 6 Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom. TOTAL 7,468 112 459 571 4 58 24 1 699

Weekday Peak Hour

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Ponte Vista Trip Generation Forecast

LAND USE SIZE DAILY TRIP ENDS VOLUMES MID-DAY PEAK HOUR VOLUMES IN OUT TOTAL

Single-Family Residential

(ITE Single-Fam ily Detached Housing Trip Rate)

143 DU 1,441 70 63 133 Condominium

(ITE Residential Condom inium / Tow nhouse Trip Rate)

600 DU 3,402 152 130 282 Apartment

(ITE Apartm ent Trip Rate)

392 DU 2,505 110 94 204 Park

(ITE County Park Trip Rate)

2.8 AC 34 4 2 6 TOTAL 7,38 2 336 28 9 6 25

Saturday Peak Hour

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Future Traffic Forecasts

 In addition to the Ponte Vista project, forecast of

future traffic includes Related Projects and Ambient Growth.

 Approximately 154 related projects evaluated.  In addition, includes 1% annual ambient traffic

growth rate to account for unknown related projects.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Map of Related Projects

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Level of Service Calculations

 Quantifies intersection operations and used for

assessing impacts of a project.

 Volume to capacity (v/c) ratio calculated based on:

 Volume at intersection (left-turns, throughs, right-turns)  Capacity of the intersection (number of traffic lanes, type of

signal control)

 Levels of Service used to “grade” intersections.

 LOS A to F

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Significance Thresholds

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 Levels of Service (LOS) LOS D LOS E LOS F

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Δv/c > 0.040 Δv/c > 0.020 Δv/c > 0.010 LOS A LOS B LOS C Significance Thresholds Volume-to-Capacity Ratio (v/c)

• I m p a c t e d S t u d y I n t e r s e c t i o n s
• S u m m a r y o f M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e s
• P r o j e c t F e a t u r e s
• M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e s

What are the Findings of the Ponte Vista Traffic Study?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Impacted Intersections

 20 intersections significantly impacted due to the

project.

 By comparison, 26 intersection impacted due to the

Bisno project.

 While size of the project was substantially reduced,

the difference in the number of impacted intersections is relatively small due to more conservative trip generation assumptions in the new traffic study.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Map of Im pacted Intersections

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Project Impacts (20 Intersections) Rolling Hills Rancho Palos Verdes Torrance Los Angeles County Carson Lomita Rolling Hills Estates City of Los Angeles SITE

Summary of Mitigation Measures

 Per CEQA, traffic study required to identify feasible

mitigation measures.

 Mitigation measures only required to mitigate

impact of project, not alleviate existing or future congestion not attributable to the project.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Summary of Mitigation Measures (Cont.)

 Mitigation measures generally consist of roadway

widening (within public right-of-way), median modifications, re-striping, and/or traffic signal modifications (left-turn/right-turn arrows).

 Mitigation is proposed be phased such that

improvements are built before the impact occurs.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Summary of Mitigation Measures (Cont.)

 Construction of mitigation requires consent of the

local jurisdiction.

 For projects in Los Angeles, the project developer is

required to retain engineers and contractors to design and construct the mitigation measures.

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Example

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 Level of Service (LOS) LOS F

Ponte Vista Traffic Study 0.780

Existing Volume-to-Capacity Ratio (v/c)

Western Avenue & Palos Verdes Drive North (AM Peak Hour)

0.905 1.038

1 2 Existing + Project Existing + Project + Mitigation 3

Δv/c = 0.133 Δv/c = -0.258

LOS A LOS B LOS C LOS D LOS E

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 Level of Service (LOS) LOS F

Example

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 Level of Service (LOS)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study 0.839

Existing Volume-to-Capacity Ratio (v/c)

Western Avenue & Palos Verdes Drive North (PM Peak Hour)

0.851 1.034

1 2 Existing + Project Existing + Project + Mitigation 3

Δv/c = 0.183 Δv/c = -0.195

LOS A LOS B LOS C LOS D LOS E

• W e s t e r n A v e n u e & G r e e n H i l l s D r i v e - N o r t h

P r o j e c t E n t r a n c e

• W e s t e r n A v e n u e & A v e n i d a A p r e n d a - S o u t h

P r o j e c t E n t r a n c e

Project Features

Western Avenue & Green Hills Drive-North Project Entrance (#17)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed Proposed

Extend Left-Turn Pocket Provide Additional Through Lane & Widen Western Avenue by 7-feet Provide Bus Turn-out Lane Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Provide Additional Through Lane & Widen Western Avenue by 7-feet Provide Left-Turn Arrows/Phasing for North/South Western Avenue

Western Avenue & Avenida Aprenda-South Project Entrance (#18)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Extend Left-Turn Pocket Provide Bus Turn-out Lane Provide Additional Through Lane & Widen Western Avenue by 7-feet Provide Left-Turn Arrows/Phasing for North/South Western Avenue

Proposed

Provide Additional Through Lane & Widen Western Avenue by 7-feet

Mitigation Measures

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Provide Second Left-Turn Lane Widen Crenshaw Boulevard by 2-feet

Crenshaw Boulevard & Pacific Coast Highway (#6)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Northbound Crenshaw Boulevard

Proposed

Crenshaw Boulevard & Palos Verdes Drive North (#7)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed Proposed

Western Avenue & Lomita Boulevard (#12)

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Southbound Western Avenue Provide Right-Turn Only Lane

Western Avenue & Pacific Coast Highway (#13)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Additional Through Lane Provide Second Left-Turn Lane Provide Additional Through Lane

Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Provide Second Left-Turn Lane Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Remove Raised Median Widen Western Avenue by 2-feet

Western Avenue & Palos Verdes Drive North (#15)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Proposed

Install New Traffic Signal

Peninsula Verde Drive

Western Avenue & Peninsula Verde Drive (#16)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Proposed

Install New Traffic Signal

Fitness Drive

Western Avenue & Fitness Drive (#19)

Western Avenue & Westmont Drive (#20)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Left-Turn Lane Provide Right- Turn Only Lane Modify Existing Raised Median Modify Existing Raised Median

Western Avenue & Capitol Drive (#23)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Modify Existing Raised Median Modify Existing Raised Median

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Westbound Summerland Avenue

Proposed

Summerland Avenue Western

Western Avenue & Summerland Avenue (#26)

Vermont Avenue- Palos Verdes Drive North-Gaffey Street & Anaheim Street (#36)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Widen Anaheim Street by 12-feet

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed Proposed

Gaffey Street & Westmont Drive (#37)

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Southbound Gaffey Street Provide Right-Turn Only Lane

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed Proposed

Gaffey Street & Summerland Avenue (#41)

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Southbound Gaffey Street Provide Right-Turn Only Lane

Vermont Avenue & Sepulveda Boulevard (#44)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Second Left-Turn Lane Remove Existing Raised Median

Vermont Avenue & Pacific Coast Highway (#46)

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Second Left-Turn Only Lane Widen PCH by 3-feet

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed Proposed

Anaheim Street & I-110 Freeway Interchange (#49,53,54)

Provide Right-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Southbound Figueroa Place Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Install New Traffic Signal Install New Traffic Signal Widen Anaheim Street by 10-feet Provide Left-Turn Arrows/Phasing for Eastbound Anaheim Street

Ponte Vista Traffic Study Existing Proposed

Provide Right-Turn Only Lane Modify Existing Raised Medians Provide Fourth Through Lane

Figueroa Street & I-110 NB On-Ramp (#51) Figueroa Street & Pacific Coast Highway (#52)

• T r i p G e n e r a t i o n a n d I n t e r s e c t i o n I m p a c t

Co m p a r i s o n

• I m p a c t e d I n t e r s e c t i o n s
• Project
• Reduced Project
• R1 Alternative

How Do the Traffic Impacts of the Ponte Vista Project Compare to the Alternatives?

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Trip Generation and Intersection Impact Comparison Table

CONDITION DESCRIPTION

DAILY TRIP ENDS VOLUMES

AM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES PM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES

• NO. OF

SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS (FUTURE 20 17) IN OUT TOTAL IN OUT TOTAL

Proposed Project

143 DU 600 DU 392 DU 1,135 DU Single-Family Condominium Apartment

7,468 112 459 571 458 241 699 20

Project Alternative C:

Reduced Density

208 DU 404 DU 218 DU 830 DU Single-Family Condominium Apartment

5,788 91 354 445 361 194 555 16

Project Alternative B:

No Project/Single- Family Homes

385 DU Single-Family

3,684 72 217 289 245 144 389 15

Weekday Conditions

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Map of Im pacted Intersections Due to Alternatives

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Single Family Project Only (15 Intersections) Reduced Project Only (16 Intersections) Rolling Hills Rancho Palos Verdes Torrance Los Angeles County Carson Lomita Rolling Hills Estates City of Los Angeles SITE

What Happens Next?

 Draft EIR Comment Period  Preparation of Final EIR (Responses to Public

Comments) or Recirculation of Draft EIR if new impacts are found (traffic or other issue areas)

 If approved, construction of the Project  Construction of traffic mitigation measures by the

developer; all mitigation to be completed by developer for each phase of development prior to

• ccupancy

Ponte Vista Traffic Study

Questions?

 To ensure that all questions and comments regarding the

traffic study are addressed, please submit to the City of Los Angeles before January 7, 2013 as follows:

Erin Strelich, Planning Assistant Los Angeles Department of City Planning 200 N. Spring Street, Room 750 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Fax: (213) 978-1343 Email: erin.strelich@lacity.org

Ponte Vista Traffic Study