COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

August 25, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 13, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Approval of the Installation of Speed Humps on Three County Maintained Roads - County Wide Area

Recommendation

Adopt resolutions authorizing the Director of Public Works to install speed humps on the following listed County maintained roads, once the administrative fees have been paid as required by the Residential Speed Control Device Program for County Maintained Roads:

1.

Two (2) speed humps on 5th Street between Farallone Avenue and East Avenue - Montara;

2.

Six (6) speed humps on Cordilleras Road between Canyon Road and Springdale Way – Emerald Hills; and

3.

Two (2) speed humps on Country Club Drive between Constitution Way and Blondin Way – Country Club Park.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): Maintain and enhance public safety of all residents and visitors.

We believe the installation of speed humps will reduce traffic speeds to acceptable levels on these residential streets.

Background

Previous Board Action

Adopted Resolution No. 067260 on April 26, 2005, which approved the “Residential Speed Control Device Program for County Maintained Roads” dated April 11, 2005 (“Program”).

History

A majority of the property owners on the above-described streets petitioned the Department to install speed control devices as provided by the Program. The traffic surveys subsequently conducted by the Department confirmed that speed humps are warranted based on the criteria in the adopted Program.

Staff then worked closely with the project proponents for the three qualified streets referenced above, to determine the best locations for the speed humps, and developed draft plans based on standard traffic calming parameters. Meeting notices were then sent to all property owners and residents within the project areas considered to be immediately impacted by the location of the proposed speed humps. Draft plans were presented at neighborhood meetings along with copies of our traffic surveys. The plans were adjusted to reflect the neighborhood’s observations of traffic conditions and to avoid conflicts between speed humps and other facilities such as driveways.

Discussion

The streets where speed humps are recommended meet the criteria in the Program as adopted by your Board, and we followed the process as provided in the Program to make the residents aware of the proposed installation of the recommended speed humps.

We believe the installation of speed humps is exempt from the requirements for preparation of an EIR under Section 15301(C) Class 1, of the California Environmental Quality Act and a Notice of Exemption has been filed with the County Clerk.

We have also filed an application for a Coastal Development Permit Exemption for the construction of the speed humps on 5^th Street, as this street is located in the Coastal Zone.

We estimate that construction of speed humps will take approximately two (2) days per street once all permits are obtained and the administrative fees paid.

Resolutions have been approved as to form by County Counsel.

We will return to your Board with recommendations to approve speed hump installations on additional streets as they are qualified through the Program.

Fiscal Impact

The cost of installing the ten (10) speed humps is estimated at $30,000. The cost is partially offset by the $400 per speed hump fee ($4,000 total) which has been or will be paid by the project proponents prior to the installation of the speed humps. The net cost of installing the speed hump is proposed to be financed with Road Funds. There is no impact to the General Fund.

Not all of the administrative fees as required by the Program have been paid as of the writing of this report. Therefore, the proposed resolution provides that your Board’s approval of the proposed speed humps does not authorize the installation of the devices on a specific street until the fees have been paid. The resolution also provides that the fees must be paid within six (6) months or the authorization to install the speed humps is terminated.

We have also notified the residents on the three (3) streets, of the meeting where your Board is scheduled to consider our recommendation; and we have also sent a copy of our staff report to the fire protection agencies that serve the areas, the nearby cities (Redwood City and South San Francisco), and to the appropriate community councils and homeowners’ associations. We will report any comments that we receive.