COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

December 21, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 24, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Interim Revisions to Traffic Restrictions in the University Park Area – Stanford University/Sand Hill Road/West Menlo Park Area

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works:

1.

to remove the signs restricting access to Leland and Stanford Avenues from Sand Hill Road; and

2.

to evaluate and report back within three months, on traffic impacts in the University Park area as a result of removing said signs.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or gain.

Removal of the above referenced signs will allow us to evaluate any impacts on traffic and to receive feedback from area residents prior to our recommending the removal or continuation of traffic restrictions in the University Park area.

Background

Previous Board Action

*

Adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement for the construction of improvements at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue by Stanford University.

*

Adopted Ordinance No. 4124 in May of 2004 which prohibited left turns onto Palo Alto Way from Santa Cruz Avenue, and restricted entry onto portions of Vine Street, Leland Avenue, and Stanford Avenue during specified hours.

*

Extended the Ordinance for one year in May of 2005 as the construction at the Sand Hill Road/Santa Cruz Avenue/Alpine Road intersection by Stanford was not completed.

*

Directed us to report back on possible modifications to the restrictions if Stanford completed its construction work prior to May of 2006

History

Property owners in the University Park Subdivision area expressed concerns about the speed and amount of traffic using their residential streets to either avoid the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue, or to “short cut” or “cut through” their neighborhood to access the Stanford area, both prior to and during the major construction on Sand Hill Road and at the Sand Hill Road/Santa Cruz Avenue/Alpine Road intersection.

Your Board subsequently adopted an ordinance implementing traffic restrictions that:

1)

encouraged traffic to remain on Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue by prohibiting:

a)

left turns from Santa Cruz Avenue onto Palo Alto Way between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.; and

b)

access onto Leland and Stanford Avenues from Sand Hill Road between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and

2)

discouraged cut through traffic on Vine Street by prohibiting:

a)

access onto Vine Street approximately 200 feet east of Perry Avenue between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.; and

b)

access onto Vine Street at Oak Avenue between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

You also directed staff to report back once the Sand Hill Road/Santa Cruz Avenue/Alpine Road intersection improvements were completed, as not all the property owners were in favor of the traffic restrictions.

The improvements were essentially completed in the early part of December 2005 and traffic is moving through the Sand Hill Road/Santa Cruz Avenue intersection as planned.

Discussion

Some residents in the University Park area have contacted us to request that all of the restrictions be removed immediately, while others have requested that some or all of the restrictions remain in place.

We are recommending that the Leland and Stanford Avenue restrictions be removed first, as a number of the requests to remove the restrictions came from residents on these streets, and dropping these restrictions will provide more direct access into the area during the morning and afternoon peak hours without encouraging cut through traffic.

We are not recommending removing the restrictions on Vine Street as cut through traffic has been an issue on this street for some time, and continuing the restrictions will encourage “out of University Park area” traffic to use Santa Cruz Avenue or other arterial streets.

The left turn onto Palo Alto Way could also be removed. However, we are not recommending that the restriction be removed at this time, as left turns off of Santa Cruz Avenue during the morning peak may impact the flow of traffic on Santa Cruz Avenue and could possibly contribute to cut through traffic on Vine Street. We will continue to monitor traffic at this intersection and report back to your Board in three months.

The ordinance establishing the restrictions does not have to be rescinded to allow legal access on to Stanford and Leland Avenues if the signs are removed, as the Vehicle Code provides that the provisions of the ordinance regulating traffic are not enforceable unless appropriate signing is in place.

Post cards have been sent to the property owners in the University Park area notifying them that the report is available on the internet, or that we will send them a copy if requested. We have also sent copies of our report to the Sheriff and the California Highway Patrol.

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

Fiscal Impact

The cost of removing the signs is estimated to be $200, and is proposed to be funded with Road Funds that have been appropriated this fiscal year to finance small road related improvements or traffic related installations.

There is no impact to the General Fund.