HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/19/1993 g A K E R S F I E L D
Randy Rowles, Chair
Kevin McDermott
Patricia M. Smith
Staff: Jack Hardisty
AGENDA
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITYEE
Monday, July i9, 1993
12:00 Noon
City Manager's Conference Room
1. Hotel Status Report- John Stinson
2. Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Master Plan Status Report - Ed Schulz
3. South Beltway Status Report - Ed Schulz
4. Set Next Meeting~
MEMORANDUM
TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager ~
FROM: Ed Schulz, Director of Public Works
DATE: July 16, 1993
SUBJECT: South Beltway EIR
Kern COG Board Meeting; July 15, 1993
At the Kern COG Board meeting held at 7:00 P.M., July 15 at the COG
conference room, the Board considered the South Beltway Tier I EIR
and decided to add three alternative routes to the Tier I EIR.
The three alternative routes to be added are as follows:
1. Buena Vista Road (approximately 2 miles south of Taft
Highway)
2. The preferred alignment between I-5 and Union, with a
northeast diagonal from Union Ave. to S.R. 58
3. The Taft Highway alignment between I-5 and Union, with a
northeast diagonal from Union Ave. to S.R. 58
This will add at least six months to the schedule for adoption of
the specific plan.
The COG staff presented the traffic model information for the
alternatives requested by the Board at their last meeting - Bear
Mountain Blvd., and an option that combines the preferred
alternative west of Union Avenue and Bear Mountain Blvd. east of
Union Avenue. Neither of these routes carry sufficient traffic to
justify a freeway location there, so these routes are no longer
under consideration.
City and COG staff will begin working on the exact placement of the
additional alternative routes immediately.
TO: FRED KLOEPPER, ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
FROM:. STEPHEN L. WALKER, TRAFFIC
DATE: JULY 16, 1993//~'~·
SUBJECT: CLOSURE OF M & 30TH AT SPRR TRACKS WITH Q STREET
GRADE SEPARATION - TRAFFIC COMMENTS
As requested, I have reviewed the crossings of 30th Street, M
Street and O Street at the Southern Pacific Rail Road mainline
tracks.
Traffic Volumes
The volume of traffic on 0 Street at the crossing is only about
'9, 300 vehicles on a typical weekday. The traffic volume on 30th
street crossing the same tracks is about 4, 300 per day. On M
Street the volume is only=, '~- 100. The intersection of 30th at M
Street is on top of the track crossing. Many of the same
vehicles cross the track using both streets. The true number- of
vehicles crossing' the tracks in the 30th/M area would be less
than the addition of 4, 300 + 2, 100.
Traffic Accidents at the tracks
A review of the accidents for the past ! 1/2 years does not
indicate a problem with either the intersection of 30th/M Streets
or crossing of the tracks. Only one accident, on O Street, may
have been related to train activity on the tracks.
Traffic circulation
Developing a grade, separation at Q Street will eliminate the full
access connection of Espee Street to O Street due to the grade
differential. This will isolate the industrial and business
strip along Espee Street. The industrial/commercial traffic will
have to go to 34th Street or through residential neighborhoods to
access a major street. Further complications would result in the'
loss of the M Street connection to Golden State HWy (SR 204) from
businesses and residences north of 30th Street. Access would
have to be via Jewett to 34th Street, necessitating a traffic
signal.
page 1 of 2
Page 2 of 2.
Conclusion
The closing of the 30th and M Streets connection to Golden State
and ~eduction in access to Espee Street will disrupt the traffic
. circulation of the'area. The accidents are mini~nal when ~elated
to the track crossing. The volumes are low on. 0 Street which
reduces the community benefit to be ~ealized.
The City ~hould ~trongly conside~ the high cost of thim type of
pro~ect and the apparent iow b~nefit before committing funding.
E. W. Schulz, Public Works Director
Bruce Deeter, CE Iii - Traffic Design
Jacques taRocheiie~ C2 iii - Traffic Operatior~s
?ubiic Works ~,~emo film
Traffic File - Q Street ~r. ade separatior,
siw: File: Q RRXiNG. MEM