2/5/19 – Transportation Commission Highlights
Present were: Carrie O’Malley (Wagner), Christine Knowland (Kuo), Ken Montgomery (Fox) and Steve Greenberg (Shea); Avinder Chawla (Khan) was absent.
Review of Traffic Collision Patterns
Staff report by Jaimee Bourgeois: The intersection with the most accidents ( totaling 1479) in 2017 was Barranca and Harvard with most occurring between 2 PM and 7 PM. For accidents at this intersection, bikes were at fault for 61%, and pedestrians were at fault for 33%. Common factors for accidents in Irvine are: unsafe speeds, improper turning at intersections, signal and sign violations, and running red lights. Staff report stated that comparing to other cities of similar size, Irvine has a low collision record. Staff reported that funding for engineering solutions (signal, signage, pavement marking) will be requested for intersections with the above average accident incidents. Public safety education programs and videos will be directed at bicyclists and pedestrians. Staff report recommended an “all way stop” at Harvard and Berkeley.
Montgomery requested a report listing the intersections with the highest rate of accidents along with the type of traffic control that exists at those intersections.
O’Malley suggested that the crosswalks with the highest percentage of accidents have reflectors on the intersection pavement to improve nighttime vision which would benefit bicyclists and pedestrians.
Staff responded that crosswalks near schools have a yellow ladder patterns to improve visibility.
Public Comment by organizer of O.C. Bicycle Coalition: High speeds on roads such as Jamboree pose risk to bicyclists, and they are at high risk on roads that have freeway on and off ramps. He also stated that roundabouts are not clearly marked for bicyclists, so they do not know how to ride through them.
Montgomery asked that the Transportation Staff put special pavement markings on roundabouts.
Irvine Jeffery Open Space Trail to be extended from Barranca to Portola
Staff report by Cheryl Lea: The Jeffrey Open Space Trail currently begins at Walnut and goes to Portola. The plan is to create an extension from Barranca to Walnut. The trail will be made of concrete to be consistent with the existing trail. It will be for both pedestrians and bicyclists, and it will have rest areas, lighting, nice park-like landscaping, and it will be ADA compliant. The trail will go through land owned or leased by SCE, a family run farm and Irvine Valley College and will also be located near Oak Creek Golf Course.
Public Comment by organizer of O.C. Bicycle Coalition: Road bicyclists do not use bike trails; they use city streets. Irvine needs to address the issues faced by road bicyclists. Bicyclists are having problems with the deep right turn pockets in which the bicycle lanes disappear and problems on streets that have freeway on and off ramps.
Greenberg: Irvine is projected to have a deficit in 2019, and he is concerned that the City Council will not approve the funding for this project.
Linsenmayer, Director of Transportation: There is enough money in the designated fund to pay for the project.
Montgomery suggested reducing the cost by making the trail addition out of pavement rather than concrete.
Staff recommended that the extension be made of concrete to be consistent with the existing trail and also for aesthetic purposes.
Montgomery also requested that the trail be striped to indicate where the pedestrians were to walk.
Linsenmayer: The trail is wide enough, and he will have the staff look at the striping suggestion.
Project report approved 4-0.
