Deborah Nelson Planning Manager 600 Elm Street San Carlos, CA 94070 Phone: (650) 802-4263 Fax: (650) 595-6763
Traffic Impacts and Mitigation Strategies Study
Background
This report represents the outcomes of two separate traffic study efforts. In the first, the City of San Carlos hired Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc. to conduct an intersection study to determine the potential traffic impacts of proposed and potential San Carlos developments. This study, completed in August 2001, determined that six of the 29 intersections analyzed would fall to a Level of Service (LOS) D if all of the potential projects were built.
To address the outcomes of the intersection study, the City hired NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates in June 2001 to identify non traditional mitigation measures to reduce the vehicle trip increases identified in the 2001 Intersection Study. The "Traffic Mitigation Strategies" report, completed in June 2002, identified eight mitigation measures estimated to cumulatively reduce AM peak vehicle trips by 20%.
An Outline of the Report
Chapter 1 of the report presents an introduction to the study.
Chapter 2 of the report presents the results of the major intersection study conducted by Hexagon, while Chapters 3 through 8 present the traffic mitigation strategies developed by NelsonNygaard.
Together, the two studies help the City of San Carlos achieve its development and vehicle trip reduction goals.
Report Highlights
Here are some of the findings of the report:
Phase I of the Draft Study shows that with all foreseeable development projected at the time of Phase 1 study preparation, primary intersections within San Carlos would remain at level of service D.
The City's General Plan states that intersection service levels should be maintained at level D or above.
We are currently at level of service D and better, depending on the specific intersection.
The East Side Specific Plan Citizens Advisory Committee (ESSP CAC) recently formulated a series of preferred alternatives to be studied.
Unless mitigated, various ESSP CAC alternatives could reduce levels of traffic service within the community to unacceptable levels.
Although there may not be a current technical traffic issue, the City Staff would prefer to take a pro-active approach to potential traffic problems via consideration of the Draft Study.
Issues Presented by the Report
The issues presented in the study include the following:
How does the City want to address growing traffic concerns (i.e. growth management or consideration of behavior modifying traffic mitigation measures)?
Is the City willing to adopt formal traffic mitigation measures (and if so what types) to be used for Specific Plans and individual projects?
If the City is willing to adopt formal mitigation measures, what force and effect will they have on potential growth (i.e. will it reduce traffic impacts associated with growth by 25%?)
Public Input and Hearings
The Draft "Traffic Impacts and Mitigation Strategies" Study for the City of San Carlos will be reviewed by the City’s Traffic Commission, Planning Commission and City Council through the public hearing process over the next quarter. The city is interested in receiving any and all public commentary on the draft study.
Here is the Planning Director's Transmittal Memo on the study:
A copy of the Traffic Impacts and Mitigation Stratgies draft report in Adobe Acrobat format is posted below. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this document.
