1.
Peter
Valenzuela
Traffic
Calming
Assessment,
5th
Street
(from
Priest
Drive
to
Farmer
Avenue)
Objective
-­‐
This
assessment
was
conducted
Friday
July
23
2015.
The
goal
of
this
assessment
is
to
indicate
how
the
traffic
calming
initiative
on
5th
street
has
been
implemented
and
evaluate
the
success
of
its
implementation.
I
parked
my
vehicle
in
a
designated
parking
cutout
along
5th
street
near
Jaycee
Park
and
I
walked
east
and
west
on
5th
street
observing
the
many
different
traffic
calming
features
on
the
north
and
south
side
of
the
street.
The
traffic
calming
features
have
been
highlighted
in
specific
categories
as
to
who
or
what
they
are
most
designed
to
benefit
along
with
images
to
help
illustrate
their
function.
(
Figure
1)
Traffic
Speed
and
Volume
–
The
overall
traffic
volume
on
this
one-­‐mile
stretch
of
5th
street
seems
appropriate
for
the
neighborhood.
The
mode
share
for
the
street
between
bicyclist,
motorist,
and
handicap
vehicles
are
almost
equal
during
the
time
of
observance.
Motorists
appear
to
adhere
to
the
posted
speed
limit
of
25mph.
The
series
of
center
islands

2.
(Figure
1)
situated
along
the
street
have
narrowed
the
road,
forcing
motorist
to
be
more
aware
of
the
bike
lane.
The
narrowing
of
the
street
does
appear
to
make
emergency
vehicle
travel
more
difficult.
At
certain
points
larger
emergency
vehicles
will
be
forced
to
drive
in
the
designated
bike
lane,
or
take
up
both
driving
lanes.
(Figure
2)
Streets
and
Intersections
–
Cross
walks
are
provided
at
all
intersections
and
midblock
locations,
and
are
distinctly
marked
(Figure
2).
The
streets
are
narrow
enough
to
allow
elderly
pedestrians
to
cross
at
mid
block
locations
in
a
timely
manner
with
out
impeding
motor
vehicles.
The
intersections
of
5th
street
have
adequate
textured
curb
cuts
leading
in
multiple
directions
to
accommodate
handicap
travelers.
The
largest
intersection
on
5th
street
and
Hardy
(Figure
2)
features
a
raised
and
textured
center;
making
motorist
more
aware
of
the
bicycle
and
pedestrian
emphasis
on
the
street.
The
analysis
was
conducted
during
the
day
however;
there
was
no
presence
of
lighting
designating
any
pedestrian
crossing
areas
to
optimize
travel
at
night.
(Figure
3)
A.
B.
C.
Pedestrian
Facilities
–
The
sidewalks
situated
along
5th
street
are
wide
enough
to
accommodate
two
pedestrians
walking
abreast.
Some
areas
contain
rock
and
shrub
features
Aerial View

3.
that
create
a
vertical
separation
between
the
sidewalk
and
the
street
as
exhibited
in
(Figure
3
A
and
C).
There
are
no
exhibited
obstructions
along
the
continuous
sidewalk
to
inhibit
handicap
pedestrians,
and
there
is
excellent
shade
provided
by
trees.
(Figure
4)
A.
B.
Bicycle
Facilities
–
A
designated
bike
lane
is
provided
on
the
street.
The
traffic
speed
is
accommodating
to
bicyclist
as
well.
At
the
main
intersection
on
5th
and
Hardy,
there
are
vertical
barrier
features
that
separate
bicyclist
from
the
street
where
vehicles
make
turns
displayed
in
(Figure
4
A).
The
barriers
allow
separation
and
designation
from
vehicles.
Along
5th
street
the
smaller
streets
that
feed
into
the
neighborhoods
feature
well
marked
stop
lines
(Figure
4
B)
far
enough
away
from
the
street
to
allow
motorist
to
check
for
bicyclist
and
pedestrians
before
turning.
(Figure
5)
A.
B.

4.
Transit
Facilities
-­‐
There
is
transit
service
provided
along
5th
street.
The
sidewalk
in
front
of
the
transit
stops
is
wide
enough
for
handicap
travelers.
There
are
not
many
other
amenities
for
the
transit
service
however.
The
transit
stops
are
not
extremely
well
lit
along
the
length
of
5th
street.
There
are
no
structures
or
trees
situated
above
the
transit
stops
(Figure
5
A)
to
protect
against
the
elements.
The
transit
signs
are
also
very
small
and
potentially
difficult
to
notice
or
read
for
elderly
travelers.
(Figure
5
B)
Safety
and
Security
–
The
lighting
along
the
sidewalk
is
provided
by
streetlight,
which
gives
limited
light
coverage.
There
is
no
street
level
lighting.
There
are
many
residential
buildings
lining
the
sidewalks
so
the
sense
of
being
monitored
provides
sense
of
safety.
The
parking
areas
along
the
street
have
adequate
lighting.
There
was
no
strong
presence
of
police
vehicles
during
analysis.
There
is
an
over
all
sense
of
security
during
the
day.
Findings
–
The
traffic
calming
features
added
to
5th
street
appear
to
be
effective
in
deterring
motorist
from
using
the
street
and
for
speeding
as
well.
The
center
islands
situated
along
5th
street
have
severely
narrowed
the
street
and
during
the
assessment
there
were
very
little
vehicles
using
it.
Narrow
streets
and
low
speed
limits
seem
to
be
calming
vehicle
traffic,
and
deterring
its
use
as
a
cut
through
street.
Pedestrian
travel
has
improved
significantly
along
5th
street
due
to
the
traffic
calming
efforts.
Wider
sidewalks
and
well-­‐placed
trees
create
an
aesthetic
and
pleasantly
shaded
walking
experience.
The
narrowing
of
the
street
and
mid
block
crosswalks
also
make
traveling
along
and
through
5th
street
more
convenient
and
safe.
Well-­‐designed
bike
lanes
have
made
biking
much
safer
and
appealing
by
segregating
the
bike
lanes
with
landscape
medians
near
intersections.
Bicycling
was
the
most
noticeable
mode
of
travel
being
used
during
the
assessment.
There
is
a
senior
center
situated
on
5th
street
between
Roosevelt
and
Hardy.
During
the
assessment
there
were
several
senior
citizens
using
motorized
scooters
to
travel
down
5th
street.
The
sidewalks
were
wide
enough
for
them
to
maneuver
around
pedestrians
and
curb
cuts
at
the
intersections
allowed
them
to
cross
with
ease.
Physically
disabled
travelers
would
benefit
from
these
features
as
well.