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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.1 Audible PedSigns DubBlCTTY CLERK FILE # 590-40 AGENDA STATEMENT CzTY COUNCIL MEETTNG DATE: December 19, 2000 SUBJECT: Request for Audible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at Dublin Boulevard and San Ramon Road Intersection Report Prepared by: Lee S. Thompson, Public Works Director ATTACHMENTS: Diagram of downtown intersections RECOMMENDATION: Direct Staff to include funding for the audible pedestrian signals in the Fiscal Year 2001-02 budget. If the City Council wishes to install APS in the current fiscal year, a budget transfer from unallocated gas tax reserves would be necessary. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The cost of installing APS ranges from about $2,500 to $5,000 per intersection, depending on the configuration and the type of equipment used. The cost of installing the recommended type at the Dublin Blvd./ San Ramon Road intersection is estimated at $3,800. The total estimated cost to include the seven intersections in the downtown area that do not already have APS would be approximately $25,100. The adopted budget for FY 2000-2001 does not include funds for this purpose. DESCRIPTION: At the November 21, 2000, meeting, the City Council requested information regarding installation of audible pedestrian signals (APS) at the Dublin Boulevard/Golden Gate Drive intersection and the Dublin Boulevard/San Ramon Road intersection. The installation at Dublin Boulevard and Golden Gate Drive was completed several months ago as part of a Capital Improvement Project that also included the intersections at Amador Valley Boulevard / Amador Plaza Road and Village Parkway / Lewis Avenue. APS were previously installed at the Amador Valley Boulevard / Donohue Drive intersection. Staff had some concerns regarding pedestrian traffic at the Dublin Boulevard / San Ramon Road intersection, particularly related to the northbound dual right turn lanes, and consulted with one of the experts in the field through the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The type of APS recommended is somewhat more sophisticated than those installed to date in Dublin. The recommendation is to use a model with adjustable volume that reacts to ambient noise. The pedestrian would then listen for both the APS and the traffic noise. It was further recommended that the pushbutton itself be equipped with a g:\agenmisc\aps for dublin-san ramon COPIES TO: ITEM NO. "locator tone," which is a soft continuous tone that directs the pedestrian to the button location. Staff feels the locator tone may be particularly useful in larger intersections that involve "pork chop" islands. The recommended type of installation is more expensive than the standard type that Dublin has utilized to date. The estimated cost to install the units at the Dublin Blvd. / San Ramon Road intersection (3 crossings) is $3,800, assuming that the labor is provided through the City's signal maintenance contract with Alameda County. Although Staff had originally recommended that intersections be evaluated for APS on a request basis, it appears that there would be a general benefit to installing APS at all of the signalized intersections in the downtown "grid" area of San Ramon Road / Dublin Blvd. / Amador Valley Blvd. / Village Parkway. These streets serve as access from many neighborhoods to public transportation, shopping, the post office, and the library. Following are the affected intersections and relative costs. This estimate assumes providing the more sophisticated type of APS at the four largest intersections, which are denoted with an asterisk: Dublin Boulevard / San Ramon Road * Dublin Boulevard / Regional Street Dublin Boulevard / Golden Gate Drive Dublin Boulevard / Amador Plaza Road Dublin Boulevard / Village Parkway * Amador Valley Blvd. / San Ramon Road * Amador Valley Blvd. / Regional Street Amador Valley Blvd. / Donohue Drive Amador Valley Blvd. / Amador Plaza Rohd Amador Valley Blvd. / Village Parkway *' Village Pkwy. / Lewis Avenue $ 3,800.00 (3 crossings) $ 2,500.00 (existing) $ 2,500.00 $ 5,000.00 (4 crossings) $ 3,800.00 (3 crossings) $ 2,500.00 (existing). (existing) $ 5,000.00 (4 crossings) (existing) $25,100.00 The cost of this type of improvement may be paid by gas tax funds. There is no budget for further expenditure in the current fiscal year. It is recommended that the City Council direct Staff to include funds for APS at the above intersections for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. If the City Council wishes the APS to be installed in the current fiscal year, a budget transfer from unallocated gas tax reserves to the Audible Pedestrian Signals CIP would be needed. Page 2 VILLAGE PARKWAY AMADOR PLAZA ROAD DONOHUE DRIVE REGIONAL STREET SAN RAMON ROAD GOLDEN GATE DRIVE /;z t l? /~c'