Title
a. Receive a report on the Feasibility Study for the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Safety and Operational Improvements;
b. Support approval of alternatives 2, 3 and 4 combined as the short term improvement project at State Highway 1 at Dolan Road;
c. Support authorizing and directing the Resource Management Agency - Public Works to work with Caltrans and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County to seek funding for alternative 2, 3 and 4 combined;
d. Support approval of the addition of the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Project, Project 1372 to the approved Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2014-15;
e. Support approval of an increase in appropriations in the amount of $28,261 in the FY 2014-15 Road Fund, Fund 002-3000-8195-RMA012, for the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Project, Project 1372; and
g. Support authorization of the Auditor-Controller to incorporate the approved modification in the FY 2014-15 Budget.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee:
a. Receive a report on the Feasibility Study for the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Safety and Operational Improvements;
b. Support approval of alternatives 2, 3 and 4 combined as the short term improvement project at State Highway 1 at Dolan Road;
c. Support authorizing and directing the Resource Management Agency - Public Works to work with Caltrans and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County to seek funding for alternative 2, 3 and 4 combined;
d. Support approval of the addition of the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Project, Project 1372 to the approved Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2014-15;
e. Support approval of an increase in appropriations in the amount of $28,261 in the FY 2014-15 Road Fund, Fund 002-3000-8195-RMA012, for the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Project, Project 1372; and
g. Support authorization of the Auditor-Controller to incorporate the approved modification in the FY 2014-15 Budget.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In February 2012, the County hired Hatch Mott MacDonald, LLC to prepare a Feasibility Study (Study) for safety and operational improvements at the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Intersection (Intersection). The Study analyzed existing roadway conditions, existing and future traffic volumes, Level of Service (LOS), collision rates, alternative design options and an environmental impacts.
State Highway 1 is a north-south regional corridor within the County of Monterey that serves agricultural operations, local residence and tourist traffic. Dolan Road is a two-lane east-west roadway that serves agricultural operations and local residence. The Intersection is located in the Community of Moss Landing. The Dolan Road approach is stop controlled, while State Highway 1 traffic is free-flow through the intersection. Overall, the Intersection operates at LOS A during AM and PM peak hours. However, the Dolan Road approach operates at LOS E in the AM and LOS F in the PM. The overall collision rate for the intersection is 0.839 collisions per million entering vehicles, which is nearly three times the statewide average of 0.300 for similar intersections. The two most prevalent collision types at the intersection were rear-end collisions and collisions where drivers failed to yield right-of-way. All of the “failure to yield” collisions involved vehicles turning left from State Highway 1 and or Dolan Road. Additionally, the intersection currently meets three of the six signal warrants.
The intent of the Study was to evaluate short-term potential safety and operational improvements and cost effective solutions. The Study does not preclude or analyze in detail the need for long-term improvements along the State Highway 1 corridor between the Communities of Castroville and Moss Landing. Long-term solutions should be analyzed on a corridor wide basis.
The Study analyzed twelve (12) alternatives that included signing, striping, adding an acceleration lane, shoulder widening, a traffic signal, and a roundabout. The alternatives were evaluated based on reduction in vehicle delay, safety, bicycle/pedestrian improvements, environmental and right-of-way constraints, constructability, and acceptance by lead agencies.
After evaluation, several alternatives were not considered for future analysis including prohibiting turning movements, widening shoulders and travel lanes to Caltrans standard, widening State Highway 1 to two lanes in each direction, relocating the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road intersection to the south, and a roundabout.
The following six improvement alternatives (see Attachment 1 Feasibility Study & Appendix A, Page 22) were determined to have short-term safety and/or operational improvements:
Alternative 2. Flashing Beacons, Signs, Channelizing, and Stripping
Alternative 3. Improved Sight Distance
Alternative 4. Add Northbound SR 1 Right Turn Acceleration Lane
Alternative 8a. Full Signal with One Through Lane
Alternative 9a. Half Signal with One Through Lane
Alternative 9b. Half Signal with Two Northbound Through Lanes
Alternatives 2, 3 and 4 are recommended to be combined into one project. The project will include additional signs, pavement striping, channelizing, flashing beacons, two streetlights, trimming foliage, removing or relocating obstructions within the driver line of sight at the intersection, and adding a new northbound acceleration lane along State Highway 1 in front of the Moss Landing Power Plant. This alternative has the least impact on the sensitive natural environment in the Moss Landing Area and improves safety. The total programming estimate is $700,000.
Alternative 8a includes constructing a full traffic signal at the Intersection. This alternative will keep the single through lane in each direction of State Highway 1. It will minimize the number of “failure to yield” collisions, but could increase the number of rear-end collisions on State Highway 1. The total programming estimate is $1.1 million.
Alternative 9a includes constructing a half signal, with one northbound lane on State Highway 1, westbound Dolan Road, and the southbound State Highway 1 left turn movement would be controlled by the signal. Southbound State Highway 1 through traffic would continue to operate free-flow through the intersection, which would have a continuous green light. This alternative would minimize the number of “failure to yield” collisions, but could increase the number of rear-end collisions on State Highway 1. The total programming estimate is $1.1 million.
Alternative 9b includes constructing a half signal, with a second northbound through lane on State Highway 1. The addition of a second northbound through lane would also minimize vehicle queue lengths on State Highway 1. The total programming estimate is $1.3 million.
The primary benefit of a half-signal over a full signal is that the southbound State Highway 1 movement would not be stopped by the signal, thereby reducing overall delay at the intersection compared to a full traffic signal, which results in stopping traffic in all directions. The downside of a half-signal is that pedestrians and bicyclists cannot cross all of State Highway 1 at a controlled crossing.
An Initial Study (IS) was also prepared to assess potential environmental impacts of alternatives 2, 3, 4, 8a, 9a and 9b. The IS concluded that a mitigated negative declaration can be used for all six alternatives. All of the identified potentially significant impacts can be reduced to less-than-significant status through the implementation of various mitigation measures both prior to and during construction. Additionally, all six alternatives do not interfere with the proposed Monterey Bay Sanctuary Trail - Moss Landing Segment. Accounting for all of the design and environmental analysis, all six improvements appear to be feasible to construct.
The County will continue to pursue long-term improvements, such as intersection consolidation, roundabouts, and grade separation improvements. These improvements will require considerably more analysis, design, and stakeholder collaboration and should take place as part of a corridor management plan of the three intersections with State Highway 1 and the community of Moss Landing. These improvements will also be more expensive and will take longer to build; however, they will be more consistent with the stated long-term goals of Caltrans and the Moss Landing Community Plan for the State Highway 1 corridor through Moss Landing.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The RMA - PW collaborated with Caltrans and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County on the development of the scope of work. Caltrans has reviewed and provided technical comments on the draft Study but did not commit to any one alternative. However, they did state they would be open to further discussions on Alternative 9b, a half signal with two northbound through lanes. This report will be presented to the Capital Improvement Committee on September 8, 2014.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the General Fund. This project was not included in the FY 14-15 Work Plan or Adopted Budget. The total cost of the Study is $132,000, which is fully funded by the Road fund. The recommended action adds the State Highway 1 at Dolan Road Project, Project 1372, to the Board Approved Fiscal Year 2014-15 Work Plan; increases the FY 2014-15 appropriations and revenues in Fund 002-3000-8195-RMA012 by $28,261; and authorizes the Auditor-Controller to incorporate the approved modification in the Fiscal Year 2014-15 Budget.
Prepared by: Patricia A. Lopez, Management Analyst III (831) 755-8998
Approved by:
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Robert K. Murdoch, P.E. Director of Public Works
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Benny J. Young, RMA Director
Dated: August 5, 2014
Attachments: Attachment 1: Feasibility Study & Appendix A; Attachment 2: Location Map and Conceptual Plans of each Alternative