14 ATTACHMENT 06 - Laserfiche WebLink

He asked if staff observe the volumes among those three as it sounds like the one at West Las Positas is a sticking point. Mike Tassano, City Traffic Engineer, stated that he has been out to the site on several occasions: one because it is close to a school, and two because the applicants asked him to come out and take a look at it. To answer the question on if staff specifically looked at the volume, he stated that the volume is going to change considerably with the 7-Eleven going in. He noted that while knowing what the volume increase would be, the convenience store use may not represent the exact same numbers. With respect to what would happen more specifically with the volume on West Las Positas Boulevard, he stated that over half of the northbound traffic would be pass-by traffic, and these vehicles from turn off on Santa Rita Road into the convenience store and then turn right back onto Santa Rita Road to continue on their way northbound. He indicated that the area of concern for him was the southbound traffic that would have to make that left turn on West Las Positas Boulevard or continue down and make a U-turn and pull into the Santa Rita Road driveway; then coming back out, the vehicle would either go back to Santa Rita Road, and cross those three lanes, and make a U-turn to continue southbound, or go into the neighborhood to the first location and make the U-turn. He indicated the last option was his concern, making sure the turn was adequate and that that volume was not going to be too much of an impediment. He stated that he did not see anything there that would need someone to write up a report for the applicant to say there was not going to be a volume issue, so that was not counted. He added that a traffic study could be done but these studies would normally look at volume concerns, and their peak hours of operation early in the morning and later in the afternoon were not enough for him to see it as a significant concern. Chair O'Connor inquired if a sign has already been put in place at that one location where vehicles have been known to make the illegal U-turn on West Las Positas Boulevard. Mr. Tassano replied that there was a sign there, and a second one was put in. He indicated that it is not a location that he had received complaints on, that he has never seen a U-turn occur there or a left turn come out of there, and that was the first time he heard of that issue. He noted that the sign is obviously there for the Fire Department, and if it becomes a safety issue, staff can look at it and put something more mountable for the Fire Department if it became a safety issue. He reiterated that he did not see that as a concern at this point. Commissioner Balch stated that at some stations he has visited, they had restrictions with signage like "Do not exit this exit" or something of that nature. He asked Mr. Tassano if he did not believe anything of that nature would be warranted to prevent exiting so that it is only an ingress and people would be forced to go out on Santa Rita Road where there would then be a signal at the intersection. Mr. Tassano replied that southbound vehicle would then have to go sideways across four lanes to get into the second left-turn lane to make the U-turn. He indicated that he PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 27, 2014 Page 23 of 44