SR 05:293 - Laserfiche WebLink

Vineyard Avenue Multi-purpose Trail Crossing The Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan included the conversion of the old road to a multi-purpose trail serving pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians. The portion of the old road that ran east past the Neal School site was to connect to a similar trail that would use the old "S" curve section of Vineyard Avenue to connect to the Shadow Cliffs trail system. The multi-purpose trail crosses new Vineyard Avenue at its intersection with Petronave Lane. There is a hill immediately west of the intersection/trail crossing and a curve in the roadway that restrict visibility at this intersection. During the construction of the new roadway, vehicle detectors, conduits and signal pole foundations were installed for a future traffic signal that would serve trail users crossing Vineyard Avenue and also residents exiting Petronave Lane and the home sites just north of the intersection. Due to the limited sight distance to the west, the traffic signal design includes a flashing yellow beacon that warns of the signal ahead. The City has used similar flashing yellow beacons effectively in advance of the Foothill High School signal and the Ruby Hill Boulevard signal. The use of flashing yellow beacons is recommended in the state and federal traffic signal design guidelines when sight distance is limited as in this case. The conversion of the old road to a multi-purpose trail will provide pedestrians and cyclists with the opportunity to travel through the corridor without having to travel beside high-speed Vineyard Avenue traffic, or to have to cross Vineyard Avenue at any of the busier intersections near the school site. This trail also provides the most direct route to the entrance of the school, which is located on the southern end of the school site, away from new Vineyard Avenue. The school site and Vineyard Avenue have been designed to eliminate any potential school loading zones along Vineyard A venue, and to minimize or eliminate pedestrian crossings of Vineyard Avenue at the school to maximize pedestrian safety and improve traffic circulation. CONCLUSION Most of the elements of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood traffic-calming plan have been successfully implemented. The speed sensitive traffic signal at Montevino Drive and the future installation of rubberized asphalt and a wide landscaped median will help to slow traffic, reduce traffic noise, and improve vehicular and pedestrian safety along the corridor. The installation of a traffic signal at the multi-purpose trail crossing will facilitate the trail's use by cyclists and pedestrians of all ages, while also helping the residents using Petronave Lane where sight distance is limited. The installation of roundabouts adjacent to the Neal School site has resulted in driver frustration, as the roundabouts are currently surrounded by vacant land. But, with the construction of the school and surrounding homes, the roundabouts will minimize traffic delays and backups during the peak morning commute and school period, while also calming traffic adjacent to the school along an otherwise 50 MPH roadway. The SR:05:293 Page 7 of 8